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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond
Beto O’Rourke’s challenge to turn out Latino voters in his bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz. Plus, how Texas farmers are being hit by tariffs. And an update on a child from El Salvador who became a symbol of the family separation crisis. Those stories and more this edition of KUT Weekend!
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You’ve heard of the Friday night lights? On this September 21st, the main event across Texas: the Friday night fight: Cruz versus O’Rourke. It’ll be live nationwide, will you be tuning in? R.G. Ratcliffe of Texas Monthly joins us with a cheater’s guide to tonight’s first of three debates between democratic congressman Beto O’Rourke and the GOP incumbent, Ted Cruz. Plus, you’ve heard about the wall? As arguments continue over funding, legal walls go up in the nation’s most diverse city: we’ll explain. Plus the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
You know the feeling, you need to use an app or a piece of software and, suddenly, you encounter a big, legal document asking for your consent. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
A few years back, four girls met at music school and began composing together by age nine. Now at sixteen, this Sydney group has finally shared their indie pop sound as Erthlings, and they’re quickly gaining ground. Yes, they’re young, but they’re already seasoned veterans of songwriting with their fair share of life experiences and observations about the world around them.
These adolescent Australians have been touring in support of fellow KUTX favorite G Flip, but only after releasing their debut studio single. It’s only the beginning for Erthlings and we’re hoping for world domination in the near future. For now you can make your Friday extra fresh with Erthlings’ inaugural track, “Bridges”!
Photo: Dani Hansen
They called it the Battle of the Sexes, although to many it resembled a circus. We’ll take a look at an event staged in Houston in the 70’s that reverberates even today. Also, the decision stands: the Supreme Court refuses to intervene in a lower court ruling that may force political nonprofits to reveal major donors. What it might mean for the midterms. And beyond all the talk of trade wars, tariffs now hitting texans down on the farm. We’ll take a look. And you didn’t rent the movie: you bought it online. But you might not be able to keep it? How the digital age is redefining what’s yours and what might not be. All of that and a whole lot more on today’s Texas Standard:
What do you do when you despise an entire genre? Sure, you could simply abandon it and move on with your life OR you could reinvent it in a way that sounds good to you! For electronic music, Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist and producer Lucas Nathan has done exactly that, beginning with his project Zonotope™ and continuing with his current moniker, Jerry Paper. Since 2010 Nathan has had four full-lengths as Zonotope™ and just as many as Jerry Paper; if you dive into Nathan’s discography you can expect high concepts, rituals, alter egos and alternate universes all used towards a discovery of self.
With that impressive body of work, it’s almost puzzling to consider the infantile title of his fifth album as Jerry Paper, Like A Baby. It’s a baker’s dozen of ornate electronic excellence, complete with all the vocal, instrumental, and production quirks we love about Nathan. Like A Baby doesn’t drop until October 12th (around the same time he stops by Austin with his fellow Stones Throwers) but lucky for us, Jerry released another new single this past Tuesday and it’s one that’ll make you say, “My God”!
A political upset in Texas: a Democrat friendly district picks a Republican to fill a vacated seat less than two months out from the midterms. On top of last night’s Republican win by Pete Flores over Pete Gallego for a vacated state Senate seat, new numbers suggest that tight contest between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke might not be so tight after all. We’ll take a closer look. Also, as frustration grows over rising student debt in higher ed: Texas’ top ranked private university announces free tuition room and board, for those who qualify. And the sixth Rolling Stone, Texas’ own in the spotlight. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Chris Dowd, keyboardist, vocalist and founding member of the iconic ska/punk/funk/rock band Fishbone describes how “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash changed his life when he was a kid and explores the reasons that Fishbone’s music is as relevant today as it was in the 80’s and 90’s.
Fishbone is now touring with most of the original lineup. Check out their tour dates here.
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About a month ago, my son went off to college with my Jeep, and I needed to get another vehicle. I had been truckless for a few years – a rare condition in my life – and I decided I wanted to fix that right away. For a long time, I had wanted a King Ranch Edition Ford pickup, with those fine leather seats, carrying the classic brand of the ranch I hunted on as boy. So now, I had the chance – and the reason – to buy one.
With two kids in college, it was no time to splurge on a new one, but I thought I might find a previously-owned truck that would satisfy my longing. Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to search for just what I wanted: a one-owner vehicle in near-mint condition being sold by an owner who had elaborate maintenance records and a pristine Carfax report. I found what I was looking for in San Antonio, 300 miles from where I live down in the Valley.
So I contacted the owner and we made a gentleman’s agreement as to price over the phone, and I headed up to look at it. I loved it – beautiful truck, dark brown with tan trim. Meticulously maintained. I said, “Let’s do it.” So, he pulled out the title to begin the paperwork and I was surprised to see that his name was William B. Travis.
I said, “I guess you know, you’re kind of famous.”
He said, “Yes, I do have a famous name. And I have the whole name, too. I’m William Barrett Travis and I’m also a descendant.”
I was astounded by the coincidence. I thought, “Here I am, a specialist in Texas lore and legend, about to buy a King Ranch pickup from a descendant of the commander of the Alamo, and he still lives in San Antonio. How cool is that?” In the favorite word of my teenage son, “Awesome!”
We finished up the paperwork and payment, and he walked me out and gave me a detailed tour of all the unique features of the truck and directions on how to get back to the expressway to head home. I could tell he was a little sad to let go of the pickup. They’d had many good years together. I said, “I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
So, I drove my new truck (new to me, anyway) back to the Valley. It was good to be riding high in the saddle once more, driving into a blustery coastal wind without breaking a sweat.
In fact, I drove my King Ranch Edition pickup with its Alamo lineage, back through the actual King Ranch, while eating a Whataburger and listening to Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again.”
I have just have one thing to say: “Out-Texas Me That!”
The only thing that would have made it better is if a Southwest Airlines jet had done a flyby at 200 feet and given me a wing salute.
Building a bridge between upbeat and tripped-out, Nashville quartet Arlie puts the surreal back in psych-pop.
They’ve only been around the past couple years but today, after teasing the music world with only a few spaced out singles, Arlie has finally released their debut EP, the appropriately titled wait. You can count on lush soundscapes and infectious melodies throughout wait and right now you can put an end to the anticipation with the EP’s lead synth-soaked single, “barcelona boots“!
Official summons is what the envelope says. Would you open it? An election year fundraising letter triggers outrage and questions of legality: we’ll explore. Also our era of political coarseness and division, how will historians see us tomorrow? Pulitzer prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin tells us how history may be able to help us get thru our times today. Also a breakthrough curriculum for latino/latina studies. And electric scooters swarm the streets of Texas big cities, some see them a public nuisance, but could they signal better times for Texas bicyclists? We’ll take a look. And the tale of the last town crier in America and so much more on today’s Texas Standard:
Meshing neo-folk flavors and ambient auras, Melbourne singer-songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Harp Samuels is the peace you need in your life. Last year Samuels made a big impact with his debut album, Wanting, and just this past weekend he shared his sophomore record, Breathe. Inspired by the loss of Samuels’ parents, the nine original compositions on Breathe are alphabetically ordered from “Away” to “Inglenook” and pay tribute to feelings of tension, hope and wanderlust.
This latest offering from Samuels is an unabashed musical journey, and you can take the first step with the album’s title track, “Breathe”!
Less than a month do go before the deadline for registering to vote in the midterms, do you know if you’re registered? We’ll have a Texas primer. Also, a border patrol officer has been arrested and charged with the murders of 4 women. The victims all worked as prostitutes. We’ll tell you what authorities are saying. And with Florence and before that Harvey, the greatest threat: flooding. Has our current hurricane rating system left us twisting in the wind? Plus Texas beat USC this weekend, but once upon a time, USC pushed Texas across the line to desegregate the gridiron. We’ll hear how and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Take a look at this name: Slothrust. Your gut tells you it’s “Slow Thrust” but as a matter of fact, it’s “Sloth Rust”. Pronunciation aside, this Boston three-piece has spent the past decade oxidizing audiences with their gritty, grungy style of alternative garage rock.
There’s no doubting the growth that vocalist-guitarist Leah Wellbaum, drummer Will Gorin and bassist Kyle Bann have undergone since 2010, best heard on their latest record, The Pact. These twelve new tunes bask in the glory of hi-fi production and kick off the next phase for Slothrust, who are already in the midst of a lengthy international tour. The Pact came out last Friday so immerse yourself with new Slothrust and start off with the album opener from The Pact, “Double Down”.
The author of a summer op-ed in the New York Times (no, not that op-ed!) believes girls would benefit from more drilling on math to “break the cycle of dislike-avoidance-further dislike” and help them build confidence in their math skills (which research has shown are pretty similar to boys’ math skills). In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton discuss the op-ed’s call for gender-based additional academic practice and how to undo lingering biases about gender and academic performance.
We hope the days are long gone in which girls were considered less skilled at math and the sciences, and boys were considered under-achievers in reading and language arts. The data don’t bear those differences out, but lingerings biases may still lead some students to be treated as if they are true – or to act as if they are true. In this episode, Ed discusses social science research that shows any effort that amplifies the bias – even by calling it out – can actually reinforce it. He also believes students should always be encouraged to improve their understanding and performance, regardless of their gender or the academic subject.
Listen on for our discussion as well as for the solution to last episode’s puzzler about the mysterious stamp switch.
This episode was recorded on Aug. 9, 2018.
A state agency created to tackle institutional racism is shut down. Plus, questions from parents about the possible merger of three East Austin elementary schools. And in 1956, UT football didn’t want to desegregate, so a USC fullback did it for them. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org
Texas has had a rare streak of rainy days lately. So what to do when it’s wet outside? That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Anger is an interesting emotion. It creates energy and can be contagious, it can also motivate you to act. But it’s not always the most effective form of motivation if you want to get people to think and work together to create change.
On this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of weaponizing anger.
The Harvey effect: as Florence bears down on the Carolinas, meteorologists say theres an shift in how major hurricanes are doing damage, we’ll have the latest. Also, Walmart bets big on high end out door gear, but some brands are telling Walmart to take a hike, we’ll hear why. And remember smokin in the boys room, or girls room? Nowadays its vaping in the classroom, for real. Texas teachers trying to get students to kick the habit amid calls for a federal crackdown on the marketing of vape pens. Plus the police chief leading the charge to make Corsicana the Hollywood of Texas, and it appears to be working. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
If you hear the name “Black Belt Eagle Scout“, your first association might not be, “radical indigenous queer feminist”. Whatever connotations you may have had, Portland’s Katherine Paul has taken the title as her own, complete with a sash full of musical merit badges. Paul’s time growing on a small Swinomish reservation in Washington gave her early insight to the spiritual importance of music, especially in connecting with her ancestors in the modern day. Mix that with a grunge obsession, masterful knowledge of guitar and drums and a comfortable place in the Portland scene and you’ve got everything we love about BBES.
Today Paul releases Black Belt Eagle Scout’s sophomore album, Mother of My Children, an eight-track that weaves together experiences of loss, frustration, and dreaming. Ease into the weekend, shake off the work stress and when you have a chance, “Just Lie Down”.
