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Your A-List: Best Dance/Electronica Group
A note of disclosure: I am friends with this week’s winners.
In a town known for its roots and rock ‘n roll, Ghostland Observatory has forged a national reputation for its electronic dance/rock sound that has had bodies moving in Austin and beyond since 2004. The dynamic duo is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Dance Electronic Group, with an overwhleming 73 percent of the vote.
Since its first show in tiny Liberty Hill on July 4, 2004, the band has gone from club darlings to national festival sensations, backed by the beats of the caped Thomas Turner and fronted by the writhing and electric Aaron Behrens. With a super-sensory light show, the band wowed audiences at last year’s ACL Fest, graced the stages at festivals around the country and played to sold out crowds in England. In addition to a few club gigs, the band is currently preparing for a spate of summer festival shows to promote its new album, ‘Robotique Majestique,’ an album that was initially celebrated with a sold-out show at the Austin Music Hall in February.
Ghostland links:
- Story: Ghostland earns band of the year
- Story: Ghostland Observatory awes fans at ACL taping
- Photos: Ghostland Observatory on stage | A-List photos from Emo’s, 6.20.07
- Video: Interview with Ghostland from ACL 2006
- Audio: Listen to Ghostland on Soundcheck360
Others receiving votes
- D:Fuse, 7 percent
- DJ Manny, 5 percent
- Whatamelon, 3 percent
- J.A.M.O.N., 3 percent
- Charanga Cakewalk, 2 percent
- Trey Lopez, 2 percent
- Learning Secrets, 2 percent
- Bird Peterson, 1 percent
- John Gomi, 1 percent
- Ohn, 1 percent
- Zom Zoms, 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Sports Bar
Slightly off the beaten path (at least for bars) but still close to downtown, Third Base has quickly gained a solid reputation as one of the best places in town to watch sports. With 51 percent of the vote, Third Base is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Sports Bar.
The location on West Sixth Street near MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) makes the bar the perfect stop for downtown workers heading home, as well as a home-away-from home for those in the neighborhood who may prefer watching multiple games on more than two dozen flat-screen TVs.
The bar has gained a loyal following in its brief time on the scene, part of which may be because co-owners of the bar have also been principals in other Austin bars, including Firehouse and Molotov.
Older sports bars, with their faded pool tables and video games, seem like relics compared to modern sports bars, with their wood paneling and high-definition televisions. And with menu items such as the portabella burger, nobody will confuse Third Base with their father’s sports bar. The bar shows all sporting events, from the NBA League Pass to every college football game, as well as nonmajor sports such as boxing. Additionally, the bar also hosts poker tournaments and other events, a trend that seems ubiquitous in bars of Third Base’s ilk.
With nightly drink specials, a patio that features a host of large TVs and an expansive menu (of rather average food — it is, after all, still a sports bar), it is no surprise to learn that the bar is building on the success of the original location and will soon open a new bar in Round Rock.
Third Base [site]
1717 W. Sixth St.
476.BASE
Hours
11 a.m.-12 a.m., Sunday-Friday
11a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday
Others receiving votes
- Pluckers, 21 percent
- Bikini’s, 17 percent
- The Tavern, 4 percent
- Doc’s, 3 percent
- Fado, 1 percent
- Champions, less than 1 percent
- Aussie’s, less than 1 percent
- Legends, less than 1 percent
- Mulligan’s, less than 1 percent
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Review: Wilco at Stubb’s
Deborah Cannon AMERICAN-STATESMAN
As the sun sets on Sundays, folks are often lulled into a peacfeul rest on the comfort of their couch, winding down from the weekend and preparing for the long week ahead. Early in the Wilco set at Stubb’s Sunday night, it seemed lead singer Jeff Tweedy would have been more happy on said piece of leisure furniture than on stage, the band sputtering to find its rhythm and a unified energy in the first quarter of the set. Considering the band has played roughly two dozen shows in Austin over the past 13 years, maybe Tweedy just felt so at home that he was not compelled to rush things.
Dressed in a green blazer, and backed by his five bandmates who were dressed in various shades of blue and black, Tweedy began the set with the haunting beauty of ‘Sunken Treasure,’ his tender voice buttressed by the whispering slide guitar of Nels Cline and the percsussive rumblings of drummer Glenn Kotche.
Following the dark romanticism of ‘Sunken Treasure,’ the band eased into ‘You Are My Face,’ from its most recent album. The song shifted from lush harmonies to guitar-driven rock, carried by the sharp, edgy guitar lines from Cline and onto the tasteful churchlike organ phrasings of Mikael Jorgensen, before returning back to the soft melodies and crooning of Tweedy, the song a perfect example of the soft to raucous and back-to-soft transitions for which the band is legend.
Unwilling to build on the momentum of the second tune, the band chose to return to the feel established by the opening tune with the subdued and poetic ‘Remember the Mountain Bed’ from the band’s joint with Billy Bragg, ‘Mermaid Avenue Vol. 2.’ Although Tweedy treated fans to the tune at his solo show in Austin in 2006, it was the first time the full band had played the song for an Austin audience. Following the relatively obscure ‘Mountain Bed’ with ‘Company in My Back,’ in which Cline had a chance to provide the show with some much-needed energy, Tweedy finally addressed the audience, wishing the crowd a happy Mother’s Day (the ‘best day of the year,’ according to the songsmith). The first song offering opportunity for a group sing-along, ‘Handshake Drugs,’ gave me the impression the band was about ready to turn the page on its languid start, the crowd, with help from Cline’s dramatic flair on guitar, seemingly trying to will energy into the set.
After brushing off ‘Pick Up The Change,’ the first time they’ve played the song in Austin since 2001, the band began to engage the crowd with a little more animated playing on the bouncy and sweeping ‘Hummingbird.’ But, as they had for the first third of the set, the band refused to ride the momentum of the previous song, instead playing a gentle version of ‘On and On and On.’
With the following ‘Pot Kettle Black’ and ‘Shot in the Arm,’ the band finally seemed to find its stride, exciting the crowd with some more familiar tunes, with Tweedy coming to life with more banter and mussing his hair to humorous effect. By the time they trotted out crowd favorite ‘Jesus, Etc.,’ the night finally seemed to have taken form after an organic, if disconnected start. Near the close of the set, the band took the opportunity to reintroduce fans to some old songs that had not seen the light of an Austin day in ages. The band used a five-night run of shows in Chicago in February, in which they played every song from their extensive catalogue, to dust off some of the cobwebs from early recordings. That bit of nostalgia led to the reappearance Sunday of two songs that last surfaced in Austin when high-rise condos were as foreign here as French-style cooking, ‘It’s Just That Simple’ and ‘That’s Not the Issue,’ two Wilco classics the band had not performed in Austin since 1995 and 1997, respectively. For many fans, I’m sure it was a first for them to even see bass player John Stirratt sing lead, with Tweedy on bass, on the Stirratt-penned ‘It’s Just that Simple.’
The band closed the set with a rollicking version of ‘Walken,’ a jam that worked the crowd into fevered dance mode before closing the set with fan sing-along-favorite ‘I’m the Man Who Loves You.’ After popping off stage for the briefest of intermissions, the band reappareared for its first encore, a coda of sorts that began with patient and heartfelt renditions of ‘Misunderstood,’ ‘Poor Places,’ and ‘Reservations’ before making the dissonant leap to rocker ‘Spiders (Kidsmoke),’ a song that’s wild guitar, driving bass, tasty perscussive fills and dramatic changes epitomize Wilco at its highest rock form.
After a night that moved, clumsily at times, from soft ballads to uptempo rock songs, the band’s second encore kept the foot on the gas, pleasing the crowd with ‘I Hate it Here,’ ‘Heavy Metal Drummer,’ ‘Casino Queen’ (which may or may not have been a nod to the dude yelling for the song from behind the soundboard the entire night), the rare ‘Hoodoo Voodoo’ and finally ‘Outtasite (Outta Mind).’
Sometimes patience is a virtue, and such was certainly the case at Stubb’s Sunday night. Whether Tweedy and Co. were disinterested or simply taking time to find the night’s pulse early in the show, by the end of the night, Wilco’s legion of faithful fans were rewarded, as the show organically grew to reflect all that is great about the band — raw, honest lyrics, flawless musicianship and a lead singer who knows how, when he wants to, give the crowd exactly what it wants. And, just as the crowd obviously appreciated the 135-minute set that was packed full of songs from all eight of the band’s studio albums, Tweedy was equally appreciative. While he admitted the band usually lied and told every city that they were the best, before the night ended, Tweedy confessed, ‘You really are the best, Austin.’ Whether his tongue was planted in his cheek or not is not certain. And, that is the beauty of Wilco’s enigmatic frontman, sometimes you just don’t know quite what he’s getting at. But, as with any old friend, you’re happy to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Setlist
- 1. Sunken Treasure
- 2. You Are My Face
- 3. Remember The Mountain Bed
- 4. Company In My Back
- 5. Handshake Drugs
- 6. Pick Up The Change
- 7. Hummingbird
- 8. On And On And On
- 9. Pot Kettle Black
- 10. A Shot In The Arm
- 11. Summer Teeth
- 12. Jesus, Etc.
- 13. Impossible Germany
- 14. It’s Just That Simple
- 15. That’s Not The Issue
- 16. Walken
- 17. I’m The Man Who Loves You
Encore 1:
- 18. Misunderstood
- 19. Poor Places
- 20. Reservations
- 21. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Encore 2:
- 22. Hate It Here
- 23. Heavy Metal Drummer
- 24. Casino Queen
- 25. Hoodoo Voodoo
- 26. Outtasite (Outta Mind)
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Jason Marsalis to serve up tasty jazz at Central Market
Frank Stallone. Ashlee Simpson. Eric Roberts. All are B-List talents living in the shadow (and on the gravy train) of their more famous and accomplished celebrity relatives.
Jason Marsalis should be confused with none of these. While the son of Ellis and brother of Wynton and Branford may not have the national recognition as his musician relatives, Jason is a giant in his own right.
Find out for yourself next Sunday, May 18, as the amazing percussionist visits Central Market for a free springtime musical treat of the highest order. The talented composer and musician, as well as New Orleans music scene staple, who has collaborated with internationally recognized jazz performers such as Joe Henderson and Lionel Hampton, will be playing tunes from his recently released album, “An Open Letter to Thelonious.”
Marsalis will play from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and you can count me as one of the many who will be making the early drive back from the Radiohead show in Houston to catch this set by one of jazz’s finest.
Jason Marsalis [official site]
Central Market [site]
4001 North Lamar
206.1000
Free
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Interview: Ralphie May
Southern-fried stand-up comic and equal-opportunity offender Ralphie May brings his scathing social critique to the Paramount Theatre on Saturday night to tape a two-hour special for Comedy Central. The other day, I sat down with the comic who came to fame on ‘Last Comic Standing’ to talk about his humble beginnings, Sam Kinison, Finland and more.
On his speaking style and jargon …
On meeting Sam Kinison for the first time …
On his early comedy career …
On his experience on ‘Last Comic Standing’ …
On what fans can expect at his upcoming show and a pitch of his buddy-movie concept co-starring Dave Chappelle …
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Your A-List: Best Waitstaff
Good service when dining is just as important as good food. It often is what separates good restaurants from great restaurants. The servers at Ruth’s Chris in downtown Austin top the list in Your A-List poll for Best Waitstaff, more than doubling the votes for the staffs at Vespaio and Guero’s, the second- and third-place finishers, respectively.
With a robust knowledge of cuts, preparation and presentation (warning, this plate is 10,000 degrees), the waitstaff is also sharp when it comes to the extensive wine menu and knows its customers. For instance, some customers can be treated a little more casually, while others demand to be treated with absolute deference and have their egos stroked. Knowing how to balance friendliness with class is a hallmark of the staff at, what I consider, the best steakhouse in town.
Ruth’s Chris [site]
Congress Avenue at Sixth Street
477.7884
Others receiving votes
- Vespaio, 15 percent
- Guero’s, 12 percent
- Hyde Park Grill, 12 percent
- Wink, 8 percent
- Mother’s, 5 percent
- El Borrego del Oro, 3 percent
- Clay Pit, 3 percent
- La Traviata, 3 percent
- Musashino, 3 percent
- Sazon, 3 percent
- Salvation Pizza, 2 percent
- Cibo, 1 percent
Write-ins: European Bistro, Habana, Habana Calle 6, Jeffrey’s, Mansion at Judges’ Hill, Rio Grande Tex-Mex, Roy’s, Sullivan’s, Trio, Vin Bistro
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Your A-List: Best Place to Skate
“All right, boys and girls, everyone on the floor, it’s all skate …”
The voice over the PA still rings in my ears from lo those many years ago when every birthday party seemed mandidated by law to take place at a skating rink.
When faced with the Your A-List poll choice of Best Place to Skate, the people spoke and the modern Veloway narrowly edged out Playland Skate Center, with the outdoor skating area taking the prize over the more old-school indoor rink by a nose - two votes to be precise.
From the Veloway Web site: “The Veloway is Southwest Austin’s first trail exclusively for bicycles and rollerblading. Located on more than 100 acres in the Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park, the Veloway is a 3.1-mile paved asphalt loop 23 feet wide. It is totally free of motorized traffic. The trail is open from dawn to dusk.”
While some Austinites like to get their roll on under big Central Texas skies, others prefer the tried-and-true hardwoods of Playland Skate Center, Austin’s largest indoor skating rink. From the Playland site: “Playland offers the finest in skating entertainment with an impressive light show, fog machine and state of the art sound system playing a wide variety of music. Playland Skate Center has been in business for over 20 years offering children and adults a safe, fun, clean and entertaining roller skating experience.”
Now, everyone on the floor (trail), it’s all skate.
Others receiving votes
- Whole Foods plaza during the holidays, 14 percent
- Chapparal Ice, 12 percent
- Skate Park of Austin, 9 percent
- Skate World, 8 percent
- Mabel Davis Park, 3 percent
- Austin Recreation Center, 2 percent
- Intellect Rollers Realm, 2 percent
- Millenium Youth Entertainment Complex, 1 percent
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Hey, hey, hey … Bill Cosby cancels Austin shows
This post is simply to serve as an announcement that Bill Cosby has canceled his shows in Austin that were scheduled for June 3 6 at the Austin Music Hall. I was somewhat personally disappointed to hear the news, as I was hoping to interview the legend about his comedy, his upcoming ‘unflinching’ hip-hop album, and his personal opinions on the state of American culture and all that implies.
Publicists tell us that the cancellation was due to a scheduling issue. No word on whether The Coz plans on rescheduling for our fair burg.
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Your A-List: Best Place for Wings
The ubiquitous Pluckers is king of the wings in Austin and can add the title of Your A-List winner for Best Place for Wings to its bona fides.
I stopped by Pluckers on South Lamar Boulevard today and the place feels like a fraternity house with a kitchen, which is not necessarily a terrible thing if you like fried food, beer and dozens of flat-screen TVs that constantly air sports.
The restaurant serves a variety of food but has made a name for itself thanks to its wings (and the aforementioned sports bar feel) and the 14 sauces from which you can choose. The menu is a dizzying array of fried foods and seems a visual representation of sports talk radio: busy, cluttered, loud and littered with bad jokes. Pluckers does right by their regular diners, offering a Pluckers Club that, for only $20, offers regulars a 10% discount after amassing a certain number of points, along with free birthday meals, and other specials, including up-to-date SMS text messages. Have we really gotten to the point where we need text message alerts from our bar food establishments? I guess so.
Started more than a dozen years ago by a couple of former UT students, Pluckers, which won the Your A-List poll with an astounding 64 percent of the votes, has since spread across the greater Austin area and beyond, now boasting locations in Dallas and Baton Rouge, in addition to the five locations in and around Austin.
Others receiving votes
- Player’s, 7 percent
- Wings ‘N More, 5 percent
- Gene’s New Orleans Style, 4 percent
- The Tavern, 4 percent
- Alamo Drafthouse, 2 percent
- Waterloo Ice House, 2 percent
- Hoover’s, 2 percent
- Casino El Camino, 2 percent
- Buffalo Wings & Rings, 2 percent
- Wing Zone, 2 percent
- Uncle Billy’s, 2 percent
- Bone Daddy’s, 1 percent
- Third Base, 1 percent
Write-ins: Billy’s on Burnet, Jackalope, Mangia, Wing Stop, Wings-n-Things, Woody’s Pizza and Wings
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Your A-List: Best Place to Write
When you want to write, you could stay locked up in your home, slaving away over your keyboard or Moleskine, you could head out to a coffee shop with all of the other latte-drinking artistes, or you could head outside for some fresh air and natural inspiration. As proof of the appeal of that last option, we offer up the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place to Write, Zilker Park.
Austin’s signature park, which won the contest with 24 percent of the vote, hosts a slew of events and activities that run the gamut, from friendly soccer games to gigantic concerts, in addition to its slew of cozy places to soak up some sun or relax in the shade while you write the next Great American Novel.
From the City of Austin’s Web site:
In 1918, A.J. Zilker deeded the 35 acres surrounding Barton Springs to the City of Austin. In 1932, Zilker agreed to give the military school established during the First World War an additional 330 acres, joining the 35 acres on the north side of the original tract if the city would buy the acreage from the school for $200,000. This action was approved in a bond election and despite the economic depression of the 1930’s, the land was developed into Zilker Park.
Others receiving votes
- Mozart’s, 22 percent
- Barton Springs, 20 percent
- Spider House, 8 percent
- Green Muse, 5 percent
- Ruta Maya, 5 percent
- LBJ Library, 5 percent
- Cafe Mundi, 4 percent
- Dominican Joe, 3 percent
- Flipnotics, 2 percent
- Quack’s, 1 percent
- JP’s Java, < 1 percent
- Rio Rita, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Four Points Starbucks, Genuine Joe’s, Mount Bonnell
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An issue of serious impotence
For years it has been assumed by some that certain countries, generally those which residents speak romance languages, have a different understanding of ‘quality of life.’ There’s an old saying that people in Italy work to live, whereas those in the United State live to work. If one was to extend that analogy to Chile, well, I will let you sort out that phrasing on your own, as the mayor of the small Chilean town of Lo Prado plans to hand out free Viagra to men 60 and older, according to Las Ultimas Noticias daily.
“This has to do with quality of life and it’s done responsibly. It’s not just like handing out candy at the corner,” mayor Gonzalo Navarrete said.
“We’ll give out four, 50 milligram pills, in other words, for four sexual relationships per month.”
It will be interesting to see if the rate of heart attacks increases in Lo Prado in the coming months. That loud gust of air you just heard is from men in the United States rushing to their phones to make inquiries about time-shares in Chile.
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Iron Man flies in South Austin
I headed over to the Alamo Drafthouse Monday afternoon to see a man fly. With a little help of course. As part of a promotion by Ain’t It Cool News and the Alamo Drafthouse for a sneak preview of ‘Iron Man,’ the folks from Jet Pack International showed up to demonstrate their sweet backpack flying mechanism. Eric Scott donned a 135 lb. pack that runs on 90 percent hydrogen peroxide and provides 325 pounds of thrust, equal to about 800 horsepower. For those of you who were not math or science majors, let’s just say that’s some heavy-duty power, as evidenced by the ridiculously loud sound emitted by the machine. The 150 decibels wasn’t enough to blow out ones ears, but it was damn close. I thought I felt my heart stop, but apparently I was wrong, according to this Web site. I can’t imagine what it was like for Scott, who blasted from the parking lot surface for a 14-second flight that took him over the Alamo’s marquee before returning him to Earth.
The stunt I saw was for press, random passers-by and film geeks, but the Alamo and Ain’t It Cool had a 7 p.m. repeat performance (with a few surprises) scheduled for later in the evening before a special sneak screening. The lucky couple hundred who will get to see the sneak include those who competed in an ‘Iron Man’ costume contest, along with some AIC insiders and Fantastic Fest badge holders. AIC boss Harry Knowles was at the Alamo Monday and admitted to being just slightly disappointed. He had hoped that the Iron Man lookalike would fly from the Alamo to the UT Tower, land and then return. Now that would have been cool. Unfortunately, the pack only provides six seconds of flight time per gallon, so the 5.5 gallon tank only allowed for 33 seconds of flight. Maybe in the future. The future…
Check out my video and see Eric Scott take flight. Also, see this shot from a different angle.
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Your A-List: Best Local Rock Group/Singer
(A note of full disclosure: I am friends with this week’s winner.)
Seeing how you can’t throw an empty pizza box from your sofa without hitting a rock musician in Austin, it’s a nice achievement to be acknowledged by readers as the best rock band in town. Such is the case for The Mercers, winners, with 32 percent of the vote, of the Your A-List poll for Best Local Rock Band or Singer.
The Mercers took home the honor after beating out the biggest name of 90s rock in Austin, Bob Schneider, and arguably the biggest name in 21st century Austin rock, Ghostland Observatory.
Formed almost two and a half years ago, The Mercers actually had their first gig opening for Ghostland at Flamingo Cantina in December of 2005. Although the quartet has not received as much national attention as the electronic sex pop super duo, they have made some national waves, as they were named by Esquire magazine in 2006 as one of the top unsigned bands in the country. Why that distinction has stuck with the band to this day is anyone’s guess and is a sad testament to some of the derivative nonsense that is picked up by some labels and perpetuated by commercial radio.
Blending Euro-pop sounds of the 80s with a bit of Texas twang, The Mercers are led by the incredible voice of enigmatic frontman Peter Wagner, who emanates a delicate ferocity. Backed by the energy of brothers Bryan (bass) and Erik Ray (guitar, keyboards) and the amazingly solid Ethan Herr (drums), the band plays earnest, mature rock songs that envelop a dark romanticism.
Listen to The Mercers on SoundCheck360
Others receiving votes
- Bob Schneider, 18 percent
- Ghostland Observatory, 17 percent
- Vallejo, 5 percent
- Reckless Kelly, 5 percent
- Okkervil River, 5 percent
- What Made Milwaukee Famous, 3 percent
- Alejandro Escovedo, 3 percent
- Octopus Project, 3 percent
- Patrice Pike, 3 percent
- Black Angels, 2 percent
- Broken Teeth, 1 percent
- White Denim, < 1 percent
- Zykos, < 1 percent
- The Strange Boys, < 1 percent
- Shearwater, < 1 percent
- Tammany Hall Machine, < 1 percent
- Boxing Lesson, < 1 percent
- Gulf of Mexico, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Alpha Rev, Roky Erikson, Gadget White Band, The Gourds, Riverboat Gamblers, SuperCrash, Sybil, Joe Vega
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Your A-List: Best Quick-Service Restaurant
Having a nice sit-down meal is nice, but sometimes you’re in a rush, and you’ve gotta eat quickly, or at least get your food fast. That’s where the quick service restaurant comes into play. Among the slew of choices in Austin, you picked Freebirds, winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Quick Service restaurant with 16 percent of the vote, as your favorite.
The small chain, with restaurants in seven Texas cities and one in Oklahoma (psh posh), opened its Texas operation in 1990 in College Station, but Austinites have not held the ignominious distinction against the restaurant, as proven by the massive lunch and dinner lines at the restaurants here in Austin. With burritos ranging from the almost snack-size to the seriously oversized, Freebirds can accommodate any appetite, and with the recent addition of their steak and chicken salads, are attempting to prove that one can dine on Tex-Mex while still watching their caloric intake.
Beyond the food, Freebirds, which narrowly beat out laid-back Austin landmark Thundercloud in the polling, has built a local reputation for strong customer service, as each customer who reaches the burrito-making assembly line is greeted and told they will be served shortly. A cynic may call it a contrived corporate mandate, but I have heard from many people that said simple recognition helps get their experience off on the right food. So take that, cynics.
Others receiving votes
- Thundercloud, 14 percent
- P. Terry’s, 9 percent
- Torchy’s Tacos, 9 percent
- Taco Deli, 8 percent
- Zen, 8 percent
- Schlotzsky’s, 7 percent
- Texadelphia, 7 percent
- Sandy’s, 4 percent
- El Chilito, 3 percent
- Chango’s, 3 percent
- Dog Almighty, 3 percent
- Tamale House, 3 percent
- Hog Island, 3 percent
- Baby Greens, 2 percent
- Longhorn Po-boys, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Chipotle, Dan’s, El Regio, Fran’s, Jason’s Deli, Pita Pit
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Paging Clutch City
I was in college the last time my Houston Rockets won a playoff game. Trust me, that’s a long time ago. Eleven years and counting to be precise. It was the Utah Jazz who ended the 1997 season for the Rockets in the Western Conference playoffs, and it looks like it will be the Jazz again, for the fourth time in 12 seasons, who send the Rockets packing. Of course, after a season in which they lost their best player, Yao Ming, not much was expected of the Rockets. Despite losing their 7-foot-6 center, they still ended up with a 22-game winning streak, the second-longest in league history, in the second half of the season that rekindled the flames in the fan base, and won more games after Jan. 1 than any other team in the league. Of course, seasons are measured by how a team performs in the spring and early summer, not the winter.
Although it may be a little early to write the team’s obituary, I can only assume they will not win two games in Salt Lake City, where Utah only lost four times all year, albeit once to the Rockets. So, with the inevitable seemingly lurking just around the corner, I will briefly diagnose for you sports fans what I see as the Rockets’ fatal flaw (beyond not having Yao for the entire playoffs or point guard Rafer Alston for at least the first two games).
While Tracy McGrady can not be expected to do every single thing for the Rockets, he needs to be the star when it matters. The primary problem with the Rockets is that they hitched their wagon to a star who is not good enough to eviscerate other teams and be a killer and winner in the clutch — like MJ, Kobe, LeBron, Dwayne Wade, Baron Davis, Allen Iverson, Paul Pierce, Carlos Boozer, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, etc. As an aside, keep in mind that Moses Malone (who has Mo Cheeks, Dr. J and Andrew Toney, all better players than anyone besides Yao on the Rockets) and Kobe Bryant (who had Shaq) are the only players who skipped college and won a title as a star, so the track record is not good in terms of a guy ever making the leap to the pros and eventually winning a title as the alpha dog on his team. Of course, it helps to have quality role players to round out a roster (especially ones who can make free throws and lay-ups), and despite the hustle of Shane Battier and the potential of Luis Scola, the Rockets’ starting five is the weakest of the Western Conference playoff teams. For the most part, the Rockets role players are too old (Dikembe Mutombo, Bobby Jackon) or too young (Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry), and that has been the case for most of McGrady’s stay in Houston. That can largely be attributed to the maneuverings of overrated former general manager Carrol Dawson, but stars have to play with the teammates they have. And they have to make them better. Fortunately, new GM Daryl Morey looks to be a managerial star, but it may be too late.
With so much money tied up with T-Mac and Yao, the Rockets cannot make any major moves, and they hardly have the pieces to make a blockbuster trade. But two All-Stars on one team should be enough to at least win a playoff series, but don’t tell the Denver Nuggets that. I think the Rockets simply have to play out the hand they have and realize that they will never win a title (or even a series) without a healthy second star and a stronger supporting cast. Yao is hurt so often, and the Rockets’ offensive scheme under Adelman is not completely conducive to Yao’s style of play, so even with a healthy Yao, the Rockets seemingly don’t have enough to compete in the historically deep Western Conference.
If the Rockets can make a good free agency signing (I say break the bank, take the luxury tax hit and pay Baron Davis, of whom nobody can question his stones) and maybe a trade, they could be OK, but i think the reality is this team will never be able to advance far in the playoffs. T-Mac is not any of the elite players mentioned above. He’s not even Dirk Nowitzki.
Once you hitch your wagon to a star, it’s hard to unhitch it.
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Your A-List: Best Place to Impress a Date
You’re heading out on a date, and you really want to impress the target of your affection. You want to impress them with how cultured you are, how enjoyable time with you can be, how there’s nothing in the world they’d rather be doing than spending some quality time with you. To pull this feat off, you could take them to an art opening, or maybe a hot air balloon ride, or a picnic in the Hill Country. But let’s face it, you usually just end up going out to a nice restaurant. And that’s fine, too.
When sorting through the impression-making dining options in town, you want to make sure everything’s right. Good lighting, good food, good atmosphere. You want to show you’ve got good taste and that potential future dates with you will be equally charming (and, maybe, expensive). In Austin, you’ve got a number of good choices, from the casual to the 5-star varieties. The winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place to Impress a Date, with 19 percent, is Uchi.
The South Lamar Boulevard temple of sushi won the honor after beating out the delicious game-loving restaurant Hudson’s on the Bend, the hip Hotel San Jose and the historic Driskill Grill. The precious yet modern Austin bungalow restaurant, designed by architects Michael Hsu and Joel Mozersky, came to life in 2003 and, at the time, was a welcome two-star addition to the growing sushi scene. In the past five years, Cole’s creation has become a paragon of creativity and quality in the Austin restaurant scene, drawing rave reviews from critics and diners alike.
The jewel on South Lamar prides itself not only on the freshest of ingredients but also on top notch service, a forward-thinking approach to flavor components and decadent presentation. Needlefish displayed as a sort of flying dragon complemented with a citrus vinaigrette presented in an oyster shell on a bed of salt in a wooden bowl is just one example of the fanciful culinary delights you may find at Uchi. In addition to classic fish preparation and flavors, Cole and his crackerjack staff, who have a say in initial menu suggestions, also like to throw in a taste of the local, as evidenced in Uchi’s madai sashimi of black snapper with ruby red grapefruit.
With its commitment to flavor, presentation and service, Uchi is certain to knock the socks off your date. Let’s just hope he/she doesn’t think you’re trying too hard.
Uchi [site]
801 S. Lamar Blvd. [map]
916.4808
For more reviews and information about Uchi, check a few of American-Statesman food critic Dale Rice’s pieces (from which some of the information in this post was culled) on Uchi.
05.24.07: Cole’s Uchi remains as creative as ever
08.24.06: Exquisite flavor, artistry make 5 stars align
05.30.05: Uchi chef is cream of crop
10.23.03: Uchi: Where flavorful, imaginative sushi is on a roll
Others receiving votes
- Hudson’s on the Bend, 13 percent
- Hotel San Jose, 11 percent
- Driskill Grill, 10 percent
- Jeffrey’s, 7 percent
- Vespaio, 7 percent
- Truluck’s, 7 percent
- One World Theatre, 6 percent
- Wink, 3 percent
- Long Center, 3percent
- Zoot, 3 percent
- Aquarelle, 3 percent
- Vino Vino, 2 percent
- B Scene at the Blanton, 2 percent
- Cafe Josie, 2 percent
- Cru, 1 percent
Write-in: Paggi House
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Your A-List: Best Local Recording Studio
It seems music runs deep in Willie Nelson’s family. The Redheaded Stranger’s nephew, Freddy Fletcher, and Fletcher’s wife, Lisa, own Pedernales Studio, winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Local Recording Studio.
A touring drummer for the likes of Marcia Ball and Billy Joe Shaver, when Fletcher decided to retire from the road, he didn’t leave music altogether. Instead, he decided to go to the other side of the studio glass at Pedernales, a studio that Willie bought/built in 1973, one that came with a nine-hole golf course and an Olympic-size pool, amenities that made it a favorite studio in the region for some big name recording artists, including Willie himself, who recorded the album “The Outlaws” there, the first country album to be certified platinum.
In 1989, the IRS started scooping up Nelson’s assets to pay off the debt he owed to the government. But Nelson said he’d get it back, and sure enough, the studio reopened in 1992 after Fletcher, who already owned Arlyn Studios, bought the studio and brought it back to the family. Since re-opening for business, Pedernales has been the recording home to artists such as Los Lonely Boys, who quickly became part of the extended Nelson-Fletcher family.
(Michael Corcoran’s excellent 2004 XL story on Pedernales served as the source for much of the information in this post. Read it here.)
Others receiving votes
- Congress House, 18 percent
- Sweatbox, 15 percent
- Cedar Creek, 10 percent
- Top Hat, 8 percent
- Xylo (write-in), 8 percent
- Bismeaux, 6 percent
- The Bubble, 5 percent
- Music Lane, 3 percent
- Flash Point, 2 percent
- Premium, 2 percent
- Cacophany, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Addison Studio, The Finishing Studio, Murray Music, Ohm, Wire Recording
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ACL Fest: What to look for
The list of performers for the Seventh Annual Austin City Limits Music Festival has been released, as you can see here, and I wanted to give a few thoughts about the sweat-inducing festival, which is rather mid-heavy, but contains no serious bombshells. It is nice, however, to see a few newcomers, such as Beck, and most notably, the regal and enchanting Erykah Badu.
Headliners the Grammy-winning Foo Fighters will draw quite a crowd, namely 20-somethings who frequent Sixth Street, as well as the 30-something Warehouse District patrons who listened to Dave Grohl’s post-Nirvana project in college and beyond. Kind of an odd choice it seems to me. If ACL was trying to book acts that were a natural fit for the feel of “Austin City Limits” TV show, then why book Foo Fighters? And if they are going to book arena rock bands, why not get one with a little more cache than Foo Fighters? Kinda seems like mild pandering towards a certain audience that might not otherwise buy tickets. Not sure what other bands will be huge draws for the pop-rock Foo Fighters crowd (Beck and The Raconteurs, I imagine); the Foo Fighters should at least bring a dynamic performance with high energy and loud volume to the closing of a fest that, at times, has gone out with a whimper. I’m looking at you, Mr. Dylan.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss should provide a wonderful show if their well-received CD is any indication, and while Beck’s best days seem to be behind him, it will be interesting to see what he has to offer. For the older set, John Fogerty (who lost the 2007 rock Grammy to the Foo Fighters) will carry the torch that Willie, Dylan and Tom Petty have hoisted in years past. Fortunately, it appears he is once again playing Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes in addition to new material.
Manu Chao, who has not quite caught on in the States the way he has in Europe and South America, will bring a festive set that should turn a lot of new fans onto his world music sound. Expect the Mars Volta to rock out for at least 90 minutes on a secondary stage on Saturday or Sunday night, and for those (few) of us who saw “SNL” last weekend, Gnarls Barkley’s set may not be as catchy as their breakout hit “Crazy,” but should provide a glimpse of some smoothed-out retro soul and R&B sounds.
The “mid-level” bands seem to be the strength of this year’s line-up. The highlights of which (to me) are:
- Erykah Badu — Her set at the New Orleans Jazz Fest in 2000 is one of the coolest and most inspiring I have seen.
- Iron & Wine — Hopefully the sound will be good and unobstructed for Dripping Springs resident Sam Beam.
- Neko Case — Amazing pipes and perfect sound for the Texas summer.
- Band of Horses — Lowland rock that holds up amazingly well live.
- The Black Keys — Blues rockers made a name for themselves in Texas a few years ago at ACL.
- Vampire Weekend — Their set at the Spin party during SXSW was slightly above average, but I think their Afro-pop should play well to a festival crowd looking for reasons to dance, unless the buzz has completely died.
- M. Ward — Nothing against Zooey Deschanel, but will be nice to see the gifted songwriter as the centerpiece of a set.
- Jose Gonzales — Fabulous Swedish singer-songwriter.
- Mates of State — Husband and wife duo are more than the sum of their gifted parts.
- CSS — To be honest, I have not heard much of the Brazilian ectro-pop dance outfit, but that which I have heard, “Alala” and “Off The Hook,” have me intrigued enough to check them out at least once.
- Man Man — The idiosyncratic rockers are hard to label, but their shows aren’t, they are pure energy.
Local bands worth checking out
- Okkervill River
- Ajejandro Escovedo
- What Made Milwaukee Famous
- Asleep at the Wheel
- Octopus Project
- White Denim
- Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears
- Bavu Blakes
Overall, I give the lineup a B-minus.
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Interview: Tommy Chong
Tommy Chong, in town for a run of shows at Cap City Comedy Club, arrived at the Statesman Thursday afternoon, lovely wife Shelby in tow, just two minutes behind schedule. No, he wasn’t stoned or terribly lost. Turns out his GPS was giving him fits, insisting he was ‘here,’ when he was in fact not ‘here.’ Some things just aren’t meant to go together, like cottage cheese and coffee, pizza and pickles, or Tommy Chong and a GPS.
Looking amazingly spry and bright-eyed, especially for a man set to celebrate his 70th birthday this year, Chong’s private persona runs somewhat contrary to the public stoner image he has cultivated over the years. He comes across more retired professor than drug culture icon. A conversation with Chong reveals a bit of a cultural anthropologist and activist, a man steeped in American musical history (especially considering his Canadian roots), and one whose criticisms of the American political machine hinge on more than the tired, “Keep your hands off my weed” protestation.
The following is part of our conversation. Discussed: Motown, Vancouver, prison, performing with his wife, and not caring about what anyone thinks.
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Your A-List: Best Restaurant that Delivers
Austin has a spate of restaurants from which to choose when you’re looking to dine out. But let’s face it, sometimes you don’t want to be around people, and sometimes you probably really don’t need to be around people. That’s when it’s time to pick up the phone and order some delivery. When hungry Austinites dial out for food, according to the readers, one place stands out from the flock. With a whopping 50 percent of the vote, Pluckers is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Restaurant that Delivers.
Started more than a dozen years ago by a couple of plucky (sorry, I had to) former UT students, Pluckers has since spread its wings (yep) and taken flight across the greater Austin area and beyond, now boasting stores in Dallas and Baton Rouge, in addition to the five locations in and around Austin.
With an advertising line like, “If you don’t like our wings, we’ll give you the bird,” it is obvious that the restaurant that got its start near the heart of the 40 Acres is pretty damn proud of its wings (and copywriters’ wit). But the crispy, crunchy wings and their savory sauces are just the tip of the icebird (sorry, ran out of puns). Pluckers also boasts fried pickles (which are scarily popular) as well as better-than-your-average-bar grub such as buffalo shrimp, magic mushrooms (not those kind), homemade potato chips smothered in bleu cheese and waffle fries covered in … wait for it … cheese! It may not be health food, but it’s pretty damn good for a tasty treat to sop up some of that beer you might be sipping/slugging at home while you’re watching the game, or “Project Runway,” or whatever it is you’re too busy doing to go out and eat at a restaurant.
Pluckers [site]
Multiple locations
Others receiving votes
- East Side Pies, 11 percent
- Rockin’ Tomato, 9 percent
- Hil-Bert’s, 8 percent
- Hao-Hao, 6 percent
- Southside Flying Pies, 5 percent
- Rounders, 5 percent
- Pao’s, 3 percent
- Bamboo Garden, 2 percent
- Super China, 2 percent
Write-in votes: Cafe 1626, Craig O’s, First Wok, Hog Island Deli, Rockets, The Soup Peddler, Texican CafĂ© South
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