This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Jasmine Allen, owner and Director of Events at Destination Birmingham, an event and meeting liaison agency specializing in event production, meeting management, and tours showcasing Birmingham, Alabama.
Archives for November 2019
Terry Gibbs
Terry Gibbs is an American vibraphonist and bandleader who remains the oldest bebopper at the age of 95. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what Gibbs’s long career can teach us about inclusion and unity in the face of isolation and fear.
Azar Lawrence
Azar Lawrence is an American jazz saxophonist who was hired by McCoy Tyner following the death of John Coltrane. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about what Lawrence can teach us about continuing a legacy, finding our voice, and knowing our value while holding on to our mortality.
Les McCann
Les McCann is an American jazz pianist and vocalist. In this edition of Liner Notes, Rabbi and jazz historian Neil Blumofe talks about McCann’s influential life and work, and how it can inform us today.
Wednesday Americana Soul
For Daniel and Jenna Watters, their most powerful muse has been their life journey, both individually and as Americana soul duo The Watters. Though born and raised in Sedona, the wandering Watters have lived in different cities, from Los Angeles to Denver to Nashville, and now the ATX. And within every environment, every atmosphere, they’ve mined endless inspiration for their roots style blending rock, soul and jazz.
The Far Out Lounge and Stage, 8504 S. Congress Ave. in South Austin, is putting The Watters in the spotlight for its next musical residency, Wednesdays with The Watters, kicking off tomorrow night. Doors at 7 p.m. Recommended.
-Photography by Barbara FG.
Texas Standard: November 5, 2019
Election Day in Texas: we’ll check with reporters on how the balloting appears to be playing out across the state. Also, while state workers clear out homeless encampments in the Texas Capitol City, a closer look at an underlying problem with affordable housing: skyrocketing land prices. And as wildfires threaten housing developments in California, in central Texas, the possibility of wildfires threatening developers plans. Plus the Santa Fe high school mass shooting suspect: three doctors find him incompetent to stand trial. What next? All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Flashbulb Memories and Decision Making
It turns out there is a lot to learn about when studying the psychology of near misses. One thing we learn is that the memories of these events–like the time you almost ran into a tree with your bike, or the time you stuck your head out of a moving train and then pulled it back in just before another train rushed passed by– are different from other memories. Psychologists call these “flashbulb memories.”
In this episode, our first in our series on near misses, Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman, and Dr. Bob Duke talk about flashbulb memories and how they influence our decision-making process.
Terry Allen and The Panhandle Mystery Band: “City of the Vampires”
For those of us who’ve spent a good amount of time in Texas, the name Terry Allen has a household recognition. It’s been about four and a half decades since the release of his debut LP Juarez, throughout which Allen’s maintained a legacy of excellence not only in highly critical country music but also dissident visual art. And on the the fortieth anniversary of his breakout album Lubbock (on everything), Terry Allen and his trusty Panhandle Mystery Band have just announced their first record since 2013, Just Like Moby Dick.
Channeling the lengthy gamut of its Melvillian namesake, Just Like Moby Dick provides Allen’s commentary on humanity, tragedy, and memory, featuring occasional vocals from Shannon McNally, writing contributions from longtime friends Dave Alvin and Joe Ely, and co-production, guitar, vocals from Charlie Sexton. Just Like Moby Dick is out January 24th 2020, and you can expect a documentary, art exhibits, and tour dates shortly thereafter. For today though you can forget about Ahab and Starbuck, and instead hop on the blood-suck with one of Just Like Moby Dick‘s two lead singles, “City of the Vampires”!
Heaven Is Humming
Another instant favorite of the Austin Music Minute, immersed in brushstrokes of twilight hues… This is the golden hour in music form.
L.A.-based band Goon‘s debut LP, Heaven is Humming, was three years in the making. Front man and visual artist Kenny Becker took great care in constructing something simultaneously striking and odd, a bizarrely beautiful presence, an eerie soundtrack with elements of ’90s grunge reverberating in the dusk.
Goon is in Austin for a show tonight at the Mohawk, 912 Red River, sharing a bill with Austin bands Ama and Spirit Ghost on Mohawk’s indoor stage. Doors at 8 p.m. Recommended.
-Artwork by Kenny Becker of Goon.
Kanye vs Confucius and Fresh
Confucius and Fresh discuss why they’re no longer willing to rock with Kanye West and why they are willing to read the new Prince biography “The Beautiful Ones.” They interview Austin rapper, Queen Deelah. Fresh defends the Austin ISD’s decision to close schools in his Unpopular Opinion and Confucius warns again narcissism in his segment Confucius Says.
Listen to this episode of The Breaks
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Hear the music from The Breaks played on their Saturday Night Hip-hop show
Texas Standard: November 4, 2019
Julian stays in, but Beto says bye bye: a shakeup among democrats in the race for the White House. We’ll look at why and what it adds up to. Also, Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune with more on a Texas departure from the presidential race. And two Texas republicans weigh in on the GOP’s Texas sized problem heading into 2020. Plus oil prices falling, can Texas retain its crown as energy king? A new energy mix may help it do just that. All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Sean Henry: “Surf Song”
For Sean Posila AKA Sean Henry, songwriting has always bridged the gap between a nostalgic childhood, an irreverent adolescence, and modern adulthood. Last year the then-New Yorker flaunted a straight-ahead guitar-centric garage rock style on his debut full-length Fink, but upon returning to his native Connecticut in the midst of touring, Sean Henry pooled focus and energy into creating his “version of a pop album”.
The result is A Jump from the High Dive, released last Friday, boasting plenty of auxiliary percussion, grin-inducing guitar riffs, and a “scrapbooking” approach to compiling its eleven distinctive tracks. Sean Henry is touring the nation in support of A Jump from the High Dive and to get a grasp on his form, you can stick the landing with “Surf Song”!
Higher Ed: The Key To Dissipating Regret? Use It To Spur Action And Change
A podcast listener wrote in asking for guidance about how to handle the regret she feels over the choices she made in college. In this episode of KUT’s podcast “Higher Ed,” Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger and KUT’s Jennifer Stayton examine regret and the ways in which it can actually inspire positive change.
A podcast listener named Rebekah wrote in with the following question: “Sometimes when I listen to your podcast…I get a bit sad because I did not do all the things you talk about. I did not fit in at my college. I did not learn deeply. I focused on the wrong things and it hurts to think that maybe my life could have been better if only….What would Ed say to me about my sorrow over my misspent youth or lost opportunities?”
Ed’s first response? “I think it’s fantastic that Rebekah has regret!”
And why is that?
Ed says he looks at regret as a signal of a couple of things, one of them being personal growth.
“Regret is something that means that she has grown from where she was to where she is now,” Ed maintains. “So if nothing else, she needs to celebrate the fact that she looks at, in this case, her formal education in a different way. That’s huge growth and that’s worthy of celebration in and of itself.”
Ed believes regret truly becomes useful when that feeling prompts action.
“When you feel that, now there’s an action item. What are you going to do about it?” asks Ed. “It’s never too late to be learning.”
Ed says listening to that inner voice that fuels feelings of regret can help spur that action.
“If there’s a longing in us today that is something that could lead us to become [an] ever better, more amplified version of ourselves then we need to embrace that longing and take action. That’s the key to regret,” Ed believes. “Sitting by and just going ‘oh, woe is me’ – that’s ineffective.”
Ed says understanding why we feel regret for things done (or not done) in the past can also help us take action that will prevent similar regret later on. Listen to the full episode to hear more about what Ed calls “intellectual regret prevention” and to get the solution to last episode’s shape-shifting puzzler.
This episode was recorded on Sept. 25, 2019.
Sunset Sessions
If you swing by Eberly, 615 S. Lamar Blvd., you’ll notice the stairwell on the right side of the building. Make your way up and you’ll discover a lovely, cozy spot, overlooking the railroad tracks and trees nearby. That, darling, is Eberly’s rooftop – with an enclosed space that houses a small stage, mind you, but it’s the top o’ the building. This is the home of Eberly’s Sunset Sessions, a music series supporting a wonderful cause.
Sunset Sessions came from an idea to feature up-and-coming music artists in an intimate setting, but it’s evolved into a spectacular early Sunday evening experience, all in support of the SIMS Foundation, which provides access to affordable mental health and addiction recovery services for the local music community.
Tomorrow night’s show features Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, with Mamahawk kicking off the event. Doors open early at 6 p.m., and just a few tickets remain at this link. Your humble Austin Music Minute host, a proud SIMS client and supporter, will serve as emcee. Hope to see you there.
-Photography by Julia Reihs for KUTX.
KUT Weekend – November 1, 2019
Life gets harder for people in Austin with nowhere to live. Plus, what’s on the ballot in the November election on Tuesday. And lessons learned since last year’s week-long boil water notice in Austin. Those stories and more in this edition of KUT Weekend!
Subscribe at https://weekend.kut.org
Because Girls Rock
Time to rule the world. Oh, wait – already ruling it.
KUTX presents a special benefit performance in support of Girls Rock Austin, which provides empowerment programs and resources for girls and women, gender fluid/non-binary and trans youth through music. With a number of mentorships, opportunities for creative expression, and musical instruction, Girls Rock Austin shows the transformative power music has in the development of life skills and leadership qualities.
The benefit happens tonight at Barracuda, 611 E. 7th St., with sets by Quiet Company, Shy Beast (featured on today’s AMM), Otis the Destroyer, March and Beauty, and Girls Rock Austin Camper Band, Petty Betty & The 9 Volts, kicking off the evening. Doors at 8 p.m. Step up, represent, and see how she rules. Very recommended.
-Photo of Shy Beast courtesy of the artist.
Texas Standard: November 1, 2019
In one of the top fundraising states for Donald Trump, what does impeachment add to the political mix for Texas? We’ll take a look. Plus, NPR’s John Burnett previews his story of how one of the nation’s biggest pro-Trump regions, the Texas panhandle is dealing with its fastest growing demographic… immigrants. And the Texas Tribune joins us with a look at the week that was in Texas politics. Also, a taste of this weekends 10th annual BBQ fest. Texas monthly’s barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn stokes our appetite and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
The Horror
Halloween costumes often reflect the news cycle. When that happens, the results can be disturbing. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage: “In Certain Orders”
There’s a certain electricity that enters the air right after Halloween, where we eagerly await the Holidays, cold weather, time with family, and oh yeah – more killer new music.
NYC-born songwriter/comic artist Jeffrey Lewis has a seemly insatiable appetite to keep creating, dating back to when he helped shape the antifolk movement in the late ’90s. After spending a couple years in our fair city at the turn of the millennium, Lewis began releasing albums under England’s Rough Trade Records, slowly transitioning into lively indie rock and shuffling through a few different backing band names (The Junkyard, The Jrams & Los Bolts) in the process. It’s only been within the past year that Lewis has rerouted to a domestic label alongside a new iteration of Los Bolts – The Voltage.
Now with all their circuits in order, Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage, a twelve-song LP showcasing Lewis’ tragic/comedic lyrical dichotomy and the band with their boldest songs to date. The album came out today, Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage stop by Cheer Up Charlie’s on November 19th alongside Batty Jr. and David Israel, and right now you can get tangled up in Bad Wiring with “In Certain Orders”!
-Jack Anderson