Sure, Nolan Ryan’s known the world over as one of baseball’s all time greats, but few realize that first and foremost, he’s a rancher! Ryan’s childhood passion for beef led him to put together a new cookbook. In our conversation with one of today’s most famous Texans, Ryan talks about his childhood, great ballpark eats, plus some tips for your own summer grill.
Green Room: Summer Reading
T’is the season for hitting the beach and pulling out some great new reads. But with so much to choose from these days, what to you pack for vacation? Clay Smith, Editor-in-Chief at Kirkus Books gives us some top tips, plus some insight on the state of the book industry in this digital age.
Green Room: Smaller, Faster, Lighter, Denser, Cheaper
From overpopulation to global warming, ‘catastrophists’ have ignored a major trend of human history. Austin-based author Robert Bryce
argues that in often unforeseeable ways, technology moves inexorably toward solutions making the world a better place. Don’t worry, be happy? Well, it’s a lot more complicated than that.
Green Room: Moyers on Family and Addiction
When PBS journalist Bill Moyers suffered a relapse of a heart condition, everyone wished him a speedy recovery. When his son suffered an addiction relapse, people weren’t so generous–to put it mildly. In this candid conversation with the Moyers’ family, we hear a stirring account of how the disease of addiction affects loved ones, and what we all can do to help overcome obstacles to treatment.
Green Room: Come and Take It!
Come and Take It!’ It’s more than just a motto on an historic Texas flag: it’s a rallying cry that resonates with the independent spirit of the Lone Star state. Little wonder, then, that politicians are invoking the phrase in a growing protest over what some ranchers see as a ‘land grab’ by the federal Bureau of Land Management. Jim Malewitz of the Texas Tribune recently visited the land in dispute–and he says the case may alter the Red River border between Texas and Oklahoma.
Green Room: How to Manage Like the Spurs
They may not have superstars, or the massive resources of other teams–but what the San Antonio Spurs do have are championships. UTSA business professor Mark Lengnick-Hall argues that American businesses could learn a lot from how the Spurs get the job done.
Green Room: Secret Arsenal of the CIA
The Midwest Depot: that’s ben the code name for the CIA’s secret arsenal, involved with some of the biggest covert operations in history, from the Bay of Pigs to Iran-Contra and the wars in Angola and Afghanistan. Now New York Times reporter Charlie Savage thinks he’s found the true location of this secret arms cache. Deep in the heart of you-know-where.
Green Room: Pakistan, “The Warrior State”
Dallas and Houston are home to some of the biggest Pakistani-American communities in the U.S. They are doctors, I.T. professionals, entrepreneurs–people taking advantage of opportunities denied them in Pakistan. After more than a half-century of independence, what keeps Pakistan from moving forward? Award-winning scholar T.V. Paul offers a new explanation in his illuminating new book “The Warrior State.”
Green Room: Texas City Disaster Revisited
We’ve all heard of the 2013 fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas–a tragedy that shook a city and garnered national attention. But the worst industrial disaster in history–also in Texas–claimed untold hundreds of lives, and is almost forgotten. Veteran journalist and author Bill Minutaglio takes us on a trip back in time, to the post war explosion in Texas City: the lessons unlearned -and why America wanted to forget.
Green Room: Future of Coal Power
Ever heard of clean coal? No such thing, says ‘National Geographic’ magazine. For a groundbreaking piece on the hidden costs of fossil-based fuel, Texan Rob Kendrick travelled the globe. What he witnessed gave him reason to reflect on our energy needs, and the tough decisions we all face, like it or not.
Big Broadcast: The Texas Trinity
Texas Music has more than its share of great artists. But when it comes to songwriters, who sets the bar? If you ask other Texas songwriters, three names are consistently mentioned: Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. On the next edition of Texas Music Matters, it’s the stories of the Texas Trinity: The Bard of Corsicana, The Master Craftsman, and The Troubled Troubadour. Join us Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98.9.
Big Broadcast: Pirate Radio
For much of the 20th century, radio was the voice of the establishment, selling not just detergent, but a whitewashed, idealized vision of America. But that wasn’t entirely true. From the early 30’s until the early 70’s, late at night, strange sounds would skip across the stratosphere, filling the air over America with the howls of wild animals, the promises of faith healers, the voices of Spanish speakers, and–heaven-forbid–that devil rhythm and blues music. On this week’s Texas Music Matters, we’re celebrating the outlaw spirit of the airwaves, which has deep roots in Texas, or, to be precise, the Texas border. Hear it Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98.9.
Big Broadcast: How Long Must I Dream
Of the many Texas music musicians who’ve made a major impact on the American songbook, one of the most often overlooked is Roy Orbison. Born in Wink, Texas, Orbison started his career in rockabilly music and was warned by his producers not to waste his talent on ballads. Yet he would go on to global fame and influence a generation of followers with dramatic love songs such as “In Dreams” and “Only the Lonely.” Join us as we explore the life and music of a Texas iconoclast: Roy Orbison. That’s on the next edition of Texas Music Matters, Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98.9
Texas-Sized Heartbreak
There are plenty of wonderful songs about falling in love. And at least an equal number about falling out of love. But a few weeks ago it occurred to us that, for some reason, the breakup song doesn’t get the sort of attention it deserves. In any event, nobody does a breakup song like a Texan, and we’re about to prove it. Grab a gallon of ice cream and breakout those sweatpants – it’s heartbreak Texas style on this edition of Texas Music Matters. Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98-9.
The List (in no particular order):
1. Cry Baby – Janis Joplin
2. For The Good Times – Ray Price
3. Changed The Locks – Lucinda Williams
4. Bloody Mary Morning – Willie Nelson
5. Irreplaceable – Beyonce
6. Wasted Days and Wasted Nights – Freddy Fender
7. Goodbye Earl – Dixie Chicks
8. Who Will The Next Fool Be – Bobby Bland
9. She Left Me For Jesus – Hayes Carll
10. Boys of the Summer – Don Henly
11. Give Back The Key To My Heart – Uncle Tupelo ft. Doug Sahm
12. It’s Over – Roy Orbison
Big Broadcast: On the Record
Can you think of an album that changed your life? One that made such an impact, you saw yourself -or the world- a little differently after you heard it? On this week’s edition of Texas Music Matters, some of our favorite musicians– including Shawn Colvin, Alejandro Escovedo, Will Sheff, Brandi Carlile, Joan Osborne and many others — go ‘On the Record’ about the albums that changed their lives and why they made such a difference. Join host David Brown for an hour of candid conversation and musical exploration on a special edition of Texas Music Matters: ‘On the Record’. Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98-9.
Big Broadcast: New Beginnings
On this week’s edition of Texas Music Matters: new beginnings— from late bloomers to musical reintroductions. With live performances by Slaid Cleaves and Bonnie Whitmore, long awaited new music by Okkervil River, summer songs from the Valley by The Vangoes, the story behind the forthcoming Youngbloods Festival, the week’s music news and lots of surprises. Join us for Texas Music Matters. Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98-9.
Big Broadcast: Best of ’13 (So Far)
Each December, KUT’s music team gets together to come up with a list of the best albums of the year. But it occurred to us: why wait til December? Join us for what’s come to be a ‘start of the summer’ tradition–as Jeff McCord, Laurie Gallardo, Rick McNulty and Matt Reilly handpick the best albums of 2013 –so far. (Just in time for holiday shopping!) That’s on the next Texas Music Matters. Hope you can join us: Friday at noon and 11 pm on KUTX 98.9, and Saturday at 11am on KUT 90.5.
KUTX’s Best Albums of ’13 (So Far)…
Jeff McCord’s Picks:
Savages – Silence Yourself
The National – Trouble Will Find Me
Iron and Wine – Ghost on Ghost
Matt Reilly’s Picks:
The Black Angels – Indigo Meadow
Broncho – Can’t Get Past The Lips
!!! (Chk Chk Chk) – Thr!!!er
Laurie Gallardo’s Picks:
Natalia Clavier – Lumen
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down – We The Common
Aimee Bobruk – /ba:’brook/
Rick McNulty’s Picks:
Toro Y Moi – Anything in Return
Lady – Lady
Gin Wigmore – Gravel & Wine
Big Broadcast: The Flipside
Recording a hit record is like catching lightning in a bottle – certain pop stars manage to do it over and over, but for the people we’re about to hear from – once was good enough. These are the stories of 8 Texas musician, each one immortalized by a single recording—never again to return to the hit parade. Join us for some unforgettable songs, and the long forgotten stories behind them as Texas Music Matters presents The Flipside—a special report in conjunction with Texas Monthly magazine. An hour at the crossroads of music and memory. Hope you can join us Friday at noon and 11 pm on KUTX 98.9, and Saturday at 11am on KUT 90.5.
Big Broadcast: Texas Garage Rock
Few musical movements can be said to have started with a specific event…and ended just as rapidly. But during a brief period between The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and the ‘Summer of Love’, hundreds of kids picked up guitars and drumsticks across Texas and began making music that would reverberate for decades…though the songs themselves would be almost lost. Join us on the next Texas Music Matters, where we talk with veteran music journalist (and former Wild Seeds frontman) Michael Hall about the lost nuggets of Texas garage rock. Friday at noon and 11 pm on KUTX 98.9, and Saturday at 11am on KUT 90.5.
Big Broadcast: The Road Goes On…
Is there life after Lubbock? Joe Ely revisits his old stomping grounds. Also, Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen caught live in Studio 1A, Warren Hood takes a sharp musical turn with an assist from Emily Gimble–plus new music by the Boxing Lesson, Brazos, the week’s music news and more. Texas Music Matters–Friday at noon and Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98-9…and Saturday morning at 11 on KUT 90.5.