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CURRENT | December 18–31, 2019 | sacurrent.com
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in this issue San Antonio Current
Issue 18_26 /// December 18-31, 2019
35 Feature
Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin
Editorial
The Drink Issue
Food & Nightlife Editor: Lea Thompson Calendar Editor: Kelly Merka Nelson Contributing Arts Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Staff Writer: Chris Conde Digital Content Editor: Sarah Martinez Contributors: Ron Bechtol, Daniel Conrad, James Courtney, Jade Esteban Estrada, Dan R. Goddard, Lance Higdon, Steven G. Kellman, Hannah Lorence, Kiko Martinez, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney Editorial Interns: Diana Amaya, Brianna Espinoza, Trevor Flynn, Georgie Riggs,
From accessible Scotch whisky to new bar openings, there’s plenty to celebrate in our annual look at beer, wine and cocktails.
Advertising
Sales Manager: Joseph Allen Account Manager: Mallory Jochen, Cristal Colleli Account Executives: Tom Barry, April Miller, Mike Valdelamar Digital Sales Specialist: Mike Valdelamar
Marketing and Events
Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Marketing & Events Interns: Marlene Mejia and Caitlin Muñoz
Drinking in a New Year
Mixologist, distiller and brewer serve up predictions on what to expect in San Antonio’s beverage scene in 2020
Creative Services
Creative Services Manager: Tina Corbeil Graphic Designer: Samantha Serna Graphic Design Interns: Pedro Macias, Raquel Prado, Jacqueline Rivas, Gabriela Rivera
Table Talk
Circulation
Circulation Manager: Justin Giles
47 Music
Business
Business Manager: Sonia Acosta
Sound of a Decade
Euclid Media Group
Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers: Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services: Stacy Volhein Creative Director: Tom Carlson Digital Operations Coordinator: Jaime Monzon Senior Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Director of Digital Sales: Fran DiCarlo www.euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group (888) 278-9866, vmgadvertising.com San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com Editorial: (210) 227-0044 / Fax - (210) 227-7755 Display Advertising: (210) 227-0044 Fax: (210) 227-7733 Classified: (210) 227-CLAS / Fax - (210) 227-7733 The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group Verified Audit Member San Antonio Distribution – The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval. Event submissions are not accepted by phone. Copyright: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2019 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above. Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Current offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.
Dan Payton
07 News
Ten Years of Tumult
The past decade brought big changes to San Antonio — and no easy answers
Former DA Nico LaHood Opens Up About His Raw, Real and Redemptive Life Regulatory Rollback
The Trump Administration’s easing of methane restrictions not a breath of fresh air for Bexar County
14 Calendar
Calendar Listings Art Pick
25 Arts
Finding the Groove
From museums to comic cons, San Anto arts and culture hardly missed a beat in the 2010s
San Antonio’s Inside Joke
BarbacoApparel designer Nydia Huizar talks T-shirts, tacos and Texpats
31 Screens
Hark! The Winter Movies Screen
Plenty of holiday viewing options are heading to San Antonio cinemas
The 2010s brought big changes to San Antonio’s music scene — mostly positive ones
Music Picks
56 Etc
Crossword Puzzle
35 Food
Plants, Politics and Pop-Ups
Running down the trends that defined San Antonio’s food scene in the 2010s
Whiskey Rebellion
Texas craft distillers are battling to keep a tax break that helped enable their brisk expansion
Scotch for the Heretic
Compass Box’s unconventional approach to whisky makes it accessible and even delicious
Five Booze-Friendly Spots Opening in 2020 San Antonio Cocktail Conference: How to Imbibe, Celebrate in 2020
On The Cover: The cover photo by Dan Payton shows seasonal cocktails available at downtown bar Jet-Setter.
6 CURRENT | December 18-31, 2019 | sacurrent.com
news
Ten Years of Tumult The past decade brought big changes to San Antonio — and no easy answers BY SANFORD NOWLIN
T
he closing decade brought an unprecedented period of expansion to San Antonio and plenty of growing pains to go along with it, from a still-ongoing housing crisis to voter anger over the power wielded by the former city manager. It also showed the power residents can wield when they organize for change. Here’s a rundown of the ten biggest San Antonio news stories of the 2010s: 1. Decade of Downtown: In 2010, then-San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro unveiled the Decade of Downtown, giving city leaders a blank check to spend big on projects such as the Houston Street redevelopment and raising housing costs for center city residents. On a recent campaign stop, Castro himself questioned whether the policy remains a sound one. “That investment is already happening. It doesn’t need to be incentivized,” he told the Current. 2. The Eagle Ford Shale: No, the development of the vast petroleum play south of San Antonio didn’t turn out to be the economic miracle the usual boosters promised it would. But it wasn’t a blink-and-you-missed-it bust either. The oil patch continues to be significant economic generator for the region — and one whose ultimate ecological cost is yet to be determined. 3. The power of Sheryl Sculley: City Manager Sheryl Sculley had her fingerprints on just about every major project undertaken in the past decade and her legacy remains. Sculley shook up city hall by ushering out officials who couldn’t perform up to her standards, frequently replacing them with hires from outside San Antonio. She also ruffled a lot of feathers along the way, which brings us to our next big news story. 4. Firefighters’ charter amendments: Perhaps nothing was more emblematic of San Antonians’ distrust of government and growing animosity toward Sculley’s power than the success the city’s fire union had at the ballot box with its punitive charter amendments. Voters ultimately approved two of three. One of those, a clear shot at Sculley, limits the salary and tenure of future city managers, while the other lets the union unilaterally force contract disputes into arbitration. Sculley resigned days after the vote.
Flickr Creative Commons / Nan Palmero
5. A crisis in affordable housing: San Antonio has long sold itself as an inexpensive place to experience a high quality of life, but during the 2010s, that claim became increasingly tenuous. During much of the decade, residents grappled with housing costs that have outstripped income growth. The crisis has forced San Antonio to create new programs to address displacement and increase the stock of affordable dwellings, but critics warn those may not be enough. Either way, San Antonio finally seemed to be waking up to the realization that decades of socioeconomic segregation lies at the root of the problem. 6. Growing and changing population: As San Antonio continues its unprecedented growth trajectory, city officials and developers have thrown around a staggering projection — that Bexar County stands to gain 1.1 million new residents by 2040. While half of that projected number would be people born in the county, there’s no question the city is growing and changing. The question becomes how the city addresses the growth — whether it takes measured and effective steps to address changing needs or views or it goes the familiar route and cheerleads development. 7. Transportation crossroads: With all that projected growth, the city has made the reasonable determination that it needs to rethink transportation to avoid hellish congestion and a further degradation of air quality. With the new decade bearing down, we’re about to see exactly what that looks like, namely whether the city can convince voters to approve the ConnectSA plan and whether it can secure ad-
ditional funding for VIA Metropolitan Transit. Naturally, questions are already swirling about who really stands to benefit from the plan as proposed: commuters or developers. 8. Adversarial relationship between the city and the Texas Lege. Th 2010s marked an increasingly hostile relationship between big metros such as San Antonio and the Republican-controlled state legislature. With varying degrees of success, state lawmakers tried make it harder for cities and counties to enact anything from plastic bag bans to the removal of Confederate monuments. Indeed, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen was caught on a secret recording this summer saying his goal was to make the Lege’s next gathering the “worst session in the history” for cities and counties. 9. Hays Street Bridge. The community coalition fighting to preserve the land next to the historic Hays Street Bridge spent years battling the city before it finally won a battle when the Texas Supreme Court handed them a victory and sent the case back to a lower court. It was a hardfought victory, but one that shows that when people organize, they can stand up to city hall and the developers it’s long been cozy with. 10. Paid sick leave. Speaking of people power, unions and social justice groups gathered more than 140,000 signatures in a petition drive that forced city council to approve a measure guaranteeing paid sick time for the many workers here who don’t have it. A district judge blocked its implementation while the city fights it out in court with business interests opposed to the measure. But that fight isn’t over yet.
Find more newsmore coverage Find news every day at sacurrent.com
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CURRENT | December 18-31, 2019 | sacurrent.com
news GLITTER POLITICO
Former DA Nico LaHood Opens Up About His Raw, Real and Redemptive Life BY JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA
I
’m sitting across from Nicholas “Nico” LaHood on the fifth floor of the swanky Mercantile Building, the location of his new practice, LaHood Norton Law Group. He settled into his new digs immediately after completing his single, four-year term as Bexar County district attorney on January 1. “Getting back to civilian life has been challenging, but neat,” he says, adding that he’s grateful for the opportunity to spend more time with his family. LaHood’s tenure as DA represented a glitzier chapter in Bexar County history. Armed with an endorsement from actress Eva Longoria Baston, he won a 2014 election that ousted 16-year incumbent Susan Reed. Once in office, he was criticized for an impassioned — some would say bombastic — style that made him an easy target for a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Joe Gonzales. The controversy surrounding LaHood hasn’t exactly diminished since his retreat from political life. His boutique firm has been in the spotlight for representing criminal defendant Michael Stovall, a man who was indicted on a felony charge while LaHood was still in office. That case is pending in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. “I’m a shitty politician, [but] I think I’m a damn good public servant,” LaHood says of his time in office. “What I’d like to believe is that people always got the authentic Nico.” Being authentic meant being transparent about his past during campaigns. LaHood went through the justice system in 1994, after he was arrested for
Jade Esteban Estrada
selling 200 ecstasy pills to an undercover officer. He received deferred adjudication, a form of probation. Two years later, his brother Michael was murdered in his parents’ driveway. More than two decades later, LaHood says he still feels pangs of regret. “At the time my brother needed me the most, I wasn’t there for him,” he laments, following a deep sigh. “Oh, that weighed on me for years, Papa. [And] I never hugged my older brother. I never told him that I loved him. I was too [caught up in] machismo. ‘Guys don’t do that shit.’ It’s [been] the detoxification of my mind over the years. But you live and learn, my brother.” When asked to describe the past six years of his life, he replies rather quickly: “Purposeful, but it sucked.” I ask him how it sucked. “I missed way too many bedtimes. I missed way too many dinners. I missed way too many skinning the knees and falling down and crying [moments]. I missed way too many hugs. I missed all those things that I’ll never get back,” he says. The “purposeful” part is the positive effect he feels he, as DA, had on people’s lives. The night of his March 2018 primary loss to Gonzales, LaHood decided to come home early, regardless of the outcome. He remembers his daughter, then 5, saying, “Hey, Papi, what are you doing here?”
LaHood took the hint: “OK, I got it, Lord. I don’t get this time back.” Ultimately, he lost his seat to Gonzales, who ran as a criminal justice reformer and whose campaign was funded, in part, by philanthropist George Soros. “Politics is not conducive for good people,” LaHood muses. “Because the good people say, ‘Fuck this shit. It’s not worth it!’ If you want a friend in politics, buy a dog. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but not too much of an exaggeration.” Although LaHood expects to return to politics, he assures me that when he does, it won’t be an emotional decision. In fact, when Precinct 3 Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff chose not to run for re-election, LaHood says a number of people encouraged him to run for the seat. “On paper it made sense,” he says. “It just wasn’t the right time.” LaHood and his wife, Davida, have four children. Their second-oldest, Michael, is on the spectrum of autism. LaHood shows me a heartbreaking video of his son having a meltdown. “Autism is a huge part of our life, but we have worked on not making it our life,” he says. LaHood informs me that parents caring for children on the spectrum have an 85% divorce rate. “Spouses take it out on [each other],” he says. “The other kids are ignored. Financially, there are things that insurance doesn’t cover.”
“I have the bite marks. I have the battle scars of raising a child on the spectrum. [But] my son is a joy, brother. He has taught me patience that I was not born with,” he says. “As the man who’s been entrusted to be the earthly daddy for my boy, I’m going to talk for my son. I’m going to be a lawyer for my son,” he says with calm determination. “In 2020, I’ll be focusing on Michael to help him grow and reach his God-given potential.” For the past 10 years, LaHood has been running a weekly men’s Bible study, which inspired his podcast R-Rated Christianity. The podcast premiered in May and is co-hosted by Saulo Rodriguez, the conservative creative behind The BrockCast, a fiery podcast hosted by former San Antonio City Councilman Greg Brockhouse. While R-Rated Christianity is a platform for LaHood’s Christian worldview, he wants it to be unfiltered. The “R” stands for raw, real and redemptive. “Raw is how we talk,” he explains. “Real, because we’re not bullshittin’ around, and ultimately, [we want to] lead you to a place of redemption.” When some warned him against the name, saying it would offend too many Christians, LaHood responded, “Then it’s the right name.” To those who have followed his career, it was an unsurprising reply. “What are the two things you’re not supposed to talk about in public?” he asks rhetorically. “Religion and politics.” sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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CURRENT | December 18-31, 2019 | sacurrent.com
news
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Regulatory Rollback
The Trump Administration’s easing of methane restrictions not a breath of fresh air for Bexar County BY SANFORD NOWLIN
@niceguyportapottys www.niceguyportapottys.com
T
he Trump administration’s proposed rollback of methane restrictions for the oil industry could have air-quality implications for thousands of Bexar County residents, according to data from the Environmental Defense Fund. Bexar County is home to 2,013 oil and gas wells, according to the EDF’s methane mapping tool, an online resource that shows the location of every active U.S. well. That means some 19,000 Bexar residents are located within half a mile of an active well and are considered vulnerable to airborne effects from methane. Methane releases often include benzene and volatile organic compounds that can cause health problems and contribute to ground-level ozone, according to health experts. “I think one of the things that’s especially striking in Texas is just how many people live within close proximately of oil and gas wells,” EDF attorney Rosalie Winn told Austin public radio station KUT. “We found that, all together, 2.5 million people in Texas live within a half a mile of an active oil and gas well.”
24 hour line: 1-888-578-9656
Environmental Defense Fund
The Environmental Defense Fund’s data mapping shows the density of oil and gas wells in Bexar County.
M
Of the Bexar County total, 15,000 are people of color, and 3,400 live below the poverty line. The data also shows that 1,700 are children under the age of 5 and 1,800 are people over the age of 65 — both considered vulnerable populations for methane exposure. Under the Trump rollback, methane emissions in Bexar County would rise from 4,964 metric tons in 2017 to 8,441 metric tons in 2025, an increase of more than 70%. Because of its heat-trapping properties, methane also has at least 30 times the global warming impact of carbon dioxide on a pound-perpound basis, according to a recent Princeton University study. The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public comment via its website (epa.gov) until December 17 on the proposed rule change. sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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CURRENT | December 18-31, 2019 | sacurrent.com
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prepared for twists more tangled than tinsel and the seductive wiles of Mrs. Claus. Starring Christopher Steinmetz as Coal, Michael Goodwin as Santa Claus and Ashley Hamilton as reporter Kandy Kane, this yuletide thriller might be just the palate cleanser audiences need when other holiday cheer is cloyingly sweet. $10-$15, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through December 28 (see website for additional showtimes), Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Road, Ste. 205, (201) 577-7562, theovertimetheater.org. — Trevor Flynn
SAT | 12/21 SPORTS
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
WED | 12/18 FI LM
CINEMA TERRIBLE: SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS
The San Antonio Public Library’s Cinema Terrible series is back with a suitably awful seasonal installment. Featuring awkward aliens in splotchy green makeup and costumes likely cobbled together from the odds and ends in Grandma’s craft closet, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians posits a world in which a dour Martian society decides it must kidnap Santa Claus — and two Earth kids, for whatever reason — to bring happiness to its own downtrodden children. Beyond its badness, the film’s main claim to fame is that it features the first onscreen appearance of Mrs. Claus, beating out Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for the honor by a mere three weeks. The misfit movie didn’t garner much notice after its 1964 premiere but was given new life on Comedy Central when Joel Robinson & Co. spoofed it in a 1991 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Now, the yuletide stinker’s a holiday tradition in its own right alongside more deserving bits of cinema like Frosty the Snowman and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Free, 6:30 p.m., San Antonio Public Library, 600 Soledad St., (210) 207-2500, mysapl.org. — Kelly Merka Nelson
WED | 12/18
fame status with cameos in holiday movies Elf and Four Christmases — the quotable classic hearkens back to 1950s America, when the most coveted “gadget” on kids’ wish lists was a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200shot Range Model air rifle. Nearly four decades after the movie’s premiere, Christmas Story’s memorable vignettes, from a tongue stuck to a flagpole to a battle over a needlessly sexy lamp, have made an indelible mark on American pop culture and provide a fresh alternative to the season’s oft-saccharine entertainment options. Free, 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 18, The Friendly Spot Ice House, 943 S. Alamo St., (210) 224-2337, thefriendlyspot.com. — KMN
Warner Home Video FI LM
A CHRISTMAS STORY I
Feeling a little “fra-gee-lay” this holiday season? Humbuggy San Antonians can conjure up Christmas cheer and commiserate with like-minded fans of a cult classic at the Friendly Spot this Wednesday. Visitors to the Southtown watering hole can chant “You’ll shoot your eye out!” along with the chorus of Ralphie’s naysayers in A Christmas Story, the 1983 film adapted from Jean “Shep” Shepherd’s semi-fictional Christmas reminiscences. With a cast featuring Close Encounters of the Third Kind’s Melinda Dillon as Mother Parker plus a star-making turn for Peter Billingsley as Ralphie — the actor has since traded on his cult
Spurs Sports and Entertainment
SPURS VS. CLIPPERS I
The last time the Spurs and Clippers clashed, back in November, San Antonio secured a 107-97 victory, keeping Kawhi Leonard winless inside the AT&T Center as an opponent. LaMarcus Aldridge and Derrick White led the Spurs with 17 points apiece, and four of their teammates — including DeMar DeRozan — also scored in double figures. After ending the longest losing streak of the Popovich era, Pop and his charges could definitely use some consistency in their NBA Christmas stockings. The same Spurs team that can compete with the Clippers or Houston Rockets one night is likely to struggle against the Detroit Pistons or Sacramento Kings on another. Against a Clippers defensive gauntlet comprised of Leonard, Patrick Beverly and Paul George, a balanced attack should once again prove critical for the Spurs. A consistent spark from San Antonio’s young backcourt could also be key as the schedule strengthens. $30-$2,000, 7:30 p.m., AT&T Center, One AT&T Center, (210) 444-5140, attcenter.com. — M. Solis
FRI | 12/20 – SAT | 12/28 THEATER
CHRISTMAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL: A CHRISTMAS NOIR MYSTERY 2
The frosty snows of the jolliest place on Earth have gone from white to red. Redder than Rudolph’s nose, in fact. Red like … blood. Enter Grayson Coal, the only elf in Christmas City “naughty” enough to solve this murder case. In Christmas City Confidential: A Christmas Noir Mystery, writer-director Scott McDowell pits the private eye against the clock to reveal the killer before the biggest night of the year goes awry. Audiences at the Overtime Theater should be Scott McDowell
DANCE
GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER
calendar
THU | 12/26 – FRI | 12/27
What kid can’t relate to the fantasy of their favorite Christmas present coming to life? In 1892, audiences at the premiere of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker initially balked at the abrupt leap from scenes of yuletide revelry to an epic battle between a Rat King and toy soldiers, but Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score has since spirited away generations of youngsters into the realms of ballet and classical music. The Moscow Ballet’s roots in children’s theatre make this production extra fanciful. Elaborate puppets from traditions around the world will adorn the Majestic Theatre, including a flying firebird, a 12-foot-tall dancing unicorn and — new this year — a peacock with a tail that spans eight feet. The Russian troupe’s “Dance with Us” initiative casts San Antonio ballet students in a variety of roles, from mice to snowflakes, continuing The Nutcracker’s tradition of involving young dancers. The “Dove of Peace” — a hallmark of the Moscow Ballet’s production — will also grace the stage, a unique performance in which two dancers create a single elegant creature. This invention is the most prominent of several changes the company has made to the traditional libretto, designed to bring a message of peace and goodwill to audiences at all 144 stops on the Great Russian Nutcracker’s 27th North American tour. $32.50$103.50, 7 p.m. Thursday, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston Street, (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — TF Arthur Oliver
MON | 12/23 SPECIAL EVEN T
CIRQUE MUSICA: HOLIDAY WISHES m
Ever jumped off a roof to impress your friends, only to fall and break a bone? Maybe you should have left the leaping from great heights to the professionals of Cirque Musica, who are bringing their Holiday Wishes to the Tobin Center at the end of the month. The athletic performers ride unicycles, hang from wires, dance and perform feats of strength to wow the crowd during their unique telling of a holiday tale. Classic yuletide songs performed by a live symphony orchestra will accompany the free-ranging, sparkling acrobatics and aerial performances. $35.60-$86.50, 7 p.m., H-E-B Performance Hall, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — Brianna Espinoza
Courtesy of Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
THU | 12/26 – SUN | 12/29 COMEDY
CARLOS MENCIA I
Is Carlos Mencia even still a thing? As it turns out, yeah, he’s around. After making a splash in the aughts with three seasons of the sketch comedy series Mind of Mencia on Comedy Central, the comedian has been largely absent from the public eye, unless he’s been used as a punchline. Mencia’s been plagued by accusations of joke theft since as early as 2005, including call-outs by Joe Rogan and George Lopez. He attempted to clear the air in a two-hour interview on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast in 2010, but that didn’t stop the Wall Street Journal from calling him one
of the most hated stand-ups amongst fellow comedians — alongside Dane Cook and Jay Leno — that same year. Since Mind of Mencia, he’s released one comedy special — 2011’s New Territory — and made an appearance on a 2018 episode of Laugh Factory to discuss “La Generación de Milenio,” which seems to be the material du jour for aging standups trying to regain relevance. For anyone in doubt of his washed-up status or morbidly curious about what his thoughts are regarding said millennials, he’s doing a full weekend of shows at LOL Comedy Club right after Christmas. $25-$50, 8 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 29, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, (866) 468-3399, improvtx.com/sanantonio. — KMN
Dec. 5 - Jan. 5
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calendar THU | 12/26 – SUN | 12/29 TH EATER
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME
The neurotypical masses might have an unhealthy obsession with savant-syndrome, but Christopher Boone — the young protagonist of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime — isn’t wrong to compare himself to Sherlock Holmes. When he discovers a murdered neighborhood canine and is suspected of the crime, the mathematically gifted teen confronts his social difficulties to solve the case and challenge his limits by constructing his world as a murder mystery novel. The Tony Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling 2003 novel imagines Boone’s investigation diary as a play-within-a-play. Unlike many depictions of autism spectrum disorders, Curious Incident has been largely well-received by mental health commentators. Boone’s unnamed disability isn’t a chilling superpower like Benedict Cumberbatch’s “Aspergerish” Sherlock of BBC fame, nor is it a grotesque eccentricity as with Kenneth Branagh’s obsessive compulsive portrayal of Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express (2017). In the Public Theater’s production, Preston Straus plays the 15-year-old sleuth, while Kate Glasheen narrates his story as Boone’s teacher Siobhan along with support from the ensemble. $10-$35, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through January 19, Public Theater, 800 W. Ashby Pl., (210) 733-7258, thepublicsa.org. — TF
SUN | 12/29 – MON | 12/30 TH EATER
THE COLOR PURPLEY
two children — fathered by her own father — who were forcibly taken from her, and her sister Nettie, with whom she shares a special bond. $55-$87, 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — Kiko Martinez
The winner of two 2016 Tony Awards — Best Musical Revival and Best Lead Actress for Cynthia Erivo — the stage production of The Color Purple first hit Broadway in 2005 with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. The musical is based on the 1982 epistolary novel of the same name by Alice Walker and also the 1985 Steven Spielberg-directed film adaptation, which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In 2017, the stage production also won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album featuring principal soloists Erivo (Harriet), Danielle Brooks (TV’s Orange is the New Black) and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls). A comingof-age drama set in rural Georgia in the early 20th century, The Color Purple follows an African American teenager named Celie who is given away by her abusive father to marry an older widower who also abuses her. Despite her harrowing life, she holds out hope that one day she will be reunited with her Jeremy Daniel
sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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RACE | EAT & DRINK | PLAY
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HAPPY H O L I D A YS ! 5527 N Loop 1604 W, Sa, TX 78249 | Sun-Thur 10a-12a | Fri-Sat 10a-1a
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TUE | 12/31
Courtesy of Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club COMEDY
MELISSA VILLASEÑOR I
Saturday Night Live cast member Melissa Villaseñor is celebrating New Year’s Eve in San Antonio with a one-night-only tour stop at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club. Villaseñor, who is the first-ever Latina comedian hired on the show, joined the SNL cast in 2016. Since making her debut, she has impersonated everyone from Sarah Silverman to Julia Louis-Dreyfus to Jennifer Lopez, the latter with whom she teamed up earlier this month for a sketch where they play a pair of hoop-earring saleswomen. (“Give your ear a promise ring, and that promise is — this is gonna get ripped out by a baby.”) Prior to SNL, Villaseñor made it to the semifinals of the sixth season of America’s Got Talent. Along with her standup comedy performances this year, Villaseñor was a guest of Jerry Seinfeld on Netflix’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. She also had a small voice role during the end credits of Toy Story 4 as Knifey, another handmade toy Bonnie creates at school that, like Tony Hale’s Forky, is initially confused by her sentience. $35, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, (866) 468-3399, improvtx.com/sanantonio. — KM
(210) 274-8994
INFO@FITFUSIONSA.COM 2222 BREEZEWOOD, SA, TX 78209
TUE | 12/31
Spurs Sports and Entertainment SPORTS
SPURS VS. WARRIORS
Following Kevin Durant’s free agency departure to the Brooklyn Nets over the summer and injuries to Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Golden State Warriors return to San Antonio in the unfamiliar role of underdogs. They’ll receive no sympathy from the Spurs, who have faced plenty of adversity this season — often at their own hands. Ineffectively contesting jump shots, allowing opposing players to get to their spots on offense, and an alarming lack of hustle have all been hallmarks of San Antonio’s woeful defense. When the Spurs trounced the Warriors last month in San Francisco, Patty Mills proved to be the difference maker, scoring a team high 31 points in the 127-110 win. With a good amount of basketball left on the NBA calendar, a resolution could be in order for the Spurs, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. $19-$1,656, 6 p.m., AT&T Center, One AT&T Center, (210) 444-5140, attcenter.com. — MS
STD Clinic | 512 E Highland , SA TX 78210 | 210-207-8830
sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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calendar TUE | 12/31
January 30 – AT&T Center
SPECIAL EVENT
CELEBRATE SA!
Ring in the New Year in the heart of San Antonio with the San Antonio Parks Foundation as it hosts the city’s official end-of-the-year celebration at Hemisfair. The loud sounds of fireworks and live music will fill the night until the clock strikes midnight. The Countdown City ranks No. 13 on WalletHub’s “Best Places for New Year’s Eve Celebrations,” coming in above New Orleans, which must mean we party hard. Maybe with some extra drunken shenanigans, SA can break the top 10 next year. Just because we don’t have a ball to drop doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the beginning of a new decade in a big way. Free, 6 p.m.-12:15 a.m., Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St., (210) 709-4750, saparksfoundation.org. — BE sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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art pick SAT | 12/21 ART PICK
A LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS
Multitalented performer Jimmy James will forever be in the glamorous shadow of Marilyn Monroe — and that’s not a bad thing. Born in Laredo and raised in San Antonio, James spent the better part of the 1980s perfecting a spot-on impersonation of the late blond bombshell (breathy voice and all) and performed his act everywhere from Alamo City gay clubs and Atlantic City revues to daytime talk shows of the era (Donahue and Geraldo among them). His gigs even included private parties for celebs such as Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg and Joan Rivers. Although James retired his Marilyn act in the ’90s, it fortunately lives on via YouTube and made a humorous reappearance in 2017 when the Central African Republic unwittingly reproduced a photograph of James on a postage stamp paying tribute to Monroe. He threatened legal action and it’s since been taken out of circulation. During extended stints working in New York and Los Angeles, James dedicated himself to developing vocal impressions of a wide assortment of recording artists including Eartha Kitt, Cher, Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond and Elvis. His multitasking interpretation of the Streisand-Diamond duet “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” is truly something to behold. Speaking about his vocal gymnastics to the Current in 2015, James said, “It’s kind of unnatural — you’re not supposed to do that with your voice.” Ironically, it was with his very own voice that James landed his greatest hit — “Fashionista,” a slightly bitchy ode to fashion culture that climbed the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for 12 weeks back in 2006. Minus Monroe, James’ many voices commingle to great effect in his genre-hopping live shows, which recently attracted the likes of “Pope of Trash” John Waters, over-the-top designer Bob Mackie and tennis hero Billie Jean King during a summer residency in the gay mecca of Provincetown. As a Yuletide offering to his hometown fan base, James is setting up shop in the ballroom of the Bonham Exchange to celebrate A Legendary Christmas with support from Joan Riviera, a local comic and activist billed as the “Mexican Joan Rivers.” When quizzed for show teasers, James confessed that he’s been rehearsing “Last Christmas” by Wham and plans to enlist Rivers — and a wheelchair — for a rendition of José Feliciano’s holiday favorite “Feliz Navidad” performed in the raspy, exasperated voice of notorious Hollywood grinch Bette Davis. $20 (all drinks $3 from 8-11 p.m.), 8 p.m. Saturday, Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com and brownpapertickets.com. — Bryan Rindfuss
sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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arts
Finding the Groove From museums to comic cons, San Anto arts and culture hardly missed a beat in the 2010s BY KELLY MERKA NELSON
S
an Antonio has always been a city with vibrant arts and culture scene, but something really locked in during the 2010s. Longtime institutions experienced significant growth and evolution, and new organizations stepped up to make a major mark. However, while most of the changes during the past decade have been for the city’s benefit, the decade wasn’t without its setbacks. This year marked a decade of the River Walk’s Museum Reach, which opened in 2009 followed by the Mission Reach in 2011. Now spanning 15.2 miles, the River Walk isn’t just a tourist attraction anymore — it’s now a hub for locals who run, bike, walk their dogs and even kayak along its length. The city continued to invest in green spaces, furthering the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System, which now boasts 69 miles of trails. With the opening of Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair in 2015, the redeveloped park again became a hub for major events, from Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival’s return to its grounds in 2017 to Muertos Fest’s move from La Villita this fall. The decade also marked the redevelopment of the historic Hot Wells Ruins into a park and the opening of Pearsall and Confluence Parks. What’s more, the San Pedro Creek Culture Park Project opened its first segment in 2018. Longtime arts hub the Blue Star Complex also maintained an upward trajectory. In 2014, Mary Heathcott assumed the role of executive director of Blue Star Contemporary, ushering in a new era of leadership for the museum — expanding its educational outreach, creating more opportunities for artists and even overseeing building renovations. That same year, Brick brought an inclusive, adaptable venue to the complex, creating a space where everyone from visual artists to aerialists could strut their stuff. Under the direction of Katie Luber from 2011-2019, the San Antonio Museum of Art grew both in local membership and international acclaim. After longtime McNay Art Museum director Bill Chiego’s retirement in 2016, Rich Aste took on the reins and brought an age of reinvention at the museum focused on inclusivity, exemplified by groundbreaking exhibitions like 2019’s Transamerica/n:
Bryan Rindfuss
Gender, Identity, Appearance Today. The decade culminated with the long-anticipated opening of Ruby City, recently declared one of Time Magazine’s 100 World’s Greatest Places of 2019. The contemporary arts center dreamed up by the late Linda Pace and designed by acclaimed architect David Adjaye was years in the making, and the recent appointment of Elyse Gonzales — described as a connoisseur of contemporary art with a “great, great eye” by SAMA co-interim director William Keyse Rudolph — as its new director indicates that there are great things to come. Not all changes in leadership have been fruitful. The non-profit Symphony Music for San Antonio — with former Express-News publisher Thomas A. Stevenson at the helm — ostensibly took over operations of the San Antonio Symphony to promote its long-term viability but left the orchestra in dire straits when it suddenly reneged on its agreement in late 2017. Fortunately, the symphony recovered, resuming operations under the Symphony Society of San Antonio. Unfortunately, 2019 also marked the end for two local arts organizations: Alamo City Opera, which folded after the sudden death of founder Mark Richter, and the Arts Foundation, whose regranting duties have been adopted by Luminaria. You can’t talk about culture in town without mentioning pop culture. Over the course of the decade, the Alamo City evolved from a fandom desert into a
nerdy hotspot. While local anime behemoth San Japan was founded in 2008, the show didn’t come into its own until it made the move to Henry B. González Convention Center in 2012. Soon, other cons came onto the scene in a big way — Apple de la Fuente founded Alamo City Comic Con (ACCC) in 2013, and gaming behemoth PAX expanded its brand to the Alamo City with the PAX South conference in 2015. ACCC grew meteorically, drawing in big stars like Stan Lee and Arnold Schwarzenegger and packing both the convention center and Alamodome, but things haven’t all been rosy. This year marked a turning point for SA con culture, with new cons Celebrity Fan Fest and Big Texas Comicon muscling their way in. Meanwhile, ACCC made a series of last-minute announcements including two changes in venue — amid the revelation that the con owes the city $170,000. Fortunately, these splashy, celeb-worship weekends weren’t the only events to crop up. The ’10s also saw the rise of creator-focused events like Pop Con, the San Antonio Book Festival and print-centric art fest Paper Trail SA, all of which have carved out a niche by giving locals a chance to interact directly with creators. The city moves into 2020 with plenty to look forward to: SAMA is seeking a candidate to serve as its new permanent director, the McNay will begin work to transform its campus with a $6.25 million landscape master plan and Hemisfair’s Civic and Tower parks are anticipated to open in the coming years.
Find more artsmore coverage Find news every day at sacurrent.com
The The Santa Santa Express Express
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arts San Antonio’s Inside Joke BarbacoApparel designer Nydia Huizar talks T-shirts, tacos and Texpats BY BRYAN RINDFUSS
A
few minutes before my recent coffee date with BarbacoApparel designer Nydia Huizar, I opened her company’s website to scan through its latest designs. Among the colorful illustrations and slogans Huizar and her crew of collaborators have become known for, a simple sticker design caught my eye. At first glance the image registered as a sign for Nogalitos Street. But once I slowed down to read the letters it in fact said “Nalgalitos,” changing the translation of the street name from “little pecan trees” to “little buttocks.” I laughed out loud. Not only would you need a decent understanding of Spanish to get the stealthy play on words, you’d need a familiarity with the streets of San Antonio. It’s in this ultra-niche territory where BarbacoApparel shines as a San Antonio original. Huizar, an Alamo City native who grew up on the town’s Northwest side, intended originally intended to work in radio, television and film. After all, she’d graduated from the Communication Arts magnet at Taft High School and earned a BA from UTSA. Instead, she wound up working as an editor for a local educational publishing company. During breaks at the office, she and work friends Matthew Contreras — now Huizar’s husband — and Richard Diaz started mapping out a collective side hustle. “We definitely wanted to do T-shirts,” Huizar said. “Since I didn’t study art full time, but I always had an interest in it, I felt like T-shirts were a casual enough medium to put my work on.” Adopting a moniker that plays off of a staple of Mexican cuisine, the trio in 2014 launched BarbacoApparel as “San Antonio’s officially unofficial T-shirt company.” Evidenced by T-shirts, totes, stickers, prints, buttons and magnets celebrating
every imaginable aspect of tacos and tortillas (from the match-made-in-heaven of Bean & Cheese to the sly humor of Corn in the Streets, Flour in the Sheets), a Warhol-esque interpretation of the Q&Q Brand fideo box, a Chorizo Dog modeled after art star Jeff Koons’ ubiquitous balloon dogs, and a mariachi with an avocado hovering in front of his face, food is a consistent theme. However, the company’s nostalgic brand of humor extends beyond the kitchen to pay tribute to bygone San Antonio locales such as discount clothing store Solo Serve, Handy Andy grocery store and the Hertzberg Circus Museum. It also includes celebrities and urban legends such as flamboyant psychic Walter Mercado, the Donkey Lady, the Dancing Devil and Bette White — alongside her deceased Golden Girls co-stars depicted as Día de los Muertos skeletons. Now five years into the game, BarbacoApparel can be found in numerous gift fairs and stores across Texas including Whole Earth Provisions and San Antonio favorite Feliz Modern. Earlier this year, Huizar took the leap and quit her day job to focus exclusively on the company, now a tight team of four with the addition of her sister-in-law Catherine Contreras. As Huizar confirms in the Q&A that follows, the homegrown biz she launched as something of an inside joke for San Antonians has been embraced by homesick “Texpats,” Latinx communities and others who dig its signature spin on TexMex culture. What were some of the first BarbacoApparel designs? We were just brainstorming and trying to
Sarah Cooper
figure out what was going to be an inside joke type of item for San Antonians. So, we were, like, “OK, well, lotería is a very popular thing in Mexican culture, so let’s do a play on that, but put Randy Beamer on one of the cards, and a ‘Mexi-mullet’ on one of the cards, and then a piñata breaking apart.” I see a ton of nostalgia in BarbacoApparel. One of the things that we noticed when we were setting up at pop-ups around town was that people could relate to the fideo box. And, so, they started talking about, “Oh, I grew up eating this with my family.” And I started [realizing that] a lot of the people here in San Antonio shared this common bond. So, let’s start exploring that — like things of my childhood … And that ended up being a really successful route for us to take. Are there specific places you look for inspiration? So as far as this city goes, I’m really obsessed with commercial art and old signage, and restaurants that have come and gone … We also try to dive into Mexican culture. Since we’re all Mexican, we try to think of things that we all grew up either eating — since food’s proven to be a very popular seller — or just little phrases that we may have heard. I’m curious about your celebrity tributes — Walter Mercado, for instance. Growing up, I spent a lot of Saturdays over at my grandma’s house and she
always had Univision on. [Walter Mercado] was definitely my favorite part of that. [El Chapulín Colorado] is also kind of like a background fixture from my life — him and anybody from Sábado Gigante, although we haven’t used any of those characters … I’ve really wanted to use El Chacal de la Trompeta, which is the guy in all black with the trumpet, because he votes off people he’s not a fan of. How do people from outside San Antonio respond to your stuff? Do they get it? A lot of them do. There are a lot of what we’ve been calling “Texpats,” so people from Texas or San Antonio or just with a Latinx background who identify with certain products. You know, they miss home [or] they want a different take on their culture. So those are the people who seem really excited about the brand. What are some of your favorite BarbacoApparel designs? Friends Till the End, which is the Golden Girls one. I just really get a kick out of it every time I see it, because I’m kind of a morbid person. So, anything that’s a little dark I really like. It’s kind of hard to put a lot of depressing elements into the business because it’s such a colorful type of thing. Another early design that we did that I really like is the Guacacharro. I grew up listening to a lot of mariachi music with my dad. He used to be a singer. And I’m a Magritte fan … I was sitting and thinking, how could we do something like this that honors the brand and then I was like, “Duh.” But a lot of people don’t get it. sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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CURRENT | December 18-31, 2019 | sacurrent.com
arts
Sarah Cooper
… The Periodic Table of Tacos has been one of the most popular ones this year — even though we get a lot of shit because of the peanut butter and jelly taco. Who didn’t have a peanut butter taco as a kid? That’s what I want to know. I honestly hadn’t gotten the Rene Magritte reference. Yeah, it’s [a take on his painting] The Son of Man. One of my favorite things to design are the stickers, because I can get as crazy as I want to with the colors without really worrying how it’s going to print out. … I really like the Remember the Alamosaurus [design] … and the Chorizo Dog. Tell me about the Batas Locas design. So, I’m a big fan of punk music and … this particular logo, which will be unnamed right now, is so great. It’s just very graphic … It’s something that I wanted to do for a very long time, Batas Locas. Just like the little batitas that Mexican ladies wear, on a clothesline … Originally, I always thought it was vatas with a “v.” And “vatos locos” is a popular phrase. So, that was the initial concept, and I started fact-checking the spelling and I was like, “No! Too good! I’m gonna keep it!” Can you tease out anything on your to-do list? We’re looking into working with zipper pouches and just doing cute, text-based designs, maybe having some little graphic elements to make it sparkle. We have one shirt that’s in the works. It’s kind of a dark shirt. Matt was like, “Maybe we should try to rework it in a way that’s not as negative.” And I’m like, “I don’t think it’s that negative.” I’m trying to do a Christmas sweater design. It might be too late at this point. Where can folks buy BarbacoApparel before the end of the year? We’re doing Brickmas. And Catherine, our wholesale partner, she teamed up with Cristina Martinez of Very That, and they’ve got their own side project called SA Local Market. They do a lot of markets around town, so they’re going to have one at the Pearl. And we’re at Blue Genie in Austin up until December 24.
SA LOCAL MERRY MERCADO
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 Pearl Stable, 307 Pearl Pkwy
BRICKMAS HOLIDAY MARKET
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 Brick at Blue Star, 108 Blue Star
BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR
10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily through Dec. 23 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Dec. 24 6100 Airport Blvd., Austin
sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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Plenty of holiday viewing options are heading to San Antonio cinemas BY KIKO MARTINEZ
T
here are only so many gifts you can unwrap and tamales you can scarf during the holidays. Plus, the Spurs don’t even play a game on Christmas. What are you supposed to do with all that extra time besides argue with your idiot cousin about the impeachment inquiry?
The movie theater looks like a solid option.
This year, San Antonians get to choose from seven new films that will hit the big screen — and one that will debut on Netflix — between December 20 and Christmas Day. Of those, the Current has reviewed six. Only Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker and Cats weren’t screened in time for local critics
That said, how hard do you think it would be to sneak some pan dulce and Abuelita chocolate into the theater under a big winter coat? Here is a look at all the movies opening locally over the next week:
BOMBSHELL
For the second time this year, Hollywood is dragging late Fox News CEO Roger Ailes through the meat grinder in compelling fashion, this time for the big screen in Bombshell. Showtime got its claws on Ailes first when they told the tawdry tale of his history of sexual harassment at the cable channel in the mini-series The Loudest Voice. Like the Showtime project, Bombshell also makes former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) a major part of its narrative but gives most of its screen time to the story of former host Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron in an Oscar-worthy
screens
Hark! The Winter Movies Screen
Courtesy of Lionsgate Films
performance) during the cable network’s 2015 full embrace of then-Presidential hopeful Donald Trump. Directed by Jay Roach (Game Change), the ensemble cast of Kidman, Theron, John Lithgow as Ailes and Margot Robbie as a fictional Fox News employee in search of fame is the real reason to tune in. Bombshell opens exclusively at the Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro December 20.
A HIDDEN LIFE
For some, three-time Oscar-nominated writer and director Terrence Malick is an acquired taste. The detailed cinematic and visual art he’s created during his career ranges from annoyingly pretentious to breathtaking and visionary. For those who aren’t familiar with Malick’s work, A Hidden Life, his longest film at 174 minutes, is probably not the best initiation. Returning admirers, however, will find the combination of his meditative storytelling approach, emotional intimacy and elegant wide shots as an extension of the philosophically heavy themes he’s explored in the past. In Hidden Life, Malick examines the life of Franz Jägerstätter (August Diehl), an Austrian farmer and conscientious objector who refused to pledge allegiance to Adolf Hitler and fight for the Nazis in World War II. It’s a powerful and poetic tale of martyrdom and easily Malik’s best since his 2011 masterpiece Tree of Life. Hidden Life opens exclusively at the Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro December 20.
differences and the fact that Bergoglio himself planned to retire. Don’t worry about having to sit through a two-hour catechism class. The Two Popes isn’t overtly religious or preachy. Meirelles and screenwriter Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything) keep things uncomplicated and, at times, humorous as the two men of the cloth plan for the future of the troubled Catholic Church. The Two Popes debuts on Netflix December 20.
LITTLE WOMEN
Filmmaker Greta Gerwig follows up her 2017 debut feature and critical darling Lady Bird with Little Women, a respectable but too-often muddled retelling of the 19th century novel by author Louisa May Alcott. Although Alcott’s book has been adapted as a film seven times over the past century, Gerwig should be commended for her own unique and contemporary take. The film is still set during the Civil War era, but Gerwig’s four main characters —the March sisters (Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh and Eliza Scanlen) — feel reenergized and empowered with a modern sophistication not featured in past projects. As charming as the March sisters are, however, Little Women gets tied up with Gerwig’s nonlinear screenplay. The overall narrative suffers because its structure becomes unnecessarily convoluted and messy. Still, Gerwig is able to capture the essence of the classic literature and give it some extra feminist flare. Little Women opens nationwide December 25.
THE TWO POPES
Witnessing a pair of veteran actors like Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins exchange dialogue during scenes where they’re the only two on the screen is nothing short of brilliant. Directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God), The Two Popes goes behind the Vatican walls to tell the story of Pope Benedict’s (Hopkins) unexpected retirement in 2013, followed by his urging for Argentine cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pryce), later known as Pope Francis, to succeed him. The transition came despite the pair’s theological Courtesy of Netflix
Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Find more film stories at sacurrent.com
YOUR HOMETOWN SPICE COMPANY SINCE 1985.
3 3 0 e g r ay s o n s t KEN SLAVIN
THE MATTERS & THE RAMBLING SOULS
WED, DEC 18 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P
THU, DEC 19 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8P
GRUPO FANTASMA
JOE ELY
FRI, DEC 20 | DOORS: 8 P | SHOW: 9 P
SAT, DEC 21| DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P
JOSH HALVERSON, MATT MCCORMACK, STERLING FINLAY
SATISFACTION - THE INTERNATIONAL ROLLING STONES SHOW
SUN, DEC 22| DOORS: 6 P | SHOW: 7 P
THU, DEC 26 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P
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screens SPIES IN DISGUISE
As the only animated film opening during Christmas, Spies in Disguise has landed a prime holiday slot for families with elementary school-age kids who don’t plan on watching The Rise of Skywalker more than once. It’s unfortunate that the spy story featuring the voices of Will Smith and Tom Holland isn’t more inspired and creative. Spies in Disguise would be a lot more fun if its screenwriters realized Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox that the hijinks between a young, genius inventor and a secret agent would have worked just fine without having its coolest character transform into a lame, talking pigeon for an hour. Spies in Disguise opens nationwide December 25.
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There is nothing delicate about the cinematic style of filmmaking brothers Benny and Josh Safdie, who broke out as directors with their tightly wound 2017 indie crime thriller Good Time. The Safdies deliver another shot of adrenaline straight to the heart with Uncut Gems, the story of hapless New York City jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) with a gambling problem who is in debt up to his goatee to some shady characters. Howard thinks he’s scored big when he gets his hands on an uncut black opal from Ethiopia, but when he lends the stone to NBA star Kevin Garnett then loses track of it, Howard’s fate rests on how well he can talk himself out of a series of dangerous situations. Uncut Gems marks Sandler’s greatest performance since his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2002 dark romantic dramedy Punch-Drunk Love. It also proves the Safdies are a serious new voice in the industry. Uncut Gems opens nationwide December 25.
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STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
Filmmaker J.J. Abrams co-writes and directs the ninth and final episode of the Skywalker saga. The sequel follows the surviving rebels of the Resistance, including Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Oscar Isaac), going to battle against Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and his First Order forces. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens nationwide December 20.
CATS
Courtesy of Lucasfilm
Bizarre-looking digital fur aside, the cinematic adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-musical Cats features an appropriately mega-ensemble cast, including actor Idris Elba, who plays the film’s main villain Macavity, Taylor Swift and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, who will be belting out the musical’s most famous song “Memory.” Cats opens nationwide December 20.
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food
Plants, Politics and Pop-Ups Running down the trends that defined San Antonio’s food scene in the 2010s BY LEA THOMPSON
D
uring the 2010s, San Antonio foodies saw restaurants come and go, chefs create and move on and culinary fads percolate and decline. Here are some of the trends, changes and movements that shaped our local food scene during the decade. 1. Food Politics: What and how we eat has always been political, but San Antonians became more aware of the larger implications of their culinary choices. That ranged from how and where our food is grown to the treatment of people who harvest and serve it. We learned that how we spend our hardearned dollars makes a difference. 2. Cocktail Culture: The closing decade marked the era that bartenders became mixologists and cocktails weren’t just shaken but crafted. Local drinking establishments took pride in broadening our palates with exotic new spirits and house-made mixers. Meanwhile, those who imbibe were willing to pay a little extra for the experience. 3. Plant-Based Eating: In an age of Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, one thing is clear: you don’t have to be a vegetarian or vegan to eat or enjoy a plant-based dining. The last decade brought an explosion of veg-focused restaurants including La Botánica, Miss Chickpea’s Bakeshop and Earth Burger to name a few. The city’s first all-vegan festival even popped up, showing that plantbased eats and drinks can be both affordable and accessible. 4. Downtown San Antonio: Forget River Walk tourist fare. Downtown dining options have grown by leaps and bounds, offer thriving nightlife and independent coffeeshops, bars and restaurants. The area isn’t just for business conferences and tourists anymore. We’ve seen Hemisfair and Houston Street transform into hotspots that draw locals for shopping, food and sips. Count on La Villita’s transformation to be next. 5. Sustainability: This decade has been a strange one for food, especially when it comes to sustainability. That word has buzzed around everything from farm-to-table restaurants to organic foods to drinking-straw
Garrison Brothers Distillery
bans. We’re entering 2020 with consumers and business operators more mindful of their eco-footprint and looking for ways to leave positive impacts on their city and planet. 6. Dining-Destination Status: San Antonio has always had great food, but we’re seeing more recognition these days, thanks to innovative local chefs, new restaurant openings and even a UNESCO designation as a City of Gastronomy. “It used to be that chefs could graduate here but couldn’t stay in San Antonio; they had to move out to the East or West Coast to grow,” said chef Bruce Auden of Biga on the Banks. “But [great chefs] have helped to change that. There’s great food happening here in San Antonio.” 7. Pop-ups: Need a way to test a new restaurant concept? Host a pop-up. Looking to create a unique cocktail experience? Host a pop-up. San Antonio saw a ton of food and drink pop-ups during the decade, including some like Pinch Boil House, 2M Smokehouse and Best Quality Daughter that evolved into successful food trucks or brick-and-mortar operations. It’s obvious the pop-up isn’t going away any time soon. 8. Specialty Coffee: The third wave of coffee began in the mid 2000s as new shops and roasters upgraded our experiences and
expectations during the past decade. “Coffee lovers are now drinking better coffee than at any time in history, and that trend is sure to continue,” said Aaron Blanco, president of Brown Coffee Co. “I see the market actually somewhat shrinking in the next few years, and we’ll start to see more outlets of [fewer] companies. The trick will be whether those companies can scale their quality as they grow their quantity.” 9. Food Online: Technology disrupted how we see, learn about and interact with food. Yelp enabled anyone — even those who don’t know what they’re talking about — to share food opinions with the world. Twitter allowed us to scream those opinions. Instagram gave us #foodporn and offered a glimpse of food culture elsewhere. Meanwhile, delivery apps such as UberEats and Favor helped us order our favorites any time and from anywhere. 10. Working Conditions: San Antonio boasts a $15.2 billion tourism industry, and during the 2010s, we saw a growing awareness of the working conditions for employees who keep it thriving. #MeToo has yet to truly rock San Antonio’s industry, but we saw support for industry members who struggle with mental health and substance abuse issues. We also saw growing demands for improved wages and a better quality of life.
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Courtesy of Rebecca Creek Distilling
Whiskey Rebellion
Texas craft distillers are battling to keep a tax break that helped enable their brisk expansion BY SANFORD NOWLIN
T
he past couple of years have been good for Texas’ craft distillers. From just a handful of distilleries 15 years ago, the Lone Star state now boasts roughly 160. And spirits produced here — from Garrison Brothers’ whiskey to Dripping Springs Distilling’s vodka — are gaining regional or national followings. But distillers warn that unless a temporary tax break that enabled some of that recent growth is extended, the party may soon be over. Craft distillers won a significant but temporary tax reduction as part of the sweeping tax package Congress passed in 2017. But that two-year break expires January 15, and if federal lawmakers don’t act soon, it could stymie production and lead to higher prices for consumers, industry officials warn. “If it doesn’t happen, there will be real economic impact right there in the
Lone Star State,” said Chris Swonger, chief executive officer of the Washington D.C.-based Distilled Spirits Council. “Being a distiller is a capital-intensive business, and that lack of certainty makes it tough to make decisions.” Under the temporary tax rate adopted in 2017, distillers pay just $2.80 per gallon on the first 100,000 proof gallons of liquor they pull out of storage to sell. A proof gallon is one liquid gallon that’s 50 percent alcohol. If Congress fails to extend that rate, the tax will bump back up to $13.50 per gallon, which Swonger said makes U.S. distilled spirits “one of the highest-taxed items on the planet.” Small distillers say they’re already waging an uphill fight against big liquor conglomerates such as Bacardi and Jim Beam owner Beam Suntory, which have better distribution and can offer lower prices. Such competitors can produce 100,000 proof gallons in
an hour, meaning they’ll likely shrug off the pending tax increase. “What this means is the speed of buying equipment and hiring and all the other great things we craft distillers do to compete against the big guys will have to be slowed,” said Gary Kelleher, CEO of Dripping Springs Distilling. Kelleher said it’s too late for him to put the brakes on new equipment he’s purchased to expand his plant. However, if the tax relief isn’t approved, he’ll have to rethink plans to hire another 12 workers this year — a move that would increase his payroll by a third. He warns that things look worse for the 30 or so Texas distillers that opened for business this year. Those operations have never had to do business under the previous tax structure. “For a number of them, if this 400% tax increase falls into place in January, they’ll literally be closing their doors,” Kelleher said. “It’s going to hurt them significantly.” Dan Garrison, owner of Garrison Brothers, estimates that a dozen or two newer Texas distilleries are likely to fail if the taxes rise to their old level. While his business is on strong financial footing, it will nonetheless be forced to make tough decisions. “The last thing I want to do is raise
prices, but that’s one of the considerations that’s on the table,” Garrison added. The pending tax increase also comes as the Trump administration’s growing trade quarrel with Europe closes off a potential avenue for craft distillers to boost sales. Since the EU’s 25% retaliatory tariff on American whiskey was imposed last year, exports have declined by roughly a quarter. Swonger of the Distilled Spirits Council said he’s hopeful Congress will take action since relief measures in both houses enjoy broad bipartisan support. Even so, though, the timing isn’t working in distillers’ favor. The ongoing impeachment battle is commanding the attention of lawmakers in both chambers, and time is ticking down before lawmakers’ holiday recess. That means craft distillers may need to wait until spring if lawmakers are going to extend the tax breaks. And if that happens, smaller operations will could be smarting from weeks or even months of doing business under the much higher rates. “It’s going to be tough for a tax package to come together in the next 10 days, but that’s what we hope happens,” Swonger said.
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food
Scotch for the Heretic
Compass Box’s unconventional approach to whisky makes it accessible and even delicious BY RON BECHTOL
J
ohn Glaser doesn’t admit to being the Bad Boy of Scotch whisky, at least not on the record. But that doesn’t mean Glaser observes the norms of the entrenched scotch establishment. In fact, he created Compass Box — a now successful and critically respected scotch blending and barrel-aging operation — to challenge tradition. “Somebody with a real Scottish accent — not me — plays by the rules,” Glaser said, during his recent visit to San Antonio. Following the rules, by the way, can result in some exquisite, aged single malts, albeit priced to match their carefully guarded prestige. But Compass Box manages to work around industry regulations while making Scotch whiskies accessible. About that lack of accent: Glaser, a Midwestern boy and a self-described “heretic with positive intent,” was working in marketing with Johnny Walker when the company sent him to Scotland. Big mistake, as it was during a visit to traditional scotch maker Talisker that he had an epiphany and began making his own blends at home. He launched Compass Box in 2000 with the still-popular Hedonism, a blended grain whisky. Not to get all geeky, but grain whiskies are largely made with grains other than the malted barley, which characterizes single-malt scotches. Wheat and corn dominate. Creamy, fruity and delicately sweet, Hedonism is just the tip of the Compass Box iceberg. (Yes, you can add ice to your whisky.) Compass Box has since produced more than 114 unique blends, most of them combinations of malts. But all are almost obsessively transparent in the identification of the individual single malts — defined as whisky from a single distiller — in the blend and the percentage and type of oak barrels used for aging. You don’t need to know this to enjoy the whiskies. However, it nice to pause from time to time to gently ruminate on what it is you like about the particular grain or malt blend.
Let’s say you picked The Spaniard. It’s part of Compass Box’s Malt Whiskey Collection, and it was poured during Glaser’s visit. It encompasses seven distinct single malts aged in barrels that range from custom French oak to ex-bourbon, used red wine casks and sherry butts. The sherry stood out to me, but it was just one intriguing element in an amazingly complex palette. Or maybe it was the “monster” moniker that intrigues with The Peat Monster, a blend featuring robust Islay malts softened with 1% Highland malt. Sure, 35% of TPM is made up of malt from Laphroaig, a distillery beloved by smoky malt masochists, but here the monster is tamed, and I love its restrained spice and smoked meat character. You’re even allowed to call it “delicious,” a term infrequently used in the industry. That deliciousness comes through unexpectedly when pairing scotch with food. A Compass Box dinner at La Cantera Resort and Spa demonstrated not only the kitchen’s prowess but the unexpected affinity scotch has for Texas Akaushi beef — “Mmmm, beef and peat!” enthused Glaser — and, yes, chocolate. Here’s a final tip from Glaser: serve your scotch in a wine glass with a splash of water. “That way you can get your nose in, and it complements food better,” he explains.
Other Whisky Blends So, we’ve established that single malts are usually produced by blending different barrels of whiskies produced within a single distillery. What about all those other blends we hear about? There are three types you’ll encounter:
BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY: Formerly called vatted malts, these are a blend of single malts from two or more distilleries. Companies such as Compass Box purchase whiskies and blend them to create new products with certain characteristics. Peat
Ron Bechtol
Monster, for example, is a Compass Box whisky that emphasizes the rich, smoky flavor of peat.
BLENDED GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY:
A blend of single grains from two or more distilleries. Single grains are usually known for being light and mild, but some distilleries produce exceptional grain whiskies. Compass Box’s Hedonism is a fine example of a
blended grain scotch.
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY:
What many consumers think of when they hear the word blend, blended scotches comprise 90% of the scotch category in sales. A blended scotch is a mix of both malt whiskies and grain whiskies, sourced from several different distilleries. Brands include Johnnie Walker, Dewar’s, Cutty Sark, J & B, and Chivas Regal. sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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food Five Booze-Friendly Spots Opening in 2020 BY LEA THOMPSON
San Antonio Cocktail Conference: How to Imbibe, Celebrate in 2020 BY LEA THOMPSON
T an Antonio has new restaurants and bars opening all the time, but those who imbibe have plenty of reason to toast the new year.
From a satellite location for a local brewpub to a near East Side craft cocktail establishment, there promise to be plenty of new drinking options on tap in 2020. Here’s a rundown of five of the highest profile.
SOUTHERLEIGH BIRD & BISCUIT:
Southerleigh Restaurant Group, operator of The Pearl’s Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery, will open Southerleigh Bird & Biscuit at The Rim in the second quarter of 2020. The new outpost will offer fried chicken, biscuits and a lineup of Southerleigh’s locally brewed beers.
88 SOCIAL:
Entrepreneur Ricky Ortiz is bringing a new food truck park to downtown San Antonio, complete with a full bar featuring a variety of craft cocktails. The park itself will break ground in early 2020 and is expected to open in the spring.
SUCK IT: KITCHEN & BAR:
Unlike the funky Asian fusion found at Suck It’s Medical Center location, the new downtown restaurant will specialize in traditional Japanese dishes and sushi — along with a range of high-quality spirits and alcoholic bubble tea.
Paired Dinners Before the conference officially kicks off, Peggy’s on the Green and Herradura Tequila will sponsor a brunch on Sunday, January 12. Attendees can also partake in paired dinners on Wednesday with spirit brands traveling to eateries including Biga on the Banks, Ostra and Hot Joy. Opening Night After several location changes in recent years, the conference’s opening night is back at the Majestic Theatre on Thursday night, offering small bites, cocktails, music and brand-sponsored events. Seminars, Panels Expect to see dozens of educational
seminars over the next three days. Cocktail experts and home mixologists alike will find something to learn from, ranging from primers on lesser known spirits such as poitin to making CBD-cocktails. “We’re partnering with the University of Houston students to help us with our seminars,” Siegel said. “We’re really moving people around our downtown footprint. It’s a great chance not only for locals but for out-of-town visitors to explore.” Weekend Events This year’s theme — Under the Big Top — promises a whimsical approach to spirits, filled with eats, drinks and circus-inspired performers, including Saturday night’s event at La Villita. Also look forward to ending the weekend on a delicious note — a seminar combining barbecue and bourbon. Changes, Updates Most of the San Antonio Cocktail Conference’s favorite events will return this year, with the notable exception of Women Shaking it Up, an event dedicated to female bartenders, chefs and restauranteurs. “We moved paired dinners to Wednesday night when we’d usually host that event,” Siegel said. “Instead, we plan to host Women Shaking it Up on a day about women, like International Women’s Day. We hope to make it a local event.” Courtesy of San ANtonio Cocktail Conference
S
Nick Simonite
he San Antonio Cocktail Conference — a weeklong festival filled with spirited seminars, paired dinners and excuses to drink and socialize — will return to the Alamo City January 15-19, 2020. Now in its ninth year, the celebration of craft cocktails promises to entertain attendees while raising funds to benefit Houston Street Charities, a nonprofit developed by restaurateur Mark Bohanan. “I continue to be amazed by the number of partners and people who want to come together and make things happen,” Houston Street Charities Executive Director Cathy Siegel said. “It’s not about climbing over each other but climbing together.” Here’s what to expect:
BENJAMIN KRICK:
Benjamin Krick, the creative force behind local watering holes Pastiche and Jet-Setter, is launching two new bars in 2020 — both yet unnamed. The first concept will highlight San Antonio’s colorful history and culture, while a second spot is poised to open sometime next year in St. Paul Square.
ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE AT LA CANTERA:
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Alamo Drafthouse is expanding its San Antonio footprint with a new location at La Cantera. Look for it to open by late 2020. Patrons can expect luxury recliners, top-of-the-line technology and a full-service bar with 48 Texas beers on tap. sacurrent.com | December 18-31, 2019 | CURRENT
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food
Drinking in a New Year
Mixologist, distiller and brewer serve up predictions on what to expect in San Antonio’s beverage scene in 2020 BY LEA THOMPSON
S
an Antonio expanded its beer, spirits and cocktail landscape in 2019. We saw new breweries and distilleries make their debut, while the bar scene gained some significant and creative new players. Next year promises to be yet another winning year for those who imbibe. To get a sense of what to expect, we corralled a local mixologist, a local distiller and a local brewer to inquire about what’s ahead. Benjamin Krick | Jet-Setter, Pastiche Benjamin Krick last year opened both downtown’s Jet-Setter as a celebration of international cocktail culture and sister bar Pastiche, which offers a taste of Europe on the East Side. He projects the Alamo City’s craft cocktail scene will bring it attention as a true travel destination. “I truly believe San Antonio is going to have a breakthrough moment to where all of a sudden, it’s just a cultural hotspot where everyone wants to be,” he said. “With that, we’re seeing a demand for elevated style of service that people can be proud of and call their own.” To be sure, local bartenders such as Krick — along with popular events such as the San Antonio Cocktail Conference — have expanded the kind of experiences travelers can expect from a city that was once all about Riverwalk beer and margaritas. Meanwhile, they have helped residents discover new spirits and flavors available in their own backyards. Krick also expects to see new and classic cocktails made with cognac and numerous brandy varieties become hot additions to menus next year. What’s more, he predicts bars will improve sustainability practices, whether that means eliminating sugar from the menu or partnering with local organizations that help them compost and recycle. “We’ll also see more bars offer their version of sober or spirits-free cocktails,” Krick said. “There’s more
people looking to enjoy themselves with less alcohol.” Up Next: Krick will open two new bars in 2020 — one celebrating San Antonio’s unique bar culture, and a second inside historic St. Paul Square. Noel Burns | Alamo Distilling There were only a handful of local distillers when Noel Burns and Daniel Taylor decided to create Alamo Distilling Co. in 2015 and introduce a vodka line. Since then, the duo has added bourbon to the lineup. While distillers have proliferated across Texas in recent years, they’re facing unprecedented challenges in 2020, Burns cautions. “I think the craft spirit industry is following the craft beer industry by five to 10 years, and the bubble is bursting,” Burns said. “There are a lot of brands collapsing and going under, and it’s a very expensive and difficult industry to be in right now.” The biggest challenge? Bigger brands. Bars and liquor stores are less likely to take a chance on unknown products, while craft distillers are fighting win over new customers. On top of that, the future of craft distilleries is cloudy. Lawmakers did not extend a temporary tax break essential to the industry, and it’s set to expire in January. (See page 37 for a more detailed look at that issue.) “We’re a smaller brand turning into a medium-sized brand — we have a lot of opportunity and we’ve had great support for the projects that we’ve done,” Burns added. “We rely on word of mouth and people giving us support because they like who we are, where we are and what we stand for.” Up Next: Alamo Distilling Co. will early next year open a new, 15,500-squarefoot production facility, complete with a tasting room. Joey Villarreal | Blue Star Brewing Blue Star Brewing Co. launched within eponymous Southtown develop-
Leah Thompson
ment in 1996, becoming one of the few local craft breweries to survive into the next decade. Joey Villarreal and his wife Magdalena, who also run the popular Joey’s on North St. Mary’s St., helped to lay the foundation for a new crop of local breweries that came onto the scene in recent years. Though plenty of experimental beer flavors and methods popped up among local breweries, Villarreal predicts traditional beer styles will remain popular among locals in 2020. “Like everything else, I think beer tastes go through cycles. I still hear a lot of people say, ‘just give me a traditional beer,’” he said. In the coming year, San Antonians can expect to see more brewpubs rather than production breweries, according to Villarreal. He expects to see more neighborhood operations creating
Bar owner Benjamin Krick says he expects craft cocktails to help drive San Antonio as a travel destination.
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small batches of locally produced beers. In the meantime, Villarreal is concentrating on upgrading and caring for his existing businesses, adding new equipment and initiatives like a bottle cleaning machine that will allow Blue Star to clean and reuse beer containers. “We’re just focused on taking care of the businesses, both the bars and the restaurants, without changing [what makes us unique],” he said. Up Next: Folks can sip and shop at Blue Star Brewing Co.’s new kiosk at Northstar Mall, which is serving the small bites and a variety of brews found at the original location.
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OPENINGS:
After renovations, La Panadería has reopened at 8305 Broadway. … The Boxcar Bar, located at 125 Lamar St., recently opened downtown, serving up craft cocktails and entertainment. … Margarita bar Fuego has opened inside of Smoke BBQ Restaurant at 1170 E. Commerce St. ... Local restauranteurs Blade Haddock and James Moore are teaming up to open Full Belly Cafe and Bar at 427 North Loop 1604 West #202. … Wrigleyville Grill’s food truck is now serving Chicago-style eats at 2410 N. St. Mary’s St. to feed bar hoppers on the Strip.
CLOSINGS:
It’s the end of an era in Southtown dining. Feast, a longtime neighborhood fixture, will close its 1024 S. Alamo St. location at the end of the year. … Monte Vista restaurant Periphery on Main, a celebrated eatery known for its mix of Italian and Southern-influenced dishes, has closed at 2512 N. Main Ave.
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The 2010s brought big changes to San Antonio’s music scene — mostly positive ones BY CHRIS CONDE
S
ome folks argue San Antonio has a sleepy music scene compared to other Texas metros. However, the major shifts in our city’s musical landscape over the past decade show it was anything but asleep. These highlights certainly don’t encapsulate everything that transpired, but they do provide the high points of an active 10 years.
Jaime Monzon
1. The resurrection of the St. Mary’s Strip. It bumped through the ’80s and into the ’90s, but the North St. Mary’s Strip devolved into a ghost town by the 2000s. During the 2010s, however, we witnessed a slow change as places like La Botánica, Faust, Hi-Tones, Limelight, Squeezebox and Lonesome Rose — the newest of the bunch — brought a buzz back to the nightlife corridor.
from houses to basements helped foster a burgeoning group of musicians exploring the sonic fringes. We witnessed avant-garde and noise artists using contact mics and loop stations create challenging electronic soundscapes. Places like the Flop House, K23, The Land In Between DIY and unnamed house venues also played host to punk rock, metal, hip-hop and hardcore shows.
2. A Rabbit grew into a Tiger. Perhaps there was no more visible change on the Strip than when the venerable White Rabbit reopened as Paper Tiger. The switch brought in talent buyers such as SA-based Mondo Nation and Austin’s Transmission Events and Margin Walker Presents, who dumped the prior club’s focus on stack-’emdeep local shows and ushered in a more diverse booking philosophy that includes touring acts specializing in everything from indie rock and hip-hop to psychedelia and the avant garde. “Paper Tiger came in like gangbusters,” said Hector Saldaña, a founding member of the Krayolas and Texas Music Curator for the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. “I think they’ve done a great job trying to accommodate where live music is going and where the taste of the public is.”
5. The rise of DJ culture. During the decade, we saw local bands such as the Fishermen and The Foreign Arm updating the Motown soul sound and incorporating it into their music. But bands weren’t the only ones fostering that development. The Soul Spot, a bi-weekly dance party co-founded by JJ Lopez and DJ Scuba Steve, ran from 2010 to 2019, turning Tucker’s Kozy Korner into ground zero for soul fans (once again). But they weren’t the only ones. Plenty of other DJs secured spots around town, spinning not just soul but anything from goth to post-hardcore.
3. The Aztec got adopted by some rich parents. It wasn’t just the Strip that got a facelift. In 2014, the Aztec Theatre received an $8 million renovation and the booking power of Live Nation, allowing it to bring in a bevy of mid-tier acts that couldn’t pack places like the AT&T Center or Freeman Coliseum but were too big for club shows. Combined with fellow downtown venues the Majestic Theatre, which recently hosted the Wu-Tang Clan, and the Tobin Center, which has presented acts ranging from Nas to drag performer Sasha Velour, the Aztec has given promoters and artists even more options for booking Alamo City shows. 4. DIY music spaces broadening creators’ sonic palates. On the local music front, DIY venues
music
Sound of a Decade
6. A collaborative spirit. If a drummer played in one band, chances are they also did for another or even played a different instrument in a third. The 2010s were marked by a collaborative spirit, where musicians often worked across genres, sharing ideas and cooperating to get things done. “The 2010s was a decade where people in San Antonio were just jumping [into the music community],” said Jeannette Muniz, who hosted KRTU’s Live and Local show from 2012-2018. “Everybody was supporting each other. ... There was real genuine competition, encouragement and community.” 7. More support for bands and fans. New promotion companies including SATX Music helped new bands land their first gigs at respected local venues. The company — co-founded by by Libby Day, now the Aztec’s general manager — also built its website into a calendar for folks to keep track of busy gig schedules. Website
Venues such as the Aztec Theatre a wider variety of touring acts to San Antonio during recent years.
M
Do210 also stepped in with Day to help create a central location for San Antonians to keep up with musical happenings. “When I started SATX Music in 2011, there needed to be more band promotion, but more than anything else, San Antonio needed basic information distribution [that answered questions like], ‘How do I go see a show?’”
8. San Antonio bands hit the road. Not that Countdown City musical acts weren’t touring in previous decades, but the 2010s seemed to bring an increased understanding that road work was an essential part of building a larger audience. We also saw bands increase the frequency of their tours and take the overseas jump. Amygdala headed to Europe to find a new audience for its metallic hardcore. Post-rockers Bright Like the Sun and avant-metal dudes The Grasshopper Lies Heavy hit Japan. And active-rock act Nothing More toured relentlessly through the decade, eventually snagging three Grammy nominations for its album The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Overall, the ’10s were a win for local musicians, venues and music fans, scene veterans said. And, so far, signs point to the next decade bringing more positive change. The revitalization of the East Side’s Sunset Station will bring even more Margin Walker-booked touring acts to San Antonio. More Alamo City bands are likely to hit the road and expand their exposure to the larger world. And, as always, new residents and up-and-coming musicians will infuse the scene with new ideas, new styles and tunes we just can’t do without.
Find more music coverage Find more news every day at sacurrent.com
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SPYDAMANANDDABAND, BEN BUCK, KREE23
The St. Mary’s Strip mainstay will end the year on a high note with a rap-centered show hosted by DJ Dennis Loy and featuring local acts SpyDaManAndDaBand, Ben Buck and Kree23 to name a few. Also expect vendors, music, food and a Christmas toy drive. $5, 9 p.m., Limelight, 2719 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-7775, facebook.com/TheLimelightSa. — Brianna Espinoza
talent. It’s gonna get loud, it’s gonna get noisy. $5, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — MM
Thursday, December 19
THE MATTERS, RAMBLING SOULS
Hailing from ATX and boasting a ton of classic rock influences, The Matters will perform Black Sabbath’s Paranoid in its entirety, meaning you’ll get to ingest tasty and influential nuggets of doom ranging from “War Pigs” and “Iron Man” to “Rat Salad” and “Electric Funeral.” $8-$40, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — Mike McMahan
RYAN TRASTER, HONEYBUNNY, MARCH DIVIDE
Precious indie-rock BB’s Honeybunny and alt-rockers The March Divide will provide local support for Minnesota’s dreamy folk singer-songwriter Ryan Traster. $5, 8 p.m, Venutra, 1011 Avenue B, venturasatx.com. — CC Facebook/ Nova Charisma
NOVA CHARISMA, ANDRES, TELEVANGELIST, MARILA VOE
Wednesday, December 18 Nova Charisma blends the seemingly incongruent genres of technical post-hardcore and indie pop rock. The Sacramento-based duo is composed of Donovan Melero and Sergio Medina of prog-rock outfit Sianvar, who juggle math rock components and jazzy riffs with a surprisingly poppy end result. It’s a strange amalgam that works and helped the band find its own niche. $12, 6 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Chris Conde
Wednesday, December 18
KEN SLAVIN
SA-based jazz vocalist Ken Slavin’s birthday show will feature him dipping into the Great American songbook in his distinctive and elegant crooning style. $15-$50, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., samsburgerjoint. com. — CC
ROBERT EARL KEEN, SHINYRIBS
Texas native and Americana royalty Robert Earl Keen earned his 2012 induction into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame with his knack for emotive storytelling and a raw, honest voice. Holiday shows have long been a part of Keen’s bag of tricks thanks to his classic “Merry Christmas from the Family,” and his live performances can bring out the Texan in almost anyone. $30-$69.50, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — BE
Friday, December 20
PINKO, GRASSHOPPER LIES HEAVY, EXHALENTS, VAMPYRE, RATS
At a glance, some might think this relates to the classic Price Is Right game Plinko. Sorry to disappoint, kids. Pinko’s something even better: a noisy, punk-y band that lists genre legends Drive Like Jehu as an influence. They also just released a new album called You and You and will be celebrating with a stacked bill of edgy local
Courtesy Cooper Greenerg
COOPER GREENBERG
Thursday, December 26 Although best known as frontman for the Americana/blues-inspired Favorite Son, Cooper Greenberg’s upcoming Rustic show puts him in a solo setting. Thanks to Greenberg’s compelling guitar work, intimate lyrics and charming baritone, he doesn’t necessarily need a band to hold your attention, though. Recently relocated from San Antonio to Austin, Cooper has been releasing music since his debut EP Wave Pool, which came out in 2016. Free, 8:30 p.m., The Rustic, 17619 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 204, (210) 245-7500, therustic.com. — CC
800.982.2787
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music | music Picks
AZUL BARRIENTOS
Belting out traditional Mexican songs at the Esperanza Center since 2007, singer Azul Barrientos continues her monthly tradition of performing café style. Barrientos possesses a voice of great beauty, and she uses it to speak out on politics and bring awareness to social justice issues. $7, 7:30 p.m., Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave., (210) 228-0201, esperanzacenter.org. — BE
JOE ELY
Joe Ely got his start as part of the visionary Lubbock folk trio The Flatlanders in the 1970s. From there, he grew famous in his own right, bringing his blend of Tex-Mex, honky-tonk and rock ’n’ roll from the Panhandle to the world. Now in his 70s, Ely makes a stop at Sam’s to pick through a catalogue half a century thick. $25-$100, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson Street, (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — LH
BILLY THE CONQUER, DREAMBORED, TYLER JORDAN
WATERPARKS, KITTEN, DE’WAYNE JACKSON
Twitter/ Waterparks
Friday, December 20 Landing somewhere between pop-punk, indie pop and alternative rock, Waterparks has enjoyed a steady rise since forming in the early 2010s. The Houston-based band has extensively toured and supported acts in the pop-punk world including Never Shout Never and Sleeping with Sirens. They’re also managed by Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, which is certainly a genre stamp of approval. The band’s touring in support of the 2019 release Fandom. $22.50, 6 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com. — CC
Friday, December 20
GRUPO FANTASMA
Adrian Quesada may be busy with Black Pumas these days, but Grupo Fantasma, the Grammy-winning pan-national funk orchestra he co-founded in 2000, is more than keeping pace. Tracks from Fantasma’s forthcoming record American Music: Vol. VII ladle Turkish-psych guitars and South Indian drums into the mix — and, as the record was recorded at Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, they’re damn sure gonna have something to say about the border wall. $20-$120, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — Lance Higdon
Want to rock out, but in a chill way? Look no further than local indie rock three-piece Billy Conquer as they gift us for the holidays with a free show. Husband-wife dream pop duo Dreambored and Austin indie singer Tyler Jordan complete the lineup. Free, 10 p.m., The Mix, 2423 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-1313, themixsa.com. — BE
ROGER CREAGER
The Corpus-bred crooner’s songbook chronicles both standard honky-tonk passions (dancehalls, trucks and kicking ass) and Gulf Coast loves (beaches, boats and catching bass). Creager’s music covers the spectrum too, weaving bluegrass licks and accordion riffs into his road-proven brand of Texas country. $25, 8:30 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenetexas. com. — LH
RANDALL KING, WYNN WILLIAMS
Looking like a young George Strait, Randall King plays poppy country tunes that seem tailor made for radio attention. $13, 7 p.m., John T. Floore Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, Helotes, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com. — CC
Facebook/ Upon a Burning Body
UPON A BURNING BODY
Saturday, December 21 Fresh off the heels of newly released album Southern Hospitality, the hometown hardcore heroes Upon a Burning are returning with a show billed as Christmas in the Pit. If you’re a metalcore fan and haven’t yet listened to Southern Hospitality, we don’t know what’s stopping you. Quite possibly the band’s best release to date, the album is ferociousness as a hungry animal attacking its prey. After surviving a decade in which plenty of metalcore bands threw in the towel, Upon a Burning Body has only solidified as a unit and proved it’s not going away anytime soon. $18, 6 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — CC
Saturday, December 28
JACKIE VENSON
Austinite Jackie Venson combines blues, soul and pop to create a unique musical stew that earned her tour opening slots for folks as varied as Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw and James Taylor. Her credentials don’t end there; she’s a girl who knows her way around a guitar and loop pedal board and was honored by the City of Austin with an official Jackie Venson Day. $12-$50, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint. com. — BE
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
Monday, December 23 It’s hard to believe that Trans-Siberian Orchestra has now been around for more than two decades. Maybe time flies when you’re shredding Christmas carols and entertaining holiday crowds with over-the-top stage shows. Augmenting its metal orchestration with plenty of lights and lasers, this year’s Christmas Eve and Other Stories show is being billed as a return to TSO’s roots. It draws from band’s 1996 album of the same name and follows a story developed by the group’s late founder, composer and lyricist Paul O’Neil. Fans can expect to hear TSO classics including “Ornament,” “Old City Bar” and “Wizards in Winter.” $49.50-$79.50, 8 p.m, AT&T Center, One AT&T Center Parkway, attcenter.com. — CC
Saturday, December 21
AGAROTH, FLESH HOARDER, DEFILED CRYPT, SLAUGHTERWITCH, BLACK JACKAL The Saturday before Christmas is typically the busiest shopping day of the year. So why not blow off some steam with some cheery extreme metal? Blackened death merchants Agaroth hail from Mexico City and headline a show stocked with local talent. $6, 7:30 p.m., Bond’s 007 Rock Bar, 450 Soledad St., (210) 225-0007, bonds007rockbar.com. — MM 50
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FREAKFEST FEATURING STEVE AOKI
Sunday, December 29 EDM super-producer Steve Aoki is headed to San Antonio and if you’re in the crowd you’ll be in danger of getting a cake thrown at you. Yes, you read that right: as part of his act, the DJ and producer throws a cake at a willingly (un)lucky fan in between room-rattling, bass drops. Collaborating with artists as diverse as Lil Jon, Blink-182 and Iggy Azalea, Aoki has proven himself to be an EDM mainstay. EDM heavy hitter Deorro and dance music producer Lucii will fatten up the bill. $35-$410, 9 p.m., Cowboys Dancehall, 3030 NE Interstate 410 Loop, (210) 646-9378, cowboysdancehall.com. — CC
Saturday, December 28
RANDY ROGERS BAND
The C&W stalwarts are making a local appearance to wind down the decade. The long-running act released Hellbent earlier this year, continuing to stick it to the “Nashville elite.” $25-$35, 7 p.m., Cowboys Dancehall, 3030 NE Loop 410, (210) 646-9378, cowboysdancehall.com. — MM
Sunday, December 29
SHAUN MARTIN’S GOGO PARTY
Shaun Martin is one of the forty-odd folks to passed through the jazz-fusion collective Snarky Puppy in the past decade, but he’s kept plenty of other fires burning closer to home up in North Texas. One of the most notable is his Go-Go Party, which notches up the tempo — and the funk — on the DC genre of live-band dance music. It’s a great chance to close out 2019 with a hip-shakin’ good time. $12-$50, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — LH
OPEN OPEN 77 DAYS DAYS AA WEEK WEEK mon-fri 2pm-2am • sat-sun 11am-2am
Tuesday, December 31
DANCE YOURSELF CLEAN
My how things have changed since the ’80s. In those days, you had dirty dancing. Now the millennials have killed it, just like they do everything. But, seriously, Dance Yourself Clean is an “indie dance party” that’s built success via nationwide touring. $5, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — MM
Tuesday, December 31
NIGHTBIRD
NYE live music options are surprisingly sparse this year, but veteran tribute act Nightbird is offering the chance to ring in the new with the haunting music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks. $13-$100, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., samsburgerjoint. com. — CC
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The quick part of the song. ACROSS 1 Tres ___ cake 7 Dangerous reptiles 11 Indicted Giuliani associate Parnas 14 Breathe out 15 Monument Valley state 16 Windows file extension 17 100% correct 18 It may be an acquired taste 20 Comment about a loud blockbuster after thinking it was a Chaplin movie? 22 “___ Tu” (1974 hit song) 23 Shoe bottom 24 “Nailed It!” host Nicole 26 Mountain suffix 27 Permit 29 “Beefy” Trogdor feature 31 Academic URL ender 32 Fake device 34 “Where did ___ leave off?” 36 Phrase you won’t hear from me or other solvers? 39 Winding 41 Den-izens? 42 Planned Airbnb event in 2020 43 Throw in 46 “A Dream Within a Dream” writer 47 “Charlie’s Angels” director, 2000
50 “That ___ funny” 52 Island with Pearl Harbor 54 Country singer McCann 55 Like the most lenient newspaper ever? 59 Word before band or papers 60 2001 A.L. MVP Suzuki 61 Pint at a pub 62 Service rank 63 Home-___ (local athlete) 64 “That’s it” 65 Steering wheel adjunct 66 Finely decorated DOWN 1 Apartment renter 2 Become invalid 3 Irascibility 4 Has no love for 5 Tesla CEO Musk 6 Airmailed 7 Pub quiz round format, maybe 8 “A Streetcar Named Desire” shout 9 Four-time Masters champion 10 It’s between the knee and the ankle 11 2020, for one 12 Goes beyond 13 “Oy ___!”
19 Summer cookout leftover 21 Aperture setting on a camera 25 9-to-5 grind 27 “Threepenny Opera” star Lotte 28 “Baudolino” author Umberto 30 Creator of Piglet and Pooh 32 Driver’s license agcy. 33 “The King and I” star Brynner 35 “___ Miserables” 36 Hematite and pyrite 37 Close, as a jacket 38 Exhibit site 39 10% of MXX 40 High-end 44 Two-ended tile 45 De Niro’s wife in “Meet the Parents” 47 Smallest possible quantities 48 Bordeaux red wine 49 Aplenty 51 “American Chopper” network 53 Hulkamania figure 54 “Mean Girls” actress Lindsay 56 “Trouble’s in store” 57 “Mambo King” Puente 58 “Happy Birthday” writer 59 Indy 500 month ANSWER ON PAGE 17 sacurrent.com |
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