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Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

El sonido, tan rico. Las melodías, tan hermosas. And let us not forget those badass beats. To think it all emerged from the depths of a soul-crushing pandemic…

Adrian Quesada spent those isolated days on long bike rides, followed by late nights in the studio experimenting with practically any sounds that came to mind, from hip-hop beats to snippets he recorded from the natural world. Eventually, this sonic journal capturing a specific moment in time evolved into twelve tracks of alluring, cinematic instrumental brilliance and a (virtual) gathering of epic talent that became Jaguar Sound. Such a superb follow-up to the sultry Boleros Psicod​é​licos, Quesada’s enamored homage to the Cuban bolero, with those signature soul and psychedelic touches.

Tonight is the night to experience the magic live with Adrian Quesada’s Jaguar Sound, taking over Dell Hall at The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. Once again, it’s an all-star band including special guests Mireya Ramos, Angélica Garcia and Clemente Castillo. ¡Qué magnífico! The show begins at 8 p.m. And word is, tickets are disappearing. Jump on it.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

This weekend marks the return of Kids At the Border, benefitting El Centro, CA-based nonprofit Border Kindness Bondad Frontera, founded in 2018. Though the organization is based in California, its work is making a broader, more universal impact upon vulnerable populations from Central American countries. This includes providing humanitarian aid, education services, legal services and day laborer outreach to migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers.

Leave it to creative collective The Artlands and Austin musicians to represent in a major way. Kids At The Border happens tomorrow night, Saturday Sept. 2, at Hotel Vegas, on the patio stage and inside the venue. Doors at 8 p.m., with the sickest line-up taking over – Urban Heat, Sailor Poon, Lord Friday the 13th, Norman Ba$e, and Gus Baldwin & The Sketch. The event includes a silent art auction, exclusive merch and more.

*Special thanks to Sandy Martinez for her assistance with today’s AMM.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Welcome to a double dose of Mamahawk on KUTX – not that you’ll mind in the least. Today’s AMM puts the spotlight on their single “Walk In the Fire,” as cool and invitingly pop/yacht rocky as the vibe off 2019’s Brain Invaderz!. And there’s today’s KUTX Song of the Day with their newest track “Fighter Jet,” more down tempo but plenty of rocket fuel in this jazz-prog burner. Both tunes will be on Mamahawk’s forthcoming LP, and chances are pretty good you’ll hear the new music and even get your Brain Invaderz! fix at Mamahawk’s show tomorrow night, Friday Sept. 1, at Sagebrush. An excellent bill starring magnificence personified, Aubrey Hays, and purveyor of powerfolk, good ol’ Sammy G. The line-up rules, the music is gorgeous, and it all starts at 10 p.m. Go for it.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

A tip o’ the hat to Lonesome Heroes‘ songwriter/vocalist Rich Russell for describe the recording of his band’s new single “Summertime Breeze” as a heartfelt Traveling Wilburys moment, creating some golden magic with an end-of-summer song, despite feelings of dread over a seemingly endless summer.

The new single is from the forthcoming album Seasons Change, out in November, and it’s far more cool and sublime than the fiery hell temps roasting Austin as of late. “Summertime Breeze” is officially out tomorrow on all platforms, and you can treat yourself to a live performance of it when you see Lonesome Heroes tonight, Wednesday Aug. 30, at Sahara Lounge, 1413 Webberville Rd. It’s part of the Lonesome Nights country showcase series presented by our colleagues at KOOP Radio. Doors at 7 p.m., and the line-up features Armadillo Road and South Texas Tweek.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

This is an introduction, but the the fact is, you’ve probably heard Courtney Santana sing before. Many times. Take some wisdom from 20 Feet From Stardom and know this: You never know the fire behind the scenes. And now it’s time for the center stage.

Santana’s 35-year career spans across the entertainment industry, from live music to theater to dance. She’s a featured singer on more than 28 LPs and has performed with Hootie and The Blowfish, Robert Randolph, Jessie Dayton, Patrice Pike, Wendy Colonna, Nakia, Shinyribs…the list continues to grow. In addition to touring the globe with bands and as a solo artist, Santana has performed in musicals such as Dreamgirls, RENT and Porgy and Bess.

Santana, a member of Sonic Guild‘s Class of 2023-2024 artist nominees, is ready to release her debut solo album Epiphanies of A Butterfly next year. And before heading out to the She Rises Festival in Taos, NM at the end of this month, you can see her perform at 9:30 p.m. tonight, Tuesday Aug. 29, at C-Boy’s Heart and Soul on S. Congress. Stick around for Grooveline Horns at 10:45 p.m.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

Admittedly, “All Tomorrow’s Parties” was the easy go-to for today’s AMM about the Sterling Morrison birthday celebration tonight at Hotel Vegas. Maybe the featured track should’ve been the closer of their debut LP The Velvet Underground & Nico, in all of its entire seven minute-plus glory. “European Son” was cowritten by Lou Reed, John Cale, drummer Moe Tucker and Morrison, an improvisational love/hate song dedicated to Reed’s former mentor, poet Delmore Schwartz. Still…it’s been said Morrison’s favorite Velvet Underground track – of all time – was actually “Venus in Furs.”

Though Morrison never released any solo work, it’s widely acknowledged that his contributions were essential to Velvet Underground’s distinctive sound. Then in 1970, Morrison took up studies at UT Austin and earned a PhD in medieval literature. His last Velvet Underground show was August 21, 1971 in Houston. Following that performance, he informed the band he wouldn’t be returning with them to New York – just before they boarded their returning flight.

Sterling Morrison’s Birthday: A Tribute To The Life and Music of The Velvet Underground honors the legend of the multi-talented musician with performances by a badass cast of local faves, including The Black Angel‘s Jake Garcia, Queen Serene‘s Sarah Ronan, Jason McNeely, Nolan Potter, DAIISTAR‘s Misti Hamrick-French and many more. Doors at 9:30 p.m.

Yes, Morrison’s birthday is actually tomorrow. They’re just getting a head start at Hotel Vegas. Dig.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

If you know about Third Root, or the Austin Boogie Crew, you know DJ Chicken George (Jeff Henry). He’s originally from Houston. Austin is damn lucky to have him.

His innovative style, technique and unpredictable grooves have granted him sessions across the U.S. and around the world. But he’s much more than a club DJ. This is an individual thinker often regarded as the very embodiment of hip-hop, a fearless artist, a master collaborator with impeccable tastes.

Last year, Henry was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). He’s received some treatments that are helping, but he’s also dealing with the resulting fatigue and low energy that’s putting a halt to his DJ gigs. However, friends and supporters have come together to help him out. In addition Austin Boogie Crew partner Danny Spence starting a GoFundMe campaign, several others have organized various events like A Benefit For DJ Chicken George, happening tonight at Empire Garage. It’s a family affair with Riders Against the Storm, Blackillac, Third Root featuring the scholar emcee himself Bavu Blakes, a DJ set by Adrian Quesada, Vocab and Da Shade, and the phenomenal Gracie Chavez and her Bombón crew. Doors at 8 p.m.

Nothing but love here. Mad respect, DJ Chicken George. And here’s to the future.

Austin Music Minute

By: Laurie Gallardo

And now, a couple of recommendations for your music collection. Obviously, you need to add III, the aptly titled third studio release from East LA dynamic duo Tropa Magica, which includes today’s featured track “Todo El Dia” and AMM personal picks “Price of Life,” “Cumbia Mamon” and the album closer that would leave the cucuy beaming with pride, “Wampiro.” But make sure you give several spins to Tripiando al Infinito en Mi Rec​á​mara, in which los hermanos Pacheco (guitarist/vocalist David and drummer Rene) built a dazzling homage to a multitude of styles that shaped their sound.

The descriptions given to Tropa Magica run the gamut, from psychedelic cumbia punk, to a combo of cumbia, classic rock and grunge. It’s all of that and more. Combining these influences has been a way for the Pacheco sibs to reconnect to their culture and define their identity as Latinos, while tying in the many different music genres they grew up with. They’ve described it as “an eclectic mashup,” or creating a synthesis of everything they love.

Do not sleep on this one. Tropa Magica will be in Austin for a show tomorrow night, Saturday Aug. 26, at The 13th Floor on Red River. Doors at 7 p.m., and DJ Tropicana Joe brings the exotica-tropicana-cha cha cha to the party. Samba, bossa and balanço, baby.