A MEMO TO MAYOR NIRENBERG | THE 10 BEST MOVIES OF 2019 | SA MUSICIANS WHO SHAPED THE DECADE JAN. 2-14, 2020
LEFT TO RIGHT: ROKY ERICKSON JIM CULLUM JR. "SPOT" BARNETT
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in this issue San Antonio Current
Issue 20-01 /// January 02-14, 2020
10 Feature
Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin
‘Oh, Death!’
Editorial
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,
Saying goodbye to the innovators, creators, movers and shakers San Antonio and Texas lost in 2019
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A MEMO TO MAYOR NIRENBERG | THE 10 BEST MOVIES OF 2019 | SA MUSICIANS WHO SHAPED THE DECADE JAN. 2-14, 2020
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.
LEFT TO RIGHT: ROKY ERICKSON JIM CULLUM JR. "SPOT" BARNETT
Bryan Rindfuss
07 News
CityScrapes Glitter Politico
18 Calendar Calendar Art Picks
25 Arts
Forbidden Tomes
Running down the best weird and dark fiction of 2019
27 Screens
Best Films of 2019
Despite all the death, destruction and divorce, the movies were a fun time this year
31 Food
East Side Bistro
The Magpie opens in Hackberry Market, bringing an East-meets-West approach to casual dining
Small Plates Table Talk
34 Music
Breaking Ground with Sound These 20 artists helped define San Antonio’s music over the past decade
Music Picks
41 Etc
REMEMBERING THE CULTURAL ICONS WE LOST IN 2019
On The Cover: This year, San Antonio and Texas bid farewell to some larger-than-life figures in the worlds of music, arts, culture and politics. Cover illustration: Ray Tattooedboy Art direction: Samantha Serna
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news
CITYSCRAPES
On Funding the Protection of Our Aquifer: A Memo to Mayor Ron Nirenberg BY HEYWOOD SANDERS Editor’s Note: CityScrapes is a periodic column of opinion and analysis.
M
r. Mayor: As you move ahead with plans for the ConnectSA sales tax to replace the existing Proposition 1 sales tax for aquifer protection, you need to recognize some fundamental realities of San Antonio political and electoral history. First, San Antonio’s voters have long been concerned about protecting the Edwards Aquifer and its recharge zone, particularly from the threat of unbridled development. In 1976, the COPS/Metro organization and the new Aquifer Protection Association mounted a campaign against a proposed mega-shopping mall on the recharge zone at 281 and 1604. The headline in the San Antonio Light on January 18, 1976 read, “Vote Overwhelming: No Mall on Aquifer!” The paper reported that with a heavier turnout than expected, voters voted down the zoning change for the mall by a four-to-one margin. Although the courts ultimately ruled against the vote, concluding that a zoning decision was not subject to referendum, the outcome was a striking index of popular concern about the aquifer and water quality. The public’s concern about the recharge zone was also central to the bitter fight over the proposed PGA Village development in 2002. The plans for a major golf resort and hotel over the zone were opposed by the Save Our Aquifer group and COPS/Metro. Those organizations mounted a petition campaign to stop the city’s approval of a special taxing district. The campaign collected more than 77,000 signatures, more than enough to force a public vote on the decision. And while a modified scheme for what became the JW Marriott and TPC resort was ultimately granted a non-annexation agreement by the city, the voter sentiment was again clear. Just as local voters have demonstrated their opposition to development schemes that threaten the aquifer and water quality, they
Larry D. Moore / Wikimedia Commons
have consistently embraced public investment to protect the aquifer. The city’s commitment of a dedicated sales tax to aquifer protection began with then-Mayor Howard Peak’s Better Futures proposal in 2000. The Better Futures effort was vigorously promoted by former Mayor Lila Cockrell. “It is urgent to get these initiatives passed now,” Cockrell said at the time. “We can’t wait until another bond election. Development and land acquisition will become more expensive and much harder to obtain. And we should take this opportunity to save our water supply and foster a better future for the city.” The Better Futures package included four separate sales tax propositions. Proposition 1, for San Antonio River development and improvement, was to fund what was ultimately realized as the Museum Reach of the river. Proposition 2 was designed for the redevelopment and reuse of the former Kelly Air Force Base. Proposition 3 was dedicated to park development, including creekways, and protection of the Edwards Aquifer. Proposition 4 was intended to support neighborhood development and business expansion with projects spread throughout the city’s ten council districts. The verdict was delivered by voters at the May 6, 2000, local election: three of the four propositions were defeated. Only Prop 3 for parks and aquifer protection was embraced
Public concern about the recharge zone surrounded development of the JW Marriott.
I
by the voters — with 56% approval. Proposition 4 was turned down by a stunning margin of 64% opposed to just 36% in favor. Over and over since 2000, the voters have shown their support by renewing the sales tax in 2005, 2010 and most recently in 2015. And the margins of voter support have climbed over those years, from 55% in 2005 to 66% in 2010. A remarkable 78% voted in favor in May 2015. While public support for aquifer protection has been demonstrated at the polls time after time, big public investment proposals have often fared worse. Of course, there were the two defeats of the Applewhite Reservoir proposal in the early 1990s. And when a grand VIA light rail plan backed by Nelson Wolff was on the same ballot in May 2000 as Mayor Peak’s Better Futures package, the rail plan was overwhelming defeated, with only 30% in favor. The outcome of the charter proposals on the ballot in November 2018 should also give you pause. The public has made clear that that it wants committed funding for aquifer protection — not just a promise from you, the council, SAWS, or anyone else. Heywood Sanders is a professor of public policy at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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news GLITTER POLITICO
Jacqueline Valdés Believes the Time is Right to Run for District Court Judge BY JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA
I
t’s an early Wednesday morning and I’m sitting across from Jacqueline “Jackie” Valdés, Democratic judicial candidate for the 386th Juvenile District Court, at the offices of Viva Politics. We’re only steps away from the Bexar County Democratic Party’s new headquarters on Fredericksburg Road. She’s wearing a beige wool sweater that complements her light brown hair and expressive hazel eyes. Her demeanor is surprisingly serene for someone who recently launched her first campaign for public office. Valdés is challenging incumbent Arcelia Treviño in the March 3 primary. Valdés says the sitting judge’s irregular attendance on scheduled court proceedings has left her no choice but to run. When contacted for comment, Treviño said via a social media message that she’s “not quite sure why this prosecutor who was assigned to my court for a limited time in 2019” would make allegations about her attendance. “When you are ready to write a story about my judicial work in the 386th District Court since elected, please feel to contact me,” she added. While Valdés, 39, is new to campaigning, she’s not new to juvenile justice. She began practicing juvenile law in the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office in 2008. After a three-year intermittence in private practice, she rejoined the DA’s office in 2015. Currently, she serves as an assistant district attorney for the Juvenile Court. Treviño defeated the highly endorsed
Jade Esteban Estrada
GOP candidate Laura Parker as part of the 2016 Democratic sweep of local court races. Most Democrats rejoiced in the victories — a wide concession in light of former Hillary Clinton’s loss in the presidential election — but in Valdés’ view, Treviño didn’t have enough juvenile court experience, even though she hoped the new judge would rise to the occasion. But, this year, Valdés began hearing that Treviño wasn’t coming into work regularly. In May, Valdés was assigned to the court. “I finally saw [her recurring absences] for myself,” she says. “It was disappointing to see that the one person who was supposed to be making the decision in court was clearly not dedicated and not accountable to the position.” In August, Valdés decided to run against Treviño. Valdés is married, works full-time and is a mother of five children, ages 5 to 19, so the life-altering decision took much deliberation, although she had a clear idea of what the job entails. After all, Valdés mother, Maria Teresa Herr, was the district judge for the 186th Criminal District Court from 2002-2014. Her late father did political consulting work. Growing up, Valdés had a knack for numbers and thought she would eventually become a math teacher. But, after earning her B.A. in mathematics from Trinity University, she opted for a switch and enrolled in the St. Mary’s University
School of Law. It was when she began work in the juvenile section of the DA’s office that everything seemed to click, both personally and professionally. “It just answered every need that I had,” she says. “I’m with kids at work who really need direction, and I get to be around kids at home, so I feel full in that respect.” Like many in the judicial community, Valdés doesn’t feel political affiliation should have any bearing on her work. “I don’t want to say that I’m not a Democrat, or that those are not my ideals, but I don’t think that that bleeds into decisions that are made on the bench,” she says. That’s especially true on the juvenile bench, because “the best interests of the child have nothing to do with whether the judge on the bench is a Democrat or a Republican.” Arguably, Valdés’ close relationship with her mother offers her the advantage of a daily mentorship with a retired district judge who still visits the court from time to time. “She’s always ready to be helpful in any way she can,” Valdés adds with a smile. Valdés remembers being in first grade when her mother took the bar exam. “She was so excited. I learned from her and watched her study,” she says. “We talked about the law all the time at home. She laid the foundation for a lot of what’s really possible.” Valdés says time management is es-
sential in her household. Her day starts with running and attending a gym class at 4:30 a.m. She credits her husband, Ed Valdés, who’s also an attorney, with helping keep the family on track. “We manage to make it work,” she says. Despite her family connection to the bench, Valdés says she never considered running for judge. She recalls her mom winning her seat by 93 votes after a lengthy recount — a memory that still brings a sense of unease. “It’s not about me,” Valdés says with conviction. “It’s about what is happening right now in that court, [which] is very disappointing and, in my opinion, unacceptable. We need a judge on that bench that’s dedicated to juvenile justice, that’s accountable to this community and does what they say they’re going to do.” Valdés adds that she would have supported any qualified candidate — regardless of party affiliation — willing to challenge Treviño. However, no one else stepped up. “My mom kept telling me, ‘There’s going to come a day when you aren’t going to feel like you have a choice. Just trust me. I know that day is going to come for you,’” she says. “And that day really did come. The day came when I sat in court and watched what was going on and decided this was totally unacceptable.” She pauses, then opens her palms towards me. “And so here I am.”
news
‘Oh, Death!’
and Tina Turner, saxophonist Vernon “Spot” Barnett became a local icon not in just in that genre, but jazz, rock ’n’ roll and Chicano soul — the latter a sound he helped pioneer. In the ’50s and ’60s, Barnett also led the 20th Century Orchestra, house band for the East Side’s storied Ebony Lounge. He remained active in city’s music scene up until his death. “Barnett was sort of the kingpin of the East Side sound,” said Hector Saldana, music curator for the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University. “He influenced Doug Sahm, he influenced Chicano musicians. He also represented a time when R&B was really hot and the sound was changing, where the big bands were becoming smaller jazz outfits.” Although Chicano soul artist Sunny Ozuna wasn’t initially part of Barnett’s inner circle, Ozuna recalled watching the saxophonist perform so he could learn from a consummate professional. “We were given a shot to work the Tourist Ballroom, and [Barnett] was on fire at that time,” Ozuna said. “I was anxious to see how he played, and my goodness, this guy was very, very talented.” — Chris Conde
BUNNY BECKER m
Courtesy of Becker Vinyards
Winemaker who helped put Texas on the map August 27, 1940-August 5, 2019
Ray Tattooedboy
Oh, Death Won’t you spare me over ‘til another year — American folk song
W
ith a new year upon us, it’s again time to reflect on the notable deaths the old one left in its
wake. No doubt, plenty of publications have presented slideshows and roundups sending off everyone from Elijah Cummings and Gloria Vanderbilt to King Kong Bundy and Bushwick Bill. However, stepping away from national political figures and larger-than-life
10
CURRENT | January 02-14, 2020 | sacurrent.com
pop culture figures, we’d instead like to concentrate on revered local and regional figures we lost. Some, like four-term San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell and Mi Tierra matriarch Cruz Cortez, are iconic, while others, such as Western artist Brad Braune and Latin music treasure Rita Vidaurri, may be lesser known to our readers. Our hope is that our sampling includes both beloved SA luminaries and the kind of eccentrics, mavericks and hellraisers our city loves to embrace. While the list is certainly not exhaustive, these folks are among those we lost in 2019.
SPOT BARNETT m
Influential, genre-spanning San Antonio horn player June 21, 1936-October 6, 2019
Josh Huskin
Saying goodbye to the innovators, creators, movers and shakers San Antonio and Texas lost in 2019
After performing with R&B royalty including Bobby “Blue” Bland and Ike
Mary Clementine Ellison “Bunny” Becker, the co-founder of Becker Vineyards, helped to transform the Hill Country’s sleepy wine scene into a national destination. Becker, who died of cancer in August, launched her business by bringing bottles of wine to potential customers. Eventually she found support among San Antonio restaurants, chefs and retailers. Becker and her husband Robert originally purchased land in Freder-
news produced work for the Institute of Texan Cultures, Fiesta San Antonio and the Texas Folklife Festival. The latter commissioned him to design its first-ever festival poster in 1981. He titled the famous watercolor image of a longhorn with a balloon tied to one of its horns Cow Having Fun. “Brad was one of the kindest and most genuine friends one could have,” McKenzie said. “What I remember most was his wit, sense of humor and wry smile.” — Kiko Martinez
Ramin Samandari
Facebook/ La Familia Cortez Restaurants
Restaurateur and downtown champion May 2, 1921-May 30, 2019
April 1 marked a solemn day for San Antonio’s culinary and cycling communities. While riding his bicycle downtown just after midnight, Tito Bradshaw, 35, was struck and killed by a woman later indicted for drunk driving. Bradshaw owned the now-closed Bottom Bracket Social Club, a popular meeting place for inside-the-Loop cyclists. He is remembered as a charismatic figure and tireless advocate for the cycling community. In the days following his death, friends, family and community members came together to celebrate Bradshaw’s life with memorial bike rides, candlelight vigils and dedicated murals throughout the city. The University of Texas at San Antonio paid tribute to the local entrepreneur this fall, naming a bike repair station at the main campus after him. His death also prompted local cyclists to demand efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road and for the creation of a bike lane on Houston Street in his memory. — Sarah Martinez
LILA COCKRELL A
San Antonio’s first female mayor January 19, 1922-August 29, 2019
Twitter/ Sama Art
Entrepreneur and San Antonio cycling community fixture October 20, 1983-April 1, 2019
Western artist and art educator July 14, 1951-February 28, 2019
Courtesy of Becker Vinyards
CRUZ CORTEZ m
TITO BRADSHAW m
BRAD BRAUNE m
There’s no doubt artist Brad Braune left a legacy through the Western artwork and architecture he created during his lifetime, but friend Tom McKenzie hopes people will also remember him as a great instructor. “While his paintings are beautiful, I believe Brad’s legacy is really about his inspiration and teaching others about art,” McKenzie said. Braune, who died at the age of 67, was a faculty member at the Coppini Academy of Fine Arts, Southwest School of Art and the Majestic Ranch Arts Foundation in Boerne. He also taught private lessons from his home studio. Prior to becoming a full-time artist in 1978, Braune worked as an architect in the planning department of the San Antonio Development Agency. After his time at SADA, he went on to work at a series of local architecture firms. A prolific watercolorist, Braune
scenes. — Travis E. Poling
Lila Cockrell could have stopped at a decade on San Antonio City Council or after three consecutive terms as mayor and considered civic duty fulfilled. Instead, she came back for a fourth term as mayor years later. Her time during World War II in the Navy WAVES, then a long life in politics — from heading the League of Women Voters in Dallas and then San Antonio to her service at city hall — turned out to be the opening acts in public service for Cockrell.
Courtesy of Bottom Bracket Social CLub
icksburg to build a weekend getaway. Instead, the couple put down roots, opening a vineyard in 1992. Under her watch, Becker Vineyards grew from a small-output project to one of the Hill Country’s most recognized vineyards, shipping more than 140,000 cases annually. Its bottles are available on the shelves of Texas grocery chains and have been served to three U.S. presidents and at 10 James Beard House dinners. Becker was also a member of local culinary and wine-related organizations including Les Dames d’Escoffier. She was recognized for her achievements, appearing on two covers of Wine Spectator and winning the 2014 Tall in Texas Award for her leadership in the regional wine industry. — Lea Thompson
Cockrell, who died at 97, went on to lead even more transformations here, including as president of the San Antonio Parks Foundation, which she stayed involved with for nearly 40 years. In 2007 and 2008, Cockrell and former Councilwoman Bonnie Conner led the charge to raise $1.6 million to restore the lily ponds in the Japanese Tea Garden. Besides breaking the glass ceiling as San Antonio’s first woman mayor, she also shook up the status quo of city politics then worked to heal divisions, ushering in an era of negotiations between councilmembers to move the city forward. Even though she was a Good Government League candidate for council in her first run in the late 1960s, she worked on charter changes during a two-year hiatus from the council that would create 10 geographic districts and allow voters in each more control over the city’s destiny. That change broke the grip of the GGL, controlled primarily by the white business establishment. However, with more Hispanic council members, tensions flared with divisive votes often breaking down along racial lines. Many credit Cockrell with having the steel, albeit wrapped in her genteel manner, to heal those divisions and work out differences behind the
Cruz Cortez, co-founder of the iconic restaurant Mi Tierra Café & Bakery, passed away in May at age 98. The San Antonio native met her husband Pedro shortly after he relocated here from Mexico, and together, they launched Mi Tierra in 1941. Mi Tierra grew from a humble three-table eatery into a 24-hour dining destination for locals and visitors. The success allowed Cortez’s La Familia Cortez Restaurant Group to expand — launching other popular Market Square dining spots including La Margarita Restaurant and Oyster Bar, Mariachi Bar, Pico de Gallo and Viva Villa. A sixth restaurant, Mi Familia, opened earlier this summer, with a special altar dedicated to the late couple. Though Pedro Cortez passed away in 1984, Cruz worked until the age of 90, laying the groundwork for a company that now employs 600, including multiple generations of her family. Her role as matriarch and her commitment to the San Antonio community have been recognized through the César E. Chávez Legacy & Educational Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award and the Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award from the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists. Cortez also worked tirelessly to champion the local culture and preserve the history of downtown San Antonio. Like the “American Dream” mural at Mi Tierra, she exemplified how hard work and love of family can accomplish great things. — Lea Thompson
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news JIM CULLUM JR. m
GENE ELDER m
With cornet in hand, a passion for Dixieland jazz and an entrepreneurial spirit, Jim Cullum Jr. shared his love of music with San Antonio and the world in a 60year career that started at his father’s side and lasted up to the day before his death at the age of 77. As leader of the Jim Cullum Jazz Band he played all over San Antonio before opening The Landing, credited as the first Riverwalk nightclub, in 1963. It was from there that Cullum played with guest vocalists and musicians from the world
Born in Dallas on July 4, artist, archivist and all-around oddball Gene Elder relocated to San Antonio to attend Trinity University. After graduating, he adopted the Alamo City as his home and — as he once put it — “proceeded to inflict [himself] on the surrounding area.” As a young creative, he managed Bonham Exchange founder Arthur “Happy” Veltman’s legendary local gay bar the San Antonio Country, ran a ceramics gallery on the River Walk and wrote and performed in the campy 1973 ballet Fairies Fiasco. In 1984, he curated the work of 100 San Antonio artists and 10 poets for a time capsule buried in the lobby of the San Antonio Museum of Art. He later joked that he’ll be featured in every SAMA exhibition until it’s unearthed for the museum’s 2181 bicentennial. Following Veltman’s 1988 death, Elder
cording albums marked by horror movie odes like “Creature with the Atom Brain” and “I Walked with a Zombie.” Dallas DJ George Gimarc described Erickson’s eerie, overdriven sound from that era as “creature guitar.” After years of increasing instability, Erickson succumbed to the demons in his head and retreated from music. In the early 2000s, his brother Sumner Erickson gained custody of the ailing musician and helped guide him back. New releases and tours followed, with Erickson eventually booked as the opening-night performer at San Antonio’s Paper Tiger. He also performed a one-night-only reunion with the Elevators at an Austin festival. He died at 71. — Sanford Nowlin
ROKY ERICKSON m
Troubled musical genius behind the 13th Floor Elevators July 15, 1947-May 31, 2019
KENNETH GARRETT m
Few Texas musicians command as diverse a fan base as Roky Erickson, founder of the seminal ’60s psychedelic group the 13th Floor Elevators. Members of the neo-psych movement cite him as a key influence, as do Americana musicians, who revere his often-tender acoustic material and association with San Antonio legend
Bonham Exchange owner and gay nightlife pioneer September 30, 1950-February 8, 2019
As owner of the Bonham Exchange, the longtime flagship for San Antonio’s gay nightlife scene, Kenneth Garrett was a pivotal figure in San Antonio’s LGBTQ+ community. Under his watch, the downtown dance mecca thrived for nearly four decades, eventually adding a straight crowd to its clientele, drawn by thumping music, cheap drink specials and an accepting attitude. The building also houses the Happy FounDarla Teagarden
Ansen Seale
Jeff Salzgeber
over. On the nationally syndicated public radio show “Riverwalk Jazz,” Cullum introduced generations to the work of influential jazz artists such as W.C. Handy, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke. “He was a person who made things happen,” said local jazz crooner Ken Slavin. “He had vision, very strong drive and he was ambitious.” That ambition took him from festivals around the world to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. San Antonio’s jazz community followed in Cullum’s footsteps in playing anywhere an audience could be found, Slavin added. “That’s the beauty of this city; it doesn’t have to be at a jazz club to be a jazz happening. There’s a legacy to his approach on how to make music happen in San Antonio. He was out hustling gigs like the rest of us.” Cullum’s influence resounds in artists he influenced, but also in the band that was by his side — some members for decades. The group plays under the name River Walk Alumni Jazz Band and can be found at various restaurants and music venues around the city. Stanford University has 350 “Riverwalk Jazz” programs streaming at riverwalkjazz.stanford.edu. — Travis E. Poling
he quizzed local artists and personalities about UFOs and other unrelated topics for his Out In SA column “A View of Reality from a Chartreuse Couch.” After being diagnosed with colon cancer, Elder underwent chemotherapy and radiation but ultimately decided to quit fighting. Speaking to the Current earlier this year, he told writer Sarah Fisch he was grateful to have the time to review his life “like an archaeological dig.” Oh, what a bizarre and amusing dig that must have been. Elder believed in an afterlife and is undoubtedly disrupting it with flying colors. — Bryan Rindfuss
Wildcard chronicler of gay life in San Antonio July 4, 1969-April 28, 2019
became the curator and self-described “clip-and-file queen” of the Happy Foundation Archives — a gay history repository housed at the Bonham. Through the job, Elder became an eccentric librarian, chronicling gay life in San Antonio, filing away articles surrounding gay rights and the AIDS pandemic, and preserving belongings left behind by local AIDS victims. Despite its chaotic stacks and crammed filing cabinets, Elder somehow knew what and where everything was. Beyond his life in the archives, Elder was a wildcard of the queerest variety. He drove a playfully tricked-out Volkswagen Rabbit that looked like a junk shop on wheels. He photobombed so many tourists in front of the Alamo that his antics landed him on the cover of the Wall Street Journal in 1999. He designated July as Political Art Month and championed the cause even when it didn’t stick. He filled friends’ inboxes with rambling newsletters and other unsolicited materials. And
Doug Sahm. Punks admire his outsider artist status, and metalheads gravitate to the horror movie fixation of his later work. Born Roger Kynard Erickson, the guitarist and singer dropped out of high school in the mid-’60s to pursue the rock ’n’ roll life. Before long, he ended up fronting Austin proto-psych band the 13th Floor Elevators, whose debut single “You’re Gonna Miss Me” was largely defined by Erickson’s fervent opening scream. The Elevators won a cult following but also became a target for the Texas cops, and after continued harassment, Erickson was busted for a lone joint in 1969. He pleaded insanity to avoid prison, but time in the mental institution left him a changed man. The Erickson who emerged mined a much darker musical territory, re-
Courtesy of the Happy Foundation
Internationally renowned jazz traditionalist September 20, 1941-August 11, 2019
dation, the city’s extensive LGBTQ+ archive. Garrett inherited the Bonham from his longtime partner, real estate developer Arthur “Hap” Veltman, who died in 1988. The pair met 14 years prior, when Veltman owned San Antonio Country, a bar that served as the Bonham’s precursor. Veltman gets the credit for opening the Bonham in 1981 in a stately downtown structure that once served as a German social club and gym. However, associates praise Garrett for keeping it vital, even as other nightspots closed. He also launched the Chili Queens Chili Cook-Off, bringing a needed bit of glam to Fiesta. sacurrent.com | January 02-14, 2020 | CURRENT
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CURRENT | January 02-14, 2020 | sacurrent.com
ston’s lengthy battle with mental illness, his work “came from the most honest, sincere, loving place that art can come from,” Wheeler added. Before his death from a heart attack, Johnston was able to witness the influence of his music on pop culture, as new generations of fans discovered his music and artists including Yo La Tengo and Tom Waits released covers of his songs. A few weeks after his death, he was memorialized by a billboard along Interstate 35 in South Texas bearing the title of one his best-known songs, “True Love Will Find You in the End.” — Chris Conde
DANIEL JOHNSTON m
Influential outsider artist and musician January 22, 1961-September 11, 2019
KATIE PELL m
she did it with love and with care, no matter who was involved.” — Sarah Martinez
Beloved San Antonio visual artist and educator May 4, 1965-December 21, 2019
RICK R. MOORE m
Linda Pace confidant and Ruby City champion August 28, 1960-October 5, 2019
Courtesy of Ruby CIty
“First and foremost, he was a huge animal lover,” Chili Queens PMO Commissioner Joan Duckworth told the Current after Garrett’s passing. The club owner had six dogs and regularly “fed every stray cat that shows up at his back door.” Garrett died in his sleep of a heart attack at age 69 at his home. Shortly before his death, he made the final mortgage payment on the 127-year-old Bonham, which is still in operation and listed with the National Register of Historic Places. — Sanford Nowlin
Facebook/ Katie Pell
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CHARLINE MCCOMBS m
Daniel Johnston was a weirdo. But a weirdo whose soul-bearing songs and visual art touched the lives of a legion of fans worldwide. Johnston got his start in the early ’80s, selling home-recorded tapes of his simplistically performed, emotionally naked songs in between shifts working at a downtown Austin McDonald’s. San Antonio’s Michael Escamilla was among the group of musicians who coaxed Johnston onstage the first time, and despite his almost paralytic stage fright, the performance helped make him a local cult phenomenon. Independent-label releases won him a national audience that included other taste-making musicians. Kurt Cobain famously wore a Johnston T-shirt for a Rolling Stone cover shoot, bringing the Texan a brief taste of mainstream interest. “Daniel was an outsider’s outsider, sort of an extension of the Austin tradition of folks like Townes [Van Zandt], Blaze Foley and Rich Minus with the pop sensibility of Roky Erickson, and sans the alcohol patina of the former,” said Jeff Smith, frontman for San Antonio cowpunk band the Hickoids and one of the first people to release a Johnston song on vinyl. Johnston was an avid self-taught visual artist whose collaborators included San Antonian Jeff Wheeler. Despite John-
Twitter/ Majestic Emire
Courtesy of Daniel Johnston
Philanthropist behind downtown’s Empire Theatre October 17, 1928-December 12, 2019
The saying “Behind every great man, there’s a great woman” certainly applies to Charline McCombs, who died in December at 91. San Antonio billionaire Red McCombs may be widely known for his philanthropic efforts, but observers say his wife of nearly 70 years deserves just as much recognition. Through the McCombs Foundation, Charline McCombs provided financial support to nonprofits in the Alamo City and across Texas. Since 1981, she and her family were reportedly responsible for more than $125 million in donations. In addition to serving as the lifetime director of Las Casas Foundation, an Alamo City-based performing arts nonprofit, McCombs’ name appeared on downtown’s Empire Theatre following a $1 million gift from the family to aid in its restoration. “This is a spectacular woman, iconic in her own right, a matriarch of a wonderful family who has been a loving and caring person for many decades,” said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who has been close to the McCombs family since Red, the team’s one-time owner, hired him in 1988. “[Red] will be the first one to tell you that she called the shots, she was the boss, and
Linda Pace was a visionary, but her legacy wouldn’t be what it is without the tireless work of attorney Rick R. Moore. A close confidant of Pace who would later become president of the Linda Pace Foundation, Moore was instrumental in the development of Ruby City — the contemporary arts center conceived by Pace prior to her death. It opened to the public this fall. Moore began his career in Oklahoma City, working up the ranks to become partner at a large law firm. Over time, he became dissatisfied with practicing law in a formal setting and sought other work. But it wasn’t until he met Pace that he found his true calling. After a fateful introduction in 2000, Moore began consulting with Pace and soon went to work with her full-time. Moore brought his expertise both as a lawyer and a CPA to the table, helping her establish the Linda Pace Foundation in 2003. Ruby City would not be here without Moore, observers point out. He was involved in the project from its inception and had a hand in every phase, shepherding it from a dream Pace put to paper in red colored pencil into a 14,000-squarefoot structure designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye. Even before its opening, media buzz surrounded the project. It landed a feature in Architectural Digest and was included on Time Magazine’s 2019 list of the World’s Greatest Places. Moore died after a six-year battle with renal cell carcinoma eight days prior to Ruby City’s ribbon-cutting. Even so, he lived long enough to see the long-imagined project come to fruition. He was 59. — Kelly Merka Nelson
Born to British parents in 1965, Katie Pell grew up in the suburbs of Wilmington, Delaware, and spent long hours exploring the woods around her childhood home. By 1970, she developed a fascination with hippies and the freedom they represented. She found early inspiration in 1970s rock icons and identified with Mick Jagger based on her belief that he’d parlayed average looks and talent into epic stardom. After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1987, Pell worked for a glass artist in grunge-era Seattle and met her husband Peter Zubiate during coinciding 1993 artist residencies in Colorado. Two years later, the pair moved to San Antonio, eventually converting a Southtown grocery store into a live-work space and having their daughter Bygoe. Whether working in drawing, painting, sculpture or public art, Pell drew inspiration from nature, childhood memories, personal mythologies, identity, imperfection and reinvention. Her interest in creating something fantastical out of the everyday hit a high note with her 2006 Artpace residency exhibition “Bitchen,” a marriage of feminist concepts and lowrider culture that took shape in elaborately customized household appliances, including a hot pink, fire-breathing stove recently acquired by Ruby City. A longtime arts educator who made lasting impressions on students at the Circle School, the Southwest School of Art, the University of Texas at San Antonio and Northwest Vista College, Pell became a tireless caregiver to her husband, who passed away in 2017 following an extended illness. In 2018, South Carolina’s Columbia Museum of Art mounted what Pell described as her “first solo show at a major American museum.” The exhibition showcased many of her visual and conceptual hallmarks — she celebrated ’70s rock idol Peter Frampton as a Jesus-like figure, referenced her sacurrent.com | January 02-14, 2020 | CURRENT
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formative years in cartoony illustrations set in the woods behind her childhood house, riffed on the outward selves we project in charcoal recreations of awkward yearbook portraits and invited visitors to harness their inner stars by snapping selfies in front of backdrop-like “adoration drawings” bordered in woodland creatures. When Pell transitioned out of cancer treatment and into hospice care, we offered to record a conversation with her — highlights from which will be published in the Current. During our talk, one of Pell’s favorite personal quotes emerged as a poignant refrain that echoes her belief in everyone’s ability to become something magnificent, despite whatever deck they’ve been dealt: “Don’t pity me. Don’t try to save me. Each day I’m stealing what God never gave me.” — Bryan Rindfuss
A L L D AY SUN-MON
RITA VIDAURRI m
Latin music legend who made a late-life comeback May 22, 1924-January 16, 2019
Bryan Rindfuss
Eccentric roadside museum curator and ‘King of the Commode’ May 25, 1921-July 23, 2019
Singer Rita Vidaurri, who died at 94, left behind a deep musical legacy that included iconic songs such as “San Antonio Hermoso,” “Por Que Señor,” “Sacrificio” and “La Esposa Del Caminante.” Born on the West Side in the 1920s, Vidaurri began singing as a pre-teen in local talent contests and later in saloons owned by her father. She gained regional fame in the ’40s and ’50s thanks to her contributions to the ranchera genre. Nicknamed “La Calandria,” or the Lark, she won over audiences with her powerful voice and often-risqué stage banter. As her fame grew, she became the first Tejana to sing at Madison Square Garden. Her resume also included duets with legendary artists including Nat King Cole, Celia Cruz and Pedro Infante. Vidaurri retired in the late 1950s at the insistence of her then-husband. In 2001, she resumed her career with a performance at San Antonio’s Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. Her final public performance — in late 2018 — was alongside fellow Latina groundbreakers Blanca Rodriguez and Beatriz Llamas in a supergroup called Las Tesoros de San Antonio. — Chris Conde and Sanford Nowlin
Facebook / Las Tesoros de San Antonio
BARNEY SMITH m
As many regular visitors to Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Art Museum will confirm, it wasn’t the countless potty seats lovingly adorned with PEZ dispensers, license plates, belt buckles, Mardi Gras beads, troll dolls, $1 million in shredded cash or remnants of the Berlin Wall, Auschwitz, NASA’s Challenger or Saddam Hussein’s golden shitter that kept them coming back for more. It was Smith himself — an elderly Alamo Heights eccentric with an undeniable gift of gab and a tendency to use his walking cane to punctuate stories often stranger than fiction. Born in the rural Texas town of Eastland in 1921, Smith worked a diverse assortment of jobs — pastor, illustrator, master plumber and volunteer firefighter among them — before turning his Alamo City garage into a quirky home museum circa 1991. A labor of love that eventually amassed more than 1,400 embellished toilet seats that covered his garage walls in precarious, clanking layers, Smith’s unusual collection
HOUR
earned him local and regional press and mentions in niche travel sites such as roadsideamerica.com. The museum also landed TV spots on the The View, Montel and The Tom Green Show and even led to a coffee-table book chronicling much of his life’s work — 2018’s aptly titled King of the Commode. On any given day, Smith could be found sharing colorful anecdotes about all of the above and plenty more as visitors snaked through his maze of curiosities. Although the unassuming San Antonio icon died in July at the age of 98, a significant chunk of his idiosyncratic artwork remains in the public eye thanks to Dallas-area bar owner Jason Boso, who purchased Smith’s signature collection to decorate his Truck Yard beer garden. — Bryan Rindfuss
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amet and Saoirse Ronan. Along with three servings of premium organic tea, ticket purchases include treats such as soda bread with herbed butter, a radish-cucumber tea sandwich and a lime-and-strawberry upside down cake. Be sure to pack tissues, because we can’t have you crying into your tea now, can we? $22.58, 4 p.m. Saturday, Alamo Drafthouse Park North, 618 NW Loop 410, 4 p.m. Sunday, Alamo Drafthouse Stone Oak, 22806 US 281 North, (210) 677-8500, drafthouse.com/san-antonio. — Brianna Espinoza
Alberto Aranda
FRI | 1/3 COMEDY
ECONOMY COMEDY
Start 2020 off with some levity courtesy of Economy Comedy at the Blind Tiger Comedy Club, “the only comedy club in Texas located in the basement of a children’s restaurant.” Hosted by bald buds Bryan Powell and Christopher Breakell — who kick each show off with an admittedly disjointed, podcast-esque back-and-forth — Economy Comedy provides a monthly comedy showcase that usually includes a few surprises. For January, Breakell and Powell invite Economy Comedy’s in-house lawyer Anthony Chavarria to provide “precautionary legal advice” to start off the new decade, and San Antonio native and 2013 Funniest Comic in Texas Raul Sanchez will offer one of his award-winning sets while he’s in town from New York City for the holidays. The pay-what-you-can show gives all proceeds to the comics, and anyone feeling lucky can stock up on $1 raffle tickets to enter in a drawing for prizes from local sponsors. Pay What You Can, 10 p.m., Blind Tiger Comedy Club (Underneath the Magic Time Machine), 902 NE Loop 410, (210) 828-1470, blindtigercomedyclub.com. — Kelly Merka Nelson
THU | 1/2 – FRI | 1/3
TUE | 1/7 – SUN | 1/12
ART
‘OPTICS’ m
Mathew Murphey
THEATER
FL!GHT Gallery’s first exhibition of the year is all about the optics. Curated by Seattle-based artist Tommy Gregory, ‘Optics’ features a diverse slate of glassworkers who weave stories through the notoriously fragile medium. Joining Gregory are the De la Torre Brothers of Baja California, Seattle’s Sean Hennessey and Weston Lambert, Houstonian Mat Kubo and two San Antonians — Gail Stouffer and Hilal Hibri, the latter of whom operates Hibri Glass right next door to FL!GHT. In line with the show’s title, the artists will manipulate their prismatic medium to invite viewers to “reflect on the nature of our news information and our daily consumption of objects.” Free, 6-10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, FL!GHT Gallery, 112R Blue Star, facebook.com/flightsa. — KMN
MISS SAIGON
Wilson Webb
SAT | 1/4 – SUN | 1/5 FILM
AFTERNOON TEA: LITTLE WOMEN I
Sean Hennessey
Be on your best behavior, because Alamo Drafthouse is hosting a tea party in honor of the new Little Women movie. Adapted — not for the first time — from Louisa May Alcott’s timeless novel, the story follows the four March sisters as they transition to womanhood in New England following the Civil War. The new telling is another collaboration between Lady Bird director Greta Gerwig and actors Timothée Chal-
When Miss Saigon closed at the Broadway Theatre in 2001 after 4,092 performances, it had the distinct honor of being the sixth-longest-running show in Broadway history. But the musical was not without its faults. Even before its arrival on Broadway, Miss Saigon was shrouded in controversy after London’s 1989 West End production cast white actors in Asian roles. Now, in the era of cancel culture, the #MeToo movement and a time where racial tensions appear to be on the rise, Miss Saigon has not aged well. Loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon is set during the Vietnam war and tells the story of Chris, a white American G.I., who falls in love with Kim, a Vietnamese sex worker. A romantic love story this is not. Kim bears Chris’s child, whom she gives up in the hopes the child can have a better life in the U.S. In the end, Kim kills herself. While Madame Butterfly has a similarly tragic trajectory, Miss Saigon certainly perpetuates negative stereotypes of Asians as a people in need of saving. However, old habits die hard, and Miss Saigon remains one of the top-grossing musicals of all time — even in 2019. The musical is best remembered for a striking scene in which a helicopter lands on stage representing the fall of Saigon. And while the tunes in the show may also be quite memorable, it may be time to ask whether it’s time to retire this outdated production. San Antonio audiences can decide for themselves when Miss Saigon lands at the Majestic Theatre on Tuesday, January 7 as part of the North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio series. $45-$408, 8 p.m. Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — Marco Aquino
CLASSICAL MUSIC
SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY: BRAHMS FIRST
calendar
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FRI | 1/10 – SAT | 1/11
Audiences can hear the changing tunes of history in concert at the San Antonio Symphony’s performance of Johannes Brahms’ First Symphony. The program pits Brahms against Richard Wagner in alternating selections — much as the two contemporaries found themselves at odds in the 19th century German music scene. The fervor of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony cast a long shadow over Romantic classical music, and Brahms felt the divergent pressures to both innovate and follow. A consummate perfectionist, his first symphony was purportedly 21 years in the making and propelled him to fame, despite the fact that Wagner, among others, scorned it as “Beethoven’s Tenth.” On the other hand, Wagner’s dramatic operas consciously sought to take Germany and music itself in a new direction, influencing many modern composers. Even so, his legacy also includes his well-documented antisemitic views and posthumous association with the Nazi party. Those Valkyries sure can ride, though. $12-$100, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, H-E-B Performance Hall, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, sasymphony.org. — Trevor Flynn Courtesy of San Antonio Symphony
MON | 1/6
SPORTS
Spurs Sports and Entertainment
SPURS VS. BUCKS I
League MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo makes his only stop in San Antonio this season on Monday night when the Spurs host the Milwaukee Bucks. The Greek Freak is averaging career highs in points and rebounds while leading the Bucks to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Milwaukee has hit its stride under former Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer, who has better utilized Antetokounmpo’s versatility during his second year as the Bucks’ head coach. After embarrassing losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season, Coach Popovich and his squad face a formidable task against the powerhouse Bucks. With NBA Christmas in the rearview mirror, a course correction is sorely needed for the uneven Spurs. Already regarded as a professional basketball outpost, San Antonio slips closer and closer to NBA irrelevance as the losses mount. $15-$1,202, 7:30 p.m., AT&T Center, One AT&T Center, (210) 444-5140, attcenter.com. — M. Solis
FRI | 1/10 – SAT | 1/11 TH EATER
GAY MEN WITH WIVES
Audiences can enjoy the dramatic fallout of two sexually entangled families who take “love thy neighbor” to new extremes in Gay Men with Wives, a domestic farce of repression and
acceptance opening at the Overtime Theater. The play centers on two couples: Tom and his wife Carida, who are having trouble getting pregnant, and their neighbors Larry and Mindy, who are about to launch a political campaign. As it turns out, Tom and Larry have engaged in a years-long affair — which could either provide a convenient source of sperm for Carida or threaten disgrace for Mindy. Things get even more complicated when Larry’s estranged brother Keith brings a fresh spirit of openness into the two households. If you think Grace and Frankie is messy, you haven’t seen anything yet. $10-$15, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through February 1 (see website for additional showtimes), Overtime Theater, 5409 Bandera Rd. Ste. 205, (210) 557-7562, theovertimetheater.org. — TF
SAT | 1/11 ART
‘THIS & THAT & SUCH’ SECOND SATURDAY ART PARTY
SPACE C7’s exhibition showcasing former Artpace resident and current Grand PooBah of The Lodge of Saint Reborlaro at Sala Diaz Heyd Fontenot will grace the walls for a second month (it opened in mid-December). But that doesn’t mean visitors should expect more of the same. To shake things up for Second Saturday, C7’s Jeff Wheeler is inviting everybody back to enjoy Fontenot’s “unclothed portraits” and irreverent banners while pausing to make some art of their own. Attendees are encouraged to bring along their favorite supplies to transform this “seemingly normal art opening” into a full-on, collaborative art-making fiesta as the night goes on. Whether they work in crayons or pastels, no one should feel too intimidated to participate. There’s no judgment here. Free, 6-9 p.m., SPACE C7 @ South Side Living + Maker Spaces, 2450 Roosevelt Ave., (806) 392-1915, thesouth-side.com. — KMN
SUN | 1/12 SPECIAL EVEN T
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: I BOUGHT A RAINFOREST m
Breathe in, breathe out and take in all nature has to offer as National Geographic Live: I Bought a Rainforest explores the world around us. Charlie Hamilton James, a wildlife documentarian, conservationist and award-winning photojournalist, will engage audience members with stories about his experiences living in the Peruvian rainforest. Having spent the past 20 years of his life trying to protect Peru’s Manu National Park, Hamilton James has lived with indigenous people and even purchased 100 acres of rainforest — one portion of which included an illegal twist. Bring a safari hat and keep a close eye out, because you never know what wonders might lurk within the depths of Hamilton James’ stories. $16-$45, 4 p.m., H-E-B Performance Hall, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — BE
Charlie Halmilton James
January
SPAMILTON SPAM ILTON AN AMERICAN PARODY
created, written, and directed by
GERARD ALESSANDRINI
JANUARY 14 -26 | EMPIRE THEATRE
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CURRENT | January 02-14, 2020 | sacurrent.com
calendar TUE | 1/14 – SUN | 1/26 TH EATER
SPAMILTON: AN AMERICAN PARODY
Lin-Manuel Miranda is a “physical laugher.” That was one of the observations New York magazine writer Jesse David Fox wrote in a review of Spamilton, a parody of Miranda’s Broadway hit Hamilton, when he saw it 2016. Well, Fox technically saw it, but, as he indicated in his article, when he realized Miranda was in the audience that evening, he knew he “wasn’t just going to watch Spamilton. [He] was also going to watch Miranda watching Spamilton.” In doing so, Fox detailed the “Real Miranda,” as he refers to him in the review, “bouncing in excitement” and “explod[ing] out of his seat.” That said, it’s hard to get a better endorsement for a comedy show than to have the original’s creator “clapping and barking in laughter.” Written by Gerard Alessandrini, creator of the parody revue Forbidden Broadway, Spamilton will probably make more sense if you’ve actually seen Miranda’s critically acclaimed musical on founding father Alexander Hamilton, but theater geeks who haven’t will probably recognize some of the other musicals Alessandrini’s show roasts, including Chicago, The Book of Mormon and Sweeney Todd. $69, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays through January 26, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. — KM
Roger Mastroianni
The unconventional coming-of-age film will screen as part of the “Fantastic Fest Presents” series at Alamo Drafthouses across the country and will be followed by a livestream Q&A with the filmmakers, cast and also daddy Robbins. $12.25, 8 p.m., Alamo Drafthouse Park North, 618 NW Loop 410, (210) 677-8500, drafthouse.com/ san-antonio. — Kiko Martinez
SUN | 1/12
FILM
VHYES
Oscilloscope
Although the 2019 “retro comedy” VHYes is shot entirely on VHS and Betamax, there’s no need to unearth your old VHS player from the basement and try to remember how to fix the tracking. The film’s homemade look is supposed to be part of its overall appeal. Set in the 1980s, VHYes follows Ralph (Mason McNulty), a 12-year-old who gets a video camcorder for Christmas and mistakenly records over his parents’ wedding tape. Ralph likes making video parodies of TV shows and infomercials with his best friend Josh (Rahm Braslaw), but he also likes to record late-night shows on cable he’s not supposed to watch. Bomchicka-wah-wah. The mishmash of content becomes VHYes. It is directed by Jack Henry Robbins (Ghostmates), whose famous Hollywood parents, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, make cameos in his low-res opus.
will feature 16 short films from a diverse host of directors, including Cedric Thomas Smith and fellow San Anto filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith, both of whom will be in attendance to discuss their award-winning shorts. The lineup features Ya’Ke Smith’s Katrina’s Son (2011), which follows a young boy who loses his grandmother during Hurricane
Katrina and travels to San Antonio in search of the mother who abandoned him. It will also screen three of Cedric Thomas Smith’s films, including Breaking Brokenness (2018), a story of familial reckoning with a buried pattern of abuse. Free, 1-7 p.m., UTSA Buena Vista Theater, 501 W. César E. Chávez Blvd., (210) 4442315, dreamweek.org. — TF
SUN | 1/12 FILM
DREAMCINEMA
DreamWeek returns in 2020 with an extensive film showcase worthy of its mission to inspire civic engagement and pursue this year’s theme of “a collective vision.” Put together by local filmmaker Cedric Thomas Smith’s Well Ced Productions, DreamCinema
sacurrent.com | January 02-14, 2020 | CURRENT
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art picks THU | 1/9 ART PICK
‘VISIBILITIES: INTREPID WOMEN OF ARTPACE’
It’s been a quarter century since late local artist, collector and philanthropist Linda Pace opened the doors to Artpace, a nonprofit residency program and exhibition space she conceived as a “laboratory of dreams” where artists could experiment and venture into unfamiliar creative territory. In that time span, more than 200 artists from around the world have lived and created work at Artpace in conjunction with its renowned International Artist-in-Residence program. In observance of the spaces’s 25th anniversary as well as the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted American women the right to vote, the institution is dedicating all non-residency exhibitions in 2020 to the work of female and female-identifying artists. In keeping with Pace’s feminist sensibility, the series opener “Visibilities: Intrepid Women of Artpace” aims to explore “issues of identity, femininity, gender, feminism and womanhood (in whatever form that may take) in an age when Linda Nochlin’s 1971 essay ‘Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?’ still resonates.” Curated by Artpace Residency and Exhibitions Manager Erin K. Murphy, the group show assembles works by more than 10 artists, including former residents and two women with vital ties to the institution. When reached for comment, Murphy explained that several of the included works were created for Artpace residency exhibitions, such as Los Angeles-based filmmaker, performer and MacArthur Fellow Wu Tsang’s “You Sad Legend” (2016) and pioneering New York feminist artist and shape-shifting photographer Martha Wilson’s “Political Evolution” (2017). Known for work addressing gender discrimination, racism and social injustice, Guatemalan artist Regina José Galindo temporarily incarcerated herself and her family in a rented cell installed at Artpace for her memorable 2008 exhibition “America’s Family Prison.” During her residency, Galindo created a video piece that’s never been shown at the space. “It is really exciting to be able to show the work she made here in 2008,” Murphy said. Although the specifics of their contributions were unavailable at press time, Artpace confirmed the participation of San Antonio-based former residents Kathy Vargas (1997), Jenelle Esparza (2018) and Jennifer Ling Datchuk (2019). Essential to many works created at Artpace since 1995, local fine art printer Hare & Hound Press also informs the “Visibilities” conversation through a piece created by proprietor Janet Flohr. Held in the permanent collection of the San Antonio Museum of Art, Pace’s 2003 assemblage Green Peace promises to be an exhibition highlight as it strikes up a vivid counterbalance to Red Project, the piece that welcomes visitors to her recently realized dream of Ruby City. Free, opening reception 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 9, on view 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through April 6, Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave., (210) 212-4900, artpace.org. — Bryan Rindfuss
This work by Dallas-based artist Margaret Meehan that will be on display in the new Artpace exhibition.
Y Kevin Todora
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Running down the best weird and dark fiction of 2019 BY MAX BOOTH III
F
irst, a disclaimer: there is no possible way anybody could read every great book released in a single year. We all try our hardest and still we fail. In 2019 I read 53 books. Maybe half of those were actually new titles. Despite my shortcoming, I did read enough to form favorites for the year. Some of them you might even recognize from reviews that appeared in this very publication.
but everything here is worth any horror fan’s time. Also, don’t miss his previous collection, North American Lake Monsters, which should be taught in schools worldwide. Ballingrud’s one of the best we have in this world. Cherish him.
8. The Worst is Yet to Come by S.P. Miskowski (Trepidatio Pub) The Worst is Yet to Come is fast-paced instrument of anxious horror that’s difficult to put down. Ghosts and witches and small towns, oh my! The worldbuilding and mythos layered through Miskowski’s fiction is fascinating and makes every second of The Worst is Yet to Come worth savoring.
2. A Hawk in the Woods by Carrie Laben (Word Horde) Laben’s novel is a gloomy celebration of black magic and everything that comes with it. In a previous review I described it as the “Geek Love of witchcraft,” and I stand by that claim. This book is a hell of a lot of fun. It should be interesting to see what Laben puts out next.
4. Wounds: Six Stories from the Border of Hell by Nathan Ballingrud (Gallery/Saga Press) This collection from a master of short fiction is worth it alone for the novella, The Visible Filth,
6. In Dreams We Rot by Betty Rocksteady (Trepidatio Pub) In Dreams We Rot is a pulsing nightmare that seeps into your brain and contaminates every ounce of safety. Consider this collection anxiety personified. It doesn’t matter whether you read during the night or the day. The fact that you’re holding it in your hands means it’s already too late. Betty Rocksteady is one of the coolest horror writers around right now. If you aren’t exploring her work, you’re messing up. 7. Opioid, Indiana by Brian Allen Carr (Soho Press) Brian Allen Carr’s latest novel is an honest, heartbreaking exercise in characterization and setting that portrays a teenager coming of age in the modern world. Poverty has never felt so authentic than in Opioid, Indiana. It’s hilarious, it’s depressing, it’s genuine. This book ruined me for a good week.
1. Tears of the Trufflepig by Fernando A. Flores (MCD x FSG Originals) 2 Flores lays out a fantastical, psychedelic vision of reality where the government has legalized narcotics, consequently forcing cartels into trafficking ancient artifacts, shrunken indigenous heads and filtered animals — the latter, of course, meaning cloned creatures brought back from extinction to amuse the rich. A truly unique novel, you simply have to read Tears of the Trufflepig to understand its greatness.
3. A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself by William Boyle (Pegasus Books) This novel paints a darkly hilarious portrait of New York and the bizarre consequences of accidental violence. Boyle is beloved among modern crime writers, and this novel is a perfect example of why. If forced to summarize A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself in three words, those would be: “men are trash.”
arts
Forbidden Tomes
9. End of the Ocean by Matthew McBride (Polis Books) This meditative novel built on patience rewards with a darkly entertaining cast of unique characters. McBride’s strength here is transporting readers to Bali and making them feel and breathe and smell what his characters experience. It’s an absolute pleasure digesting his prose.
5. The Bone Weaver’s Orchard by Sarah Read (Trepidatio Pub) A gothic exploration of deeply buried secrets, Sarah Read’s debut novel — set at The Old Cross School for Boys — will leave you ravenous for answers. Most of which you’ll regret ever finding out. If you like stories about old spooky buildings with hidden passageways, look no further.
10. Saint Sadist by Lucas Mangum (Grindhouse Press) MCD x FSG Originals Mangum’s novel is a nihilistic descent into hell that dumps readers into a grave on page one, and instead of having the option of climbing out, only allows them to dig deeper. The dread-induced sentence structure provides an often-poetic minimalism, and the short, gut-punching chapters come at you with machine-gun speed. Even so, this isn’t a novel for everyone. If you decide you’re brave enough, be prepared: it’s going to ruin you. Saint Sadist is dangerous literature at its finest.
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Despite all the death, destruction and divorce, the movies were a fun time this year BY KIKO MARTINEZ After watching 228 films in 2019, here is a list of my 10 favorites, plus and a few honorable mentions. 1. Marriage Story m
screens
Best Films of 2019
Universal Pictures
taining, smartly written caper into an intense and unpredictable potboiler that speaks to the widening gap separating the haves and have-nots.
Netflix
Director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Noah Baumbach knows divorce well — personally and, in turn, cinematically. His 2005 independent, dark comedy The Squid and the Whale was a semi-autobiographical look at his parents’ divorce. He uses his own divorce experience to give Marriage Story an authentic structure. What surges out of his screenplay is an emotionally devastating drama about what is essentially the slow and untimely death of a once-loving relationship. It may sound like audiences could drown in a sea of sorrows, but Baumbach allows the film to materialize from a broad palette that includes plenty of humor, joy and tenderness.
3. The Farewell Comedy and tragedy come together with compassion in The Farewell, a beautifully told narrative from writer and director Lulu Wang. In the best performance of her career, rapper-comedian Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) stars as Billi, a Chinese American artist living in New York who finds out her grandmother (Shuzhen Zhou) is dying. She also learns her family is keeping her grandmother’s failing health a secret from her. Touching and delightfully funny, the film is culturally fascinating as we watch Billi torn between her Western upbringing and her Eastern roots and follow how she’s able to establish her identity as an independent and sensitive young woman.
2. Parasite 2 Co-writer and director Bong Joon Ho executes a meticulously crafted, satirical thriller, which turns out to be his most thematically rich project to date. The film follows the Kims, a poor Korean family of four who refuses to accept their place on the lowest rung of society. When the eldest child Ki-woo (Woo-sik Choi) gets a job as a tutor for the daughter of an affluent family, the Kims see an opportunity to turn their economic situation around. While the deceit is played for fun, a twist in the story shifts the film’s tone seamlessly from an enterA24
4. Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood It’s hard to believe director and two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter Quentin Tarantino actually might call it quits after he completes 10 movies, especially since it’s evident with his ninth feature that he hasn’t lost a step when it comes to crafting a scene. He seems to be having just as much fun as he did when he started making movies 27 years ago with Reservoir Dogs. In Hollywood, he finds inspiration in paying homage to the Western films and TV shows of the late 1960s. This unique buddy comedy features Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt maneuvering their characters through the entertainment industry — a chemistry that makes Hollywood so enjoyable to watch.
5. 1917 I Shot and edited to look like it was filmed in one continuous take, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes and Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins have created one of them most visually stunning war movies in modern cinema. Narratively, the film is fairly simple: two British soldiers (George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapma), who are serving during World War I, are tasked with delivering a message to allies through territories crawling with enemies. It’s a mission that will save the lives of 1,600 men, including one of their brothers. What follows after the setup is nothing short of miraculous as we watch the two men journey through hellish conditions to reach their destination. Not since Saving Private Ryan has a cinematic battlefield been this extreme.
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6. The Lighthouse 2 Writer-director Robert Eggers delivers a film that stands up to some of the most unsettling cinematic experiences in its depiction of the slow creep of mental illness. With no defining plot, it’s a story about two men searching for a means to coexist in a place that seems designed for someone to die alone. The film stars four-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson as lighthouse keepers stationed on a barren island in New England in the 1890s. The film may not register with those turned off by the bizarre, but Eggers — like he did with his debut film The Witch — continues to redefine the horror genre by injecting it with an arthouse flair.
10 for 10: A Look at the Best Films of the Decade
7. The Nightingale m Written and directed by filmmaker Jennifer Kent, the gothic tale of revenge set in early 19th century Australia is devastatingly grim and emotionally jarring. The film isn’t a comfortable watch to say the least, but it does strike a nerve in a visceral way. Audiences anticipating some level of catharsis — frequently offered in similar vengeance films — might be disappointed with the script’s unpredictability and slow-burn storytelling. But as viewers witnessed in her 2014 debut feature The Babadook, Kent isn’t interested in genre mechanics. She has created something that dismisses archetypes and relies on brutal history lessons to expose man’s perpetually cruel nature.
2. The Master (2012) This intelligent and demanding film from writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson is loosely inspired by scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. It features both lofty concepts and performances by Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix that are beyond words.
The film features beautiful soliloquies that enlighten viewers about evolving neighborhoods across America and the working-class people who are pushed to the fringes of society to make room for new, upscale apartment complexes and fancy coffee shops. It’s a film that takes on the subject of cultural identity with grace and heartache — a genuine narrative which, as cliché as it sounds, is a love letter to San Francisco and a cautionary tale to residents of other rapidly expanding cities that may leave them behind.
8. The Last Black Man in San Francisco First-time feature filmmaker and fifth-generation San Franciscan Joe Talbot speaks volumes on family, friendship and gentrification in this feature.
9. A Hidden Life For those who aren’t familiar with three-time Oscar-nominated writer and director Terrence Malick’s work, A Hidden Life — his longest film at 174 minutes
BY KIKO MARTINEZ
From the inner workings of social media to scientology to high-end fashion, here’s a look at my 10 favorite films released over the past decade. 1. The Social Network (2010) Director David Fincher’s internet epic is an incisively written biopic where legal drama meets toxic ambition. It’s a story of greed, envy and the ruthless means one young man uses to rise to power in social media. Call it There Will Be Blood for the tech generation.
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— is probably not the best initiation. Returning admirers, though, will find the combination of his meditative storytelling approach, emotional intimacy and elegant wide shots a rewarding extension of the philosophically heavy themes he’s explored in the past. Malick examines the life of Franz Jägerstätter (August Diehl), an Austrian farmer and conscientious objector who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. It’s a powerful and poetic tale of martyrdom and easily Malik’s best film since 2011’s Tree of Life.
3. Phantom Thread (2017) Writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s period piece on a British couture dressmaker (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a work of art. He expands his exploration on relationship dynamics to reveal a wickedly humorous newfound romance that is both suffocating and Machiavellian.
10. Knives Out The classic whodunit mystery is reinvigorated in extraordinary style in writer-director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out. It’s the best film of its kind since 2001’s Gosford Park. Instead of sipping tea with the Brits, however, this is a full-blooded American murder mystery — one that uses the current U.S. political atmosphere to lay a foundation for the venom erupting inside the home of a well-to-do family, whose patriarch just committed suicide. Of course, with a whodunit narrative, the story twists itself into some intriguing knots that will keep audiences guessing until the final scene. With a stellar ensemble cast, including Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and a remarkable Ana de Armas, Knives Out is a top-tier thriller.
6. Moneyball (2011) Moneyball offers an exceptionally entertaining look at the true story of an MLB general manager’s unconventional baseball philosophy. The film makes the big leagues because of its clever script.
Honorable Mentions: Birds of Passage, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, Little Woods, Pain & Glory, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Tigers Are Not Afraid, Toy Story 4, Uncut Gems and Wild Rose. IFC Films
4. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) Leave it to filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen to make you fall in love with 1960s-era folk music in an instant. Everything comes together harmoniously in this memorable dark comedy. 5. Boyhood (2014) Filmmaker Richard Linklater and his cast went on a 12-year journey to create this soul-bearing, once-in-a-lifetime, coming-of-age film about a boy growing into young adulthood.
7. Spotlight (2015) Expertly paced and absorbing, this print journalism procedural will forever be mentioned in the same breath as other elite newspaper films including 1976’s All the President’s Men. 8. The Florida Project (2017) Told through the eyes of a child, The Florida Project offers a captivating and convincing observational drama filled with moments of incredible sadness and wide-eyed innocence involving marginalized characters. 9. The Look of Silence (2015) In the follow-up to The Act of Killing, director Joshua Oppenheimer allows raw emotion to rise as we follow an optometrist who confronts mass murderers of the Indonesian genocide of 1965. 10. Shame (2011) Step into the darkness to witness the self-destructive behavior of a sex addict. The polarizing drama features relentless performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan. sacurrent.com | January 02-14, 2020 | CURRENT
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food Lea Thompson
East Side Bistro
mini-Romaine salad. Count on the restaurant’s menu changing a few times a week to offer the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Kim will rotate dishes, especially vegetable-forward and seasonal plates. However, diners can depend on some items to remain year-round. Those include a handful of pasta items and Korean-influenced plates including the crisp and savory said she knows there’s an appetite for excitbuchimgae Korean pancake and galbi jjim, ing ingredients and wholesome, delicious braised baby back pork ribs served with a rice food on the East Side. cake and veggie tempura. “There are always going to be restaurants At publication time, a single dessert that are for the .1% of the world, but those — a chocolate terrine made with Valrhona aren’t places that I can take my family,” she Gran Cru chocolate, pistachio anglaise and said. “I just want my place to be casual and pistachio crumble — rounded off the menu. fun. I want to create small dishes that can be Kim recommended pairing it with a glass of shared.” bubbly from the wine menu, Kim is no stranger to which is expected to grow in the local food scene, havThe Magpie coming weeks. ing previously worked at 1602 E. Houston St., Ste. 106 Despite its limited space, Minnie’s Tavern and as a Instagram: @magpiesanantonio The Magpie aims to grow sous chef at Dough Pizzeria, The Skinny: The first restaurant both its staff and menu while but The Magpie is her first to open in the East Side’s Hackberry Market development is a adding longer hours and independent venture. You’ll neighborhood bistro showcasing a weekend brunch. More find her prepping, cooking chef Jungsuk “Sue” Kim’s Korean roots, impeccable culinary pedbusinesses, including Cake and washing in the kitchen, igree and focus on fresh, locally Thieves, Truth Pizza, the while Eugene takes orders sourced ingredients. Farmer’s Butcher and Black and waits tables in the Hours: 3-9 p.m., Tue.- Sat. Laboratory Brewing, are also 600-square-foot space. expected to join it in HackThe Magpie’s plates berry Market. include roasted cauliflow“In this neighborhood, I er, served with Romanesco want to bring my influences to the table,” sauce, gremolata, fried quinoa, roasted Kim said. “I know that this neighborhood is pepita and Calabrian dust. Lighter fare ingoing to be important. It already is.” cludes shrimp toast and a grilled hydroponic
The Magpie opens in Hackberry Market, bringing an Eastmeets-West approach to casual dining BY LEA THOMPSON
N
amed for a harbinger of good luck and guests in Korean culture, The Magpie is a neighborhood bistro in San Antonio’s East Side that promises to welcome guests just as they are. Chef Jungsuk “Sue” Kim and her husband, Eugene Sanchez, launched the restaurant in late November, making it the first of several eateries to open at burgeoning food-centered Hackberry Market development. In recent years, the surrounding area has become a popular spot for new eateries and coffee shops. A native of Seoul, Sue studied food and wine extensively. She traveled and worked her way through New Zealand and South East Asia, graduated top of her culinary school class and even worked for Michelin-star restaurant Melisse in Los Angeles. But, in the end, she and Sanchez were drawn to the culinary opportunities of San Antonio. After traveling abroad in Asia, neither was interested in settling in LA, and the Alamo City — home to Eugene’s family — was a familiar place for both of them. Though San Antonio’s dining scene is still conservative compared to Los Angeles, Kim
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food
l Plate l a m S By the Numbers
By
ers b m u the N
BY SANFORD NOWLIN
E
ver wonder how the tastes of San Antonio craft beer enthusiasts stack up against those in other Texas cities? Well, wonder no longer. The inaugural Texas Craft Beer Report, compiled by independent data group Hopalytics, surveyed Texas beer enthusiasts to find out which styles are favored in each of the state’s four biggest metros. Turns out, Alamo City craft enthusiasts love their ales and IPAs — including hazy and Northeast-style IPAs — more than folks in any other metro. What don’t we dig? Apparently, drinkers here aren’t sweet on sour or wild styles, and we’re also fairly indifferent to lagers and pilsners. So, now you know.
Beer Styles Texans Drink
San Antonio
Austin
Dallas-Fort Worth
Houston
State Average
Ales and IPAs Stouts and Porters Hazy & Northeast IPAs Lagers and Pilsners Wilds and Sours Belgian Wheat
83% 81% 82% 54% 49% 47% 38%
81% 67% 72% 70% 54% 43% 37%
77% 82% 76% 68% 67% 53% 51%
80% 84% 75% 61% 55% 56% 39%
81% 77% 76% 66% 57% 49% 41%
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Talk
OPENINGS
The Magpie has opened at 1602 E. Houston St., Suite 106, bringing international inspiration to chef-driven dishes. It’s the first eatery to open at Hackberry Market. … Fatherand-son owned brewery Dos Sirenos is expected to join the Southtown beer scene at 227 E. Cevallos St. on December 27. … Papa’s Water Cooler Café is now serving breakfast, lunch and pastries at 9601 McAllister Freeway. … Owner Moises Hernandez Trujillo launched Los Azulejos Restaurante Bar — a Mexican eatery with a modern twist — at 2267 NW Military Highway, Suite 101.
CLOSINGS
Papa’s Quickdraw BBQ,, a drive-thru restaurant at 12054 Blanco Road, has closed. However, owner Robert Walker says the concept will be resurrected at another location in the future. Logo Courtesy of Dos Sirenos Brewing
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These 20 artists helped define San Antonio’s music over the past decade BY CHRIS CONDE
T
he 2010s went by in a blur, and before we knew it, the musical landscape of San Antonio had shifted in major ways. Fueling that change were local artists who impressed us with their innovative sounds, attention-grabbing showmanship, hard work and solid releases. While there were scores of artists creating amazing music in San Antonio, these 20 helped define the decade. 1. Milli Mars Rapper Milli Mars haunts beats with his rumbling baritone delivery. Ferocity meets eloquence with this emcee who has always shouted out San Antonio in his music and makes it clear that he calls the Alamo City home. 2. Nina Diaz Former Girl in a Coma frontwoman Nina Diaz branched off from her punk-rock roots to let her pop influences shine with her solo work. 3. Wayne Holtz Wayne Holtz really lived up to his self-description as a “pop star.” Before relocating to LA in 2019, the flamboyant singer made sure each performance was filled with captivating choreography, costume changes and lyrics that made you say, “Did he really just say that?” 4. MVTANT Joseph Anger’s project MVTANT fused grimy industrial beats with brooding post-punk vocals to a dramatic and chilling effect. 5. Demitasse Sad, acoustic, dreamy and did we mention sad? The Elliott Smith-inspired Demitasse — a side project for Buttercup’s Joe Reyes and Erik Sanden — released a string of impressive records through the 2010s. 6. Filthy Post-punk and industrial, Filthy brought the dance to the graveyard with haunting beats and echoing guitar riffage. 7. Lonely Horse Although the band is no more, Nicholas Long was arguably the best local frontman of the 2010s, throwing himself over his guitar as he shot soul-inspired blues riffs over Travis Hild’s slamming groove-heavy drumming.
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8. Elnuh After getting her start fronting indie-rock band Octahedron, Elena Lopez let the world see her sad and sleepy side with the bedroom pop project Elnuh. 9. Nothing More Aside from nabbing three 2018 Grammy nominations for its impressive record The Stories We Tell Ourselves, rock band Nothing More pushed its music with relentless touring for more than a decade. And the payoff for that roadwork shows: their live show is nothing to fuck with. 10. Third Root Hip-hop trio Third Root brought conscious raps and expert flows to iconic beats, challenging South Texas’ history of systemic racism, prejudice and injustice along the way. 11. Garret T. Capps It’s not every day an artist lands a song on a high-profile TV show. But that’s just what happened with alt-country singer Garret T. Capps, whose “Born in San Antone” appeared on the season premiere of the Showtime show Billions. Plenty of well-deserved attention followed. 12. Andrea Vocab Sanderson Andrea Vocab Sanderson, who graced the cover of the Current a few years back, is a rapper, poet, singer, community activist and teacher. Let’s just say, everything she touches turns to gold. 13. Deer Vibes With like 29 members — OK, it’s more like 12, but still — Deer Vibes is less a band than an indie-rock orchestra led by Michael Carillo, owner of the bar and venue Ventura. Deer Vibes weaves infectious melodies using a multitude of instruments for a sound that’s triumphant and amazing. 14. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy Experimental as fuck. Heavy as fuck. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is a smart metal band that continue to evolve and showcase multiple dimensions of its sound with each new release.
15. Verisimilitude Clean but metal-inspired guitar riffs loop over groove-heavy drumming to define instrumental band Verisimilitude’s uniquely psychedelic flavor. With more than a decade in the game, this trio helped define the San Antonio Sound. 16. Fea Fea, the project launched by the bassist and drummer of Girl in a Coma, went for more of a raucous punk vibe than the members’ previous project. Along the way, the band gained plenty of attention for its anthemic Riot Grrrl sound.
17. Claire Rousay Although Claire Rousay played drums for numerous projects through the 2010s, including Buttercup, she’s best known for her experimental work, which draws in listeners via her unconventional approach. Rousay’s percussion performances explore her instruments’ many textures and use the acoustics of the room she’s in to paint elaborate sound sculptures. 18. Fishermen Formed by members of rock outfit Blowing Trees, the band matched Arcade Fire-inspired indie riffs with Motown R&B and soul for an amalgam that landed frontman Edwin Stephens and friends a sold-out show at Sam’s Burger Joint to celebrate the release of their debut release, a double EP showcasing the two sides of the band. 19. Darian Thomas Although now based in Brooklyn, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Thomas’ contributions to San Antonio music through the 2010s. Aside from playing with Femina-X, Deer Vibes and the Foreign Arm, Thomas also launched his own project, Saturn Skies, and dazzled audiences with expert violin performances in YOSA. 20. Alyson Alonzo Pairing soulful croons with electronic beats that she loops onstage, Alyson Alonzo dominated the 2010s. Beyond music festival appearances, her resume included singing the national anthem at a Spurs game and receiving a standing ovation at her Tobin Center debut.
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AMMO FOR MY ARSENAL, OCTOBER ROAD, BENEATH THE FLAMES, LAST BATTLE
Sunday, January, 5 Although San Antonio isn’t as big a metal hub as it was in the ’80s, that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty of talented acts harnessing the sounds of hammering drums and distorted guitar riffs. One of those is Ammo for My Arsenal. Although the band’s specialty is frantic metallic hardcore, it puts numerous other metal subgenres through the grinder, potentially opening its appeal to a wider audience. Heavy brethren October Roar, Beneath the Flames and Last Battle complete the lineup. Free, 7 p.m., Amp Room, 2407 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 320-2122, theamproom.com. — Chris Conde
As the names of the bands signal, this is a tribute lineup devoted to the four acts that helmed the thrash metal wave of the ’80s. Billed as the Big Four Metal Fest, the evening includes tributes to Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer. Now that the latter group is “retired,” this may be the closest local fans are going to seeing all four on stage again. $13-$16, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com. — Mike McMahan
Tuesday, January 7
ASEETHE, COMMUNION
Iowa avant-doom trio Aseethe lurches into town in support of its most recent Thrill Jockey Records release, Throes, which applies minimalist composition strategies to amp-worshiping riffage. Austin sludgelords Communion ride shotgun down I-35 for this gig, no doubt carrying copies of their bracing Somatic Records cassette, Field of Ruin. Prepare yourself for a night of impeccably-downtuned, sloth-moshing metal. $8, 8 p.m., Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., thelimelightsa.com. — LH
Friday, January 3
Wednesday, January 8
BLOWN LIGHTS, VELVET TONGUES, LEMON DISCO, GRANDMA MOUSEY
MORGAN HERITAGE
Prepare your hips for a night of swaying to multitudes of genres. They include, but are not limited to, indie-rock, prog and surf. The night will be headlined by Radiohead and Wilco-influenced band Blown Lights with support from San Antonio and Austin groups Velvet Tongues, Lemon Disco and Grandma Mousey. 9 p.m., Amp Room, 2407 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 320-2122, theamproom.com. — Brianna Espinoza
You can dance to the music of the islands when Grammy Award winning Morgan Heritage strolls into town for an evening of Rasta praise. Formed in the mid ’90s, the Jamaican group consists of reggae veteran Denroy Morgan’s five children, who continue in the footsteps of his musical legacy. $25-$100, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — BE
Courtesy of MDC
MDC, ZERO PERCENT, DRINK FIGHT THUGS, PANZY
Thursday, January 2 MDC, which started life as Millions of Dead Cops but switched provocative monikers every album or so, were one of the ’80s acts that pushed hardcore punk to angry new political extremes. Decades later, singer Dave Dictor and crew are still slinging speedy riffs while delivering an uncompromising leftist message. Add a few rowdy SA and Austin outfits to the bill, and you’ve got a recipe for a fierce circle pit. $10, 9 p.m., Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., thelimelightsa.com. — Sanford Nowlin
Thursday, January 9
samsburgerjoint.com. — LH
PSYCHO 78; SLOW, DEEP & HARD
Friday, January 10
Expect a sea of devil locks at Sam’s tonight when Misfits tribute act Psycho 78 takes the stage. The band dives deep into the iconic horror-punk outfit’s catalogue, pulling rippers from Walk Among Us all the way up to Famous Monsters. Type O Negative tribute Slow, Deep, & Hard will open, performing the sultriest cuts from the goth-metal legends. $10-$35, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830,
THE HEROINE, DEATHDODGER, SHEKILLS
Saturday, January 4
January 11 Since its 2005 formation, The Heroine has been one of the hardest working bands to call San Antonio home. With a live show that’ll make most other rock acts seem boring as fuck, combined with relentless touring, the band has found the recipe for a loyal and growing fan base. The show is a tour kickoff, and the band’s recent Facebook posts allude to new music being on the way. As usual, stay tuned for more from the Heroine. $5, 8 p.m., 502 Bar, 502 Embassy Oaks, Ste. 138, (210) 2578125, 502bar.com. — CC
DEADEYE
Austin-based Grateful Dead tribute band DeadEye is bringing its devotion to Jerry, Bob, Pigpen and the boys into the next decade. Is it challenging to pay tribute to a band that never played a song the same way twice? We’re sure they will get by. $10-$40, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — Lance Facebook / The Heroine
TWO TONS OF STEEL
The Alamo City’s Two Tons of Steel — known as the Dead Crickets back in the early days —continue have built a 20-plus-year career on a hybrid brand of Texas country and classic rockabilly. Along the way, it’s released numerous albums, covered countless miles on tour and even landed spot on the cover of Billboard. The event is all ages, but anyone under 17 needs to have a parent or guardian in tow — and pay an extra $5 fee. $10, 7 p.m., John T. Floore Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com. — BE
ROB BAIRD, PIERCE EDENS
Baird, who hails from Austin and mixes Americana and rock, released his fourth album, After All, earlier this year. The event is billed as Baird’s birthday bash. Opener Pierce Evans has drawn critical praise for mixing the folk of his Appalachian roots with the grungier rock of his youth. $10-$45, 9 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 2232830, samsburgerjoint.com. — LH sacurrent.com | January 02-14, 2020 | CURRENT
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one will go just fine. Donation, 8 p.m., Next Day Custom Tees, 3919 S. Presa St., (210) 885-8825, ndctees.com. — MM
GOON SQUAD
Celebrating the life and times of the most iconic of rock and pop legends, local David Bowie tribute band the Goon Squad is putting together a benefit show with proceeds going to cancer research. Beyond the band’s performance, you’ll also get a fashion show and a costume party. $5-$25, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — CC
THE DAMN TORPEDOES
Facebook / Medusa Complex
MEDUSA COMPLEX
Saturday, January 4 Newcomers Medusa Complex are celebrating the release of debut EP called Dissociation with this show. The band, formed last March, draws elements from the second-wave, ’90s emo scene — jangly guitars, emotive lyrics and punk-ish drumming — all of which seems appropriate for the feels it’s addressing. “This EP is about struggling with depression and anxiety — things like that,” frontman Javier “Javi” Pena recently told the Current, adding that the songs were written when he first moved to San Antonio and needed an outlet to deal with loneliness and isolation. $5, 8 p.m., Imagine Books and Records, 8373 Culebra Road, (210) 239-7380, imaginebookstexas.com. — CC
Friday, January 10
JUNO DUNES
The band Juno Dunes is self-described “loftpop,” meaning it rehearses and records in founder Connor James Reever’s loft. If that’s not quirky enough to sell you, the band’s mix of Buddy Holly-reminiscent guitar chords and modern vocal harmonies may tickle the fancy of those looking for a Southerner’s perspective on indie music. 8 p.m., Rustic, 17619 La Cantera Parkway Ste. 204, (210) 245-7500, therustic.com. — BE
TENDER THINGS
Heartless Bastards’ bass player Jesse Ebaugh straps on a guitar and steps up to the microphone with the self-described “hippie country” ensemble, which concentrates on the songs he pens. (“It is my very first healthy habit,” Ebaugh writes on the band’s website.) It’s also been known to back up Armadillo World Headquarters royalty Augie Meyers on occasion. In short, this show is sure to set you a-waltzin’. $5, 8 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s
St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose. com. — LH
KINGDOM COLLAPSE, HUNTERS OF THE MOON
Named for the third studio album by the multi-faceted singer-songwriter, The Damn Torpedoes are a Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers tribute band. Sam’s Burger Joint has made a reputation for booking high-quality acts, so chances are these guys can do “American Girl” justice and then some. $10-$45, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., samsburgerjoint.com. — CC
DYLAN WHEELER, TANNER FENOGLIO
Dylan Wheeler plays an amalgam of singer-songwriter music mixed with elements of catchy-’90s alt-rock and maybe a pinch of grunge. Tanner Fenoglio plays folk-inspired country rock. The pair seem tailor-made for a John T. Floore experience. $10, 7 p.m., John T. Floore Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, Helotes, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com. — CC
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STUNNA 4 VEGAS
Friday, January 3 Trap-rap flavor of the week Stunna 4 Vegas is more about vibe than he is about lyrics. And, love it or hate it, rapping about nothing is sort of en vogue at the moment. Expect to hear him spit run-of-the-mill trap vocabulary including “perks,” “guns,” “brrrt” and “thot” over slow to mid-tempo, bass-heavy beats. While this North Carolina-born rapper isn’t exactly innovating, he just released a new album, Big4x, that’s receiving a surprising amount of praise on hip-hop blogs. Not to mention, the success of his single “Animal,” featuring hip-hop contemporary Da Baby, shows there’s an audience for what he does. $33.50-$53.50, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com. — CC
PLANET BOOTY, RICH AUCOIN
Kingdom Collapse mashes up nu-metal with ’00s-era scream-the-verse/singthe-chorus hardcore. Having shared the stage with the likes of Cold and Powerman 5000, they’ll be playing their first hometown show of 2020 alongside rockers Hunters of the Moon, who will be celebrating the release of a debut EP. $6-12, 8 p.m., Fitzgerald’s, 437 McCarty Road, Ste. 101, (210) 607-7007, fitzrockssa.com. — MM
Friday, January 10 Electro-dance, funk-inspired indie rockers Planet Booty have the full package. Emphasis on “package” because these dudes are all about bringing the sex to the stage. In much the way R&B acts like Ginuine, Jodeci and Keith Sweat channel sensual vibes in their music, Planet Booty pull no punches when it comes to getting their audiences wet — with sweat! Geez, what did you think we were talking about when we said “wet”? $12-$14, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx. com. — CC
Saturday, January 11
SOME KIND OF NIGHTMARE, @ FORSAKENPROFITS, WORM SUICIDE & THE DEVIL CLUB + MORE This event, accurately named PunkHop at the Print Shop, features a mix of punk rock and hip-hop. If you want to see how shows at non-venues can go wrong, just google “hardcore” and “Denny’s.” Although we suspect this
Facebook / Planet Booty
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E M P LOY M E N T “ YO U T U R N E D U P ” BY M AT T J O N E S
Product Manager II – LATAM Rackspace US, Inc. - San Antonio, TX. Responsible for driving adoption in LATAM of current & emerging technologies from Rackspace. Req’d: Bach deg in CS or rel field + 2yrs exp in tech product marketing + any exp with: Cloud Hosting, Managed Hosting or SaaS; cloud sys analysis in business case dev; key IT infrastructure optimization & solution areas: IT Data Center strategy, capacity, utilization & migration/ consolidation; VMware, MS Azure, AWS, Windows /Linux Servers, data mgmt, storage & network or security tools; LATAM cloud market (regional or vertical); & simplifying & elevating tech topics. Send resume to: careers@rackspace.com, Ref. 19751
I’m just following directions. ACROSS 1 Coat of arms inscription 6 Dir. from NYC to Seattle 9 Sibilant sound 13 In the vicinity of 14 “The Beatles at ___ Stadium” (music documentary) 15 Minimal amount 16 ?keep a kaenS 19 Collapsible shelter 20 Paleozoic and Cenozoic, e.g. 21 What baby shampoo avoids 22 Hybrid citrus from Jamaica 24 Propped open 26 ?loot s’tsirucinaM 30 “___ a Rainbow” (Rolling Stones tune) 34 ___ apso (dog breed) 35 Prescriptions, briefly 37 “Mixed-ish” network 38 “You’ve Got Mail” ISP 39 With 49-Across, ?retsis s’anereS 42 Blazers’ org. 43 Unhealthy 44 High or low cards 45 “Li’l” guy in the comics 47 Take five 49 See 39-Across 52 “___ be surprised” 54 “... ___ it seems” 55 Birch of “Ghost World” 58 “Flashdance” director Adrian
60 Paintball mark 64 ?rekrowoc s’rotcudnoC 67 Precious metal sources 68 “Eat, ___, Love” 69 ___-Whirl (amusement park ride) 70 Second to ___ 71 Wood used to make baseball bats 72 Fabled tale-teller
DOWN 1 Beer ingredient 2 Symphony orchestra woodwind 3 “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” character 4 Onomatopoetic name for motorized rickshaws 5 First N.L. player to hit 500 home runs 6 “Hold up!” 7 Company’s bottom line 8 When doubled, a guitar effect 9 Job opening fillers 10 Only state name starting with two vowels 11 Head the cast 12 Reports 14 Feature of a font 17 Assist 18 Sched. guess 23 Tropical fruit with pink flesh 25 Baby Yoda, eventually (one presumes)
26 Prime minister between Major and Brown 27 “Head Like ___” (Nine Inch Nails song) 28 They may be recorded for quality and training purposes 29 “Hello, ___ Be Going!” (Phil Collins album) 31 Barbera’s animation partner 32 Diminished 33 Do a haunted house job 36 Catches 40 Raw silk shade 41 Annoying ones 46 “Two-bite” bakery item, maybe 48 Actor Gibson of “2 Fast 2 Furious” 50 “The Daily Show” correspondent Chieng 51 Neighbor of Nev. 53 Rafter’s need 55 Disney movie about computers 56 Lifesaver, maybe 57 Subway fixture 59 “I know” 61 Wriggly tankful 62 “Dallas Buyers Club” Oscar winner Jared 63 Sandy golf hazard 65 Hotel offering 66 “Give ___ go!” ANSWER ON PAGE 21
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