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KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

Archives for May 2019

Everyone Who Knows

Never mind these intense May showers. That shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the aural feast tonight at Cheer Up Charlie’s, 901 Red River. And it should come as no surprise that it’s another great line-up of all Austin-based pop and folk artists: Royal Forest (“Goldwallpaper” from Spillway is featured on today’s AMM), Burgess Meredith, Gamma Dog (formerly Empire Machines), and Linen Closet.

The music starts at 9 p.m. So much goodness from a handful of longtime local faves. Very recommended.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.

This Song: The Teeta on “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

Austin rapper The Teeta breaks down all the reasons he loves “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen and how it influenced the direction he took on “Rain” from his latest record  Teeta World.  

The Teeta will join Confucius and Fresh, hosts of our hip-hop show The Breaks for “The Breaks Live: Graduation Edition” this Friday, May 10th at Empire Control Room along with Grizz,  DJ Manny Mo, and Dj Yupthtsher.

Listen to this episode of This Song

Listen to The Teeta’s new album “Teeta World”

Get tickets for the Breaks Live: Graduation Edition

Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song

Matt Kivel: “The Tower”

Although he first got his start providing bass and vocals for LA indie outfit Princeton, Matt Kivel is also a hell of a songwriter in his own right. Since his decision to go solo in 2013, Kivel has put out four albums and he recorded his upcoming record from a temporary home right here in Austin. last night in america features minimalist arrangements and instrumentation performed entirely by Kivel himself. This latest offering is a haunting and endearing meld of Americana, folk, lo-fi and ambient, begging for another listen immediately after the first.

Kivel has moved onto New York City, but he’ll be in town next Friday at the Cactus Cafe. last night in america is out this Friday but you can ascend over this Hump Day with a sneak peek, courtesy of “the tower”!

Trip You Out

Stephen Malkmus, former Pavement frontman and lead rabble rouser of his cohorts The Jicks, had no interest in indulging in the electronic end of the musical spectrum, back in the day. Nope. Not for him. His heart and mind were unapologetically committed to the lo-fi school of thought. Raw imperfection, all the way.

Many years later, after spending time in Berlin exploring the many layers of Berlin’s underground dance scene, Malkmus’ fascination with those experiences led to some very inspired moments with his latest LP, Groove Denied, his first solo effort since 2001 sans The Jicks.

Most of the album was written by Malkmus while living in Berlin, then recorded in his home studio in Oregon, where he began experimenting with digital sound and editing equipment – all the stuff he largely avoided previously. But all of this thinking outside his comfort zone helped him weave what he’s described as “warped psych,” among other assorted killer cool post-punkish British vibes.

Soak it up. Don’t miss Stephen Malkmus tonight at 3Ten at ACL Live. Austin-based electronic artist Dylan Cameron starts the show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Recommended.

-Photography by Robbie Augspurger.

Texas Standard: May 7, 2019

Is a cut in property tax worth the hike in sales tax? A would be swap gets more scrutiny as an important vote looms on the horizon, we’ll do the numbers. Also, what would be a major expansion of the Texas medical marijuana program gets a big boost in the Texas House. And over on the Senate side, lawmakers take action on school finance fixes, we’ll have details. Also, the emergence of a video sparks calls to reopen the investigation into the arrest and death of Sandra Bland. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Superfónicos: “Tropidelico”

Continuing the Austin tradition of large Latin ensembles, Superfónicos has been blowing us away since day one. You’d think from their controlled, masterful live shows that they’ve been playing together for decades, and yet their debut EP, Suelta, only came out last year. The group specializes in a saucy rendition of Cumbia-Funk with textures rooted in Africa, Colombia and Texas, and if you’re not shakin’ your rump by the end of the first song in a live set, there’s something seriously wrong with you.

Spoon’s Jim Eno recently produced a new 7-inch for Superfónicos, where both A-side and B-side pay tribute to the band’s primary influences. Cumbéalo/Tropidelico is out on Friday, the release show is Saturday at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, and today you can marinate in a free download of “Tropidelico”!

The Deconstruction

Multi-genre outfit EELS, masterminded by Los Angeles-based vocalist/guitarist Mark Oliver Everett (E for short), released The Deconstruction last year, the first album from the band in about four years or so. It had been awhile and things were put on pause because…life happens; marriage, a child, divorce, and all the stuff in between. Like anyone.

The Deconstruction documents the journey, of course. It’s decidedly a bit mellower than its predecessors, though it resonates with E’s brilliant self-deprecating humor – make that darkly humorous, but with that odd glint of hope spiking through. Obviously, these are songs with messages sent out to the world, but these very same messages are the ones E’s also directed toward himself.

Don’t miss EELS tonight at Emo’s, 2015 E. Riverside Dr. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and Robert Ellis opens the show. Recommended.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.

Texas Standard: May 6, 2019

And the results are in from cities across Texas. Is there a message voters are sending on the eve of a major national election season? We’ll explore. Also, the White House and Democrats in congress agree on infrastructure needs, at a price tag of 2 trillion dollars. Crazy money you say? If the sky’s the limit, what does Texas need most? And the effort to arm more marshals at Texas public schools, but some minority students say it makes them feel less safe, not more. Plus the Texan making maps for hoops and transforming the game of basketball. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Mamas Gun: “On The Wire”

Although their name is inspired by an Erykah Badu album, London quintet Mamas Gun brings a completely different brand of soul and R&B to the table. Their blue-eyed, classic-but-modern take on the genres have earned them acclaim in the decade they’ve been together and on their fourth record, Golden Days, Mamas Gun took production responsibilities on themselves. This auteur approach gives us ten robust, idiosyncratic tracks for an ideal summer record, sure to win over anyone needing to balance all the sunshine with a bit of shady soul. You can add Golden Days to your vinyl collection when it comes out on Friday, and enjoy Mamas Gun’s thoughts on Brexit, “On The Wire”!

 

Higher Ed: The Community-Building Power Of Ritual In Education

The pomp and circumstance of graduation brings students, teachers, staff and family together to celebrate achievement and usher students onto their next steps in learning and life. That ritual not only honors students but also creates a shared opportunity for a campus community to strengthen bonds. In this episode of the KUT podcast “Higher Ed,” KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger discuss the importance of ritual in education.

Graduation is probably the first ceremony that comes to mind when thinking about the rituals associated with education. Commencement certainly exists to celebrate achievements and bestow accolades. But Ed believes that ceremony also speaks to a deeper human truth.

“As human beings, we believe in community,” says Ed. “So the idea of having the community come together, which includes your family and your friends and your teachers and your colleagues who are students…. it’s a shared moment.”

Certainly the basic business of graduation could be done with no pomp and circumstance simply by mailing out diplomas at the end of the school year. Ed believes though that the entire community – not just the graduates – benefits from sharing in students’ triumphs.

“In today’s world, where everything moves so fast and everyone’s on their electronic devices,” says Ed, “to take a moment to come together as a community – whatever that definition means for that context of community, live in the same space – and celebrate that triumphant moment…it just uplifts the spirit. And so we want those moments of uplifting memories to hold onto.”

Most, if not all, of the rituals in education involve celebrating positive achievements. Left to his own devices to invent a new ritual in education, Ed would turn the focus to elevating something that is normally not celebrated – what he calls “effective failure” from which we learn lessons.

“I think the idea of having a big pomp and circumstance and genuine celebration when things don’t go right,” Ed believes, “as long as we have come to a place where we had an epiphany and we’re going to move forward in a way that will make us better – I think we should be celebrating that.”

Listen to the full episode for more on the role of ritual in education and what title Ed would give to his new ceremony. It is also time for the solution to last episode’s anagram puzzler. Listen closely, though, as it may not be as complicated as it first sounded.

This episode was recorded on April 2, 2019.

A Tribute To Ron Banks (Ep. 22, 2019)

On this week’s program, In Black America producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. presents a conversation recorded in 2008 with the late Ron Banks, founder of the long-running Detroit R&B vocal group The Dramatics. Ron Banks passed away in March, 2010.

Pleasure Venom: “Hive”

As the old saying goes, don’t mess with Texas. Well, I’m starting to think they should change it to don’t mess with Audrey Campbell-the frontwoman of Austin punk rock band Pleasure Venom. In true punk rock fashion, Pleasure Venom pushes boundaries with their hard-hitting songs and pointed lyrics that explore taboo topics with fearless ease. Their latest self-titled EP was recorded in at Wolf Shield Ranch and released in November of 2018. They’ve apparently not been busy enough because on May 8th they will be at Barracuda for their Tour Kickoff and Music Video Release Party starting at 9 pm. We might have to wait till then for the music video but-now- let’s listen to your KUTX song of the day, “Hive.”

–Simone Puglia

Mettavolution

Seriously. Just watch them play, even if only for a minute. But it can never be for a single minute. You’re with them for the duration.

After a five-year hiatus, the extraordinary rock guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela (Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero) has a new album out, Mettavolution. The pulsating energy on this new release astounds the ears, another outstanding chapter in their 20-year career together that celebrates the liberation of continued human evolution. What’s even more mind-blowing is that this is the same incredible electricity one experiences at their live shows.

Don’t miss Rodrigo y Gabriela tonight at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the music begins at 8:30 p.m. Very recommended, especially if this is your first time seeing them play.

-Photo courtesy of the artist.

KUT Weekend – May 3, 2019

Why the Austin school district is turning to realtors to better market its schools. Plus, a CDC study saying many Austin scooter riders don’t wear helmets, ride fast and don’t know what they’re doing. And how do musicians make the cut for the Austin City Limits TV series? Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!

Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org

Infinite Stories

It all boils down to a meeting of musical minds. Austin-based pop outfit The Infinites came into being not long after front man Jerod Leibowich heard some extraordinary guitar loops that bandmate Dan LeVine had been working on. LeVine hadn’t given much thought to doing anything with them, but Leibowich was struck by an intriguing emotional allure they had, something compelling enough to inspire Leibowich to add lyrics to the tracks and expand upon their distinctive pop sound.

The resulting awesomeness is what you experience on The Infinites’ new self-titled LP, which also features a cast of fictional characters dealing with their own emotional roller coasters. Who knows how their tales will end?? Hear their assorted stories at The Infinites’ album release show tonight at Hotel Vegas, 1501 E. 6th St., on a bill featuring Deep Time, Blank Hellscape, and Nevil. So good. Doors at 7 p.m. Recommended.

-Photography by Shea Carley.

Eyewitness Accounts

Even though we know how unreliable our visual memory is, we still put a huge amount of stock into what someone says they saw. Why is an eyewitness account so important in legal proceedings and beyond, and why should we question the value of an eyewitness testimony?

On this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss eyewitness accounts.

Texas Standard: May 3, 2019

Should Texas political mapmaking be placed back under federal oversight? We’ll have the latest in a high stakes battle over race and redistricting. Also, it is one of the nation’s most notorious strips for prostitution. Now a controversy over Houston’s plan to clean up what’s known as “the track”. And a byproduct of energy extraction, now treated as waste, soon to be turned into fuel for more energy extraction. A virtuous cycle? Plus the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and more today on the Texas Standard:

Ida Mae: “Boom Boom Boom” (featuring Dweezil Zappa)

To put it simply, Ida Mae has some serious chemistry. The blues-roots husband-and-wife duo has recently been added to Greta Van Fleet’s tour and their debut album Chasing Lights is out early next month.

And if that’s not enough oomph for you, check this out; Ida Mae’s lead single from Chasing Lights features the one and only Dweezil Zappa on guitar. Wiggle on into the weekend and spark the fuse on your new favorite band right now with, “Boom Boom Boom”!

Standards

The Texas Legislature is considering changes to school standards. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

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