Central Texas top stories for January 10, 2023. Homicide numbers down. Alex Gonzales Public Safety Commission. Creative Space Assistance Program. Pflugerville ISD school closures. Williamson County COVID-19 relief for water infrastructure improvements. Austin Water emergency winter kits. South by Southwest volunteers.
sxsw
The Return of SXSW
We’re taking a look at the first in-person SXSW in 3 years. You’ll hear from rapper and event curator J Soulja, bartender and co-founder of the Amplified Sound Coalition Jeanette Gregor, artist manager Andi Narvaez, Cheer-Up Charlie’s owners Maggie Lea and Tamara Hoover, musician and composer Graham Reynolds, freelance writer Brianna Caleri, artist, instrumentalist, bandleader and soundman Thomas Cook, and musician Jackie Venson.
Fantastic Negrito: “Highest Bidder” (Live in Studio 6A)
A lot of folks have used the pandemic to reinvent themselves, but sometimes reinvention is less of a choice and more of a necessity. Just look at Fantastic Negrito, who after a failed record deal and catastrophic car accident, spent four weeks in a coma that atrophied his body and maimed his guitar playing hand. But within the next three years, Fantastic Negrito had won the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk Concert as well as the “Best Contemporary Blues Album” Grammy for his debut LP The Last Days of Oakland.
If there’s one thing Fantastic Negrito hasn’t struggled with, it’s sharing his brutally honest viewpoints with crowds of all kinds. He broke it down for our Studio 6A crowd last Saturday at SXSW on the verge of White Jesus Black Problems, out June 3rd. WJBP packs thirteen new tracks that cut deep with no sugarcoating, as heard in its lead single, “Highest Bidder”.
Mattiel: “Whites Of Their Eyes” (Live in Studio 6A)
The first episode of Atlanta‘s third season just premiered last week at SXSW. But we had plenty of other Georgia-based acts in town to remind us that Atlanta isn’t just a hub for hip-hop. Take for example indie rock duo Mattiel, the mononymous brainchild of virtuoso singer Mattiel Brown and visionary producer Jonah Swiley. These two have quickly turned Jack White into an outspoken supporter and promoter, and after their 2017 eponymous debut, they’ve released a new EP or LP each year of the past four.
Leather dress and mesh shirt in tow, Mattiel brought some intensity to our airwaves last Wednesday for our Studio 6A SXSW broadcast. You can find the full video below, which features Mattiel passionately revisiting the very first track from their first record, “Whites Of Their Eyes”.
Sarah Kinsley: “The King” (Live in Studio 6A)
There’s an unsaid promise imbued in the term “alt-pop”; it’s bound to have many of the upbeat sonic qualities claimed by mainstream pop but its nuanced chord changes and introspective lyrical content may not appeal as much to the masses. That said, New York’s Sarah Kinsley could very well be on the fast track to superstardom. This singer-guitarist-producer began impressing a new batch of listeners with her performance prowess and songwriting maturity on her 2020 EP, The Fall. Last year she followed that up with her five-track The King, earning Kinsley millions of streams, especially for the record’s title track.
“The King” has clearly become a favorite of fans and Kinsley herself, considering she recently released a standalone live version. And to the good fortune of our SXSW Studio 6A crowd, Sarah Kinsley shared a bit of the crown with another regal rendition of that beloved tune.
Cimafunk: “Caramelo” (Live in Studio 6A)
Congrats, we all survived another SXSW! There were some uncertainties going into the fest’s first physical iteration in two years, but it’s safe to say that the city pulled it off in a way that felt pretty dang close to the pre-pandemic days. While we take a much needed breather, KUTX will recap some of the best recordings collected at our Studio 6A showcases, starting today with airwave favorite Cimafunk.
This Cuban-born singer (and his stellar backing band) proved that they truly can move a crowd and get heads bobbing any time of day, 9AM in the case of last Wednesday. Cimafunk brought the bari sax and trombone onstage well before noon and doled out some sweet Caribbean-style caffeine with a high-energy set that included “Caramelo”!
Texas Standard: March 17, 2022
Helping Ukraine and avoiding war with Russia. An expert in Texas talks about the delicate balance. Also, after World War Two Nazi Scientists made their home in West Texas. And their children were enrolled in public schools. A new book explores this little known chapter of history. Plus closing the gap for Latino students seeking higher education in the state. And just how many mail in ballots were rejected during the primary? We have the number. Also tech at SXSW: Crypto Coin, NFTs and streaming Lizzo. All that and more on today’s Texas Standard:
Pillow Queens: “Be By Your Side”
Happy St. Patty’s Day! If you’re looking to celebrate with some contemporary but authentically-Irish live music, let Pillow Queens guide you into their court. The Dublin quartet dropped their debut EP Calm Girls in 2016 and have since captivated fans across the globe with a harmonic iteration of indie rock that cushions between punk and pop, while lyrically exploring the dissonance of queerness in a Catholic nation.
Pillow Queens are set to release their sophomore full-length Leave The Light On in April and have already teased out three of its ten tracks as singles. They had a double header for SXSW on Tuesday, play midnight tonight at Velveeta Room’s ‘Music From Ireland’ showcase, and perform 11:20pm tomorrow for the Royal Mt. Showcase at Valhalla. Even if you can’t see ’em for South By, you only have to wait a couple weeks for Leave The Light On (out April 1st). Either way, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the band’s discography, toss some tunes in your heavy rotation playlist, and let Pillow Queens “Be By Your Side”.
Femme It Forward: “Mother Nature” (feat. Tayla Parx)
You may not have known her name until today, but you’ve absolutely heard some fruits of labor from Tayla Parx. This Dallas-born L.A.-based singer is a credited songwriter on Billboard blowouts like Ariana Grande’s “thank u, next”, “Love Lies” by Khalid and Normani, “Infinity” from Mariah Carey, and Christina Aguilera’s “Accelerate”…and that’s just scratching the surface. As a solo singer, Parx caught plenty of ears with her 2017 mixtape Tayla Made, premiered her first full-length We Need To Talk in 2019, and followed that up the next fall with her sophomore record Coping Mechanisms.
As you can tell, Tayla Parx has paved a name for herself as a hungry songwriter and must-have collaborator. But she really shines when she’s on stage, mic in hand, something she hasn’t been able to do for more than a year. You’ve got a chance to experience just that tonight at Container Bar, where Tayla Parx co-headlines the Dr. Marten’s Showcase along with Dawn Richards. So peruse Parx’s repertoire when you can, and treat yourself to something from Femme It Forward’s Big Femme Energy Vol. 1 on behalf of Women’s History Month with the Tayla Parx feature “Mother Nature”.
Texas Standard: March 15, 2022
The Texas National Guard has a new leader. Will that mean a new direction for its operation on the border? Operation Lone Star continues under new leadership. We dig into what’s next for the border security mission backed by Governor Abbott. Also make sure to shake out your piggy bank, your nickels may be worth more than five cents, thanks to a shortage. Plus a decline in heritage tourism in Mexico. We’ll tell you why spring break hasn’t brought back the expats like it once did. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Chaining Day
This week on The Breaks Fresh and Confucius discuss Dame Dash’s claim that the only valid Roc-a-fella chains are the ones that he’s given out.
In this week’s installment of Hip-Hop Facts, you’ll learn about Ron Browz’s involvement in Big L’s song “Ebonics,” how the Notorious B.I.G. wrote the entire album for Junior M.A.F.I.A , how Keir Worthy was the first person to bring hip-hop to SXSW, and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Warner Bros and DC Comics need to stop making Batman movies.
Confucius talks about Lil Durk’s comments about his fiancé and her body count, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Chris Brown’s recent sexual assault scandal.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
Texas Standard: March 14, 2022
The awful images of war and civilians caught and killed in the crossfire. As concerns about war crimes mount, what are the options? A Texas-based specialist in international law on the potential for war crimes trials over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. We’ll explore the question what is a war crime and how would allegations be prosecuted? Also, what exactly is gender affirming care? A Texas board certified Pediatrician explains. And a celebration for the winningest coach in NBA history. Plus a look at who’s who from Texas in the March Madness brackets and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 11, 2022
Governor Abbot’s orders to investigate parents proving gender affirming care for transgender kids. We’ll have more on the legal fight. Plus the fight to win popular support: a University of Texas propaganda researcher war being fought over Ukraine, and how to tell fact from fiction. Also, how the conflict is putting pressure on a prestigious Texas based music competition. And Texas is a leader in renewable energy. The problem? How to store it. San Antonio buys in to a novel solution that borrows from lessons learned in fracking. And the passing of Willie Nelson’s longest running music partner, his sister Bobbie. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 10, 2022
A murder in Lubbock turns a spotlight on violence faced by Trans Texans. We’ll have the latest. Also, a Trump administration directive ordering rapid deportations, still imposed by the Biden Administration. But court orders are chipping away at it. How much longer will Title 42 be sustained? Possible changes coming to border enforcement. And progressives in Texas making serious headway? A deeper dig into details from the recent Texas primaries. Also the push to open up Texas to online gambling, and the pushback from some in health care. And the in-person return of one of Texas biggest international events. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
How Many People Are Too Many?
How many people are too many-psychologically?
As we’re slowly getting back to large in-person events, we thought we would revisit a 2019 episode of Two Guys on Your Head, where Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk about how our brains help us to navigate crowds.
The Return of SXSW
Confucius and Fresh talk about the return of in-person SXSW and debate whether bloggers like DJ Akademiks are actually journalists.
In this week’s installment of Hip-Hop Facts, you’ll learn why Andre 3000 said “The South got something to say,” how Queen Latifah was once Monica’s manager, how Bow-Wow got discovered & more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that top rapper lists are needed. And in Confucious Reads the News, Confucius talks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kodak Black’s comments on fatherhood, Governor Abbott’s push to criminalize the families of transgender children, and more.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
Texas Standard: March 18, 2021
Bottlenecks creating a backup of detentions of young people crossing the border without documentation. We’ll have the latest on what’s needed as concerns grow over the detentions of young migrants. Also a wave of bills to restrict abortion rights in Texas taken up this week by the Texas legislature, abortion opponents seeing opportunity in recent changes to the supreme court. And a red hot real estate market in parts of Texas rivaling what we’ve seen in places like California. Demand up, supply down. Are more Texans getting priced out of homeownership for the long haul? Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 16, 2021
As federal officials warn of plans to use a Dallas convention center as an immigration holding facility, concerns grow at the border. Republicans are using the rising numbers of border apprehensions to point to a crisis there, meanwhile the Biden administration having difficulty finding shelter for thousands of young migrants in the U.S. without legal status. We’ll have the latest. Also a rift at the top of Texas politics? Plus Changes to voting laws in the crosshairs at the capitol? And an idea comes of age: home power storage for such as crisis as a winter storm. All those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 30, 2020
Lights camera, Texas! In 2020, the eyes of Texas were on small screens everywhere as streaming video reached a new peak. From Selena revisited to a journey inside Texas Boys State, from a drag queen in Paris, Texas to the untold story of Johnny Cash’s first wife who hailed from San Antonio. Texans and Texas itself took center stage as the world went on lockdown and turned to the big streams. This hour, we’re looking at TV and film with a Texas twist in a special year end edition of the Texas Standard:
Trailer: Pause/Play on the Austin music scene
“Pause/Play” will tell the pandemic stories of artists, venues, venue staff, festivals, sound technicians, music non-profits and more. What has the shutdown been like for them so far? What help have they received in order to survive? What adaptations have they been making, and what do they see as the future for Austin Music?