what’s it/where’s it? CAM mystery art pic March 14
Hello, it’s Monday, day 14 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below. Be the first to post the correct answer *on our website*…
what’s it/where’s it? CAM mystery art pic March 13
Hello, it’s Sunday, day 13 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below. Be the first to post the correct answer *on our website*…
A Place to Bury Strangers will hit up San Antonio before they perform at SXSW
Dubbed the “loudest band in New York,” A Place to Bury Strangers is sonic annihilation of ear-splitting distortion and outlandish pedal effects littered with shoegaze vocals. Their sound is somewhere in the aural realm of The Jesus and Mary Chain-meets-Reed Ghazala with a chainsaw. The band came together in 2003 and consists of singer/guitarist Oliver…
Texas Democratic Party chair calls for Dan Ramos to resign
We suspected Bexar County Democratic Chair Dan Ramos’ comments wouldn’t go down easy with Democrats in Bexar County or across the state. We were right. Earlier tonight the chair of the state Democratic Party called on Ramos to resign, saying the “bigoted attitudes he expressed are totally contrary to the beliefs and declarations of the…
what’s it/where’s it? CAM mystery art pic March 12
Hello, it’s Saturday, day 12 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below. Be the first to post the correct answer *on our website*…
Bexar County Dem Chair Dan Ramos likens Stonewall Democrats to Nazi Party
As Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed prepares to haul the former treasurer of the Bexar County Democrats into court for a second trial setting on Tuesday on charges of embezzling more than $200,000 from the party’s bank accounts, embattled party Chair Dan Ramos has other things on his mind: specifically the homosexual “termites” that…
Dead Space 2 trades some of the horror for a lot more action
Of the entire spectrum of human emotion, there is none more manipulative, more intense, or more transforming than fear. Perhaps even more disturbing (or fascinating, depending on your outlook) is our culture’s seemingly morbid curiosity with it: Parents spin tales to scare children into behaving, films centered on terror-filled topics are made yearly for the…
Which social media tools work best for you?
“From Facebook to YouTube to Digg and beyond, which media outlets will net the most bang for the buck in terms of customer communication, brand exposure, traffic, and SEO? ” – via cmo.com READ MORE HERE.
“Clay Graces a Cafe” by Chris Prince
Introduction Often survival of the fittest is found lacking, especially for humans, and means two things: 1. complete self-confidence & 2. utter lack of common courtesy. Of course we all see things our way, some more than others, like Clay in Chris Prince’s story this week. He’s not a particularly sympathetic character (even trying to…
what’s it/where’s it? CAM mystery art pic March 11
Hello, it’s Friday, day 11 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below. Be the first to post the correct answer *on our website*…
what’s it/where’s it? CAM mystery art pick, March 10
Hello, it’s Thursday, day 10 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below. Be the first to post the correct answer *on our website*…
‘Pal-hound’ Tim Duncan’s 10,000 female friends
By Rudy Gayby The Onion recently launched their satirical take on ESPN’s ubiquitous news program, Sportscenter. Airing on Tuesday’s at 7 pm, The Onion’s Sportsdome is written in the same tone as their famous print weekly. One of The Onion’s favorite athletes to satirize is San Antonio’s own – Tim Duncan. Exhibits: A, B, C,…
Clogged Caps 7: All City
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 This weekend, seven floor-to-ceiling masterpieces will be created expressly for the Clogged Caps International Aerosol Arts Festival. Under the guidance of the local chapter of the LAWS Crew, Clogged Caps turns SA into a spray-happy “hip-hop epicenter.” On Friday, get acquainted with visiting aerosol stars from California, New York, and…
The Lion in Winter
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 The Classic Theatre of San Antonio requests your presence at the chateau of King Henry II of England, where a hot, royal mess is unfolding. Set in 1183, James Goldman’s 1966 play The Lion in Winter revolves around three princes (John, a spoiled brat, Geoffrey, the unloved “brains of the…
The Lion in Winter
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 The Classic Theatre of San Antonio requests your presence at the chateau of King Henry II of England, where a hot, royal mess is unfolding. Set in 1183, James Goldman’s 1966 play The Lion in Winter revolves around three princes (John, a spoiled brat, Geoffrey, the unloved “brains of the…
Art opening: CAM: Erick Jackson: Fever Dream
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 When Washington, D.C.-based artist Erick Jackson isn’t fronting the Apes, a band known for “a raw and primal bombast of hard-rock mysticism,” he creates paintings that combine “childhood memory with an imagined, other world.” Jarringly surreal, Jackson’s paintings range from psychedelic mashups to landscapes thrown off-kilter by conceptual signage and…
Luminaria 2011
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 On Saturday, HemisFair becomes a sprawling canvas for hordes of artists experimenting in every imaginable discipline. Modeled after such arts festivals as Paris’ Nuit Blanche, Luminaria (presented by Rackspace, which donated $100,000 to the cause) promises to dazzle with performances on nine stages and site-specific installations overflowing from four curatorial…
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 Although Lynyrd Skynyrd is best known for hits like “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” 1977’s “That Smell” (from the album Street Survivors) has particular resonance. Based on reckless indulgence, a near-fatal car accident, and the odor emitted by sizzling heroin, “That Smell” warns, “tomorrow might not be there for…
Sugar & Gold, Yip Deceiver, DJs Gold Trash & Jester
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 Both Sugar & Gold and Yip Deceiver (who share the bill with local DJs Gold Trash and Jester) are made up of touring members of the Athens, Ga-based indie-rock outfit of Montreal. For a glimpse into Sugar & Gold’s infectious world of stripped-down disco beats, unfussy lyrics, and cheeky music…
An Acoustic Evening with Jon Anderson
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 Give Jon Anderson a break. His solo work, after leading progressive rock legend Yes for five decades (including a “two-Yes era” in ’89-’92), has been an unpredictable trip of world music and spiritual fusion with one common link: ambitious songwriting and superb musicianship. This show has added local flavor: Anderson…
Art opening: CAM: MIXMASTERS: this is who we are
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2011-03-10 CAM may seem like a hyperlocal event, what with all the SA artists kicking it this month, but some out-of-town talent is coming in, too. Mixmasters: this is who we are opens this Thursday at ONE9ZERO6 Gallery billed as a dialogue between Austin and SA artists — what are they…
Local Literati to Shine During Luminaria
Luminaria isn’t just about visual arts, dance, theater, and media arts, y’know. San Anto has a fine selection of literary artists, too. In fact, quite a few well-known and budding local writers will be out in full force throughout Luminaria. A few weeks ago we spoke to Marian Aitches, one of Luminaria’s literary arts artist…
Troubled youth find another chance at Por Vida Academy
There’s no denying San Antonio has a large number of youth and teens hanging over the precipice — in danger of falling into lives as under-educated, chronically unemployed adults; alcohol or drug addicts; criminals, or worse. Nestled in a copse of pecan trees off Mission Road, the Por Vida Academy Charter High School throws a…
what’s it/where’s it CAM mystery pic & prize offers
Hello, it’s Wednesday, day 9 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below. Be the first to post the correct answer *on our website*…
Déjà vu with CPS/NRG talks
By Michael Barajas mbarajas@sacurrent.com With city-owned CPS Energy looking at proposals from NRG Energy to possibly buy deeper into a proposed nuclear plant expansion, local and Austin-based activists are feeling déjà vu. “We wish CPS would have learned the lesson it should have learned a year ago. I wish we didn’t have to go through…
R.E.M.: Collapse Into Now
R.E.M.: Collapse Into Now Label: Warner Brothers Release Date: 2011-03-09 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording R.E.M.’s 15th studio release maintains the momentum of 2008’s Accelerate and makes the case for the band’s continuing relevance. By doubling-down on lushly textured ballads on Accelerate, R.E.M. reversed a dozen-year fallow period of art-pop experimentation that sapped their signature vitality.…
Local review of OBX and Tech-Neek’s Rage (EP)
Local review of OBX and Tech-Neek’s Rage (EP) Label: DBDFam Music Release Date: 2011-03-09 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording The title of OBX (oh-bex) and Tech-Neek’s Rage EP is a little misleading. What’s here is a 14-track micro-opus, complete with several interludes. The ambition is a welcome change to other locally released EPs. The aural meticulousness…
Local review of The Hickoids’ Kicking it With the Twits
Local review of The Hickoids’ Kicking it With the Twits Label: Saustex Release Date: 2011-03-09 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording At varying intervals in the last three decades, the Hickoids have staked their claim over defiantly crass and discomfortingly honest cow punk. Meanwhile, they’ve interspersed borderline parodic country ballads and bluegrass sing-alongs. Their latest, Kicking It…
Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson
Big Head Blues Club: 100 Years of Robert Johnson Label: Big Records Release Date: 2011-03-09 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording Arguably the most influential blues guitarist ever, Robert Johnson’s legend was born when he died at age 27 under mysterious circumstances in 1938. About two years earlier he recorded 16 tracks at San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel,…
Club Venom specialize in hard, fast, and cheap
Within five minutes of walking through the Club Venom doors, I’m breathing fire from what turns out to be a shot of mostly Everclear. The bartender tells me they sell the shot, “The Terminator,” in droves — something I find a little hard to believe with the taste of diesel fuel still lingering on my…
Puro pinche roller derby action arrives Sunday! SUNDAY! Sunday! in San Antonio
It’s that time again, folks. Puro pinche derby is set to take over Saytown yet again, effectively wiping out any lingering winter doldrums. First up are the Alamo City Rollergirls, opening their sixth season in SA in a bout with Beaumont’s Spindletop crew at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Rollercade, 223 Recoleta. Tickets…
San Anto Cultural Arts’ ‘Transformation’ mural dedication at Haven for Hope
At 183 feet long and 14 feet high, Transformation is San Anto’s largest mural yet, and it depicts a quest as grand as its scale: chronicling the stories of change and hope among the city’s homeless population. “The mural depicts the theme of transformation,” said lead muralist Gabriel Garcia, who led contributors from the San…
Child’s play: Delusions of ‘Pencil Pusher’ settle outside nostalgia
I’ve always been a bit suspicious of adults meddling with the culture of children. At the age of six or seven, the guiding forces are the kids two and three years ahead in class. They are the ones who pass on the game rules and strategies for contesting power on the playground; adults are just…
Interview: Yoko Ono dominating dance floor with remixes
Yoko Ono has run the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club six times in a row with her chart-topper “Move On Fast.” Though new to the music mix world, she is one of the most infamous artists in the high art world, with over half a century of avant-garde practice. Known by many…
Luminaria 2011 marked by coonskin guerrilla, inflatable sculpture
Luminaria will light up the night again this Saturday with music, theater, dance, street performers, poetry readings, and loads of visual art. It’s inspired by the Paris event Nuit Blanche (White Night) — a French term that also refers to pulling an all-nighter, a sleepless light-filled night, which is how the party in Paris rolls.…
Great expectations: Dickens, Lady Gaga, and the villains of the AT&T Center
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …" — Charles Dickens The memorable…
Interview with Tom Simmons, stand-up philosopher
The 1980s are often cited as the golden age of comedy. People all over fell in love with the medium as clubs opened up across the country. Stages seemed to develop overnight as coffee shops, pizzerias, and bars began holding regular comedy nights in an effort to capitalize on the laugh wave. But with the…
Texas films get the SXSW treatment in the festival’s biggest year ever
In 1994, South by Southwest sprouted its cinematic festival tentacle. In the time since, “There’s never been one that I’ve not gone crazy at,” says aintitcool.com founder Harry Knowles. 2011 is a milestone year for South by (and by extension, Texas), now a 25-year-old annual event, and also for Texan Knowles, whose film website is…
Live & Local: Little Brave at Sam’s Burger Joint (with video)
After her superb CD Wound & Will, reviewed in last week’s Current, my expectations of Little Brave presenting her album in concert where high. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw Saturday night. See, Little Brave (formerly known as Stephanie Briggs) can’t do anything simple. Don’t get me wrong: her music —…
The Current picks the key U.S. and world films of SXSW 2011
THE ONE Denmark’s In a Better World (2011 Golden Globe and Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Language Film) is arguably the most important film being shown at SXSW this year. Directed by Susanne Bier (Things We Lost in the Fire, After the Wedding), the movie contrasts an idyllic Denmark with a harsh African refugee camp…
Kansas City’s Making Movies, the new Azul, and hot Pop Pistol join forces at Main Plaza
On the heels of L.A.’s La Santa Cecilia’s packed back-to-back shows at the Mix and Boneshakers in February, another bilingual Latin alternative band comes to San Antonio with an almost identical calendar: Kansas City’s Making Movies will play at the Mix March 10 and Main Plaza on March 15. Both shows are highly recommended. Making…
Critic’s Pick: White Material
Dressed in a light pink frock and standing on a dusty road in an unnamed African country, Maria Vial (Isabelle Huppert), the central character in the French art-house film White Material, appears spellbound by the changes happening in a world she once thought of as her home. Maria, who lives with her family on their…
The rise (or not) of Latin alternative music in San Antonio, and early SXSW spillovers
How many times do you have an unknown touring act who sings mostly in Spanish pack back-to-back shows in San Antonio? That’s exactly what happened to La Santa Cecilia at the Mix and Boneshakers a couple weeks ago. The person who brought them here can finally exhale. “I was a little concerned leading up to…
Closing tax loopholes, guns (and booze) on campus, Texas earns ‘C’ for sex trafficking, and CPS-NRG arm twist
Closing tax loopholes Last week, QueQue got all sideways over this slicing and dicing of education and social-services budgets, suggesting maybe lawmakers should be following the parallel track of exploring new revenue creation. Yes, spending the Rainy Day Fund — all of it — but also ending corporate tax loopholes and giveaways. Yesterday a small…
Henry + the Invisibles, the best band you’ll never see, debut at SXSW
If you’re among the minority in San Antonio who still haven’t seen Henry + the Invisibles — the type heard to mutter, “I’ve heard a lot about them but I’ve never seen them.” — I have news for you: you never will. Henry + the Invisibles are the brain-heart-lungs-everything-child of Henry Roland Gutiérrez, a one-man…
Midnight at the oasis: How the madman of Libya is advancing energy progress in South Texas
In 1963, a relative of mine who worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency was with some fellow agents on their way deep into the Sahara for reasons he’s not allowed to tell me for two more years. South of the Libyan city of Benghazi, his crew settled in to spend the evening at a popular…
Kerrville’s Grape Juice brings wine experience down to earth
KERRVILLE — It’s common for folks in San Antonio to make the Hill Country their destination for weekend jaunts. While it takes only an hour to get to many Hill-sited destinations from the city, factor in another half an hour to cruise the quaint, heavily trafficked main streets where so many city dwellers are getting…
Migrant nation: ‘Sanctuary cities’ already a relic as Lege does Perry’s bidding
At the first of what is bound to become numerous hearings on the many immigration bills filed in the Texas Legislature, House State Affairs Committee member Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, found himself fighting a “myth” — the oft-repeated, and erroneous, notion that criminal immigrants roam free in parts of Texas, arrested time and time again by…
French twist: Taste Crepes & More
Peering into the windows of Taste Crepes with my posse of bubbly girlfriends, I observed a joint that keeps the aesthetics simple. Only a few pictures attempt to liven up the stark red and white walls. In fact, the only effort that has been made to visually distance this unique venture from the Quiznos sub…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Dear Mr. Astrologer: Like the god Prometheus, I stole fire from the gods and gave it to people who sometimes make awful use of it. As punishment, the gods chained me to a rock on the beach, and arranged for an eagle to come daily to eat my liver. Luckily, the…
Shiner coming out with a lighter beer, Faust beer for St. Patty’s, and Freetail Brewing goes green
Shiner again heading toward the light The Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner has been knocking a lot of beer styles out of the park in recent years, but not everything can be a winner from a marketing or style standpoint with consumers. Shiner Light has been on the market for several years now, but at 120…
Second annual Paella Challenge at the Pearl, and the closing of Watermark Grill
A good paella has a crust of crunchy rice at the bottom, plenty of seafood, and a saffron aroma. You’ll find plenty of the stuff at the Pearl Brewery on Sunday, March 13. The 2nd Annual Paella Challenge is back to feed the citizens of San Antonio. The event, organized by chef Johnny Hernandez of…
Conversations: State Budget Crisis and Education
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the statewide crisis that is the budget shortfall, you might want to take a moment to give it a Google. Over the past few weeks, I’ve paid special attention to all of the jargon that local politicos – namely, Rick Perry – are spewing in regard to…
Kevin Bacon Basketball: six degrees of NBA separation
By Rudy Gayby In 2009, Tim Duncan sat down with 11-time NBA Champion, Bill Russell (right, with Chamberlain), who was recently honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian award in the United States. During the exchange, Russell retold the story of how the day after Jackie Robinson’s death, his wife called…
what’s it/where’s it? CAM mystery pic, day 8
Hello, it’s day 8 of Contemporary Art Month. During CAM we are posting a mystery art pic every day here at Artifacts. What is it? Where is it? We’ll get back to you on that ..if you know, just leave a note below.
Fat Tuesday is Fashion Tuesday Too!
Desiree Prieto Get out those Masks and Dresses! It began in Italy to celebrate the season of Lent, however today it is celebrated around the world. Whether it’s called Carnevale, Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, it’s a great day to get dressed up, eat too much and have a blast. This weekend, my best friend…
A night out at Julian Gold benefiting Young Texans Against Cancer
Tonight, on Tuesday March 8, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM, The Young Texans Against Cancer (YTAC) invite us for a night out at Julian Gold. The evening will include lite bites, an open bar, door prizes, jewelry by Caroll Dorsey Walker, and more. 10% of all sales made this evening will benefit YTAC. RSVP on Facebook…
Starlight Comedy Night @ LOL with comedian Tom Simmons
Whenever I see those late night commercials where the poor children in other countries are sad and famished – I can’t help but ask “Just who are they targeting these commercials too anyways?” Anybody who is watching is either completely high debating an episode of Robot Chicken – or completely drunk trying to guess the…
