Abbott's dive into legal trouble | Zaatar's pan-Middle Eastern cuisine | Crawl's immersive ambient doom JUNE 30 - JULY 13, 2021
For comic Gabriel Iglesias, his month-long SA stand feels like he's finally free from house arrest
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in this issue Issue 21-13 /// June 30 – July 13, 2021
Artist in Residence
New documentary Juanito’s Lab chronicles the growth and struggles of a San Antonio musical prodigy
Free Music
New release collects the works of one-of-a-kind San Antonio composer ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny
Music Listings
San Antonio Current Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin
Editorial
Digital Content Editor: Kelly Merka Nelson Contributing Arts Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Food and Nightlife Writer: Nina Rangel Contributors: Ron Bechtol, Chris Conde, Daniel Conrad, Jade Esteban Estrada, Dan R. Goddard, Lance Higdon, Steven G. Kellman, Hannah Lorence, Kiko Martinez, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney, Lea Thompson, Abe Asher Editorial Interns: Emily DiTomasso, Brianna Espinoza, Katie Hennessey, Cristela Jones, Jay Moreno, Dana Nichols, Emily Schmalstieg, Jada Teague
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Advertising Director: Michael Wagner
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Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Sales & Event Coordinator: Sky Hawkes Account Executive: Marian Galvan Marketing Interns: Julia Bentley Social Media Content Creator: Meradith Garcia
Creative Services
Graphic Designer: Samantha Serna Production Interns: Pedro Macias
Circulation
Circulation Manager: Justin Giles Courtesy Photo / Gabriel Iglesias
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16 Feature
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Fluff Piece
Comedian Gabriel Iglesias on his month-long San Antonio stand, embracing TikTok and why he said “no” to virtual stand-up shows
09 News
The Opener
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Happy Return
San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com
After 469 days, I’m back to the theater and ready for more visits
News in Brief
Court Costs
Texas likely faces multiple lawsuits if the Legislature passes new voter restrictions during special session
12 Calendar Calendar Picks
16 Arts
Capturing the Moment
Artist Jennifer Balkan explores the here and now with ‘Pan-demon-ium’
21 Screens
Running on Fumes
Not even a dose of self-awareness can steer Fast & Furious’penultimate sequel back on course
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
23 Food
Beyond Mediterranean
The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group
Zaatar Lebanese Grill serves up regional specialties worthy of exploring
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Peachy Keen
In season right now, Hill Country peaches make a fine addition to summer drinks
Hot Dish
26 Music
Dungeon Crawler
San Antonio’s monolithic ambientdoom project Crawl lurks in the shadows
O
n the Cover: California-based comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias recently kicked off a month-long stand in San Antonio, one of his favorite places to perform. Design by Samantha Serna.
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.
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CURRENT | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
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Regulators from the Public Utility Commission said the state’s beleaguered grid operator ERCOT will have three business days, instead of 60, to release information about power plant outages through September. Even so, ERCOT isn’t expected to include information about the root causes of failures in its reports. “There’s usually never anything published that’s like, ‘This is what broke and why,’ unless it’s in an investigation and there’s a settlement,” ERCOT expert Caitlin Smith told the Texas Tribune.
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Former State Sen. Wendy Davis and others traveling on a Joe Biden campaign bus that was followed and surrounded by supporters of former President Donald Trump last October are suing members of that so-called “Trump Train.” They’re also suing San Marcos law enforcement for failing to respond. The plaintiffs argue that the action constituted an illegal act of political intimidation.
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San Antonio has been targeted with more scam phone calls related to COVID-19 stimulus checks than any other U.S. city. A study by tech firm Hiya showed the number of stimulus scam calls has doubled in each of the past two months, with San Antonio’s 210 area code most frequently targeted, followed by Dallas’ 214 and Fort Worth’s 817. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office last week fired a lieutenant who posted photographs of herself at the January 6 coup attempt at the U.S. Capitol building. The images of Lt. Roxanne Mathai in Washington, D.C. first surfaced months ago, at which point Sheriff Javier Salazar promised to terminate her employment. Mathai posted that the day of the coup was “the best day of my life” aside from the birth of her children. — Abe Asher
YOU SAID IT!
“I do know for a fact that lawsuits are being planned and that teams are being staffed right now. The state of Texas is going to be spending a lot of money defending itself in court.” — Henry Flores,
St. Mary’s University professor emeritus who’s testified in dozens of voting-rights cases, on the likelihood Texas will pass a sweeping voter restriction bill.
news
That Rocks/That Sucks
YouTube Screen Shot / Flashpoint
ASSCLOWN ALERT
You can almost always count on assclowns breaking news at the National Religious Broadcasters convention. And right-wing evangelist Hank Kunneman and My Pillow guy Mike Lindell certainly didn’t let us down at the NRB’s annual gathering this month in Dallas. During a live taping of the show Flashpoint, the conspiracy-peddling pair egged each other on as they tried to good naturedly one-up each other in their favorite pastime: pretending Donald Trump won the 2020 election, Right Wing
Watch reports. Kunneman — a self-declared prophet who incorrectly called the 2020 election and just can’t seem to let it go — fell all over himself to praise Lindell for his continued peddling of Trumpwon conspiracy theories, according to the news site. At one point, Kunneman even likened the pillow salesman to John the Baptist. “There’s a scripture that says, ‘There was a man sent from Heaven, and his name was John,’” the evangelist said. “There’s a man sent from Heaven named Mike Lindell that God is using to wake up America with a different kind of awakening, and it’s called a great awakening to the truth.” We’re not sure that any higher authority — biblical or not — would use the word “truth” to describe the pipedreams and prevarications Lindell has spent months spreading. But, hey, it’s living. Or something. — Sanford Nowlin
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) is demanding that the Archdiocese of San Antonio add 12 clergy to a list of priests accused of sexual abuse. The clergy are all Marianists who SNAP leaders say worked in San Antonio at some point during their careers. Only six of the twelve are still living. SNAP is also asking the Archdiocese and St. Mary’s University President Thomas Mengler to actively search for victims of the accused abusers.
A federal court has found a San Antonio resident guilty of an April 2020 social media hoax in which he posted on Facebook that he’d paid a person with COVID-19 to lick groceries at local supermarkets. Christopher Charles Perez, arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Taskforce last year, has now been convicted of two counts of spreading hoaxes and false information. He faces up to five years in prison on each. — Abe Asher
The John the Baptist of conspiracy mongering Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.
Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session of the Texas Legislature for July 8, at which point Republicans are again expected to try to push through a sweeping, anti-democratic voting bill that Democrats stymied by walking out at the end of the regular session. Democrats are vehement in their ongoing opposition to the bill.
Flickr / Ed Schipul
Find more news coverage every day at sacurrent.com
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Texas bill to study psychedelics as treatment for PTSD in veterans becomes law
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Flickr / Creative Commons
Court Costs
Texas likely faces multiple lawsuits if the Legislature passes new voter restrictions during special session BY SANFORD NOWLIN
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ultiple voting-rights groups are preparing lawsuits in anticipation that Texas lawmakers will revive a widely decried voter-restriction bill that died during the last legislative session, a top voting-rights expert said. “I do know for a fact that lawsuits are being planned and that teams are being staffed right now,” said Henry Flores, a St. Mary University’s political science professor emeritus who’s served as an expert witness in dozens of voting-rights cases. “The state of Texas is going to be spending a lot of money defending itself in court.” Gov. Greg Abbott last week set a special session of the Texas Legislature that will begin July 8. Although the
Republican governor didn’t mention Senate Bill 7 during his announcement, he’s previously said he wants the contentious voting bill passed during the special session. Earlier this month, Abbott vetoed salaries for state lawmakers as a punishment after Democrats walked out before a final vote could be made on the sweeping voter bill late in the session. The measure was one of Abbott’s legislative priorities. Flores, who’s participated in roughly 50 voting rights cases including several tried before the U.S. Supreme Court, said he expects a flurry of suits nationwide as Republican-led legislatures work to pass bills limiting poll access. Backers of the bills, including Texas Republicans, argue the legislation is
meant to curb voter fraud. However, voting-rights groups argue they measures are meant to suppress the votes of minorities, young people and others likely to vote for Democratic candidates. Flores declined to name the organizations preparing lawsuits in Texas, saying it was premature to release those details. However, he said a suit filed this week by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Voto Latino over a separate voting bill passed by the Texas Lege this session is a likely harbinger of what’s to come. That GOP-backed measure adds restrictions to the type of addresses that can be used when voters register and requires proof of residence for someone who uses a P.O. Box. “That suit might be the shot across the bow as far as the legal challenges go,” Flores said. Legal experts have also warned that Texas is likely to face pricy court battles over a spate of culture war-focused bills passed during the last session by the Republican-dominated Legislature. Those include a near complete ban on abortion and rules dictating how public school teachers can discuss race.
new Texas law clears the way for the state to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, found in “magic mushrooms,” to aid military veterans with PTSD. The measure became law earlier this month without the signature of Gov. Greg Abbott, according to a report from the online news source Marijuana Moment. Days earlier, the Republican governor signed a separate bill offering a limited expansion of the state’s medical marijuana program. Under the new psychedelics law, Texas will study potential benefits and risks of psilocybin, ketamine and MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, in veterans grappling with PTSD. The Baylor College of Medicine and a military-focused medical center will partner on the study, Marijuana Moment reports. “Psychedelic medicine has the potential to completely change society’s approach to mental health treatment, and research is the first step to realizing that transformation,” bill sponsor State Rep. Alex Dominguez, D-Brownsville, said in a press statement. “It’s said that ‘as goes Texas, so goes the nation.’ While states across the country consider how best to address the mental health crisis facing our nation, I hope they once again look to Texas for leadership.” The measure was supported by veterans’ groups including mental-health advocacy organization VETS, which said its own statement that the law has the potential to “save the lives of countless veterans.” Twenty or more veterans die daily by suicide, according to VETS. — Sanford Nowlin
sacurrent.com | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | CURRENT
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SAT | 07.03 SUN | 07.04 SPECIAL EVENT
MONSTER JAM The mayhem that is Monster Jam is back to take over the city. For one weekend, the Alamodome will roar just a bit louder than usual — and not just with from cheers from the crowd. A lineup of famous, trickedout monster trucks including Megalodon, Grave Digger and Jurassic Attack will go head-to-head — or bumper-to-bumper? — in a weekend of racing, skills, donut and freestyle competitions. The event is an annual tradition in San Antonio and other cities across the country but was postponed from its originally scheduled date in January due to a rise in COVID-19 cases at the time. Tickets for the much-anticipated event are available online. $22-$120, noon and 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Alamodome, 100 Montana St., monsterjam.com. —Dana Nichols
Joshua Linares
TUE | 07.06 FI LM
THE DARJEELING LIMITED Get ready for whimsy in the park with this sundown screening of accessible auteur Wes Anderson’s 2007 film. By the time The Darjeeling Limited was released, Anderson’s stylistic quirks were well known, and they’re certainly on display in this colorful film. A family that’s quirky and lovable? The plot revolves around the reunion of three estranged brothers played by Adrian Brody, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson — the latter two of whom are Anderson stalwarts. Anderson’s films typically reference past art and culture, and Darjeeling includes not just classic rock from the Rolling Stones and The Kinks but also scores from classic Indian cinema. The film was generally well-reviewed, particularly in comparison to Anderson’s previous work, the divisive The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. And speaking of The Life Aquatic, that
FRI | 07.02 SUN | 07.11
Courtesy of Woodlawn Theatre
TH EATER
ON YOUR FEET!
The Woodlawn Theatre is back in business with On Your Feet!, an upbeat jukebox musical based on the lives and music of the iconic husbandand-wife duo Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Directed by Christopher Rodriguez and featuring Jillian Sainz and Miguel Ochoa as Gloria and Emilio, this production is designed to get audience members dancing along to the beat of hit songs including “Conga,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3” and “Live for Loving You.” Those in the mood for a lively musical performance may want to “Conga” on over to the Woodlawn. $18-$30, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays through July 18, Woodlawn Theatre, 1920 Fredericksburg Road, woodlawntheatre.org. — Mackenzie Cook The Criterion Collection
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CURRENT | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
calendar
Photos By Oscar Moreno
SUN | 07.04 SPECIAL EVEN T
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
San Antonio’s official Independence Day celebration is returning to Woodlawn Park, offering a full day of food and fun capped off with nighttime fireworks. Presented by the San Antonio Parks Foundation and City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, the event will feature food trucks and vendors serving barbecue, hamburgers, tacos, aguas frescas and more. In addition to the eats and drinks, attendees can enjoy carnival games all day as well as other family-friendly activities. At 7:30 p.m., the U.S. Air Force Band of the West will play an evening concert, followed by the fireworks finale over Woodlawn Lake. Free, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati Ave., (210) 212-8423, saparksfoundation.org. — Kelly Merka Nelson
one starred cinema legend Bill Murray, another Anderson
documentary Juanito’s Lab focuses on the life and career of
regular. Is he in Darjeeling? No spoilers, people. If you don’t
32-year-old San Antonio musician and former child prodigy
know, just hit the showing. $5-$10, 8:15 p.m., Legacy Park, 103
Juanito Castillo, who was born blind. Late Tejano innovator
W. Houston St., slabcinema.com. — Mike McMahan
Esteban Jordan once called Castillo “the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion.” The film is directed by husband-and-wife team
WED | 07.07 SUN | 07.11 FI LM
CINEFESTIVAL
Guillermina Zabala and Enrique Lopetegui, the latter of whom once worked as the Current’s film and music editor. end, he took us out,” Zabala said. “This was a magical, unpredictable project with an open ending. Every time we felt it was a wrap, Juanito would come up with something and we had to film it. I hope this little grain of sand will help Juanito
San Antonio’s original Latinx film festival is back and in
get the recognition and acclaim he deserves.” (Note: See
person this year for its 42nd annual iteration. This year’s
our review of Juanito’s Lab in this issue’s Music section.) $40,
CineFestival, made possible with a $25,000 grant from the
various times, Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St, (210) 271-
National Endowment for the Arts, will include 80 short and
3151, guadalupeculturalarts.org. — Kiko Martinez
feature films — 60% of them made in Texas. One of those, the
Reminder:
“We wanted to take Juanito out to do a movie but, in the
Yulelé Media LLC
Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.
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JUL 1 JUL 3
JUL 8 JUL 11
JUL 15 JUL 18
JUL 22
JUL 23 JUL 24
JUL 28 JUL 29
JUL 30 AUG 1
Bruce Bruce
Ms. Pat
Jeremiah Watkins
Nimesh Patel
Kevin Nealon
JP Sears
Loni Love
CURRENT | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
calendar
David Becker
SAT | 07.10 COMEDY
BILL MAHER Leave it to comedian and talk show host Bill Maher to say something that gets under the skin of both conser-
Warner Home Video
TUE | 07.13 FILM
vatives and liberals alike. These days, it’s happening nearly every week during his hour-long HBO talk show
THE GOONIES
Real Time with Bill Maher. In the past month, Maher has shared his opinion on topics including comedian
If you’re of a certain age, The Goonies is a part of your formative years. And by a certain age, we’re talking
Kevin Hart’s thoughts on white privilege and power; how higher education is a “grift” akin to Scientology;
about Gen X. Let’s state the obvious first: the kid’s adventure film’s portrayal of Asian-American character
QAnon conspiracy theories involving cicadas; his frustration with face masks; and his disappointment in
Data is pretty racist by today’s standards, and the portrayal of the physically deformed character Sloth is
Broadway superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda for apologizing to people who criticized him for not including
equally problematic. But taking the The Goonies as a time capsule makes those elements somewhat palatable.
more Afro-Latinos in his musical In the Heights (“This is why people hate Democrats,” Maher said. “It’s cring-
And how about that cast? You’ve got Thanos himself, John Brolin, from the days before he’d appeared in a
ey.”). Despite possessing the talent to piss people off on both sides of the aisle, the 65-year-old comedian
big ol’ pile of classics. Then you’ve got a young Sean Astin, back when the role of Samwise Gamgee was just
continues to be as popular as ever with his largely liberal audience. Some of those, however, would probably
a glimmer in his eye. The plot is a throwback to the beloved serials of yore, hardly surprising given that the
find Maher easier to digest if he stopped telling them to “shut the fuck up” and “stop bitchin’” when they
story is by Steven Spielberg. Treasure, pirates, hijinks! Sounds like a recipe for summer family fun. The 7 p.m.
disagreed with him on something. But then, again, that wouldn’t make him Bill Maher, would it? $45-$250,
start time is when family-friendly activities kick off, followed by the film at sundown. Free, 7 p.m., Travis Park,
8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — KM
301 E. Travis St., (210) 207-3677, slabcinema.com. — MM sacurrent.com | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | CURRENT
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BY KIKO MARTINEZ
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or comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, 2020 felt like he was under house arrest. With no live shows for more a year, he waited for someone like Dr. Anthony Fauci — the comic calls him “Dr. Foochi” — to come on TV and tell him what the next steps were and to listen for any hints about when he could get back in front of a live audience. “I’ve never taken a vacation, and I never take breaks,” Iglesias told the Current during a recent interview. “I come from that mentality that if you stop working, someone’s going to take your job. I didn’t even have the option of going out of the country because the whole planet was shut down.” It turns out when you’re one of the most popular comedians on said planet, job security isn’t something you really have to worry about. On his first leg of his 2021 tour, Iglesias has made his way to San Antonio, where he started a nearly one-month stand at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. The run kicked off June 23, and he’s performing there until July 17. During his time in San Antonio, he will record a new Netflix comedy special. He did his previous special, One Show Fits All, for the streaming service in 2019. During the interview, Iglesias talked about what it’s been like being stuck at home for the past year, why he would never create an OnlyFans page and what he hopes fans bring him if they end up going to his July 15 show, which falls on his 45th birthday.
It’s one thing to make a comedy tour stop for a weekend or even a couple of weeks in one city, but you’ll be in San Antonio for almost a month. Are the tacos at Garcia’s — your favorite Alamo City Mexican restaurant — that badass?
(Laughs.) Nice. You know what, they really are. I wish they would expand their business. I’ve actually talked to them about possibly investing or doing something, but they’re trying to keep their business very much in-house. The quality is amazing. That place is in the ‘hood. I’m still willing to risk the safety of the people with me and the cars they are driving to eat there.
But in all seriousness, a comedian staying in one city for almost a month is pretty unique, right?
It only happens in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, where entertainers will do residencies. When the idea of going back to doing standup [post-COVID-19] came up, we thought, “Where do we kick this thing off?” Then, of course, you have to take under consideration 16
CURRENT | June 30 - July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
what places are open. Clearly, Florida doesn’t care … and Texas is right behind them. It’s no secret that San Antonio is one of my favorite cities, if not the favorite city outside of being home.
Have they named a plate after you at Garcia’s yet? Fluffy’s Flautas Special, maybe? Hey, you know, they’ve got plenty of things that are fluffy there already. But I’d be honored if they did name something after me.
During 2020, how did you get that immediate fix that most comedians need from a live audience? Was there a way to fill that void?
Alcohol and throwing fits. I had to find other things to do. I’m really strong with my social media, so I just interacted with people that way. I didn’t want to do any virtual shows because no. I didn’t sign up for an OnlyFans account. I’m a comic. I need people in front of me. I’m not going to talk to my computer screen and try to entertain people. That’s not a comedy show to me. The new generation of comics might disagree. But I still need people and a microphone and a stage. That’s what I’m good at, so that’s what I’m going to stick to.
But you do know how much Cardi B is making from her OnlyFans channel, right? That’s Cardi B. I’ve got some impressive features myself, but no one needs to see that.
Besides not being able to perform, what was the most difficult part of the pandemic for you?
Adjusting to it and the unknown part. If you break your leg, you can mentally prepare for the things you’ll be able to do as you get better. But [with the pandemic], we didn’t know. It started off like, “Ah, it’s only going to be two weeks.” My manager and agent kept trying to plan, but I was like, “How are you going to plan? We don’t know! Might as well schedule the moon while you’re at it.” Not knowing when we could plan something, that was very frustrating.
In your last comedy special, One Show Fits All for Netflix, you mentioned how your son Frankie, who was around 21 at the time, likes watching videos of other people playing video games. So does my four-year-old son. Are you saying I have at least 17 more years of this? Who knows where we’re going to be and what the technology is going to offer? I came from a time of
Funnyman Iglesias says residencies such as the one he’s doing in San Antonio typically take place only in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
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having a Walkman and a Game Boy. But now, you’re dealing with virtual reality, and people making money and winning cars playing video games. Back when I was doing it, my mom was like, “Stop doing it, you’re wasting your time!” If you can win a car playing video games, I’m pushing my kid to play video games too.
You’ve embraced social media, but not Switch yet. Why not?
I don’t play video games, so that one is probably not for me. I know that other entertainers are using that platform to get their stuff out there. I have a friend who’s a DJ who started going live on that platform. As a comedian, I have to stick to what I can engage with the most. It was a big stretch for me to start doing TikTok, which I feel is a very young social media [platform]. I thought when Snapchat came out, I was done. I told all my friends, “Anybody that’s doing Snapchat, we don’t need to be hanging out.” But TikTok, man. JLo’s on it. Shakira’s on it. I’m like, “Yeah, I can make stupid videos too.” I had no idea how crazy that media platform was. It surpassed all my other platforms.
What’s the last video game that you played?
I actually played the new Mortal Kombat — the one that requires you to take a tutorial to learn all the moves. We come from a time when there were two buttons [on a game controller]. There was an A and a B. Then, the Super NES came out and there were four. Now, there’s more buttons than you have fingers.
Before I forget, you’re going to be turning 45 when you’re here in San Antonio — July 15. What do you want for your birthday? Regalos (gifts). They can hook it up with gift cards from Garcia’s or Mi Tierra. I’m not hard to shop for. Gift cards. I’ll use them. Starbucks. Dunkin’ Donuts. Shit, H-E-B. Just give me some gift cards!
$55-$65, various times, through July 17, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 2238624, tobincenter.org.
arts Courtesy Photo / Gabriel Iglesias
Find more arts coverage every day at sacurrent.com
arts Capturing the Moment Artist Jennifer Balkan explores the here and now with ‘Pan-demon-ium’ BY BRYAN RINDFUSS
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lamo Heights might not be an obvious destination for contemporary art, but that hasn’t deterred Ana Montoya — a Nuevo Laredo native who opened her namesake AnArte Gallery in 2001. Situated in The Collection shopping center, AnArte is approachable and colorful — two qualities Montoya holds dear. Mirroring the often-vibrant works on the wall, not to mention the hot-pink canopy out front, Montoya routinely signs her correspondence with a cheery “Have a colorful day!” “[We strive to be] friendly and embrace everyone who walks into our gallery like royalty,” Montoya said. “And we embrace all the artists we represent as family.” Clocking in at 30-plus members, that family unites talents from near and far, with a fairly high percentage of female painters based in Texas. But Montoya says that concentration was unplanned: “Talented female artists have gravitated to AnArte … but I’ve never stipulated this.” The most recent example of this happy coincidence is “Let Them Eat Cake,” an exhibition showcasing the work of San Antonio painter Ana Hernández. Inspired by Marie Antoinette, Rococo ornamentation and interpretations of “the iconic French royal throughout the centuries,” Hernández’s AnArte exhibition completely sold out. When asked about the show’s success, Montoya suggested the work resonated with viewers by inviting them into “a whimsical, colorful world in such a dark time.” Energized by this recent success, Montoya is set to unveil “Pan-demonium,” an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Austin-based artist and educator Jennifer Balkan. In stark contrast to Hernández’s pastel-hued riffs on an “overtly saccharine” time and place, “Pan-demon-ium” takes shape
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Coutresy Image / Jennifer Balkan
in pensive portraits Balkan created over the course of the pandemic. The latest chapter in Balkan’s decades-long exploration of figure studies, the body of work fuses representational painting and drawing with pops of color inspired by comics and graphic novels. The show will be held July 8 in an expanded new space Montoya moved into at the onset of “pinche COVID.” In anticipation, we scheduled a Zoom meeting with Balkan, whose backstory includes everything from sociological fieldwork in Chiapas to working in a rat lab in Boulder.
Jennifer Balkan, By reason of my motion, I cannot stop
little food pellets, and they would have to distinguish between patterns and swim to this tiny little stool in a tank to get their reward. … So, it had pretty interesting cognitive applications that are very relatable.
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What inspired you to study Latin American sociology?
What did your fieldwork in Chiapas entail?
I had a really amazing teacher. And I so value the people in our world that take teaching very seriously. Because this man, John Wardwell, may he rest in peace, led me into macro-sociology. He just had this amazing way of sharing his knowledge and I just became fascinated What was it like ‘Pan-demon-ium’ with this macro [view] working in a rat lab? Free, opening reception 5:30-7:30 … and this idea of It was interesting p.m. Thursday, July 8. groupthink. … I was at (Laughs). I actually beOn view 11 a.m.-6 p.m. MON-TUES, 11 Washington State for came attached to some a.m.-8 p.m. WED-SAT, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. just a year, and I transof my little subjects MON (through Aug. 6) ferred to University of and absconded with a AnArte Texas at Austin to go couple of them at the 7959 Broadway | (210) 826-5674 anartegallery09.com into their demography end of my job. They and population studies would have met their department, which has demise pretty soon, a huge Latin American focus. And I just so I had some pet rats for a little while. basically fell into all this really interest… Rats are pretty intelligent and their ability to learn patterns and shapes has ing research [and] was surrounded by people focusing on not just sociology applications to four-year-old humans. but Latin American sociology in parWe were teaching them to find their
ticular, just by virtue of where we are geographically.
That was an amazing experience. I was turned onto Chiapas through my travels through Mexico. I started going in the summer of 1998 and the Zapatista uprising and land rebellion had started in 1994. And so [I saw] what was going on with the indigenous people, protesting that they weren’t afforded the resources, the rights they deserved. … Just watching — very much as an outsider — observing and learning about the people and the inequity and the rich culture and history really evoked my curiosity and my desire to learn more. And so, I ended up working in a couple of Mayan villages looking at migration patterns in and around the state of Chiapas and beyond. [I was] interviewing household members, getting to know people and looking at the patterns of what led people to leave versus what encouraged them to stay.
Were you making art during these times in your life?
I’ve done lots of drawing — forever. I guess the short answer is no, I really wasn’t. But I was definitely taking in the art around me.
So, you started taking art seriously in 2001?
Yes, more or less. I went to Western Europe for the first time and just got really inspired by seeing all these masterworks that I’d only seen in books. That’s kind of what woke me up to it and made me want to know more — and try it for myself.
How did you develop your current practice of portraiture?
I’ve always been very interested in people, painting people. And getting under the skin, so to speak. I think my interest in the way we think about things, the behavioral kinds of sciences that I’ve always been fascinated with, I see painting portraits as kind of an extension of that. And I’m drawn to paintings of people by other artists. … So, I started taking classes here in Austin. … grabbing bits of knowledge … putting it into practice by painting from life, from observation … going to open studios … and throwing myself full-on into it.
Do you paint from live models or photographs?
I do both. And especially in this pandemic world we’re in, working from a live model was pretty much impossible for a while. But that is OK, because I work from photo reference a lot. And when I teach, I often talk about how learning to draw and paint, if you are going for a representational rendering … there’s nothing better than learning how to do that from direct observation. … We perceive a lot more than a camera does. So, if you work enough from observation, then you can take your photo reference and add to it convincingly.
Tell me about the poppy flourishes that surround your subjects.
So, this latest stuff that’s about to open at AnArte I’m super-excited about because it’s merging the figures that I’ve been working at for years now with these elements of design and comic illustration. I love color, so using really rich color is not new [to my work]. And I have played with juxtaposing very two-dimensional-looking symbols and images with more three-dimen-
Coutresy Photo / Jennifer Balkan
Artist Jennifer Balkan in her Austin studio
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sional-looking stuff. I love that. I love playing with people’s perception. … It’s been a real heck of a year and a half — to say the least, for all of us — and it’s really pushed me in different directions. I got really into drawing. … That’s been a new exploration for me — pens and markers.
What about the halos on your subjects? Are they a new development?
That’s a nod to a very old practice. It’s not new for me. I’ve been adding halos over the years. … I love employing old symbols that mean a lot culturally. So, the idea of adding these halos are elevating these people — spiritually and physically. And these are just regular people — wonderful, regular people. Just the idea of being on this Earth and dealing with all the crap that we deal with … especially this past year and a half. I want to indicate that just life — life itself — enlightens us, so to speak.
Does the work itself address what we’ve been through in the last year and a half?
I believe it does. I like to play with metaphor when I work. … Each painting represents some kind of natural phenomenon — either lightning, a tornado, an earthquake, predatory sharks, trying to survive while on the verge of sinking or drowning, [or a] supernova explosion. So, taking all this explosive stuff outside of us, but it being that it’s inside us — the coronavirus, this actual biological thing that has been horrendous in our lives — and then all the social unrest. … So much inequity has reared its head. … Some of the poses and expressions of my subjects [speak to that]. I really try to capture an emotive feeling in them and present that to the viewer. sacurrent.com | June 30 - July 13, 2021 | CURRENT
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Economists agree investing in high-quality early care and education pays for itself many times over. So why aren’t we investing? July 8 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm CST Join us for our next Summer of Resilience event. We will screen The Raising of America docu-series, followed by a conversation with experts in high-quality early care and education.
Register @ www.tpr.org/summerofresilience PANELISTS: Dr. Sarah Baray CEO of Pre-K for SA
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Julia Fleckman Assistant Professor, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Not even a dose of self-awareness can steer Fast & Furious’ penultimate sequel back on course BY KIKO MARTINEZ
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he Fast & Furious saga rages on with the ninth installment of the action movie franchise that started 20 years ago. This time, director Justin Lin, who helmed parts three through six, is back and taking on co-screenwriting duties for the first time alongside Daniel Casey (Kin). Unfortunately, it’s Lin and Casey’s script that has F9: The Fast Saga sputtering and idling during its penultimate lap around the track. Luckily for them, most Fast & Furious fans readily admit flashy cars and wild stunts trump narrative substance in the series. F9 isn’t short on either of those two flashy elements, but it would have made more sense to spread the ridiculous car-related action sequences throughout the movie instead of loading them all into the final act. At least we know why it made so much sense to keep rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges around for all these years. His nickname sums up the franchise perfectly. In F9, much of the original cast is back, along with past characters who haven’t been seen in a few years. For example, the trailer already spoils the fact that actor Sung Kang is back as the deceased Han. If story actually does matter to you, well, here it is: the street racers are back together to get their hands on a powerful object that can control any weapons system in the world. Also, flashbacks show the origins of the bad
Universal Pictures
blood between Dom (Vin Diesel) and Jakob (John Cena). Oh, and a couple of the crew members travel to space — in a rocket-powered car, of course. So there’s that. Most of the time, Lin and Casey let actor Tyrese Gibson go meta and question the validity of the story by suggesting that he and the other characters are somehow invincible. How else could they survive the numerous fire fights and lethal car crashes they’ve experienced over the past two decades? At one point, the phrase “pretty nifty magic trick” is used to explain away something totally absurd. Yeah, OK. For this ninth round, Lin and Casey want audiences to know that the movie’s makers
Happy Return After 469 days, I’m back to the theater and ready for more visits BY KIKO MARTINEZ
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hen I walked out of a press screening at the Santikos Palladium on March 10, 2020, I had no idea that it would take me 15 months to see another movie at a theater. To be precise, an entire 469 days would pass before I felt comfortable enough to walk back into a movie house amid a global pandemic. But there I was last week, back to the coziness of a theater seat, which has become my second home after nearly 20 years as a film
screens
Running on Fumes
critic. I was vaccinated, though still wearing a mask out of an abundance of caution. I had a pen and pad to take notes and a bottled water in case I got thirsty during F9: The Fast Saga’s 145-minute runtime. What better movie to get people back to the theater than a mindless mix of motors and muscles, amirite? F9 would have been the same action flick if I had seen it at home, but there was something reassuring in knowing that — for the
are in on the joke. It’s a self-aware albeit lazy approach to storytelling, but the writers don’t appear to mind admitting that much of what they’ve put on the big screen makes little sense. If this is what it’s going to take to get people back to the theaters, so be it. If you’re hoping this franchise keeps its engines revving after this sequel, Fast & Furious 10 has already been announced. If Universal Studios is looking to do something dumber, they should think about sending the gang to Jurassic World for a crossover. F10: Tyrannosaurus Torque has a nice ring to it.
most part — the movie theater industry survived what may be its biggest test ever. Who knows where it will be another year from now when studios start crunching the numbers and see what makes the best business sense for releasing the films they produce? Deep down, I think the cinema will always be a viable entertainment venue in one form or another, but we’ll have to adapt and accept the fact that Hollywood is just one more industry experiencing long-term changes from the pandemic. Whatever the future holds, I’m ready to see some great movies at the theater — maybe even starting next week. Now, will someone please pass the popcorn?
Find more film stories at sacurrent.com
ALAMO BEER COMPANY | 202 LAMAR ST. SAN ANTONIO, TX | ALAMOBEER.COM 22
CURRENT | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
food
Beyond Mediterranean
Zaatar Lebanese Grill serves up regional specialties worthy of exploring BY RON BECHTOL
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he spice mix known as za’atar — typically a blend of thyme, oregano, salt, sesame seeds and the puckery dried berry known as sumac — is a thread running through Middle Eastern dishes from Amman to Tehran. The San Antonio geographical equivalent may well be the corner of Bluemel and Wurzbach roads, a block west of Interstate 10. There you’ll find fresh halal meats, flatbreads and an astonishing array of Middle and Far Eastern products at Ali Baba International Food Market. You’ll also find a Persian eggplant dip at Pasha Mediterranean Grill, a Turkish salad and Greek gyros at Naara Cafe & Hookah Bar, honey-soaked pastries and more at Baklovah Bakery & Sweets, and the familiar and universal hummus and kabobs everywhere — including at Zaatar Lebanese Grill. A recent visit to Zaatar was a reminder of how food unites in a sometimes-fractious region — and how subtle differences can also emerge in its regional variations. Zaatar’s mezze plate is a good, if obvious, place to start. It’s anchored by a serving of the familiar tabouli, the mix of chopped parsley with cracked wheat, onion and tomato, all bathed in a bright, lemony dressing. “Bright” is the operative word here, since the dish felt just-made fresh, and it was light on the sometimes-overbearing bulgur. Fattoush, a salad served with toasted pita, was also an option on the plate, but you need to specify. And since tabouli is served with a number of other plates, I’d go for the fattoush here. The mezze also included toasty orbs of falafel, that also-ubiquitous mix of ground chickpeas and more. It proved that this now-worldwide street food is worthy of its popularity when fashioned by knowing hands. Chickpeas also came in the form of hummus, a dip so well known that many are unaware of its Egyptian origins — at least, according to some scholars. Zaatar’s version is classically creamy and presented simply, although a spicy version is also available. If there’s any of the sometimes-included tahini, its contribution was slight. Perky prevailed over smoky in Zaatar’s roasted eggplant baba ghanouj. The spelling alone suggests a variation, and it’s one that leaned delightfully chunky and tart. I’d gladly take either variant on top of some good pita. The terms panini, wraps, pizzas and even
Ron Bechtol
bowls appear on Zaatar’s menu, an indication of food’s globalization. But the difference in, say, a Lebanese pizza and one from New York or Naples, lies in the details. Yes, you can get a cheese topping at a typical Lebanese bakery, or furen, but it’s likely to be briny akawi cheese, whose origins are actually in Israel. Spicy ground beef is another popular topping, and since the recipe doubtless varies from baker to baker, it would be foolish to try to tease out all the spices here — except to say that there was an appealing, slightly sour edge balancing the spice that might come from pomegranate molasses or za’atar itself. Or not. Order the lahme pizza and let me know what you think. Kibbeh comes in many forms across the Middle East, including baked and uncooked. The pair of meat “dumplings” I ordered were delivered atop a pita. Their deep-fried and well-seasoned cracked wheat casing, which also might contain a little ground beef, enveloping an equally well-seasoned beef mix that included chopped walnut. There was also hint of cinnamon. The accompanying creamy, yogurt dip might or might not have contained garlic. Credit to Zaatar for tailoring each condiment to its plate and not simply
sending out a universal tzatziki, but the result was that I lost track. No confusion as to the result, though: good. Great, even. It would be easy to make a meal of small plates at Zaatar. I haven’t even mentioned its stuffed grape leaves or spinach-topped pizza. But it would be a shame to miss out on the kabobs. Of course there are kabobs. And the simple, succulent lamb version, served over golden-hued rice with onions — both grilled and not — and charred tomato and sour pickles would have been a stunning plate, even without its side of tabouli and hummus. There was just a hint of chew, a touch of flame… But I was even more impressed by the skewered sujook, a Lebanese ground beef sausage that managed to both confuse and delight the taste buds. Fenugreek? Chili powder? Citric acid was also somewhere in the mix. I love it when expectations are upended, and as a result, this might have been my favorite plate of the day — and a perfect reason to look beyond the standard “Mediterranean” moniker that many Middle Eastern restaurants give themselves in an abundance of geopolitical caution.
ZAATAR LEBANESE GRILL 9323 Wurzbach Road | (210) 475-3699 | gozaatar.com (menu not up to date) Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 am.-10 p.m. Price point: Panini and main plates $10.95-$16.95 Best bets: Mezze Platter, Lebanese Pizzas, Kibbeh, Lamb Kabob, Sujook The skinny: Zaatar Lebanese Grill showcases the best of pan-Middle Eastern cuisine with subtle, country-specific variations. The usual kabobs — try the lamb — are expertly executed, as are standards such as tabouli, hummus and baba gannouj. But it’s worth trying the kitchen’s take on fried kibbeh, stuffed with spiced ground beef, and the sausage known as sujook in skewered or sandwich form to get a feel for regional differences. The space is bright and welcoming, service is friendly and the experience is rewarding.
Find more food & drink news at sacurrent.com
at the Briscoe 210W WMarket Market at the BriscoeMuseum Museum || 210 St.St.
LiveMusic Musicby byMike Mike and Live andthe theMoonpies Moonpies The most talked aboutchefs chefsfrom fromaround around the up with the the The most talked about thestate stateareareteaming teaming up with Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation to celebrate and support Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation to celebrate and support the future of the restaurant industry. Enjoy chef-prepared tasting bites, live the future of themusic, restaurant industry. Enjoy tasting bites, live as well as beer, wine and chef-prepared signature cocktails. music, as well as beer, wine and signature cocktails.
Tickets Now On Sale!
Tickets Now On Sale! txrestaurant.org/lonestarbash txrestaurant.org/lonestarbash
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food Peachy Keen
In season right now, Hill Country peaches make a fine addition to summer drinks
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ho’s got time to click through all of the food stories coming out of Countdown City these days? We get it, you’re busy and just need quick tidbits to get you caught up on the latest culinary happenings. Welcome to Hot Dish, where we offer up the latest savory scoops in quick, easy-to-digest servings.
BY NINA RANGEL
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t’s the peak of Hill Country peach season, and they’re now overflowing from bushels at roadside stands and farmer’s markets. While cobblers and pies are fine vessels for the succulent fruit, they also add juicy appeal to a variety of summer sippers. Enter three San Antonio food and beverage gurus, who offered up instructions on how to stir up peachbased drinks that just may surpass your most revered recipes for baked goods. (Sorry, Nana.)
OPENINGS Local beer-on-tap chain Stout House has opened a fourth San Antonio location. Nationally lauded Mexican restaurant Mixtli christened its new Southtown space.
Nina Rangel
Texas Peach Step For a refreshing, shandy-style cocktail, consider Ana Cabrera’s Texas Peach Step, a bourbon-centric tipple that can be stirred up with local ingredients to beat the Texas heat. “While traveling the Texas wine country, one of my favorite dishes was the peach cobbler with peach ice cream from Gold Orchids,” said Cabrera, the new beverage director at fine-dining staple Biga on the Banks. “I loved it and immediately was craving some bourbon to wash it all down.” For this aperitif, she uses Fredericksburg peaches, Still ATX Bourbon and an Austin Eastcider to keep things local. According to Cabrera, the Sangria Eastcider, in particular, adds an “epic” flavor boost to the refresher. Texas Peach Step Ripe peach, quartered and chopped 1 ounce Bourbon 3/4 ounce lemon juice 1/2 ounce Demerara syrup (equal parts Demerara sugar and hot water) Austin Eastcider Dry Cider Add one quarter of the chopped peach to a 12-ounce glass, reserving remaining fruit for future cocktails. Add bourbon, lemon juice and syrup and top, followed by ice. Top the glass with sparkling cider and give it all a stir. Garnish with a lemon peel and zest.
Fresh Peach Mojito For a super-Southern approach, Lucy Cooper’s head honcha Braunda Smith offered up this batchable Fresh Peach Mojito. With its fresh peaches, mint and rum, this sweet sipper is one of Smith’s favorite summer drinks. The recipe makes a pitcher-sized batch, so it might make you the talk of your tubing party. Fresh Peach Mojito
3 ripe peaches, skin removed and sliced Small handful of fresh mint leaves 3 limes, juiced 4 1/2 ounces spiced rum 1/4 ounce cane sugar or turbinado sugar Club soda In a mixing glass, thoroughly muddle peach slices, mint, lime juice and sugar. Add the mixture and rum to a mid-sized pitcher. Add ice and top with club soda. Give it a stir and serve over fresh ice.
Hill Country Hibiscus Peach Smash For those looking for a summer splash sans alcohol, chef Chris Cook offered a booze-free recipe featuring his sugar-free Heavenly Hibiscus Special Leaf olive leaf tea. Cook has been preaching the gospel of olive leaf tea since 2018, sharing the benefits of leaf extracts that have the purported wellness benefits of olive oil without the associated fat. “It’s just summertime,” Cook said of the vibrant drink, which also features Bexar Tonics’ Wild Flower tonic, a concentrated floral syrup produced in San Antonio. “There aren’t a lot of places offering mocktails, and this is a great poolside option with no alcohol.” Peach, wildflower and rosemary come together for a zero-proof cocktail so pleasantly complex, you won’t even miss the booze. Hill Country Hibiscus Peach Smash 2 ounces fresh peaches, diced (reserve one or two cubes for a rosemary skewer garnish) 1 1/2 ounces Bexar Tonics’ Wild Flower mixer 1 1/2 ounces sweetened peach sparkling water 4 ounces Special Leaf Heavenly Hibiscus tea Muddle peach in shaker tin, add ice, tonic and Heavenly Hibiscus tea. Shake vigorously and strain over fresh ice in rocks glass. Top with sparkling water and garnish with peach-rosemary skewer.
Cheba Hut, San Antonio’s first marijuana-themed sandwich shop, is now open. Brunch haven Comfort Café’s second location has made its debut at Los Patios. SipIt Daiquiris To-Go has opened a second location, now serving boozy frozen drinks on the far West Side. Japan-based chain Kura Sushi will bring its revolving sushi bar to the Alamo Quarry Market. Ambler, the new eatery inside downtown’s Hotel Contessa, is open after being shuttered for renovations. Tennessee-based spicy chicken chain Gus’s Fried Chicken has opened in its new Southtown space. Mexican eatery Don Benito’s Cocina y Cantina is set to open in South San Antonio on July 5. Hotly anticipated Southtown eatery Bar Loretta will begin serving by month’s end.
NEWS Storied hangout Bombay Bicycle Club will add a bar to its spacious Oak Room outdoor dining area. Lone Star Beer, owned by Pabst Brewing Co., launched High Desert Days, a new brew inspired by Texas’ Big Bend region. Alamo Beer Co. last week debuted a seasonal Summer Shandy brewed with a locally produced addition from Southside Craft Soda. Downtown-area bar Lowcountry is holding a month-long undergarment drive for SA’s homeless population. After initially announcing plans to liquidate, comfort food staple Luby’s is now selling its remaining cafeterias for $28.7 million. Lick Honest Ice Creams was named the best ice cream in Texas by Food & Wine Magazine. sacurrent.com | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | CURRENT
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brate hangs adjacent to a two-string bass overhead which he plays with a drumstick — all while maintaining the pummeling beats the drive the proceedings. The experience is jarring to the senses. And entirely in keeping with the musician’s aim to create a complete aesthetic package. “For a while I was getting the bones from a private seller, but then they ended up going to prison for selling illegal human remains overseas,” Engle said, recounting stories of his gradual thematic masking and ever-growing collection of remains. The musical project’s Diablo II inspiration came about while Engle was working at a cyber cafe in the early 2000s. The game, combined with his love for cavernous synth sounds, helped incubate the project. But, he acknowledges, it also stemmed from a necessity to play heavy music. “In 2010, I had a two-piece band that broke up,” he said. “It was pretty frustrating, because I was wanting to book tours and play shows. And I couldn’t find anyone to commit, so I said, ‘Fuck it, I’m just going to replace the guitarist.’ It was completely out of necessity to play the music I wanted to play.” Since that time, Crawl has put out eight releases, including a split with solo black metal legend Leviathan. Engle has also undertaken numerous tours across the United States and Canada and landed slots at notable heavy music festivals including Eternal Warfare, 71Grind and Psycho Las Vegas.
Lonesome road
Josh Yelle
Dungeon Crawler
San Antonio’s monolithic ambient-doom project Crawl lurks in the shadows BY ENRIQUE BONILLA
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want to create an immersive experience and instill an image in people when they’re digesting the band,” said Michael Engle, the San Antonio solo artist known as Crawl. “Crawl is basically my attempt to put you in a space like a dungeon, where you’re slowly exploring the environment. Every step is very cautious, and every corner has a ton of anxiety. You’re afraid to take that next step or afraid to open a door.” The necrotic world of Crawl begins where Diablo II, the dungeon-crawling video game released in 2000, leaves off. Engle says the atmosphere of the dungeon-crawling game captures the essence of what he’s trying to do with the musical project. He actualizes that vision by using drums, bass, sample pads and vocals to lull the listener into a trance. Hints of funeral doom, black metal noise and dark
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ambient bubble up from the genre-defying music, sometimes comparable to cavernous-sounding ambient metal act Lurker of Chalice or sludgy Japanese doom metal band Corrupted. The dark sound that Crawl creates isn’t exactly mainstream listening, but it challenges willing audiences to gaze into the void.
Bone, sludge and harmony Witnessing Crawl in a live setting truly showcases the dark and tortured atmosphere the artist strives to create. Actual human bones — ulnas, radii, humeri and mandibles — line Engle’s drum kit. His face is obscured by a “vocal mask” composed of small bones, elastic material and a microphone. A bovine verte-
Along the way, Engle has performed not just as Crawl but also as a session drummer for New Yorkbased noise rockers Uniform for a 2019 U.S. tour with Japanese avant-metal act Boris and a short run with British doom metal band Conan. Coupled with his own touring, those jaunts make him one of San Antonio’s best-traveled underground rock musicians. While being a one-man act might suggest that Engle faces an easy load-in at venues, that’s not the case. Crawl is powered by four refrigerator-sized speaker cabinets that help drive the pummeling sound. “I don’t feel like it’s that much. It’s only two full stacks, which is kind of normal for a band,” he explains. “It only looks weird because it’s one person and it’s all right behind me. It’s definitely a bit of an illusion there.” Illusion or not, it’s highly advised to bring hearing protection to a Crawl performance, although it is not clear when the artist plans to perform again. He’s taking a wait-and-see approach when it comes to determining whether the worst of the pandemic is really behind us. “I am waiting until after this summer’s batch of festivals before I decide on what I want to do as far as live performances,” he said. Engle recently posted photos of himself in the recording studio on his social media feeds, but he’s reluctant to say whether that means a new release is in the works. “Being a heavy band in San Antonio is one of the many reasons I do this by myself,” he said. “There’s not a lot of people in San Antonio that play heavy music, and there’s even less people that want to do it with noise involved.”
music
Artist in Residence New documentary Juanito’s Lab chronicles the growth and struggles of a San Antonio musical prodigy BY SANFORD NOWLIN
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t’s a wave; that’s the way my music comes when we play,” San Antonio musician Juanito Castillo says at the opening of Juanito’s Lab, a new film documenting 15 years of his life. “It’s a wave when we jam. It hits you, and it keeps hitting you.” As viewers watch the nearly two-hour documentary unfold, they’re likely to experience a similar feeling. Blind nearly from birth, the 32-year-old Castillo got his start as a conjunto child prodigy, but the film chronicles his effort to chart a new musical course — a quest that’s at once restless, invigorating and unrelenting. A labor of love for married filmmakers Guillermina Zabala and Enrique Lopetegui — the latter of whom once worked as the Current’s film and music editor — Juanito’s Lab will make its debut next month at San Antonio’s Guadalupe Film Festival. (See the Calendar section for more details.) Castillo was born prematurely, his retinas burned after he was placed in an incubator. Despite that disability, his parents demanded his independence and encouraged him to pursue his early gift with music. After singing in front of crowds at Market Square while in elementary school, Castillo went on to master more than a dozen instruments, including the accordion, guitar, bass, bajo sexto and drums. The film’s titular lab is a casita behind the Castillo family home where the musician continuously toiled to unlock the next stages in his artistic evolution. Early in the film, it becomes clear that Castillo struggles with societal expectations. His aspirations and abilities extend to jazz and other music, so he feels constrained as others urge him to stick with Tejano and conjunto. In a telling moment, a teenaged Castillo vents to the camera about the matching “cowboy clothes” he’s forced to wear onstage. As a young adult, Castillo also bristles against expectations that he carry on the legacy of the late Esteban Jordan, the revered accordion pioneer who mentored him along the way. Castillo spent two years playing drums for Jordan, who was also severely visually impaired. Even a later opportunity for Castillo to cut an album with Grammy-winning bajo
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sexto player Max Baca doesn’t quite offer the musical freedom the young musician is after. He confides to Lopetegui on camera that the still-unreleased project feels too much like Baca’s baby. Because Juanito’s Lab follows a subject still spreading his artistic wings, its narrative arc deviates from that of the standard long-form music documentary. More often, filmmakers turn their cameras on musicians who have already formed their sound and achieved some degree of success. The less-charted path taken by the makers of Juanito’s Lab may prove frustrating for viewers looking for a tidy story about an artist’s climb to success. Without inserting spoilers, the film’s climax and conclusion suggest that one of Castillo’s biggest wins so far in life may, in fact, lie outside of music. Even so, the directors’ organic approach brings a sense of authenticity to the project. Castillo’s creative restlessness is on full display, and in the end, the viewer is unsure whether he’ll ever be fully satisfied. Juanito’s Lab works best when it lets the music speak for itself — as in a dumbfounding clip from an outdoor performance in which Castillo unleashes a freewheeling jazz improvisation on a bajo sexto, scat-singing along with his own spontaneous creation. In perhaps the documentary’s most pow-
erful moment, Castillo gets the opportunity to travel to LA to jam with prolific Argentine producer and composer Gustavo Santaolalla. If that name sounds familiar, it’s likely because Santaolalla won back-to-back Grammy Awards for his scores to Brokeback Mountain and Babel. The viewer is set up for low expectations when one of Santaolalla’s associates warns the filmmakers that if the maestro isn’t feeling the session, they’ll know within five minutes. Instead, joy lights up Santaolalla’s face as he and the young accordionist trade licks. Their jam session stretched on for four hours, according to the filmmakers. For longtime San Antonio music fans, the documentary is likely to inspire fits of nostalgia. The footage includes multiple clips from Saluté International Bar, the long-gone St. Mary’s Strip venue that played host to Jordan and other Tejano greats. Saluté’s former owner, Azeneth Dominguez, even weighs in on Castillo’s artistry. In the end, the documentary is a fascinating portrayal of a questing artist and a largely undiscovered musical genius. There’s no guarantee Castillo will fully realize what he hears inside his head, or that he’ll finally be recognized for his brilliance. But, with any luck, Juanito’s Lab could help with the latter.
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Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.
music Free Music
New release collects the works of one-of-a-kind San Antonio composer ‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny BY BILL BAIRD
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ON SELECT WINES & SPIRITS* I N - S TO R E & O N L I N E
TWINLIQUORS.COM
*July 4th Celebration runs 6/28/21-7/3/21. Valid on featured products. Sale items can be shopped in-store and online at www.twinliquors.com. Selection varies by store. Items and prices subject to change without notice. No further discount on Sale Items, Final Few, or Closeouts. Some exclusions apply. Please drink responsibly.
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CURRENT | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
an Antonio native “Blue” Gene Tyranny, a 20th century musical genius, died in December 2020, leaving behind a legacy of work alongside artists including the Stooges, Carla Bley and, most significantly, Robert Ashley, with whom he created the monumental TV opera Perfect Lives. For many, though, his finest solo work was his 1977 album Out of the Blue, which assimilated pop, prog, jazz, spoken word, gospel and electronica into a delicious post-modern masterpiece. Tyranny’s music spanned decades, though, and it’s finally been properly collected in the recently released Degrees of Freedom Found, a six-disc box set available from Unseen Worlds Records. The collection covers material from 1963 through 2019 and gives equal emphasis to the musician’s virtuosic live performances as to his imaginative and brilliant recordings. It’s clear from Degrees’ first few seconds — and all the way through its diverse and profoundly accomplished 46 tracks — that Tyranny has absolute faith in the music and a willingness to let silence hang, to not noisily clutter up spaces. “Music is the space between the notes,” composer Claude Debussy once said — a sentiment later echoed by Miles Davis. The collection makes it clear that Tyranny’s is a selfless music, overflowing with generosity, heart and an infectious joy. He found the titular “freedom” in its creation and trusts the listener to do the same, and with an absolute faith in the compositions themselves. The work is a complete surrender. The listener can come or go. Tyranny creates a suspended world, an “imaginary landscape” in the words of John Cage. All Tyranny asks of the listener is
the same complete surrender that he himself has given as performer. Fortunately, as these compositions reveal, it’s a joyous surrender — an embrace of life. Degrees’ tracks spread over Tyranny’s entire career, from an early concert at the McNay Art Museum to recent live performances at New York City art space Roulette. Each composition is a dot in a pointillistic self-portrait. His compositional and keyboard technique exude sublimated knowledge — a lifetime of experience and training, effortlessly distilled into moments of musical freedom. Certain pieces in the collection first appear in a stripped-down form, only to reappear later in more fully fleshedout versions. This approach gives the release a feeling of closure and familiarity after just one listen. Of particular note is “The Driver’s Son,” an ambitious song cycle and one of Tyranny’s great works. It first appears as a live, stripped-down piano improvisation, only to later Unseen Worlds emerge as a full band performance. Both are impressive in their unforced harmonic ambition. Elsewhere, the piece “Spirit” floats dissonances in and out of chords, a masterful blend of natural and artificial harmonics. The “Dreamtime” trilogy, meanwhile, delves into synthesizers and drone. “Driving Music” is an electronic masterpiece. “Daylight Savings” is American music at its best. Think Randy Newman reimagined as a new-age guru. Taken together, the experience is beyond moving. It’s a full encapsulation of an extraordinary life. There may be other piano virtuosos, other spiritually minded composers, other students of the avant garde, but there will never be another “Blue” Gene Tyranny.
music listings Thursday, July 1 Steve Earle
The hardcore troubadour and Townes Van Zandt acolyte will bring his extensive catalog to the New Braunfels stage. Earle, who grew up in Schertz, has led a troubled life in the tradition of old school “outlaw” country, including drugs, an armed standoff with police and a prison stint. The singer-songwriter’s music includes not just elements of country, but also ’70s rock and bluegrass. He even had a brush with mainstream notoriety via his post9/11 ditty “John Walker’s Blues.” $49.50, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall. com. — Mike McMahan Jackopierce
This long-running folk-slash-alt-rock duo began performing together in the late ’80s at Dallas’s Southern Methodist University before adding a rhythm section. Since then, they’ve shared the stage with luminaries including the Wallflowers, the Dave Matthews Band and Alanis Morissette. Jackopierce took a five-year break in the late ’90s before reforming in the early aughts. $30-$250, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — MM
at its self-described “Festival of Freedom” gig is of the Willie Nelson variety. And you’d be correct. You also might guess that this SA-area act has a sense of humor. After all, its Facebook bio sets the bar pretty damn low: “We have songs.” Smoke and jokes aside, the band takes a kitchen sink approach to its sound, throwing in elements of funk, rock, country and more in a way that evokes early Faith No More. $12, 8 p.m., River Road Ice House, 1791 Hueco Springs Loop Road, New Braunfels, (830) 626-1335, riverroadicehouse.com. — MM Snoop Dogg vs. DJ Snoopadelic Are the kids still saying “fo shizzle?” Maybe you can find out when the man himself, hiphop legend Snoop Dogg, comes to Alamo Town for a pre-Independence Day shindig. Expect the hits, of course, but also listen for some cuts from his latest LP From Tha Streets 2 Tha Suites! Snoop has spent years of his career pushing himself in new directions, as exemplified by his alter ego, DJ Snoopadelic, who is hangin’ on the current outing. In other words: expect the unexpected. After all, when Snoop hit the scene in the early ’90s, no one expected he’d end up on TV with Martha Stewart. $55, 6 p.m., Sunken Garden Theater, 3875 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 735-0663, tobincenter.org. — MM
Friday, July 2
Saturday, July 3
Ammo for My Arsenal, Scream at the Sky, Let Her Burn + More Metal, metal, and, um, more metal makes up this stacked bill. San Antonio favorites Ammo for My Arsenal may be just the bone-snapping heaviness that Star Wars fans have been waiting for — if the song “Execute Order 66” is any indication. Scream at the Sky, hailing from Houston, brings an industrial flavor to its brand of ear punch. $10, 8 p.m., Bonds 007 Rock Bar, 450 Soledad St., (210) 225-0007, bonds007rockbar. com. — MM
Money Man + Maxo Cream After hitting the scene with the Black Circle mixtape trilogy, Money Man became affiliated with Cash Money Records and Republic Records, where he continued to drop mixtapes that hit the Billboard charts. Most recently, he dropped State of Emergency, a release so topical that it referenced the pandemic despite its March 2020 street date. Maxo Cream, a man with a moniker that seems tailor made for pop-art merch, was born in Houston. His debut Brandon Banks hit in 2019. $49-$84, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s, theaztectheatre. com. — MM
Whiskey Myers With a name invoking Southern and country rock, Whiskey Myers unsurprisingly cites Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. as key influences. Hailing from Palestine, Texas, the band released its self-titled, fifth album in 2019. It first cracked the Billboard Country Music chart in 2011 and subsequently appeared on several episodes of Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner. $25-$500, 8 p.m., John T. Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores. com. — MM Skunkweed Given the name of this band, you might guess that the “freedom” being celebrated
Parker McCollum Born and raised in Conroe, singer-songwriter McCollum has his feet firmly planted in the Third Coast country scene, citing influences from Pat Green and Steve Earle to Bob Dylan. McCollum has been involved in music for much of his life, including stints in school orchestras as a kid and indie-rock bands as a teen. He released his debut album The Limestone Kid in 2015. While the show is sold out, the venue says it may release additional tickets prior to the concert. Sold Out, 8 p.m., Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM 306, New Braunfels, (830) 964-3800, floattheguadalupe.com. — MM
Jaime Monzon
Sunday, July 4 I Love Freestyle This package tour featuring acts such as Trinere, Jonny Z and Jocelyn Enriquez will celebrate both freedom and grooving ’80s tunes. Reminisce about the days of freestyle music, along with all the devastating high school break ups, lost relationships and eternal promises of young love you experienced back in the day. $50-$150, 7 p.m., Cowboys Dancehall, 3030 NE Loop 410, (210) 6469378, cowboysdancehall.com. — Brianna
Espinoza Thursday, July 8 Squeezebox Bandits At the name suggests, an actual squeezebox is front and center with this Forth Worth band that merges Tejano and country music together — a combination that makes it hard to imagine them being from anywhere but Texas. The quartet not only plays original music but also covers Texas Tornados favorites, which could get a different twist during this acoustic show. $10-$75, 8:30 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — BE
Saturday, July 10 The Delta Bombers Las Vegas is known for all the nitty gritty that The Delta Bombers captures in its desert rockabilly sound, which also throws in hints of Americana. The band’s guitar melodies waver like heat waves rising off a hot desert highway. $13-$15, 8 p.m., The Rock Box, 223 E Houston St., (210) 677-9453, therockboxsa. com. — BE Pat Green If you thought you heard the last of the ubiquitous Texas country tune "Wave on Wave," think again. Its creator, Pat Green, is returning to the greater New Braunfels area for the second time in a month. This time, however, with an upgrade to a more spacious venue. $78, 8 p.m., Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM306 Suite 1, New Braunfels, (830) 9643800, whitewaterrocks.com. — BE
Friday, July 9 Gary P. Nunn Known both for the theme song for the Austin City Limits television program and a five-decade career as a C&W troubadour, Nunn has definitely carved out a place in the Texas’ music scene. Country artists of all sorts revere Nunn for his contributions to the genre. $20, 8 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com. — BE Tracy Lawrence If modern day country music doesn't cut
it and ’90s mustaches are your style, you might fit in at a Tracy Lawrence concert. Beyond a chance to admire his facial hair, you’ll get to hear him play smash hits like “Sticks and Stones,” “Alibis” and “Time Marches On.” $25-$30, 8 p.m., The Roundup Outdoor Music Venue, 531 FM 3351, Boerne, (830) 428-3231, therounduptx.com. — BE
Sunday, July 11 Ruben V Mix together bluesy licks, a little Latin flair and a touch of modern rock and you’ve got San Antonio’s Ruben V. The hardworking guitar hero has released more than 20 solo and group albums and hasn’t stopped touring since he was 15 years old. $15-$65, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — BE
sacurrent.com | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | CURRENT
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2065 L E G A L N O T I C E S Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for Mixed Beverages, Food and Beverage Beer and Wine license by Upstage Comedy Lounge LLC dba Upstage Comedy Lounge to be located at 4441 Walzem RdSan Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Officers of said corporation are Bobby Smith (Owner) Kalvin Ross(Owner).
E M P LOY M E N T
Full kitchen and bar menu available Open 7 days a week • Explore our Garden!
UC Smiles Orthodontics seeks a Business Development Specialist to work in Universal City, Texas to develop and grow the business by identifying and attracting new dental patients. Bachelor’s degree and experience required. Send resumes to drbebe@ucsmilesortho.com.
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1127 S St Mary's St. Sa, TX 78210 EatGoodKind.com 30
CURRENT | June 30 – July 13, 2021 | sacurrent.com
Stress Engineers, San Antonio, TX: Perform structural analysis for new aircraft development programs. Perform detail analysis of individual detail parts, assemblies & installations based on known loading conditions. Develop & run finite element models using Nastran, Femap, and/or Patran software. Create structural analysis reports to support aircraft certification for the FAA. Send res to: MT, LC DBA SyberJet Aircraft 526 N Aviation Way Cedar City, UT 84721.
QUALITY MUFFLERS INCORPORATED d/b/a Quality Metals. San Antonio, TX. MARKETING AND PRODUCT ADVERTISING DESIGNER. Design media for metal roof panels company; design print brochures and manuals; create concepts and sample layouts based on knowledge of company's products; confer with management regarding product specifications to properly illustrate products in media; apply marketing and advertising skills to integrate technical specifications to brochures and manuals; prepare installation manuals. Min. Req: Associate's in Advertising Design and 24 months experience. Must have knowledge in metal roof panels; and ability to use Photoshop; HTML Illustrator; and AutoCad. Mail resume to: 2707 Castroville Road, San Antonio, TX 78237
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