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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
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sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 5
FIRST WORDS 1
30
On Bexar County Deputy Shoots, Kills 6-year-old Schertz Boy While Chasing Felon //SACurrent, you really should reconsider your headline. Deputys didn't intentionally shoot and kill the boy. These types of wrongly portrayed headlines are what causes negative feelings towards law enforcement! – Jessica Yanira On Does San Antonio Really Need Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.? // Honestly, no. Not even for a second do we need another damn chain restaurant with sub par service and fare. Let’s get some more of these little mom and pop shops that serve authentic cuisine, employ locals, and invest in their community. – Vicki Williams On Snoop Dogg Smoked Out The Aztec, Obviously // This article reads like 12 year old wrote it. – Brent Ward On Former SAISD Trustee Charged With Bribery Found Not Guilty // So the San Antonio court system is ok with bribery? Is this for all citizens or just certain parts of society? – Philip J Martin
09
Issue 17_52 /// December 27, 2017 - January 9, 2018
NEWS
One for the Books San Antonio’s biggest news stories of 2017
16
CALENDAR
Our top picks for the week
Photo Finish San Antonio photojournalist Alexei Wood found not guilty on all Inauguration Day charges
31
SCREENS
Paramount Pictures Our top 10 films of 2017
35
FOOD
2017 Eats Restaurant openings we’re still salivating over
25
ARTS + CULTURE
Reflecting on the Year in Art San Antonio’s art community weighs in on the highlights and milestones of 2017
41
NIGHTLIFE
New Year’s Eve in SA Parties and dinners to help you ring in 2018 2017 Brews 5 craft beers we loved 2017 Cocktails Some of our top picks for booze-filled drinks
27
ON THE
COVER We bid farewell to the highs, lows and everything in between 2017 made us endure by revisiting our favorite moments — from memorable openings to boozy cocktails to big news stories to songs that stayed with us all year. Art direction by Carlos Aguilar 6
CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
49
MUSIC
2017 Music Wrap Up 10 of our favorite songs from local artists in 2017
58
ETC.
Savage Love Jonesin’ Crossword Freewill Astrology
Music Calendar What to see and hear this week
49
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 7
Spend
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1 7 8 0 3 L a C a n t e r a T e r r a c e S u i t e 1 2 0 0 | ( 2 1 0 ) 3 1 0 - 3 7 3 3 | g e o r g e s k e e p. c o m 8
CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
NEWS
ONE FOR THE BOOKS ALEX ZIELINSKI
JON ALONZO
MONICA SIMMONS
San Antonio’s biggest news stories of 2017
Left to right: A man surveys his post-tornado home; Immigration advocates protest the sanctuary city ban; Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
ALEX ZIELINSKI | @ALEX_ZEE
L
et’s not pretend 2017 wasn’t a mildly devastating year. With a new President at the helm, conducting what Vox wisely called the “wholesale looting of America,” it was almost impossible to get through the year unscathed. This was certainly the case for San Antonio, where 2017 began with a tornado and ended with a mass shooting. However, the political shift at the national level (and a predictable GOP-led Texas Legislative Session) seemed to reignite a fight for equality and justice at home. It was a year of ups and downs. To refresh your memory, here are some of the biggest San Antonio news stories we covered in 2017:
2. La Vernia High School Athletes Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Dozens of Boys No less than 13 male members of LVHS varsity athletic teams were arrested in March, after at least 25 underclassmen boys reported being violently sexually assaulted by the athletes in a hazing ritual. The allegations made national headlines and triggered an investigation by the Texas Rangers, which is still ongoing. 3. State Sen. Uresti Indicted on Federal Bribery Charges and Accused of Sexual Harassment
Not a great year for San Antonio Sen. Carlos Uresti. In May, the injury lawyer was indicted on 11 federal felony charges for recruiting his past clients to invest thousands in a non-bankrupt frack sand company. Uresti, a Democrat, goes to court for his “investment Ponzi scheme” in 2018. Seven months later, Uresti’s back in the headlines for being accused of sexually harassing multiple female staffers at the state capitol over his decadeslong career as a legislator. 4. Shakeup at City Hall After a close primary race, former Councilman Ron Nirenberg ousted then-Mayor Ivy Taylor from the mayor’s office in a June runoff
JEREMIAH TEUTSCH
1. Tornado Uproots Northside Neighborhood On February 20, a 105-mph tornado whipped through the neighborhood directly across Highway 281 from the Alamo Quarry Market, uprooting nearly 50 homes. The late-night tornado spanned 4.5 miles in a matter of minutes, and caused enough destruction for then-Mayor Ivy Taylor to declare a state of emergency. Dozens of San Antonians are still repairing their damaged homes.
election. In the first six months of his leadership, the city’s made a shift toward battling inequity across neighborhoods and conserving the environment — a more progressive focus than under Taylor’s guidance. City Council also saw a major shuffle in the May and June races when voters elected six new members to represent the city. The new group has been called the most progressive council in San Antonio’s history. 5. San Antonio Joins Fight Against Sanctuary City Crackdown Shortly after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a “show me your papers” bill into law in June, San Antonio, Bexar County, and City Councilman Rey Saldaña all joined a massive, multi-city lawsuit against the state. The law, among other things, would allow local cops to ask about immigration status even in routine police encounters, like traffic stops. City attorneys say the law openly condones discrimination, and prevents cops from doing their best work — something San Antonio Police Chief William McManus and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar both agree with. The law is stalled while the lawsuit makes its way through the courts. sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 9
10 CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
NEWS
WIKI COMMONS
TOMAS GONZALEZ
ALEX ZIELINSKI
Clockwise from left: Travis Park's now-removed Confederate statue; A SAISD student supporting the new non-discrimination ordinance; rescue workers help in Harvey-stricken Houston.
6. Undocumented Immigrants Die While Being Transported in Sweltering Semi Truck Trailer On a humid July evening, San Antonio police discovered 38 undocumented immigrants packed into the back of an unventilated, windowless tractor-trailer in a Walmart parking lot. Eight of them had died — and 20 were in critical condition due to severe heat exposure. The truck driver, who initially denied knowing he was carrying human cargo, has since been indicted on five federal charges for allegedly smuggling the immigrants and causing their death. 7. SAISD Votes to Expand Non-Discrimination Ordinance After a particularly heated public hearing, the San Antonio Independent School District board voted unanimously to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression protections to the district’s nondiscrimination ordinance. Anti-LGBT groups from out of town, upset over the failure to pass the so-called “bathroom bill” at the state legislature, focused an unprecedented
amount of energy on fighting this decision. They lost. 8. City Council Votes to Remove Confederate Statue from Travis Park A summer of violent white nationalist rallies across the country reignited a local movement to remove the towering Confederate soldier from Travis Park. Despite pushback from heavily-armed pro-Confederacy protesters (who claimed they weren’t racist, just “proud”), the City Council voted 10-1 to remove the monument. A day later, it was gone. Currently, the space it’s left behind has been replaced with the city’s Christmas tree. 9. Aiding Hurricane Harvey Victims Since Hurricane Harvey, the largest hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, miraculously dodged San Antonio, the city became home base for major hurricane relief efforts along the Gulf Coast and in Houston. Nearly 1,000 hurricane evacuees were taken to shelters in San Antonio, many without a home to return to, and the city sent 30 police officers and 19 vehicles to Houston to help
with flooding rescue. Local chefs flocked to Rockport to provide hot meals to newly homeless residents and dozens of restaurants and music venues hosted fundraisers to support Harvey victims. 10. Sutherland Springs Shooting The tiny town of Sutherland Springs, located about 40 miles east of San Antonio, made national headlines after a gunman killed 26 people attending the town’s First Baptist Church service on Sunday Nov. 5. The church lost half its congregation. The tragedy, which reignited local and national debate over gun control laws, drew politicians — like Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Senator Ted Cruz — to the rural region. Shortly after the shooting, the Air Force admitted the shooter (a former airman) had a domestic violence charge they failed to submit to an online database that, if it had been reported, would have blocked him from ever purchasing a firearm. By now, families of the deceased have filed two different lawsuits — one against the Air Force, the other against Academy Sports & Outdoors — for their losses. sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 11
JANUARY 12-14 | 2018 HENRY B. GONZÁLEZ CONVENTION CENTER GET YOUR TICKETS NOW AT SOUTH.PAXSITE.COM
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PANEL HIGHLIGHT FANTASY WORLDBUILDING IN GAMES AND BOOKS Join Michael Dante DiMartino and Taran Matharu as they explore topics in building fantasy worlds in stories, nurturing your creativity, creating rules in fiction, doing your research, magic, myths, and more!
Minefaire, the Official MINECRAFT Community Event partner in North America, will be hosting an interactive Minecraft experience at PAX South. The Minefaire zone will include several Minecraft gaming areas, a Minecraft LEGO inspiration station, rare official Minecraft merch and special performances from YouTube celebrities and Minecraft Mentors.
MINEFAIRE
SATURDAY | 1:00 PM | CACTUS THEATRE
TOURNAMENTS ON TOP OF TOURNAMENTS We love a little friendly competition. Across all three days, we host more than a hundred tabletop and video game tournaments featuring every major platform. Really good at Halo? We got a tournament for you. What about Tekken? Yup, we got that too! Catan? Definitely! Fruit Ninja VR? Surprisingly, also yes! See a full list online or in the app.
12
CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
AN EVENING WITH PAT ROTHFUSS FRIDAY | 8:00 PM | FALCON THEATRE Join New York Times Bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss as he tells stories, reads from his work, and takes questions from the audience. Be prepared for tangents, digressions, cussing, inappropriate humor, and impromptu singing.
PANEL HIGHLIGHT
NEWS
‘We’re Being Erased’ Is this the end of affordable housing along San Pedro Creek? CAPSTONE
ALEX ZIELINSKI | @ALEX_ZEE
≥
Falling shingles. Busted sidewalks. Unmarked wet paint. Construction vehicles taking up tenant parking spaces. These are just a few of the complaints tenants at the Soapworks Apartments have raised since their buildings were bought by a new real estate company in October. Almost immediately, the new owners began renovating the 381-unit apartment complex with the tenants still living inside. It seems like the beginning of what longtime residents have feared ever since Bexar County unveiled plans for the $125-million San Pedro Creek Improvement Project in 2013: That turning their neighboring drainage ditch into a “world-class” park (akin to the River Walk’s Mission Reach) will ultimately price community members out of their neighborhood. As the sole apartment complex along the creek, Soapworks has inevitably become the first to feel the impact of a project with the tagline, “Connecting Communities.” On Tuesday, December 19, the Bexar County Commissioners Court approved an additional $19.8 million for construction of the second segment of the San Pedro Creek project. It’s become a vicious cycle in San Antonio: the city or county finances a restoration project meant to better the community, and private investors scramble to buy up the land around it, scattering the original residents who were supposed to benefit from the project their tax dollars paid for. What’s worse, no one’s quite sure how to stop it. Lydia Garza, 64, is currently paying around $650 a month for her Soapworks studio apartment. Shortly after new owners Capstone Real Estate took over, Garza said she was informed her rent would increase around $250 in April — that is, if she chose to renew her lease. “We knew it was coming,” said Garza, who’s lived in Soapworks for six years. “We just didn’t think it would be this bad.” Garza fits the profile of many of the residents at the 381-unit apartment complex (which includes Towne Center apartments across W Martin St.) who have lived there for decades. Most units fall under federal “affordable housing” standards, many of the residents are elderly, and many have some type of disability. It’s not an unusual demographic for rentals in San Antonio, where the number of people 65 and older
living under the poverty level is 4 percent higher than the national average — and the amount of 65+ San Antonians living with a disability is 7 percent higher than the national average. Older tenants have expressed their fears of falling down or being hit by roofing with Capstone, the new property management company. Some have complained that their cars have been towed to make room for construction vehicles. But they don’t feel like they’re being heard. “The environment is unsafe, the rents are going up ... the managers should at least level with these people,” said Rosa Rosales, former president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) who’s helped advocate on behalf of tenants to Soapworks management. Capstone management says they empathize with tenant's concerns, but believe they're filling a need in the downtown housing market. "What our goal is to create mid-range rental options for people who want to live downtown," said Michelle McMillan, Capstone's regional vice president. She argues that there's both affordable housing and high-priced housing downtown — but nothing that falls in between. "There's nothing for the middle class," McMillian said. "Does that mean Soapworks is going to change from what it is right now? Most likely, yes." The apartment’s brand-new website promises new tenants a list of “coming soon” add-ons to the complex, including a coffee bar, fitness center, surveillance system and “WiFi Lounge.” The biggest selling point on the site, however: “Soapworks and Towne Center Apartments is [sic] situated on the bank of the San Pedro Creek Development in San Antonio, which is currently being transformed into a natural creek habitat and worldclass linear park.” Garza estimates that at least 50 tenants have left after Capstone took over — many wanting to leave before the rents continue to climb. She and other tenants suspect the company will eventually raze the old buildings (some over a hundred years old, leftover from when the property was an actual soap factory) to build a shiny, new complex for higher-paying clientele. McMillian said that assumption is "absolutely not
true." Capstone has no plans on taking down the buildings, just updating the inside. Each apartment will be renovated whenever a tenant moves out, meaning the total process could take a few years to finish. "At this point, I just want some help finding a new place to live,” Garza said. Dissatisfied with the response they’ve received from their new property managers, a group of Soapworks tenants met with District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño to voice their concerns. Treviño told the Current that the city can possibly help with some of the issues — he’s already met with the city’s Department of Human Services to discuss giving tenants relocation funds to help with a move. If tenants choose to move to more affordable housing, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to remain in the same neighborhood. Going forward, Treviño said, it’s important developers are considerate to the communities they swoop in on. “It’s time we start making bold statements as a city to get developers being more mindful to issues of affordability,” he said. “The city can communicate what it needs and expects from developers to help shape that expectation.” But do developers have to listen? No. In San Antonio, there’s no way for city officials to regulate developers who’re hoping to cash in on publicly-funded projects like San Pedro Creek. Unlike many cities, San Antonio’s charter only allows city bond money to be spent on public works, a category that explicitly doesn’t include housing. Thanks to this charter rule, it’s impossible for the city to mandate affordable housing be built along the redeveloped creek — or any newly hip corner of town (see Dignowity Hill). Councilman John Courage, who represents District 9, has said he wants to edit the city charter to finally change this rule before San Antonio’s low-income housing stock truly goes extinct. “Until we revise the city charter, we can’t be a real partner in housing construction,” Courage told the Current in October. “Once we acquire housing financing the city can control, then we’ll have a little more say.” In the meantime, older San Antonians who’ve long relied on their close proximity to downtown resources — and the social safety net of a tight-knit community — have little backing. In Garza’s words: “We’re being erased.”
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 13
chuck
ramirez ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO September 14, 2017 | January 14, 2018
ON VI EW AT mcnay #mim
This exhibition is organized by the McNay Art Museum. Lead funding for Chuck Ramirez: All This and Heaven Too is most generously given by the Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992; The Brown Foundation, Inc.; John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation; Rick Liberto; National Endowment for the Arts;Linda Pace Foundation; Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation; Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation; and Carolyn and Allan Paterson. Additional support is provided by H-E-B; Whataburger; Smothers Foundation; Chris Cheever; Mitcham Partners, LLP; Patricia and Charles Marcus; Patricia and Juan Ruiz-Healy; Katy and Ted Flato; Christopher C. Hill; Penelope Speier and Sonny Collins; Melissa and Kelton Morgan; Lisa Nichols; Ann Griffith Ash; Caroline Alexander Forgason; Molly and Bill Asher; Jim and Dolly Poteet; Emma and Toby Calvert; Lara Flynn and Donnie Thomas; Thomas F. Hogan III; Wendy Atwell; Muriel F. Siebert Foundation; Patty Ortiz and Dwight Hobart; Amy and Chase Smiley; Therese McDevitt; the Director’s Circle; and Exhibition Sponsors. Chuck Ramirez, Louis (Linda) (detail) from Purse Portraits, 2002. Digital print. © Estate of Chuck Ramirez, courtesy of Ruiz-Healy Art, San Antonio, Texas
14
CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
art.o
rg
cnaye ssum cnay @mc nayar t #mcn ayart
NEWS
Fond Farewell TEXAS.GOV
Former San Antonio Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon has died
>
Ruth Jones McClendon, a former state representative who represented Bexar County for 20 years in the Texas House of Representatives and previously served as a San Antonio City Councilwoman, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 19. McClendon, 74, was perhaps best known locally for representing San Antonio’s East Side throughout her career. She resigned from the Texas House in 2016 after battling cancer and other health issues for years, but not before
LYANNE A. GUARECUCO | @LYANNEALEXIA
spearheading a bill with bipartisan support during her last session establishing a state panel to study wrongful convictions in Texas. During her time in the House, she focused on improving education and fighting for healthcare for children, the frail and elderly, and authored over 400 bills and 550 resolutions from 1996 to 2015. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Capitol Inside, and made Texas Monthly’s list of Best Legislators of 2015, in which TM
Photo Finish
≥
ALEX ZIELINSKI | @ALEX_ZEE
COURTESY OF ALEXEI WOOD
A Washington, D.C. jury has found San Antonio photojournalist Alexei Wood not guilty on all seven charges related to his participation in an Inauguration Day protest at the Capitol. Wood was arrested on January 20, 2017 along with nearly 200 other journalists, protesters, and bystanders who were indiscriminately rounded up and arrested after the antiTrump protest turned violent. He had been photographing and live-streaming the protest as a journalist, and played no role in organizing the event. Regardless, Wood was charged with six felony charges (one charge of inciting a riot and five counts of destruction of property) and two misdemeanor counts of rioting and conspiracy to riot. He faced up to 70 years in federal prison. With a total 181 defendants, the D.C. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz made the unusual decision to try the defendants in groups, rather than one at a time. Wood and five others have been the first and only group to see their day in court thus far. All six defendants were acquitted of their combined 42 charges on Thursday, Dec. 21. This nearly year-long case has become a pivotal examination into how freedom of speech (and of the press) is valued under the new Trump Administration. Instead of looking at each defendant’s case individually, United States attorneys slapped everyone the same charges — making each defendant responsible for any criminal actions taken by others who happened to be arrested in the same sweep. “The prosecution is not accusing any of us [six defendants] of property destruction individually — we’re charged with aiding and abetting the people that did,” Wood told the Current last week. That means a guilty verdict would have confirmed that
staff described her bipartisan power saying, “Whenever McClendon brought bills to the floor, Democrats and Republicans alike surrounded her in a show of support.” Prior to her legislative career, McClendon served as a San Antonio City Councilwoman for District 2 and mayor pro tem from 1993 until 1996, when she was elected for statewide office. “She wielded power gently but effectively. McClendon was a statewide force on transportation while also working to address the needs of the state’s poorest citizens,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a statement. “San Antonio is a better city because of her work as a member of City Council and in the Texas House. She will be greatly missed.” In the biography on her personal website, McClendon lists her greatest accomplishments as “being a mother, having a rewarding family life in the midst of the rigors of public service and being able to serve her community as a state representative.” “Her legacy of public service continues to inspire us to work for causes she championed, including access to healthcare and helping all students fulfill their God-given potential,” Congressman Lloyd Doggett said in a statement.
San Antonio photojournalist Alexei Wood found not guilty on all Inauguration Day charges
anyone who participates in a protest that turns violent or where one person breaks the law can be convicted for merely “aiding” in the protest’s existence. The government isn’t allowed to appeal the jury’s decision — but the verdict doesn’t mean the feds won’t continue to try the rest of the defendants charged in the case.
“We appreciate the jury’s close examination of the individual conduct and intent of each defendant during this trial and its verdict,” wrote Bill Miller, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. “In the remaining pending cases, we look forward to the same rigorous review for each defendant.” sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 15
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
ARTS ARTS + + CULTURE CULTURE
BRYAN RINDFUSS
San Antonio’s art community weighs in on the highlights and milestones of 2017
Clockwise from far left: Ángel Rodríguez Díaz, Untitled (Self Portrait as Wrestler Rey Misterio); Enmao from “Heaven and Hell”; Essentials, “Biochromatic”; Chuck Ramirez, Tex-Mex; installation view of Robert Hodge's “Between the Devil & the Deep.”
A
s we prepare to bid farewell to a year riddled with chaos and tragedy, and cautiously welcome another with an odd combination of hope and uncertainty, it feels slightly therapeutic to revisit some of San Antonio's more notable moments of 2017. In an effort to paint a broad picture, we asked 27 members of the local art community to weigh in on our year in review with one condition: that they identify highlights or milestones they weren't personally involved in. Running the gamut from stellar exhibitions (the McNay’s Chuck Ramirez retrospective “All This and Heaven Too” was an unsurprising favorite) to major accolades for women artists (big congratulations to Ana Fernandez and Ruth Buentello) and creative reactions to the current political climate (AP Art Lab’s Planned Parenthood benefit “Nasty Women”), the responses we received covered almost all the bases we hoped to include. So we’ll take the next few lines to give kudos to local artist Christie Blizard for her bizarre and refreshingly humorous Artpace exhibition “We Invent Nothing,” to the Artist Foundation of San Antonio for securing a $50,000 grant from Bexar County, and to Luminaria for its memorable return to Hemisfair.
Marco Aquino (Arts Writer) I think right after the Chuck Ramirez retrospective “All This and Heaven Too,” the Ángel Rodríguez Díaz retrospective at Centro de Artes and FL!GHT is probably the most important one this year. Rene P. Barilleaux (Head of Curatorial Affairs at McNay Art Museum) The San Antonio Museum of Art’s exhibition “Of Country and Culture: The Lam Collection of Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Art” was a revelation. Co-organizers Lana Meador and Erin Murphy presented the nearly 100 works in an exquisite and compelling way. Yvette Benavides (Director of S.M.A.R.T.) I would say a show that stuck with me was AP Art Lab’s “Nasty Women” show in January of 2017 — just after the Trump inauguration. Women, men — all ages of both sexes
packed the building, with a line to get into the gallery, to support the show knowing that all proceeds benefited Planned Parenthood. In my 15 years in the 1906 [South Flores arts complex], I hadn’t seen a reaction like this from the general public. People need to feel connected and empowered. Art does both of those things and more. Sabra Booth (Artist) Earlier in the year, I witnessed the amazing Women’s March in Austin, which helped take some of the sting out of watching a male chauvinist @$!* win the White House. Now with all the controversies swirling about sexual misconduct, more than ever, girls and women need positive examples of what we can do in the world. Hanging out with artist Katie Pell on the steps of the 1906 South Flores arts complex, as her daughter Bygoe took the stage with her teen rock band, brought that home to me. San Antonio did step up to the plate this year in presenting a variety of shows highlighting women artists. A few highlights of female-focused shows
that I saw included Colombian artist Johanna Calle’s RuizHealy Art show “Trama,” with her witty formalist drawings that have a social conscience; Kristy Perez’s Southwest School of Art show “The Giving Distance,” whose revealing drawings tapped into autobiographical desire; the Kathy Vargas-curated Centro de Artes show “A Woman’s Place Is…” offered an inspiring sweep of cross-generational local Latina talent; Jennifer Ling Datchuk threw some feminist porcelain punches in her show “Girl You Can” (shown at Trinity in collaboration with Blue Star Contemporary); and Suzanne Paquette quietly explored the massive dynamics of nature in huge, mixed-media works she presented at Gallery 20/20. Lastly, it was an honor to spend time with the courageous champion of the New York independent alternative art space Franklin Furnace, Martha Wilson, whose politically tinged First Lady portraits are on display at Artpace through December 31. Her stance against Senator Jesse Helm’s censorship crusade of the 1990s is a timely reminder to keep the good fight going. sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 25
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
ARTS + CULTURE
Clockwise from above: Kelly O’Connor’s mural for “MetaDADA”; Jennifer Ling Datchuk, Basic Bitch; a print from the group show “Nasty Women”; a detail from Hiromi Stringer’s “Umeyama Time Teleportation Museum.”
vision of the multifaceted multimedia art collective. In light as delicate as human skin, apparitions, growths and warped forms of the subconscious confronted, as though in impossible motion, the viewer, to disarming effect. Painter and illustrator Angela Fox’s first big solo show (believe it or Sarah Castillo (Director of Lady Base not) “Heart of the Snake” (at Gravelmouth) Gallery) laid bare the artist’s diabolical intentions to I’d say that the highlights of 2017 for hex the patriarchy. Direct violence is cool me are the San Antonio Zine Fest, the too, as long as it’s a party. But, seriously, announcement of the 2017 recipients of this exhibit marks (or damn well better) the Joan Mitchell Foundation’s Painters and the next phase of visibility (and vision) for Sculptors Grant program (Ruth Buentello one of our most gifted and mischievous. and Ana Fernandez), the announcement Hosted simultaneously at Presa House, Ed of the Luis Leal Award for distinction in Saavedra’s “The Price of Free Dumb”and Chicana/o, Latina/o Literature to Norma Albert Alvarez’s “Don’t Be My Judas,” Cantú, Murchison Endowed Professor in an ideal thematic/aesthetic pairing, were Humanities at Trinity University, and the both visceral vistas into the many faces of announcement of Eva Ybarra (“La Reina contemporary suffering and betrayal — in del Acordeón”) being awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship. other words, they felt necessary in 2017. Mike Casey (Co-Owner of Isaac Maxwell Metal) The McNay’s Chuck Ramirez retrospective. I’ve seen it four times, and friends of mine who’ve seen it have been very moved by it.
Alana Coates (Associate Director of Ruiz-Healy Art) In general, I loved the uptick in politically focused art. A favorite exhibit that I was not involved in was the Planned Parenthood show at AP Art Lab. James Courtney (Educator and Arts Writer) “Biochromatic,” Essentials’ blessing to Luminaria 2017, was an immersive journey into the futuristic yet organic
Chad Dawkins (Critic and Curator) Progress doesn’t always come by way of addition; deliberate retraction can be just as important for a progressive city that supports contemporary art. The city’s midnight removal of a sculpture in Travis Park, an ill-advised city commission of little to no artistic merit, should be applauded as a decisive and enlightened action. It is imperative for politicians, activists and artists to directly address the current rise in extremism but to do so, it is important to clear the wreckage of our past.
Ana Fernandez (Artist and Entrepreneur) The “Entre Orilas” [by Arlene Mejorado and Adriana Monsalve] and “Chicana Feelings” [by Sarah Castillo] shows at the Guadalupe (on view through January 19) are both powerful exhibitions! Bill FitzGibbons (Director of Dock Space Gallery) “MetaDADA: High Art for the POPulace” was the best art exhibit I experienced in 2017, which featured an impressively innovative use of space in an art gallery. Inspired by the Pop Art and Dada movements, the curator asked each of the San Antonio-based artists to install their two-dimensional artwork directly onto original murals. This show was vibrant, contemporary, and elevated many emerging local artists.
Mary Heathcott (Executive Director of Blue Star Contemporary) It’s been a great year for the legacy of San Antonio’s Chuck Ramirez, from the reopening of Casa Chuck after an electrical fire to the McNay’s presentation of the first significant retrospective of his work. Chuck must be beaming from above high.
Justin Korver (Co-Director of Hello Studio) Hiromi Stringer’s “Umeyama Time Dan Goddard (Arts Writer) Teleportation Museum” exhibition at the Crown jewel of the San Pedro Creek improvements, the Linda Pace Foundation Southwest School of Art stands out to me because she did a couple of really difficult began construction for the $16 million Ruby City, a 14,000-square-foot, magenta- things. First, Hiromi made a show that was rich in images and text, where the audience colored, post-modernistic, contemporary could shift back and forth from reader/viewer art space designed by famed British and a real, complex relationship between architect David Adjaye, slated to open images and text. Second, she created a September 2019. character who could look at San Antonio as an almost complete outsider, and she Roberta “Nina” Hassele (Director of found humor, wit and criticality. I’ve been a Contemporary Art Month) fan of Hiromi’s work for a long time but the Not since Allison Smith’s Artpace fall 2006 “Umeyama Time Teleportation Museum” International Artist-in-Residence exhibition created a complete web of her thought that “Hobby Horse” have I been so roused by performance art as I was this year with Presa was visually stunning and intellectually playful. House presents Jimmy James Canales: “Para Chrome” at FL!GHT Gallery, and Veronique Le Melle (Executive Director Artpace fall 2017 resident Heyd Fontenot’s of Artpace) “Unnatural Urges.” Chrome mirrors, PVC Without a doubt, one of the most significant pipe, Roberta Flack music, chaps, bull whips moments for our arts community this year was — need I say more? Both Jimmy and Heyd Ana Fernandez and Ruth Buentello becoming touched on topics reflecting self awareness, the first women of color from San Antonio sexuality and anxiety. Hooray for live to win a prestigious Painters and Sculptors performance art in San Antonio in 2017. Grant from the Joan Mitchell Foundation. We are so proud of the work Ruth has done since Susan Heard (Director of Cinnabar winning an Artpace Travel Grant and can’t Gallery) wait to work with Ana as one of our Texas Catherine Cooke’s book about Juan artists-in-residence next year. O’Gorman’s [1968 HemisFair] mural is not just a confluence of cultures, but also one of Leigh Anne Lester (Artist) time and memories. I liked the exhibit “Daydreams and Other
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 27
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
ARTS + CULTURE
Monsters” out at UTSA. Hiromi Stringer’s “Umeyama Time Teleportation Museum” show at the Southwest School of Art is amazeballs. I really liked Jennifer Ling Datchuk’s “Girl You Can” show at Trinity. I have also recently rediscovered Second Saturday. I love the vibe there; it reminds me of what First Fridays used to be like — full of possibilities and experimentation. The art isn’t always great but you see the up-and-comings. It makes my heart sing! Flax Studio and Hello Studio are doing some great programming. I saw an Angela Fox show (“Heart of the Snake”) at Gravelmouth that I loved. Rigoberto Luna (Co-Director of Presa House Gallery) I think Elda Silva’s departure from the Express-News after 24 years was a glaring moment for me in 2017. Elda’s insight, professionalism and commitment to the arts community here is going to be missed. Exhibition-wise the Centro de Artes retrospective of Ángel Rodríguez Díaz, curated by Ruben Cordova, was probably the show that will stay with me for a long time — powerful exhibition. Amada Claire Miller (Founder of Hello Studio) The artist-run spaces in San Antonio really stepped it up this year (Clamp Light, Corporate Studio, Mantle, Gravelmouth, French & Michigan, Mini Art Museum, etc.), providing adventurous programming and dialogue in line with world-class art hubs. Operating on the margins can be a difficult chore but with these experimental spaces, I think local artists will have a place to navigate their careers in a more meaningful way. Ana Montoya (Founder of AnArte Gallery) The Chuck Ramirez exhibit at the McNay, heartfelt …
Clockwise from top left: Angela Fox, Snake Sisters; a Tess Tipungwuti sculpture included in “Of Country and Culture”; Jimmy James Canales, “Para Chrome”; a rendering of Ruby City; Ana Fernandez, Las Princesas; Ruth Buentello, The Last Supper.
Kelly O’Connor (Head of Collections & Communications at Linda Pace Foundation) It has been a pleasure to see artists Ana Fernandez and Jennifer Ling Datchuk, two voices with their finger on the pulse, receive the attention they deserve this year. Both have been highly prolific in 2017 and have received some of the highest accolades one could hope to achieve as a visual artist. Ana almost broke the internet this fall when receiving the Joan Mitchell Painters and
Sculptors Grant and Artpace Residency within one month. Jennifer’s exhibition of work from her Blue Star Berlin Residency, “Girl You Can” transcended elite art audiences and gender norms. One of my favorite moments was her Basic Bitch work trending on Instagram with men. Dana Read (Director of REM Gallery) 2017 had many outstanding exhibitions and art events, from pop-ups to museums. Most memorable for me was, “Heaven and Hell: Salvation and Retribution in Pure Land Buddhism” at San Antonio Museum of Art, an amazing exhibition featuring 70 works of art drawn from 20 private collections and institutions across the country and the world, as well as SAMA’s own Asian collections. Riley Robinson (Studio Director of Artpace) Even with the current political climate, the arts are more vital than ever with lots of things percolating for 2018. But 2017 was not a throwaway year, with Buster Graybill’s work at the Southwest School and Jimmy James Canales at FL!GHT – both were highlights. Mary Magsamen and Stephan Hillerbrand, with work at Blue Star through January 21, are really some of my favorite artists. I can relate to the humorous narrative stories built around family, and love seeing their work. Katy Silva (Founder of Flax Studio) I am interested in the book series that Clamp Light launched this year, “The Book Lights.” They are propelling the local contemporary art conversation forward by organizing book club meetings on notable publications (Just Kids by Patti Smith and The Subversive Stitch by Rozsika Parker) and situating the discourse around the San Antonio art scene. For those of us who aren’t in art school but want to talk about art, this is a lovely resource. Hills Snyder (Artist, Musician and Curator) 2017 is easy — Chuck! Suzanne Weaver (Brown Foundation Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at San Antonio Museum of Art) For me, one of the highlights was the terrific curating of Michelle Grabner and the three artists — Kate Newby, Nicholas Frank and Robert Hodge — she selected for Artpace’s residency program (spring 2017). The artistic practice and realized projects of each artist were mutually enhancing and made in Gestalt terms, “a whole other than the sum of parts.”
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 29
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
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Our top 10 films of 2017
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After all the blood, sweat and tears (thank Mama Coco for the latter) I experienced screening 221 movies this year, here is a look at my favorites.
10. My Happy Family (dirs. Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Groß) This masterfully paced, ironically titled, foreign-language family drama follows Manana Mkheidze (Ia Shugliashvili), a 52-year-old school teacher who is living uncomfortably with her elderly parents, husband and grown children in one house when she decides she would much rather live alone in her own apartment. In a move that is considered shameful in their Eurasian country of Georgia, some of Manana’s family push back but to no avail. Through simple and genuine storytelling and wonderfully chaotic scenes of domestic disputes and disorder, Manana is the heroine of her own adventure because she refuses to settle for the status quo and is courageous enough to ignore criticism and embrace change. 9. Good Time (dirs. Ben and Josh Safdie) An unconventional crime thriller that feels like it was
plucked straight from the 1980s, filmmaking duo the Safdie brothers pump the adrenaline up to full capacity as we watch small-time criminal Connie Nikas (Robert Pattinson) desperately try to get his mentally disabled brother Nick (Ben Safdie) out of prison before something bad happens to him. Set up almost like a modern-day version of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men — if all the characters in the classic novel were tripping on acid — the Safdies know exactly what they are going for when it comes to style and tone and succeed enough to anticipate what’s next for them. 8. Get Out (dir. Jordan Peele) Dark comedy, sharp social satire and mainstream horror elements merge into the strange and smartly written first feature by filmmaker Jordan Peele, who drives his critique of cultural appropriation into a clever, anti-racism statement and offers a disturbing and nightmarish exploration of current race relations in America. Things get unnerving for Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a young, black college student, when his white girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), brings him
Clockwise from top left: My Happy Family, War for the Planet of the Apes, Logan, Get Out, Good Time
home to meet her seemingly normal family. Call it Guess Who’s Coming to Say WTF at Dinner. 7. War for the Planet of the Apes (dir. Matt Reeves) If 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes wasn’t evidence enough that director/writer Matt Reeves had produced something exceptional, this sequel should have you campaigning for him to get his hands on every action tentpole project for the foreseeable future. Once again, Andy Serkis’ motion-capture performance as ape leader Caesar is stunning as he leads the charge against the humans who are still hell-bent on destroying them, this time with vengeance as his main motivation. Visually gratifying and epic in scope, it’s a memorable conclusion to a brilliant, reimagined trilogy. 6. Logan (dir. James Mangold) While there were a handful of well-made superhero movies this year that were, well, just plain ol’ fun — Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok — the best comic-book-inspired sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 31
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Clockwise from top left: The Post, Molly's Game, The Florida Project, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Coco
offering this year — and maybe ever — was the weighty, somber, ultra-violent final chapter in the X-Men’s Wolverine saga (at least with actor Hugh Jackman wielding the retractable claws). Jackman says goodbye to the role that made him a star by delivering depth and grit the character has never displayed before. As Charles Xavier (Professor X), actor Patrick Stewart, too, expands on his longtime mutant role with vulnerability, while newcomer Dafne Keen blazes across the screen with visceral energy.
“poker princess,” and her experiences running poker games for the world’s elite before she was busted by the FBI. Much like his other cinematic work, Sorkin’s sometimes-too-perfect dialogue springs from the page and from the mouths of his characters with spitfire sharpness, intellect, and wit. It’s especially true for Chastain who gives her best performance since 2015’s under-appreciated A Most Violent Year. Narration throughout an entire film can be a tough sell, but with Sorkin’s style, it’s easy to hang on to every word.
5. The Post (dir. Steven Spielberg) A fascinating newspaper drama set in the early 1970s during the leaking of the Pentagon Papers, documents that proved the U.S. government was lying to the American public and Congress about the Vietnam War for years, director Steven Spielberg makes the newspaper industry come to life in a film that is necessary viewing for anyone concerned about how certain First Amendment rights seem to be viewed as optional by the current administration. Aside from its timeliness, Spielberg’s opus on the Freedom of the Press is also an effective narrative on female empowerment anchored by a contemplative performance by living legend Meryl Streep. Who else can make a scene where a decision has to be made over the telephone so transfixing?
3. Coco (dirs. Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina) Pixar’s take on the traditional Mexican celebration Día de Muertos gives audiences a film that will become the standard-bearer of what a positive Latino experience can look like on the big screen for years to come. The story of Miguel Rivera (Anthony Gonzalez), a young, ambitious musician who crosses over to the Land of the Dead to find his purpose in life, is a beautiful, heartwarming and visually exceptional achievement about the appreciation of family, the acceptance of loss and the aspiration to become what you were born to be. From the vibrant and imaginative papel picado-inspired opening sequence to the extraordinarily moving final act, it’s a cinematic gift to Latinos worldwide and easily the best animated film of the year.
4. Molly’s Game (dir. Aaron Sorkin) Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) makes his directorial debut from a script he adapted from the memoir of real-life main character Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a high-stakes, underground
2. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (dir. Martin McDonagh) The fusion of blistering drama and dark comedy rises to the levels of Martin McDonaugh’s first feature film, 2008’s In Bruges. There’s no denying the intensity brimming
from both genres, which injects the picture with a strong dose of anger, especially in Frances McDormand’s main character Mildred, a mother whose outrage incites her to pick a fight with local law enforcement for failing to find the man who raped and murdered her daughter. As Mildred, McDormand carries the film effortlessly through determination and a tinge of ruthlessness, although her supporting cast, which includes Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson, are worthy foils who are also more interesting because of their multilayered characterizations. At this point in his career, McDonaugh could become the third Coen brother if he wanted. 1. The Florida Project (dir. Sean Baker) Compassionately told through the eyes of a child, like in recent films Where the Wild Things Are and Beasts of the Southern Wild, the story of 6-year-old Moonee (a breakout performance by Brooklyn Prince) and her irresponsible mother (Bria Vinaite) living in an off-thehighway Orlando motel in the shadows of Disney World, is a captivating observational drama filled with moments of incredible sadness, wide-eyed innocence and pure joy. The insular environment director Sean Baker (Tangerine) has created for these marginalized characters to live in is extremely convincing and actor Willem Dafoe, who plays the motel’s kindhearted manager, gives the film its authentic core. Knowing the “Happiest Place on Earth” is a destination far from reality, despite its close proximity, makes the narrative all the more emotionally resonant, regardless of how one interprets the film’s final hopeful/ heartbreaking moments. sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 33
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
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FOOD
Battalion // Almost three years in the making, Battalion was the third Bowers & Goodman production and perhaps its loveliest from beginning to end. After opening in late February, the Italian outpost wowed with its transformation of the old firehouse building into a sleek and bright restaurant with exposed walls, funky art and a gleaming kitchen led by chef Stefan Bowers. And then came the plates, one better than the next, all delivered by excellent servers and designed to show off technique by the cooks as well as produce by local farmers and ranchers. Pasta goddess Elena D’Agostino (pictured), who toils on fresh pasta daily from her two-story perch, is the best addition to the local food scene in several years. 604 S. Alamo St., (210) 816-0088, battalionsa.com.
JESSICA ELIZARRARAS | @JESSELIZARRARAS
JESSICA ELIZARRARAS
Restaurant openings we’re still salivating over
A
s of last count, there were more than 100 restaurant, coffee shop, bakery, tea shop, and food truck openings this year. At year’s end, one tends to get reflective of all the appetizers tasted, dishes sampled and desserts devoured. Here are restaurants that left a lasting impression on our taste buds this year, in no particular order.
Nonna Osteria // Maybe it was the year of pasta? Silo empire builder Patrick Richardson dropped a winner smack dab in front of Hemisfair with Nonna. Led by chef Luca Della Casa (you may recognize him from as one of 2014’s “Food Network Star” hopefuls), the transformed restaurant that once held Polo’s, Insignia and Tre Trattoria is making a name for itself with a new layout, flavorful sauces, tableside tartufo, fresh pastas, expert service, a fabulous sommelier in Fabien Jacob (formerly with Bohanan’s), a robust coffee and cocktail program, and fascinating desserts by pastry chef Jenn Riesman. 401 S. Alamo St., (210) 224-8800, nonnasa.com. Range // Or was it the year of Dady? The guy and his team are nonstop and dropped the news of Range before Iron Chef Gauntlet’s finale. For this writer, at least, the revamped decor left little to remember Lüke San Antonio by, with its deep blue hues and branding by Hilmy. Expect fun new dishes (parisa), chophouse classics (citrusy Brussels sprouts), interactive items (shabu shabu, tableside martinis) and a sweet ending (blue cotton candy, y’all). 125 E. Houston St., (210) 227-4455, rangesa.com. Pinch // The little pop-up that could by two totally unknown guys turned into a tasty restaurant with some of the city’s best flavors. Though The Rand is quite literally enveloped with construction, don’t let that stop you from visiting this unique shop. Vietnamese-style boils, garlicky sauces, fresh seafood, fun specials, loaded crab fries and familiar service are what set Pinch apart from the rest. 124 N. Main Ave., (210) 971-7774, pinchboilhouse.com. Burgerteca // Maybe I’m still emotional after watching Disney’s alebrije-filled Coco. Maybe I should pick up the phone and call my surviving grandparents. Maybe Burgerteca is Johnny Hernandez expertly tackling Mexicoinspired burgers with recognizable ingredients and
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 35
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
FOOD
Honorable Mention NOLA Brunch & Beignets // Though a few shaky visits kept this restaurant from making our top list, access to brunch favorites without having to resort to Snooze was a welcome addition to the St. Mary’s Strip. Get there early or be ready for a wait. 111 Kings Court, (210) 320-1572, eatatnola.com.
JESSICA ELIZARRARAS
Periphery // An affordable happy hour, a near perfect smoke roasted bird with lemon/ honey jus that “vaults handily to the top of local charts” made this neighborhood eatery, opened by chef Mark Weaver, a fun first act as we eagerly await act II. 2512 N. Main Ave., (210) 9660404, peripherysa.com. Boss Bagels // Montreal meets New York at this shop where wood-fired bagels have a hard time staying on the racks. 6458 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 504-4888, bossbagel.com. A spread at Carnitas Lonja (left) and olive oil cake at Nonna (right)
quality execution inside a wildly colorful restaurant, filled with fantastical creatures, communal seating and an ice cream shop to boot? Whatever, I’m getting chile con queso fries. 403 Blue Star, Suite 105, (210) 635-0016, chefjohnnyhernandez.com. Rosella at the Rand // Quality cocktails. Craft beers. Local coffee. An accessible menu for most diners. A beautiful space. Throw it all together, and you’ve got one of our favorite openings. 114 Houston St., (210) 277-8574, rosellacoffee.com. Outlaw Kitchen // Neighborhood dining at its best, Outlaw Kitchen opened this fall with a seemingly impossible premise: serving dinner only for three hours a night, five days a week. But this isn’t your run-of-the mill dinner. Plates (two options to choose from nightly) are curated by lauded and CIA-trained chef Paul Sartory and delivered to your table by co-owner, wife, Jackie of All Trades Peggy Howe, who converted their house into a line-work restaurant. Sit on the patio, or squeeze into the diner style bar-top, or call your order in for takeaway pick up, you can’t go wrong. 2919 N. Flores St., (210) 3004728, outlawkitchens.com.
Chas Market & Kitchen // Much like Outlaw, JT Kim is bringing that neighborhood feel to Chas Market & Kitchen. Though technically open for the past 35 years, the corner store added all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue to its daily offerings. The bodega vibes make for a distinct dining experience, but the top-notch pork belly, spicy ribs and bulgogi make the wait oh-so-worth it. Call ahead to secure a spot. 1431 N. Pine St., (210) 227-1521. Signature // Because La Cantera needs love, too and not just in a “Rustic” kind of way. From our review: “Andrew Weissman, no stranger to high-end culinary concepts, steadfastly denies that Signature, his spare-noexpense new restaurant on the flanks of La Cantera’s golf greens (the building itself a former golf 'academy'), is a fine-dining establishment. There are no tablecloths on the gleaming, recycled-wood tabletops, he asserts; the prices are below those of most such restaurants (tellingly true when compared to high-end steakhouses); and, it should be noted that the sommelier (maybe we should just call him the wine guy) may be suited but he is also tieless. Oh, and there’s a burger, albeit Wagyu, on the menu.” 16401 La Cantera Pkwy., (210) 247-0176, destinationhotels. com/signature-restaurant.
Carnitas Lonja // The prep is different (namely it came inside), but the puerco is still stellar and the hand-made tortillas keep getting better. Don’t sleep on the jalapeños, guac, late night menu or quesadillas found inside the Southside joint by former Lüke San Antonio cook Alex Paredes. 1107 Roosevelt Ave., (210) 612-3626. Bottling Department Food Hall // Five for the price of, well five. The Pearl’s food hall opened its doors this summer and proximity and free valet service during lunch aside, one too many Current staffers have spent too much of our paychecks and subsisted off noodles, doughnuts, smoothies, roasted chicken, burgers and the occasional drink or two from the bar. Thanks for keeping us fed, Tenko, Maybelle’s, The Good Kind, Bud’s Rotisserie and Fletcher’s Hamburgers. 312 Pearl Pkwy., bottlingdept.com. Toro Kitchen + Bar // Stone Oak nailed paellas, tablados, tapas and live music this year with this Spaininspired nook by brother and sister team Gerardo and Vanessa De Anda. It’s worth a visit for the wine and Coke calimochos alone. 115 N. 1604 E., Suite 1105, (210) 592 1075, torokitchenandbar.com.
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 37
Come & try our
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CURRENT • • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
SHUTTERSTOCK
check us out at sacurrent.com
NIGHTLIFE
SHUTTERSTOCK
New Year’s Eve in SA JESSICA ELIZARRARAS | @JESSELIZARRARAS
DECEMBER 30
Parties and dinners to help you ring in 2018 pasta dishes? Visit Battalion, which will host two seatings (7pm and 9:30 pm). $75 early seating or $90 late seating, 604 S. Alamo St., (210) 816-0088.
Pinch Boil House // The Vietnamese-style boils will be front and center during this Boil & Brews event on New Year’s Eve, Eve. Guests can enjoy boiled crawfish or Bexar Pub // Do you want an unobstructed view crab legs, shrimp and other seafood items; the regular of Downtown’s fireworks? Then Bexar Pub should menu will not be available. The restaurant will also have be your midnight spot for great food, drinks and a DJ and cold beer. Prices vary, noon to 3 pm, 124 N. a bubbles clink to ring in 2018. $10, 3pm, 114 Main Ave., (210) 971-7774. Brooklyn Ave., (210) 236-7828.
The Bin Tapas Bar // Escape to Spain for New Year’s Eve with festive drink specials, DJ spinning, and $1 Bar Louie // Kiss 2017 goodbye with a martini at Bar tapas until the early morning. Prices vary, 4p-1am, Louie. Reserve your seat ASAP through Eventbrite. $20, 511 E. Grayson St., (210) 994-8099. 8pm, 15900 La Cantera Pkwy., (210) 901-6280. Blue Box // Spend your New Year’s Eve at The Pearl. Battalion // Do you love great views and even better Email info@bluebox.com and D3072000@yahoo.com NEW YEAR’S EVE
for packages available. Prices vary, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 2107, (210) 227-2583. Boiler House // Stop in for a gingerbread martini ($14), hot buttered Texas rum ($12). Dishes will include lemon chive crabcake with sweet pepper relish, achiote aioli, sunny quail egg ($15), Calamari Piccata with pan-roasted calamari, charred tomato concasse, capers, rapini and arugula ($21); eggnog pound cake with candied fruit and cocoa nibs ($8). 312 Pearl Pkwy., Building 3, (210) 354-4644. Brass Monkey // Sunday Funday at Brass is a must for this NYE with $2 anythings and music you can dance to from all genres. No cover, 9pm, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722.
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 39
The Suffers
THU., DEC 28 • 7PM • ALL AGES
Rich Hands
FRI., DEC 29 • 8PM • ALL AGES
DEC 30 @ 7 PM
SEVENDUST / CROBOT
GIRLS NIGHT OUT, THE SHOW
JAN 13 @ 9 PM
Ghostland Observatory FRI., DEC 29 • 7PM • ALL AGES
Neon Indian
SAT., DEC 30 • 7PM • ALL AGES JAN 20 @ 7 PM
10 YEARS & FROM THE ASHES TO NEW
JAN 24 @ 8 PM
DEADHORSE WITH CONFUSED, SCREW MISSILE, ANIALAOR, AND THE ASTRAL PROJECT
TO PURCHASE TICKETS AT ANY OF OUR OUTLETS:
Box Office at The Rock Box | Mon-Sat:10am- 5pm | ticketfly.com 1223 E HOUSTON ST. SA, TX 78205 | THEROCKBOXSA.COM | 40
CURRENT • • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
papertigersatx.com
NIGHTLIFE
Breathe // Close the year out at Breathe’s upscale and exclusive “Black Dress and Bowtie” event with R&B artist Avant and music by DJ Citi. $60-$100 through Eventbrite, VIP package available for $250, 9pm, 8800 Broadway, Suite 102, (210) 487-1153.
Francis Bogside // Francis is back and better than ever. Leaky Barrel // We lost a big one this year, but Leaky Join for light bites and a complimentary Champagne Barrel is paying homage to the great, late Tom Petty bottle per table of four. Prices vary, 803 S. St. Mary’s by hosting The Damn Torpedeos, A Tribute to Tom St., (210) 369-9192. Petty and the Heartbreakers. $10 for adults, $15 for minors, 9pm, 7959 Fredericksburg Road, Suite George’s Keep // How’s free parking, Champagne 131, (210) 577-5470. Burnhouse // The bar hosts a Rose Gold New Year’s specials, Champagne toast and live music by the party featuring music by DJ Chris Duano. VIP and bottle one and only Jim Cullum sound? I know, right! Prices Little Italy // The Italian restaurant will open with chef service packages are available. 4553 NW 1604 W., vary, 17803 La Cantera Terrace, Suite 1200; call specials including surf and turf of filet mignon with marsala Suite 1229 (210) 810-5090. (210) 383-8952 to reserve a table. mushroom sauce and broiled shrimp with scampi sauce. Each special purchase receives one glass of prosecco Coyote Ugly Saloon // Things are going to get ▲ Hanzo // Get a heads start on Lunar New Year half off. 11am-8pm, 824 Afterglow St., (210) 349-2060. somehow sexier when the girls hosts Arabian Nights inside this Alamo Heights bar that will pack in live New Year’s Eve Ball. Here’s what's in store: $1,000 music and include a complimentary toast at midnight. Morton’s The Steakhouse // Morton’s The Steakhouse balloon drop, midnight Champagne toast and Prices vary, 7701 Broadway, Suite 124, (210) 826will be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. more. VIP table and dinner packages available. $15 1488. The restaurant is featuring Côte de Boeuf – a 36-ounce bone-in USDA Prime Ribeye brushed with garlic-herb pre-sale, $25 at door, 409 E. Commerce St., (210) 465-UGLY. High Street Wine Co. // The wine bar’s space butter for $110 and a steak and lobster special for transforms into La Belle Epoque with a covered patio, $56. 5pm-midnight New Year’s Eve, 4-9pm New Year’s Drink Texas // DJ Rush will spin you into 2018 so indoor dancing, hors d’oeuvres, a photobooth and a Day. Prices vary, 300 E. Crockett St., (210) 228-0700. come ready to dance. $10, 9pm, 200 Navarro St., CHAMPAGNE TOWER. Oh yeah! $150 per person, (210) 224-1031; email mo@drinktexas.com for 8pm, 302 Pearl Pkwy., (210) 908-9144. ▲ Paramour // For its second annual Midnight reservations. Masquerade, Paramour will ask guests to put on a Hotel Valencia // The remodeled Hotel Valencia will mask, come dressed to impress and take in a show Esquire Tarvern // Don’t forget to make dinner heat up with a Fire and Ice New Year’s Eve shindig which includes burlesque dancers, drag queens, reservations for this Downtown spot that gets that includes a dinner buffet, DJ, dance floor, a mysteriously masked models and a #moetmoment at Champagne toast and late night bites. $75 for party midnight. Admission includes nibbles by Jason Dady. booked fast. Enjoy sparking wine to toast at midnight, live music and more. 155 E. Commerce only, $125 for buffet and party, 8:30pm-2am, 150 $75 singles, $100 couples, 7pm, 102 9th St., Suite St., (210) 222-2521. E. Houston St., (210) 227-9700. 400, (210) 340-9880.
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 41
200
NO COVER • PARTY FAVORS
FIREWORKS ON ALL TV’S
10141 Wurzbach • (210) 877-2100 • wurzbachicehouse.com • Corner of Ironside and Wurzbach
2015 place COME AS YOU ARE
MON-THU 4P-2A | FRI-SUN 2P-2A | 2015 SAN PEDRO | 210.733.3385 42
CURRENT • • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
Picks Bar // Say adios to 2017 with Finding Friday at Picks. $28 in advance, $35 at the door, 4553 N. Loop 1604 W. Suite 1101, (210) 253-9220.
LAUREN DE HOYOS
JAIME MONZON
NIGHTLIFE
the Alamo City, so they must be doing something right. Stop in for a Wine + Dine dinner of four-courses and an NYE Bash inside Ash in the Basement. $79 per person, with option to add booze, 1168 E. Commerce St., (210) 253-9642, email Donny at donny@ smokedowntown.com for reservations.
$425 for VIP reservations that include with grilled carrots, tamarind emulsion, access to a dinner buffet, a VIP bay toasted peanuts, and micro cilantro; for six guests, bubbles at midnight and tamaki gold rice pudding with bacon NYE favors. Prices vary, 9 to close, fat granola, sesame see ice cream 5539 N. 1604 W., (210) 202-2694. and kumquat marmalade; and finally a Range // Jason Dady’s latest will complementary glass of sparkling wine. feature three- and four-course prix fixe Tre Enoteca // Enjoy a five-course NYE $65 plus tax and gratuity, 1810 NW dinners ($75 and $125, respectively) menu with dishes including creamy Military Hwy., (210) 340-7808. beginning at 5 p.m., with dishes like parsnip and leek bisque; slow-roasted Cognac-infused lobster bisque, 44 Southtown 101 // Celebrate the start of fennel and brown sugar porchetta; Sustenio // The Eilan’s restaurant will Farms NY Strip, and Brussels sprouts San Antonio’s 300th birthday with Effen pan-seared gnocchi with brown butter say goodbye to 2017 with a five-course with blood orange gastrique and gourds, house bacon, red onion Vodka and an unbeatable view of the menu that includes an oyster-Sevruga almond nougat before transitioning to jam, fried sage, and pecorino; and Tower of the Americas come midnight. caviar shot, black truffle huitlacoche a “Breakfast and Blues” party from 11 Let’s have a happy “effen” new year! 9pmTuscan marinated ribeye. $69.95, add soup, butter lettuce wedge salad, p.m. – 2 a.m. Ring in the new year with 2am, 101 Pereida St., (210) 899-4667. supplementary wine pairings for an macaroon pop, choice of pasturebreakfast tacos and premier blues band additional $30, 4-11pm, 555 W. Bitters raised filet mignon, blackened redfish Ruben V for $50, plus cash bar service Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery Road, (210) 496-0555. with griddled clue crab or Mexican and a midnight toast. Prices vary, 125 // Stop by Southerleigh for NYE shrimp and Southern cheese grits, and E. Houston St., (210) 227-4455. festivities with complimentary glass finally a choice of chocolate Dacquoise Tre Trattoria // Tre will open on Sunday with a five-course NYE menu of Champagne to cheers, and special hazelnut meringue or lime tart brulee. Rosella at the Rand // Avoid the menu items including slow-roasted featuring caprese with house pulled $95 per person for dinner only, or nuttiness of Hemisfair but still have a pork shank with Hoppin’ John, black mozzarella; wild mushroom herbed $125 per person for dinner, dancing great New Year’s Eve Downtown with a garlic-spiked spinach and dijon glace; risotto with porcini powder and with the Bellagio band, ballon drop stop at Rosella at the Rand where they’ll or whole fried Gulf flounder, creamy Parmigiano-Reggiano; slow braised and Champagne toast after dinner, host a DJ, and include a bubbles toast Crystal butter, house fries and South lamb shank with creamy polenta, 5:30pm, 18603 La Cantera Terrace, at midnight. No cover, 9pm, 114 E. Texas slaw. Prices vary, 5-11 p.m., 136 (210) 598-2946. calabrese salsa, and shaved Pecorino; Houston St., (210) 595-1410. E. Grayson St., (210) 455-5701. and red wine-poached pear crumble The Trophy Room // How’s this sound: with candied hazelnuts and pink ▲ The Rustic // For it’s inaugural San Sternewirth // Have a swanky new year No cover, gratis Champagne toast at peppercorn Mascarpone. $69.95, Antonio NYE, this country chic bar/ at Sternewirth where you’ll find Latin jazz midnight, and DJ AU mixing it up live? add supplementary wine pairings for venue/restaurant/George Strait hangout music by local icon Henry Brun and his Yeah, we’re into it. 214 Broadway, 8pm, an additional $30, 4-11pm, 4003 will feature a free with RSVP concert international trio. Cover includes midnight (210) 257-5152. Broadway, (210) 805-0333. by Oklahoma’s Bryce Merritt. But if toast and favors. $20, 9pm-2am, 136 E. you’re willing to spring for VIP tickets, Grayson St., (210) 448-8300. ▲ Tony G’s Soul Food // The year was Wax Club Lounge // CJ Spectre will The Rustic sweetens the deal with a good one for this soul food spot and close out the year and welcome 2018 separate VIP entrance with guaranteed Sushihana Japanese Restaurant they’re sharing that with you. Stop in with 80s favorites, new wave, dark wave // The Castle Hills fave will serve a admittance, one Sunday Supper for a NYE Block Party, food trucks, and more. No cover, 8pm, 2211 San Dinner, a dedicated server per table, Omakase Chef’s tasting menu from 1 food booths, DJs and more outside, Pedro Ave., (210) 379-4788. complimentary midnight Champagne to 9 p.m. with four courses including and head inside for a NYE buffet, a toast and NYE party swag. Concert free nigirizushi (toro, pickled pear onion, The Well // The 20,000-square-foot bar/ midnight toast and a great view of the with RSVP; $40 for VIP guaranteed restaurant/dancehall will feature tunes by mustard seed, garlic soy; hon maguro, Tower of the Americas. $30, 6pm, 915 entry, 7pm, 17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Brandon Michael and DJ Mikey J along balsamic, soy tobiko; shima aji, yuzu Hackberry St., (210) 451-1234. Suite 204, (210) 245-7500. with bottle service starting at $75 and dressing, candied serrano, caviar); Topgolf // Ring in 2018 with all-inclusive bubbles for as little as $20. No cover, herb-crusted Ora King Salmon with Smoke: BBQ Brew Venue // They packages at Topgolf. $225 for general 7pm, 5539 UTSA Blvd.; call (210) 877red beet puree, Meyer lemon sauce, hosted Snoop Dogg during his stay in reservations at a bay for eight guests or 9099 for bottle service and reservations. micro greens, ikura; braised short rib
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 43
44 CURRENT • • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
NIGHTLIFE
COURTESY OF REAL ALE
2017 Cocktails
5 craft beers we loved LANCE HIGDON
I
Some of our top picks for booze-filled drinks ERIN WINCH
f ever a year demanded a long, desperate New Year’s keg stand, it’s this one. Hell, beer and beer-making were some of the only bright spots in 2017, and despite two Big Beer buyouts and some legislative distribution horseshit, the Lone Star State shone its brightest yet. Naming just five beers of the year is something of a scientific wild-ass guess in a market flush with greats, but after consulting bar-napkin scribblings, hazy hangtime recollections, and my longsuffering Untappd account, I’ve tallied up a demi-dozen brews I recommend shot-gunning on December 31.
RON BECHTOL + JESSICA ELIZARRARAS + ERIN WINCH
SA really had a banner year in the beer realm, but I’ve got to hand the palm to Kunstler Brewing for blessing us with Edelweiss, a Czech-style pilsner that marries the trad (European Noble hops) with the rad (dry-hopping). The resultant pint is light-bodied and bursting forth with fruit juiciness and just a titch of bubblegum pop, reflecting SA’s Teutonic heritage and gourmet innovation in a single glass.
Mosaic balanced out the buttery spread of the barrel, even as he held the oak in check to brace up (rather than overpower) the entire profile. It was a banner year for luring Michigan craft to Texas, and while I put my share of Bell’s under my belt, it’s the Jolly Pumpkin/Jester King collabo Olas Espaciales I’ve gotta boost. TABC absurdity kept JK’s name off the label, but this effervescent saison bears all the hallmarks of the farmhouse legends. It pours delicate, almost dainty, its tidy funk and mild cherry-lime tart a wellspring of refinement among so many basically-abalsamic-vinegar “sours.”
Up in my own neck of the woods, Cibolo Creek’s Streetside has proved to be my favorite Kendall County ale. It kicks at 8.2 percent ABV and 86 IBUs of Amarillo, Simcoe, Summit, and Mosaic hops, which it balances with just enough malt to keep from tipping over If we’re going on sheer volume into barleywine territory. It’s fresh, it’s and enduring affection to rate the top assertive, and you can sip it from a plastic contender, this year’s beloved is, once cup while walking down Main Street. again, Real Ale’s Full Moon Rye IPA. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the This year saw its share of whalez. Do way that rye spice warms up beneath you like whalez? Well, call me Ishmael a Simcoe-Citra hop bouquet. You can and let’s talk whalez (or at least orcaz): drink them short, you can drink them Chardonnay barrel-aged Yellow Rose. long, you can drink them for an hour’s Lone Pint’s SMaSH IPA is a beauty worth of minimum wage and some unto itself, but in Blake Niederhofer’s loose couch cushion change. And you hands, the florality of its whole-cone can only get it in Texas.
Esquire Tavern // It may be hard to divert your gaze from the battery of back-bar, back-lit bottles of mezcal at Esquire — but persist: these puppies are made for sipping, not stirring or shaking. Accordingly, there’s only one mezcal cocktail on the bar menu. Only one tequila, too. So the best course of action for the cocktail connoisseur is to look elsewhere, preferably to a drink you wouldn’t find at another bar in San Antonio. The First Note fills the bill perfectly. It’s built on a base of aguardiente de caña (small-batch rum from the mountains of Oaxaca — not at all like anise-heavy versions from Colombia) shaken vigorously with guava, Amaro Ramazotti, lime, and honey. The rum, funky with wild yeasts, dominates, but not to the detriment of the earthy guava and the restrained bitterness of the amaro. Think of it as a high-toned tiki without the orchids and umbrellas, if you like — but try it regardless. — Ron Bechtol Periphery // A limited time only cocktail that was a favorite was the Smoke and Water that was created by Michael Miller at the Periphery. Watermelon drinks have been popular this year, with many variations popping up all over the city, the Smoke and Water was a great combination that used mezcal, Campari, and a house-made watermelon shrub. The drink was almost a variation on the classic Negroni cocktail though in this variation, the bitter flavor of the Campari is enhanced by the smoke from the mezcal, which is then rounded out and balanced by sweetness from the favorite summer fruit. Due to its creative simplicity, and the use of favorite San Antonio ingredients, it’s a top cocktail of 2017 for sure. — Erin Winch Nonna Osteria // Maybe I’m a sucker for a good show. Make sure to leave room for dessert at Nonna, be it the solid or liquid kind. The Marriochino Ubriaco, a combination of Nutella, espresso and China China — a herbaceous liqueur with a strong hint of citrus, that compliments the hazelnut spread and coffee — is finished off with a house-made green Chartreuse marshmallow that’s torched tableside. Give it a minute to cool or risk a scorched nose. — Jessica Elizarraras For a full list of our favorite cocktails of 2017, visit sacurrent.com. sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 45
COM AND AN
FRAN
Complim
DJ Stretch Up Downst
DON Featuring
1150 Photo by Josh Huskin 46 CURRENT • • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
OME BLOW 2017 OUT ND WELCOME 2018! 20181
RANK NEW YEARS EVE WITH SPURS JESUS!
$10 Cover Includes Complimentary "Bye Bye 2017" Cocktail plimentary Champagne Toast at Midnight with Spurs Jesus Complimentary Snack bar at Midnight Midnight Unveiling of The Spurs Jesus Dog! h Upstairs in the Sanctuary Bar spinning 80's and 90's Hip Hop wnstairs in Frank Lounge DJ spinning Funk, Soul and Chill
DON’T MISS THE VAUDEVILLE EXTRAVAGANZA SATURDAY DEC. 30TH uring: Lucy Petra, Harvey Mclaughlin, Gio Of Zombie Bazaar & La Chichada 1150 SOUTH ALAMO IN SOUTHTOWN • FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @FRANKSANANTO HOTDOGSCOLDBEER.COM sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 47
YearS
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
JAIME MONZON
New
JAIME MONZON
MUSIC
10 of our favorite songs from local artists in 2017
CHRIS CONDE
D
amn, it’s been a crazy year. So many shows, so many events, so many artists putting out dope work. Y’all really stepped it up this year, San Antonio, we see you out here! While there’s just not enough time to write about all the amazing songs you beautiful folks released, here’s 10 (not in any particular order) that really stayed with us through the entire year. And look, 2017 isn’t done yet, but we’re pretty stoked to see what you got for us next year. Until then, vibe with us to these hometown jams.
Chris Maddin “Stuck In Edit” Pay attention when Chris Maddin releases music. The frontman to numerous musical projects in San Antonio’s past and present, Maddin’s “Stuck In Edit” sounds like it was written with the intention of pumping all of the artist’s seasoned musical experience into a single song. It’s spacey, rich in layers and just a clear example of Maddin’s crazy genius. chrismaddin.bandcamp. com/album/sterequiem. Pinko “Samo isn’t dead” Even though Pinko’s “Samo isn’t dead” is full of distorted guitar riffs and thundering drum hits, the track is actually quite dancey. You may even find yourself moving your hips to the groove-heavy guitar riffing of frontman Guillermo Mendez as he sings, shouts and screams throughout the two minutes and seven seconds of rock 'n' roll frenzy. pinkosanantonio. bandcamp.com/album/pinkobummer-split-12.
Elnuh “May 2 June” Like gliding through a dream about surfing California waves, Elnuh’s “May 2 June” is a echoey, psychedelic, indie rock gem that’s more laid back than an afternoon nap in, well, June. Fronted by Elena Lopez, who’s played in a number of projects including Octahedron and Baby Bangs, Elnuh is described as the kind of music Lopez writes in the middle of the night when she can’t fall asleep. Pretty appropriate, if you ask us. elnuh.bandcamp. com/album/the-split.
demands attention from on-lookers and passerbys. Punctuated by sounds of breaking glass and machine-gun drum beats, “Melania Carry” sounds like what might be playing at a club in a post– apocalyptic future ... you know, the one we’re in. soundcloud.com/ halcyon-veil/tone-padron-melaniacarry-halc013.
Booty Feet “Cabrera” Soulful, surfy, bouncy and poppy, Booty Feet’s “Cabrera” is the kind of song that shows up on the opening scene of a high House of Kenzo school movie about the last day of “Melania Carry” school. For a band that’s not even Transcending the conceptual 2 years old, the subtle details to art/dance world to the music their song-writing set this band arena with their debut EP Bonfires apart from other indie rock bands of Urbanity, House of Kenzo hasn’t that have been doing it way longer. skipped a beat since bursting on bootyfeet.bandcamp.com/album/ the scene nearly two years ago. split. From official South By Southwest showcases to their steady Femina-X regiment of club performances “Black Tongue” across Texas, including an What’s most noticeable on incredible show at Day For Night Femina X’s “Black Tongue,” Fest in Houston, House of Kenzo besides frontwoman Daniela is proving to be a force that Rioja’s feather-light Bjork-esque
vocals, is guitarist Alex Scheel’s guitar. It’s almost as if he’s imitating a bird or some sort of jungle creature with his tremolo picking, which adds perfectly to the group’s tribal vibe. feminax. bandcamp.com/album/multiversefull-album. Third Root “Justice or Else” Arguably one of the best local hip-hop tracks to ever emerge from the 2-10, Third Root’s “Justice or Else” is the type of song you listen to riding the bus or train (if we had one) looking out the window at the people in your city. It’s got that vibe that makes you want to nod your head but also think about the change you’d like to see in the city. Conscious hip-hop to the fullest. thirdroot.bandcamp.com/album/ libertad. Carlton Zeus “Necio Cumbia” If you haven’t seen Carlton Zeus’ live show, you’re really missing out on one of the most entertaining acts residing in SA. If you happen to catch him (he doesn’t actually play in SA as often), you’ll be sure to hear the track “Necio Cumbia” off the album Three Strikes You’re In released earlier this year. carltonzeus.bandcamp.com/ album/three-strikes-youre-in-2.
Nothing More “Go To War” When your band secures three Grammys for the music y’all write, chances are your shit’s decent and deserves a listen. For those who don’t know, San Antonio’s Nothing More did just that and two of the three Grammy nominations they garnered were actually for this particular song “Go To War” – Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. Not too shabby for a band from the Alamo City. soundcloud.com/nothing-more/ go-to-war. Shaping The Legacy “A Future Divided” Punctuated with oodles of electric guitar tapping and drums so tight you’d think they were computer programmed, Shaping The Legacy is probably the closest thing to the rapid-fire staccato guitar jabbing of “djent” our town has seen out of a local band, especially on “A Future Divided” from their 2017 album Colors of Infinity. It’s not a surprise the track sits at 167, 000 plays on Spotify, and it’s not all just technicality for technicality sake. While those who do enjoy the insane polyrhythms crisscrossing throughout the track, the song has enough pop aesthetic to appeal to a wide range of rockers. soundcloud. com/shapingthelegacy/a-futuredivided.
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 49
O P E N 3 P - 2 A E V E R Y D AY • H A P P Y H O U R 3 -7 P M D A I LY R I V E R T I N I AWA R D W I N N E R
RING IN THE
NEW YEAR W I T H D OW N TOW N ’ S F R I E N D L I E S T N E I G H B O R H O O D B A R ,
W H E R E T H E LO C A L S H A N G O U T !
N. Presa St.
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2 1 0 . 2 6 7. 9 8 8 5 • T H E LO C A L B A R S A .C O M • L I K E U S O N F B : T H E LO C A L B A R S A
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
MUSIC
MP
TOADIES
MUSIC PICKS
In 1993, after being noticed by Interscope Records on the strength of their debut EP Pleather, Texas post-grunge rock band the Toadies began recording their debut full-length Rubberneck. proving to be one of the most enduring and definitive rock albums of the 1990s, the Fort Worth four-piece landed themselves betwixt the biggest rock names of the decade including Foo Fighters, Nirvana and Third Eye Blind. But y’all already know this story, and even though these dudes show up in SA almost once a year or so (Josabi’s in 2014, Maverick Music Festival in 2015), They’re still worth seeing if not to rock out to their hit “Possum Kingdom.” $25, 8pm, Aztec Theatre, The Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com. – CC THU
MATT COOPER
28
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY
THE SUFFERS
Remember Ghostland Observatory? I don’t know if it’s just because we were in such close proximity to Austin, home base to the duo, but in 2008, didn’t it seem like no matter where we went, we couldn’t escape the electro grip of “Sad Sad City” and Aaron Behrens’ braided pigtails flopping against his head as he sang and gyrated across stages? While the band hasn’t released a full album since 2010’s Codename: Rondo, fans can be sure to expect the same high-energy pulse from the group which made us throw their music on our party playlists all through the late aughts. $29.50-$35, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. – CC FRI
29
DA NIE RL
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Listed on their Facebook as “politically charged, pissed off hardcore” Austin’s Insvrgence are definitely one of the better metalcore acts residing in the 5-1-2. After seeing them open for Solidstate Records veterans Zao and Living Sacrifice a few weeks ago, it was clear that these dudes know how to, you know, bring the mosh. The five-piece have that tried and true traditional metalcore sound that made bands Throwdown, Hatebreed and Sworn Enemy popular in the late ’90s and early 2000s, so if you dig a good breakdown every now and again, these folks will definitely serve a few up. $7, 6pm, Bonds 007, 450 Soledad St., (210) 225-0007, bonds007rockbar.com. – CC FRI
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Houston, Texas has always been a hotbed for blues and soul music. Notable legends include Archie Bell & The Drells, The (Jazz) Crusaders, The Laws Family (Hubert, Eloise, & Ronnie), Yolonda Adams, Destiny’s Child and Beyonce, and of course, the wonderful, Barbara Lynn. We can’t forget the Thunder Soul sounds of the Kashmere Stage Band either. All that said, H-town is continuing its tradition of producing sweet sounding soul music. Quickly making their way onto the national stage, The Suffers are one of the latest and most successful bands representing Gulf Coast Soul! Their debut self-titled LP dropped in February of 2016 and featured the standout tunes “Make Some Room” and “Stay.” Recent showcases include NPR’s Tiny Desk and Live on KEXP (highly recommended viewing and streaming online). The band’s Texas-sized big brass sound is led by vocalist Kam Franklin and for fans of sister funk like Lyn Collins (another Texas Soul legend), Betty Wright, and Sharon Jones — Franklin and the Suffers are sure to please. $22-$25, 7pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. – JJ Lopez THU
INSVRGENCE
sacurrent.com • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • CURRENT 51
CULTURE DEC. 29 • PARKER MCCOLLUM
DEC. 30 • WILLIAM CLARK GREEN
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OCT. 20 • VIP ENTRY 12 PM GA ENTRY 1:30PM - END 6:30 PM DIGNOWITY AND LOCKWOOD PARKS
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
MUSIC
SEVENDUST
DARKNESS DIVIDED
I mean, I don’t think I actually ever owned a Sevendust CD in my teens. I definitely had this like MTV rock sampler CD that I bought ’cause it had like Incubus, Deftones and Korn and shit like that on it ’cause I was 12 and Deftones was my shit (OK, Deftones are still my shit). So, that being said, the Sevendust track on that CD which I think was “Denial” wasn’t a bad nu-metal song (I don’t think I skipped it while listening to the CD). Listening to the song now though, I don’t know if I would actively seek out this sort of sound but, the fact that these dudes were at River City Rockfest last year sort of tells me that there’s at a least a few of us out here who still dig these guys, and if you’re one of them then this show is a must-see. $31-$150, 8pm, Vibes Center, 1211 E. Houston St., (210) 718-5500, vibeseventcenter.com. – CC SAT
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Following in the footsteps of metal bands who sing about Jesus (think Norma Jean or Living Sacrifice), some might simply write off Darkness Divided as breakdown-heavy Christian music. Regardless of message, you can’t deny that these guys are good. Good enough to land a spot on hardcore label Victory Records, which have hosted scores of hardcore, post-hardcore and metalcore acts over the years including Terror, Atreyu, Thursday and even Bad Brains. However, after almost eight years of releasing music and touring, including a tour earlier this year with Unearth, the four-piece have announced that they’re throwing in the towel to focus on other areas of their lives. This is one of their last shows ever so if you dig these dudes, or just good metal in general, don’t sleep on this one. $10, 7pm, Alamo City Music Hall, The Saloon, 1305 E. Houston St., alamocitymusichall.com. – CC
Yep, Churchill High School alumnus Alan Palomo – aka Neon Indian – is coming to Texas, including a stop at Paper Tiger, to bring some electronic tunes our way. If you don’t know the story, Palomo grew up in SA, went to college in Denton and in 2009 with his band Neon Indian released the chillwave gem Psychic Chasms. Rolling Stone named Neon Indian one of the best new bands of 2010 and the rest is sort of history. If you dig bands like Washed Out or artists like Com Truise, you’ll most likely get into the sparkly pop jams of Neon Indian, you know, if you haven’t already (which if you listen to either, you most likely know already, OK? OK great). $23-$25, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. – CC SAT
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HIKES + NEON SALSA INDIAN
In what is easily Jandro’s Garden Patio’s most serious offering as a music venue in its still-short history, ATX’s Hikes head up a bill that’s sure to delight fans of mathy indie rock with pop leanings. While Hikes will sojourn down I-35 to offer up its singular blend of folk, indie-pop, and math rock, Salsa, a Japanese band that, in this case, has chosen the perfect brand-name for its target market, will bring its knotty and driving alt-rock to town. Rounding out the bill, locals Booty Feet and Dance like Robots both play indie-pop hybrid styles, the former on the more arty/spacey side and the latter on the more danceable. $5, 9pm, Jandro’s Garden Patio, 2623 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 736-0688, facebook.com/Jandrostx. – James Courtney SAT
LUKE LAUTER
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CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
MUSIC
REVEREND HORTON HEAT
REO SPEEDWAGON + PAT BENATAR WITH NEIL GIRALDO So, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar may not have been at the top of everyone’s list to perform at the city’s Tricentennial New Year’s Eve celebration, but is it that surprising that the “Keep On Loving You” dudes and Pat Benatar (who wrote the iconic ’80s tracks “Love is a Battlefield” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” ... which I’m currently jamming out to as I write) are lined up to perform? Admit it San Antonio, we dig the old shit, so let’s try to enjoy it and if anything, legendary conjunto musician Flaco Jimenez will be there so, at least we’ll have some puro San Anto representation there, too. Free, 4pm, Hemisfair Park, 434 S. Alamo St., sanantonio300.org. – CC SUN
BIG FREEDIA If you missed Big Freedia Queen Diva’s performance at Paper Tiger back in July of 2016 where she pretty much took us to church, you’re in luck. The queen is back and ready to teach you how to bounce. Long before her show on Fuse TV or her feature on Beyonce’s mega-hit “Formation,” Big Freedia was tearing up the New Orleans club scene for almost two decades, getting her start as a backup singer for fellow gender-bending bounce artist Katey Red. Since then, Big Freedia has turned heads with her high-energy live shows that continue to get massive crowds twerking in unison and celebrating a music and culture that was born in New Orleans. Get ready to sweat. $25, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. – CC MON
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Pop meets electronic weirdness for this local lineup with Schertz’s Merilette, an 18-year-old classically trained musician whose sound leans a little more alternative pop in the vein of folks like My Brightest Diamond and St. Vincent. The singer will be joined by Saturn Skies, who just released their album Magenta earlier this year and made a big dent in the local scene. Also on the bill is your favorite queer weirdo, or, queerdo, Pink Leche, who’s been tearing up the local scene for a few years with his signature queer bass sound. $10, 8:30pm, 502 Bar, 502 Embassy Oaks, (210) 257-8125, 502bar.com. – CC
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I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that psychobilly, with its trashy overtones of testosterone-pumping madness and its dystopian undertones of country/Western noir, is a genre that seems an apt anachronism for describing 2017 in the United States. As such, why not close out the year with a heavy dose of the devil’s swing? You’ll have the opportunity to do just that, with Texas-boy and hillbilly hellhound Reverend Horton Heat bringing his posse to town on the final day of the year. The band, noted far and wide for its high-octane fusion of country, blues, rock, swing, surf, and punk, will be joined for this special New Year’s Eve bill by two other acts that sound like they should be in Quentin Tarantino movies: Jesse Dayton and Two Tons of Steel. $35-$100, 8:30pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. – JC SUN
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BRYAN REGAN
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MUSIC
MUSIC CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27 Adam Johnson Blues artist performs on the Gruene Hall stage. Free. Gruene Hall, 1-5pm. Bru’s Tunes Live acoustic music by Bru’s Tunes. Free. La Hacienda De Los Barrios, 6-9pm. Hot Texas Swing Hot Texas Swing Band performs a mix of country and swing. Free. Gruene Hall, 6-10pm. Primetime Jazz Orchestra John Magaldi’s Primetime Jazz Orchestra performs jazz at The Cove. Free. The Cove, 8-10pm. Rick Barroso and the BigNasty Juke Joint Experience Local band perform blues at Jazz, TX. Free. Jazz, TX, 5:307:30pm. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28 American Aquarium Roots rockers perform at Sam’s Burger Joint. $12-$70. Sam’s Burger Joint, 8pm.
Paegan Metal band from Seguin performs with Fumar and The Bastard Son. $5. Zombies, 9-2am Parker McCollum Americana singersongwriter from Austin performs with Austin Meade. $12-$15. John T Floore’s Country Store, 9pm. Raised Right Men Honky-tonk band from Denton performs on the Rustic stage. Free. The Rustic, 8:30-10pm. Wood Stove Sessions With the Bob Livingston Trio. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 7-11pm. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30 Big Band Show Doc Watkins and his orchestra bring the brass. $30. Jazz, TX, 8:30-11:30pm. Coven Deathrock DJ Ely Bat spins ’80s, post punk, goth, and alternative. Free. The Amp Room, 9-2am. The Doc Watkins Trio Jazz trio performs at Jazz, TX. Free. Jazz, TX, 5:30-7:30pm. Flat Top Jones Country group out of Austin performs on the Gruene Hall stage. Free. Gruene Hall, 1-5 pm.
Forsolace Local metal band Above My Enemy performs on the Zombies stage with Forsolace, Mushroom Honey and The Doc Watkins Quartet Jazz group The Broken Soul. $5. Zombies, 9-2am. Doc Watkins Quartet performs at Jazz, TX. $10-$30. Jazz, TX, 8:30-11:30pm. The Georges Local upbeat rockabilly group performs an end of the year dance Don Leady & The Tailgators Vintage party. Free. The Phoenix Saloon, 9-1am. swamp-rock set. Free. Gruene Hall, 1-5pm.
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Eli Young Band Denton country band performs on the Cowboy Dancehall stage. $20-$50. Cowboys Dancehall, 7pm. Granger Smith Dallas country singer takes the Gruene stage with Cash Campbell. $20. Gruene Hall, 7pm. Jose Amador and Terra Nova Latin jazz at Jazz, TX stage. Free. Jazz, TX, 5:307:30pm. Sol Patch Fredericksburg soul duo Sol Patch performs an acoustic country set. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5-9pm. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29 Big Band Show Doc Watkins and his orchestra perform a big band show. $10-$30. Jazz, TX. 8:30-11:30pm.
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56 CURRENT • December 27, 2017-January 9, 2018 • sacurrent.com
Hostile Pantera cover band joined by Bloodline, a Slayer tribute and High Voltage, an AC/DC tribute band. $8$10. Bond’s 007 Rock Bar, 8 pm. Randy Rogers Band Texas country rockers Randy Rogers band plays red dirt country on the Cowboys stage. $20$40. Cowboys Dancehall, 7pm. Ready Revolution Local pop rock band performs with Jerry Fuentes and Jet Black Alley Cat. $5-$10. 502 Bar, 9-midnight. Roger Creager Texas country singer from Corpus performs an evening of his originals. $25. Gruene Hall, 9pm. Saturday Pickers Circle Join Dan West for an unplugged acoustic jam. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 1pm.
Billy Bacon & The Forbidden Pigs Local rockabilly band plays a free afternoon show. Free. Gruene Hall, 1-5pm.
Scott Haggard Country singer and son of Merle Haggard performs with Darrel Qualls. $25-$30. Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music, 7pm.
The Lavens Folk rock family band plays a mixture of original material and classic covers. Free. The Cove, 6:30-8:30pm.
That Captain Folk-reggae band plays the Ventura stage with Saltwater Slide. TBA. Ventura, 8-1am.
Merilette Alt-pop singer-songwriter from Schertz performs at 502 bar. $10. 502 Bar, 8:30-11pm.
Wood Stone sessions With The Jimmy Lee Jones Trio. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 7pm.
MUSIC
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 Houston Marchman Americana artist from Austin performs Texas country. Free. Gruene Hall, 1-5pm. Jimmy Davis Sunday Afternoons with country singer Jimmy Davis. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 1pm.
performs on the Luckenbach stage. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 7pm. West Creek Unplugged acoustic-country with West Creek. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 4pm. West Kings Highway Jazz rockers West Kings Highway perform blues, jazz and Americana. Free. Southtown 101, 8-11pm.
Attention
NYE 2018 Party Brass Monkey will be playing indie, diva, throwback and dance. Free. Brass Monkey, 9-2am. SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 MONDAY, JANUARY 1 Dan West Dan West performs an unplugged country jam under the oaks. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5pm.
Dj Mighty Iris DJ Mighty Iris spins indie, Fabby New Year’s Day Hangover retro and dance. Free. The Amp Room, Special Hosted by acoustic artists 10pm-2am. Dudey Dudester and Jefferey Ryan Vaughn. Free. The Phoenix Saloon, 3pm. Free Week SA Paper Tiger hosts three nights of various local talent. Free. Paper TUESDAY, JANUARY 2 Tiger, 7pm. Tuesday Evening Picker T&C Miller DJ Flex DJ Flex mixes nu-funk, 80s, disco performs unplugged under the oaks. and funk remixes. Free. The Bang Bang Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5pm. Bar, 9 pm-2am. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 Jose Amador and Natiao Latin Jazz Salsa night at Jazz, TX, featuring Jose Bru’s Tunes Live acoustic music by Amador and Natiao Latin Jazz. $25. Bru’s Tunes. Free. La Hacienda De Los Jazz, TX, 8:30-11:30pm. Barrios, 6-9pm. Wednesday Evening Picker Circle Jake Martin performs country-Americana in Luckenbach. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5pm. THURSDAY, JANUARY 4 Free Week SA Paper Tiger hosts three nights of various local talent. Free. Paper Tiger, 7pm. Sol Patch Fredericksburg soul duo Sol Patch performs an acoustic country set. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5-9pm. These Fine Moments Austin/Seattle duo These Fine Moments perform acoustic folk pop. Free, Frank, 10-11:30pm. Track N Feels Thursday Indie-pop DJ Idyll Green plays a variety of music featuring a light show, live remixing and drink specials. Free. The Bang Bang Bar, 10pm. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 Free Week SA Paper Tiger hosts three nights of various local talent. Free. Paper Tiger, 7pm. Friday Afternoon Picker Circle Country singer Hayden Whittington performs an unplugged acoustic set. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 1pm. New Orleans Night Seguin's Dirty River Dixie Band plays Dixieland and jazz . $10$30. Jazz, TX, 8:30-11:30pm. Tom McElvain Country singer/songwriter
Healthy Adults!
3rd Annual Bowie Bash New Wave Class-X will be playing tribute to David Bowie mixing Bowie tracks. Free. Brass Monkey, 9pm-2am.
King George George Strait tribute night with King George and Band of Bandits. $12.50-$25. Aztec Theatre, 6:30pm. Lacimosa Evenescence tribute band performs with Head Rush, Metalriser and A.O River. $5. Zombies, 9pm.-2am. Riff Raff Rocks Riff Raff will play two sets of AC/DC hits. $8-$10. Bond’s 007 Rock Bar, 10:30pm. SUNDAY, JANUARY 7 Jimmy Davis Country musician Jimmy Davis performs at Luckenbach. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 1-5 p.m. U.S Bombs Orange County punk rockers perform at Paper Tiger. $15-$17. Paper Tiger, 8pm. MONDAY, JANUARY 8 Big Freedia New Orleans bounce artist Big Freedia takes us to church, bitch. $25. Paper Tiger, 8pm. Dan West Dan West performs an unplugged country jam under the oaks. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5pm. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9 Todd Daniel Snider Portland singersongwriter performs on stage with Rorey Carrol. $20-$25. John T Floore’s Country Store, 8:30pm. Tuesday Evening Picker T&C Miller performs unplugged under the oaks. Free. Luckenbach Dance Hall, 5pm.
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