Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2006 > November
November 2006
Weekend picks: Reggae riddims, Fun Fest afterparties, more
A wide range of reggae riddims
The almost urban side of Austin seems to be fighting off a lingering turkey hangover, but there are a couple good reggae road shows coming through town this weekend.
Friday: Ziggy Marley, eldest son of the legendary Bob, brings his “Love Is My Religion” tour to La Zona Rosa Friday night. With a voice that bears an uncanny resemblance to his father’s, Ziggy’s latest material has an easygoing pop feel, laden with ubiquitous positivity. $27 seems a bit steep for this show, but I suppose that the price you pay for musical royalty.
Saturday: If your reggae tastes tend more toward the classic sound you find on dusty old 45s, you might prefer The Meditations performance at Flamingo Cantina on Saturday night. One of the great harmony trios that emerged from the ’70s roots era of Jamaican music, they’ve laid vocal tracks for Marley, Jimmy Cliff and countless others. The group was featured in Lee Perry’s essential “Arkology” dub box-set, and they still tour with all three original members. $15
Saturday: Finally, it’s time once again for Baby G, Jah Flex and Jah Mighty’s monthly Ring the Alarm dancehall party at Copa. The house mix is a modern Carribean blend (dancehall, soca, booty-club stuff) and they keep the spot hot till 3 a.m. $7
Also worth checking
Friday: Fun Fun Fun Fest at Waterloo Park. Fun Fun Fun Fest does indeed sound like fun, although I am a little sad that the Austin Fuzion tent targets the electronica set with only DJ Mel representing for the urban music crowd. Nonetheless, the DJ Spooky Austin Fuzion party I went to back in October was one of my favorite shows of the year. Despite the fact that Spooky’s set included a whole lot of techno, I was blown back by the visual element. No doubt, Friday’s fest will also include many a jaw-dropping big-screen effect, plus an opportunity for girls like me to embrace our inner indie-chicks. Note: APD will be searching festival goers at the park entrance, so leave your homemade drinks and ninja throwing stars at home. $25 at the door.
Friday: Fun Fun Fun Fest afterparties. When the party at Waterloo Park winds down at 10 p.m., the Beauty Bar’s afterparty will just be warming up. The party will be hosted by DJ Klassen, who drops a diverse mix of dance-oriented indie pop blended with hip-hop, and Ian Orth. Special guests include London DJ Rory Phillips and Houston’s Cee Plus, and the bar promises drink specials till midnight. Emo’s is also throwing a Fun Fun Fun Fest aftershow at the Lounge, but no word on who’s on the decks.
“>Beauty Bar after party is $3 (free with FFF Fest stub), Emo’s Lounge after party is free.
Saturday: Move Something with Chicken George at the Whisky Bar. It’s a rare club gig from one of Austin’s most exciting turntable innovators. Expect to hear an uptempo mix of hip-hop, soul, R&B and more. “Not necessarily mainstream tunes,” Chicken George says, “but definitely stuff you can dance to.” $3
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Grupo Fantasma’s true Las Vegas stories
While the better part of Central Texas was focused of family-oriented gluttony this Thanksgiving, Austin’s own cumbia-funk heroes Grupo Fantasma traveled to Las Vegas to play a last-minute Thanksgiving evening gig at 3121, the new nightclub opened by eccentric pop superstar Prince in the Rio Hotel on Nov. 10. The band was informed that Prince would be in the house during their performance, but didn’t actually see the Artist until they caught a glimpse of him shaking his sequin-clad stuff on the side of the stage during their set.
After their gig, the band loitered in the green room in the hopes of meeting Prince, but eventually had to head out to catch a 4:30 a.m. flight back to Austin. The following day Grupo Fantasma received a phone call informing them that Prince loved their set. They were invited to return to 3121 as the official Thursday night house band in December. A few days later, they received a second call booking the band for the entire week of the 2007 Super Bowl.
For the past 6 years, the Fantasma boys have been grinding hard, averaging 150-plus gigs a year, steadily building acclaim. “For very little money, we risk our lives almost weekly on the crazy overnight drives we’ll take to make a gig,” says guitarist Adrian Quesada. “We sleep sitting up, on dirty couches, whatever. We’ve sacrificed a lot to keep this going so it really means a lot when you get someone like Prince to acknowledge that the band is doing something right.”
Grupo Fantasma begins their Thursday night residency at 3121 next week. The band will commute to Las Vegas every Thursday in December and return to Austin on Fridays to maintain their regular gig schedule. They are tentatively scheduled to play January 30-February 4, 2007 for the Super Bowl festivities. Grupo Fantasma’s next Austin gig is Friday, Dec. 29 at Antone’s.
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‘More Fish’
I stumbled across this new Ghostface track yesterday on Notes From A Different Kitchen. Overnight it became my new favorite song. Seriously. I listened to it at least 5 times last night. It features Amy Winehouse, a British soul/jazz singer. The link is from Spine Magazine. It will stream in your browser, but respect their bandwidth and right click then select “save target as” to download the track.
Ghostface Killah featuring Amy Winehouse - “You Know I’m No Good”
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The return of UGK, plus notes on ‘Kingdom Come’
Peep this track. “Up Next,” UGK’s latest, produced by Marley Marl and featuring Kool G. Rap and Big Daddy Kane. It goes hard. (via Nah Right)
T. and I struggled through “Kingdom Come” on the drive to San Antonio this weekend. It was pretty rough. T. tried to slide it out of the player after the Beyonce joint (track 10), but the lady protested, so we checked the whole thing. I love Jay, and I still would pay a pretty penny to see him spit live, but I certainly wouldn’t pay full price for this album. Conveniently enough, thanks to iTunes, Napster and the like, no one actually has to buy a full album anymore.
Tracks worth downloading? The title track “Kingdom Come,” “30 Something,” (yes, the hook is a cliche, but the track is still a banger.) and “Minority Report.” That’s $3 worth of new Jay-Z I’d feel pretty good about owning.
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Fire, funk and fantasy - live shots from RockIt 6
It was like Parliment-Funkadelic meets Crash Worship at an old school hip-hop block party on the edge of the barrio. That’s the best way I can sum up the fantastic extravaganza that was BigFace and Manny’s RockIt 6 last Saturday in the Enchanted Forest. We followed a trail of Christmas lights into the wooded artists’ compound toward a pulsing beat where we found fire dancers, b-boys and a myriad of funkateers at play. A massive disco ball hung from a tree cast dancing lights across the camp.
There were so many highlights, it’s hard to sum up. The girls from balancing act Topsy Turvy were unique and amazing. The Super Sonic Soul Squad dance team rocked a Punky-Brewster-jacking-Rainbow-Brite kind of look, but their moves were straight “Soul Train.” Half of Brownout performed their headlock instrumental funk in Mexican wrestler masks, and when MC Tiger Liu emerged from the woods in a capoeira flourish, he was clad in gold like a Mayan god. His entrance was marked by an extended electro-funk jam of “Electric Avenue” complete with keytar. Though the only drinks on tap were hot coffee, tea and chai, spirits were high, giddy even. In short, it was one of the coolest parties I’ve been to all year.
Here are some more pics:
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Weekend picks: RockIt 6, the mighty Fantasma, DJ Rob Swift and more
RockIt 6: A hip-hopera in the Enchanted Forest
“DJ Manny and Big Face go to the jungles of Zanbar in look for the one called Tigre Liu. Tigre Liu holds the power that unlocks the key to the funk. In our journey into the jungle we must beware of the Zanbar devil and enjoy the company of many new friends from Zanbar”
Wow, that’s the most cryptically intriguing press fragment I’ve heard in a minute. For the sixth installment of Manny and Big Face’s semiannual RockIt funk and soul party, they’ve clearly taken a cue from the old-school, mothership commanding pioneers of the form and created a full-blown spectacular event that combines music, dance and theatrics. This party, in the South Austin “Enchanted Forest” art compound features performances from Brownout! (the funky side project of Grupo Fantasma), an all-female dance team no less than 10 chicas deep known as the Super Sonic Soul Squad, fire mistress Sage and her crew, and a two-girl circus-style balancing act.
“Do they balance things on themselves?” I asked BigFace.
“No,” he replied with undisguised awe in his voice. “They balance on each other.”
In addition to the aforementioned madness and mayhem, Manny and BigFace will be dropping body-moving soul and funk jams, and MC Tigre Liu will bless the event with verses. If you plan to go, be sure to bundle up, as it is an outdoor event, and pack a flask, as it is B.Y.O.B. Also, leave the stilettos at home. While you won’t be conquering rough terrain, you don’t want to sink into the grass. Party kicks off with a set from Brownout! at 9 p.m. $10
Also worth checking
Friday: Grupo Fantasma at Antone’s. Most of these cats got their start in Laredo, improvising at all night funk parties in a city that went to bed at bar time. Over time, they migrated to Austin, bringing with them a unique brand of tequila-soaked border funk. When they reconvened in Austin in the early 00s, they were an explosive overnight success. Over the past few years, their rockin’ cumbia fusion has been steadily winning the hearts of music fans across the nation, and just this week, they were given the purple stamp of pop-funk approval in the form of an invite to play Prince’s new nightclub in Vegas on Thanksgiving. $12-$15
Friday: Mike and Ike with In the Pocket at the Whisky Bar. Longtime Almost Urban readers might remember that I dropped in on one of Mike and Ike’s summer sessions with the instrumental ensemble In the Pocket back in July. It was a fun gig, but primarily, I was impressed by the group’s ridiculously cute fan club. I hung around for a good 40 minutes of instrumental jamming and stepped out shortly after the MCs took the stage. Subsequently, I left a Mike and Ike CD sitting on top of a speaker in my bedroom collecting dust for a good two months. When I finally broke it out, I felt like a royal fool for snoozing so long. It was a smooth platter full of intelligent rhymes laid over jazzy beats infused with ample soul. Drop by Mike and Ike’s MySpace page for a sample. Mike and Ike with In The Pocket kick the night off at 9:30 p.m.; DJ Tats closes it out.
Saturday: ‘Recess’ with NickNack at the Beauty Bar. NickNack, longtime Austin DJ and host of the popular ATX hip-hop message board community crowdcontrolrecords.com invites you to get your play on at this Saturday night ‘Recess’ party at the Beauty Bar. When I bumped into Nick last weekend at Gomi, he told me broad form genre-mixing is on the agenda for this event. Expect to hear everything from hip-hop to art rock expertly mixed and mashed by this top-notch turntablist who is also a member of the internationally acclaimed jazz-fusion outfit Blaze. No Cover.
Saturday: Rob Swift at the Whisky Bar. Speaking of top-notch turntablists, Rob Swift joined the ground-breaking DJ crew the X-ecutioners in 1991 and through the years has become one of the more instrumental artists in the overall elevation on the form. Though he’s best known for the competitive turntablism (beat-juggling, fancy scratching and the like) that made him a legend, Almost Urban is willing to bet good money that this Queens native also knows how to turn a party out. $5
Saturday: D-Madness at Ruta Maya. Here’s the scenario: RockIt! is off the hook, but after a couple hours you start to get cold and you’re longing for a drink you didn’t just pull out of your pocket. You’re already in South Austin, so why not head down to Ruta Maya where D-Madness and company will be keeping it hot all night long. $5
Sunday: ‘Old School & Golden Age the Hip-hop Rap-Along’ at the Alamo downtown. Time to bust out the Adidas tracksuit and the chunky gold chains — it’s an old school rap-along at the Alamo. Our friends at the Drafthouse promise to highlight the best from the pre-East Coast/West Coast gansta era of hip-hop with videos, props and special surprises. $8-$10
Grupo Fantasma’s Vegas Thanksgiving with Prince!
I’ve been meaning to blog on the Purple One’s odd (if not utterly appropriate) transformation into glittery Vegas sideshow. Last week The Artist opened a new nightclub, 3121, at The Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. It was a predictably circuslike affair, with Prince’s Australian twin backup singers (The Twinz) serving as official press secretaries for the event. All of which is terribly entertaining, and worthy of snarky commentary, but I’m just a low-brow local blogger, and I tend to leave serious snarking to the professionals, so I let it slide.
But then I stumbled across this posting that made me reconsider my shallow sequin-clad preconceptions of his Purple Majesty’s latest venture. Austin’s own cumbia-funk darlings, the mighty Grupo Fantasma, have been invited to play the club on Thanksgiving Day! That’s mad cool, no? The artist himself is scheduled to headline the club the night after the Grupo show. If I weren’t already committed to family-oriented sobriety for the holiday, I’d probably be on Expedia right now trying to book my flight. Big ups to the Fantasma boys for landing the gig, and Almost Urban understands the “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” adage, but please boys, take pictures!
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Scratch that! In the mix with DJ Chicken George
DJ Chicken George stormed onto the Austin music scene right before SXSW 2003 in a whirlwind of vision, groove and hustle. Within weeks of his arrival, he became a fixture in the clubs. The “it” DJ of the moment, he held down a good three weekly night club residencies at any given time during his first year in Austin. Meanwhile, during the days, he scattered the city with mix tapes and t-shirts from his own clothing line, which drifted onto the shelves of some of Austin’s trendiest boutiques. His name, along with the sharp CG logo emblazoned across his tees, became a ubiquitous presence in ATX music and fashion circles.
Over the past few years, his position on the scene has evolved. These days, you won’t catch Chicken George at the Red Fez on a Friday night, but he makes frequent appearances on the mix shows on Hot 93.3 FM. His local club gigs are sporadically scheduled and selectively chosen, and he’s focused on using Austin as a springboard for the international launch of CG enterprises.
Almost Urban caught up with Chicken George at the CD release party for his “Chicken Soup volume 5” mix tape at Gomi, a boutique in the new Second Street district. He dropped tasty selections of cosmopolitan hip-hop and soul, stewed with jazzy abstractions and world groove. I perused the store’s unique collection of hipster threads, obscure music and darkly humorous toys (I’m particularly fond of Zombie Bunnies) and mingled with laid back artsy folk. Later on, I hit him up for the lowdown on his recent tour, the new mix tape and his musical genre of choice, “jazztronica.”
Can you define the term “jazztronica” and name three artists working in this form that you’re excited about?
“Jazztronica” is an amalgamation of cultured beats & rhythms mixed with soul & jazz-tinged grooves. I really enjoy the works of Freddie Cruger (Sweden), Hydroponic Sound System and DJ Cam.
How’s your clothing line coming along, and what have you learned from working at the intersection of music and fashion?
The line is doing extremely well. I sell quite a bit of CG merchandise through my Web site and at boutiques across the globe. It’s been quite gratifying to see how far my gear has traveled. Most that have purchased my merchandise did so after hearing a CG mix or 12” release. But I’ve encountered many that bought my clothing based solely on the design and had no idea about the music side of CG. The mixture of music and fashion, in my case, definitely complement each other.
Where did the Fall 2006 Egg Drop tour take you, and what was the highlight?
The Egg Drop Tour took me to Bend, Ore.; Portland; Seattle; Chicago; and Los Angeles. There were many highlights of the tour. The most memorable were the Root Down in Los Angeles, the Grove in Bend and various shows in Chicago and Portland.
Can you give me three adjectives to describe the musical journey that is “Chicken Soup 5”?
Soothing, eclectic and progressive.
My favorite track on this mixtape is the Kev Brown joint “Albany,” a love song about grasping for a meaningful moment in a casual encounter. It aches with a loneliness that cuts to the heart. Where were you the first time you heard that song, and how did it affect you?
I first heard that song while driving to Houston and listening to an advance copy of Kev Brown’s new album “I Do What I Do.” I remember putting that song on repeat. I must have listened to it 100 times that day. Everything from the production to the content of the lyrics is extraordinary. It’s one of those tracks that just captivates you. It just makes you feel good every time you listen to it.
Do you hunt for new music online, and if so, where?
I keep up with new music by listening to online radio. Some of my favorites are “Worldwide” with Gilles Peterson on BBC, ProperlyChilled.com and Betalounge.com. I also purchase from music sites such as Groovedis.com, DustyGroove.com, MobileUnderground.com, 360vinyl.com and many others.
Are you still a vegetarian? What Austin restaurant serves up your favorite veggie dish?
I’m a vegetarian of four years now. I frequent Hai Ky on East Oltorf for the tofu and veggie vermicelli bowl with spring rolls. It’s award-winning!
What’s next on the plate for you (musically speaking, that is)?
I’ve just completed my second 12” on Swedish Brandy, “DJ Chicken George Presents: The Swed.u.s.h Connection 2.” It’s scheduled to be released in a few weeks. It features new “jazztronica” tracks from J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science, Illvibe Collective feat. Lady Alma, Adrian Quesada feat. Martin Perna of Antibalas and NickNack.
Where can people cop your stuff?
The easiest place to purchase my music and merchandise is through my online store at www.DjChickenGeorge.com
More pics from the “Chicken Soup v. 5” release party.
Weekend picks: Free beer, Chicken George, Planet Rock, more
Friday and Sunday: DJ Chicken George. Chicken George is one of Austin’s most exciting musical innovators. Returning to Austin from the successful “Egg Drop” tour that took him to Chicago, L.A. and the Pacific Northwest, he’s hosting a release party for the latest offering in his popular Chicken Soup mixtape series at the trendy downtown boutique Gomi. Chicken George will be working the wheels from 6 to 10 p.m. with free beer on tap to help you get your shopping groove on. If the 2nd Street District is a little upscale for your tastes, don a pair of flip-flops and head down to the Austin Java Company on Lamar Boulevard on Sunday morning. Chicken George will be serving up tasty jazztronica grooves for your brunching pleasure. Both events are free.
Friday: Modern Man at the Whisky Bar. New ATX hip-hop artists Modern Man describe their music as “a rag tag mash up of gritty drums, melodic flutes, prophetic lyrics, and block party energy.” After giving their debut CD a brief listen, my description includes unobtrusive hints of indie rock, smooth flows rich with real talk and beats that relentlessly invite a bounce. Watch for these cats, they’re on the up. They’ll be celebrating their CD release down at the Whisky Bar at 11 p.m. Cutmaster DJ Tats closes the night out. Free.
Saturday: B-Boy City Planet Rock Party at the Beauty Bar. It’s another party honoring breakdancing, one of the less celebrated elements of hip-hop, hosted by Austin’s all-stars from B-Boy City. The last party they threw was ridiculous fun, and as many of the same DJs are returning, this one should be no different. Expect to see circles of dancers busting their rawest moves, and with any luck you might even catch a dance battle or two. The theme for the party is Pumas vs. Adidas so break out those old school threads for a discount at the door. Party starts at 8 p.m. $3 with gear, $5 without.
Saturday: 11/11 Block Party. The last time B-Boy City held a Planet Rock party the event was combined with Gallery Lombardi’s graffiti exhibit. If you need to get your graf on this Saturday head over to East Austin for this block party that includes music, film and live mural painting. Party lasts from 5 to 10 p.m., and your $5 donation at the door benefits People Not Profit’s “Feed The Hungry” Project.
Saturday: Garage and Soul DJ Night at Emo’s Lounge. The Austin Soul Club is launching a 2nd Saturday monthly happening at Emo’s Lounge. The brainchild of some of Austin’s deepest crate diggers and lovers of rare groove, you’re not going to hear any radio tracks at this party. Instead, expect dusty cuts full of funk, garage rock and “upbeat psych.” Featured DJs include Brett Koshkin aka Pointman, Little Danny from Waxploitation and Friend of Sound Records DJs Coolhands and Hobo D. Free.
Saturday: Latin Dance Party at the Victory Grill. Can’t stomach the traffic disaster better known as Sixth Street on a Saturday night? Head over to the historic Victory Grill where Thomas Fawcett, host of the excellent local hip-hop blog The Corner and the award-winning KVRX radio show, The Afro-Boogaloo Soul Revue will be spinning “healthy doses of hard salsa, and Latin funk and soul” all night long. The party is a benefit for UT’s Institute for Latin American Studies Student Association, and your $15 admission includes dinner and drinks.
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‘I Pity The Fool’ plus Carnival Beats
Allhiphop.com has a nice feature on ’80s icon Mr. T. who hosts the new self-help reality TV show ‘I Pity The Fool.’ According to T. his show contains, “no nudi-T, no obsceni-T, and there’s a lot of humili-T.” He also talks about his mohawk and argues that despite his classic look including a good 50 pounds of gold chains he “never wore bling.”
Closer to home, Mr. Blakes has a very inspiring interview with Austin-based Carnival Beats producer Salih Williams, the man behind the beat on Texas mega-hits “Sittin’ Sideways,” “Still Tippin’,” “Back Then,” and many others. Commenting on the Austin hip-hop scene, Williams offers the following:
“Austin is very diverse and has always been ‘the next’ but the industry wasn’t where it needs to be. With Houston, I think everyone was on the same caravan so it worked. Austin is more colorful than Dallas or Houston, but there’s so many styles it’s like a big party. Austin needs a little law and order. But when a major plants his house here, organizes, finds the true talent and signs it, Austin will be the next mecca because there’s so much.”
Reading that got me hyped. Thanks, Blakes!
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Because we all love free drinks…
Taking a cue from every self-respecting college student who’s ever made the conscious decision to nap through Friday classes, I’ve got to tell you, the weekend really does start on Thursday. The last couple Thursdays in Austin have been off the chain, and this Thursday should be no different.
First off, Trae, the latest rapper about to burst out of H-town in a very big way, is performing at Bongo’s down by campus. I don’t have a whole lot of details on this one, but the man, best known for his ubiquitous single “Swang,” is definitely on some next tip. Seriously. Based on street buzz alone, I’m guessing he’ll pull quite a crowd.
Meanwhile, over on Red River, the nice folks from the hip Jewish rag Heeb, are passing through town on their way to host the Second Heeb Film Festival in Houston this weekend. They’ve kindly decided to drop by the Beauty Bar and throw a party in Austin featuring DJ Tats to kickoff the event. And, in a brilliant ploy to win the undying affection of low-budget hipsters from all sects of our city, they’re not just screening films. They’ll also be serving up Tito’s Vodka drinks. Best part? You guessed it, the whole thing is free! Party starts at 9 p.m.
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Britney kicks K-Fed to the curb
According to breaking news headlines spreading rapidly across the Web, the Federation is crumbling. Britney Spears has reportedly filed for divorce from her husband, dancer and aspiring rapper, Kevin Federline aka K-Fed. Spears cites irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce.
More details available here. Also, track Britney’s rise (with a few stumbles thrown in just for fun).
(photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Rumors, exciting rumors
I’ve heard a couple rumors in recent weeks that Gary Clark Jr., rising lion of the Austin blues scene, is working on projects with local hip-hop artists. I have no details about the identities of Clark’s potential MC collaborators, but suffice it to say I’m definitely keeping an ear to the ground. The impact of this young blues savant, whose voice aches with wisdom beyond his years, adding his considerable talent (and reach) to the ATX hip-hop scene could be very exciting indeed.
(photo by Brian K. Diggs AMERICAN-STATESMAN)
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Weekend picks - Mel in the mix, Red Bull happy hour and the Swingers Lounge
It seems like the urban side of Austin outdid itself for Halloween, as this weekend’s entertainment offerings seem a little slim. Nonetheless, we all need to drink, so here’s an abbreviated version of my regular weekend picks.
Mel’s in the mix
Friday and Saturday: You get 2 chances to shake your stuff to the body moving beats of Austin’s original party rocker, DJ Mel, this weekend. Mel will be mixing it up down at the Beauty Bar on Friday night. Then he moves over to the Warehouse District on Saturday to wreck shop at the Whisky Bar. I was hated on severely by a bunch of more-hip-hop-than-thou message board warriors from N.Y.C. (Oooh, y’all are gangsta!) when I wrote this report back in August, but the time that Mel closed a Saturday at the Whisky Bar with the entire crowd standing on their seats singing along to Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” remains one of my all time favorite Austin club moments. Cover unspecified (but I bet it’s nominal).
Also worth checking
Friday: DJ Rich at Barcelona. I normally wouldn’t send y’all to check a DJ I’ve never seen myself, but I am awfully fond of this swanky basement club with its expansive dance floor and euro-hipster vibe. I’m also fond of the wide-awake yet stumbley feeling that Red Bull and vodka can give a girl. Until 11 p.m., it’s on special for $2 a pop at the bar. No cover.
Saturday: Ring the Alarm at Copa. Baby G, Jah Flex and Jah Mighty bring you the best in Soca, Reggae, and Dancehall grooves all night long. In the main room, the lights are low, the crowd is thick and the couples dance scandalously. Out back, there’s hot, fresh Caribbean grub, and upstairs it’s a Salsa party. $7 (party continues til 3 a.m.)
Sunday: Swinger Night at the Beauty Bar. Need to slow down after a hard weekend of debauchery? Head down to the Beauty Bar where The Swinger from KOOP radio will be dropping vintage jazz, big band and soul classics. He also promises to slip in a little “crime jazz” theme music, so be sure to order that martini shaken not stirred to get in the mood. Your $2 cover enters you into a raffle for gift certificates from Backspin Records and Blue Velvet Vintage. It also benefits KOOP radio.
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ME TV’s Rock N’ Roll Dia, plus random notes
I was just writing last week about how much I love the Mexican influence on Austin culture, and how the Day of the Dead is one of the coolest holidays ever. These pics from the parade that went down in East Austin last weekend only reinforce that feeling. Día de los Muertos is actually celebrated Nov. 2, and the nice folks over at ME TV and Sonida Boombox have put together what is sure to be a rockin’ party to celebrate. Cine Las Americas will be screening films, Latinas Unidas Por el Arte (LUPE Arte) will offer their comedic skills, and rockers Maneja Beto, funkateers Brownout! and Brazilian groovers Ghandaia are all on the music bill. The party goes down Thursday night at La Zona Rosa and there’s a $12 cover.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the blog-o-sphere:
Divorce does her right. Guess what y’all, Whitney’s actually looking good.
Kevin Fed Watch: Days before Mr. Brit’s album launch this weekend, rumors are flying that the show might be cancelled due to sluggish ticket sales.
Kim Osorio speaks out about her court victory against The Source.
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