Flood Damage
Some bands hit the mark and some don’t. Unfortunately, the Clumsy Lovers miss the figurative mark by about five thousand feet or 2,000 years (but who’s really counting?). The Clumsy Lovers are a pseudo-Christian quintet that combines Celtic folk music with bluegrass and rock, with a penchant for jamming that makes it slightly reminiscent of…
Indie Troubadour
Indie Troubadour By Michael Alan Goldberg Rocky Votolato If all musicians must contend with the “fine line between stupid and clever,” those of the singer-songwriter sub-species have to deal with an even finer line between wrenching and retching. Especially when it pertains to that category of punk-bred artists who come out from behind the screams…
Taking it to the stage
‘Strange Snow’ and ‘In the Blood’ raise consciousness about the walking wounded of two unsuccessful wars Jenny Grossenbacher and John Minton slow dance in a scene from the Magik Theatre’s production of Strange Snow. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) An intense character study of Vietnam vets at Magik “I don’t come to the theater to think!”…
In the Round
Dance and illusion company MOMIX brings Opus Cactus to town Tuesday, March 23, at the Lila Cockrell Theater. Animated by the talent of director and choreographer Moses Pendleton, known for AEROS and Pilobolus Dance Co., MOMIX creates a magical and sensual tribute to the American Southwest Desert. For tickets and info, call 207-2234. (Photo by…
No Thanks for the Memories
Joel Barish exists only as memories in Charie Kaufman’s screenplay. (courtesy photo) ‘Eternal Sunshine’ forever banal Like Memento, Paycheck, The Bourne Identity, Total Recall, and other recent movies too numerous to remember, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind turns on memory manipulation. Like Capturing the Friedmans, it is symptomatic of a society vulnerable to false…
Value Vino
The Vineyards Restaurant at Garden Ridge has its own wine, as well as this smoked pork loin dish, and smoked salmon appetizer. (Photo by Alicia Wagner Calzada) Value Vino By Ron Bechtol Faux Fancy value vino great wines for under $15 Welcome to Value Vino, a monthly column for both wannabe wine lovers and “already…
Georgia on the Mind
A contractor for American multi-national AES assesses how to remove countless illegal lines that are used to steal electricity by residents of Tbilisi. (Photo by Paul Devlin) Tbilisi’s transition to free enterprise has not been as simple as flipping a switch When I lived in Tbilisi, the capital of what was then still Soviet Georgia,…
Campy Killer
Novelist Mort Rainey (Johnny Depp, left) is menaced by hick John Shooter (John Turturro) in Secret Window (courtesy photo) The only thing that matters is the ending “The only thing that matters is the ending.” That isn’t true, of course, but even a lie can sometimes be good advice. Writer/director David Koepp, who gives this…
Special Screenings
Special Screenings UTSA brings European cinema to Bijou From adulterous affairs to smoking bans to eccentric women, the best of modern European cinema is the focus of a film festival sponsored by the University of Texas at San Antonio. The series, which includes two panel discussions, runs from March 22-24 at the Bijou Theatre. Monday…
Powers-that-be
Val Kilmer as military man Robert Scott in Spartan (courtesy photo) David Mamet’s mouthpieces get right to the meat “One riot, one ranger,” the saying goes. Rare is the crisis that one strong man can’t fix. It’s the kind of motto only an idealistic lawman or a diehard Gary Cooper fan could buy, and David…
Chasing Caine
Michael Caine as Vichy official Pierre Brossard in The Statement (courtesy photo) The film adaptation of Brian Moore’s novel translates to an intelligent thriller In the black-and-white prologue to The Statement, it is a dismal night in Dombey, France, in 1944. Seven Jews are rousted from their homes, lined up against a wall, and shot…
Recent Reviews
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life or Robert S. McNamara Dir. Errol Morris; feat. Robert McNamara (PG-13) More than most other conflicts, the Vietnam War was fought in a fog, and Robert Strange McNamara, Secretary of Defense from 1961-68, was its leading foghorn. In 1964, when asked his reaction to dubbing it…
The Glorified Cook
The Glorified Cook By Elaine Wolff Chef Mark Bliss reflects on the Tower, presentation, and living the good life Mark Bliss seems a little weary. Deepening creases frame tired blue eyes, and underneath the wavy blond hair and scattering of freckles that cast him as the quintessential California surfer, his pallor is a bit ashen.…
Talkin’ Trash
Trash lines a section of the San Antonio River just south of the Mitchell Street bridge. Cleanup of the area, along with several others around the city, will be the focus of the 10th annual Basura Bash. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Basura Bash gives a glimpse of SA’s throwaway culture Swollen from recent rains, the…
Small Sacrifices
A bowl of potato-and-herb soup, with a turkey salad sandwich, served up as part of the St. Mark’s Lenten Luncheon (Photo by Laura McKenzie) St. Mark’s Episcopal Church takes the sting out of Lent In the movie Chocolat, free-spirited Juliette Binoche opens a chocolate shop in a conservative French town during Lent. Some find her…
Hydrogen Economy
Hydrogen Economy By Michael Cary Placido Isaac of St. Philip’s College explains the use of fuel cells to generate electricity. St. Philip’s hosted the recent conference on fuel cell technology, which brought together business, government, and academic entities to discuss the future of the hydrogen-based alternative energy technology. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) St. Philip’s College…
Latin Jazz Messenger
Latin Jazz Messenger By Alejandro Pérez Poncho Sanchez: paying tribute to his soul roots on Out of Sight Conga master Poncho Sanchez gets funky on new release The first time you play Out of Sight you’re instantly hooked – and a bit baffled, because you have no idea what all the fuss is about. From…
Notes on Hemisfair
The Tower of the Americas (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Controversy still surrounds the Tower Jerry Roane has an idea that the HemisFair master plan contingent should examine for its plans to upgrade the city’s underused downtown park. Roane has invented the Tri-Track (www.tri-track.com), a four-passenger vehicle that moves via an elevated monorail system. After all,…
Sound and the Fury
a week on the scene Remembering The Alamo In the early ’70s, a host of country-music mavericks moved to Texas in search of creative freedom. Ray Benson was one of them. At the urging of his friend, Willie Nelson, Benson brought his California western-swing band Asleep at the Wheel to Austin and garnered a devoted…
Country Grammar
Danny Barnes: homespun philosopher and banjo master Danny Barnes find his ‘Angel’ in the details It’s not often that you hear roots musicians breaking down the tenets of an 18th-century Irish philosopher, but Danny Barnes could never be mistaken for your typical roots musician. A banjo master who pens brown-dirt classics that meld bluegrass, folk,…
