Music

Roll these 12 blaze-worthy songs from Texas artists into your 4/20 playlist

BY SANFORD NOWLIN

Texas music is as diverse as the state itself. It’s yielded an amazing bounty of blues, conjunto, hip-hop, country, jazz and rock artists who create world-class work.

And an interest among musicians that appears to cross all those genres is ge ing high. After all, one performer’s jazz cigare e is another’s blunt is another’s hierba, or something like that. Li le surprise that this applies to Texas musicians, who seem to have recorded a lot of songs extolling their love for weed.

So, if you’re looking to fa en your 4/20 playlist with new tracks, consider adding some or all of these fi ne smoker’s anthems by Texas artists.

1. Chamillionaire “Ridin’”

At the risk of starting with the obvious, Houston rapper Chamillionaire may have penned the ultimate song about puffi ng while driving — along with a bevy of other moving violations. This one resonated with plenty of listeners, becoming a No. 1 Billboard hit and earning a 2006 Grammy for Best Rap Performance.

2. Sweet Smoke “Mary Jane Is to Love”

Fort Worth’s Sweet Smoke rose from the Texas ’60s garage rock scene to become unapologetic purveyors of a psychedelic lifestyle. The name of the band and the name of this, their fi rst single, left no question as to where they stood, which probably explains why they blew conservative Texas for Europe not long into their career.

3. Butthole Surfers “The Bong Song”

The San Antonio-birthed Bu hole Surfers’ post-punk psychedelia was steeped in weed worship, but nowhere more overtly than in this song which features the gurgling of an actual bong loud in the mix.

4. Sam Price and His Texas Bluesicians “Do You Dig My Jive”

This 1941 jazz classic may not be the most overtly weedy tune in the lyrical department. Folks had to be a li le more subtle then. But by the end of the tune, it’s obvious just what kind of “jive” they mean.

5. Peter Rowan with Flaco Jiménez — “The

Free Mexican Air Force”

Although he no longer calls the Hill Country town of Blanco home, bluegrass icon Peter Rowan was nonetheless a longtime Texan. This track he cut with conjunto legend Flaco Jimenézis pro-weed, anti-war and a counterculture classic that remains one his most-requested tunes.

6. Randy Garibay and Cats Don’t Sleep “Toke y Toke”

San Antonio’s Randy Garibay was adept at sweetening his Chicano blues with infl uences ranging from jazz and doo-wop to a variety of south-of-the-border sounds. He went for the la er on this infectious, singalong-ready tribute to the devil’s le uce.

7. The Asylum Street Spankers “High as You Can Be”

Austin acoustic blues and jazz traditionalists the Asylum Street Spankers recorded an entire 2000 album, Spanker Madness, devoted to weed songs. While every tune’s a winner, this slinky number’s sultry chorus and wailing harmonica make it an undisputed high point.

8. Mitch Webb and the Swindles “H.E.B.”

The opening track from this long-running San Antonio garage rock outfi t’s 1997 debut is a catchy homage to the working folks forced to forgo both their weed and their dreams to hold down a job. Sometimes we’ve got to tip our hats to those who want to get high but can’t.

9. Sir Douglas Quintet “Stoned Faces Don’t Lie”

legend Doug Sahm may be one of the fi nest Sunday morning wake-and-bake songs ever wri en. The laidback delivery and beautiful piano work make it a highlight of The Return of Doug Saldaña, a 1971 album many consider the band’s fi nest.

Creative Commons / Larry Philpot

10. Fearless Iranians from Hell “Iranian Hash”

San Antonio’s prime ’80s-era punk export had a blast satirizing fundamentalist fuckheads both at home and abroad while hammering audiences with pulverizing riff s. For those who enjoy “uneasy listening” while ge ing blazed, this song packs a lot of fi repower into two minutes.

11. Mark Weber y Los Cuernos “Where’s the Weed?”

While San Antonio conjunto singer-accordionist Mark Weber never really lets us know whether he’s pro-weed in this country-infl ected song from his 2019 album Moonshine and Mexicans, he uses biting humor to make it clear what bullshit it is to be pulled over for driving while Brown.

12. Willie Nelson “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”

Come on, you knew we had to throw at least one Willie tune on this list. While there are more than a few to choose from, this 2012 song has become a crowd-pleaser and set-closer for the country legend for good reason.

music

Reminder:

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.

Vintage Vendor

Eclectic instrument shop Output Audio rides a creative wave

BY BILL BAIRD

Anew retail shop tucked into a resurgent stretch of Fredericksburg Road’s Deco District is vying to become a hub for San Antonio’s creative music community.

By combining repair services, DIY electronics and vintage gear sales with electronic music workshops, shows and a recording studio, Output Audio is emblematic of a wave of creative, independent and optimistic SA natives working to reclaim the city and create the world they want to see.

“Our ethos is: make it happen, do it yourself and if you can’t aff ord it, build it,” owner Luis Faraklas Trevino said. “And even if you can aff ord it, build it! That’s one thing that sets us apart as a repair shop. If something is broken and there’s an expensive way to fi x it or a creative way to fi x it that’d be fun to explore, we opt for the la er. We take the creative route.”

That creativity extends beyond standard repair work. The shop itself, and the shopping center housing it, are classics of Alamo City design. Trevino is clearly excited to put them to new use.

“This was the original Jeff erson State Bank,” he said. “And that back room where the recording studio is ... that’s the old bank vault. Still got a six-inch concrete slab all the way around.”

The shop’s studio, dubbed Countdown Sound, is run by Michael Goodwin, who started the shop with Trevino.

“Above us was a 17,000-square-foot bowling alley,” Trevino added. “It was converted into a ballroom at some point. And it’s still there! A truly incredible space. It would be perfect for a venue.”

Turning point

Trevino isn’t the only young entrepreneur who’s latched onto the potential of that stretch of Fredericksburg. The Woodlawn Theatre and its adjoining Woodlawn Shopping Center, built in 1946, have long felt like overlooked San Antonio gems in need of polishing. Not for much longer, though. Youthful energy is transforming the space. Hello Tallulah Vintage, Black Gold Bike Shop and recently opened music venue the Starlighter now occupy the complex, while Way Out Kombucha and Mexican snack shop Elotitos Corn Bar have sprung up across the street.

A recent concert at Countdown Sound by Oakland sound artist Evicshun felt like a turning point for the area, Trevino said.

“It brought in some of my favorite San Antonio musicians, like Diego from A.M. Architect,” he said. “There was also a show next door at the Starlighter and, well, it felt like something was really happening here.”

It’s hard not to be struck by Trevino’s openness and infectious enthusiasm. The eclectic business is clearly a labor of love, and that love shines in every detail — starting with an open layout and welcoming air of experimentation. All the instruments being sold are plugged in and ready to play.

“Bauhaus is a huge, huge infl uence on our design,” says Trevino, pointing to the geometrical shapes painted on the shop’s walls in primary colors. “And Matisse. My mom was an art major, so it’s all embedded in my brain.”

Bill Baird

‘Creative energy’

The family inspiration doesn’t stop there. Trevino comes from a long line of San Antonio entrepreneurs.

“Growing up, my grandfather had an engineering business over on Woodlawn [Avenue],” Trevino explained. “He worked all over, even worked on the Tower of the Americas and Hemisfair. And on my dad’s side, they ran Trevino Printing Press on the West Side for 60 years. I was a shop kid.” An accomplished bassist, Trevino came up in the San Antonio music scene, playing his fi rst gig at the White Rabbit at the ripe age of 11. After receiving classical training and working as a jazz bassist for four years in New York City, Trevino moved back home. He was inspired by the changes taking place.

“When I came back, I fell in love with San Antonio,” he said. “Just so much exciting creative energy in this city.”

In starting Output Audio, Trevino modeled the vibe after the sadly departed and now legendary Krazy Kat Music. As a young musician, he spent hours in the shop shooting the shit with store employee and music-scene fi xture “Bob Dog” Catlin. “One time, I took him a fancy pedal I bought — he took it apart and showed me how it was a totally passive circuit,” Trevino recalls. “That blinking light? It literally did nothing. It was a hoax. That really opened my eyes and stuck with me. I just loved the openness of Bob Dog and Krazy Kat. We want to do

Output that here.”

Audio Output Audio is fi lled not only with vintage electronics but also inexpen1904 Fredericksburg sive custom cabling and accessories, Road designed for budget-minded working (210) 990-3625 outputaudioshop.com musicians. Trevino’s personal approach feels old-school, in the best way. It stems, he said, from his focus on community and family. “What’s cool now is that my nieces live down the street and they come hang out here after school. That’s the apex for me — my nieces being excited to come hang out and learn something,” he said. Through his nieces, Trevino has learned the joys of passing his knowledge to the next generation by teaching classes at the Circle School and Young Woman’s Leadership Academy. “It’s spiritually satisfying.”

MLuis Faraklas Trevino shows off a vintage synthesizer on the fl oor of Output Audio, which also includes a recording studio.

localculturecreative.com

music listings

Thursday, April 21

Arc Angels

Arc Angels coalesced in the early ’90s around emerging bluesrock hotshots Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall II, who were backed by Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon, formerly Stevie Ray Vaughn’s rhythm section. Arc Angels struck paydirt with a self-titled debut LP in 1992 before splintering the following year. They have reunited infrequently since, though without Shannon, before this their recent decision to get back together on what appears to be a more permanent basis. $45, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com. — Mike McMahan

Beth Hart

Edgy blues singer-songwriter Beth Hart uses her voice to convey melodic yet gritty tunes akin to those of Amy Winehouse. Given her emotional delivery, it’s little surprise she’s topped the Billboard Blues Chart six times and works with guitar ace Joe Bonamassa, who can a ord to be picky about which vocalists he chooses to collaborate with. $39-$49, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — Brianna

Espinoza

Cope specializes in chill, positivity-driven music that blends folk, blues, hip-hop and other styles. While Greenwood is primarily known for his own albums, his compositions have also been recorded by Carlos Santana and Dido, among others. $29.50$55, 7 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — BE

Wednesday, April 27

The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Mercury Rev

After a high-profi le brush with fame in the amazing 2004 rock doc Dig!, the Brian Jonestown Massacre soldiers on with eccentric frontman Anton Newcombe at the lead. The band’s discography is expansive, currently sitting at 19 LPs with two more due later this year. Its sound mixes anything from psych to shoegaze to dream pop to experimental, and the LPs sport some of the best titles in history, including Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request and Who Killed Sgt. Pepper? Get there early to see long-running indie-psych outfi t Mercury Rev who open the show. $25, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx. com. — MM

Friday, April 22 Friday, April 29

Cooper Greenberg and Favorite Son

Coming on the heels of last year’s excellent Silverbelly LP, SA’s Cooper Greenberg plans to record this gig for a live album with his band Favorite Son. Expect special guests Patrick Marr and Nick Pfeiler, Greenberg’s wistful country-meets-indie stylings and some guitar fi reworks. $12-$45, 9 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — MM

Jerry Cantrell

Whatever Alice in Chains guitarist and singer Jerry Cantrell needs to “Atone” for may be revealed on his tour away from the rest of the band. It’s been years since Cantrell has released any solo work, but he ended that 19-year hiatus with a new album last October. Support comes from other solo artists Lola Colette and Phillip-Michael Scales. $47.50-$150, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — BE

Saturday, April 23

The Wailers

If you’re wondering whether we mean those Wailers — you know, the ones who backed reggae legend Bob Marley — yes, we do. Even though the group’s primary claim to fame was supporting a true musical icon, its members have proven their talent and staying power. As evidence, the Wailers’ latest release, One World, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2021. Expect to spend an evening with reggae royalty. $35-$40, 9 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — EB

Circle Jerks, 7 Seconds, Negative Approach

Fans of the original wave of U.S. hardcore punk have no excuse for missing this one — not even the fact that it’s a sold-out show. (Scalpers suck, but sometimes you’ve just got to bite the bullet.) These three icons from punk’s early ’80s suburban uprising will ensure an evening of stagedives and circle pits at the Paper Tiger. Just watch out for the oldsters and pick ‘em up when they fall. Don’t want to risk any broken hips. Sold Out, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — Sanford

Nowlin

Eve 6

Alt-rock band Eve 6 had hit singles “Inside Out” and “Leech” in 1998 and even made the late-night rounds at that time, shaking hands with Jay Leno, David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel. They broke up after that promising run, but the law states that all rock bands must reunite. So, Eve 6 released the EP Grim Value in June of 2021 and publicly supported Neil Young earlier this year in his Joe Rogan-fueled feud with Spotify. $23-$89, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — MM

Tanner Usrey

Independent country-rock singer-songwriter Tanner Usrey has a busy schedule right now, having dates all over the Southwest through August. The Prosper, Texas native has racked up an impressive 2.5 million online streams, and his song “The Light” even popped up in Yellowstone’s fourth season fi nale, making him a Texas country artist to keep an eye on. $15, 8:30 p.m., Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, (210) 6958827, liveatfl oores.com. — Enrique Bonilla

Sunday, April 24

Citizen Cope

The handle of singer-songwriter Clarence Greenwood, Citizen

Saturday, April 30

Built to Spill

With a mix of simmering emotion, quirky songwriting and wide-open jamming reminiscent of Neil Young, Built to Spill emerged as one of the ’90s most revered indie-rock acts. Still led by singer-guitarist Doug Martsch, the trio has matured over the years sound-wise, but at the core, Built to Spill is still about dressing wistful and refl exive songs with impressive instrumental interplay. $25, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BE

Snow Tha Product

San Jose, California native Snow Tha Product has been carving out her name in the rap world for 15 years, starting with early mixtapes that landed her a deal with Atlantic Records. Along the way, she parted with the label to operate independently and received a 2021 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Rap/ Hip-Hop Song. Her next release is due to drop later this year, so expect to hear new material when she takes the stage in SA. $35, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com — EB

Built to Spill

Courtesy Photo / Built to Spill Ever thought, “Gee, I really want to hear some rock music performed by a former WWE star?” If the answer is yes, have at it, just don’t get close enough to the stage to wind up in a headlock. Fozzy arose from a collaboration between pro wrestler Chris Jericho — who, naturally, fronts the band — and Atlanta-based rap-metal act Stuck Mojo. Versatile guitarist John 5, whose resume includes work with Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth and more, will open. $30-$32, 7 p.m., Vibes Underground, 1211 E. Houston St., (210) 255-3833, facebook.com/ vibesunderground. — BE

Sunday, May 1

The Cult

Though they fi rst hit the ’80s scene as gothic post-punkers, Britain’s The Cult made their biggest splash when they embraced an AC/DC-infl uenced hard rock sound on 1987’s Electric, which produced the mega-hits “Love Removal Machine” and “Wild Flower.” The band continued riding high on 1989’s Sonic Temple — arguably a better record — which included the smash “Fire Woman.” Still fronted by Jim Morrison-esque fi gure Ian Astbury and his introspective foil, guitarist Billy Du y, the Cult dropped its most recent album Hidden City in 2016 but has been promising new music for a while. $55-$105, 8 p.m., Aztec Theater, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — MM

Monday, May 2

Smashing Pumpkins

Iconic ’90s rockers Smashing Pumpkins are fi nally resuming a series of road dates they started 11 days before the fi rst big COVID lockdown of 2020. As a bonus, the group’s San Antonio date will christen the city’s newest live music venue, the 3,200seat Tech Port Arena. So, what’s the expectation music-wise? The Pumpkins’ latest setlist is made up of songs from their 2020 release Cyr as well as a lot of early material the band hasn’t played since the mid ’90s, so expect some deep dives that may warrant seeking out a ticket on the secondary market. Sold Out, 6:30 p.m., Tech Port Arena, 3331 General Hudnell Drive, (210) 600-3699, techportcenter.com. — EB

Tuesday, May 3

Bob Log III

One-man band Bob Log III’s live schtick involves wearing a red, white and blue human-cannonball suit and helmet while singing through a telephone receiver and making a big racket with a slide and a resonator guitar. He does this while his feet keep the beat using a modifi ed percussion set. Expect Delta blues put through a garage rock fi lter and layered with loads of camp. $12-$15, 8 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 4550233, thelonesomerose.com. — EB

Custom SCREEN PRINTING

For Any Ocassion! Causes • Family Reunions • Band Merch Marketing • School Clubs • Fundraisers • Brands • Events • Runs

screen printing | graphic design | business packages | koozies | bags + more

contact us: sales@cr8original.com | cre8original.com | cr8original_screenprinting

La Regia Tortilla Factory, LLC is seeking a Corn Tortilla Manufacturing Line Supervisor in San Antonio, Texas to Confer with other departments including marketing, accounting, receiving, and shipping to coordinate operations and activities within departments including production goals. Review production line processes and procedures, including employee assignments and job duties in relation to utilized equipment, equipment maintenance, corn tortilla product preparation techniques, ingredient selections and product packaging. Select ingredients and combination techniques to better formulate corn tortilla products and expand product selection. Interpret specifi cations, incoming orders, and company policies and procedures for production line workers. Determine how best to structure the production line and adequately select and maintain the proper equipment and specialized machinery based on production needs. Assess labor and equipment requirements and production specifi cations and direct and coordinate the activities of employees in the corn tortilla production line. Conduct production line employee training on the functionality, proper handling/equipment operations, maintenance, sanitation, and safety procedures. Monitor and place orders for raw materials, supplies, equipment parts, and repair services as needed. Obtain and analyze data regarding corn tortilla factory equipment to better guide and advise management on equipment selection based on needs. Identify growth opportunities, including planning and developing new products and production processes. Ensure that fi nished products are consistently manufactured meeting prescribed standards and compliant with quality, safety, and good manufacturing practices, on time and meeting consumer expectations. Send resume via email to jose@laregiatortillafactory.com and reference job for Corn Tortilla Manufacturing Line Supervisor