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Austin’s school board votes to close four elementary campuses. Plus, the number of abortion clinics in Texas continues to decline. And a new chorus in Austin for people whose memories are disappearing. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
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The public part of the House impeachment inquiry is over. Did it have an impact? A former White House adviser says yes, in ways that may not be obvious, we’ll explore. Plus: 2020. It’s closer than you think, especially if you’re in the business of running an election. How much more secure are systems now, with less than a year to go before presidential balloting? Also, over objections of native americans, environmentalists and others, three new natural gas export facilities get the green light…What will it mean for texas and the economy? All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:
It took its time to get here — but that fall feeling is now in full swing. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Now wrapping up their first decade of intensive collaboration, Austin quartet Hikes has ventured into the realm of near undefinable. While “felt rock” was a placeholder label in the early years, dynamic elements of math rock, indie, folk, punk, pop, metal, shoegaze, and experimental are all on the table for these performance perfectionists, who are never fully comfortable with any tempo, rhythm, key, or time signature. In short, Hikes fittingly makes music that moves, and when you’re in a crowd of 100+ longtime fans, it really moves.
Hikes hasn’t been without their own personal hardships though, and a shared sense of compassion earned over past couple years of internal turmoil has fueled their latest LP, Mahal Kita. Featuring the return of Mother Falcon co-founder Claire Puckett to the original lineup and taking its name from the Tagalog translation of “I love you”, the nine tracks on Mahal Kita will make you fall for Hikes all over again. They’ll be playing tonight at the Barracuda alongside Mary Bryce and Black Belt Eagle Scout, but be sure to listen through Mahal Kita, starting off with the Puckett-penned album opener, “Been Thinkin'”!
Hikes celebrate the release of their new album with a party and show at Barracuda on January 17th with Christelle Bofale and The Kraken Quartet!
More musical discovery to be had tonight at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St., featuring four performances by Texas-based bands. Seriously, this is the show you arrive early for to catch all the bands:
-An album you need on your must-listen list is Victim/Nonvictim Pt. 1 by Quin Galavis. Get it. Now. (The featured track on today’s AMM is “Our Loved Ones (I Don’t Know What I Actually Said).”) A masterful mind meld of all that is emotional, dark, upbeat, nebulous, unpredictable…in summary, transcendent.
-Please note that dynamic duo Welcome Center is actually from Dallas and Philadelphia. Apologies for the AMM error due to overenthusiastic nerding-out. Either way, this is a must-have electro-dance pop/post-punk aural adventure. Jesse Smith and Aaron Sternick totally own it on Is This All There Is?
-Following last year’s releases of dreamy melodic/rhythmic quantum quest single “Collapse,” and the lovely hazy-hued renditions of pop faves found on Camcorder Covers, electronic-pop outfit Emme celebrates with a (new) single release party.
-Do not shirk the quirk, fiend. Welcome to poppy, gritty, driven and driving – sometimes off a cliff, but you get back up, then do it again. Presenting garage/punk madness by Pollen Rx.
Doors at 8 p.m., music at 8:30 p.m. So very recommended.
-Photo of Quin Galavis by Angel Delgado-Reyes.
There is an observation in psychology that looks at how people behave when they have not lived up to the expectations they set for themselves; The What The Hell Effect.
In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke discussion about TWTHE and how it relates to identity, social groups, and behavior change.
Devendra Bahnart talks about how hearing “Just Another Diamond Day” by Vashti Bunyan while busking on the streets of Paris comforted him with a feeling of motherly love that he still turns to today. He also explains how themes of motherhood, love, fear and compassion show up on his latest record “Ma.”
“It’s like once you’re heartbroken, it’s not like ‘That’s it, never gonna be heartbroken again.’ Once you’re not lonely it’s not like ‘That’s it, okay I did it.’ Once you go through a day without making mistakes it’s not like ‘That’s it, end of mistakes.’ It’s this constant thing. I am constantly heartbroken and constantly anxious and lonely and so I have this thing, called art. It’s very beautiful. You have this immediately accessible comfort. This immediately accessible love.”
Listen to this episode of This Song
Listen to Devendra Banhart’s new record Ma
Check out Devendra Banhart’s Tour Dates
Check out the full session of Devendra Banhart Live in Studio 1A
Listen to Songs from this episode of This Song
The democrats debate in Atlanta, missing in action, the lone Texan still in the race. What happened last night and what’s next for Julian Castro? We’ll have the latest. Also, the impeachment inquiry taking center stage in the headlines. Although his name keeps coming up, a prominent Texan has so far managed to avoid the spotlight. We’ll look at whether Rick Perry can maintain his low profile. And the president in Texas visiting an Apple facility as tarifs threaten to take a bite out out the company’s profits. What’s behind the relationship between Tim Cook and president Trump? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
There’s a certain paradoxical quality to dance pop, equally nostalgic and futuristic, physically demanding yet emotionally uplifting, and at times just as intensive on visuals as it is on the music. And with Janet Planet and Sugar Bones at the helm, Melbourne-based four-piece Confidence Man ticks all those boxes and more, to the point that that they’ve recently landed a touring spot alongside synthpop legends New Order.
You can submit to the group’s cult of seductive, house-inspired sonics in full with 2018’s Confident Music for Confident People, and or get started off with the indulgent four-to-the-floor club banger that just came out last Friday, “Does It Make You Feel Good?”
Photo: Jess Brohier
In case you missed out, Sheverb had a Studio 1A session recently with KUTX’s Taylor Wallace. It was immediately made apparent that this powerhouse Austin outfit is changing life’s outdated and overdrawn narrative, like the badass artists they are.
A bit of background: Sheverb spent some time in the dust and winds of the Northern Nevada desert, which led to the inspiration for their 2018 release Chapter One. The recording of their forthcoming album will take them on yet another journey in Bombay Beach in SoCal. Wherever their souls roam, there’s always deep inspiration from all surroundings, with no time wasted on over-romanticized mythologies of a bygone era – whether it’s life in general, or musical creativity. This is a new era of psyched-up desert rock.
Sheverb continues their Wednesday-night residency tonight at Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th St., sharing the bill with vintage garage rockers Miss Guilty and riot grrrl soul/doo-wop/old school rockers Danger*Cakes. Super saucy. Bring it. Doors at 9 p.m., music starts at 10 p.m. Recommended.
-Photo courtesy of the artist.
A border wall on private land paid for with private money… any problems? You betcha. A demand to stop construction in south Texas, we’ll have the latest. Plus, as democratic candidate’s take the stage again tonight for another debate, no Texans will join them. And What happened to the Beto effect? And why isn’t John Cornyn worried? Also the men and women who serve in uniform who don’t get counted as veterans. Lawmakers are taking a closer look at why not. All of those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
For nearly ten years he was a die-hard shock rocker, but in the past year alone Austin’s Mike Kiddoo has decidedly changed his tune. And although Kiddoo’s now on the soul-pop-rock tip, his bohemian yet boisterous demeanor is still just as engaging as before. Kiddoo debuted the metamorphoses back in June and has been steadily sharing singles across the summer and fall, continuing today with his latest.
Next week you’ll be able to add the new single’s music video to your Thanksgiving cornucopia, tomorrow night you can see Kiddoo and his backing three-piece at Cheer Up Charlie’s, and today you can kick back to some funked up, electrified lite rock with the just released, “What If”!
Just before his music came swooping in for a cerebral crash, like a flying brick aimed at the third eye, your humble Austin Music Minute host actually first heard about Jeffrey Lewis though a big pile of Fuff.
That would be, Fuff the comic series, written and illustrated by Lewis himself. The mind leaps from page to page of brilliant, awesomely ludicrous insanity. Issue #0 is available, by the way – the reissue, it should be said (original copies are a bit rarer) – and its title says it all. COME TO MY SHOW. Fine. I will. Thanks for the flyer.
In addition to being the creative wizard of said graphic novels, Lewis also happens a longtime favorite amongst his songwriter peers, some of whom you might recognize – one Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), Paul Banks (Interpol), and the late David Berman (Silver Jews, Purple Mountains) are included on that long list. The New York City artist’s self-deprecating humor is the fuel for his creative fires, stoked by the demons that plague him, the Bad Wiring in the system. And, with the very same open-hearted candor, Lewis incorporates much of his artwork and storytelling into his live performances to outstanding effect.
Tonight, you can see Jeffrey Lewis and the Voltage perform at Cheer Up Charlie’s, 901 Red River, which means you’ll also probably see him working the merch table. You should go say hi. Batty Jr. and David Israel compliment the bill perfectly. Doors at 9 p.m. This one is so recommended.
-Image courtesy of the artist.
On the eve of another democratic presidential debate, who’s talking about the military? Mobilizing an important demographic for 2020, we’ll have the latest. Also, a reporter for military times tries to get answers from the democratic challengers to questions related to active duty and veterans issues. We’ll hear what he found out. And, how the president is trying to appeal to military voters. A move one Texas legal expert says undermines military justice. Plus a cheating scandal the size of Texas? The Houston Astros face tough questions, and possible penalties. All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Born in Atlanta to Ethiopian parents, Amain Berhane grew up on Michael Jackson, Erykah Badu, Sam Cooke, and Stevie Wonder, so it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that his project Berhana is fueled by R&B, funk, and soul. In the time since his eponymous 2016 EP, Berhana’s relocated to NYC, played at a number of high-level festivals, and has had his music featured in the hit show Atlanta.
Now backed by a live four-piece, Berhana shared his intimate debut full-length HAN in mid-October and kicks off a national tour in his hometown just before Thanksgiving. Berhana was set to play The Parish this Friday, but even though he had to cancel the initial Texas leg of the HAN tour, we’re still jazzed about his new stuff in the Lone Star State. Just try and resist from boogieing your way through HAN‘s fourteen funkadelic tunes, especially the album’s hard-hitting midpoint, “Lucky Strike”!
This is magical. No two ways about it. Delve deeply into an ethereal experience made orchestral with beautiful voices and layers of strings, horn, organ and percussion placed within some undefinable cinematic landscape. Dwight Smith presents poetry lovingly created with extraordinarily-placed sounds – unusual in the fact that the arrangements of these new songs cannot be stiflingly placed within one single genre.
Ghost Town Atlas, featuring a few familiar talents contributing to the songs, including Molly Burch, Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski, is a compellingly beautiful portrait with a distinctive voice reaching beyond any singular definition of folk. Join Smith for his album release show tonight at Cheer Up Charlie’s, 901 Red River, sharing the bill with Daphne Tunes and Food Group.
An outstanding bill all around. Doors at 9 p.m. Very recommended.
-Photography by Nathan James Wilkins.
This Week on The Breaks:
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Hear the music from The Breaks played on their Saturday Night Hip-hop show
An indefinite stay. What’s next for death row inmate Rodney Reed, who had been set to be executed on November 20th? We’ll have the latest. Also, once sleepy counties on the edges of our biggest cities starting to boom: the changing face of the Texas suburbs. And a hold up at the police station? Why some say law enforcement agencies are preventing vulnerable immigrants from getting special visa designed to get them out of harm’s way. Also, a large Catholic diocese wants to provide foster care services without penalties for LGBT discrimination. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
For those that haven’t spent a lot of time in the Live Music Capital, it may be tricky to get a quick grasp on all of the accomplishments accrued by Graham Reynolds. Well, without going too much into it, this composer-bandleader-improviser has lent his music to radio, television, film, and theatre, including soundtrack work for Richard Linklater and Netflix. Reynolds has collaborated with a ton of major Austin players over the years, all without losing his own voice or passion for multimedia disciplines.
This Friday Graham Reynolds shares an ode to one of his all time favorite towns, MARFA: A Country & Western Big Band Suite, and at just shy of a dozen purely instrumental songs, its inherently Texas tone stays unadulterated by lyrics. The result is one of the best cruising albums to ever grace the Lone Star State, and before you catch the MARFA release show 8PM this Saturday at The Highball, adapt back to the workweek with some classic Western swing, “Highway 67”!
Who does not appreciate making high grades in a certain subject or getting glowing performance reviews at work? In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton explore the lure of the “success trap” and how to avoid it.
What exactly is the “success trap?” It is the pull or desire to continue doing that which brings the greatest external praise or reward just because of that success. (Think: I’m really good at Math. I’ll major in that. I hate it, but I’m good at it.)
Here is how Ed sees it:
“When someone is successful at something….that’s a silly reason to actually go and pursue it,” Ed believes. “But the question is: just because one is good at something, does that potentially dismiss the possibility of doing something that might bring you greater joy [or] might be actually something you’re even better at or something that you’re just actually drawn to and otherwise you wouldn’t give it a shot?”
Ed is quick to add that he does not think people shoud ditch their successful endeavors and move on if those pursuits still bring joy.
“If that success is something that continues to bring an individual satisfaction and joy and a sense of accomplishment, that’s great; I’m not suggesting everyone’s gotta shake it up,” says Ed. “That should not confine us to look at other possibilities and other opportunities because maybe your gifts and your talents can be amplified in a different direction that we wouldn’t consider otherwise.”
So how can people break out of their comfort zone and avoid that “success trap?”
Ed says it begins with deliberate and thoughtful effort.
“It’s all with intentionality,” says Ed. “If you’re going to hope that you accidentally stumble upon something I would say you have to be really lucky…. you can create your own good luck with intentionality – intentionally assessing.”
Listen to the fill episode to hear more from Ed about when the time is right to do that kind of assessment.
It is definitely the right time for the solution to last episode’s puzzler about dealing with cards missing from a deck.
This episode was recorded on Oct. 22, 2019.