With under three months until election day, the Biden campaign getting pressure to pull out the stops in Texas to seize an historic moment, we’ll have the latest. Also, face to face with an interface: in an era of zoom meetings, Child Protective Services takes family visits online. And presidential rhetoric reconsidered. The Texan author of Demagogue for President makes the case that some of it is genius. Plus listeners have more questions about COVID-19. Dr. Fred Campbell of UT Health San Antonio has answers. Plus the week in politics from the Texas Tribune and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Archives for August 2020
Work Meetings in the Time of Coronavirus
In a period of high unemployment and great risks with some in-person work, being able to connect remotely is a privilege. But it’s not always without its problems. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Washed Out: “Time to Walk Away”
Ten years down the line in his career as Washed Out, keyboardist-vocalist Ernest Greene Jr. continues to champion an ever-evolving chillwave sound. The Atlanta-based auteur has been averaging at about one record every three to four years, rounding out this most recent cycle of creativity with Washed Out‘s fourth LP Purple Noon.
Purple Noon finds Greene sifting through familiar tides of indie funk fusion, dream pop, and hip-hop-influenced psychedelia with a sense of beach-read, market-ripe freshness throughout. Washed Out certainly won’t be getting diluted anytime soon, so top off your weekend with his Soundfounder interview, airing at 2PM today and again on Soundfounder’s Saturday night show at 1AM. And as you wade out of the work week, soak up some of the midday mauve on Purple Noon with one of its brightest highlights, “Time to Walk Away”!
KUTX Live at Home: Washed Out – Shot, edited and mixed by Ernest Greene for KUTX July 2020
KUTX presents Washed Out from the home studio of Ernest Greene in Atlanta, GA to your home. Purple Moon, the fourth album from Washed Out, drops August 7, 2020 on Sub Pop Records.
Set: “Face Up” “Time To Walk Away” “Hide”
Musicians: Ernest Greene: vocals, keys; Cameron Gardner; drums; Dylan Lee; bass
Love in Quarantine – Royal Teeth “Things That Make Me Happy”
Episode 5 of the “Love In Quarantine” mini-season features indie-pop outfit Royal Teeth and their bitter sweet song, “Things That Make Me Happy.” You’ll hear the confession that inspired the song as well as Zac’s interview with lead singer and head songwriter Gary Larsen. Later, Zac and Walker reflect on what we’ve learned about romance throughout our mini-season, Love In Quarantine.
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Black Everythang Matters
Loads of musical discovery for you, and it’s all part of representing your ATX community. Step on up.
Chaka Mandla Mhambi Mpeanaji (Riders Against the Storm) curated a massive show spotlighting rising Austin musical talent in continued efforts to rally support for the DAWA Fund, a local nonprofit founded by Chaka providing grants to Austin people of color experiencing financial difficulties. And here we have the big show: Black Everythang Matters, a livestream benefit, co-presented by Heard Presents and filmed at Empire Control Room, featuring performances by 5D, Chakeeta B, Clarence James, DJ Kay Cali, February 2020 KUTX Artist of the Month Eimaral Sol, J Soulja, and the mighty Mama Duke.
All Austin. All badass. All kicking off at 7 p.m. (Central) tonight, Thursday August 7, on Heard’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. And all proceeds benefit the DAWA Fund.
-Artwork from poster created by Chaka Mandla Mhambi Mpeanaji for BEM.
Texas Standard: August 6, 2020
Republicans versus Republican. Five conservative lawmakers are suing the Governor, over contracts for Coronavirus tracking. At issue: a nearly 300 million dollar deal for contact tracing that five state lawmakers say should have been vetted by the legislature, but wasn’t. Also, remember that border wall that dominated the last general election. Three miles of private wall built by Trump supporters is already coming down and mother nature’s playing a role. Plus the fight over facial recognition heats up. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
PR Newman: “Who Swept The Jungle?” [MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE]
It’s been a little over five years since singer-guitarist Spencer Garland was labeled a “Punk Rock Randy Newman” and began his stint at the front of Austin’s PR Newman. In the short time that’s passed, the group’s built up quite a following in Central Texas, thanks in no small part to Garland’s undeniable talent, lyrical candor, and overall mastery of the rock n roll genre.
Soon PR Newman just followed up their 2018 debut Turn Out with the sophomore LP Private Lives, self-recorded, produced and engineered by Garland himself and featuring fifteen previously-unheard originals. Making its appearance about a third way through the record is Private Lives’ second single, “Who Swept The Jungle?”, an examination of the relationship between idealism and the actual journey that goes into those pursuits and coinciding with a music video as well, co-directed by KUTX favorite Matthew Logan Vasquez.
KUTX supports Austin music; your support makes KUTX possible. Donate today.
Armadillo Bonus: Cosmic Country, Artwork, & More
Join KUTX as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Armadillo World Headquarters, the music venue that helped put Austin on the musical map. In this bonus episode, hear how Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings turned the Armadillo into a cosmic country destination. Plus, first-hand stories about the iconic artwork, Leon Russell’s home base, a particularly memorable John Prine show, and seeing the Austin Ballet at the Armadillo–complete with a pitcher of beer.
All The Love(s)
Hamilton Leithauser faced the inevitable when it was recently made official. Both his U.S. and Canadian tour dates were cancelled. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t expecting the news, but it still sucks. Any musician will tell you: The road is calling, but stupid COVID-19 stands in the way of following that beckoning muse of live shows, damn it.
But nothing will stand in the way of the music. Leithauser has concentrated on his latest material, mostly working solo but also collaborating with friends, and, as he explained on his Facebook page, there’s also time (when he’s not teaching 1st graders) to soak in awesome films and documentaries, and even indulge in online chess and scrabble. Care to chat about Ken Burns’ Country Music? Leithauser’s up for it.
FYI: The track on today’s Austin Music Minute is “Isabella,” from The Loves of Your Life. And speaking of Facebook, catch Leithauser’s live stream performance at 7 p.m. (Central) tonight, Wednesday August 5, on Facebook Live, presented by Robert Hall Winery.
-Photo courtesy of the artist.
Texas Standard: August 5, 2020
After first asking for an extension to complete the census count, a sudden u-turn. The impact on Texas could last for a decade or more, we’ll have details. Also, more women are unemployed now than at any time since the late 1940’s, and women of color are among the hardest hit. What some are calling America’s first female recession, and what’s behind it. And residents along the gulf coast finding more effective ways to deal with an active hurricane season amid a pandemic. Plus a claim that 1 in 3 texans can’t access health insurance. A Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:
Nané: “Blue Velvet”
We’ve been keeping a watchful eye on Nané since their debut single “Always On My Mind” earned a heavy rotation spot on our airwaves late last Fall (and deservedly so). The group was born on the UT campus back in 2016 when singer Daniel Sahad first linked up with guitarist Ian Green, and soon Nané was having no problems selling out venues like Stay Gold, mesmerizing thousand-person crowds, and opening for Black Pumas and Bob Schneider.
A full record has yet to be announced, but last Friday Nané shared their fifth single, featuring an ensemble cast of credits: production by Grammy-winner John Speice IV, mixing by Chris “Frenchie” Smith, mastering by Cacophony’s Erik Wofford, and engineering from Adrian Quesada. They’ve reclaimed a Roy Orbison title just for themselves for a confidence booster and a friendly reminder not to take everything so seriously accept the goofiness in life’s banality even down to your individual core on “Blue Velvet”!
–Photo: Renee Dominguez
KUTX supports Austin music; your support makes KUTX possible. Donate today.
Ready Set Go
Yes, you heard correctly. Kimbra is totally stoked to get the show going. It’s that surge of energy coming from performing again – after mercilessly long periods of…you know, not playing? Yes. So this is extra feel-the-feels good. The New Zealand-based singer, songwriter and producer left word on her Facebook page that she and keyboardist Jacob Bergson, who’s joining Kimbra for the show this evening, got some quality rehearsal time in yesterday.
Kimbra is also taking requests from her discography. Get them ready and join her at 8 p.m. (Central) tonight, Tuesday August 4, on Noon Chorus. Your virtual ticket gets you the link to the show.
-Photo courtesy of the artist.
Texas Standard: August 4, 2020
New numbers on COVID-19 testing in Texas tell us what, exactly? An investigative report by the Houston Chronicle says many Coronavirus test results are not included in official counts trying to chart the spread of COVID-19. We’ll hear why not and what it means for efforts to stem the spread of the virus. Also, El Paso students reflect on the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern U.S. history, one year on. And newsman Dan Rather on a plan to improve education. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Dan C. Goldberg (Ep. 35, 2020)
This week on In Black America, producer and host John L. Hanson discusses the history of African Americans in U.S. Armed Services with Dan C. Goldberg, a health-care reporter with Politico, and author of The Golden 13: How Black Men Won The Right To Wear Navy Gold.
Josie Lockhart: “Like Lightning” [PREMIERE]
Up to this point, Austin’s Aaron Miller is most easily recognized as one of three “frontmen” in the synth-pop trio Sphynx, who also moonlights as a wedding DJ. But especially with the way this year has been going, it shouldn’t come as too much a surprise that there’s a hard left turn coming.
Enter Josie Lockhart, Miller’s new solo endeavor that finds the experienced singer-guitarist stretching out past his comfort zone and into realms of indie rock, psychedelia, and Americana. For his upcoming debut, Josie Lockhart takes an otherworldly revisionist approach to the frontier myth of Manifest Destiny, providing an aural backdrop for Miller’s exploration of love, isolation, and grief across this new batch of originals. When this Josie comes home, he’ll treat you to What A Dream To Rise Awake From, but not before giving you a bit of dream pop petrichor mixed by Chris Coady (Beach House, Grizzly Bear, Yeah Yeah Yeahs), perfect for these unseasonably rainy days in the middle of a typically dry Texas summer, “Like Lightning”!
KUTX supports Austin music; your support makes KUTX possible. Donate today.
Hypochondria
Hypochondrias is a condition where a person worries excessively and unduly about having a serious illness. It can be debilitating and require treatment from a psychologist. But oftentimes we refer to people who think they might be sick as having hypochondria because it is a way to dismiss their concern or say, “you always just think you are sick.” In this case, it’s important to recognize how and why we are interpreting our body’s signals in a negative way.
In this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about the psychology of hypochondria, and the impact a positive mindset can have on your physical health.
Elephant in The Room
We have all experienced walking into a room and noticing right away the giant elephant in the conversation that no one wants to talk about.
On this edition of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke discuss why it’s important to address the proverbial elephant in the room, and they offer some advice on how to it.
Leave Megan Alone!
This week on The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius:
- Discuss Megan Thee Stallion’s latest IG live post about rapper Tory Lanez shooting her in both feet.
- Talk about Snoop Dogg’s appearance on The Breakfast Club.
- Touch on the emerging conflict between Lil Baby and Migos.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh argues that Jack Harlow is overrated.
- In his Confucius Says, Confucius reminds us that other people’s behavior is often about survival, so we shouldn’t take their actions too personally.
Listen to this week’s episode of The Breaks
Gettin’ Dirty
It’ll be easy to dance, no problem. Capyac has a way of sliding in the infectious grooves with a smoothness that glides under the skin (today’s featured track on the AMM is “Dirty”). And your Austin Music Minute maven gets the feeling that Capyac is not of this world, after indulging in all the otherworldly glee of their recent interview with Do You Like That Song?. But you probably already knew that about them. So…say hi to Duck for me, won’t you?
Don’t miss out on Caypac’s Monday Night Shuffle. Tune in at 8:30 p.m. (Central) tonight, Monday August 3, on Twitch. Welcome to the outer limits – and beyond.
-Photo courtesy of the artist.
Texas Standard: August 3, 2020
One year after the deadliest attack against Latinos in recent history, Texas remembers those lost in El Paso during a day of reflection and healing.
Democrats beating republicans in fundraising for Texas congressional races- a closer look.
Also, a battle in Midland before and after a vote to rename a city high school.
The storm before the storms. What Hurricane Hanna might add up to for Texas’ energy sector.
And packets of mystery seeds from China raising concerns–a Texas A&M expert is on the case. Those stories & much more.