Sean Claes
Transcription
Sean Claes
Austin’s OTHER Entertainment Magazine August 2010 Tee Double The Cultural Ambassador For Austin Hip-Hop 30 Stores You’ll ONLY See In Austin Keeping Austin Original RubyPearl Discovering the Fashions of Sunny Haralson Tig Notaro Performing at Cap City Comedy Club MOVIE REVIEWS CD REVIEWS RESTAURANT LISTINGS MUSIC LISTINGS Couch Professor Entertainment presents buy online and use promo code “sugar” to save $10 per ticket CONTENTS August 2010 Photo by Sean Claes PUBLISHER BoysenClaes Productions, Inc. MANAGING EDITOR Sean Claes [email protected] COPY EDITORS Marsha Mann, Jodie Claes FOOD EDITOR Marsha Mann [email protected] MOVIE EDITORS Cole Dabney and Robert McCurdy PHOTO EDITOR Jay West, [email protected] TECH EDITOR Radames Pera ART EDITOR JoAnna Ordóñez DESIGN Karry Thomas Graphic Design CALENDAR LISTINGS Do512 – http://www.do512.com The Food Network’s Adam Gertler filmed a segment of his show “A Kid In A Candy Store” at the Big Top Candy Shop. The episode debuted in early July. p. 5 03Letter From the Editor FOOD 04 Restaurant Guide LOCAL 0530 Businesses You’ll See No Where Else BUT Austin THEATRE 13 Austin Drama Club FINANCE 13Ask the Naked Accountant STYLE 09rubypearl MUSIC 14 16 19 COVER FEATURE 10 Tee Double TECH 153DTV & U ART 12 ENTERTAINMENT 18 Tig Notaro Barbara Irwin Do512 Music Calendar CD Reviews INsite Hindsite 5401 S FM 1626 STE 170-43 Kyle, Texas 78640 PH 512.462.9260 E-MAIL [email protected] WEB www.insiteaustin.com TWITTER www.twitter.com/insiteaustin ABOUT THE COVER: Terrany “Tee Double” Johnson has spent the last two decades steadily climbing the ranks to become a highly respected leader in Austin’s hip-hop world. INsite decided to give him what he deserves, a cover story. Photo by Arnold Wells Letter From the Editor L CONTRIBUTORS Jean Carpenter-Backus Jodie Claes Deborah K. Coley Gregory Cooper Cole Dabney Veronica Garcia Rob Greenamyer Marsha Mann Scott Moore Radames Pera Brian Paul Scipione Barbara Touey Arnold Wells Jay West Thomas Yoo Insite Hindsite Photographers The editorial content of INsite is the opinion of the individual writer and is not necessarily the opinion of INsite, its staff or its advertisers. No portion of this paper may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of INsite. © Copyright INsite 2010. All Rights Reserved. Bad Joke of the Month: Q: Why did the chicken cross the road? A: To prove to the armadillo it could be done. ike it or not, summer is coming to an end. I’ve got conflicting feelings about creates beautiful wearable art from 100% recycled materials. Even the labels are made this. On the positive, Austin is about to be back in session and nightlife is from soda bottles. Neat. hopefully going to spring back to life a little more than it has been this sum- We also have a feature on comedian Tig Notaro who was a contestant on Last Comic mer. College students seem to be great supporters of Austin clubs and busi- Standing and has worked with Sarah Silverman. She’s coming to the Cap City Comedy nesses. And we surely need more of that. That’s why this issue is dedicated to some of the Club this month and contributor Veronica Garcia had the pleasure of interviewing her. most interesting Austin Originals we could find. Take for instance, our cover story. Tee Double has been a mainstay on the Austin hiphop scene ever since I can remember and I was very glad that contributor Thomas Yoo pitched the idea to feature him. We also have CD Reviews, an interesting Tech offering on 3D Television, and our little look back at last month, INsite Hindsite. So enjoy the last few weeks of summer 2010 and we’ll see you next month at the stands. We also have a feature where we give a nod to thirty local-only businesses that help Austin be the town it is… weird, wonderful, and eclectic. In fashion the incredible Todd – Sean Claes, V. Wolfson brings his eagle eye to Ruby Pearl, the fashions of Sunny Haralson. Sunny Managing Editor AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E PG 3 RESTAURANT GUIDE 24-HOUR KATZ’S DELI 618 W. 6th St. 472.2037 Can’t recommend the Matso Ball Soup here, but they’ve got extra thick deli sandwiches and yummy Strawberry Blintzes to go with the complimentary dill pickles & potato chips. KERBEY LANE 3704 Kerbey Ln – 451.1436 2700 S. Lamar – 445.4451 2606 Guadalupe – 477.5717 I know you usually have some awesome Pancakes at 2am, but just for a change, try the all-natural Pork Tenderloin Salad and tell me you’re not impressed. Very eclectic menu. LA MEXICANA BAKERY & RESTAURANT 1924 S. 1st St. 443-6369 Bring your Spanish cuz this is the real deal. If you’re not mesmerized by all the shapes & colors of pan dolce, order a trio of Tostadas w/ fresh Mexican cheese & guacamole. MAGNOLIA CAFÉ 2304 Lake Austin – 478.8645 1920 S. Congress – 445.0000 Austin’s favorite all-night joint, probably due to the friendly vibe and excellent service. Good breakfasts and delicious homemade desserts. AMERICAN & TEXAN ARKIE’S GRILL 4827 E. Cesar Chavez 385.2986 Open Mon-Fri (5:30am-3pm), this friendly, 1948 home-style cafe serves up southern mainstays like Chicken & Dumplings, Sirloin Tips in Gravy, and every Thursday, Turkey & Dressing. BOOMERANG’S 3110 Guadalupe 380.0032 Down Under-style comfort food – savory meat & veggie pies topped w/ fresh mashed potatoes & gravy. Try the Guinness Steak & Potato, the Curry Chicken, or the Spinach & Mushroom. COUNTER CAFÉ 626 N. Lamar 708.8800 A cozy, contemporary diner with lots of character, using the freshest of local ingredients to create familiar dishes w/ extra flair and flavor… definitely not a greasy spoon (8am-4pm). DIRTY MARTIN’S 2808 Guadalupe 477.3173 80 years old and still a player - the first drive-thru diner w/ car hop service in America! Delicious burgers, chili, fries & shakes, all made fresh daily at unbelievable prices. FREDDIE’S PLACE 1703 S. 1 st Street 445.9197 Come play in Freddie’s backyard…eat, drink, pitch washers, and enjoy the T-Shirt humor. Their Blue Cheese Mushroom Burgers, gigantic Onion Rings, and fresh lemonade always hit the spot. GALAXY CAFÉ 9911 Brodie Lane – 233.6000 1000 West Lynn – 478.3434 You’ll love the Jetson-like décor in these places! The food is healthy, tasty, and reasonably priced w/ plenty of veggie options. Perfect for breakfast or lunch with a friend. HOOVER’S COOKING 2002 Manor Rd – 479.5006 13376 Research Blvd. – 335-0300 Southern comfort food that’s good enough for Mom. Try the Meatloaf, Smoked Chicken or Caesar Salads. An awesome array of sides and portions so large you may want to share. HUT’S 807 W. 6 th St. 472.0693 An Austin legend as much for the funky, retro atmosphere as the huge, juicy Burgers and Two-for-One deals on Mon & Wed. Surprisingly good house-made Veggie Burgers as well! NXNW RESTAURANT & BREWERY 10010 Capital of Texas Hwy N 467.6969 Impressive stone lodge, exceptional food, and damn good beer brewed on the premises. Try the Skillet-fried Cornbread, NXNW Cobb Salad, Pork Or Beef Tenderloin, and Duckabish Amber. SOUTH CONGRESS CAFÉ 1600 S. Congress 447.3905 Classy but unpretentious – for a few dollars more, everything is beautifully prepared & presented. Perfect for a special date or Sunday Brunch, with a side of smoked gouda potato pancakes. TOP NOTCH 7525 N. Lamar 452.2181 Famous family-run shop w/ old-fashioned ‘charbroiled’ burgers, extra thick-cut fries, and heavenly Fried Chicken at bargain prices. Not many of these left, so get it while you can. THE WOODLAND 1716 S. Congress Ave. 441.6800 Comfort food for SoCo hipsters…love the woodsy, minty-green décor. Gourmet Meatloaf, Pulled-Pork Sloppy Joes, and amazing housemade Veggie Burgers. Plus, check out those desserts! ASIAN CHOSUN GALBI 713 E. Huntland Dr. (next to Highland Mall) 419.1400 The best cooked-at-the-table Korean B.B.Q. in town! Get the marinated Spicy Pork served w/ rice, barley tea, and a huge array of tasty side dishes all included in one price. Great to share w/ friends. CK THAI CUISINE 5207 Brodie Lane 892.2744 New fave in the Sunset Valley Mall (next to DSW). Friendly & inexpensive w/ good versions of Satay, Tom Kha, Pad Thai & Pad Woon Sen. Yummy Sticky Rice w/Mango & Coconut Cream. 888 VIETNAMESE & THAI 2400 E. Oltorf St. 448.4722 Forget the Pho…blow your taste buds away with specialties like Flank Steak in Green Curry, Lemongrass Shrimp, or crispy Orange Chicken. Big portions at modest prices. Open ‘til 2am. FORTUNE SEAFOOD & DIM SUM 10901 N. Lamar (Chinatown) 490.1426 The only true Dim Sum Palace in Austin. Hong Kong Chefs = authentic flavors, plus incredibly reasonable prices. And their specialty, Whole Lobster served w/ clarified butter, ain’t bad either HO HO CHINESE BBQ 13000 N. !-35 339.9088 Previous Din Ho owners now making their famous BBQ Duck & Pork in a new location. Superb Shrimp Won Ton Soup, Orange Beef, Oysters w/ Ginger, and Sizzling Bean Curd. KORIENTE RESTAURANT & TEAHOUSE 621 E. 7 th St. 275.0852 Fresh, fast, healthy & cheap Korean-inspired food in a hip setting with cool music. Try the Summer Roll, Koriente Curry, or Bibimbap, then top it off with a Bubble Tea. PIRANHA KILLER SUSHI 207 San Jacinto 473.8775 Spawned from the Arlington, Texas original – chic, colorful, creative, and fun. Start with some Spicy Edamame and a Marry Me Roll. Great Cocktails, nice service and good value for the money. TAM DELI 8222 N. Lamar 834.6458 A homey little shop in a bland strip mall containing a wealth of tasty treasures. Excellent Vietnamese Sandwiches (Garlic Shrimp!), Banh Xeo crepes, and French-Influenced Cream Puffs & Cheesecake. TAN MY 1601 Ohlen Rd. 832.9585 Exceptional Pho with a deep, complex broth; and delicious Bun (vermicelli noodle topped w/ grilled meat, eggroll & fresh veggies) at this welcoming, totally authentic Vietnamese restaurant. TC NOODLE HOUSE 10901 N. Lamar (Chinatown) 873.8275 An endless variety of Asian noodle dishes to choose from, so be adventurous! The Duck or Beef Noodle Soup, curried Singapore Noodles, or traditional Rice Porridge are all good bets. TITAYA’S THAI CUISINE 5501 N. Lamar 458.1792 The most authentic Thai food in town. Delicious Coconut Soup & Green Curry, perfect Pad See Ew & Pad Kee Mao, and yummy exotic desserts. Even the Thai exchange students eat here. TOMO SUSHI 4101 W. Parmer Lane 821.9472 If you’re jonesing for super fresh, creative sushi in a sleek intimate setting, check out this North Austin hot spot. The chefs may push you to try something new - just go along for the ride. ZEN JAPANESE FAST FOOD 1303 S. Congress – 444.8081; 2900 W. Anderson Ln – 451.4811 3423 Guadalupe – 300.2633 Good, ready-made Sushi at affordable prices. Also try the Salmon Dashi Bowl (w/ brown rice) or Spicy Dharma Noodle. My fave: Seared & peppered Tuna Sashimi and a Ginger Pudding chaser. BBQ ARTZ RIB HOUSE 2330 S. Lamar 442.8283 Au gus t 2 0 1 0 This lively roadhouse serves up divine Baby Back, Country Style & Beef Ribs w/ perfect sides, a Veggie Skewer option, and homemade Soups & Desserts. Plus, great Burgers and $6.95 Lunch Specials. PG 4 COUNTY LINE ON THE HILL 6500 Bee Caves Rd. 327.1742 Est. in 1975, this original location is all about the huge Beef Ribs dripping in sauce, super tender smoked Turkey, house-made bread, and Blackberry Cobbler…not to mention an impressive view of the Hill Country. HOUSE PARK BAR-B-QUE 900 W. 12 th St. 472.9621 ‘Need no teef to eat my beef’, says owner Joe Sullivan, who turns out some mighty good Brisket, Pork Loin and Sausage (no ribs). Old Austin ambience. Lunch only/Cash only, Monday-Friday. RUBY’S BBQ 512 W. 29 th St. 477.1651 Melt-in-your-mouth Chopped Beef Sandwiches, made w/ all-natural Brisket & Elgin Sausage, are part of Blues History. Killer Collard Greens & Chunky Potato Salad; sublime Apple-Cranberry Buckle. Open‘til Midnight! THE SALT LICK 18001 FM 1826 858.4959 Gas up and head for the Hill Country cuz you gotta see how BIG the legend is! Famous for their Brisket, Pork Ribs & Sausage (on view as you enter) slathered in brown-sugar sauce. The sides, no so much. CAJUN & CREOLE CYPRESS GRILL 4404 W. William Cannon 358.7474 This charming strip-mall café & bar has The BEST Crawfish Etouffee west of New Orleans! Also yummy: Rattlesnake Chicken Pasta & 9-inchround Muffaletta Sandwiches. Cajun/Creole breakfast on weekends. NUBIAN QUEEN LOLA’S CAJUN SOUL FOOD 1815 Rosewood Ave. 474.5652 Eating at this funky 18-seat establishment will earn you points in heaven! Stellar Gumbo loaded w/ chicken & sausage; tasty fried Catfish, tender Pork Chops w/ red beans & rice, and divine Hamburgers. SHUCK SHACK 1808 E. Cesar Chavez 472.4243 Hip, Cajun Seafood w/ horseshoes, bocce & washers out back. Texas Oysters for only $5.95 a doz; tasty Hushpuppies, Fried or Blackened Shrimp, and $2 Lonestar or Pearl beer. Plus, fun Sunday Brunches. CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN BUENOS AIRES CAFÉ 2414 S. 1st St – 441.9000 1201 E. 6th St – 382.1189 This charming, sleek café has the most delectable Empanadas & Lomita Pork Sandwiches, plus a good version of Mayonesa de Ave. But save room for dessert cuz they sure know how to bake! CASA COLOMBIA 1614 E. 7th St. 495.9425 A converted house with a quaint, inviting feel. Have the Aborrajado (fried plantain stuffed w/mozzarella), then Bistec Criollo, Pabellon, or Arroz con Pollo. Guava Mimosas, and fresh Ceviche on weekends. EL ZUNZAL 642 Calles 474.7749 This East Austin gem serves up inexpensive Salvadoran specialties like Loroco Papusas, Fried Plantains w/ Crème, Yucca w/ Chicarron, and huge Tamales wrapped in banana leaves. ESTANCIA BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE 4894 Hwy-290 W. 892.1225 Why have one cut of meat when you can have ten, plus an endless supply of garlic potatoes, fried bananas & cheese bread, as well as unlimited access to the gourmet salad bar?!! Lunch $18.90, Dinner $29.90 HABANA 2728 S. Congress 443.4253 It’s like a mini vacation - lounging in the cabana, sipping on a Frojita, munching on plantain chips. For the full experience, order a Cuban Pork Sandwich or Ropa Vieja w/ Congris, and some heavenly Tres Leche. RIO’S BRAZILIAN CAFÉ 408 Pleasant Valley Rd. 828.6617 Farmer’s Market stars, Elias & Ben, now have a cute east side café, w/ drive-thru service no less! Savory stuffed pastries, tantalizing soups & salads, tasty Brazilian Breakfast Pockets, Casa Brazil Coffee & Wi-Fi. SAO PAULO’S 2809 San Jacinto 473.9988 Skip the Tex-Mex and go for some Brazilian Black Bean Stew, one of their scrumptious seafood dishes, or a Churrasquinho Meat Platter w/ all the fixins. If you imbibe, the Caipirinha is a must. LOCAL 30 Businesses You’ll See No Where Else BUT Austin T here’s a nice high-end shopping center in Austin that recently had a billboard up which read something to the effect of “40 Stores You’ll Find Nowhere Else In Austin.” I’ll give musician Dave Madden credit for pointing it out via Facebook. That got me to thinking… We’re glad to have these nice chain stores in Austin and having them all in one place is just wonderful. BUT… my thoughts went to how many stores we have in Austin that you’ll find nowhere else in the world. So, I put it out there and asked for contributors to write about them and Veronica Garcia, Arnold Wells, Rob Greenamyer, Deborah K. Coley and Barbara Touey answered the call. This is by no means an exhaustive list of Austin originals. We decided (for the most part) to ignore restaurants as we already have a great Restaurant Guide (this story wraps through it). And these 30 reflect the opinions of our contributors, so if your favorite Austin original isn’t on here it’s not that we don’t agree, because we do. This is a representative sample, if you will, of the kind of places that help keep Austin weird, wired, clothed, decorated, and most of all… original. – Sean Claes (Owner, INsite Magazine) Allen’s Boots 1522 South Congress Avenue • 447-1413 allensboots.com Under the big red boot on South Congress you can find over 4,000 pairs of boots from the mundane to the exotic… from $25 to $2,500. You don’t need a pair of boots to live in Austin, but if you are in the market for a pair this is where Austin has been getting them since 1977. They’ve got a full line of western wear and cowboy hats as well. Walk in and mosey out. – Sean Claes Austin Art Glass 1608 South Congress Avenue • 916-4527 austinartglass.com Shiny objects abound at this artful establishment that opened its doors in 2003. Among the finds are treasures that will inspire awe and admiration for their creator. These aren’t ordinary vases and boring old glasses. These stunning pieces of artwork make excellent gifts and conversation pieces for any home. The fine craftsmanship is evident in the pieces, ranging from bowls and glasses to custom designs. Artist and owner Aaron Gross offer classes and workshops on the techniques he’s mastered so well. You can watch or participate in the process from start to finish. Fine art is a big part of Austin culture and this place has done an excellent job of meshing the unique with the traditional. – Veronica Garcia Austin Homebrew Supply 9129 Metric Blvd • 300-BREW austinhomebrew.com Austin Homebrew Supply is one of the largest clearinghouses for anything that has to do with DIY brewing. In addition to being a huge online retailer for wine and beer brewing equipment and ingredients, these guys have been serving it up in Austin since 1991. From your first kit to the most advance brewing technology available to the do it yourselfer, this is the spot and its all Austin baby! – Arnold Wells ited by your imagination in this wonderful store brimming with decadent delights. Big Top has some of the best candy in Austin and is getting national recognition as well. You’ve got to love a place that advertises “Candy Galore” on the front door. It delivers on its promise with rows and rows of candy bins and jars of confectionary marvels. The circus theme adds to the nostalgic setting and gets you in the mood for snacking. Big Top features vintage candy that will take you back to your childhood, including Pop Rocks, candy cigarettes and Zagnut bars. The shop also features a soda fountain with entertaining soda jerks who can whip up just about any concoction you can come up with. Owner Brandon Hodge opened Big Top in 2007 next to his other store Monkey See, Monkey Do. And he’s been satisfying sweet teeth from all over the world ever since. – Veronica Garcia Birds Barbershop 2110 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. B • 442-8800 6800 Burnet Rd. • 454-1200 1107 E 6th St • 457-0400 1902 South Congress Ave • 445-0500 birdsbarbershop.com Since Michael Portman and Jayson Rapaport opened Bird’s Barbershop in May 2006 with one location on South Lamar, their invitation to “Walk in and Rock Out” has fit perfectly into the eclectic feel that Austin offers. They offer salon-quality cuts with a price that is more that of a higher-end barbershop. The price coupled with quality cuts (the best haircut I’ve ever had was at Bird’s and guys, if you’ve never experienced a straight-razor shave this is where to go), really interesting décor, awesome parties and intriguing advertising has helped this business quadruple in size in four short years. They definitely have done their job to help keep Austin weird while looking darn good from the neck up. – Sean Claes Hoek’s Death Metal Pizza 511 East 6th Street • 474-6357 hoekspizza.com We intended to avoid listing restaurants, but Hoek’s was just too good to pass over. What Austinite has not strolled down 6th St, dazzled by brightly lit clubs and booming dance music, when suddenly, from a dark little hole in the wall on the strip, there comes the roar of blast-beat drums, machine-gun guitar riffs, and the guttural growls of bands like Pig Destroyer and Lamb of God. Even if death metal isn’t your thing, folks burnt out on Kane and Ke$ha (or, if it’s a weekday, blues bands playing “Pride And Joy”) may smile in spite of themselves: at its commercial epicenter, Austin still refuses to be pegged down. Beyond the punishing sonic wall is a suitably dungeon-like cave with a counter displaying Hoek’s slices of “brutal pizza.” In business since 1992, Hoek’s hosts live bands on the weekends (guess what genre ...) – Rob Greenamyer I Luv Video 4803 Airport Blvd. • 450-1966 2915 Guadalupe St. • 236-0759 iluvvideo.com I Luv Video has somehow been able to beat the digital age thus far. By and large it’s been due to their ability to create a community of supporters of the stores ability to have on hand some really obscure movies. The characters that work behind the counter are usually as interesting and the movies on the shelves as well. Much like Waterloo Records, I Luv Video has been able to survive when chain-stores retailers of the same product. Bravo to owners John Dorgan and Conrad Bejarano who opened this gem in 1984. – Sean Claes Bookpeople 603 North Lamar Blvd • 472-5050 bookpeople.com An Austin icon, Book People is an independent bookseller for the whole community. This three-story jewel is located at the crossroads of 6th Street and Lamar. Book People offers a uniquely Austin space for the perusal of all kinds of literary fancies. – Arnold Wells Lucky Lizard Curios and Gifts 412 East 6th Street • 476-LIZD luckylizard.net Steve and Veronica Busti have got an eclectic and interesting store smack dab in the middle of the 6th Street party district. Chock full of really cool knickknacks they find mixed in with some great items from Austin-area designers. It’s no mistake that this place has been one of the mainstays on INsite’s “All Austin Gift Guides” we publish each December. Looking for original Austin shirts, how about an Austin Ambigram shirt (it reads the same upside-down as right-side up). Then there’s fantastic jewelry, funky fish art, gargoyles, dragons, ghosts, Bigfoot, and pirates… oh my. It’s also home to Austin’s answer to Ripley’s Believe It Or Not… the Museum of the Weird. Only in Austin can shrunken heads coexist next to highfashion jewelry. – Sean Claes The Herb Bar 200 West Mary • 444-6251 www.theherbbar.com When you enter the small ivy-covered cottage called The Herb Bar located on W. Mary, you know immediately that you are in no ordinary store. The store originally opened in 1986; and Twila Dawn Willis took ownership in 1995. Twila and her staff provide a wealth of herbs, stones, jewelry, books and music. It also features weekly health talks and provides in-house massages and other services. – Deborah K. Coley Lucy in Disguise (With Diamonds) 1506 South Congress Avenue • 444-2002 lucyindisguise.com Playing dress-up isn’t just for children. Adults have been renting and buying costumes from Lucy in Disguise since 1984. Lucy’s recognizable facade is truly an original, right at home on South Congress. The interior is just as flashy as the exterior. Its no surprise that the shop opened its doors on April Fools Day. Halloween is a busy time of year for the costume shop, but there’s so much more to the store than one night Photo by Sean Claes Bass Emporium 1720 West Anderson Lane • 691-7445 bassemporium.com What other city has a music scene that could support a boutique shop dedicated exclusively to the bass guitar? This oft-shortchanged and yet absolutely essential component to nearly every great band gets its due at John Files’ eight-years-open Bass Emporium, where any pluckers and slappers worth their bottom end can geek out to their thumping hearts’ content. Hard-to-find brands like Roscoe, Lakland, Eden, and Ashdown are represented, as well as acoustic basses, bass pedals, and other bass-specific paraphernalia. – Rob Greenamyer Big Top Candy Shop 1706 South Congress Avenue • 462-2220 facebook.com/bigtopcandyshop Chocolate. Covered. Bacon. Need we say more? Well, yes, because as good as that porcine pleasure is, you’re only lim- Lucy in Disguise (With Diamonds) Continued on page 6 AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E PG 5 LOCAL Continued from page 5 Photo by Sean Claes alone. You can rent, buy and sell costumes year-round. The choices are varied and the selection keeps up with current trends but also includes vintage looks. So, you can find everything from Alice in Wonderland to Elvis and monsters to vampires. The shop also has a huge selection of boas, wigs and hats of all styles, including pimp daddy and fedoras. Think outside the box and dress up for any occasion with the inspiring threads that help keep Austin weird. – Veronica Garcia Parts and Labour 1604 S Congress Ave • 326-1648 30.2479 -97.7504 partsandlabour.com Parts and Labour is hip to what makes Austin original. This boutique specializes in trendy and funky fashions and accessories. If you’re looking for just the right words to help you express your love of cycling or disdain for Dallas try saying it on a T-shirt. Parts and Labour has a fantastic selection of quirky tees that will get you noticed and might even get people thinking. The shop carries locally made items, including crafts, hair bows, purses, dresses, house wares, soaps, candles and jewelry. The items are reasonably priced and good quality. Austin locals Alexandra Renwick, Lizelle Villapando, and Talena Rasmussen opened the store in 2003 and they’ve helped the local craft community blossom through the years. P&L only sells Texas produced items made in Texas by Texans. The owners choose to support the local economy. The store deals in consignments, so if you’re crafty and you need some extra cash you might want to look into having your merchandise sold here. – Veronica Garcia Precision Camera & Video 3810 N. Lamar Blvd. • 467-7676 precision-camera.com Whether you are looking for a camera, photo printing, camera repair, frames, or classes to learn how to take a better photo, look no further than Precision Camera and Parts and Labour Video. Jerry and Rosemary Sullivan and owned and operated this establishment since 1976, and it has become a favorite of locals because of their expertise, service, and selection. They really go the extra mile to make sure you can learn your craft, be it to take photos at family gatherings or music festivals. – Sean Claes Pyramid Audio 305 East Braker Lane • 458-8292 pyramid-audio.com If it’s been obsolete for decades but you want it to sing like it was fresh off the shelf, you need Chris Lewis at Pyramid Audio. Lewis is a wizard with analog and tube audio – technology that transistors and diodes phased out back in the Vietnam era. But for thirty years running, audiophiles nationwide with a passion for antiques pay big bucks to send their trophies to Austin so Lewis can get them working again. From tank-like power amps to Teddy Ruxpin dolls, Lewis brags that his impeccably equipped repair shop services “the largest collection of broken stereos in the country.” – Rob Greenamyer Rock N Roll Realty 512-394-ROCK rockandrollrealty.net Opened in 2009 by broker Erik Fortman and agent Lauren Crow (both musicians), Rock N’ Roll Realty banks on the image of Austin as the city of a thousand guitarists. The business also keys into the fact that the quality of service is what counts, whether the agent is wearing a tie or a t-shirt. In fact, as young people pour into Austin, the average walk-in will be more at ease with an apartment locator who would look at home in a rock club rather than a Rotary Club. On these principles, Fortman’s upstart brokerage flourishes. – Rob Greenamyer Rock N Roll Rentals 1420 W. Oltorf St. • 447-5305 rocknrollrentals.com Need a Fender Geddy Lee signature bass guitar? $1,000 brand new. $40 a month from Rock N’ Roll Rentals. Want to put on a show in your basement? How about a 1000-watt complete PA system that could run you over two grand off the shelf? $84 a month. A $500 condenser mic for $20 a month? No problem. And if you only want it for the weekend, cut those monthly prices in half. Since 1989, Jim Norman’s music gear rental warehouse has been putting professional gear into the hands of even the most humble of garage bands, including lighting, pro A/V, wireless transmitters, and studio recording gear, at highway robbery prices. – Rob Greenamyer The Soup Peddler 501 W. Mary St. • 373-7672 souppeddler.com In 2001 David Ansel decided to leave his high tech job and dedicate his life to making soups that he delivered to customers who special ordered (he calls “soupies”) from a cooler that rolled along the back of his bicycle. If that is where the story ended, The Soup Peddler would still be on this list, but he has turned a one-man Continued on page 17 RESTAURANT GUIDE COFFEEHOUSES PHOENICIA BAKERY & DELI 2912 S. Lamar - 447.4444 4701 Burnet Rd. - 374.9081 Everything you need for your own Middle Eastern party…just hit the cold cases and then the olive bar. And don’t forget some Halva or Baklava for dessert. WHEATSVILLE CO-OP & DELI 3101 Guadalupe 478.2667 Where the health conscious shop and the biggest selling item is a Southern-Fried Tofu Patty on focaccia bread. And yes, they have outstanding ‘natural meat’ sandwiches, too. AUSTIN JAVA 1206 Parkway – 476.1829 1608 Barton Springs Rd. – 482.9450 Bustling shop w/ huge selection. Fast, friendly service & plenty of free Wi-Fi. Breakfast, lunch & dinner w/ good sandwiches, salads, pasta & dessert. Spicy Peanut Soup gets rave reviews. EPOCH COFFEEHOUSE 221 W. North Loop 454.3762 A magnet for serious nerd types…laptops, chess, and tasty technoambient music. Beans provided by the Texas Coffee Trader and pizza by Eastside Pies. GENUINE JOE COFFEEHOUSE 2001 W. Anderson Lane 220.1576 Plenty of comfy seating in this converted bungalow with a super laidback, friendly vibe. Mate Latte, Italian sodas & smoothies, as well as other standard coffee drinks. Good rooms for meetings. DOLCE VITA GELATO & ESPRESSO 4222 Duval 323.2686 Gelato as sustenance in this Hyde Park locale that also offers Italian sodas, dessert liqueurs, pastries & Panini with the feel of a Parisian sidewalk café. IRIE BEAN COFFEE BAR 2310 S. Lamar 326.4636 A tiny shop with a great staff, exceptional coffee, hot & iced toddies, and specialties like the Irie Bomb w/ Guinness & Espresso. There’s also a shared patio out back w/ a grass couch & spaceship! KEVIN’S COOKIES 1501 S. Mopac (inside Intel) 751.4660 BETTER than that other cookie place, though closed on the weekend. Super nice guys who use real butter! cane sugar!! and high-quality nuts & chocolate!!! Yummm. Online ordering w/ same day delivery. JO’S HOT COFFEE 1300 S. Congress – 444.3800 242 W. 2 nd St. – 469.9003 The hottest spot on the block, with a second location on 2nd. Walk, run, bike or drive to this great local hangout w/ excellent coffee drinks and ‘Rock ‘n Reel’ free live music & movie nights on Thursdays. MADCAKES 3808 Spicewood Springs Rd. 795.9285 Cakes, cookies & dessert bars any Mad Hatter would devour. Made from scratch w/real butter & natural flavorings. Killer Lemon Bars & Pumpkin Cookies slathered in caramel icing. PROGRESS COFFEE 500 San Marcos (at E. 5 th) 493.0963 Located in a revamped media complex, this socially aware, art savvy shop serves organic, fair-trade coffee and the best Bagel, Lox & Cream Cheese in East Austin. PIE SLICE 2024 S. Lamar 444.6644 30 years of baking experience. Huge slices of scrumptious apple, blueberry, black-bottom banana or coconut cream pie. They also make delicious pizza, sandwiches, migas and .99 breakfast tacos! RUTA MAYA 3601 S. Congress 707.9637 Up on the hill next to the Pennfield water tower, you’ll find a classic community coffee house & club, where organic coffee, world music, free yoga & political fundraisers rule. POLKADOTS CUPCAKE FACTORY 2826 Rio Grande St. 476.3687 A perfect Red Velvet along side creative options like Strawberry Shortcake, Boston Cream, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and the amazing S’Mores, topped w/ marshmallow, chocolate chips & ganache. THUNDERBIRD 2200 Manor Rd – 472.9900 1401Koenig Ln – 420.8660 Both shops have a bright, modern ambience, with French Pressed Coffee, a variety of Teas, breakfast & lunch Paninis, fresh pastries and yummy vegan treats by Celeste. QUACK’S 43rd St. BAKERY 411 E. 43 rd St. 453.3399 Another one of those neighborhood places that makes Austin great. Righteous Key Lime Pie; huge, luscious Chocolate Éclairs and Cupcakes. Good coffee & free Wi-Fi, so stay for a while. SUGAR MAMA’S BAKESHOP 1905 S. 1st St. 448.3727 Cupcakes are the current rage and this place does them proud, and all-natural to boot! Devotees recommend the French Toast, Jack’s Lemon and the Black & Tan (made w/Guinness & Irish Cream). SWEETISH HILL CAFÉ & BAKERY 1120 W. 6 th St. 472.1347 An old favorite in the Clarkesville neighborhood. Stop in for some coffee and a Chocolate Croissant, Banana Bread Pudding or fresh Peach Pie, when it’s in season. DELIS & SANDWICH SHOPS DESSERTS BEST WURST (Food Cart) 6 th and San Jacinto St. 912.9545 Great tasting (and smelling) Bratwaurst and Italian Sausage, cooked in the great outdoors. Be sure to get the yummy grilled onions. Servin’em up from 8pm-3am. FOODHEADS 616 W. 34 th St. 420.8400 A short jog from the Campus to this cute little house with some of the most creative sandwiches in town. Daily specials and a build-yourown option as well. FLYING FALAFEL & POBOYS 2001 Guadalupe St. 494.1400 Proudly owned by a ‘Cajun Arab’ family, this campus whole-in-thewall has authentic Middle Eastern food (try the Sampler Plate) AND excellent Shrimp & Oyster Poboys! BLUE DAHLIA BISTRO 1115 E. 11 th St. 542.9542 Big, beautiful, open-faced sandwiches just like they make in Paris, but at modest prices (try the Roast Beef or Egg Salad). Fabulous soups, plus waffles, blintzes & frittatas. Lovely bamboo patio. HOG ISLAND DELI 1612 Lavaca 482.9090 Chow down on the Best Philly Cheese Steak in Texas! They also have great hoagies with a variety of high-quality cold cuts – go for ‘The Old Italian’. CHEZ NOUS 510 Neches 473.2413 For an authentic French dining experience that’s still within reach, this downtown charmer delivers. Lunch runs $8-$18; the prix set 3-course dinner is $25.50 and worth every penny. LULU B’s (Food Wagon) 2101 S. Lamar 921.4828 Perfectly executed Vietnamese Sandwiches on chewy French rolls (BBQ or Lemongrass Pork, Chicken & Tofu); tasty Summer Rolls & thick Avocado Smoothies. (Cash Only/11:30am-4pm) DRAKULA ROMANIAN RESTAURANT 8120 Research Blvd. 374.9291 Affordable, authentic dishes straight from Transylvania! Stuffed Cabbage w/ fluffy polenta, tender Chicken Schnitzel, paprika Pork Goulash & warm Apple Strudel will calm the beast within. MANNY HATTAN’S N.Y. DELI 9503 Research Blvd. 794.0088 If you’re craving GOOD Matzo Ball Soup or Cheese Blintzes, it’s worth the drive. Sandwiches so big you can take half home, and the amazing 4-inch high Cheesecake is flown in from N.Y. FLIP HAPPY CREPES (Food Wagon) Jesse & Butler (off S. Lamar) 552.9034 Even Bobby Flay admits that Andrea & Nessa make the best crepes this side of France. Sweet & Savory varieties both attain perfection, so be prepared for a line. (Lunch only Mon-Fri; Brunch Sat & Sun) NEWORLDELI 4101 Guadalupe 451.7170 A neighborhood café offering delicious soups, salads & sandwiches. Classic Tuna Melts, piled-high Ruebens, a unique Chicken Salad, and a perfectly satisfying Broccoli/Cheddar Soup. JUSTINE’S BRASSERIE 4710 E. 5th St. (way east…) 385.2900 Chic yet welcoming vibe w/ an artsy clientele, cool music, and fairly reasonable prices. Nice cheese & cold cuts platters; Duck Confit or Coqilles St. Jacque for around $15. Open ‘til 2am. Au gus t 2 0 1 0 PG 6 FRENCH & EUROPEAN RESTAURANT GUIDE GREEK & MEDITERRANEAN EL GRECO 3016 Guadalupe (around the corner) 474.7335 The best Greek food in Austin for just a bit more. Try the Feta Stuffed Peppers, Jake’s Eggplant Dip, the Chicken Caesar, or classic Moussaka. They even make their own pita bread & desserts. FINO 2905 San Gabriel St. (upstairs) 474.2905 Hip Mediterranean dining w/ reasonable lunchtime prices. Lounge on the deck with a Bitter Queen (drink!) until your stellar Nicoise Salad or Potato Gnocchi arrives. Dress to impress. MILTO’S 2909 Guadalupe 476.1021 Half Greek/half Italian, what could be better? The cheap prices! Tasty Gyros, Greek Salads & Stuffed Grape Leaves, alongside Lasagna & Fettuccini Alfredo. And, nothing’s fried. TINO’S GREEK CAFÉ 5501 Balcones Dr. – 533.9292 9911 Brodie Ln. - 233.4999 Cafeteria-style eatery w/ large portions of chicken or gyro meat, soup or salad, and 3 additional sides: $6.99-$10.99 (lunch & dinner). Sumptuous vegetarian plates also available. INDIAN CLAY PIT 1601 Guadalupe St. 322.5131 Upscale, Indian fusion cuisine in a beautiful stone building full of history. If there’s a line, sit at the bar and order some Shrimp Tandoori or Mulligatawny Soup to tide you over. Nice lamb dishes. Curry In Hurry 2121 W. Parmer Lane 821.0000 Inexpensive, home-style vegetarian take-out with a few tables for eating in. The menu is a bit confusing, but the food is authentic, tasty & comforting. They also have yummy Rasmalai for dessert. SWAD VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT 9515 N. Lamar 977.7923 Located in a vast strip mall, this authentic hole-in-the-wall serves inexpensive South Indian treats such as idli, samosas, and huge dosas, along with a very good sampler Thali Tray. TAJ PALACE 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd. 452.9959 One of the oldest & prettiest Indian restaurants in town w/ a tasty lunch buffet that’s light on the oil. Good Malai Kofta, Tikka Masala, and Tandoori Chicken that melts in your mouth. TARKA INDIAN KITCHEN 5207 Brodie Lane 892.2008 Ex-owners of Clay Pit now have a fast food café w/ better food than the original! Divine Madras Soup & Chicken or Vegetable Saag; tender Lamb ‘Naaninis’ bursting w/ flavor (ask for raita). ITALIAN CRAIG O’S PIZZA & PASTARIA 4970 W. Hwy 290 891.7200 Old school Italian-American w/ large portions and plenty of marinara (try the Veggie Lasagna). Good prices and even better beer deals. Located in a strip mall just east of Mopac. EAST SIDE PIES 1401 Rosewood Ave. 524.0933 A quirky little outpost that serves awesome, extra thin-crust pizza made with attitude! Lots of unique combos you won’t find elsewhere (try the popular ‘Guiche’). They also deliver. ENOTECA 1610 S. Congress 441.7672 A chic but affordable Italian bistro & deli with exceptional pasta, panini, pizza and desserts (the Lemon Panne Cotta is to die for) and a creative weekend brunch. FRANK & ANGIE’S 508 West Ave. 472.3534 Their 18”inch pepperoni pizzas (2 for 1/ Tue.), and satisfying marinaradrenched Spaghetti & Meatballs (2 for 1/ Sun.) keep people coming back…Clifford Antone had a plateful every week! GIOVANNI’S PIZZA & PASTA 3010 S. Lamar 656.7033 Yes, they have good pizza at this tiny take-out inside a Valero gas station, but the pasta is even better! The Penne Arrabiatta, Linguine Alfredo & Spinach Ravioli are scrumptious AND bargain-priced. HOME SLICE PIZZA 1415 S. Congress 444.7437 A welcome addition to the SoCo restaurant scene…good pizza, fun atmosphere, and a huge kickass Cannoli for dessert! Expect a scene. LITTLE DELI & PIZZERIA 7101 Woodrow Ave. 467.7402 Tony’s Jersey style pizza and deli sandwiches will make your heart sing! Even the veggie versions are exceptional…and you better save room for a big slice of cake. Open Mon-Fri, 11am-9pm (BYOB). MANDOLA’S 4700 Guadalupe 419.9700 Famous family-owned café, bakery, deli & grocery that’s ‘Mama Mia’ good! Authentic Sicilian-style pizza, pasta & panini - try the juicy Pot Roast Sandwich. Exceptional gelato & pastries as well. ROUNDER’S PIZZERIA 1203 W. 6 th St. 477.0404 Retro-Vegas vibe w/ fabulous Pizza & Caesar Salads. Thin but chewy crust & high-quality ingredients (hand-made meatballs) make all the difference. Plus, vintage Atari games & free movie nights. LAKE & RIVER VIEW THE GRISTMILL (New Braunfels) 1287 Gruene Rd. 830.625.0684 Historic Cotton Gin turned restaurant (next to Gruene Music Hall), w/ outdoor seating and spectacular views of the river. Delicious Tomatillo Chicken, Fresh Trout, Bacon Wrapped Filet & killer green beans. LAKEHOUSE CAFÉ (Spicewood) 406 Sleat Drive 464.7040 Half a mile from Pace Bend Park, next to Briarcliff Marina. Casual fine dining w/ a stunning view. Nice breakfast, appetizers, sandwiches ($10 range), and a yummy melon-sized cinnamon roll! MOZART’S COFFEE 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. 477.2900 Every kind of hot & cold coffee drink imaginable, an on-site bakery, and free Wi-Fi. Fantastic lakeside location with lots of outdoor seating on the huge dog-friendly deck. MEXICAN & TEX MEX POLVO’s 2004 S. 1 st St. 441.5446 A festive outdoor patio, colorful muraled interior, and bountiful salsa bar with yummy pickled veggies. Huge meat or veggie stuffed Rellenos & Enchiladas, plus savory Fish & Shrimp Dishes. TORCHY’S TACOS 1311 S. 1st St. – 366.0537 2801 Guadalupe – 494.8226 Love the Green Chili Pork, Fried Avocado, and Dirty Sanchez (w/ srambled eggs, guacamole & poblano) at this still expanding local franchise. The S. 1st trailer-park setting is actually a plus. VIVO COCINA 2015 Manor Rd. 482.0300 Hip & healthy Tex-Mex in a lush tropical setting with multiple outdoor seating areas. Awesome Chili or Verde Enchiladas, and killer Cucumber Margaritas. ZOCALO CAFÉ 1110 West Lynn St. 472.8226 An ultra-modern white space w/ serene outdoor patio. Fresh & flavorful Interior Mexican at reasonable prices. The Zocola Plate (Chilaquilles) and Stacked Enchiladas deliver big flavor. Good veggie options. MIDDLE EASTERN & AFRICAN ALBORZ PERSIAN CUISINE 3300 W. Anderson Ln. 420.2222 For exotic tastes in a gracious setting, indulge in their 30-item Lunch or Dinner Buffet ($9.69/$12.99). Tender, juicy meats, delicately spiced rices, and lovely complex stews, plus belly dancing Fri & Sat. ASTER’S ETHIOPIAN 2804 N. IH35 469.5966 Austin’s first & most welcoming Ethiopian eatery w/ superb Doro Wott (chicken bathed in Berbere sauce) & bountiful Veggie Combos served w/ authentic teff injera. Fun to eat w/ your hands & share w/ friends. KARIBU 1209 E. 7th St. 320.5454 The late hours (midnight/2am Fri & Sat), nice owner, and $6.99 lunch combos make this Ethiopian way station worth visiting. Good Alicha Wot (made w/ whole egg), and Asa Gulash (tilapia). PHARA’S 111 N. Loop Blvd. 632.7067 Great for that special date or group of friends looking for a unique experience. Good Mezza Plates, Lamb Kebobs & Couscous, w/ belly dancing on most nights & a huge outdoor hookah lounge. SARAH’S GRILL 5222 Burnet Rd. 419.7605 A super friendly, family-run restaurant & market. Excellent falafel, feta rolls, spinach pie & house-made desserts. The roasted half Chicken w/ pungent, creamy garlic sauce ($7.00) is amazing! PUBS & SPORTS BARS AUSSIE’S SPORTS BAR 306 Barton Springs Rd. 480.0952 Laid back vibe with 25 screens tuned to five different games, cheap beer, and real sand volleyball courts out back…if you’re here for the service, you must be suffering from sunstroke. BENDER BAR & GRILL 321 W. Ben White Blvd. 447.1800 All the qualities of a great dive, without that dirty feel - cheap beer, diverse crowd, great jukebox, darts & pool. Good food as well, with huge burgers & tasty waffle fries served by a happy staff. CROWN & ANCHOR 2911 San Jacinto 322.9168 A laid-back and super friendly campus hangout with 30 beers on tap, 80 in the bottle, and very tasty cheap burgers (both meat & veggie varieties). Dogs welcome in the patio (the furry kind). THE DOG & DUCK PUB 406 W. 17 th St. 479.0598 The Crazy Uncle of the pub scene. Nothing goes better with 42 beers on tap (mostly English & local brews) than delicious Fish’n Chips or Bangers’n Mash. THE DRAUGHT HOUSE 4112 Medical Parkway 452.6258 To quote a yelper ’English on the inside, Texan on the outside’. Lawn chairs & dogs allowed in the parking lot. Huge selection of beer on tap, including some decent house-brews. THE GINGER MAN 301 Lavaca (new location) 473.8801 The King of Pubs has a classy new home with a gorgeous dark wood interior and virgin, two-level patio out back. Still packing 100 bottles of beer on the wall & another 80 on tap (over 20 locals)!! THE GOOD KNIGHT 1300 E. 6th St. 628.1250 Best of the trendy, slightly pricy, east side gastro-pubs. Low-lit, romantic interior; delectable comfort food, like Fried Tomatoes, Chicken Pot Pie & Meatloaf; wine, cocktails & absinthe at the bar. OPAL DIVINE’S FREEHOUSE 700 W. 6 th St – 477.3308 3601 S. Congress – 707.0237 An excellent selection of beer with a separate Scotch Bar upstairs. Good pub food, great service, and a rockin’ atmosphere make for some good times here. RED SHED TAVERN 8504 S. Congress 280.4899 Ex-biker bar now a clean, unpretentious, deep south hangout. Interesting mix of people, nice bartenders, big outdoor space w/ live bands on the weekend, and as a bonus, the Spartan Pizza airstream. RED’S PORCH 3508 S. Lamar (behind bank) 440.7337 Modern/Texas Grand gastro-pub w/huge upper deck overlooking the Barton Creek Greenbelt, plenty of local & imported beers on tap, and large portions of excellent comfort food at reasonable prices. SHANGRI-LA 1016 E. 6th St. 524-4291 Ground Zero for east side hipsters. A festive atmosphere w/ cheap, strong drinks, plenty of indoor/outdoor seating and a view of downtown; plus pool tables, arcade games and a great jukebox. SPIDERHOUSE 2908 Fruth St. (E. of Guadalupe) 480.9562 Beer, cocktails, coffee, sandwiches, and vegan treats are all available in this old converted house with a magical garden patio, where DJ’s spin on Friday & Saturday nights (unless it’s raining). SEAFOOD EDDIE V’S EDGEWATER GRILLE 301 E. 5th St – 472.1860 9400 Arboretum Blvd – 342.2642 If you’re willing to spend some dough, this is the place. Amazing Crab Cakes, Truffled Mac n’ Cheese, and molten Godiva Chocolate Cake; plus Happy Hours w/ 50-cent Oysters & half-price Appetizers. CHERRY CREEK CATFISH CO. 5712 Manchaca Rd. 440.8810 Satisfying platters of Fried Catfish and Blackened Shrimp w/ crunchy slaw & bacony beans. Famous for Bloomin’ Onions & Fried Green Tomatoes. Quaint, old-school atmosphere & service. MARISCO’S LOS JAROCHOS 9200 N. Lamar 339.3022 The best Mexican seafood in town. Enormous, super fresh Shrimp & Oyster Cocktails, Calamari & Pulpo Ceviche, and flavorful house specialties like Cazuela Jarocha, Parrillada de Mariscos & Shrimp Brochettes. QUALITY SEAFOOD 5621 Airport Blvd. 454.5827 This stellar seafood market & restaurant offers 12 Oysters on the HalfShell for just $9.99 and $2 Fish Tacos on Tuesdays! Excellent Seafood Soups, Fried Okra & house-made Cornbread. WAHOO’S FISH TACOS 509 Rio Grande St. 476.3474 Great location off W. 6th with an authentic California surf & skateboard theme. Sweet Hawaiian fish cooked w/ teriyaki or Cajun spices and some all-natural veggie options as well. AL PASTOR 1911 E. Riverside Dr. 442.8402 Don’t judge a book by its cover…look at the menu! 17 different ways to enjoy your Al Pastor – all superb. One of the most authentic Mexican joints in town, plus a late-night taco wagon in the lot. CURRA’S 614 E. Oltorf 444.0012 Forget they have one of the best drink selections in town, its their Interior Mexican staples, the Seafood dishes and daily brunches that keep ‘em comin’ back. GUERO’S TACO BAR 1412 S. Congress 707.8232 Three reasons to come here: fun place to people watch (maybe spot a celeb); stays open ‘til 11pm; deeply satisfying Pollo de Caldo (chicken soup) loaded w/veggies. Understood? HABANERO MEXICAN CAFE 501 W. Oltorf 416.0443 THE place for Fajitas and Grilled Lengua. Not much on atmosphere, but at these prices who cares? Have a Mexican beer or two and create your own. JUAN IN A MILLION 2300 E. Cesar Chavez 472.3872 If Menudo doesn’t work on your hangover, then try the Don Juan Special. Friendly Eastside joint with delicious, inexpensive breakfast & lunch plus a lively patio out back. (no dinner hrs.) BEETS CAFÉ 1611 W. 6th St. 477.2338 This modern café sets the standard for organic, living food restaurants. Amazing Carrot Soup, Asian Noodle Salad, Pizza & Chalupas – all bursting w/ distinctive flavors; tofu-free, mind-blowing desserts!! LAS CAZUELAS 1701 Cesar Chavez 479.7911 Open ‘til 3am, this cheap, colorful eatery has killer salsa verde, Lengua & Al Pastor Tacos, Enchiladas Postinas, and Micheladas the size of your head. Day-glo serapes & Tejano karaoke rule! BOULDIN CREEK CAFE 1501 S. 1 st St. 416.1601 Way funky South Austin café catering to the no-meat crowd w/ comforting tofu scrambles, tacos & veggie burgers. If you’re not vegan, get a great cup of Jo and make some new friends. MARIA’S TACO XPRESS 2529 S. Lamar 444.0261 Got to love a place with this much character, great Pollo Guisado Tacos, and Hippie Church on Sundays. A South Austin original run by one of the nicest families around. DAILY JUICE 1625 Barton Springs Rd – 480.9502 2307 Lake Austin Blvd – 628.0782 Drink your breakfast, lunch, or dinner here. Fantastic tasting organic juices, smoothies & detoxifying concoctions, a stone’s throw from the hike & bike trails of Lake Austin. MAUDIE’S 2608 W. 7th St – 473.3740 1212 S. Lamar – 440.8088 The oldest & most loved of the local Tex-Mex chains. The extra cheesy Enchiladas and nicely done Margaritas seem to do it for most people. Good chips & salsa as well. MOTHER’S CAFÉ & GARDEN 4215 Duval 451.3994 Back in action after the fire, offering favorite staples like the Bueno Burger, BBQ Tofu, Mushroom Stroganoff & Artichoke Enchiladas. Good salads & dressings. Mi Madre’s 2201 Manor Rd. 322.9721 or 480.8441 Look for the giant rooftop figure in the heart of the Manor strip for some of the tastiest breakfast tacos in town. Try the #0, #9, #17…if you’re vegetarian, the #8. Charming old-school w/ good prices. SOMNIO’S CAFE 1807 S. 1st St. 422.2500 A cozy, little house (next to Retread Threads) using fresh, local & organic ingredients to create exceptional gluten-free, vegan dishes that shine as bright as the meat offerings they share the menu with. NUEVO ONDA 2218 College (off S. Congress) 447.5063 GREAT Migas & Huevos Motulenos, tasty Lunch Specials for $5.15, excellent tamales by the dozen ($7.50), and the best horchata in town! Open for breakfast & lunch only (seat yourself). VEGGIE HEAVEN 1914-A Guadalupe 457.1013 This cheap, popular Campus spot serves tofu & veggies in too many ways to count. Order the satisfying Protein 2000 and some fluffy Steamed Buns, then check out the Falon Gong lit. VEGETARIAN AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E PG 7 Au gus t 2 0 1 0 PG 8 Style About: Sunny Haralson has designed for artists such as Patty Griffin, Courtney Love and Erykah Badu. Her fashions are made of 100% recycled materials and handmade by Haralson. Her work is all one-of-a-kind and prices range from $78–$725. INSITE STYLE Clothing by: rubypearl Photography: Todd V. Wolfson Models: Laura Aiden (top left and right), Dagny Piasecki (bottom left), Cortney Hope (bottom right), and Sunny Haralson (center, creator of rubypearl) Where to buy: Stella Blue Boutique and Salon (1204 South Congress) stellablueaustin.com Wildflower Organics (908 North Lamar) wildflowerorganics.com Online at www.rubypearl.etsy.com AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E PG 9 COVER STORY Tee Cultural Ambassador for Austin’s Hip Hop Double I Story by Thomas Yoo Photos by Arnold Wells n “The Chosen” from his 2005 album, The Growth, Tee Double entreats: “So, I’m reading magazines, and I’m waiting for the day of the double-page spread – letters above head, ‘Texas Tee Double is well bred.’ These rhyme sheets I speak are well read… Put me on the cover your newsstand, man; On wax or live band, I crush the groove.” And why not give the man what he demands? After over seventeen years in the Austin music business, Tee’s list of accomplishments and accolades seems to just go on and on. In June, Tee released his self-produced fifteenth album, Vintage Vizionz. After thousands and thousands of local hip hop shows and representing Austin and Texas throughout the North American underground hip hop scene for years, the Austin Music Awards finally pronounced Tee as the 2010 best local hip hop artist. As the recipient of shout outs from underground hip hop veterans, Aceyalone and Del the Funky Homosapien, and Rolling Stone Magazine, Tee’s acknowledgments have amassed. Over the years, he has evolved from emcee to producer, entrepreneur, and impresario, having founded the studio, label, and distribution service provider, Kinetic Global. He has also, along the way, become something of a cultural ambassador for Austin hip-hop music. He has been appointed as an Advisory Board Member to the Austin Music Foundation and has worked as the National Urban Hip-Hop Coordinator for the South by Southwest music conference, as well as with the Texas Chapter for the Grammys in its “Grammys in School Program.” The Texas Music Museum has also recently invited Tee to be included as one of the first hip hop artists in the Museum. Given these achievements, when was the last time Tee made the cover of a local magazine? In 1996, he was featured on the cover of the XL, the weekend pullout in the Austin American-Statesman. It was also the only time. Fourteen years, numerous albums, and countless live n performances later, Tee seems only to flourish and continue to redefine the boundaries of his art form. Tee is quick to point out that most Austin publications are reluctant to put hip-hop on the cover: “Maybe they just don’t really see the value in it. I get asked all the time, for all the things I’ve done in Austin, ‘How come you’ve never been on the cover of the Chronicle?’ Going from artist to producer to working with all these big organizations in town, and juggling all these hats and still being considered a true artist… usually, when you move into the music business sector and entrepreneurism, people slowly stop thinking of you as an artist. I’m still keeping my quality high musically and still putting out records.” Not that Tee is losing sleep over that, much less letting it slow him down as an artist: “It’s really up to them. Maybe they see Austin hip hop as just something that’s happening in town but hasn’t really broken through the door yet, and they don’t really have anyone on staff who’s really in tune to the local hip hop scene – to really know what’s happening, to know who’s doing stuff… I can’t really fault them for it. I’d love to see more of it. You know, of course I’d love to see myself on the cover of a few magazines. I mean, that would be nice, but I don’t get Au gus t 2 0 1 0 PG 10 cover story mad about it, and I don’t bitch about it. I just keep being productive and doing my music and doing what I need to do for my hip hop community, and, if that means I never get on the cover of any magazine, then I’m fine with that. I’ve had other accomplishments that can balance that out, where people did recognize it.” Does Austin hip-hop in general get the respect that it deserves? According to Tee, definitely not, but the Austin hip hop community is at least partially to blame for that: “For one, we’re in Austin, and a lot of people outside of Texas don’t know that Austin is the capital. I was on tour, and I was like, I’m from Austin, Texas, and they’re like, is that in Houston? They don’t have a clue. I can’t really fault them for that. A lot of that is because, artists in Austin still haven’t figured out how to make a collective of our own – how we can develop a strong kind of like “political party” of hip hop artists – where we can go to the venues and say, hey, we want to get paid more for our shows, or we want more local hip hop artists at the ACL fest. Just like you have the rock artists, there’s hip-hop here as well. Until we realize as a whole to really organize and structure ourselves for the bigger picture, we’re all going to get overlooked, and only a few of us will make it through the cracks and do something big or whatever. As a whole, there’s still going to be that struggle.” Oh, you’re one of those who still think that hip-hop is not real music? When asked how he would respond to such skepticism, Tee, who sees himself as a kind of spokesperson of the art form, answers: “Try to do it. Take turntablism, for example. There are things that you can do as a DJ, that you could never do on a guitar. You could never move both your hands as fast as a turntablist. Or take emceeing and freestyling – the way some people freestyle, it’s like a jazz player, like Miles Davis playing his horn or Coltrane… there are so many notes, so many inflections, so many ways of flipping the words. Really try it, and you’ll understand that it’s an art form.” Or perhaps you just haven’t actually heard true hiphop? Tee continues: “I’m not talking about the simple stuff you see on Saturday morning cartoons or the McDonald’s commercials. Those things are not really hip-hop. Those are just takes on hip-hop. Those are kind of like slowed down marketing things to get you to buy the McNuggets.” What is real hip-hop? Tee invokes KRS-One: “Rap is something you do; hip hop is something you live. Real hip-hop is when you wake up and you breathe it. I can just be walking around the street and the store, and I’m rhyming and I’m freestyling… I’ve always got a beat in my head. That’s real hip-hop. I don’t just become Tee Double when I’m on a stage and am in front of a mic. Hip hop is me all day, everyday.” Tee even hears beats in his sleep. “If I’m sleeping and going through one those R.E.M. moments, where you’re dreaming… I’ll come up with whole songs in my sleep. I’ll wake up the next day, and I’ll have a whole song done without writing anything down.” Tee describes the new release, Vintage Vizionz, as “a collage of different textures and different styles and sounds” while nonetheless trying to maintain a cohesive “sonic plane,” where these variations still all fit as an album. “I usually go in with a focus to make sure that not all my songs sound alike. Where you can hear the record, and you can think that a different producer produced each of the different songs, but really I did everything. Some songs have a more live jazz feel. Some have the real raw hip hop drums and samples.” What has the response been like thus far? “People are digging it. They really respect that I’m not trying to sound like what’s on the radio right now. I’m not trying to change my sound. I’m not trying to fit in the mainstream machine of music. I’m still doing my own thing.” Vintage Vizionz offers a sampling of Tee’s range as an emcee and producer of music: from the rugged, synthesized beat of “So Vintage” to the jazzy, piano-laden tracks, “How Can it Be,” “Feel So Right,” and “Material Ibex,” to the bass-heavy, elliptical “Galactic Sun” to the live band feel of “Full Circle” to “Something Nice,” a love song that includes a drum sample from Purple Rain. A love song? Now that may truly be the ultimate test of the versatility and creativity of an emcee, as such efforts can and almost always do immediately devolve into pure corniness. Nevertheless, Tee manages to walk that ever so fine line here in a similar way to The Growth’s “A Love Interest.” Tee described the creative process behind “Something Nice”: “The beat led to the lyrics. I made the beat and was like, wow. The music in that track has kind of a Michael Jackson Off the Wall feel to it. I thought that was a cool little track and would be perfect for a love song. I couldn’t get on that track and rap about me being the best rapper. It wouldn‘t have made sense. That goes back to me having to know how to really create songs and not just produce songs on whatever topic. I just sat down and wrote the lyrics and it just fit. It works.” One need only dig a little deeper into Tee’s catalogue with albums such as Return of the Artform, Bio-Music, and Live at Lucky Lounge to gain a fuller appreciation of his versatility as an emcee and producer. Tee tackles subjects ranging from growing up in Austin to lessons learned in the music business to touring the country with Aceyalone and Del. In “Look at Me Now” from 2009’s Bio-Music, Tee touches on his father’s passing – a glimpse at his maturity as an artist and his ability to make music out of personal subject matter, a feat that proves impossible for most emcees to pull off artfully. That is not to mention the “club banging” beats and more conventional-yetheady lyricism and clever one-liners that also permeate each of these albums. To truly appreciate Tee as an artist, however, you really need to witness Tee perform at a live show, impro- vising over the beats and melodies of his fellow Boombox ATX musicians. Watching Tee freestyle, whether you’re a true hip-hop aficionado or a neophyte, it is instantly clear that you are beholding something special. Tee effortlessly flows from one rhythmic cadence to the next, using his voice, intonation, and, indeed, his every breath as if it were a musical instrument in a seemingly endless stream of lyrics, rhyme schemes, and syncopated rhythms. “Freestyling, man, to me, is spiritual. Just to think about the process, if you would, to come up with thoughts and words that rhyme or are rhythmically in tune with each other. You really just can’t sit there and be like, I’m going to start freestyling. We’ve all been around people who are freestyling about whatever and it’s like di-di-didi, da-da-da … you know, real simple patterns, kind of like patterns you learn when you’re a kid with nursery rhymes. A lot of people still incorporate those things from memory into how they freestyle. That’s why their freestyles or raps sound like nursery rhymes. To be able to really push the limits of thought, which is what I really try to do,… I’m like, how far can I go in my mind and come up with ideas and words and do it on the spot where it makes sense? I think there are few people that can do that and do that well. It’s definitely a spiritual kind of experience. You get into a trance. A lot of time when I’m freestyling, I don’t remember what I just said … it just comes. It’s kind of like you zone out. Then, if you have a good crowd, an energetic crowd, that’s just going to make your brain waves move faster … and shoot those nerves … then you are really going to be on your game. It’s definitely a gift, and I feel blessed to be able to do it. Freestyle has been my thing forever. I mean, that’s just what I’ve always done, but, when I went on tour with Del and Aceyalone and Zion I and all those guys, it really stepped my game up on what freestyling really is. Anybody can freestyle. There‘s really nothing to that, but to do it artfully and creatively and to do it in a way where whoever is standing around you won‘t even try to freestyle after you‘re done – it raised the bar of it.” Doesn’t he ever run out of things to say? Is Tee ever at a loss for words? “When you’re writing songs, words can come all day. To me, that is the easy way. You can always say, I need a new word that goes with whatever, but, when you’re freestyling and you run out of words, then it kind of comes back to being the artist, where you can use the words you have but use them in tones – use them musically where words don’t actually rhyme per se. I use my voice and respect my voice like an instrument, kind of like a jazz player. I’ve got all these notes and have this range of notes I can pull from… where I don’t run out of words or frequencies or tones. I can just keep doing so many things.” After thousands upon thousands of shows, how does Tee get hyped for a show? “I just love doing it. I love getting on stage and rapping and seeing the look on the faces in the crowd like, ‘Did you hear what he just said?’ or just interacting with what I’m doing. I love it that much, where, if I was 80 years old, I’d still be trying to kick freestyles. I’m not doing it just because it’s trendy and it’s cool and it’s something to do, and I’m going to wear skinny jeans and try to copy someone else’s image to fit in to what the marketing is doing now. I’m Tee Double. This is me. I’m doing it. I don’t do any special meditation or anything. It’s just like, is my mic on? As long as people can hear what I’m saying and my mic is clear, let me do the rest.” Other than freestyling at the old folks home someday, what does the future hold for Tee? Tuesday night shows with Boombox at the Highball, writing and recording music, collaborating with other musicians, and continuing to push the bounds of his artistry: “I’m all about writing songs. Let’s be as creative as we can. I’m always about working with other artists. I’m doing some songs now with Tony Scalzo from Fastball – just stepping out of our comfort zone. I’ve always looked at it like, why shouldn’t I work with a rock artist or jazz artist just because I do hiphop? I consider myself a musician as well. I perform and I gig as much as somebody that plays guitar. Other artists and musicians want to bring me into their fold, because of how creative I am with my rapping. I’m not just rapping, but I’m musically doing it.” AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E PG 11 ART The Art of Finding – The Found Object Art of Barbara Irwin By Jo Anna Ordóñez Photos by Sean Claes S ome people find art in many unexpected places. Barbara Irwin, Austin artist, finds art in objects that she finds anywhere and everywhere. From strolling around the neighborhood to antique shops and garage sales, there are treasures to be found by Irwin. Then in the way only a master could do, she puts them together to create one of a kind piece of art that tell a story and will intrigue you. Au gus t 2 0 1 0 P G 12 There are many hidden treasures and finds within her collages and 3D art pieces. Barbara is a Texas native and remembers that very early in her childhood her mother encouraged her to pursue her dreams by telling her that she felt “you’re the type of person that will be able to do many things and do them all well”. Barbara recalls “one day my mom said she had noticed I took pieces out of the little cabinet of porcelain treasures and that I never put them back in the same place, making them look even more special than they were. I did this because I liked playing with them and the way they were arranged”. Irwin began making collages for friends and family until one day in her 40’s she was approached by a n a r t ist who w as hosting a Recycled Art Show and challenged her to make a piece for the show. “I created 5 pieces for the show and won a $5 award! I don’t know if I would have followed this path on my own, but when someone challenges me, I go for it!” Today her passion to create cont inues w it h series featuring many different subjects that focus on time, money, relation- ships, spirituality and more. Her Confinement Series, featuring cages and many found objects is a collection of morality and more. Irwin explains “ sometimes we don’t think about it, our thoughts and our beliefs can be very confined, we need to be open to the possibilities, because when you shutdown and close off to something, you stop learning and stop living”. Some of her other series show the humor and sometimes more serious sides of her work, from the Head Trips, which features doll heads with items protruding out of them to the Roadside Attractions Series, a collection of found objects, and Sacred Art there a no limitations to the creativity that this artist displays. The Roadside Attractions came about when one day as Irwin was walking down Airport Boulevard. She happened upon some discarded objects that someone may have thrown out. These pieces have been gathered over time and added to mobiles and tree stumps to make a collection that invite the viewer to discover each item, some familiar and others not. Also in the last 3 years, at age 65 Irwin continued on her path of discovery and learning by taking up welding of found metals to create one of a kind floral and garden décor. “It has been so much fun and it’s a new way for me to work with found objects,” adds Irwin. Irwin’s art can be found by visiting her online at www.foundobjectart.com or by making an appointment to visit her studio in East Austin (email [email protected]). Her work is presently on display at an exhibition in the Austin City Hall and will be available at art shows this fall including the Cherrywood Art Fair. JoAnna Ordóñez is a local glass artisan and owner of Vidriosa Glassworks. Her work can be found at The Lucky Lizard (412 East 6th Street), and The Oasis Gift Shop (Comanche lane) and Local Art Shows. Visit her online at www.4coolglass.com. From the Roadside Attractions Series Welded flower From the Head Trips Series Found Metal piece THEATRE ship with the parents and the dark and bratty nature of Two Houses Both Alike… Juliet.” When asked if she believes Juliet is truly in love By Brian Paul Scipione with Romeo McNerney replies, “she thinks it’s true love tin, she decided to move here to pursue her career in the thing was true love it lasted for two weeks and when it and maybe it is, but when I was 17, when I thought some- L “This is, the first interview I’ve done for the theater,” says Casey Allen, “It’s like in the past we’ve been totally underground and nobody’s cared about what we do.” Allen is reprising his part as Romeo in Austin Drama Club’s second production of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” Yet far from a re-run the present performance has two major changes: there’s a whole new Juliet and a whole new theater space. Austin Drama Club, originally formed as the Velvet Rut Theater in the Fall of 2006, is the passion project of Japhy and Ellen Fernandes, this group transformed a small three bedroom, one bathroom house on the East side of Austin into a bastion of environmental theater. By knocking down walls, doors, and other obstacles the Velvet Rut used a make shift space with home-made platform seating comprised of an eclectic array of chairs, stools, and benches (truly no two seats were alike) to bring a staggering thirty-plus productions to life. This group has tirelessly performed show after show, weekend after weekend with no regard to notoriety or notice. They have unabashedly embodied art for art’s sake. And now they have moved on to a more conventional (in the Austin sense of the word) theater-space and that is a warehouse on the outskirts of town. Much like the Blue Theater and the Off Center, the Austin drama club had rented and renovated a large empty room at 12345 Pauls Valley Road, a short scenic drive down 290 past the Y. So as the new space welcomes the troupe, the troupe welcomes a new player, Ashley McNerney, in the titular role of Juliet. McNerney was on a road trip across the South when a fateful few days in Austin landed her at the Austin Drama Club’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Taken by the show and the unique nature of Aus- arts after graduating East Carolina University in 2009. turned out it wasn’t the heartbreak lasted a lot longer. She quickly found a place at the very theater company This story doesn’t get a chance to play out so we don’t that served as her muse and was enthusiastic about the really know.” opening of Romeo and Juliet and her first lead role when The grunge setting is a perfect underscore for the des- suddenly the production was cancelled due to city ordi- peration surrounding the age old love story of children nances. Romeo and Juliet was the last planned production trying to rebel against their parents through defiance at the theater’s East side location. “The whole theater was and inaction. Allen explains further, “grunge is always dissembled and moved out.” McNerney explains, “I was the same. To me it’s not about a certain time period but jolted by the experience of being so ready to go when the a frame of mind. Everyone goes through a grunge period: theater was shut down but then I got to watch as it came not showering, not caring, being unkempt.” The angry together day by day. Seeing props and costumes stacked music, the caustic backlash against the establishment, and up to the top of this space and yet, with every day, more the valuing of self over society are only some of the time- and more of it came back together.” less themes of the movement. Allen continues, “I do art Her lack of stage experience does not deter McNer- as my passion and I don’t care how much money I make; ney, “while I got many technical things from my director, that’s what grunge is to me. Even though it has a label the emotional things are coming from within. I just kept you’re still defying social norms. We are definitely doing saying the lines over and over and over and in the end I that with this production. You will not see the Romeo and knew them so well that it became natural.” McNerney Juliet you usually see.” Some of the differences include a also notes how her experience with the production’s near build-up of Paris’ character, the suave high-society syco- demise mirrors that of her character’s growth. “Juliet phant the Capulet’s want Juliet to marry. His final scene freaks out a lot. She’s an emotional rollercoaster with in the graveyard and his lines are left intact in this production. Not to mention the underlining drug use, the raucous music of Alice in Chains, and the minimalist style of the piece. “A lot of Grunge bands didn’t have a lot of production, a lot of polish,” Allen reminds us, “but they were really going for it, really rocking out, relying on their emotions.” So if you are looking for the sweet tragedy of the overly-romanticized love story that is the story of the two lovers of Verona than look elsewhere. This is the gritty realism of misguided youth, lashing out against an oppressive society but clinging to the things that really matters most to them in their limited lives and that is each other. So two theatrical houses both alike in dignity now demarcate the history of the Austin Drama Club. The new space which is situated among a cluster or warehouses is bigger, all these things forced upon her. Her parents are basically trying to force her to marry a cripple.” ADC’s production of R and J is re-set into the 90’s Grunge era and it includes a 17 years old Juliet, a heroin-using Romeo, and a wheelchair bound Paris. Being an only child, McNerney says it is easy for her to tap into her own past for inspiration, “My 17 year old self has a lot of similarities with her feelings, the relation- has a gift shop, box seating, and is still BYOB. The ticket prices range from $5 to $30 depending on what night you go and where you sit. The house opens at 7:30 and the plays begin at 8:00 on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. More information and directions can be found on their website: http://austindramaclub.com. The Summer/Fall Season for the ADC includes Romeo and Juliet, opening in late July and continuing into early August, Merchant of Venice, opening on August 20th and Anthony and Cleopatra which opens on September 24th. FINANCE ear Naked Accountant: I have a new job Furthermore, the penalties and interest the IRS will and have to fill out an IRS form called a charge if you pay your taxes late are typically like a ‘night- Form W4. Apparently the amount of Fed- mare credit card’. Believe me, paying your taxes before same newspapers. It can be very confusing. Here is my advice – keep tightening your financial seatbelt, put money aside and invest it conservatively, have an emergency fund that covers at least three months of living expenses & keep your finger on the pulse of your personal finances. Actually, this advice works in a questionable eral tax they withhold from my paycheck paying your credit cards should definitely be a priority. economy as well as a strong Bottom line: fill out the Form W4 correctly! economy. Good luck! Ask The Naked Accountant D depends on how I fill out this form. How can I fill out the form so that they withhold no Federal tax? I am single with no kids. I realize I will probably owe Dear Naked Accountant: I’m curious what your take tax but will deal with that later after I pay off my is on the current economic situation? I hear some- credit cards. Thanks. – Confused and need help in SoCo thing different every day depending on the news sta- Dear SoCo: Stop, stop, stop. Read this!! I’m going to do you a favor by passing along some very simple informa- tion I listen to or the newspaper I read. Thank you… – a native Austinite If you have a question to “Ask The Naked Accountant” e-mail [email protected]. It may appear in a subsequent column. The Naked Accountant is Jean Carpenter-Backus – tion. Do not defer paying your Federal taxes. Based on Dear Austinite: I don’t think we have hit bottom, your info, it is not an option to fill out the Form W4 in unfortunately. I sympathize with your confusion because owner. See more at a way where no taxes are withheld from your paycheck. I probably listen to the same news stations and read the thenakedaccountant.com. a CPA, CFP, and a business AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E P G 13 MUSIC CALENDAR INsite Recommends - august 2010 8/5/2010 Buzzfuel Speakeasy Rasputina w/Larkin Grimm The Parish Hiroshima One World Theatre LeBlanc plays Kick Butt Coffee In The Triangle w/Patrick Higgins Kick Butt Coffee In The Triangle Joan Baez w/Special Acoustic Performance by James McMurty Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Jimmie Vaughan Antone’s Ume, O’Brother w/The Sour Notes Emo’s Ugly Elephant CD release party Support, TBA Headhunters The Bulemics, Lurking Corpses, Bastards Of 76, Ese, Spoiled Royals Headhunters The Return of the 5,000 lb. Man: A 75th Birthday Tribute to Rahsaan Roland Kirk The Elephant Room The Damn Torpedoes: A Tom Petty Tribute w/Venus Velvet Variety Hour Burlesque Show, Tribella, Naga Valli, Robyn Ludwick Momo’s Bourland’s B-Day Bash Jovita’s Panteon Rococo: Gira 15 Anos De Lucha Flamingo Cantina So Unloved, A Corpse Vanishes, and Slumlord club 1808 The MC Overlord Birtday Bash ft. Aimless Gun, Michael Dillard and The Eagle Pritchard Murray Band The Dirty Dog Bar So Unloved, A Corpse Vanishes, Slumlord Booze Town a Club1808 annex Bang Bang Theodores Beerland FTMOA’s First Friday Frolic Kickoff Show Club de Ville FIRST FRIDAZE: Jai Roots/McPullish/Tuskani/Jah Remedy Encore Curtis Grimes – Joan Baez Aftershow Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Happy Birthday, Woven Bones, and Residual Echoes United States Art Authority Oliver Rajamani and Rosetta Strings Cactus Cafe Pauline Reese Old coupland dance hall The Blues Specialists Continental Club Two Hoots And A Holler and Straight 8s Continental Club Tea Time w/Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka and more… Elysium Prayer For Athiests, Blacklisted Individuals, Brentalfloss, and The Anti-Scene Red 7 500 Miles From Memphis, Sideshow Tragedy, and These Mad Days Of Glory Hole in the Wall Earl Poole Ball And The Cosmic Americans Saxon Pub Reid Wilson and Jay Boy Adams Saxon Pub Hector Ward And The Big Time Threadgill’s South World HQ 8/6/2010 STEAMROLLER – Southern Rock Funk Reggae Party! Mean Eyed Cat Ty Segall w/The Baths, The Hex Dispensers, A Giant Dog Emo’s Thee Fine Lines, Simple Circuit, The Bad Lovers Beerland FunkyBatz presents: Hot Funk in the City – Showcasing ATX Funk and Soul! Momo’s Shen Yun The Long Center for the Performing Arts Aaron Watson River Road Icehouse Charanga Cakewalk Special Live Concert! Esquina Tango Chip Tha Ripper :: Live in Austin Republic Live The Artificial Heart Vinyl Release at EKE 2010 Mohawk Austin Paramount, Edens Burning Headhunters Brian Posehn and Matt Bearden Red 7 Diamond Smugglers – ONLY SHOW FOR 2010! Antone’s Eyes Burn Electric, Spitting Angels, A Good Rodgering Headhunters Crooks, Jenny And The Corn Ponies, and Darren Hoff And The Hard Times The Scoot Inn & Bier Garten Penny Arcade, Suckerfish, and Mugrero club 1808 Steve Forbert Cactus Cafe Off W/Their Heads, White Night, Autistic Youth, and The Altars Red 7 Muchos Backflips Hole in the Wall Austin Collins And The Rainbirds, LZ Love, and Dime Store Poets Saxon Pub Paul Ray And The Cobras and Larry Lange And His Lonely Knights Threadgill’s South World HQ Naked Empire, Dark Summer Dawn, Nothing More, Fatback Circus The Parish Pissant Farmers First Down 8/7/2010 One Wolf w/Collin Herring and Carlee Hendrix Momo’s Jonathan Terrell Mohawk Austin Hometown Tour: First Day of Skool Canterbury Park Rosspat Band, ,Huntianny, Red Morning Voyage, Elador Band Headhunters Ink Dot Boy, Hallucinating Machines Headhunters Ritmo 3 and DJ Gonzalo Ruta Maya The Java Jazz Band Nutty Brown Cafe The Josh Tullis Band and The Stillpoint Band Nutty Brown Cafe Ambrosia One World Theatre Sole Control Aces Lounge Lindsay Wells Saxon Pub The Resentments and Bobby Whitlock And CoCo Carmel Saxon Pub Deadman Saxon Pub Rod Moag And Texas Grass Threadgill’s North Old No 1 George Ensle And The Groove Angels Threadgill’s South World HQ 8/8/2010 No Control Radio Presents: BLACK COBRA w/Howl, The Roller, Eagle Claw Emo’s Matt The Electrician Saxon Pub Bob Schneider’s Lonelyland Saxon Pub Jeff Plankenhorn Saxon Pub Hip Hop Summer Camps! Galaxy Dance School 8/9/2010 Cyndi Lauper w/David Rhodes The Paramount Theatre The Carrots, Eux Autres Mohawk Austin Veara (Epitaph Records) w/I Am Abomination, The Stampede, Go Action Team Emo’s The Goddamn Gallows, Black Eyed Vermillion, Dead Town Beerland Lamprimate and Tricia Mitchell Momo’s Lazy K club 1808 Butch Hancock Cactus Cafe Colin Gilmore Waterloo Records Bomb The Music Industry!, O Pioneers, Capitalist Kids, and Bike Problems Red 7 The Bread Hole in the Wall Waylon Payne Saxon Pub The Tractor Brothers, Colin Gilmore, and Bruce Hughes All Nude Army Saxon Pub A Giant Dog and Hatchet Wound Trailer Space Records 8/10/2010 Hard Summer Tour feat. Crystal Castles, Sinden, Destructo Stubb’s Bar-B-Q No Control Radio Presents: ENTHRONED w/Destroyer 666, Pathology, Hod, Disfigured Emo’s Ozomatli Waterloo Records Art Versus Industry – Crystal Castles Aftershow Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Atomic Pink Headhunters Chinaski’s Habits plays the Carousel! Carousel Lounge Curtis McMurtry And God’s Chosen People, The Coveters, Ryan DeSiato, Johnny Goudie, and Andrew Sloman Momo’s KVET Texas Music Series presents Sean McConnell, Django Walker Hill’s Cafe Bizzy Bone, T. Mills, Dot Dot Curve, Kill City, and The Flawless Dynasty Red 7 Winter Wallace, The Ghost Wolves, and Chicken Shift Hole in the Wall The Nortons Saxon Pub Somebody’s Darling, Jeff Inman Band, and Aimee Bobruk Saxon Pub Coughing Fit Trailer Space Records 8/11/2010 No Control Radio Presents: JUNGLE ROT w/Lightning Swords of Death, Woe of Tyrants, Sakrefix, Prolicide Emo’s Gentleman Jesse, White Mystery, The Barerracudas, Pleasure Kills, Melissa Bryan Support Group Beerland KGSR’s Unplugged at the Grove w/The Trishas Shady Grove 8/12/2010 Buzzfuel Fado Irish Pub RESCHEDULED – Big Daddy Kane, Doug E Fresh, Salt N Pepa, Rob Base Austin Music Hall Christopher Cross One World Theatre oops Beerland A Letter of Warning w/The Banner Year, Megafauna, and Second to Last Stubb’s Bar-B-Q C3 Presents: AA Bondy w/JBM, Milton Mapes ND at 501 Studios Cumbia & Vallenato w/Cerronato Esquina Tango Corrosion of Conformity (original 3-piece Animosity, Technocracy line-up) w/Righteous Fool (ft. Mike Dean & Reed Mullin), TB Emo’s Hardluck Heros, Cotton Jackson Headhunters Homegrown Live w/SPEAK, L.A.X, The White Hotel, & 6th Street Antone’s Paradise Titty w/Misstallica The Parish FrEe all ages rocknroll show w/Scrabble Robot, Cassingles, We Know Where You Live The Parlor North Loop 8/13/2010 Mat Kearney Central Presbyterian Church Rockshow Promotions presents the “Tastes Like Summer Festival” w/Dimitris Rail, Squint, Waiting for August, Dawn Over Zero, S Emo’s Classic Rock Series: Led Zeppelin Ruta Maya Shangalang Beerland As Blood Runs Black & Oceano (5pm Doors!) w/As Blood Runs Black, Oceano, Arsonists Get All The Girls, Tony Danza Tapdance Ext Emo’s Stoney Larue w/Midnight Choir White Water on the Horseshoe KLAAS w/Daveed & Davinci Republic Live The Black Mohawk Austin Skyrocket! ND at 501 Studios Bastardos De Sancho, Responible Johnny & The Tommy Guns Headhunters World Music Night One Year Celebration Momo’s GregoFest 2010 Purple Bee Studios Hamell on Trial ND at 501 Studios Monte Montgomery’s Big Birthday Bash & Show! Antone’s Corinne Bailey Rae La Zona Rosa Freshmillions w/Superlitebike, Love @ 20, TBA The Parish 8/14/2010 It’s Ella! One World Theatre Bali Yaaah, Birds & Batteries, Many Birthdays Mohawk Austin Collie Buddz :: LIVE in AUSTIN Aces Lounge Gram Rabbit w/Local TBA Emo’s Inner Sanctum Records Reunion ND at 501 Studios King Of The Air, Highfive Revial, Love Hate Affair Headhunters 8/15/2010 Autumn Mean Eyed Cat Capital City Men’s Chorus: New Members Welcome! Trinity United Methodist Church Kate Priestley Band Darwin’s Pub Cemetary Improvment Socity, Meteor Eyes Headhunters 8/17/2010 KVET Texas Music Series presents Aaron Watson, Cody Johnson Hill’s Cafe Ringo Deathstarr, Black Panda, BOATS!, Cassingles, Enlow Beerland An Evening w/The Maine w/This Century Emo’s KGSR Blues On The Green: Raul Malo Zilker Park Matisyahu w/Nathan Maxwell & The Original Bunny Gang Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Puffy Areolas, The Young Mohawk Austin Zoogma w/From Where They Run The Parish 8/18/2010 Live at the Lake w/Grupo Fantasma Lakeway Resort and Spa Stooges Tribute Night Beerland KGSR’s Unplugged at the Grove w/Suzanna Choffel Shady Grove Live at the Lake featuring Grupo Fantasma Lakeway Resort and Spa The Bubbles w/Oh No Oh My Mohawk Austin Lynyrd Skynyrd The Backyard at Bee Cave Andy Marchel & The Cocaine Rainbow, Bear Mountian Symphony Headhunters 8/19/2010 Natalie Merchant The Paramount Theatre The Wooden Birds w/Dan Mangan, Lost River/Old River The Parish Lorrie Morgan in Concert – CANCELED The Marchesa Hall & Theatre Native (Matinee – 5pm Doors!) w/Former Thieves, Brother/Ghost, Honey and Salt Emo’s Fridays W/Prince Klassen Beauty Bar Scott H. Biram (Late Show – 9pm doors!) w/Black Eyed Vermillion, Dad Jim Emo’s Lorrie Morgan in Concert – CANCELED The Marchesa Hall & Theatre The Suicide Pistols w/Ordain Headhunters tba Beerland VALLEJO w/Podunk and Robert Johnson’s Soul Antone’s 8/20/2010 Terrible Twos Beerland Dana Falconberry w/Telegraph Canyon, Archeology The Parish Randy Rogers Band w/Kyle Park White Water on the Horseshoe Budos Band Mohawk Austin CRASHROOM 9 (FREE SHOW) Quinn’s Bar River City Extension w/Geography, Pastures Emo’s Brandon Rhyder Old coupland dance hall Lucy the Poodle’s Back to School Party! Celebrating Megafauna’s CD Release Hole in the Wall EAST-SIDE PUNK INVASION Booze Town a Club1808 annex Dierks Bentley Nutty Brown Cafe Joe Strummer Birthday Bash Red 7 8/21/2010 Asia: Omega Tour The Paramount Theatre Luckenbach’s Legendary Picker Circle w/Cowboy Doug Davis Luckenbach, TX Asia Paramount Theatre Jonathan Terrell Mohawk Austin Adam Carroll @ Jon Dee Graham & Friend Continental Club Gallery 8/22/2010 Twin Sister w/Memoryhouse, Sleepover Emo’s 8/23/2010 Chromeo w/Holy Ghost & Telephoned Stubb’s Bar-B-Q EZ Action W/DJ Scorpio – Rock And Roll Dance Party And Hangout Beauty Bar The Delta Mirror w/One Hundred Flowers, Candi and The Strangers Emo’s Terror Tuesday: THOU SHALT NOT KILL...EXCEPT Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz 8/24/2010 KVET Texas Music Series presents Band of Heathens, Drew Kennedy Hill’s Cafe Cliff Brown Jr. Hole in the Wall 8/25/2010 Fever in the Funkhouse w/New Bohemians, Mudphonic Stubb’s Bar-B-Q KGSR’s Unplugged at the Grove w/Amy Cook Shady Grove MC Trachiotomy, Felix, Magic Jewels, Baby Dick Beerland Fu Manchu w/Black Tusk, It’s Casual Emo’s The 71s (Houston), The Canvas Waiting, Josh Halverson The Parish 8/26/2010 Buzzfuel Fado Irish Pub Judy Collins One World Theatre Fridays W/Prince Klassen Beauty Bar Will Taylor and Karen Mal Uncle Calvin’s Coffeehouse Nick Travis Memorial Concert w/Will Sexton & more! Threadgill’s South World HQ Bi-Polaroid featuring King Louie Beerland Hot Hot Heat w/22-20s, Hey Rosetta! Emo’s Grupo Fantasma Mohawk Austin Get Ready for The Beaumonts – CD Release Hole in the Wall Civil Twilight Stubb’s Bar-B-Q JAYTECH Encore Eyes Burn Electric DVD Release w/Mothers Anthem, Suite 709, Paco Estrada The Parish 8/27/2010 SOLD OUT – Ween Stubb’s Bar-B-Q An Evening w/Sheryl Crow w/special guest Colbie Caillat The Backyard at Bee Cave Rooney w/Disco Curtis, Whitman Emo’s Rippingtons One World Theatre Maker’s Mark presents: Red River On The Rocks Mohawk Austin Ryan Bush’s Bachelor Party – Golden Boys, Love Collector, John Schooley Beerland 3rd Annual Dia de Los Toadies Festival White Water on the Horseshoe NSA Media Presents: Mondo Generator Emo’s Annex Mondo Generator w/Tweak Bird, One-Eyed Doll, Squidbucket Emo’s Austin Piazzolla Quintet Live: CD Release!!! Esquina Tango Marie Betcher in BYNA Central Presbyterian Church Somasphere, The Malah & Metranohm Ruta Maya Music Show! The FiveOneTwo On Sixth Southpaw Jones – Ween Aftershow Stubb’s Bar-B-Q 8/28/2010 20th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival Waterloo Park Kellye Gray’s All That Jazz w/Suzi Stern Ringside at Sullivan’s 8/30/2010 Arlo & the Otter Beerland EZ Action W/DJ Scorpio – Rock And Roll Dance Party And Hangout Beauty Bar Jigglewatts Burlesque ND at 501 Studios 8/31/2010 KVET Texas Music Series presents Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Bill Rice Hill’s Cafe TITUS ANDRONICUS w/YellowFever, Local TBA Emo’s Something Fierce Beerland List your show on do512.com by august 19 to be considered for September’s Music Calendar Au gus t 2 0 1 0 P G 14 tech Avatar 3DTV & U – Just When You Thought It Couldn’t Get Any Better… By Radames Pera O nce thought to be a novelty medium occupied by Vincent Price in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, thanks to Pixar’s “Up”,”Toy Story 3” and James Cameron’s “Avatar”, 3D movies have made it back from near-oblivion not just to “a theater near you,” but well beyond that – all the way into our Living Rooms! The early days of 3D were all over the place: lower budget movies required audiences to wear those cheesy, headache-inducing red-and-blue paper-frame glasses to achieve the illusion, while movies with bigger budgets like “House of Wax” and “Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein” used polarized “sunglasses” to produce the effect. Until recently, the complexity and cost came from requiring all 3-D movies to be shot with two film cameras and then projected by two synchronized film projectors (one for the right-eye image and the other for the lefteye) onto a specialized silver screen in each movie theater. But now, advancements in video projection and digital storage devices allow exhibitors to show a 3D movie with one projector and a fast hard drive. Removing the need for costly film-based set-ups has been a godsend for theater owners who’s purchase of a state-of-the-art video projector was inevitable – since this is the future of theater-going, 3D or not. The upgrade pays for itself with 3D premium ticket prices and lower maintenance costs – and it can always be used for 2D films the rest of the time. But what about the giant leap from the cineplex to your couch? By now, a large number of households have high definition TVs in them (though not necessarily HD service – many people still watch basic cable on sets that can deliver a much better picture – but that’s a whole other issue) so its sane to be cautious about spending money on a 3D upgrade when you’ve just finished paying off the HDTV-set and Bluray player. Still, there may be some good news here, too: If you recently bought a higher-end LCD TV, one that boasts a “240 MHz refresh rate” in the specs, you could be half-way to 3D heaven already. The other part you’ll need is a 3D disc player, at about the same cost Blu-ray was a year ago, and of course, the glasses. And don’t just think you can sneak home a pair from the theater – they will not work. Only special, lightweight electronic 3D glasses, an active aspect component of the home experience, will do at this point. Since a person can on ly w atch Av at a r so many times before they absolutely must go out and tame a flying dragon of one’s own, the question arises, “how much is out there to watch in 3D?” I am here to tell you that 3DTV is not a fad. This isn’t another format war like Beta vs. VHS (a Boomer reference), or HD -DV D v s. Blu-R ay. 3DTV is happening, and it will be what everyone’s watching in their home theater within the next 5 years. But today, the present – a place where only the few, the brave dare to live – is it still too early to invest in 3D? No! Its surprisingly affordable. This fall Sony will come out with two “panoramic 3D” cameras for the home market at under $400! Yes, you will need their TV and special glasses to watch it, but it demonstrates that the 3D era is being ushered in. Some people may object to the idea of wearing lightweight electronic sunglasses to see the effect, but the majority will enjoy the new communal experience. As of this writing, there are already hundreds of 3D titles available, and this will only increase – same way HD titles did. Major networks are all gearing up for it, as visible during this year’s World Cup Soccer in South Africa which was being offered in 3D, so its not really “around the corner” any more. My one caution would be to avoid any “up-converted to 3D” films – in movie theaters or at home. “Clash of the Titans”, “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Last Airbender” are just a few examples. Movies not conceived and shot in 3D look really crappy when converted…and what looks bad in the movie theater will look bad at home, too. The exception of course are all the early Pixar and Dreamworks computer animated features (the original “Toy Story” and “Shrek”, respectively) which can (and will) be remastered to look as if they were made in 3D to begin with (computer animation is much more suited to this conversion process than any live-action film.) In the end it all boils down to the suspension of disbelief; that magic moment when suddenly a person forgets they’re sitting in a movie theater (or on the couch at home) and is totally engrossed in the entertainment experience. Surround sound helped, high definition helped, too. 3D can just be seen as a “natural progression” of this lineage of innovation. Nothing more and nothing less. The only ongoing hurdle is quality of content. And unfortunately, technology has very little to do with that. Since 1988 Radames has professionally designed and installed home theaters for many movie stars, directors, producers, and most recently upgraded the projection system at the Austin Film Society. Please direct questions and comments to [email protected]. You’ve got to have more than high school to get you where you want to be. Turning it around. austincc.edu/iamacc Austin Community College Insite Magazine 4.875x3.25 BW AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E PG 15 LOCAL TRAXX Paula Held Drive The debut release by Paula Held is a long time coming. It seems she’s been dabbling in music her whole life, but it wasn’t until she moved to Austin that she assembled a world-class group of players to lay down Drive. What she’s released is an adult contemporary jazzy record the likes of Joni Mitchell or Norah Jones. “I Need To Drive” begins the album with a song that would be perfect for an easy cruise down one of Central Texas’ backroads. The second track, “Shoop Ta Sho” sounds like it could double musically for Rickie Lee Jones’ “Chuck E’s In Love.” I love the descriptive wordplay of “Watermelon Moon Eye.” My favorite track on Drive has got to be “Tumbleweed Heart.” It reminds me of “Sweet Butterfly” by Stanley Smith. It’s one of those unexpected love songs. “He had a tumbleweed heart, across the desert he whirled, and he spun like a top till all at once he stopped for a sagebrush girl.” The entire album is certainly a departure from what I’m used to hearing from Austin bands. A welcome one. I’d place this more in the “timeless folk” arena. Held’s music seems it should be played in a listening room, like the Cactus Café (where her CD release show occurred recently). Also, The cast of players on the Stephen Doster produced Drive is pretty impressive. It includes local players the likes of Doster (guitar), Chris Maresh (double bass), Red Young (keys), Ephraim O wens (t r u mpe t), Denn is Lud i ker (strings) and J.J. Johnson (drums). Held is donating 10% of all CD sales to local charity Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). For more information on Paula Held, visit her website www. paulaheld.com/. – Sean Claes the n ake d ac c o un t a n t. c om The Mother Truckers Van Tour World Records Any album that begins with an old-school sounding rocker celebrating the end of the world would fit into the category of interestingly different in my book. But then you add that it’s a release from the good-time blues and country-twinged dual-vocalist group The Mother Truckers and it all makes sense. If you’re a fan of Austin music you’ve heard of these folks. They’ve been in town for the last five years (transplants from California) and in that time they’ve built quite the following. In fact their official Au gus t 2 0 1 0 P G 16 fan club is called “Go Truck Yourself!) I first caught them at Scholz Beer Garten in 2007 during a party hosted by Texas Music Magazine. Their live performance is as interesting as the fantastic lyrics and vocals of husband and wife team Teal Collins and Josh Zee. And while you can’t bottle a live show, they did a pretty good job of capturing the feeling on tape with Van Tour. As mentioned, “Alien Girl” kicks Van Tour off with a bang. Collins’ sexy powerhouse vocals almost make you forget she’s talking about blowing up the world… well… at least she’s taking us with her. They slow the rock down for “Keep It Simple,” which evokes a classic blues jam. A science lesson is given in “Size of the Sun.” Speaking of sun, the fun-in-thesun memories of California come out in “Summer of Love.” And anyone who’s been in a band will appreciate the tonguein-cheek rocker “Van Tour” The key to The Mother Trucker’s sound is the fantastic guitar playing of Zee. That, along with the backing of bassist (and Austin music veteran) Danny G and drums by Pete “The Beat” Langhans, make for a full sound. My favorite track is “Break-Up Sex” where Zee comes on like a carnival barker bekoning Collins’ sultry singing. “You know you make me crazy, and I know I make you crazy. But, you know I love you.” Incidentally, this song is part of an online poll if you’d like to hear and vote. www.austinmusiccity.com/poll) The album ends with a sweet little ditty called “Half The Time” which pretty much sums life up with the lyrics “Half the time I don’t know what I’m doing and the other half I don’t care.” If you’ve not heard The Mother Truckers yet, Van Tour is a nice introduction, but I really recommend you catching them live. For more information on The Mother Truckers, visit their Website www. themothertruckers.com. – Sean Claes Trashy and the Kid Songs In The Key of Blow Me Immoral Records Unapologetic, somewhat vulgar, angry, and self-deprecating… these are a few words that would describe the Austinbased punk band Trashy and the Kid (TATK). But that should be pretty apparent when considering the name of the album… Songs in the Key of Blow Me. For those who know the band… you’re aware above description is actually a compliment. With their first full-length album, TATK presents eleven tracks of Alice Cooper meets Guns and Roses meets Iggy Pop punk rock and roll. Five of the songs on this album are revamped versions of songs from their Run For Your Life EP. I’m glad they included them because the band members are vastly different then those on the EP and a quality studio production really fleshes out the songs well. The album kicks off with “Poledancer’s Circus” where they welcome their “wicked children.” Other titles which have titles as interesting as the songs are “Rampant Sex on the Hell Train” and “Little Dirty Daughter,” both improved tracks from their first EP. The other three from the EP that appear here are “Kid,” “Dar Al Harb,” and “Run For Your Life.” The funny-to-me “Cult Next Door” reminds that no matter how bad you think someone is… they’re likely better than someone else’s neighbor. If you’ve ever wondered what serial killers may be thinking perhaps “Lara” is the song for you. “Hands are Tied” explores an S&M relationship. “I Don’t Give A F@#$” sounds oddly like Golden Earring’s “Radar Love.” They also do a rocked-out Dresden Doll cover with “Half Jack.” Although “Cult Next Door” is pretty fantastic, my favorite track on this album (and live for that matter) remains “Dar Al Harb.” It begins with a Winston Churchill’s words of hope from December 24, 1941. But the sing-along worthy lyrics are what captured me from the beginning. “General Custard was a hell of a man. He walked into the bar with his soul in his hand / And sure I believe that it will all go to plan / I built this house why make me burn it down?” For me, “Dar Al Harb” took special meaning when, at their CD release party, a fan dressed in his military uniform was screaming word for word and ended up on stage with the band. TATK’s bio on MySpace mentions they conceived this band after hearing just how bad “Cold” by Crossfade was. Trashy and the Kid is coming to save rock and roll… or perhaps keep it from being “saved” and making sure it continues to survive in the hearts of the fans and fears of the parents. Find out more about Trashy and the Kid on their Website www.trashyandthekid. com. – Sean Claes Alejandro Escovedo Street Songs of Love Released on June 29, Alejandro Escovedo’s new offering is everything a fan could hope for and much more. Twelve fantastic Escovedo-penned tracks with that signature Tom Petty-meets-Ray Wylie Hubbard feel to it. It’s rock and roll with a punk vibe to it. Austinites may already be familiar with these tunes, as Escovedo and his band The Sensitive Boys worked them out during a two-month residency at Continental Club in late 2009. He has been touted as one of music’s “best kept secrets.” I always thought that was a foolish phrase. Nobody wants to be a musical secret. There are no secrets, just bands you’ve not been introduced to as of yet. Escovedo is ten albums deep into his career that has spanned 40 years. Those who know good music know him. Be it from his family lineage (he’s Uncle to Sheila E. and brothers Coke and Pete are amazing percussionists), his previous bands The Nuns (1970s), Rank and File (1980s), or the fact that in 1998 he was named “artist of the decade” in No Depression magazine. If you’ve never heard of him, consider this review to be an open invitation. Best-kept-secrets aside, Escovedo is well known and respected in the music community. This becomes pretty apparent when considering the guest vocalists on Street Songs of Love. The Boss himself (Bruce Springsteen) lends vocals on the fun jam “Faith.” Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) helps with powerful love song “Down In The Bowery.” He also taps local up-and-comer Nakia Reynoso to do some background vocals. Street Songs of Love begins w ith “Anchor,” a catchy love song with a nice chugga-chugga rhythem to it. “This Bed is Getting Crowded” is an in-your-face infidelity song. The title track is probably my favorite song lyrically. The aforementioned “Down In The Bowery” sounds like the Rolling Stones could have cut it. The trippy “Tula” has a snakelike charm to it. The album ends with a wonderful instrumental entitled “Fort Worth Blue.” The track that really caught my ear is “Tender Heart.” The lyrics are infectious and the music hit me like the first time I heard “Everybody Wants You” by Billy Squier. “I got a tender heart / you want my tender heart? / I got nothing you need / and everything you want.” Incidentally, upon first listen, when this song came on my three year-old yelled from the back seat “Turn it up, this is my favorite song.” If you don’t listen to me, listen to my daughter… she knows good music. You can pick up Street Songs of Love pretty much anywhere in the world but it you go to his Website you can pick up a digital version plus physical CD for just $13.99. Learn more about Alejandro Escovedo at w w w.alejandroescovedo. com/. – Sean Claes Ugly Elephant Ugly Elephant In 2008 a jazz-meets-funk instrumental band called Ugly Elephant formed after a conversation between musicians at Austin’s Eeyore’s Birthday Party. The five piece band has been playing around town at venues like Ruta Maya, Headhunters, and Red Eyed Fly. On Thursday August 5 they will be heading into their three-night at three-venue CD release party. I’m not really a jazz enthusiast. My knowledge of jazz is pretty much confined to The Cosby Show and the times I wander into the Elephant Room. That is to say, I enjoy the genre, but I’m not the guy who can pick apart a freestyle jam. I do appreciate the collective sound it produces. I’m a dabbler. Ugly Elephant’s debut self-titled CD is something I could truly get into. I’d call it “accessible jazz.” It’s more jam band music that happens when musicians who truly have an extreme knowledge of their instruments and craft get together and let loose. The first track, “Africa” kicks in with a nice baseline before the wa-wa guitar and horn fills it out. “Dorkus Rex” features my favorite moment on this CD when it breaks the freeform jam to play about 30 seconds of a 1960s sock-hop groove. “Whole Lotta Nasty” features a killer guitar jam. The final track, “The Metal Song” comes in full force, but then pulls back into a flute and keyboard driven track that would make Ray Manzarek smile. If you’re into fun free-form funk and jazz fusion you’ll dig Ugly Elephant. The band is made up of Dave “DJ” Johnson (drums), Chris Hart (guitar), Tim Girardot (keys), Austin Simmons (bass) and Mitch Quintanilla (saxophone). The CD Release weekend begins Thursday August 5 when at 10p they’ll have a listening party at Nomad. Friday they’ll play Headhunters and Saturday Ruta Maya is where they’ll be. See more on their MySpace Page – www.myspace.com/uglyelephantband – Sean Claes LOCAL Continued from page 6 Photo by Sean Claes one-bike shop with 17 “soupies” into a storefront and delivery business that has over 700 soupies, delivery vehicles, a full not-just-soup menu, and a delivery area that spans all of Austin. And lets not forget his book, “Soup Peddler’s Slow and Difficult Soups: Recipes and Reveries“ released in 2005. Check the website for this weeks soups and meals. – Sean Claes South Austin Music 1402 South Lamar Boulevard • 448-4992 southaustinmusic.com Independent guitar sellers tend to get swallowed whole when Guitar Center comes to town, but Bill Welker’s 24-years-young guitar trading post is doing just fine with very little marketing. That’s because South Austin Music is so organically integrated with the local music scene that it can’t help but be a must-shop for local axe-slingers stocking up on their favorite boutique equipment. Weekend warriors and local legends alike stop in to examine Welker’s wares, which include a dizzying menagerie of stomp boxes and enough Orange amps to strike you sunblind. Proud of their local cred, the casual, knowledgeable staff aggressively pimps quality gear of Austin make, like Malekko effects and the Durham brand SexDrive and Mucho Boosto pedals. – Rob Greenamyer Secret Oktober 1905-B S. 1st St. • 512-462-9217 secret-oktober.com Steam Punks rejoice – Cassandra Davis’ and Mary Milton’s micro boutique has the goggles you need. Serving Goth and punk communities with high-end macabre threads since 2004, Secret Oktober is now on the cutting edge of the booming Steam Punk trend. For the uninitiated, it involves pairing antique Victorian clothing (handlebar mustaches a plus) with kooky-looking gadgets, goggles, and machinery, for an overall Sherlock-Holmesmeets-Jules-Verne look. CDs, stickers, buttons, jewelry, and t-shirts also await you along with the corsets, buckle boots, and studded coats, beyond an “open” sign handlettered with the delicate script of a sensitive girl’s diary. – Rob Greenamyer St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store 1327 S. Congress • 442-5652 svdpstoreaustin.org Affectionately known as, “Saint Vinnie’s,” to many locals, this store provides low-cost donated used and new quality clothing, baby items, home furnishings and vintage items. The large front store windows are decorated in a South Austin funky style; and the staff is friendly and helpful. When you travel upstairs, you arrive at a large selection of furniture, bicycles, home electronics, collector’s items, books and music. This store has everything to outfit your entire home. As an added bonus, this store has a community program to provide goods to the less fortunate. The store is a Vincentian Family partnership between the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Ladies of Charity. – Deborah K. Coley Ten Thousand Villages 1317 S. Congress Avenue • 440-0440 tenthousandvillages.com Ten Thousand Villages opened on South Congress in 2004; and is managed by Kitty Bird. This interesting store The Soup Peddler provides interesting and unique gifts, musical instruments, toys and home décor from around the world. The store sells fair trade items from developing countries and each item is displayed describing its country of origin; and is staffed by volunteers. This store has something for everyone from babies to adults. – Deborah K. Coley Terra Toys 2438 W Anderson Ln C1 • 445-4489 terratoys.com This is the toy store you remember from your childhood. Before big box corporate toy stores, local stores were a magical place to be for children and adults. Terra Toys continues that tradition with all manner of trinkets and games for boys and girls of all ages. From old school giant spinning tops, to costumes and an eclectic selection of cool plush toys, Terra Toys continues to bring the magic of play to Austinites. – Arnold Wells Tesoros Trading Company 1500 S. Congress Avenue • 447-7500 tesoros.com Tesoros Trading Company offers unique gifts from the most seasoned traveler to the armchair shopper. The spacious shop has the feel of a bustling open-air market; however, it provides a shopping experience in a relaxed temperature-controlled atmosphere. Owner Jonathan Williams started the company in 1983. Goods from around the world are displayed according to country or region of origin. No passport is necessary to sample the interesting mix of wares including t-shirts, clothing, house wares, music, and religious objects. The store’s website offers a cornucopia of gifts that can be shipped to far-flung regions. – Deborah K. Coley Things Celtic 1806 W. 35th Street • 472-2358 thingsceltic.com This store is all things Northern European. Special emphasis is given to Irish and Scottish motifs. With an excellent website and a cozy storefront you will be sure to find something to suit the anglophile in your life. Whether you want to get a formal Kilt for your wedding or you’re looking for that perfect bit of Irish silver jewelry Things Celtic is your ticket back to the homeland. – Arnold Wells The Thoughtful House Center for Children 3001 Bee Caves Road Suite 120 • 512-732-8400 thoughtfulhouse.org The Thoughtful House Center for Children, founded in 2005 and located in Photo by Scott Moore Austin, Texas, is a non-profit organization that includes a collaboration of doctors, nutritionists, dieticians, psychologists, scientists, and community activists working to provide support for people affected by childhood developmental disorders, with a focus on autism spectrum disorders. The mission of Thoughtful House is to advance the treatment and understanding of development disorders through medical care, education, research, and community support. We are in the midst of an epidemic of developmental disorAnother Austin original… The Texas Rollergirls ders that includes autism, Asperger’s Synposed in fashions available in Secret Oktober drome, attention deficit disorder (ADD), for a recent fashion feature in INsite. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), pervasive development disorder (PDD), and nonverbal learning disorder (NLD). Our local, regional, and national communities are under-equipped to diagnose, treat, and educate these children. We are fortunate to have access to Thoughtful House, which is a datadriven environment for generating best practice models and setting new standards of care for children with these disorders. Ultimately, research will yield the answers needed to best serve this community. Visit www.thoughtfulhouse.org to learn how you can ensure that every child has the same chance of maximizing their potential. – Barbara Touey Toy Joy 2900 Guadalupe • 320-0090 toyjoy.com The name Toy Joy might seem self-explanatory, but there is so much to be found in this unique shop on the north end of the drag that you’ll be glad you ventured in. You don’t have to be a child to appreciate this toy store, but it helps to be young at heart. There’s plenty of variety to appeal to everyone from infants to adults. Toy Joy is the perfect place to find a gag gift or pick up a new hobby like juggling or magic tricks. Toy Joy is filled from corner to corner and floor to ceiling with everything from plastic snakes and spiders to Japanese robotic dolls and novelty lights. It’s chock full of super hero items. There’s also funny fake mustaches, jewelry, coin purses, décor and refrigerator magnets with the likes of Mr. T, Elvis and Mother Teresa. The best part about toy joy is that you can spend hours in there and still never see every single item. It’s a new experience every time. If you have a penchant for Parcheesi or a hankering for hula-hoops, this is the place to go get your fun fix. And if you get hungry while you’re shopping just go to the back of the store where they serve up coffee, tea, shakes, smoothies and dairy-free vegan frozen soft serve. – Veronica Garcia Turquoise Door 1208 S Congress Avenue • 480-0618 Owners Terry Hennessey and Gary Plank opened The Turquoise Door on South Congress in July 1989. The store is a veritable wonderland of beautiful turquoise, amber and silver jewelry from Mexico and other exotic locales. If that isn’t enough to strike your fancy, the store also sells beautiful home furnishings from handmade tapestries to painted metal wall hangings in a variety of sizes and styles. The store is located at the epicenter of the South Congress shopping district, and is only a short walk from the popular restaurant Guero’s. – Deborah K. Coley Waterloo Records and Video 600A North Lamar • 474-2500 waterloorecords.com There’s nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon in Austin, than to go to the record store. Even in this digital era, it’s a soul-enriching experience to be able to listen to the latest releases, flip through magazines and chat with fellow music lovers for hours. And you can easily find anything you’re looking for under one roof with the wide selection that covers all genres of movies and music. Waterloo has been an Austin icon since 1982. That’s longer than most of their shoppers have been on this planet. But Waterloo has aged so well from its humble beginnings to becoming known as a premiere venue. Thousands of concerts have been held at the shop and at times they spill out into the parking lot. Artists from Willie Nelson to Ben Harper to Spoon have entertained crowds at this dynamic location. Waterloo has managed to keep a great thing going and helped to solidify Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World. – Veronica Garcia Wheatsville Co-Op 3101 Guadalupe • 478-2667 wheatsville.coop Wheatsville Co-Op is not your average grocery store. Established in March of 1976, it provides Come see General Manager, Dan Gillotte, and his friendly staff who can assist you their wide selection of the locally grown, and produced food, and other items. The store is a member-owned cooperative; however, it is open to anyone who wishes to find. As an added benefit of membership, Wheatsville offers members-only discounts from time to time. – Deborah K. Coley AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E P G 17 ENTERTAINMENT Tig Notaro takes her tea with a twist of laughter By Veronica Garcia W hen you interview a comedian, you never know what you’re going to get. That’s part of the fun. You could get silly, sarcastic or even totally made up answers. Sometimes they even come across incoherently. I can honestly say that Tig Notaro gives good interview. Notaro, nicknamed Tig by her brother, is an extremely funny comedian with a brilliant sense of timing. She has an ease about her that instantly draws you in to her world. She’s engaging, intelligent and clever. And she really does have a pretty dreamy smile. The Mississippi native has performed on “Last Comic Standing,” and you might recognize her for her most recent role as “Officer Tig” on Comedy Central’s “Sarah Silverman Program.” While the show is over, Notaro is keeping busy on the road, working festivals and shows. Notaro is headlining the Cap City Comedy Club in Austin, August 6-7. She graciously took time to answer our queries and tell us more about herself. Q: When did you first know you wanted to be a comedian? A: Probably junior high is when the idea really surfaced for me. Then, when I was 25, I had a true need to try it that I couldn’t ignore. I proceeded to ignore it for another couple of years and then finally did it and haven’t stopped; except to floss and brush. I really don’t remember life before I was a comedian. Q: What is your favorite joke that you’ve written and why? A: It’s not so much a joke, but a 15-minute long story about the pop singer Taylor Dayne. It’s still new to me, so it’s really fun to tell. Every moment of the story relies on the moment before even more than any of the other jokes or stories I’ve ever written. It’s what makes it fun and scary to tell, because if the audience doesn’t get on board in the first minute, I still have 14 minutes to go. Q: What is your favorite joke by someone else? A: I always love when a chicken crosses a road. Right now, I’m pretty obsessed with Canadian comic Jon Dore. All I have to do is look at his stupid face and I’m done. His jokes aren’t clear cut enough to explain here, you just need to see him live. Q: Where is your favorite place to perform and why? A: I love doing an open mic in NYC one night, then a gig at Princeton University the next, then a club in middle America, a festival in Australia, then do my regular show at Largo at the Coronet Theater in L.A. Oh, and especially Texas. Q: Do you plan to keep touring? A: Absolutely. I love it and feel lucky to be able to do it as much as I do. Stand-up is my passion, so touring is just the perfect answer. Q: Are you planning to work with Sarah Silverman again? A: We’re actually developing a project right now. Who knows if it’ll see the light of day, but I certainly hope so. I love that woman. Q: “Have Tig at Your Party” is an ingenious idea. How did you come up with it and what has been the response? A: Thank you. People seem to be pretty amused by the idea. I thought it would be funny to film myself alone in my hotel rooms staring into the lens of my video camera, then mail the video off to friends of mine who were having parties. I loved the idea of them playing it on their TV, with me not there. Kind of like those burning logs people play on their TVs. I never mailed any videos off to my friends, but it dawned on me that I might be able to sell it. I filmed “Have Tig at Your Party” a while back, but it’s only just now being released as a partner piece to my first CD. I’m pretty excited. Q: Do you have any upcoming projects? A: This is going to sound like I have horrible representation that doesn’t get who I am, because I’m about to sign a three-record deal with an indie rock label out of Bloomington, IN. I was never really interested or in a hurry to put out a CD, but when this label came out to see several of my live shows, explained what they do and told me I had a pretty smile, how could I refuse? I’ll be their first comedian on the label, which is really exciting. Being based out of Indiana is really misleading, because these are the same people who put out Bon Iver, Dinosaur Jr. and Jens Lekman. Aside from the record deal, I have a couple of projects I’m working on that are dreamy, but I’m in a holding pattern, so I have no idea whether they’ll air or not. Q: INsite features lots of bands. What type of music do you like? Who is your favorite band? A: I love metal, folk, indie rock, new & old country, all things Beyonce, classic rock, bluegrass, jazz, marching bands, straight ahead pop radio, that sort of thing. Some favorites over the years have been Lucinda Williams, Van Halen, George Straight, Ray Charles, Indigo Girls, Frightened Rabbit, The Beatles, Willie Nelson, The Pretenders, Jens, Bon Iver, Alison Krauss and again, all things Beyonce. Q: What do you like to do when you’re not working? A: I love to be home when I’m home. The past few years I’ve really gotten into cooking. I’m not great, but I try my darndest. I have a nice comfortable living room, so I love having company over to sit and chat over tea by the fireplace. I don’t mean to sound like an online dating profile, but I also love to take long walks along the beach. My writing partner Kyle Dunnigan and I work together several times a week, but it rarely feels like work. He and I make each other laugh so hard for hours on end, that I really just feel like I’m at my best friend’s house after junior high; except that we’re both pushing 40. You can spend quality time with Tig Notaro at Cap City Comedy Club, August 6-7. For tickets and information, visit www.capcitycomedy.com . Visit her online at www.tignation.com and become a fan on Facebook. Au gus t 2 0 1 0 P G 18 From Sky To Center (winners Music Labs/Raw Deal BOTB13) @ Red Eyed Fly – 7/31 By Sean Claes Ratt @ AT&T Center (San Antonio) – 7/23 By Scott Moore (limelightImaging.com) Arc Angels @ Antone’s – 7/9 By Arnold Wells Abra Moore @ Momo’s – 7/15 By Jeff Kauffman HINDSITE Alejandro Escovedo @ Blues on the Green – 7/7 By Misty Meredith Robert Plant & The Band of Joy @ Stubb’s BBQ – 7/26 By Jay West AM Taxi @ Van’s Warped Tour (San Antonio) – 7/1 By Sean Claes Kris Kristofferson @ The Backyard (Willie Nelson Picnic) – 7/4 By Scott Moore (limelightImaging.com) Silversun Pickups @ Stubb’s BBQ – 7/19 By Jay West High Watt Crucifixers @ Emo’s – 7/16 By Jay West Scorpions @ AT&T Center (San Antonio) – 7/23 By Scott Moore (limelightImaging.com) Jamie Cullum @ Stubb’s BBQ – 7/13 By Jay West Blue October @ The Paramount – 7/22 By Scott Moore (limelightImaging.com) I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business @ Van’s Warped Tour (San Antonio) – 7/1 By Sean Claes Willie Nelson @ The Backyard (Willie Nelson Picnic) – 7/4 By Scott Moore (limelightImaging.com) Under The Gun @ Club Encore – 7/16 By Sean Claes Texas Water Safari @ Aquarena Center (San Marcos) – 7/10 By Sean Claes AUS TI N ’ S OTH ER E NTERTAI N M E NT M AGA ZI N E P G 19 1-800-LONGHORN IF YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO ADVERTISE IN INSITE, LET US KNOW. 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