Luminaria: a photo essay
Luminaria: Arts Night 2008 brought out the arts loving community in full force, while street performers crowd downtown streets and dancers shimmied in and out of crowds San Antonio caught a glimpse of what it’s known all along – there’s talent here in our humble city. Although in the eyes of mere bystanders it was…
Notes From Jovitas: SA goes to SXSW
One of the joys of “A Town South of Austin,” the SXSW showcase of San Antonio bands at Jovitas, was the sense that the essence of the Alamo City had crashed the bash, for at least one night. There was Sam’s Burger Joint promoter Jerry Clayworth diligently taking photos of the action, and helping legendary…
Luminaria: a photo essay
Luminaria: Arts Night 2008 brought out the arts loving community in full force, while street performers crowd downtown streets and dancers shimmied in and out of crowds San Antonio caught a glimpse of what it’s known all along – there’s talent here in our humble city. Although in the eyes of mere bystanders it was a…
Notes From Jovitas: SA goes to SXSW
One of the joys of “A Town South of Austin,” the SXSW showcase of San Antonio bands at Jovitas, was the sense that the essence of the Alamo City had crashed the bash, for at least one night. There was Sam’s Burger Joint promoter Jerry Clayworth diligently taking photos of the action, and helping legendary…
SXSW – Wednesday
No badge and no wristband, I decided to take a couple of days off and head to Austin anyways. Officially starting Wednesday, I arrived about 1230am that night and headed over to The Hideout on Congress and 6th. One of my favorite bands that never comes to Texas was playing at 1am, Trespassers William. We…
SXSW – Thursday
I had my list for what I wanted to see Thursday night. But I didn’t know what I would be able to get into as I had not badge or wristband. We stayed with our friend, Oni, our whole stay in Austin (she actually lives in the house the movie Teeth was shot in). She…
SXSW – Friday
While researching the next day’s shows the night before, I happend to come across the fact that The Breeders ( who I was planning on seeing at a festival on Saturday) were playing at KLRU. The studio on UT campus where they film Austin City Limits. The listing just said corner of Dean Keaton and…
Luminaria: post, haste
Once you adjust to life on the San Antonio soundstage, you lose your sense of wonder at the inevitable path-crossings. So I wasn’t surprised to run into Mayor Phil Hardberger and his wife Linda at Central Market the day after Luminaria 08, the inaugural City-sponsored “citywide” arts festival. The event, conceived, funded, and produced in…
SXSW – Wednesday
No badge and no wristband, I decided to take a couple of days off and head to Austin anyways. Officially starting Wednesday, I arrived about 1230am that night and headed over to The Hideout on Congress and 6th. One of my favorite bands that never comes to Texas was playing at 1am, Trespassers William. We…
SXSW – Thursday
I had my list for what I wanted to see Thursday night. But I didn’t know what I would be able to get into as I had not badge or wristband. We stayed with our friend, Oni, our whole stay in Austin (she actually lives in the house the movie Teeth was shot in). She…
SXSW – Friday
While researching the next day’s shows the night before, I happend to come across the fact that The Breeders ( who I was planning on seeing at a festival on Saturday) were playing at KLRU. The studio on UT campus where they film Austin City Limits. The listing just said corner of Dean Keaton and…
Luminaria: post, haste
Once you adjust to life on the San Antonio soundstage, you lose your sense of wonder at the inevitable path-crossings. So I wasn’t surprised to run into Mayor Phil Hardberger and his wife Linda at Central Market the day after Luminaria 08, the inaugural City-sponsored “citywide” arts festival. The event, conceived, funded, and produced in…
SXSW: Diary entry #3
I’m not stable enough to write a fluid piece this morning. Instead, here are some quick snap shots of shit I’ve seen down here in no particular order: A lot of people in Austin actually sleep in booths at their friends’ bars at the end of the night. I’m a wastoid degenerate and all, but…
SXSW: Diary entry #3
I’m not stable enough to write a fluid piece this morning. Instead, here are some quick snap shots of shit I’ve seen down here in no particular order: A lot of people in Austin actually sleep in booths at their friends’ bars at the end of the night. I’m a wastoid degenerate and all,…
On the Street
Warning: This was a busy week. Too much time was spent in front of books while straining the back and eyes. A lot of fotos were taken. And if a foto is worth a 1000 words, then consider what follows to be long-winded. As always, read at your own risk. Letters (to the OTS Penthouse…
Free Speech Squeal Deal:
The case of the Free Speech Coalition against the city of San Antonio will proceed. Not that there was much doubt that it would. When a federal district judge found the city’s parade ordinance unconstitutional and the City set to work amending it. But it didn’t ring up the FSC’s attorney for advice — or bother…
On the Street
Warning: This was a busy week. Too much time was spent in front of books while straining the back and eyes. A lot of fotos were taken. And if a foto is worth a 1000 words, then consider what follows to be long-winded. As always, read at your own risk. Letters (to the OTS Penthouse…
Free Speech Squeal Deal:
The case of the Free Speech Coalition against the city of San Antonio will proceed. Not that there was much doubt that it would. When a federal district judge found the city’s parade ordinance unconstitutional and the City set to work amending it. But it didn’t ring up the FSC’s attorney for advice — or…
SXSW: crack fiends and spicy rim jobs
Wednesday started innocently enough with two bloody marys (or whatever the plural of that is), three sixteen-ounce Lone Star brews and a joint thicker than your mother’s tampon. My man Bill at the Jackalope (which is named after some sort of odd hybrid creature that patrols the southern landscape) makes the cruelest bloody that I’ve…
Populism! Yeah, yeah!
The sight of this, made me remember this, which I forgot to tell you all about. They have little to do with one another (except that they’re both about U.S. presidents), but I have a feeling the sight of Paul Giamatti in a powdered wig might be nearly as endearing as a winking emo musical…
SXSW: crack fiends and spicy rim jobs
Wednesday started innocently enough with two bloody marys (or whatever the plural of that is), three sixteen-ounce Lone Star brews and a joint thicker than your mother’s tampon. My man Bill at the Jackalope (which is named after some sort of odd hybrid creature that patrols the southern landscape) makes the cruelest bloody that I’ve…
Populism! Yeah, yeah!
The sight of this, made me remember this, which I forgot to tell you all about. They have little to do with one another (except that they’re both about U.S. presidents), but I have a feeling the sight of Paul Giamatti in a powdered wig might be nearly as endearing as a winking emo musical…
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days Director: Cristian Mungiu Screenwriter: Cristian Mungiu Cast: Anamaria Marinca, Laura Vasiliu Release Date: 2008-03-12 Website: http://www.ifcfilms.com/viewFilm.htm?filmId=496 Rated: NOT RATED Genre: Drama Sometimes even the most jaded viewer can be confronted by a film so potent it challenges the very notion of why we go to the movies in…
Luminaria
Release Date: 2008-03-12 The artists who make up the heart and soul of San Antonio venture out of their studios to present Luminaria, an unprecedented collaboration of those who wish to celebrate the dynamic vitality of San Antonio’s creative spirit. The free, artist-driven event showcases music, visual arts, theater, dance, multi-media presentations, and more. The…
Tera Melos, By the End of Tonight, Look Mexico, Shadows and Tall Trees, Red Rocket, Make Your Own Maps & Heist at Hand
Release Date: 2008-03-12 This Sacramento four-piece plays infectious melodies while hanging from rafters and are known to cartwheel into unsuspecting crowds. Tera Melos fuses elements of jazz and rock, jumping between math rock, electronic dance instrumentals, and full-on infectious grooves. Tallahassee natives Look Mexico, using such varied instruments as a lawn dart and a mouse…
ChimaeraCon 2008
Release Date: 2008-03-12 This South Texas games and more fest features three days of gaming, anime, and science fiction/fantasy events planned and presented by local aficionados. Guests include actor Marc Singer of The Beastmaster, award-winning sci-fi illustrator John Picacio, and web-comic artist Howard Taylor. $20/weekend, $8/day, 5-10pm Fri, 8am-Midnight Sat, 8am-7pm Sun, Crossroads Convention Center,…
Zeitgeist
Release Date: 2008-03-12 A public screening of the downloadable documentary Zeitgeist comes to the Drafthouse on what creators have dubbed “World Z Day.” A suggestion of social control is constructed using common conspiracy-theory subjects including Christianity, 9/11, and financial powerhouses, but internet buzz says it’s a must-see documentary. Free, 9:45pm, Alamo Drafthouse, 1255 SW Loop…
The Hanks, The Forward, Scenes and Sirens, Thee Armada, Through Her Vibe, Resounding Victory, & Another Song For Another Girl
Release Date: 2008-03-12 While staying true to their DIY ethos, The Hanks have amassed a national fan base, landed coveted spots at Voodoo Experience, Van’s Warped Tour, and SXSW, and placed songs on multiple MTV shows. Their sound can only be described as stylistically eclectic — hinting at influences from Paul Simon to Jimmy Eat…
Earth Crisis, Terror, Sworn Enemy, Shai Hulud, Down to Nothing, & Recon
Release Date: 2008-03-12 With their new album Maniacal utilizing more melody, Sworn Enemy sounds more like a straight-ahead metal band channeling the ’80s legends. Raised on hints of the New York hardcore scene, they write dense songs with grinding rhythms and fast-paced vocals, but still make them easy to sing along to — not an…
RTX w. Monotonix, Birds of Avalon, & Dark Meat
Release Date: 2008-03-12 A must-see on the SXSW-by-SA show list, featuring Monotonix’s explosive Tel-Aviv rock and Jennifer Herrema of Royal Trux fame with her new project, RTX. Herrema experimented with every realm of rock as one half of the Trux, and brings it with her ferocious performance on the mic in RTX’s second album Western…
Stephanie’s ID w. Buttercup
Release Date: 2008-03-12 Stephanie’s Id are products of the New South: an Asheville, North Carolina band without a hint of American rootsiness. They specialize in post-modern pop, in the sense that they freely take from anything that appeals to them, whether it’s electronica, jazz, soul, or the more baroque side of popular music. Their method…
Galactic Goodness
Release Date: 2008-03-12 Aahhh. I like it here. See, I’m kind of a coffee lover (addict, zealot). And also, I like people. Nice people. Nice people who are competent with espresso. (But don’t call me picky.) I’m no enemy of a theme, either. And though I’m partial to “French fleamarket,” Space Age will do just…
Unshackling the truth about torture
Taxi to the Dark Side Director: Alex Gibney Screenwriter: Alex Gibney Release Date: 2008-03-12 Website: http://www.taxitothedarkside.com/ Rated: R Genre: Documentary Taxi to the Dark Side derives its title from Dick Cheney’s response to September 11. Insisting that we must “use any means at our disposal to achieve what is necessary,” the Vice President declared: “We…
New Amerykah
New Amerykah Composer: Erykah Badu Conductor: Erykah Badu Label: Motown Release Date: 2008-03-12 Rated: NONE Media: CD Length: LP Format: Album Genre: R & B One of the highlights of Prince’s much-hyped 2004 Musicology tour came at the diminutive one’s Dallas show, when a very pregnant Erykah Badu jumped onstage toward the end and danced…
Vagabonds
Vagabonds Composer: Gary Louris Conductor: Gary Louris Label: Rykodisc Release Date: 2008-03-12 Rated: NONE Media: CD Length: LP Format: Album Genre: Roots Gary Louris began pulling the Jayhawks in a pop-oriented direction after co-songwriter Mark Olson’s departure in 1995, and his solo debut recalls those later Jayhawks albums. Vagabonds stirs a strong country-rock undercurrent into…
THE SOUND & THE FURY
After 18 years of steady performing, jazz crooner Ken Slavin has decided to hang it up, at least temporarily. Slavin announced last week that he has given up his long-standing career aspirations, and will set aside music for at least a year. Slavin, 46, has released four albums, including last year’s well-crafted I’ll Take Romance,…
Parade Ordinance still a charade?
As reported in this week’s Queque, City Attorney Michael Bernard made good on his promise to quickly address the City’s Parade Ordinance, which was put in time out last month by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, who found a few of its provisions unconstitutional. Tomorrow, City Council will peruse, discuss, and perhaps vote on a…
Staying awake in Austin
With any luck, you’re reading this in the car right now, with a gig-going compatriot at the wheel and another waiting in Austin with a free couch available. You already know which of your favorite new bands are playing South By Southwest, but that leaves about 7,000 others. With that in mind, some stray SXSW…
Healthy Baby & Child Toddler Gear
For your chance to win, send an email to freebies@sacurrent.com Winners will be drawn on Monday, March 17th and notified by email.
SXSW 2008 Spillover
Austin just smells different. If you’re not ready for the trek up I-35, build your indie cred with SXSW spillover shows in SA. It’s closer, friendlier and cheaper. March 12 Beethoven’s, $5, 9:30pm, all ages Buttercup (Pop; San Antonio) Buttercup, with their laid-back pop and crowd sing-a-longs, has done the inevitable by releasing four albums…
Under The Same Moon
Under The Same Moon Tuesday, March 18th 7:30pm at Santikos Embassy Bitters & West@HWY 281 Pick up your tickets at the San Antonio Current Mon.-Fri. between 8:30am-5:30pm
Playback
Let’s get the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform working on the Black Crowes vs. Maxim case. They did a bang-up job (thank you, Dan Burton!) of proving that Roger Clemens is a pillar of honesty by scrupulously investigating the mysterious abscesses in his buttocks and determining that no performance-enhancers were injected into those…
Luminaria: Arts Night
It’s hard to wrap our minds around an all-day, citywide art event — the organizers direct us to its inspirations, Paris’s Nuit Blanche and Madrid’s Noche Blanca … but what about San Antonio? What’s to expect here? Luminaria: Arts Night is the first of its kind in the city and the second in the nation,…
Muro del odio
PART THREE IN A SERIES “When clouds came, they brought rain, which blessed the earth and made things grow. Who loved the people and blessed them? The dead ancestors, who once were people, and who came back as clouds … ” “One, then another, and another, and another, sharp cloud came clear of the horizon.…
ARTIFACTS
While perusing the internet this weekend I came across an interesting article in the Austin Chronicle (“Shape of Things to Come,” March 7) about CreateAustin, a five-to-10-year cultural-investment blueprint. CreateAustin consultant Bill Bulick boiled down the 120 pages of recommendations into “10 Big Ideas” — a to-the-point list of concepts such as consolidating various city…
In like a lion, out like a lamb
Barricaded into a corner The Queque’s intro has been preempted by the Quiet Zone `see page 10` this week. We’ll return to our regularly scheduled joie de tangent next Wednesday. City Council is set to decide this week how much a protest march’ll cost you, following a judge’s order expressing concern that the new Parade…
Straight Shooter
Ubu Bubu #1 (of 4) Words and art by Jamie Smart $3.50, 24 pages (Black and White) (SLG) Don’t fear the goth kids usually associated with SLG’s other books (Gloomcookie, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac). This too cute tale of a “daemon”/kitty hybrid whose powers include vomiting dark matter and “chasing kids with goat sex,” might…
Shh! Rich people sleeping
“What if you lived at the top of the world?” is the question posed by the sales brochure for the Vidorra luxury high-rise currently under construction near St. Paul Square just east of downtown, an exclusive retreat promising “life from a new point of view.” With the median price of a San Antonio home hovering…
Home on the Range
Last week, Voelcker Park, the last big chunk of unblemished land inside Loop 1604, was open to the public for a few hours. My family enjoyed a pleasant mile-and-a-half jaunt sidestepping cow pies through tangles of Texas persimmons, cedars, and oaks. No, it wasn’t quite the forest primeval — you could still hear the drone…
The citizen advocate
Railroad Commission candidate Mark Thompson went home with the largest percentage of the vote in the March 4 Democratic primary, damn near avoiding the April 8 runoff with three-time contender Dale Henry, and defeating former San Antonio City Councilman Art Hall, who had been endorsed by the state’s major newspapers as well as noted political…
¡Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: Mexicans are angry that the United States might protect its own borders, might make it harder to sneak into this country and, once here, to stay indefinitely. Let me see if I correctly understand the thinking behind these Mexicans. Let’s say I break into your house. Let’s say that when you discover me…
Mugging for the camera
You have to wonder: Why an American shot-for-shot remake of Funny Games, Michael Haneke’s decade-old Austrian film now? Because — and I think it fitting that O-Ren Ishii of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill probably said it best — now’s the fucking time. Well, maybe three years ago would have been better, closer to the golden…
Clothes-minded
Angelina Mata debuted the spring/summer 2008 collection of her Reinvintage line at a private party on Friday, February 29 with 40 diaphanous, ’70s-influenced boho-chic looks that instantly brought to mind both sophisticated poolside cocktail parties and a more innocent, playful decade of fashion. Inspired by her childhood style icons Stevie Nicks, Carol King, Joan Baez…
CRITICAL Darling
Critical Darling would like to wish her very favorite weblog, jezebel.com, a hearty congratulations for taking home two Bloggie awards from South By: Best Group Weblog and Best New Weblog. Seriously, what would I do without your Cover Lies — wherein lady-mag headlines are translated (“10 Minute Hair & Makeup” = “Dry Shampoo is Expensive…
Dear Uncle Mat
Last night, at one of those hour-less moments when both you and your significant other wake up and have a conversation — it could be any hour. You talk, cuddle, and then fall back asleep. Well, at least he fell back to sleep, while I am headed outside for a cigarette. The only thing barring…
No more B-More
Early in The Wire’s fifth and final season, after years of drug abuse, sometime informant and perpetual junkie Bubbles takes his last best shot at staying clean. At an AA meeting he attends, we hear from a stringy young woman who talks about the impossibly hard task of living with her inner addict. “That bitch…
SXSW as it happens!
Every time I hit the road for this type of trip I’m reminded of Bloodsport – my favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme film that is also reputed for catapulting Forest Whitaker’s career into the Oscar realm. The movie begins with fighters from around the world practicing with their masters before traveling to Kumite (pronounced Koo-mi-tay) –…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): He “cleans up well” is prison lingo. It refers to a convict who, upon leaving jail, is able to overhaul his appearance and demeanor so thoroughly that no one can tell he has served time. I believe that in the coming weeks you will have access to another version of this…
Another day, another march
There are several documentaries under production on the Border Wall issue. One day, you will wake up, roll over, and be held captive by one produced by a determined and generous soul who has been in the mix practically since the day Congress approved the Secure Fence Act. For now, we have Nat Stone’s well-crafted…
Spittin’ Game
Devil May Cry 4 (Capcom) Playstation 3 $59.99 Slicing and shooting Satan’s scarecrow spawn has never been more beautiful or kick-ass, mostly, but DMC4 has a few issues you’ll have to overlook. The camera sucks, of course, and the difficulty level — even on the easiest setting — is guaranteed to infect you with temporary…
Parade Ordinance still a charade?
As reported in this week’s Queque, City Attorney Michael Bernard made good on his promise to quickly address the City’s Parade Ordinance, which was put in time out last month by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, who found a few of its provisions unconstitutional. Tomorrow, City Council will peruse, discuss, and perhaps vote on a…
Water2Wine puts you in charge of the juice, and produces award-winning wines while they’re at it
The recent list of winners from the 2008 San Antonio Wine Competition was surprising from a number of standpoints — not the least of which was that a Texas pinot noir, the Bell Mountain Vineyards Estate Bottled Pinot Noir Reserve, won a gold medal in its category. We aren’t supposed to be able to grow…
Drillbit Taylor
Drillbit Taylor Tuesday, March 18th 7:00pm at Santikos Palladium 17703 W. IH-10 Pick up your tickets at the San Antonio Current Mon.-Fri. between 8:30am-5:30pm
Amuse-BOUCHE
Hey, sweet tooth, sugar doesn’t come from the poetic cane alone; some 30 percent of the world’s supply is manufactured from the sugar beet, and the U.S. is one of the world’s three largest producers of the crop. No surprise, then, that GMO juggernaut Monsanto has developed a Roundup Ready version of the plant, which,…
SXSW as it happens!
Every time I hit the road for this type of trip I’m reminded of Bloodsport – my favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme film that is also reputed for catapulting Forest Whitaker’s career into the Oscar realm. The movie begins with fighters from around the world practicing with their masters before traveling to Kumite (pronounced Koo-mi-tay) – an…
Psychobilly noir
A lot of Americans like to talk about how great it would be to move to Europe, but if you’re one of these aspiring expatriates, you might want to start saying, “I’d love to move anywhere in Europe except Denmark.” Turns out that, in a continent rife with simmering youth movements that seem 40 years…
Another day, another march
There are several documentaries under production on the Border Wall issue. One day, you will wake up, roll over, and be held captive by one produced by a determined and generous soul who has been in the mix practically since the day Congress approved the Secure Fence Act. For now, we have Nat Stone’s well-crafted…
No Al Muro
It was about ten years ago and my first trip to Marfa. I wasn’t there for Judd’s concrete boxes, likely hadn’t been tipped to Judd’s genius at the time. I was down for some Border Patrol meeting, the substance of which has long escaped me, distanced as I am by thousands of news items and…
No Al Muro
It was about ten years ago and my first trip to Marfa. I wasn’t there for Judd’s concrete boxes, likely hadn’t been tipped to Judd’s genius at the time. I was down for some Border Patrol meeting, the substance of which has long escaped me, distanced as I am by thousands of news items and…
