Are you ready to get back to normal? Attitudes in Texans on a planned return to business as usual or something closer to it. A new UT Texas Tribune poll on how Texans are feeling about efforts to curb the impact of the Coronavirus. Also, how the school lockdown is playing out on the other side of students’ laptops. And the week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Archives for April 2020
‘Working’ From Home
Many Texans are out of work right now. Others continue with what’s deemed essential business. And others still are trying to maintain duties that used to be done in an office — but is now being attempted at home. That third category was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Walker Lukens: “We See U” (QT Edition) [PREMIERE]
Even if you only have cursory knowledge of KUTX, the name Walker Lukens should be pretty familiar to you. On top of being our August 2015 Artist of the Month, this seven-time Studio 1A performer and two-time My KUTX guest DJ also co-hosts and produces our very own Song Confessional podcast. Needless to say, Walker’s a bit of a workaholic and we’ve got zero qualms with that.
The latest endeavor from Lukens is the ADULTs ONLY Album of the Month Club, providing members with a new exclusive record every thirty days, and allowing Walker to pay his bills since he’s not able to produce in the studio or play live gigs. This Sunday members will receive Teenager, a sequel of sorts to last April’s ADULT, showing off stripped-down, previously unheard recordings of Walker’s previously existing stuff using sparse equipment and instrumentation, channeling Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. Sign up for ADULTS ONLY when you can but get a free sample before you do, in case you need some convincing, “We See You” (QT Edition)!
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Stream Pick: BRB Fest
Since you can’t go to the venues, Do512 will bring the venues (in a way) to you. The Do512 team, in partnership with CapMetro and several ATX live music venues, presents BRB Fest, a mini-fest spotlighting local artists in a variety of live stream performances.
Tonight, night 4 April 23rd, BRB Fest teams up with The White Horse to present Brian Broussard (Mayeux and Broussard, featured on today’s AMM), and Jordan Matthew Young. The music starts at 8:30 p.m. (Central) on Do512’s Facebook page. Donations are being accepted for the artists and The White Horse.
Tomorrow night, April 24th, includes sets by Sabrina Ellis (Sweet Spirit, A Giant Dog, Heart Bones) and Nevil, and Saturday April 25th is gonna get lit with Mouthfeel and DJ Chorizo Funk.
-Photo of Brian Broussard by Greg Giannukos.
*CLICK ON THE MP3 to hear the Austin Music Minute.
Texas Standard: April 23, 2020
According to an African proverb, it takes a village to raise a child. But what if the village is under lockdown? We’ll take a look at the challenge facing new Texas parents during COVID-19. Also, academics have long talked about the digital divide, but in a pandemic it’s having practical implications for millions of Texas students. And you’ve got questions about COVID-19, Dr. Fred Campbell of UT health San Antonio joins us again with some answers. Also, getting back to the office, or not. Our go to tech guy Omar Gallaga on how the workplace may never be the same again. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Psychic Shark: “Desire”
Shark Week just got an extension! With chief songwriter Anna Noel leading the four-piece frenzy, Austin’s Psychic Shark has only surfaced in somewhat recent tides but has already showcased a promising, submersible breed of psych-rock.
The aquatic-minded quartet just followed up their 2019 debut single with the two-track Tape Sessions EP, staying true to its title with lo-fi production and Psychic Shark’s nautical telepathy piercing throughout the record’s nine minutes. Keep an eye on the sonic sonar for more from Psychic Shark and get your diving equipment ready on “Desire”!
-Jack Anderson
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Stream Pick: Anna Larson
Today the Austin Music Minute puts the spotlight on Austin-based songwriter/musician Anna Larson. Featured on the KUTX Song of the Day and in Studio 1A with Americana outfit The Wheelwrights, Larson has also released work as a solo artist, including her debut LP Shifting Sand last year and today’s AMM featured track, “Whippoorwill.” Larson draws from a variety of influences, ranging from gospel to rock to an endless array of compositions she’s heard and performed as a classical pianist. Yes. That badass, and more.
You can join Larson each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. (Central) and Sundays at 3 p.m. for Home to Home, her live stream performance series on Facebook Live. Your generous tips are very much appreciated, via Venmo @annalarsonmusic. Recommended.
-Photography by White Light Exposure.
Flyjack: “Phrygian Phunk”
By and large, “jam bands” can be pretty polarizing for your casual concertgoer, unprepared for the potential of multi-hour long sets and extended live improvisation sections within the grooves. But rebuking the sunken-eyed, smoke-filled character of The Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band, Dave Matthews, or even Phish, Austin’s Flyjack has maintained a character of calculated, stimulating soul-funk. Formed in 2008 between bassist Brad Bradburn and guitarist Buck McKinney after a successful stint in alt-jazz outfit Gnappy, the now-nine-piece has proven time and time again just how hard they can get a crowd funked up, be it onstage to a packed house or just for one person absolutely losing their mind while dancing at home.
Across their career Flyjack’s performed alongside Brownout, Widespread Panic, Marc Broussard, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Jurassic 5’s DJ Numark and at the very start of 2020 they dropped their fourth record Soul Catcher, featuring just as many originals as it does members and topped with two covers of rare-groove classics. And while the Flyjack family can’t hardly jam out in person without violating social distancing orders nowadays, Soul Catcher was just nominated for best album in the funk/fusion/jam category of the 18th Annual International Music Awards. The IMAs will take place digitally on June 27th, and you can wiggle through Wednesday with one of the snappiest tracks on Soul Catcher, “Phrygian Phunk”!
–Photo: Luis Nieves
KUTX supports Austin music; your support makes KUTX possible. Donate today.
Texas Standard: April 22, 2020
50 years ago today, what many people mark as the start of the modern environmental movement. What is the state of the Earth today? During a time of global pandemic, a pause to reflect on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Also, testing for Coronavirus ramping up in the most populous counties, whats holding back similar gains elsewhere in Texas? Plus how COVID-19 is keeping em down, way down, on the dairy farm. And a Texas congressman’s claim about a German powder that kills Coronavirus: a Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Cowboy Moves to Montana
by W. F. Strong (adapted from folklore)
I think we’re in need of humor more now than ever before. So I thought I’d share with you this bit of classic Texas folklore. You may well have heard it before and, if you have, I’m sure you won’t mind hearing it again. If you haven’t heard it, well, you’ll have the pleasure of hearing it for the first time. Nothing better than novel humor, providing it’s well told. I’ll do my best.
A Texas Cowboy who had just recently moved to Montana walked into a bar up there and ordered three mugs of draft beer.
He took a seat in the back of the room by himself and commenced to drinking all three beers by taking a sip out of each one in a consistent sequence so that he finished them all at the same time.
Then he walked back up to the bar and asked the barkeep for three more.
Well, the bartender, wanting to be helpful, said, “You know, partner, a mug of beer can go a bit flat fairly soon after it’s drawn. You can buy ‘em three at time, if you like, but I can bring ‘em out to you one at a time to keep ‘em cold, fresh and crisp.”
The Texan replied, “Well, you see, I do it this way because I have two brothers. We were always close until a few months ago when we all, sadly, had to leave Texas for a while because of job transfers. One went to Georgia, the other to, sorry to say, New York. We agreed to always drink as I’m doing now to honor our good times together until we can all get back to Texas. So, I’m drinking one beer for me and two for my brothers.”
The barkeep was touched by the man’s custom and pushed three mugs of beer to him, and said, “This round’s on me.”
The Texan took a liking to the place. Felt like home. He came in there all the time afterwards and always followed his three beer tradition. The regulars became aware of it after a while and admired his unique commemoration. Sometimes bar patrons would even hoist a beer up in his direction and offer a toast. “To the brothers!” they’d say.
One day, the Texan came in and ordered two beers, sat down and began drinking them in turn. Everybody noticed and the bar got quiet, unusually silent.
The bartender felt he should say something so he walked over to the cowboy’s table and said quite sincerely, “I’m sorry about the loss of your brother, truly sorry.”
The cowboy looked confused a minute and then figured out what the bartender was thinking. He laughed and said, “Oh, no, no. Nobody died or nothin’. It’s just, you see, me and my wife joined a really strict church last week and I had to swear off drinkin’.”
Then it was the bartender’s turn to look confused.
The Texan explained, “Well, that didn’t affect my brothers none.”
Stream Pick: Evan Charles
It was to be an epic time. All these plans, all these special guests… A lot of work went into it.
Altamesa front man Evan Charles had meticulously put together an outstanding line-up for what would have been his solo residency at Hole In the Wall. And it was one hell of a list: Cory Reinisch (Harvest Thieves), Carson McHone, James Steinle, and Charles’ Project ATX6 comrade Leslie Sisson (Moving Panoramas) were just a few of the names included. Charles was beyond stoked.
And then…all things came to a screeching halt.
Despite the momentary sidetrack, Charles is making sure the music goes on. Catch Evan Charles’ solo performance series Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. (Central) on Altamesa’s Facebook and Instagram. Don’t miss out.
-Photography by Kate Blaising.
Chicano Batman: “Blank Slate”
Laying claim to quite possibly the best band name ever, West Coast four-piece Chicano Batman is fully equipped with a diverse utility belt full of talent. Going back to their 2010 eponymous debut, they’ve tapped into ’60s and ’70s psychedelia and effortlessly fused it with Latin overtones. Chicano Batman’s laid-back, keyboard-driven, and effects-heavy style has since evolved to incorporate more of a “clean” indie psych-pop production method akin to Tame Impala, heard most recently on 2017’s Freedom Is Free.
Today Chicano Batman’s shared a first glimpse of their upcoming fourth full-length, Invisible People, out on May Day and once again produced by Leon Michels, whose track record includes work with A$AP Rocky, Lee Fields & the Expressions and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings. With the additional help of engineer Shawn Everett (Vampire Weekend, Alabama Shakes, Beck, etc.) on the mix, Invisible People maintains all the elements that we’ve loved about Chicano Batman, and goes on to explore touches of hip-hop, krautrock, international synth-funk, R&B, and prog-rock. You’ll be able to experience these dynamically impressive recordings in full on May 1st, but not before self prescribing Invisible People‘s ’80s-inspired lead single, perfect for a pandemic-riddled world trying to relearn the day-to-day life, “Blank Slate”!
Texas Standard: April 21, 2020
A gradual reopening in Texas. The governor promises it’ll be science based, but some have questions because of relative low levels of testing. We’ll have the latest. Also, how low can you go? What about prices plummeting to negative territory? Understanding the implications of a historic crash in one of the states staple industries. And fears of an economic impact that could rival the great depression. In Texas, street scenes echoing images form the 1930’s as thousands of families wait in line for hours to get food handouts, testing the resources of food banks. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Closet Recordings: Naomi Shihab Nye
For this edition of This is Just To Say, The Closet Recordings, poet and novelist Carrie Fountain reads, “Wedding Cake” by Naomi Shihab Nye.
Stream Picks: April 20th 2020
Look, it happens. Your Austin Music Minute host gets damn greedy and promotes a couple of live stream sets at a time. These are two picks for your Monday, April 20th 2020. Dig:
-The mighty Rhett Miller is performing Old 97’s 1994 debut LP, Hitchhike To Rhome, in its entirety tonight at 8 p.m. (Central) on StageIt. As always, Miller’s live stream set is pay-what-you-can for viewing. Direct link here.
-All-time badass Sabrina Ellis (Sweet Spirit, A Giant Dog, Heart Bones) is on an absolutely divine line-up presented by SIREN SOUNDS on Baby TV. Performers include Diane Coffee, Dropper, and Kahiem Rivera. The show starts at 7 p.m. (Central), and $5 donation tickets are available through this Ticketfly link. A show link will be provided for ticket holders 30 minutes prior to the live stream show.
-Photo of Sabrina Ellis by Michell Multimedia.
The Breaks: Babyface vs Teddy Riley vs Technology
This week on The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius
- Talk about the decrease in streaming during the pandemic and what it means for the music industry.
- Touch on the continuing beat battles, including the technical difficulties in the battle between Babyface and Teddy Riley.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh says that Diddy would smoke Jermaine Dupri in a beat battle and that Dr. Dre would beat, but not annihilate, Diddy in a beat battle.
- Confucius reminds people to stick by their values especially in this time.
- This week’s Local Song of the Week is TEMPLO by Angélica Rahe.
Listen to this episode of The Breaks
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Marijuana Sweet Tooth: “You Never Think Of Me”
Let’s get straight to the point. You know what day it is. And thoughts on reform policy aside, you simply can’t ignore the relevance of a group called Marijuana Sweet Tooth on today’s “holiday”. Marijuana Sweet Tooth first sparked up in the summer of 2017 with their debut EP Playing Cards, passing around hybrid strains of country, shoegaze, ambient, and lo-fi alt-rock. Fronted by guitarist-vocalist Mateo Mares and singer Lizzie Buckley, MST’s signature “low, slow & hazy” sound and almost snow globe level of roundedness is a remedy ripe for the isolation blues.
Today Marijuana Sweet Tooth released Something Has To Change But It Can’t Be Me, the group’s gorgeously produced debut full-length. Something Has To Change But It Can’t Be Me is available on Bandcamp for whatever price feels right for you just for 4/20, and even if you space on the date, you can the second of ten new tunes from Marijuana Sweet Tooth, “You Never Think Of Me”!
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Texas Standard: April 20, 2020
Texas becomes one of the first states making moves toward a post COVID-19 lockdown. Too fast, too soon? Governor abbott, flanked by other top officials announces schools will remain closed in Texas, but a task force is working on getting back to business as usual. We’ll discuss what happens next with House speaker Dennis Bonnen. Also, the Texas engineers ramping up to help offset a shortage of hospital ventilators. And a book by a Texan who survived a pandemic 100 years ago that resonates today. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Dr. Laura W. Cheever (Ep. 20, 2020)
On this week’s In Black America program, producer and host John L. Hanson, Jr. speaks with Laura W. Cheever, MD., Associate Administrator for the HIV/AIDS Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, about the need to emphasize awareness of and access to HIV/AIDS treatment services for African Americans.
Stream Pick: Lone Run Derby
It’s another heavy hitter (baseball reference, hi, how ya doin’?), and all in support of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM). Welcome to The Lone Run Derby variety show, presented by all the fine folks of The Long Time sandlot, Spaceflight Records, Scholz Garten and your very own Texas Playboys.
What’s all this, then?! It’s an Austin Music Minute dream, I tell you, featuring performances by an incredible set of artists including Erika Wennerstrom, Alex Maas (The Black Angels), Ben Kweller, The Tender Things (featured on today’s AMM), Kathryn Legendre, Carson McHone, Löwin, Sideshow Tragedy, and Jank Sinatra – and this may, or may not be, the complete list. Plus baseball stuffs presented by the Texas Playboys. Yowza.
It’s today, Saturday April 18th, at 4 p.m. (Central) on Instagram via Scholz Garten and Texas Playboys. You can make your donation to HAAM at this link.
*AMM host note: If Instagram is not working for you, you can catch the live stream at the Spaceflight Records’ YouTube channel.
-Photo of The Tender Things by Alyssa Gafkjen.