The Conversation The exhibition is powerful and very well presented and gives a spectacular glimpse into my Australian Aboriginal Culture. (Goosebumps). I am extremely excited to be a part of this unique project to support this fantastic collection. It's another example of what inspires me to play basketball.
One of the most visually electrifying I’ve seen at the San Antonio Museum of Art…the Lam gift seems to dovetail especially nicely with the Museum’s particular niche as perhaps the least Eurocentric of American encyclopedic museums. —Devon Britt-Darby, artsandculturetx.com
—Patty Mills, San Antonio Spurs point guard, Instagram post
I was slack-jawed in the special exhibition Of Country and Culture. I love abstract art and this took abstract to a whole 'nother universe.
Engrossing exhibit of Australian Aboriginal art that spans both traditional male works with amazingly recent modern paintings by Aboriginal women.
—Lnwyd, Trip Advisor reviewer, Aberdeen, Maryland
—maybeen, Trip Advisor reviewer, Chicago
Only through May 14! SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM of ART | 200 West Jones Avenue | samuseum.org | sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 3
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Fiesta San Antonio: Throw Confetti To Celebrate Oppression: “Good job making about race again and putting labels on people. Maybe we should “erase history” like y’all liberals are trying to do now. Probably would love to see the Alamo torn down while your at it.” — Anthony Rodriguez Proposed Bill Could Make Vaccine Exemptions Easier For Texas Kids to Obtain: “Okay, so abortion is wrong, but not vaccinating your kids, thus exposing other people to disease is just?! Texas is dumb.” — Theresa Boykin Ted Cruz Wants El Chapo to Pay for the Border Wall: ? Americans would still be paying for the wall. Where do people think most of that money came from?” — Brittany Lynn Atheists Respond to Mayor Taylor’s Poverty Comments: “Unfortunately because of the city we live in she will probably win the election despite her comments. She probably saw a jump in numbers as a result of it.” — Avi Cult
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IN THIS
ISSUE Issue 17_18 /// May 3-9, 2017
09
NEWS
Poverty, Prayer and Politics Why Mayor Taylor’s godlessnesscauses-poverty comments disturbed and offended people who aren’t religious Land Grab Lawyers gear up to protect South Texas landowners from Trump’s border wall Strong Words Judge calls district attorney’s courtroom threats “uncalled for,” refuses to dismiss case Blood Money Ted Cruz wants El Chapo to pay for the border wall
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ARTS + CULTURE
Sketchy Characters A look inside the weird world of Leigh Anne Lester’s mutant botanicals
ON THE
COVER This first post-Duncan season has been an important one for the Spurs, the beginning of a new era. In this week’s issue, fresh off the heels of a hard-fought first-round playoffs win, we profile some of the team’s reserve players who keep Los Spurs energized. We’ve also included, for good measure, a paean to Popovich, who continues to prove himself the best in the league. Photos by Josh Huskin Art direction by Sarah Flood-Baumann 6
CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
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NIGHTLIFE
Creative Cred Lucky Charms, Hanson, Shark Week become inspiration for Freetail’s latest brewpub beers
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FEATURE
The Juice Crew Meet the Spurs reserves bringing new energy to the game
22
CALENDAR
Our top picks for the week
Changing of the Guard The sun continues to set on the Spurs as we know them A Complex Blend Gregg Popovich uncorks another vintage season
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SCREENS
Jungle Hunt The real-life Indiana Jones emerges from The Lost City of Z
43
MUSIC
Change Up Bright Like the Sun says goodbye to founding member with final show Punk Politics The congressman who wants to unseat Ted Cruz actually had a pretty awesome band in the ’90s Music Calendar What to see and hear this week
37
FOOD
Food Court Pollo Tropical closures, Frito-Lay recall and more Milkshake Mania For Honeysuckle Tea Time, the tea-infused treats have no limits
51
ETC.
Savage Love Jonesin’ Crossword Freewill Astrology
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SARAH LUNA ELLIS
NEWS
MICHAEL BARAJAS | @MICHAELSBARAJAS
POVERTY AND PRAYER Why Mayor Taylor’s godlessness-causespoverty comments disturb and offend people who aren’t religious
≥
Last week San Antonio went viral in a very unflattering way – that is, if you’re not a social conservative or worry about religion guiding politicians’ actions on some of society’s most serious challenges, like addressing the root causes of poverty. It looks like a blogger at Patheos.com, a website that covers religion and spirituality, was the first to point out the problematic nature of Taylor’s comments at a mayoral forum moderated by San Antonio Express-News columnist Gilbert Garcia last month. The blogger linked to a video of the April 3 forum that was live-streamed by the hyperlocal journalism nonprofit NowCastSA. When asked about the root causes of systemic poverty, Taylor’s go-to answer was to blame a lack of faith. Or, to be more specific: “It’s broken people, you know. People not being in relationship with their Creator, and therefore not being in a good relationship with their families and their communities and, you know, not being productive members of society. So I think that’s the ultimate answer.” Patheos blogger Michael Stone was unsparing in his criticism, saying Taylor’s comments “show nothing but contempt for poor people and atheists.” The video of Taylor’s comments reached viral status after the Huffington Post covered them last week. Taylor’s initial reaction was to claim the video had been “intentionally edited to mislead viewers,” which is weird considering NowCast had posted footage of the entire 90 minute forum. “I have devoted my life to breaking the chains of generational poverty,” Taylor wrote in a prepared statement this week. “I’ve done so because of my faith in God and my belief in Jesus’s ministry on Earth.” Since the blowup (which coincided with early voting), others have equivocated for the mayor, implying the her comments were blown out of proportion or perhaps just misunderstood. In a column last week, Garcia writes that maybe Taylor was just playing to the crowd (the question that prompted the response was, after all, from someone with a Christian-based nonprofit). Or perhaps you should believe Taylor’s pivot
immediately following her “broken people” comments, that her views on the root causes of poverty in no way have anything to do with how she handles the issue as mayor. “That’s not something that I work on from my position as mayor of the community,” she said, before diving into a short rundown of why bad education and teen pregnancy are also two causes of poverty. Oh, and if atheists and other people who identify as non-believers feel particularly burned by Taylor right now, that’s because of their, as Garcia put it, “misunderstanding” of what she said. Many people disagree, including a coalition of San Antonio secular groups that are petitioning for the mayor to simply meet with them so they can explain why they find such comments from a public official disturbing and offensive. “It was insulting not only to non-religious people, but also to people living in poverty,” Sean Rivera, 21, told the Current. Rivera, the president of the Secular Student Alliance at the University of Texas at San Antonio who started the petition, has a pretty simple goal. “I want to see if we can get her to at least sit down with us and understand and see why those statements are offensive.” Here’s how Rivera characterized Taylor’s comments: “As a public official, you are telling us that not sharing your religious beliefs is a negative thing. And even for those who do value their religious beliefs — if they’re in poverty or struggling, you’re suggesting indirectly or directly that they might deserve that.” Rivera says Taylor’s comments don’t come in a vacuum. He points to Taylor’s opposition years ago when officials updated San Antonio’s equal rights ordinance to contain protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The fight over the non-discrimination ordinance ended with a lot of bruises. One of Taylor’s colleagues in opposition to the ordinance, former councilwoman Elisa Chan, was unapologetic when caught on tape calling transgender people “disgusting.” Taylor later called the ordinance “a waste of time.” Chan was among the speakers who introduced Taylor at her state of the city address last month.
To people like Rivera, the non-discrimination ordinance and Taylor’s practice of keeping the LGBTQ community at an arms length ever since are signs of religious ideology getting in the way of her role as a public servant. “It’s hard to separate ideology when you see policy decisions that can do tangible damage to a community that you feel a certain way about because of your faith," he said. As we’ve pointed out, Taylor has been a no-show at all political forums hosted by LGBTQ groups this campaign season. That’s despite continued engagement and pushing from activists like Robert Salcido, who the mayor picked to be on a panel that advises her on LGBTQ issues. Salcido says he can’t separate the recent godlessness-causes-poverty comments from the way Taylor has treated the gay community in her time as mayor. “She meets regularly with churches, regularly with religious leaders, has prayer breakfasts,” Salcido said. “What other communities is she taking steps to be engaged with at that level? I don’t see that anywhere else ... she represents this community, too, regardless of what her faith would have her believe.” “I wanted her to engage with and earn some respect in this community,” he said. “I have not been successful in that.” Last week, for instance, a large coalition of groups (like the Pride Center SA, Texas Freedom Network, Move SA, Lez Ride, Bexar County Young Democrats, San Antonio Progressive Alliance, PolitiQueers, and UTSA Progressive Dems) threw an event on the Main Street Strip to meet and talk with candidates. Clark High School student and first time voter Sloan Martin says she organized the event to show candidates the queer community wants to meet and get to know people running for office just like any community would. “We vote, we’re politically active, and we demand that our communities be safe, welcoming places for us,” Martin told the Current. “We want to know who our equality-driven candidates are.” Out of the main contenders running for mayor this year, Taylor’s campaign was the only one that didn’t send anybody.
sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 9
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NEWS
SHUTTERSTOCK
ALEX ZIELINSKI | @ALEX_ZEE
LAND GRAB Lawyers gear up to protect South Texas landowners from Trump’s border wall
≥
For South Texas landowners, Donald Trump’s presidential win came as a warning shot. With a campaign centered on the rallying cry “Build that wall,” Trump’s election meant their private property may soon be crowded with unwanted construction — and may no longer be theirs, at all. Shortly after Trump’s January inauguration, some landowners along the borderlands began getting letters in the mail from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, giving them two options: accept a payout from the feds or prepare to have your property seized through eminent domain. The letters came with pages of legalese and unclear threats (and no Spanish translation), and left longtime landowners with more questions than answers. That’s why Texas lawyers have kicked off a campaign to educate these property owners on their rights before the feds roll in. Last month, the Texas Civil Rights Project announced a plan to work with any border landowner to make sure they’re adequately represented in court. “We are ready for a contested, protracted resistance alongside Texan landowners,” said Efrén Olivares, Racial and Economic Justice Director at the TCRP in
a press release. In most cases, that means helping landowners get the most amount of money for their land from the feds. The announcement came with a pair of bilingual videos that act as SparkNotes on eminent domain laws for landowners. “The federal government must offer you ‘just compensation’ for your land, so they must pay you what your land is worth,” one slide reads. “Remember, the federal government must follow the rule of law and treat landowners with respect.” This isn’t first time TCRP will represent landowners living on proposed border wall land. The threat of a Mexico-U.S. wall has hung over South Texas landowners long before Donald Trump was elected president. In 2006, Congress passed the Secure Fence Act, authorizing the construction of 700 miles of border fence between California and Texas. Some 600 landowners in the fence zone were ordered by DHS to make their property available for survey teams and construction crews — prompting both individual and class-action lawsuits from borderland owners against the feds, many brought by TCRP attorneys. Eleven years later, and some of those cases are still open. TCRP attorney Emma Hilbert said that they’ve
already reached out to the 12 or so families they represented in the past, but none of them have received a letter from the feds — yet. “It’s better to prepare them beforehand,” Hilbert told the Current. “We want them to know that we’re here to help when the time comes.” She said they aren’t only connecting with people whose land lies directly in the path of the proposed wall, but anyone whose property could be affected by its general existence. “The border fence is already an effective dam. Sticks and leaves get caught in it, and eventually it starts flooding,” Hilbert said. “When you add a wall, you’re going to see serious flooding that could change the width and length of the entire river.” She’s hoping the campaign spreads “like wildfire” across the borderlands between neighbors, but the attorneys are also planning to hold informational meetings in Texas border communities. While necessary, this project isn’t one TCRP attorneys are happy they have to roll out. “Ultimately, we know that the proposed border wall is the type of wrongheaded policy that threatens our community,” Olivares said. “[It] distracts from the real issues facing our broken immigration system.”
sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 11
YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT // "VAXXED STORIES- THE PROSECUTOR"
NEWS
ALEX ZIELINSKI | @ALEX_ZEE
STRONG WORDS Judge calls district attorney’s courtroom threats “uncalled for,” refuses to dismiss case
≥
Last week, a judge ruled in favor of Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood in a murder case that’s offered a revealing look at how the DA operates in a courtroom. By now, the ruling has little to do with the original purpose of the case — to rule whether or not Miguel Martinez, 29, shot and killed 33-year-old Laura Carter in 2015. Senior District Judge W.C. Kirkendall ‘s decision instead focuses on LaHood’s legal conduct, calling his courtroom “rants” and behavior in the judge’s chambers “uncalled for.” According to defense attorneys Mark Stevens, Joe D. Gonzales and Christian Henricksen, LaHood disclosed last minute that one of his office’s staffers had a sexual relationship with one of the witnesses in the case — years before the alleged crime took place. They called for a mistrial, and LaHood, who helped try the case alongside assistant DA Jason Goss, met with the lawyers in the judge’s chambers to discuss the next steps with District Judge Lori Valenzuela. That’s when the three lawyers claim that LaHood threatened to “destroy” them and “shut down” their law practice if they pursued a mistrial on those grounds. Judge Valenzuela said she also heard LaHood make a threat in her chambers — and that she considered it official oppression (a Class A misdemeanor).
22ND ANNUAL
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But despite the testimony of three lawyers and one judge, LaHood has denied under oath that he ever threatened the lawyers. Regardless, the case ended in a mistrial in February, and in March, the defense lawyers filed a motion to dismiss charges against Martinez altogether. Which leads us to Judge Kirkendall’s ruling last week. Kirkendall rejected the defense’s request to dismiss the case, writing that the DA’s office fairly disclosed information about its staffer’s brief relationship with a witness, and since that relationship had nothing to do with the case itself, it hasn’t changed the course of the trial. Specifically, Kirkendall wrote, the DA didn’t “intentionally provoke or goad the defense requesting a mistrial.” Kirkendall did suggest that LaHood’s “unprofessional and uncalled for ‘rant’” against the defense may be “subject to sanctions in another tribunal.” “I am human, I admit that I lost my temper when responding to false and baseless accusations from the defense,” said LaHood in a Wednesday press conference. “But I will not lay down to dishonest and unethical tactics used by anyone to get a killer back on our Bexar County streets. The time for antics is over, just prepare for trial.” La Hood won’t answer any questions about the ruling until the case is closed.
NEWS
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BLOOD MONEY
Ted Cruz wants El Chapo to pay for the border wall
≥
Since President Donald Trump’s January election, his sweeping declaration that Mexico will pay for a giant border wall has awkwardly evolved into “Well, maybe we will pay for it but Mexico will pay for it one day, somehow.” That’s an answer Sen. Ted Cruz has refused to accept. But since there is little the U.S. can do to force another country to pay for a $25 billion barrier they don’t want, the Texas Senator came up with a novel solution: Let’s force Mexico’s biggest drug lord to pay for it. In a statement last week, Cruz introduced a bill that would use the assets seized from Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman (and other Mexican drug kingpins) to fund Trump’s top campaign promise. The legislation would specifically swipe $14 billion in assets from Guzman — the longtime leader of the Sinola drug cartel who’s since been extradited to the U.S. — to build the wall. Cruz gave the bill a catchy title: “Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order Act” (or ELCHAPO Act). “Ensuring the safety and security of Texans is one of my top priorities,” wrote Cruz in his statement. “By leveraging any criminally forfeited assets of El Chapo and his ilk, we can offset the wall’s cost and make meaningful progress toward achieving President Trump’s stated border security objectives.”
A small hiccup in Cruz’ plan: The feds have yet to seize this $14 billion from Guzman. After being extradited to the U.S. in January, Guzman pleaded not guilty to a 17-count indictment that included charges of murder, moneylaundering, use of fi rearms, and — of course — running Mexico’s largest narcotics cartel. Some fi nancial analysts doubt Guzman even has that much to his name. No Texas members of Congress (from either party) that represent the borderlands has supported Trump’s border wall proposal. In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke, who recently announced his campaign to replace Cruz in 2018, said this bill was just a scare tactic — and a huge waste of money. “It doesn’t change the facts, which is that the border has never been safer, we have record low apprehensions...the U.S. cities along the U.S.-Mexico border are safer than the average U.S. city in the interior,” O’Rourke said. “Any way you look at it, it’s clear that there’s no need for a wall.” But Cruz has marketed his plan as heroic. He told FOX News last week that “there’s a sense of justice” in using drug money to fund a wall that will (allegedly) keep drug cartels out of the U.S. Or maybe Cruz is just trying to make buying Mexican coke sound extremely patriotic.
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sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 13
E
xplore the PASAbilities of 10 local artists and their incredible journey to Public Art Savviness. San Antonio artist Cristina Sosa Noriega shares her experience in the Department of Arts & Culture’s two-week mentorship program in a comic-book style of storytelling that features the transformation of all ten artists into Super Heros.
Location:
115 Plaza de Armas • San Antonio, TX 78205
Opening Reception:
May 11, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gallery Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Free and open to the public
ARTISTS Benjamin McVey, Cristina Sosa Noriega, David Blancas, Jayne Lawrence, Julia Landois, Mari Hernandez, Michael Menchaca & Suzy Gonzalez, Nancy Wood, Samuel Morales Urbina & Fernando Andrade, and SCOTCH Wilmington
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to 7 1 0 2 1, 017 1 y 2 Ma st 4, gu u A
Showcases 11 professional San Antonio-based artists whose methods combine Dada and Pop Art. Each artist employs the gallery wall as a means of display through murals and installation, for his/her twodimensional artwork. 115 Plaza de Armas // San Antonio, Texas 78205 Opening Reception: May 11, 2017 // 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday // 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.
David Almaguer * Ana Hernández-Burwell * Ashley Mireles Jen Frost Smith * Jason Ibarra * James Medrano * Michael Menchaca Kelly O’Connor * Rainey * David “Shek” Vega * Scotch Willington
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sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 15
FEATURE
THE
JUICE CREW MEET THE SPURS RESERVES BRINGING NEW ENERGY TO THE GAME WORDS BY M. SOLIS @BRATTYMILLS PHOTOS BY JOSH HUSKIN
When it comes to NBA playoff basketball, it’s all about the superstars. San Antonio’s fi rst-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies was defi ned by the ascendance of Kawhi Leonard to A-list status, but no man is an island, even if he happens to be named after one. The Spurs leaned heavily on Leonard to crack the 60-win plateau this season, but in Tim Duncan’s absence, it was truly a team effort that included strong contributions from a diverse group of reserves referred to simply as “the Juice Crew.” The origins of San Antonio’s Juice Crew can be traced back to 2015 in Las Vegas when Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon led the franchise to the Summer League title. During halftime of the tournament’s penultimate game, Hammon implored her exhausted squad to “Bring the juice!” Kyle Anderson and Jonathon Simmons took their coach’s favorite phrase to heart, with Anderson earning the league’s Most Valuable Player award and Simmons taking home MVP honors in the championship game. The trio joined the Spurs for the 2015-16 regular season, and apparently brought the juice with them. After losing key members of the 2014 title-winning Foreign Legion to free agency, San Antonio’s bench was primed for a new identity. That it would invoke an influential East Coast hip-hop collective from the mid-'80s was a welcome surprise from what many outsiders generally describe as the most vanilla franchise in the league. Best known for hip-hop icons Marley Marl, Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane, the original Juice Crew took its name from pioneering DJ Mister Magic, aka Sir Juice. With producer Marley Marl manning the boards and lyricist MC Shan and Roxanne Shanté rocking the mic, the Queens collective forged its own path in the same borough that birthed Run DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, and LL Cool J. Prior to the Juice Crew, the closest the Spurs had previously come to Queens was courtesy of the classic 2012 NBA playoff promo that expertly utilized Mobb Deep’s infamous “Shook Ones (Part II)” to showcase San Antonio’s no-nonsense game. Up until then, San Antonio’s hip-hop pedigree consisted of Stephen Jackson’s Port Arthur-infused rhymes and Tony Parker’s forgotten turn as a chart-topping rapper in France. “It’s a word that is used especially for the bench guys to pick up the energy, to fill the energy,” Patty Mills told Spurs correspondent Cayleigh Griffin earlier this season. “Obviously, we play a whole different style to what the first group does. It’s our job. It’s no secret that we gotta bring energy when coming off the bench so the word juice has that kind of feeling of intensity and an energy to it.” “You get those little things that get you through the year and it’s something that’s really brought us together as a team,” added Mills. “It’s good to see everyone buying into such a little thing but I think it goes a long way and everybody’s having fun with it.”
THE JUICE aka Sir Juice
One of the signature plays of San Antonio’s young postseason came in Game 1 versus the Grizzlies. With the Spurs in the midst of a 29-point rout, Jonathon Simmons obliterated Wayne Selden’s layup attempt with an emphatic chase-down block. For those watching from home, the play was punctuated by Spurs play-by-play announcer Bill Land bellowing, “The Juice not to be denied!” Like Sir Juice before him, Simmons has become the physical embodiment of his spirited squad. A deft combination of speed and athleticism, Simmons plays with a hunger accumulated from reaching the NBA through the rigors of the D-League. Much like Mr. Magic reaching the masses on WBLS, The Juice is always in attack mode, on both sides of the hardwood.
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FEATURE
PAT STACKS aka Marley Mills
As longtime Spurs loyalists can attest, postseason fortunes are known to swing on big shots from role players like Jaren Jackson, Steve Kerr, or Patty Mills, sometimes known in his tenure with the Portland Trailblazers as Pat Stacks. Similar to his backcourt running mate Manu Ginobili, Mills has become the conductor of the symphony for San Antonio’s second unit, with a knack for hitting daggers from long distance. The Marley Marl to Simmons’ Sir Juice, Mills initiates the offense for the Juice Crew, setting the tone with frenetic yet rhythmic urgency. The Spurs were a remarkable 27-1 during the regular season when Mills scored in double figures. Additional appearances from Olympic level Patty Mills will be in order for San Antonio to advance beyond the Western Conference Semifinals.
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aka Kyle G Rap At first glance, Spurs swingman Kyle Anderson is the epitome of Cold Chillin’, the Juice Crew’s legendary record label from back in the day. The versatile forward plays with a tempered flow that earned him the nickname Slow Mo in middle school. Possessing handles and height, Anderson is one of the more cerebral members of the Juice Crew, often utilizing keen court vision to make plays. A native New Yorker who was raised in New Jersey, Anderson has been known to shout out Jay Z and J. Cole for inspiration, and keeps new school acts like Frank Ocean and Migos in steady rotation. Relying heavily on his high basketball IQ, Anderson’s appreciation for lyricism and East Coast roots recalls the legendary Kool G Rap who challenged fellow emcees to come correct with the pen.
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aka Masta Ace The most beloved Spur this side of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili has long been the ace up Coach Gregg Popovich’s sleeve. Whether inserted into the starting lineup or coming off the bench, Ginobili in his prime was masterful. The Spurs wildcard was one vote shy of earning NBA Finals MVP in 2005, and has served as San Antonio’s sparkplug through four championship runs. Although Ginobili had a rough series against Memphis, going scoreless through the first four contests before breaking through in Game 5, his contributions are still vital for a deep playoff run. A bridge of continuity between the Foreign Legion and the Juice Crew, a rejuvenated Ginobili makes everyone around him better. Despite an uneven start to the playoffs, the competitive fire burns brightly for this future Hall of Famer and his Juice Crew cohorts.
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FEATURE
CHANGING OF THE
GUARD THE SUN CONTINUES TO SET ON THE SPURS AS WE KNOW THEM WORDS BY BRUNO PASSOS
PHOTO BY JOSH HUSKIN
You won’t hear many Spurs talking about the looming offseason – not while they're fully focused on the race for championship número seis. This is, after all, an organization averse to making waves off the basketball court. Think about how swiftly it put LaMarcus Aldridge trade rumors to bed earlier this season, or how Tim Duncan’s retirement came during the dog days of summer via a team press release last year. And yet, there is another swell of change gathering around the franchise – arguably as much as last year, when Duncan, Boris Diaw and Matt Bonner all departed. As of now, there are currently only three Spurs from the 2014 championship team that are under contract for next season, and the dynamics of free agency, the NBA’s salary rules, and Father Time could make the 2017-18 squad near-unrecognizable to its fanbase. That’s a big deal for any team, but especially one that has seemed so impervious to change for the better part of two decades. Part of this is simply business as usual. Key role players Patty Mills and Dewayne Dedmon will become unrestricted free agents at the end of the year, meaning any team can offer them a new contract. Mills has spent the last five-and-a-half years endearing himself to San Antonio through his fervent towel-waving, fiery energy and hot touch from three-point range. He’s an integral reason why the Spurs have consistently boasted one of the best benches in the league. Dedmon is a relatively fresh face, but has gone from fringe-rotation player to starter in less than a year. His combination of size and springy athleticism is something the Spurs haven’t seen since, maybe, David Robinson and he possesses many of the qualities needed in a modern-day NBA center. Mills and Dedmon have earned themselves bigger paychecks this season and should rightfully test the market. Unfortunately for the Spurs, their payroll will be close to the league’s salary cap, prohibiting them from re-signing both if they’re offered the type of money many people think they’ll warrant. Austin Spurs alum Jonathon Simmons is in a similar situation, approaching free agency for the first time in his NBA career, and should rightfully listen to more lucrative offers after playing on minimum contracts the last two seasons. As a restricted free agent, the front office will be able to match any contract he signs – but how much are
they willing to spend on a wing who will be 28 in September and doesn’t quite fit the playing style that Gregg Popovich prefers? There are more questions moving up and down the bench. Pau Gasol and David Lee both have player options to stay with San Antonio next year. Gasol has already stated his intent to opt in for a second season as a Spur, but that was before being moved to his new role as a super sub. His ability to knock down threes at an elite rate may make him more attractive in a league that values spacing more than ever. Lee seems more likely to opt out and test the market, given that he’s outplayed his $2.3 million salary this season. Then there’s Manu Ginobili, as much a San Antonio institution as the Alamo or Fiesta at this point. The 39-year-old has fielded dozens of questions about his retirement and said he’ll mull it over once the season comes to an end. He’s proven he can still be an effective role player in this league, averaging 7.5 points in just under 19 minutes per game. The Spurs would likely want him back at the right price, but Ginobili plays an unsustainably gritty style of basketball, and the wear continues to show, especially on his ability to finish around the basket. Still, speculation is all we have until the all-time great makes his decision. Ginobili’s fellow Big Three member, Tony Parker, is also in the twilight of his career. Parker, who has one year left on his contract, is almost certainly not leaving San Antonio this summer, but this could be the last we’ll see of him as a starter. Turning 35 later this month, he’s not quite the playmaker he was even a few years ago, and his deficiencies on the defensive end will only grow with time. A role as a steady backup seems imminent. The good news? The Spurs front office has prepared as well as possible for this moment. Young guys like Dejounte Murray and Davis Bertans have shown promise in their rookie seasons; other prospects continue to develop in relative anonymity overseas, and Kawhi Leonard remains as solid a foundation as any franchise could ask for. In the summer of 2018, things get even more interesting, with some additional financial flexibility allowing them to chase a big name or two in free agency. In the meantime, San Antonio fans can appreciate the holdovers from one dynasty while the framework for the next is carefully, deftly put in place. Yes, the sun is setting on the Spurs as we know them, but the future, unquestionably, remains bright. sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 19
FEATURE
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ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN MATA
GREGG POPOVICH UNCORKS ANOTHER VINTAGE SEASON There’s little consensus among connoisseurs on when wines peak. Depending on conditions, some can be at their best five, 10 or 15 years after they’re bottled, and deciding what “best” even means can open up its own contentious debate. The parallels don’t usually extend to professional coaching, where individual tenures tend to be short-lived and a coach’s few successes can be appreciated more objectively. If anything, their careers are made for savoring in the moment — before a locker room, fanbase or owner eventually sours on them. Gregg Popovich, noted pinot-lover (and partner in Oregon-based A to Z Wineworks), isn’t your typical coach. His two decades on the Spurs sidelines have become the double-gold standard for excellence in American sports: five NBA championships, six Finals appearances, and 18 seasons of 50 or more wins. In that time, he has known when to adapt and evolve. He has fostered a team culture through both rigid character tests and caring, transactional relationships with his players. He has transformed his public persona from that of the self-effacing curmudgeon into an amenable voice of the people. His sustained success is tied to a quality that oenophiles seek out in their wines – complexity. And while such nuance makes it difficult to properly compare one season to another, the case can be made that the 2016-17 Spurs, these playoffs aside, are one of his finest coaching jobs yet. To appreciate what Pop has done, you have to start with last summer. Tim Duncan’s retirement left behind a void in leadership and in the Spurs’ defense, which the future Hall of Famer had anchored since 1997. While past his prime, he had remained an integral part of the franchise’s identity and allowed Kawhi Leonard to gradually come into his own as a superstar. Shortly after the announcement in July, Popovich spoke in front of reporters, lump lodged firmly in his throat. His 15 unprompted minutes were much more a tribute to Duncan the person than Duncan the player, but they were also a testament to how much their achievements were intertwined. “I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for Tim Duncan,” Pop said. It wasn’t just the Big Fundamental’s absence that was felt in the Spurs locker room, though. Beloved barista/ power forward Boris Diaw was traded to the Jazz, Matt Bonner moved from the bench to the broadcast booth, and four other spots on the roster were vacated. The seven new players (including four rookies) Pop had to integrate to begin 201617 represented the most 20
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significant roster turnover he has yet experienced. A team that counted on continuity as one of its biggest strengths would be forced to come together on the fly. For any other franchise, this may have been considered a transition year – a term given to the inevitable swoon experienced after losing so many key pieces. No one expected the Spurs to miss the playoffs, but many writers did envision them finishing behind not only the souped-up Golden State Warriors but the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets. The logic: this would be the year the Spurs finally took a step back. How did they begin their “transition year”? By going into Oakland on opening night and blowing out Golden State, 129-100. It was an early statement win for a team that would keep them firmly in the elite conversation all season long. The Warriors would bounce back from their opening-night loss, asserting themselves as the prohibitive favorites to win the 2017 title, but they did so with four 2017 All-Stars. Pop had but one (Leonard) in guiding San Antonio to 61 wins and the second-best record in the league by a sizeable margin. Somewhere along the way, he would break the record for most wins by a coach with one team, surpassing Jerry Sloan’s 1,127 mark. He did so by being vintage Pop, retaining the Spurs’ defense-first identity while remaining flexible in his decision-making. He put more trust in his young players, managed the aging bodies of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and shook up his starting lineup whenever necessary. The last point is no small matter, as it ultimately involved asking San Antonio’s big summer acquisition, Pau Gasol, to come off the bench for the first time in his 18-year career. When Gasol fractured his hand in January, Pop tabbed the relatively unknown Dewayne Dedmon as his starter at center. And when Gasol came back, he found a more efficient role for the Hall of Famer to flourish in, coming off the bench as a floor-spacing three-point shooter. His in-game tactics have been equally noteworthy. In “clutch” situations (games that were five points or closer with five minutes left), the Spurs had the best record in the league (29-14) and the highest net rating (21.5). Both are testaments to the team’s execution, as well as the coach’s play-calling and (forgive the pun) spur-of-the-moment adjustments. Is this Pop’s most impressive coaching job yet? It’s hard to say. The answer is muddled by layers of burgundy-tinted subtlety and subjectivity. You could argue in favor of a number of seasons, each with its own virtues and high notes but few with this year’s germinal challenges. What’s clearer is that, in his 20th season, the Spurs coach has taken an old adage about fine wine and aging and made it appreciably real. He continues to get better, no matter whom he’s paired with.
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When Australian actor Heath Ledger died at age 28 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, he was at the pinnacle of his career yet remained an enigma within the realm of Hollywood. Between a breakout role in the high school rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You (a late ’90s remix of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew) and the performance of a lifetime as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Ledger obsessively pushed himself to perfect his craft, favoring challenging films such as Marc Forster’s Monster’s Ball and Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain over blockbusters like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (which he reportedly turned down). Recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, co-directors Adrian Buitenhuis and Derik Murray’s new documentary I Am Heath Ledger opens an intimate window onto Ledger’s private life through home movies (spanning from his teenage years
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in Perth to his death in 2008) and interviews with friends, collaborators and family members — some of whom were eager to dispel rumors surrounding an alleged spiral of depression sparked by his final role. Although certain critics have found that it glazes over the demons he wrestled with, I Am Heath Ledger sheds light on an array of previously undiscussed aspects of his life. Among the more telling tidbits are anecdotes about his insomnia (he apparently slept less than two hours per night during the filming of The Dark Night), the record label he launched with musician Ben Harper, and the rotating cast of struggling Australian actors he let crash at the Hollywood home he shared with former girlfriend Naomi Watts. Presented by Fathom Events, the film screens in select theaters nationwide on May 3, followed by its television premiere on Spike on May 17. $14, 7:30pm, Santikos Bijou (4522 Fredericksburg Road), Regal Huebner Oaks (11075 I-10 W.), Regal Cielo Vista (2828 Cinema Ridge), Santikos Palladium (17703 I-10 W.), Santikos Silverado (11505 N. Loop 1604 W.), fathomevents.com. — Bryan Rindfuss
OUR TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK
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With its new exhibit, entitled ‘Feminine/Feminist,” Cinnabar seeks the middle ground within an oft-polarizing discourse that is regularly treated as black and white. Curated by Susan Oliver Heard, the exhibit, which features local, national and international artists, is comprised of pieces that address the intersection of femininity and feminism. Recognizing that “Pop culture often makes it seem as though one cannot display feminine characteristics and still be a strong, confident feminist,” the exhibit focuses on the “multi-faceted nature of womanhood and what it means to be feminine and a feminist.” “Feminine/Feminist” features a total of 11 artists, including four men. Among the local artists contributing are Sarah Fox (who brings her surreal and organic style to a stop-motion animation), Carina Hiscock (who works with natural materials to challenge unnatural norms) and Ashley Mireles (who focuses, in her piece, on the many constraints faced by women). Meanwhile, visiting artists include Lalla Essaydi (a Moroccan, New York-based artist who focuses on the identities of women in the Arab world), Christian Fuchs (a Limabased artist whose performative work finds him dressing up as his own ancestors) and Laura Stevens (a Paris-based photographer whose work in this exhibit centers on women’s strength in the face of heartbreak). Free, 6:30pm-9pm, Cinnabar Art Gallery, 1420 S Alamo St., Suite 147, (210) 354-3775, cinnabarart.com. — James Courtney
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◀ Born James Andrew Leyva, California girl Valentina brought tears to the judges’ eyes when she dressed as Lady Gaga during her first challenge on the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The Los Angeles native’s winning strategy so far involves a look that’s equal parts old-school Hollywood glamour and modern telenovela starlet. Adding to the allure is the fact that she borrows her name from a popular Mexican hot sauce and claims the Virgen de Guadalupe is her drag mother. Although a relative newcomer to the world of drag, Valentina has proven herself as one of the most talented queens this season and a top contender for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.” $10-$25 minors, 10:30pm & midnight, Heat Nightclub, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 386-4537, heatsa.com. — Marco Aquino
SPECIAL EVENT
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The Big Give
▲ Part of the national movement Give Local America, the Big Give takes shape in a 24-hour online fundraiser “fueled by the power of generous donors, creative nonprofits, social media, collaboration, and you.” Since its launch in 2014, the initiative has raised more than $10 million for 1,600plus nonprofits dedicated to myriad causes. Following a massive server crash last year that frustrated donors and nonprofits across the country, the Big Give assembled an “expert technology advisory team” that selected GiveGab as a solid new platform. Besides environmental conservation, animal welfare, veteran outreach and health/ wellness charities, the sprawling list of participating organizations includes a
wide range of nonprofits that regularly appear in the pages of the Current, including ARTS San Antonio, Blue Star Contemporary, Ballet San Antonio, the Carver Community Cultural Center, Conjunto Heritage Taller, Gemini Ink, Green Spaces Alliance, Hot Wells Conservancy, Jump-Start Performance Co., Mind Science Foundation, Martinez Street Women’s Center, Luminaria, SOLI Chamber Ensemble and The Playhouse San Antonio. Another notable development in the new-andimproved program allows donors to give in advance (starting April 27) or schedule recurring gifts to their chosen endeavors. $5 minimum donation, midnight-midnight, visit thebiggivesa.org for details. — BR
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‘IV Art Space Retrospective (1998-2002)’
▲ Given the Alamo City’s dense and unusual history, it’s only natural that localized nostalgia is an ever-present theme here — evidenced by Facebook groups dedicated to everything from “Vintage San Antonio” to bygone nightclubs like Phazez and Changez. In this same vein, Presa House Gallery is set to commemorate the six-year run of IV Art Space, a former First Friday mainstay situated on South Alamo across from Bar America. Opened by artists Joey Hladek and Andrew Watson in a storefront extension of their IV Design house and rounded out with the arrival of partner Stefunny Price, the space broke the
gallery mold with unique programming that included fashion shows, dance performances, poetry readings and DJ nights. Combining photographs, video and written memories with new works from more than 20 associated artists (Glenna Park, Katherine Brown, Will Muniz and Dayna De Hoyos among them), the “IV Art Space Retrospective (1998-2002)” opens with a First Friday reception featuring music by Modsnap Radio DJs Charlie (the Wave), Cogswell (Deluxe Accommodations) and Brian Parrish (The Casbah). Free, 6-11pm, Presa House Gallery, 725 S. Presa St., facebook.com/presahouse. — BR
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◀ The Classic Theatre presents Bus Stop, a famous jest of human relationships. Penned in 1955 by playwright William Inge, Bus Stop is a romantic comedy about a group of strangers stranded overnight in a Kansas diner. With a blizzard threatening road conditions, five passengers unexpectedly find themselves sharing a small dinner with three locals with big personalities. Inge’s award-winning play is centered on amusing character relationships, like that between aspiring nightclub chanteuse Cherie (Alison Chambers) and relentless cowboy Bo (Hunter Wulff). Having essentially kidnapped the young woman, love-struck Bo is determined that they will be married and live out their days on his ranch in Montana. Grace (the owner of the diner) and Carl (the bus driver) have small intimate interactions that imply a romantic history of bus-route encounters. A young, intelligent-but-inexperienced high school student, Elma, receives advice on life and love from Cherie and alcoholic philosophy professor Dr. Lyman. The teachers soon become the students when Elma offers insight of her own about their life experiences. The entire ordeal is mediated by Will Masters, the town sheriff, who is often forced to intervene in Bo’s pursuit of Cherie. Considered one of the greatest postwar-era playwrights, Inge is known for his honest renderings of themes including human nature, values and the importance of relationships. Bus Stop combines these elements into one hilarious portrayal of the human experience. $10-$25, 8pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 1924 Fredericksburg Road., (210) 589-8450, classictheatre.org. — Kimberly Rivera
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▶ From its early days in the Blue Star Arts Complex to its stint in the shadow of the Pearl, The Overtime Theater has consistently captured our attention with truly unusual (even absurd) programming that’s taken shape in nearly 100 original works since its inception back in 2007. Having recently celebrated the grand opening of its new home on Bandera off Loop 410, the award-winning OT is digging into the foreshortened life of Oscar Wilde, a playwright, poet and critic beloved for his haunting novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) and his comedies A Woman of No Importance (1893), An Ideal Husband (1895) and The Importance of Being Earnest (1895). A flamboyant rebel who espoused the aesthetic movement (led by a belief of “art for art’s sake”), Wilde had two sons with his wife Constance Lloyd but later struck up a homosexual affair with Lord Alfred Douglas (aka “Bosie”). Convicted of sodomy and sentenced to two years of hard labor, Wilde penned De Prundis (an autobiographical monologue dedicated to Bosie) while incarcerated and then addressed inhumane prison conditions in the poem The Ballad of Reading Gaol before dying broke in a Paris hotel at age 46. In The Last Days of Oscar Wilde, local playwright Bernard J. Taylor focuses on key relationships in Wilde’s life as well as the tragic demise of one of the Victorian era’s most enigmatic icons. Derek Berlin directs Marc Daratt (as Wilde) in the world premiere. $10-$15, 8pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, The Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Road, Suite 205, (210) 557-7562, theovertimetheater.org. — BR
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Urinetown: The Musical
▲ The Playhouse stages a production of Greg Kotis’ comedic story of socioeconomic oppression, capitalism, corporate greed and the individuals willing to fight for freedom of urination. Inspired by his encounter with a pay-peruse toilet while traveling through Europe, Kotis began writing Urinetown in the late ’90s. Teaming up with composer Mark Hollmann, he brought the satire to the stage in 2001. A 20-year drought impedes water accessibility in a small town, forcing local government to issue a ban restricting the use of private toilets. The impoverished citizens must pay to use the town’s dirtiest restroom — Public Amenity #9. Those who refuse are shipped off to a penal colony known as “Urinetown,” which none have returned from. Every day the citizens live among the filth, in fear of the amenity’s
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authoritarian supervisor, Penelope Pennywise (Nicole Erwin). The capitalist and greed-driven megacorporation, “Urine Good Company” (the UGC), has a monopoly over all public amenities, and is looking to increase restroom fees. Penelope’s assistant, Bobby Strong (Brendan Brady) loses his father to Urinetown, and begins to reconsider the town’s issues of social inequality and the UGC’s voracity. Caldwell, CEO of UGC, introduces his daughter, Hope (Emily Cleveland), as a new employee; however, she finds herself against the company’s agenda. Together Bobby and Hope long for a new world where people can pee freely, wherever, whenever, and on whomever they want. $12-$42, 8pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, The Playhouse, 800 W. Ashby Pl., (210) 733-7258, theplayhousesa.org. — KR
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▲ If you don’t recognize sometimes-musical stand-up comic Nick Thune from his dozen-plus late night talk show stop-ins (including 10 Tonight Show sets), maybe you saw him in his brief appearance as “Alison’s Friend” in Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up. In a perfect comedy world, however, Thune — whose self-explanatory My Comedy Special is available on Netflix and Good Guy is currently streaming on Seeso — might be best known for playing the role of “Handsome Santa” in Paul Feig’s Unaccompanied Minors or portraying “Rich’s Penis” in Bad Johnson. Accompanying his own left-field one-liners (“I keep all the rooms in my house set to room temperature”) with soothing acoustic guitar strumming, Seattlenative Thune circa 2014’s Folk Hero could be described as a cross between Steven Wright and Sun Kil Moon’s Mark Kozalek. His most recent album, Good Guy, is mostly personal storytelling with much less music and is probably more comparable to contemporary Mike Birbiglia, but whatever Thune’s doing these days, it’s undeniably more fun to think of him as the Handsome Santa Penis Guy. $16, 7:30pm, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — Jeremy Martin
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WEIN & SAENGERFEST HISTORIC DOWNTOWN NEW BRAUNFELS
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017 Wine tastings and craft biergarten, continuous live music, art market, wine and craft beer educational seminars, family activities, Chef’s showdown and a street dance featuring Uncle Lucius!
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Elevate Your PALATE MAY 18-21 | SAn AnTOnIO Get your tickets now for the
2017 Culinaria Festival Food+Wine+Spirits+Beer Friday, 5/19: Bubbles & Pearls Saturday, 5/20: Tex-Mex & Tequila Saturday, 5/20: Grand Tasting Sunday, 5/21: Southern Sunday Brunch Sunday, 5/21: Burgers, BBQ & Beer
Experience these events and more with the backdrop of the Texas Hill Country. Purchase Tickets at CulinariaSA.org Facebook: CulinariaSanAntonio Instagram/Twitter: CulinariaSA
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May the 4th ▲ Although it made its first public appearance on May 4, 1979, in the unlikely form of an advertisement celebrating the victory of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher (which read “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations”), May the 4th didn’t reach its full potential until the internet allowed fans to band together and celebrate it as “Star Wars Day.” Although some might prefer to turn back the clock to revisit the early days, May the 4th this year in San Antonio is all about Rogue One. Billed as “the first of the Star Wars standalone films,” director Gareth Edwards’ foray into the franchise follows members of the Rebel Alliance as they plot to steal the plans for the Death Star. Starring Felicity Jones (as young renegade Jyn Erso), Diego Luna (as Rebel Alliance Captain Cassian Andor) and Ben Mendelsohn (as the Imperial Military’s weapons guru Orson Krennic), the 2016 film screens outdoors — courtesy of Slab Cinema — on May the 4th at both Northwest Vista College (3535 N. Ellison Drive) and Texas A&M-San Antonio (One University Way), with encore screenings on May 6 at Mission Marquee Plaza (3100 Roosevelt Ave.) and May 12 at Bulverde Community Park (29815 Bulverde Ln.). Beyond Rogue One screenings, Thursday brings an array of Star Wars-themed antics, including: Alright DrawNite and AIGA San Antonio’s collaboration at Brick featuring the body-painted models of Beyond the Canvas, life drawing demos by Raquel Beechner and lights by the Bilo Effect, plus cosplay and vendors (“cantina” opens at 4:30pm, drawing starts at 7:30pm, 108 Blue Star); Bike Boozaroos Star Wars Bike Ride, which invites cyclists to “bring your lightsabers, droids and crew” for an eight-mile ride that begins at Groove Lounge (501 E. Crockett St.) and continues through town to hit up various May the 4th events; the Bitters and The Bridge locations of Big Hops’ Star Wars-themed pint night serving up No Label Brewing Co.’s lemony “Hop Solo” beer in collectible glasses while supplies last (free admission, 6pm, 226 W. Bitters Road & 306 Austin St.); Mellow Mushroom’s Star Wars Trivia challenge with $3 craft brews, a costume contest and chances to win “fun Star Wars prizes” (free admission, 11am-10pm, 115 N. Loop 1604 E., Suite 2100); and Industry’s Star Wars club night with themed photo ops, new wave/indie beats by Jacob Puente and Eddie Lopez, and accessories, artwork and vinyl for purchase from Sinfully Sweet, Dreadfully Dorothy’s Creepations, Rainbo’s Designs and Gino Sanchez, not to mention $1.50 wells all night (free, $10 for minors 18 and over, 8021 Pinebrook Drive). — BR
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Rockit into the Future Science Festival
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ART Art opening: “I Came From Wet”
Local artist Daniela Cavazos Madrigal examines the illusive notion of the American Dream through works incorporating clothing embroidered with corrido lyrics and the testimonials of an undocumented immigrant friend. Free, 6-9pm Thursday-Friday; Terminal 136, 136 Blue Star, (210) 458-4391.
Art opening: “No Borders” In addition
to multidisciplinary works, SAY Sí’s senior thesis exhibition includes original performances from the ALAS Youth Theatre Company. Free, 6-9pm Friday; SAY Sí, 1518 S. Alamo St., (210) 212-8666.
Art opening: “Shaded by Leaves” REM
Gallery showcases paintings and drawings by local artist Lawrence Leissner. Free, 6-9pm Saturday; REM Gallery, 219 E. Park Ave., (210) 224-1227.
Official Opening of Carbon Bloom
Carbon Bloom opens its doors with a pet-friendly reception for “Walls,” a collaborative installation by artists Jesse G. and Michelle Claire. Free, 7-10pm Thursday-Friday; Carbon Bloom, 1420 S. Alamo St., Suite 216.
FILM Saturday Night Fever The Bijou celebrates
the 40th anniversary of John Badham’s 1977 classic with a screening of the Director’s Cut, plus a look back at the film’s legacy via interviews with the director and cast. $12.50,2pm & 7pm Sunday; Santikos Bijou, 4522 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 734-4552.
Viva Mezcal Through interviews with
biologists, agronomists, mezcaleros, researchers, distributors, bartenders and experts, Pedro Jiménez Gurría’s documentary seeks to protect the tradition of mezcal and raise awareness by showing the work it represents for thousands of families in the fields. Free, 6:30-8:30pm Friday; Mexican Cultural Institute, 600 Hemisfair Plaza Way, (210) 227-0123.
THEATER Finding Neverland Based on the
2004 film of the same name, Finding Neverland is a musical retelling of the story behind J.M. Barrie’s most famous creation, the immortal boy Peter Pan. As it turns out, Peter and the Darlings were inspired by a real family — the Davies, whom the author met by chance in London’s Kensington Gardens. $30$115, 7:30pm Wednesday-Thursday, 8pm Friday, 2pm & 8pm Saturday, 2pm & 7pm Sunday; The Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333.
Peter and the Starcatcher “The Neverland you never knew” comes to life on stage in the Vex’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher — Rick Elice’s adaptation of the best-selling children’s novel. Billed as a “swashbuckling grownup prequel to Peter Pan,” the play employs a cast of 12 to portray more than 100 characters. $16-$22, 7:30pm Thursday, 8pm Saturday, 2:30pm Sunday; Sheldon Vexler Theatre, 12500 NW Military Hwy., (210) 302-6835.
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WORDS Autograph Series featuring Juan Felipe Herrera Gemini Ink welcomes U.S. Poet
Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera (author of 187 Reasons Mexicanos Can’t Cross the Border) for a free public reading to be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Free, 7-9pm Thursday; Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 723 S. Brazos St., (210) 734-9673.
COMEDY Girls Girls Girls Known for creating full-
length improvised musicals from a single audience suggestion, Austin's all-female troupe Girls Girls Girls helps inaugurate Bexar Stage (formerly The Overtime Theater) on opening weekend. $10, 8-9:30pm Saturday; Bexar Stage, 1203 Camden St., (312) 971-7252.
Stephen Lynch Whether he’s singing
an ode to “queer tattoos,” telling his potential paramour all the things he won’t be doing for her, or lamenting his new vegan lifestyle, Stephen Lynch will always consider himself “a musician trapped in the body of a comedian.” $32.50, 8pm Friday; Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624.
SPECIAL EVENTS Paseo Por El Westside The Esperanza
observes Historic Preservation Month with a day filled with walking tours, workshops, demos, live music, food and kid-friendly activities. Free, 9am-3pm Saturday; Rinconcinto de Esperanza, 816 S. Colorado St., (210) 228-0201.
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(888) 763-0444 2 YR BUNDLE OFFER: Ends 3/28/17. Includes an All-Included Pkg., Internet plans (768k – 45M) and Phone Unlimited North America and monthly fees for Wi-Fi Gateway and a Genie HD DVR + three (3) add’l receivers. Must maintain all bundled services for 24 mos. to receive advertised pricing. After 24 mos, then-prevailing monthly rates apply, unless canceled or changed by customer prior to end of the promotional period. Pricing excludes taxes, add ‘l equip fees and other charges. Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. DIRECTV SVC TERMS: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreements. Must maintain a min. base TV pkg of $29.99/mo. Add’l Fees & Terms: $19.95 Handling & Delivery fee may apply. Programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Visit directv.com/legal or call for details. Offers may not be combined with other promotional offers on the same services and may be modified or discontinued at any time without notice. ©2017 AT&T Intellectual Property. All Rights Reserved. AT&T, Globe logo, DIRECTV, and all other DIRECTV marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 29
AUCTION
NOW HIRING FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
• Dialysis Technicians (CHT or CCHT certified) • Medical Biller/Coder.
The vehicles listed below were impounded by San Antonio Police Dept. and will be auctioned at a public auction on July 7,2017 at 6:00 p.m. at UR Vehicle Management Solutions 3625 Growdon Rd, San Antonio, TX. Registered owners may pick up vehicles by showing proof of ownership and paying all towing and storage fee prior to auction.
Please email resume to dialysisjob2017@gmail.com or fax to 210-692-0187
LGBT Primary Care
PrEP Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
HIV Specialty Care
On-site Pharmacy
Mon – Fri, 8am – 4:30pm | (210) 688-5792 | 303 N. Frio | aarcsa.com
Maternal Opioid Morbidity Study
Maternal Opioid Morbidity Study
Maternal Opioid Morbidity Study
Opioid drugs include heroin, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet and heroin, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet andto methadone. UT Opioid Healthdrugs San include Antonio is conducting a research study methadone. UT Health San Antonio is conducting a research study to understand the circumstances surrounding maternal opioid use, relapse Opioid drugs include heroin, Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet and understand the circumstances surrounding maternal opioid use, relapse methadone. UT Health San Antonio is to conducting research and overdose during pregnancy and up one yearaafter thestudy birth to of a and overdose during pregnancy and up to one year after the birth of a understand the circumstances surrounding maternal opioid use, relapse child. Participants will engage in interviews or small group conversations child. Participants will engage in interviews or small group conversations and overdose during pregnancy and to one year after the birth of a and could qualify for compensation for up their time. and could qualify for compensation for their time. child. Participants will engage in interviews or small group conversations
Participants must be: Participants must be:for compensation and could qualify for their time.
MaternalMorbidity Opioid Morbidity Maternal Opioid StudyStudy
• 18 years of age or older and English • 18 years of age orspeakers older be: and English Participants must participate in interviews, please MaternalToOpioid Morbidityplease Study To participate in interviews, contact Ashley at (210) 450-8161 or speakers • age • 18 years of Former or current opioid users or or older and English via e-mail at contact Ashley at (210) 450-8161 or • Formerspeakers or currentloved opioid users or users who haveTo participate in interviews, please ones of opioid via e-mail atEmmerich@uthscsa.edu. contact Ashley at (210) 450-8161 or experienced relapse or overdose in loved• ones of or opioid users who have Compensation will be provided. Former current opioid users or Emmerich@uthscsa.edu. via e-mail at the maternal periodin experienced relapse or overdose loved ones of opioid users who have Compensation will be provided. Emmerich@uthscsa.edu. experienced relapse or overdose in the maternal period Compensation will be provided.
the maternal period
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CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
ARTS + CULTURE
SKETCHY CHARACTERS A look inside the weird world of Leigh Anne Lester’s mutant botanicals BRYAN RINDFUSS | @BRYANRINDFUSS
> Within the realm of contemporary art, context often gets obscured, abstracted or lost entirely — and sometimes it was never there to begin with. One could say the opposite’s true of the work of local artist Leigh Anne Lester, whose meticulously rendered drawings and sculptural installations (often involving hand-cut drafting film and vinyl) instantly evoke something oddly scientific and continue to reveal layers of meaning upon closer inspection. Born in Shreveport, Lester studied graphic design at Louisiana State University and relocated to San Antonio when her husband got transferred here for work. After earning a BFA in painting from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1993, Lester found her path into the local art scene via Blue Star. While attending an art opening in the complex, she ran into Hank Lee and has been working at his San Angel Folk Art Gallery at Blue Star ever since. When an opportunity arose to take over a studio in the complex, Lester jumped at the chance and later combined her space with that of her neighbor (fellow artist and UTSA alum Jayne Lawrence) to form one of San Antonio’s premier artist-run galleries. Named after an unusual sculpture Lester made, the duo’s Cactus Bra Space showcased work by a veritable who’s who of
the Alamo City art scene during its 19-year run (Chuck Ramirez, Cathy Cunningham Little, Karen Mahaffy, Katie Pell, Chris Sauter, Hills Snyder, Gary Sweeney — the list goes on and on). According to Lester, “Artists did the bulk of the work to give the place a name.” In the midst of those Cactus Bra days, Lester began fusing elements of botany into her work, first seen in a century plant she crafted from clear plastic vinyl and potted in a vessel filled with river rocks. Sparked in part by her mother’s death, Lester started researching illness and creating work presenting diseases as “family heirlooms.” Her embroidered piece Family Portrait: Heart Disease: August 1962 is surrounded by an ornate frame outfitted with a brass plaque, and a text-based extension of that exploration saw her matching diseases and damaged organs to paint colors (Diabetes is the Color of “Aztec Gold,” Alcoholism is the Color of “Easter Egg,” Coronary Heart Disease is the Color of “Ripe Tangelo” ). Eventually Lester’s research led her to the study of historical botanical illustrations. Referencing actual plants, Lester began creating her own botanical hybrids by layering graphite drawings rendered on translucent drafting film. This fusionist approach eventually gave way to
Clockwise from top left: an annotated sketch; installation view of A Variety of Forms Recovering from Transubstantiated Clarity at the McNay Art Museum; a sketch for the Hunting Prize-winning drawing Mutant Spectre (inset) and the finished drawing; a detail of Cultivated Divergence 1.3
sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 31
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a Frankenstein-like process of marrying disparate elements of various plants in drawings that are simultaneously familiar and alien. Possibly Lester’s best known piece, the drawing Mutant Spectre won the coveted Hunting Prize (which rings in at $50,000) in 2011 and has since emerged as a “genesis” for an ever-growing body of work that fascinates while posing questions related to genetic modification. Evolving alongside these bizarre hybrids is Lester’s artistic process itself, which employs computer technology, but only as a means of stretching, exaggerating and reconfiguring drawings that are then redrawn based on digital renderings. In that sense, her digital plans are as much sketches as the preliminary drawings she makes before going all in on drafting film. Fully realized projects have also functioned as sketches for two of Lester’s largest works — a piece she showed at the Southwest School of Art (in the exhibition “Beautiful Freaks/ Nature’s Bastards”) informed her Window Works exhibition “Cultivated Divergence” at Artpace, and another featured in the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s show
“Flatland” developed into A Variety of Forms Recovering from Transubstantiated Clarity, a large-scale installation on view in the McNay’s lobby through July 30. In the greater scheme of things, Lester says “All of the works are related to one another.” Unsurprisingly, she’s often quizzed about her perspective on GMOs. And while she’s quick to point out we can’t predict their long-term effects, she’s not necessarily against the concept. During a recent chat at San Angel, Lester mused on her mashups of botanical splices, likening them to “tribes” or motley members of a visual vocabulary she’s concocted; explained that an element in her McNay piece is based on Darwin’s dot-to-dot tracings of plant movement; and marveled at advances like CRISPR, a “genetic scalpel” that allows molecular biologists to edit genes. Even the confetti-like configurations on some of her drawings reference molecular data based on plant cells. Reflecting on themes in her own work as well as the great unknown of our future, she summed it up with one reminder: “You can’t contain nature.”
ANT IQUES. COLLECT IBLES. ODDIT IES. 1423 E.Commerce St. 210.827.5555
Clockwise from top: installation view of “Cultivated Divergence” at Artpace (photo by Todd Johnson); a digital sketch for “Cultivated Divergence”; the finished drawing Harmony of Tensions
sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 33
ENJOY
MOVIES AT THE MARQUEE 2017
BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR FREE MOVIES UNDER THE SAN ANTONIO NIGHT SKY. LOAD UP YOUR BLANKETS & SNACKS, OR CHECK OUT OUR ONSITE FOOD TRUCKS. Venue opens at 7:00p.m. and movies will begin 15 min past dusk.
MAY
06
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS MOVIE A rebellion built on hope PG-13 | 2h 13min | 2016
THE OUTSIDERS S.E. Hinton’s classic novel about youth
,
PG | 1h 31min | 1983 Classic Car Show 7:00p.m.
JUNE 17 TROLLS Find your happy place PG | 1h 32min | 2016
F
AUG
NR | 2h 16min | 1959
PG | 1h 42min | 2016
MOANA The ocean is calling PG | 1h 53min | 2016
PG | 1h 43min | 2016
13
JULY
PRINCESS BRIDE It’s as real as the feelings you feel
,
Å
AUG
PG | 1h 37min | 1987
ZOOTOPIA Welcome to the urban jungle
STAND AND DELIVER A true story about a modern miracle
PG | 1h 48min | 2016
p
F
07
19
OCT GHOSTBUSTERS They ain’t afraid of no ghost PG | 1h 47min | 1984
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Å
, LIVE ACTION
F
ANIMATED
SING Auditions begin 2016 PG | 1h 48min | 2016
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS & FINDING DORY Double Feature PG | 1h 16min/1h 37min | 2016
p
CLASSIC
Å
SEPT
PG-13 | 1h 48min | 1987 Classic Car Show 7:00p.m.
NOV
THROW BACK THURSDAY
3100 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio Texas, 78214 getcreativesanantonio.com_missionmarqueeplaza
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CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
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14
16
PG | 1h 36min | 2014
7
Å
04
, 7
SEPT CANTINFLAS Hispanic Heritage Event
PG | 2h 3min | 2017
F
05
PG-13 | 2h | 2016
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Be our guest
(210) 207-8612 | #missionmarqueeplaza
AUG
F
21
OCT
Å
STAR TREK: BEYOND The frontier pushes back
LA BAMBA True story of Ritchie Valens
PG | 1h 45min | 1988
PG | 1h 33min | 1983
JULY 22
SEPT 02
19
JUNE 15 SIXTEEN CANDLES It’s the time of your life that may last a lifetime
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F
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES Meet the new face of justice PG-13 | 1h 40min | 2014
JUNE 10 THE JUNGLE BOOK The legend will never be the same
Å
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PETE’S DRAGON Some secrets are too big to keep
20
MAY
JULY 08
17
NORTH BY NORTHWEST Sponsored by Slab Cinema
OCT
18
MAY
SPECIAL EVENT
NOV
18
FROZEN The power of sisterly love PG | 1h 48min | 2013
F
SCREENS
MARYANN JOHANSON
COURTESY OF BLEECKER STREET
JUNGLE HUNT
The Real-life Indiana Jones Emerges from The Lost City of Z
≥
He was a real-life Indiana Jones. Literally: the Harrison Ford character was based on British explorer Percy Fawcett. A cartographer and archaeologist, he was obsessed with the idea that remnants of a lost dead civilization were hidden in the Amazonian jungles, and he disappeared in those jungles in 1925 on what would be the last of many expeditions to prove his theory. What became of him remains a mystery. Why isn’t Fawcett as well known, at least by name, as Ernest Shackleton or Amelia Earhart? His adventures in the early 20th century captured the public imagination in Europe and the United States, who followed along via newspaper dispatches from the jungle. And somehow we’ve all but forgotten him. This is as mysterious as his disappearance. The Lost City of Z is here to remedy that, though it’s not likely to have the impact of Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is not an action movie but an adventure of the intellect and of the heart, and it’s not so much about the science of mapmaking and the unraveling of forgotten history as it is about what drove the mapmaker and historian. Filmmaker James Gray — who based his script on journalist David Grann’s 2009 book about Fawcett — has moved far away from the New York City that has been the setting for all his previous films, including such marvels as Two Lovers and We Own the Night, but he retains his focus on character over plot, on cause over effect, on the journey rather than the destination. It’s this weighty centering of his storytelling that has given his films a genuine feel of freshness and discovery even when they cover well-trod ground, and that gives them an import that makes them stand apart, and that’s true of Z too. It’s a teeny bit of a shame, then, that the weakest aspect of Z is Charlie Hunnam, who is a bit blah as Fawcett. There are a few riveting moments when he sells Fawcett’s passion, as when he returns to London from a Royal
Geographic Society mission to map the border between Bolivia and Brazil on fire with the conviction that the supposed “green desert” of Amazonia was once home to a grand civilization that long predates that of the British empire. The society members are appalled that he considers the “savages” he met in the jungle to be equals of white men capable of such a culture, and in a speech to the society he rages at their bigotry in a scene that actually made me whisper “wow” in the dark of the cinema at Hunnam’s fierceness. But moments like that are too few here. Often, Robert Pattinson as Fawcett’s aide-de-camp Henry Costin creates a much stronger presence just sitting quietly in the background. I wish Hunnam could sell Fawcett’s passion as well to Sienna Miller as Fawcett’s wife, Nina, who keeps getting left behind to raise their children on her own when he goes off for years to South America. I wish Fawcett was forced to confront his own bigotry about Nina’s desire for travel and adventure: she would like to go with him, but he insists that the jungle is no place for a woman. The film notices that it’s not a place that all men can handle, either, but if Fawcett makes that connection, we never see it. Gray does, at least, sympathize with Nina: as her husband heads off on what would be his final adventure, a tiny reverie sees her imagining herself walking into the jungle too. It’s tender moments of visual poetry like that that fuel The Lost City of Z’s undeniable power: of the dangerous beauty of the Amazon, of the lure of the unknown, of the draw of new friendships, which Fawcett is constantly forging with those “savages.” Time is strange here, occasionally — years feel like days, sometimes — and yet Gray manages the extraordinary feat of making the exotic feel everyday. Perhaps that is the best tribute to Fawcett we could expect: If extraordinary new worlds and new peoples he encountered soon became familiar, so they should for us too. And they do.
sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 35
HUNGRY FOR MORE? v i s i t S A C u r r e n t. c o m
MON- TUES 5:30AM-5PM • WED-THURS 5:30AM-9P FRI-SAT 5:30AM-10PM • SUN 7:30AM-3PM
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CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
ARTISANAL DRIVE THRU
FOOD
FOOD COURT
COURTESY OF FRITOLAY.COM
•
Frito-Lay's spicy recall
Pollo Tropical closures, Frito-Lay recall and more JESSICA ELIZARRARAS + ALEJANDRA LOPEZ
> Miami-based Pollo Tropical, owned by parent company Fiesta Restaurant Group, will close all locations in DallasFort Worth and Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, per a press release featured on the franchise's website. Fiesta Restaurant Group, owners of Taco Cabana, first launched an aggressive expansion campaign in 2014 with stores opening across Texas and the South. Of those stores, 19 will remain open including 13 in Atlanta and six in south Texas. Four out of nine stores in San Antonio will remain open. The stores closing were found at Evans & 281, 6515 W Loop 1604, Loop 410 & West, Thousand Oaks, and 4315 NW Loop 410. Going forward, the restaurant group might rebrand the old Pollo Tropicals into Taco Cs, while long-term profit plans include differentiating the brands, enchancing catering and delivery, and reformulating the strategy. A smart move would be to educate communities they’re entering with said island fare. Though marinated chicken is a staple of the company, the menu set up with platters, sandwiches, wraps, TropiChops (essentially bowls), family meals, salads and soups, kids meals, and Tropical Favorites (tostones, fried yucca, sweet plantains, corn fritters), side dishes and desserts, can be overwhelming to first-time visitors to the fast-casual chain that is introducing new menu items.
N
R AI OR INE
Chip Scare
> Sad news, Frito-Lays fans. Frito-Lays recalled its Jalapeño Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips and Jalapeño Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips due to a potential presence of Salmonella in the seasoning. All sizes of the two products with a “guaranteed fresh” date of July 4 or prior, and multipacks (12 count Lay’s Kettle Cooked Multipack, 20 count Frito-Lay Bold Mix Sack, 30 count Miss Vickie’s Multipack Tray, 30 count Lay’s Kettle Cooked Multipack Tray, 32 count Miss Vickie’s Multipack Box) with a “use by” date of June 20 or prior have been recalled. No other Lays’s Kettle Cooked potato chips or Miss Vickie’s potato chips are impacted or have been recalled, as well as the Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked 40% Less Fat potato chips. Currently, no illnesses due to the chips have been confirmed. — AL
Thompson first began making Katie’s treats after the pup developed allergies. She launched Katie’s Jar with dog-friendly empanadas, biscuits, and churros in 2011 and became a market staple with Katie making the occasional visit to the market. Thompson expanded the brand to include neckerchiefs and bowties and now the treats are also available for purchase at retailers such as Bakery Lorraine, Bird Bakery and Revolucion Coffee. “I remember trying to come up with the name and everyone I asked hated it. They said it was too confusing. I’m so glad I stuck with it — they started as her treats and that’s what was in her treat jar. I think that is a big part of our story — they were created for her because I couldn’t find fresh, natural, and preservative-free treats,” Thompson told the Current. In a blog post this March, Thompson shared that Katie was diagnosed with renal failure and pancreatitis in February. Thompson shared the news of Katie’s passing on social media.
RIP, Katie the Beagle
> The beagle known as Katie, who inspired owner Andrea Thompson to create preservative-free, natural and small batch dog treats, passed away on Wednesday, April 19 at 11 human-years-old.
SH
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sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 37
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CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
Mon - Thu: 5P- Midnight
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Fri & Sat: 5P - 2A
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Sun: 5P - Midnight
FOOD
SARAH E COOPER
MILKSHAKE MANIA For Honeysuckle Tea Time, the tea-infused treats have no limits JESSICA ELIZARRARAS | @JESSELIZARRARAS
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Before a certain coffee company unleashed an overly sweet concoction, essentially helping the unicorn trend jump the shark, there was Honeysuckle Tea Time. But while the wave of Starbucks’ frappuccinos will inevitably subside, Honeysuckle founder Sara Lauren Hinojosa and her team are just getting started. The story of how Honeysuckle Tea Time came to fruition goes back long before Hinojosa, sister Olivia and their fashionable gang of bakers and cooks doled out their thousandth milkshake last month. Hinojosa recalls growing up with über elaborate tea parties set up by her father Jon Hinojosa, who is executive director of Say Sí. Their love of food and hosting shindigs also included being the it house for Thanksgiving and holiday festivities. After graduating early from Robert E. Lee’s International School of the Americas at 17, Hinojosa headed straight to a small liberal arts college in Bronxville, New York, whose alumni include names like Rahm Emmanuel, Yoko Ono, Jordan Peele, and Sigourney Weaver. Her love of food remained while there, always making sure to score a dorm with a kitchen in it, and hosting Sunday suppers for friends. Hinojosa graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a double major in anthropology and film and went on to work for a marketing company that handled commercials for Adidas and Puma, but found the work environment different from her time spent at Sarah Lawrence, often working as a team with other students. “I didn’t like stepping on people’s toes,” Hinojosa said. “It wasn’t for me.” She quit the marketing company and took on a server job at The Mark, inside the Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and climbed that industry’s ladder. Though the milkshakes point to Hinojosa’s artistic side, she’s also analytical and pragmatic, and her event planning skills were noticed by the company. But one can only take
New York for so long and Hinojosa eventually left the Big Apple, much to the benefit of San Antonians with a serious taste for all things sweet. Honeysuckle, the event planning and catering business, was launched after she made her way back to SA, but the milkshakes would have to wait. Because when you’re tasked with creating the menu for San Antonio’s coolest rooftop bar, you have to do it. Their first attempt at creating the over-the-top milkshakes came one sweaty October evening at Paper Tiger that left early-adopters messy but wanting more of the tea-infused treats. While last year’s events were first-come, first-serve, Honeysuckle’s Instagram popularity turned the sweet affairs into sweatfests with long wait times. “After the first one when it was so crazy out-of-control, we had to come up with a better system,” Hinojosa said. “We had to make sure we were saving on product, because all our stuff is super perishable.” The early renditions, priced at $6, now pale in comparison to the, we’ll say it, works of art the team is putting together. Flavors include chocolate chai, chocolate mint, lavender vanilla and rose, with an orange blossom dreamsicle on the way for summer. And there are no holds barred when it comes to toppings and themes. The milkshakes often include tea-infused cupcakes, donuts, cookies, lollipops, neon marshmallows, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate pearls, chocolate bark, brightly colored meringues, edible flowers, and all the edible glitter you can muster. Themes have included Fiesta, ice cream cone cannolis, Valentine’s Day, Girl Scouts, s’mores and, yes, unicorns. There really is no holding back. “It’s the aesthetic. We’re doing something totally different from any dessert option that’s currently offered,” Hinojosa said. “It’s so exciting when you hand it to
somebody, they’re so excited about it, it’s something they haven’t seen before, it’s beautiful, it’s delicious.” Instead of Starbucks’ mango flavors and sour “unicorn tears,” Hinojosa and co. use a lavender shake base with funfetti sprinkles, lavender cupcakes, and iridescent decorations. These days, Honeysuckle events are ticketed ($10 a pop; it’s worth it, promise) to help streamline the waiting process and a team of five sugar elves whip up the creations. Olivia and Christine Craig decorate, Carly Garza and Juan Mesa blend and Hinojosa expedites. Bigger events call for more help by way of Mauricio Romo and Joe Andy Garcia. And they’re mobile — milkshakes have popped up at West Elm, San Antonio Museum of Art, Say Sí, Brick and Dignowity Kolaches, which the staff uses as a commercial kitchen to prep their baked goods. Nabbing a ticket means signing up for their newsletter and following them on Instagram where they announce when tickets will go live on Eventbrite. Get them fast — Hinojosa has started capping the events at 200 milkshakes. If the sight of the milkshake gives you pause — calories are calories, after all — you’ll want to keep tabs on Honeysuckle’s next project, Sage, where they’ll tackle savory dishes inside The Brooklynite starting Friday, May 5. The meatball menu will be short — two appetizers, three meatballs, three sauces and three sides — and will run Tuesday through Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. Hinojosa and her staff left Paramour to focus solely on Honeysuckle this March with a permanent location as the only end goal in sight, though we may start seeing cocktail and dessert nights from the team in the coming months. “I have about 5,000 ideas and thoughts throughout the day, but I can still get things done, manage a team, see strength to create functioning system,” Hinojosa said. Let’s hope edible glitter is involved.
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411 BONHAM SATX 78205 | 210-224-9219
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CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
COURETSY OF ALEX RATTRAY
NIGHTLIFE
HANNAH LORENCE
CREATIVE CRED Lucky Charms, Hanson, Shark Week Become Inspiration for Freetail’s Latest Brewpub Beers
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Since making the transition from co-founder and head brewer at The Granary, to head pub brewer at Freetail Brewing Co., Alex Rattray’s made a splash with some new brews and fresh ideas, giving the SA craft beer scene something to talk about. Rattray has always added a creative flare to his brews, making beer sampling an experience that is anything but dull. After creating several house beers for The Granary including the Rye Saison, Brown Ale, and Coffee IPA, along with special releases like the Dortmunder Export, Strawberry Berliner Weisse, and Funky Tangerine Saison, Rattray is beefing up his brewing skills with some brewers who have undoubtedly made their mark on the SA craft beer scene. One of his recent creations, inspired by St. Patrick’s Day, featured a Lucky Charms, oatmeal milk, and coffee stout flight. With a palate cleanser between each sip, the festive flavors came shining through. I wouldn’t have ordered a whole pint of the Lucky Charms stout, since I’d rather enjoy my stars, hearts and horseshoes with milk, but a few sips made for a fun experience. In keeping with the belief that brewing is a creative process, Alex and the team at Freetail are working on some new flavors inspired by ’90s boy bands like NSYNC and Hanson. Each brew has a spunky name like “Bye Bye Bye,” a North East inspired IPA with juicy hops that was released in late February. “It’s Gonna Be May” is going to be released in mid-May sometime which will have a
similar flavor profile as “Bye Bye Bye,” but will be aged with a few different grains like barley, oats, rye, and wheat. The “Dirty Hop” (also set to debut sometime this May) will be a dry hop lager with tropical fruit and floral spice notes. And last but not least, “Tearin’ Up My Hop” is set for a summer release and they are still working on the specifics. I sat down with Rattray to talk about his transition to the multi-site brewery and pub, what inspires his ideas, and what we can look forward to on the beer list at Freetail.
as a brewer. I’ve been given a lot of freedom to brew what I want and the atmosphere at the brewpub lends to that creativity. Where do you get your ideas? Are there any specific dining experiences that have inspired your brews? // Lately I’ve gotten inspiration from different cocktails. We have a beer coming out soon that’s inspired by the Kentucky Derby. It will have a similar flavor profile as a mint julep. I got the idea for some forthcoming brews from scotch cocktails. I’m also really inspired by my travels. Beer really does vary by region, so it’s interesting to try different beers in different places. I even draw from culture and current events. There’s a beer coming out for Shark Week [this June]. We’re calling it the Shark Punch gose. It has a salty flavor profile and will be aged with blood oranges. Our attempts at being creative with our brews draws in a crowd who might not otherwise be interested in craft beer.
Having been a co-owner/founder of a restaurant and now taking a step into a role where you can just focus on the brewing, what have you enjoyed and is there anything you miss about being a restaurant owner? // I miss the guests and staff at The Granary, but it’s been great to be able to specialize in just making beer. Now all of my creativity can go into brewing and events associated with it. It’s amazing to have the time to be able to do it and not worry Visit Rattray at Freetail’s brewpub at 4035 N. about running a whole restaurant. What are you most looking forward 1604 W., Suite 105, Freetail is a bigger brewery, so I have a lot to brewing in the coming months? (210) 395-4974. more opportunities for creativity and quality // I’m excited about the gose because control. We have 12 in-house brews here, and it’s my first time brewing one. It will be a as many as 28 total brews on the menu at any cool color because of the blood oranges given time. Working with the brewers downtown [at and it will be a lighter beer which will be perfect Freetail’s main brewery] is a really cool experience. for summer. We also have a Belgian quad coming I love having a team to reach out to with questions up that we are aging in scotch barrels. I’m really and run ideas by. It’s really helped me learn and grow excited about that.
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MUSIC
WIKIPEDIA
COURTESY OF BRIGHT LIKE THE SUN
CHRIS CONDE
CHANGE UP
Bright Like the Sun says goodbye to founding member with final show
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The landscape of the San Antonio music scene, like most cities, continues to grow and change as local artists and bands contribute their own individual piece to the story. While everyone knows this town used to see itself primarily as a hub for both latin music and heavy metal, in recent years, new artists, venues and promoters here have leaned less towards the aggressive end of the spectrum and more towards indie, experimental and instrumental rock. Towards the end of the 2000s and into the early twenty-teens, bands like Dance Like Robots, Yes Inferno, Bright Like The Sun and Verisimilitude began to infiltrate the North St. Mary’s Strip proving that you don’t exactly need a vocalist to rock a show in SA. But instrumental rock isn’t necessarily that new to Texas. Austin’s Explosions In The Sky largely helped mainstream the genre. San Marcos’ This Will Destroy You have also become well-known instrumental post-rock giants. Basically: audiences here have been exposed to these types of bands for years and know what to expect. Guitarist Rob Mochen had been trying to get a project together for about a year before Bright Like The Sun finally assembled in 2012. After a couple Craigslist ads, the original lineup took shape and the band released The Fourth Of July Demos, followed quickly by their debut album Coda Fin, which was produced by the former drummer for
This Will Destroy You, Alex Bhore. The band began to play shows throughout San Antonio and started to gain attention as a regional band to watch. It’s hard not to call this music postrock because, well, what else would you call sparkling crescendos of instrumental and guitar-driven movements that swell and dive – sometimes with 11-minute tracks? Of course, the music goes beyond the realm of droney, atmospheric guitar reverb and echoey tremolo guitar picking, especially on the band’s selftitled second record, where they started to incorporate some vocal melodies – still more as a texture that blends into the larger sound rather than a leading element of the music. Next week the band will play their final show with their current lineup as guitarist, synth player, and vocalist Chris Etheridge leaves to the east coast for law school. “Chris wrote the majority of the second album and [he’s] a big part of who we are,” Mochen told the Current. He explained that when Etheridge joined the band, he became key to their writing process and helped shape their sound as a band. Even though Mochen will be the only remaining original member, he says that Bright Like The Sun will continue to write and perform music. With Levees, Dance like Robots, Verisimilitude, Ten Foot Beast. Saturday, May 13, 9pm, $7-$10, Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St.
PUNK POLITICS
The congressman who wants to unseat Ted Cruz actually had a pretty awesome band in the ‘90s
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CHRIS CONDE
You probably know by now that El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke has announced he’ll run for Ted Cruz’s U.S. Senate seat next year — an uphill battle, considering Texas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 30 years. You may also have heard that O’Rourke used to be a punk rocker and had a band called Foss. He actually talked about it on his San Antonio stop outside the Southerleigh brewery a couple weeks ago. He even used it as an analogy for his underdog Senate run. “We were writing our own songs, we had no record label or corporate producer. Our music was just the stripped down, basic roots of rock and roll, and people connected with that,” O’Rourke said. “Since we launched this run for Senate two weeks ago, it’s felt a lot like that — rock and roll at it’s roots. And it’s making this campaign a helluva lot of fun.” It was back in the early 1990s that O’Rourke played bass and sang in the early first-wave emo/post-hardcore band alongside Arlo Klahr, Mike Stevens and Cedric Bixler-Zavala. You read that right: the singer from At The Drive In and The Mars Volta played drums with the guy now running to unseat Ted Cruz. Seriously, how many politicians do you know who can say they were in a band with a member of arguably the best post hardcore band of the late 1990s-early aughts? Bixler-Zavala actually tweeted about it a few years ago, when O’Rourke won his seat. O’Rourke tweeted back that he was “proud to carry his drums.” O’Rourke and the dudes from Foss toured the United States and Canada in the Summers of 1993 and 1994 after releasing a selftitled demo and 7-inch record they called The El Paso Pussycats. The music is reminiscent of bands like Mineral and Braid and incorporates emotive single note guitar progressions and yelling vocals that still are somewhat melodic. In a recent interview with the Washington Post, O’Rourke conceded that he “wasn’t that good at it” and that his dad encouraged him to pursue a different passion after he graduated from Columbia University with a bachelor’s in English literature. Though we doubt there are any plans to get the old band back together (Cedric’s kinda busy these days), you can still stream their music on their old Myspace page and even check out live footage from an old El Paso public access show. See more at sacurrent.com.
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MUSIC PICKS
UVTV
COURTESY OF DERANGED RECORDS
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At first listen, UVTV’s blend of three-cord distorted guitar progressions, washed out poppy vocal hooks and classic fast-paced punk drumming sound reminiscent of old school punk rock daddies The Ramones – but with, like, a female singer (I know, I know, what punk band isn’t influenced by The Ramones?) However, UVTV is a lot more than just straight forward punk rock. They have tracks like “Severed Hand,” which takes listeners on an almost psychedelic nearly 6-minute trip through repetitive guitar riffing and vocals that slip you into a meditative trance. Based out of Florida, UVTV take punk to the edge of the shoe gaze spectrum without sounding like some contrived garage band. Forming in 2014 and releasing a demo that same year, UVTV’s music demands your attention in a way that’s not too forceful. If you’re a fan of Chastity Belt or Black Tambourine, this show’s for you. With Annex, Filthy, The Bolos, 9pm, $3-$5, Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St. – Chris Conde WED
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These days, so much of what passes for soul music falls short of the spiritual alchemy that hallmarks the best of the genre throughout its long history and many permutations. That is to say: there just ain’t a lot of soul in would-be soul music anymore. Behold the antidote: North Carolina singersongwriter Nikki Hill. While Hill’s sound is actually a rootsy mashup of rock n’ roll and old school r&b (think Tina Turner), her immense vocal instrument gives her music a haunting and electric soulful quality. Her voice, like the bygone greats in the tradition in which she is most properly fixed, is capable of shaking the listener loose from the humdrum frame of the moment passing and dragging them into the emotions she’s rendering, the stories she’s telling. Check out Hill’s excellent recorded output, in 2013’s Here’s Nikki Hill and 2015’s Heavy Hearts Hard Fists, for a taste of her gift. In a world that can seem increasingly arid emotionally, Hill is a presence that beseeches and exemplifies pure passion. $10.00-$40.00, 7:30pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E Grayson St, (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — James Courtney
It seemed like Carlton Zeus sort of came out of nowhere a few years ago when he dropped the track “Sharpie Solo”. Since then, the rapper has become a recognized name in the region. From official SXSW showcases to opening for artists like Schoolboy Q and Big Sean, the San Antonio-based rapper has been turning heads with his high quality track production and vigorous flow. It’s not all just good marketing and production, though. Carlos Servando Cavazos AKA Carlton Zeus, is actually a talented wordsmith. His latest album Three Strikes You’re In sounds like it was made for radio, sure, but that doesn’t eclipse the stories he manages to tell. From start to finish, Three Strikes is a solid sophomore album that pairs underground flow with high caliber production. With Aj Hernz, Carne Asada, Colour Red, Peris Young, Celina Jennée, 9pm, $12$15, 502 Bar, 502 Embassy Oaks. – CC FRI
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COURTESY OF CARLTON ZEUS
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DEERHUNTER Deerhunter is one of those bands your tastes could evolve with. In his earlier days, the songs coming from frontman Bradford Cox were much more frenetic, a messy and fuzzy sound with a more aggressive pulse. But Deerhunter eventually stretched that mess out to show a more contemplative and experimental side with records like Cryptograms, balancing out more poppy and melodic indie rock with long droning and reverb-drenched guitar interludes. The band never really left that psychedelic terrain, but rather continued to play with and FRI
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tweak it. Eventually, Cox & company twisted that sound into straight-up, noisy-as-hell garage rock and never really let the swagger drop. Still, it’s a swagger that’s only mellowed with age. Consider the band’s latest full length, 2015’s Fading Frontier, which Cox has called a “domestic” record and features a laid-back, upbeat warmth that feels new for the group. Consider it the latest version of a band that continues to change, just like the rest of us. With Dallas Acid. $17, 7pm, Paper Tiger 2410 North Saint Mary’s, papertigersa.com — Michael Barajas
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CHOKING VICTIM 6
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Formed in 1992 in New York City, Choking Victim played a blend of ska and hardcore known as “ska core” or “crack rock steady” and became well known for satanic imagery and radical leftist lyrics that included references to their vagrant lifestyle (i.e. smoking crack, stealing and squatting). The band lived and played at this place called the C-Squat a building that used to regularly host shows and had a half pipe in the basement. The band members were a significant part of shaping punk rock culture through the 1990s but broke up after the first day of recording their first full SAT
Have you ever been so moved by a song playing in the background of your favorite TV show that you had to scour the internet to make sure that it remained in your life forever? Chances are one of those songs might have been a track from singer/songwriter Joe Purdy. Born and raised in Arkansas, Purdy worked at a loading dock and was a high school counselor before moving to California in 2001 to pursue a music career. After breaking into the LA music scene with his 2003 record Stompingrounds, the singer was contacted by film and TV producer extraordinaire J.J. Abrams to produce a track for the Lost series. Since then, Purdy’s music has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, House M.D. and Suburgatory. On his latest effort Who Will Be Next? Purdy plays through somewhat melancholy folk songs that tiptoe between southern gothic and old school-sounding country in the vein of Merle Haggard. Stripped-down and raw, Purdy proves that the age of the singer songwriter is far from over and that three chords, a voice, and a story can go a long way. 8pm, $27.50, The Tobin Center For The Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Cir. – CC SAT
length album, No Gods/ No Mangers, in 1999. Choking Victim then splintered off to start other projects including Leftover Crack, which was headed up by frontman Scott Sturgeon. A few other members from Choking Victim ended up joining Leftover Crack and continued that crackrock-steady sound. The band – whose lineup now is Skwert, Alec Baillie and Scott Sturgeon – recently announced a reunion in which they will play through No Gods/No Managers, the Crack Rock Steady EP and the Squatta’s Paradise EP. With Starving Wolves, 7pm, $20-$22, The Korova, 107 E. Martin St. – CC
When Alice Cooper (born Vincent Furnier) formed his band in the 60s, he helped create an entirely new genre of music: shock rock. The band’s theatrical use of props and costumes created an onstage musical horror show. He used fake blood, old electric chairs and live snakes to create a unique and shocking spectacle for fans. And shocking he was. He’d gallivant around guillotines in spiked, leather costumes while singing about venomous, adulterous women. In 1969, Cooper threw a live chicken into a crowd in Toronto to be shred to pieces by the crowd. By the ‘70s, the band had released its record-breaking album Billion Dollar Babies and cemented Cooper’s place in rock history. In 2011, Alice Cooper (the band) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inspiring Cooper and former members to revive the act. Cooper has been back at it, pushing the boundaries of theatrical shock rock and singing to crowds in the black leather and mascara that started it all. $39.50-$74.50, 7:30pm, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624. — Kimberly Rivera MON
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MR. ELEVATOR To call Mr. Elevator, formerly Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel, just your run of the mill psych rock band would be sort of missing the point. While their music may reflect some of the psychedelic attributes of bands in that genre, the vintage sounding production and poppy rhythms make them sound like they could’ve been on tour with The Beatles during the Yellow Submarine era. Based in L.A. and part of the Burger Records extensive psych/garage/everything family, Mr. Elevator channel Beatles-esque ‘60s pop and blend it with indie rock for a mix that sometimes feels like doing hallucinogenics at a circus. Drums and bass bounce through the tracks as keyboard, guitar, and vocal melodies braid over each other for a magical mystery ride through psychedelia and pop. For a band that is trying to sound like they came out of the 1960s, they’re pretty spot on. With Rotten Mangos, Sunjammer, 8pm, $9, K23 Gallery, 704 Fredericksburg Rd. – CC SUN
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ALICE COOPER
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MUSIC
MUSIC CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 Aaron Stephens Soul singer/songwriter from McAllen. $7-$30. Sam’s Burger Joint, 8pm Annex Annex, a post-punk act from McAllen, is joined by Uvtv, Filthy and Bolos. $5-$8. Limelight, 9pm Bronson Wisconsin Alt-country. Free. The Phoenix Saloon, 8:30pm Bru’s Tunes Live acoustic music w/ Bru’s Tunes. Free. La Hacienda De Los Barrios, 6-9pm Morgan James New York-based Broadway chanteuse Morgan James performs in support of her debut album, “Hunter.” $39.75-$85. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30pm The Texases Classic country covers. Free. Paper Tiger, 8pm THURSDAY, MAY 4 210 Blues Band R&B w/ 210 Blues Band every Thursday. Free. SoHo Wine & Martini Bar, 10pm Alli Mattice Folk/Americana from Spring Branch. Free. The Phoenix Saloon, 9pm Bo Porter Band Country act Bo Porter Band. Free. Gruene Hall, 6-10pm DB5 Jazz & happy hour. Free. The Mix, 6-8pm Dirty River Dixie Band Traditional jazz at Luna. $5. Luna, 9:30pm Hinder Rock band from OKC, joined by Nonpoint, Nine Shrines and Chrysalis. $22.50-$25. The Rock Box, 6-11pm Open Rehearshal & Reception “Black Swan” Performance by violinist Tim Fain, joined by pianist Robert Koenig. Free. Mexican Cultural Institute, 5:30-7pm Woman Thrower, Chaotic End Local thrash band joined by Chaotic End, Black Jackal, and Violent Practice. Free. The Mix, 9pm FRIDAY, MAY 5 Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Octet Pianist, composer, educator and director of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, known for his contributions to contemporary Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban jazz. $35. Jo Long Theatre, 8pm The Band of Heathens Rock band from Austin play support of their latest release, Duende. $20. Gruene Hall, 8pm
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Blackbird Sing Local indie rock band perform for their 1 year anniversary of their sophomore album, Cinco. $10-$45. Sam’s Burger Joint, 9pm Brandon Rhyder Country singer Brandon Rhyder is joined by Vandoliers. $12-$15. John T Floore’s Country Store, 9pm Cinco de Mayo Concert & 25th CD Release Party Kevin Kosub & The Blacktears, Johnny Cockerell, Mark Weber, and more perform. Free. Billy’s Bar 47, 6-10pm Cinco de Metal with Decimate Metal acts Decimate, Odometer, Final Exit and more. $3-$5. Bond’s 007 Rock Bar, 8pm David Touchton and the Nowhere Band Night of “honky-tonk” with David Touchton and the Nowhere Band. Free. The Phoenix Saloon, 9pm Deerhunter Rock band from Atlanta, with Dallas Acid. $17. Paper Tiger, 7pm Hieronymus Bogs, Saturn Skies Touring folk act joined by local acts Saturn Skies, Voodoo Boogaloo and Slowpoke. $5. Imagine Books and Records, 8-11:45pm La Oreja de Van Gogh Spanish pop band plays in support of their latest album, El Planeta Imaginario. $55-$150. Aztec Theatre, 9pm Paula Cortez, Carrie Asher Local pop singer/songwriter is joined by Carries Asher. In The Yard. Free. Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music, 9pm PM Soul Neo-soul. $10. Luna, 9:30pm The Return of Big Balls Big Balls TX, an AC/DC tribute band, joined by Violent Revenge and Out of the Cellar. $10-$15. Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music, 7pm Shaker Hymns Rock/country band from Austin. In The Yard. Free. Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music, 6-9pm Stephen Lynch Musical based comedy. $32.50. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 8pm The Art of Music with the San Antonio Symphony Music meets art in this musical tour of Of Country and Culture presented in partnership with the San Antonio Symphony. Members of the San Antonio Symphony will perform separately throughout the galleries as a response to artworks in the exhibit. Engage in conversation throughout the evening with the musicians, enjoy a beverage from the cash bar, and let the sounds paint the artwork in a new light. Free. San Antonio Museum of Art, 6:30-8pm West Kings Highway First Friday with West Kings Highway! Free. Southtown 101, 8-11pm
SATURDAY, MAY 6 Affiance Metalcore band from Ohio, plays on their farewell tour. Joined by Sirens and Sailors, and Afterlife. $12-$17. The Rock Box, 4-7:30pm Autograph Rock band from Pasadena, joined by Above My Enemy and Mushroom Honey. $17.50-$20. The Rock Box, 8pm Baracutanga Latin music. $10. Luna, 9:30pm The Barber of Seville OPERA San Antonio presents their second production of The Barber of Seville. Directed by E. Loren Meeker. $35-$199. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30pm Billy Joe Shaver Country singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver is joined by Jonny Burke. $17.50-$22. John T Floore’s Country Store, 8:30pm Bond’s Night of Tributes The Oath (King Diamond tribute), So What (Metallica tribute) and High Voltage (AC/DC tribute). $8-$10. Bond’s 007 Rock Bar, 8pm Choking Victim Punk rock band reunites to play at The Korova, joined by Starving Wolves. $20-$22. The Korova, 7pm
Third Eye TOOL cover band, with tribute set to A Perfect Circle. $5-$8. $5-$8. 502 Bar, 9pm William Michael Morgan Country artist joined by Karen Waldrup. $17-$45. The Roundup Outdoor Music Venue, 8-11pm SUNDAY, MAY 7 The Barber of Seville OPERA San Antonio presents their second production of The Barber of Seville. Directed by E. Loren Meeker. $35-$199. Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 2:30pm Black Swan Musical Tim Fain, with pianist Robert Koenig. Free. San Fernando Cathedral, 7-8pm Cool Ghouls Rock act from San Francisco, joined by Elnuh, and Flowershop. $3-$5. Limelight, 9pm The Obsessed Maryland heavy metal band reunite to play in support of their 2017 release, Sacred. With Karma To Burn, Lo-Pan, and Pillcrusher. $13-$15. The Korova, 7pm The Peterson Brothers Blend of blues, soul and funk. Free. Gruene Hall, 12:30-4:30pm
Eclipse: Journey Tribute Eclipse (Journey tribute band), joined by Rocket Queen (Guns n Roses tribute band). $10-$15. Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music, 7pm
Ringing Through the Decades: A Handbell Concert Well-known tunes from the 30s through the 80s. No matter your age, there is sure to be a song that will bring back a fond recollection of memories. Free. Christ Lutheran Church, 4:30-5:45pm
Green River Ordiance Rock band from Forth Worth, TX, plays in support of their latest release, Fifteen. $12. Gruene Hall, 9pm
Santiago Jimenez + Salvador Macias Accordion set by Santiago Jimenez. $5. South Texas Museum of Popular Culture, 2-5pm
Johnny Hootrock Austin’s 3-piece “psycho garage-a-billy band” plays at The Mix. Free. The Mix, 10pm Noise Quota Local indie alt act Noise Quota, joined by Opaque Ghost, Processions and SPACE WLVS. $5. Imagine Books and Records, 8-11:45pm Ringing Through the Decades - a Handbell Concert The concert will reprise well-known tunes from the 30s through the 80s. Free. Laurel Heights United Methodist Church, 5-6:15pm Robin Trower Guitarist out of the British blues rock scene, joined by Mighty Orq. $40. Aztec Theatre, 8pm Secret Silent Local indie rock act, with Anonymous Henchmen, and All Sides Equal play indie rock. Free. The Amp Room, 9pm
MONDAY, MAY 8 Grouchy Like Riley Folk/rock act. Free. Gruene Hall, 6-10pm Gunpowder Gray Heavy metal band Gunpowder Gray, joined by Lady Killer and Womanthrower. $5-$7. Limelight, 9pm Meat and Metal Mondays Metal night while serving meat and drink specials. Free. Zombies, 5pm Swing Nite with Kevin Fox Kevin Fox performs in support of his fourth album release. $9-$10. Sam’s Burger Joint, 8:30pm TUESDAY, MAY 9 Alex Dezen Alex Dezen, of rock act The Damnwells, is joined by Mike Dunn and Jeff Glatz. $7-$10. 502 Bar, 7pm
Skyrocket! Austin band that plays ‘70s and ‘80s covers. $13-$90. Sam’s Burger Joint, 9pm
Jazz on the Rocks Live jazz, happy hour and small bites every Tuesday. Free. St. Anthony Hotel, 5-7pm
The Georges Wein and Saengerfest Rockabilly Dance Party With The Georges. Free. The Phoenix Saloon, 9pm
Tuesday Evening Picker Circle w/ T & C Miller Unplugged, acoustic session with T & C Miller. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5pm
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Family Practice Physician. Full-time. On-call evenings/ wknds. U.S. M.D., or foreign equiv. degree req’d. Active
TX med. license req’d. ACGME-accredited residency (family medicine) completion cert. req’d. GMG Health Systems Associates, PA, d/b/a Gonzaba Medical Group, San Antonio, TX. Resumes: Recruiting, Gonzaba Medical Group, 720 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio, TX, 78214.
THE LEFTOVERS Nancy, the tech-savvy at-risk youth, two gimps, Christ on the cross, the Easter Bunny, two weeping women, and the Easter Bunny’s smokinghot leather master took to the stage at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon, for a live taping of the Savage Lovecast on Easter weekend. Audience members submitted their questions on cards (I take my questions like some of you take your men: anonymously) — but with Rachel Lark and the Damaged Goods and comedian Nariko Ott on the program as well, we didn’t get to many questions. So I’m going to answer as many of Portland’s questions as I can in this week’s column. > We’ve been sleeping with another couple for three months (first time my BF and I opened our relationship). How do I suggest full penetration with the opposite partner? At this point, we just do oral and that’s the “groove” we’re in.Onlyoral-with-others may be this couple’s preferred groove and the lane they want to stay in. If they’re only up for the “soft swap,” as it’s known in swinging circles, penetration isn’t gonna happen. But you should feel free to ask for what you want — at the very least, you’ll get some longoverdue clarity about their boundaries. > Is squirting pee? We know that chemically it’s similar, but is it REALLY? I’m tired of this debate, so consider this my final answer: So what if it is pee?
SAVAGE LOVE by Dan Savage
> My girlfriend asked me to make out with another guy. Her fantasy. We met a really pretty gay boy at a house party a year ago, and so I made out with him. I got hard, and my girlfriend made a huge scene. She says it was supposed to be for her pleasure, not for mine, and she’s still angry six months later and constantly questions whether I’m really straight. (I am!) What do I tell her? Good-bye. > When do you know if it’s okay to insert your finger in your boyfriend’s butthole? Without fear of freaking him out? After you’ve applied lube to your finger and his butthole — which you’re allowed to do only after you’ve asked him if you can insert your finger in his butthole and after he’s consented to having your finger in his butthole. > I want to try anal, but I am scared of getting poop on my partner. Is an enema enough? Properly administered, an enema should be more than enough. But with anal as with liberal democracy — a good outcome is not guaranteed. Sometimes you do your homework and your prep, and everything still comes to shit. >I love my man, but we’re both tops. What should we do? Spit-roast very special guest stars if you’re in an open relationship, take turns/one for the team if you’re in a monogamous relationship, explore and enjoy your nonbutt-penetrative options. sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 51
ETC.
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IF YOU ARE: •Have diabetes but otherwise healthy. •30 years of age or older. •Take Bydureon (exenatide) or Victoza (liraglutide. You may be eligible to join a clinical trial conducted by the Diabetes Division of the UTHSCSA at the Texas Diabetes Institute (TDI). If qualified, you will receive: •Physical exam at no cost. •No cost trial related blood tests. •Compensation for your time.
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CURRENT • May 3-9, 2017 • sacurrent.com
“Mic Drop”— [silence!] ACROSS
1 Alarm clock button 6 Last name of a trio of singing brothers 11 1040 preparer 14 “It is ___ told by an idiot”: Macbeth 15 Dizzying images 16 Set your sights 17 Bialik of “The Big Bang Theory” 18 Highly important cloak? 20 Goes on 22 Lightning McQueen’s pal 23 ___ kwon do 25 “To ___ is human ...” 26 Freezer bag brand 27 Draw 29 Novelist Turgenev 31 180∞ from WSW 32 Salad dressing with a light, woody taste? 35 Singles, in Spain 36 Shirt that’s seen better days 37 “My Way” lyricist Paul 41 Business course that draws heavily on Julius Caesar? 46 “Ha! I kill me!” alien 49 Batman foe 50 Comedy style based on “yes, and” 51 Highest point 53 Show that bronies are fans
of, for short 54 Bugs and Rabbits, e.g. 55 “That was ___-death experience” 56 Having sides of different lengths, as triangles go 59 Rip on one type of lettuce? 61 Samurai without a master 64 Chaney of “The Wolf Man” 65 “That ain’t gonna work” 66 “Einstein on the Beach,” for one 67 ___-Caps (theater candy) 68 Representative Devin in 2017 news 69 Fix a friend’s listing in a Facebook photo, e.g.
DOWN
1 Hit with force 2 Flight stat 3 Greet someone 4 “Death of a Salesman” director Kazan 5 Paint in a kindergarten classroom 6 Ledger role, with “The” 7 Unwrap 8 Bill-killing votes 9 Biceps site 10 Durability 11 Stampede members 12 Load up with 13 Punish by fine
19 Crash for a few 21 Beforehand, for short 23 “Forbidden” fragrance brand name 24 “QI” regular Davies 26 Unpredictable move 28 “Back in the ___” (Beatles song) 29 Foolheaded 30 “Luka” singer Suzanne 33 Neighbor of Azerbaijan 34 Skatepark fi xture 38 Sensory system for some primitive invertebrates 39 Have down pat 40 Dirt bikes’ relatives, briefl y 42 First American college to go co-ed 43 Farmer Yasgur of Woodstock 44 Country singer Vince 45 Akihito, e.g. 46 Makes use (of) 47 Thomas of “Reno 911!” 48 Largest inland city in California 52 Either T in “Aristotle” 53 Sail poles 56 Read a QR code, e.g. 57 Road work marker 58 “That ain’t gonna work” 60 Ft. Worth campus 62 Glass on NPR 63 Badger repeatedly
ETC.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY by Rob Brezsny ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Beware of feeling sorry for sharks that yell for help. Beware of trusting coyotes that act like sheep and sheep that act like coyotes. Beware of nibbling food from jars whose contents are different from what their labels suggest. But wait! “Beware” is not my only message for you. I have these additional announcements: Welcome interlopers if they’re humble and look you in the eyes. Learn all you can from predators and pretenders without imitating them. Take advantage of any change that’s set in motion by agitators who shake up the status quo, even if you don’t like them. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): When poet Wislawa Szymborska delivered her speech for winning the Nobel Prize, she said that “whatever else we might think of this world — it is astonishing.” She added that for a poet, there really is no such thing as the “ordinary world,” “ordinary life,” and “the ordinary course of events.” In fact, “Nothing is usual or normal. Not a single stone and not a single cloud above it. Not a single day and not a single night after it. And above all, not a single existence, not anyone’s existence in this world.” I offer you her thoughts, Taurus, because I believe that in the next two weeks you will have an extraordinary potential to feel and act on these truths. You are hereby granted a license to be astonished on a regular basis. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Would you consider enrolling in my Self-Pity Seminar? If so, you would learn that obsessing on self-pity is a means to an end, not a morass to get lost in. You would feel sorry for yourself for brief, intense periods so that you could feel proud and brave the rest of the time. For a given period — let’s say three days — you would indulge and indulge and indulge in self-pity until you entirely exhausted that emotion. Then you’d be free to engage in an orgy of selfhealing, self-nurturing, and self-celebration. Ready to get started? Ruminate about the ways that people don’t fully appreciate you. CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In a typical conversation, most of us utter too many “uhs,” “likes,” “I means,” and “you knows.” I mean, I’m sure that . . . uh . . . you’ll agree that, like, what’s the purpose of, you know, all that pointless noise? But I have some good news to deliver about your personal use of language in the coming weeks, Cancerian. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you’ll have the potential to dramatically lower your reliance on needless filler. But wait, there’s more: Clear thinking and precise speech just might be your superpowers. As a result, your powers of persuasion should
intensify. Your ability to advocate for your favorite causes may zoom. LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In 1668, England named John Dryden its first Poet Laureate. His literary influence was so monumental that the era in which he published was known as the Age of Dryden. Twentiethcentury poetry great T. S. Eliot said he was “the ancestor of nearly all that is best in the poetry of the eighteenth century.” Curiously, Dryden had a low opinion of Shakespeare. “Scarcely intelligible,” he called the Bard, adding, “His whole style is so pestered with figurative expressions that it is as affected as it is coarse.” I foresee a comparable clash of titans in your sphere, Leo. Two major influences may fight it out for supremacy. One embodiment of beauty may be in competition with another. One powerful and persuasive force could oppose another. What will your role be? Mediator? Judge? Neutral observer? Whatever it is, be cagey. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Just this once, and for a limited time only, you have cosmic clearance to load up on sugary treats, leave an empty beer can in the woods, watch stupid TV shows, and act uncool in front of the Beautiful People. Why? Because being totally well-behaved and perfectly composed and strictly pure would compromise your mental health more than being naughty. Besides, if you want to figure out what you are on the road to becoming, you will need to know more about what you’re not.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): You may have heard the exhortation “Follow your bliss!”, which was popularized by mythologist Joseph Campbell. After studying the archetypal stories of many cultures throughout history, he concluded that it was the most important principle driving the success of most heroes. Here’s another way to say it: Identify the job or activity that deeply excites you, and find a way to make it the center of your life. In his later years, Campbell worried that too many people had misinterpreted “Follow your bliss” to mean “Do what comes easily.” That’s all wrong, he said. Anything worth doing takes work and struggle. “Maybe I should have said, ‘Follow your blisters,’” he laughed. I bring this up, Sagittarius, because you are now in an intense “Follow your blisters” phase of following your bliss. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The versatile artist Melvin Van Peebles has enjoyed working as a filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, composer, and novelist. One of his more recent efforts was a collaboration with the experimental band The Heliocentrics. Together they created a science-fiction-themed spoken-word poetry album titled The Last Transmission. Peebles told NPR, “I haven’t had so much fun with clothes on in years.” If I’m reading the planetary omens correctly Capricorn, you’re
either experiencing that level of fun, or will soon be doing so. AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In what ways do you most resemble your mother? Now is a good time to take inventory. Once you identify any mom-like qualities that tend to limit your freedom or lead you away from your dreams, devise a plan to transform them. You may never be able to defuse them entirely, but there’s a lot you can do to minimize the mischief they cause. Be calm but calculating in setting your intention, Aquarius! P.S.: In the course of your inventory, you may also find there are ways you are like your mother that are of great value to you. Is there anything you could do to more fully develop their potential? PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): “We are what we imagine,” writes Piscean author N. Scott Momaday. “Our very existence consists in our imagination of ourselves. Our best destiny is to imagine who and what we are. The greatest tragedy that can befall us is to go unimagined.” Let’s make this passage your inspirational keynote for the coming weeks. It’s a perfect time to realize how much power you have to create yourself through the intelligent and purposeful use of your vivid imagination. (P.S. Here’s a further tip, this time from Cher: “All of us invent ourselves. Some of us just have more imagination than others.”)
THIS MODERN WORLD by Tom Tomorrow
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): In addition to fashion tips, advice for the broken-hearted, midlife-crisis support, and career counseling, I sometimes provide you with more mystical help. Like now. So if you need nuts-andbolts guidance, I hope you’ll have the sense to read a more down-to-earth horoscope. What I want to tell you is that the metaphor of resurrection is your featured theme. You should assume that it’s somehow the answer to every question. Rejoice in the knowledge that although a part of you has died, it will be reborn in a fresh guise. SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): “Are you ready for the genie’s favors? Don’t rub the magic lamp unless you are.” That’s the message I saw on an Instagram meme. I immediately thought of you. The truth is that up until recently, you have not been fully prepared for the useful but demanding gifts the genie could offer you. You haven’t had the selfmastery necessary to use the gifts as they’re meant to be used, and therefore they were a bit dangerous to you. But that situation has changed. Although you may still not be fully primed, you’re as ready as you can be. That’s why I say: RUB THE MAGIC LAMP! sacurrent.com • May 3-9, 2017 • CURRENT 53
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