A Texas federal courtroom is once again the stage for a legal challenge that could have enormous, nationwide impact. We’ll explain. Also this week marks a full year since Amazon started the search for a second headquarters. Dallas and Austin are on the shortlist, but what’s next? We’ll check in. And a woman held in slavery makes a new life for herself by posing as a man and signing up to be a soldier. The true story behind a new novel. Plus it’s campaign season and politicians are making claims about their opponents. We’ll fact-check one about holding town hall meetings. And Texans have long been taught to remember the Alamo, but what do we know about the defenders in that battle? We’ll dig in to some demographics. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Archives for September 2018
Mr Twin Sister: “Jaipur”
Long Island-born, Brooklyn-based five-piece Mr Twin Sister (FKA Twin Sister) is…simply put…really weird. In the decade they’ve been together Mr Twin Sister has put out two full-lengths , three EPs and has undertaken a series of tours. All throughout their time together in-studio and onstage, they’ve been bulking up their brand of electric indie-psych pop-funk-whatever…you know, their brand.
It’s been a couple years since we’ve seen double from our favorite New York doppelgängers! That said the group just released a few new numbers! Mr Twin Sister recently shared their triple A-side/single B-side Power of Two/Echo Arms, and a heckuva fun new single before that. It’s only a month until Mr Twin Sister hits the road for yet another tour and today you can enjoy a free download of that aforementioned single, “Jaipur”!
Charlie Faye & The Fayettes: “I Don’t Need No Baby”
Charlie Faye. Betty Soo. Akina Adderley. Three local vocalists with their own individual talents, bound together by a mutual love of ’60s pop. Faye’s been here for almost a full decade but only in the past couple years has she recruited the help of Soo and Adderley to form their ode to retro “girl groups”, Charlie Faye & The Fayettes.
The Fayettes released their debut self-titled LP in 2016 and today they unfurl the beginning of their next chapter. Their brand new single goes even further into the realm of retro pop, so much that they give The Ronettes a run for their money! You can enjoy the single release show this Thursday at Antone’s but until then, here’s a buoyant blend of familiar and new from Charlie Faye & The Fayettes, “I Don’t Need No Baby”!
– Jack Anderson
[Photo: Eryn Brooke]
Texas Standard: September 4, 2018
Chaos as the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings kick off on capitol hill. But as the focus falls on the high court, another judicial transformation underway? We’ll take a look. Also, it’s long been called the sleeping giant in Texas politics: the latino vote. Texas Democrats are trying wake that giant and do something that’s been difficult in the past: get them to the polls in bigger numbers. We’ll explore. And labor groups scoring victories in a push for paid leave, but are they wasting time and money? Plus chasing Lightin’ in Houston: a 1959 recording of bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins back in print. We’ll explore his hold on Texas and American music, plus a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Chakra Kahn: “Retrograde Movement” [PREMIERE]
The past couple years have undeniably been a labor of love for Austin psych-pop five-piece Chakra Kahn. Though most of the band’s members find origin in local dark wave outfit KNIFIGHT, Chakra Kahn maintains a completely different vessel of pop-rock sounds that flirt between retro and futuristic. The group has taken their affinity for creating compelling soundscapes and is pushing the psychedelic envelope exponentially further with a brand new full-length album!
Stillness is Motion puts Chakra Kahn on a sonic midpoint between Flaming Lips, Supertramp, Mac Demarco and ELO, with layers on layers of perfect performances all stacked together into one upbeat (yet introspective and socially conscious) experience. Stillness is Motion comes out on September 21st and the vinyl release party is October 13th at Barracuda. Whether you’re busy this Labor Day or taking it easy, you’re in for a powerful psych-pop premiere of a previously unheard track from Chakra Kahn, “Retrograde Movement”!
Texas Standard: September 3, 2018
As Texans headed out for the long holiday weekend, a surprise ruling in a Texas courtroom over a Texas challenge to DACA. DACA is the Obama era program protecting young immigrants brought here illegally from being deported. Now a judge in Texas, considered sympathetic to the state’s claims to stop DACA, refuses to pull the plug. Why does Attorney general Ken Paxton think he’s closer to victory? We’ll find out. Also, labor day signals the final sprint in the race to election day. We’ll size up the top races across Texas. And a resurgence of unions? In the Lone Star State? The numbers say yes. All of that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Dr. Christine Nix (Ep. 39, 2018)
In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Dr. Christine Nix, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Criminal Justice at the University of Mary Hardin-Taylor, about her experience as the first African American female Texas Ranger, and her two and a half decades in law enforcement.