San Antonio Current — June 29, 2022

THE PRIDE ISSUE: FROM BROWNSVILLE TO BALENCIAGA, QUEER ASIAN AMERICAN ART, RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE JUNE 29 - JULY 12, 2022

F R I D AY, A U G . 2 6 | W I T T E M U S E U M

Featured Distillers

HILL COUNTRY DISTILLING TRINITY RIVER DISTILLERY WILLIAM PRICE DISTILLING

LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SAWHISKEYBUSINESS.COM

SPONSORED BY sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

3

in this issue Issue 22-13 /// June 29 – July 12, 2022

in his personal and culinary life

Night and Day

South Presa Street’s three new bar additions offer differing takes on light and shade

Hot Dish

San Antonio Current

Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin General Manager: Chelsea Bourque

Editorial

Digital Content Editor: Kelly Nelson Contributing Arts Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Food and Nightlife Writer: Nina Rangel Staff Writer: Michael Karlis Contributors: Abe Asher, Ron Bechtol, Enrique Bonilla, Daniel Conrad, Macks Cook, Brianna Espinoza, Kiko Martinez, Mike McMahan, Dana Nichols, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney

Marketing and Events

35 Music

Fast Forward

Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Jess Haney talks about the band’s ‘surreal’ leap to success

Music Listings

Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Account Manager: Nathan Sokul Senior Account Executive: Mike Valdelamar Marketing and Events Coordinator: Julia Bentley Social Media Manager: Meradith Garcia

Creative Services

Creative Services Manager: Samantha Serna Production Interns: Pedro Macias, Marlene Mejia

Circulation

Circulation Manager: Justin Giles

Euclid Media Group

Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers: Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services: Stacy Volhein Director of Agency Services: Mindi Overman Digital Operations Coordinator: Jaime Monzon Vice Presidents of Marketing: Emily Tintera, Cassandra Yardeni www.euclidmediagroup.com

Marco Ovando

18 Feature

National Advertising: Voice Media Group (888) 278-9866, vmgadvertising.com

The One That Got Away

San Antonio showgirl Jorgeous won our hearts on Drag Race

08 News

The Opener News in Brief

Glitter Political

Climate Justice Activist DeeDee Belmares Envisions a Cleaner Future — With Pride

Current Events

Let Your Votes Channel Your Anger and Despair About the Roe v. Wade Ruling

14 Calendar Calendar Picks

18 Arts

From Brownsville to Balenciaga

South Texas non-binary model Fish Fiorucci seizes the moment

San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com Editorial: (210) 332-5448 Display Advertising: (210) 332-5448 Classified: (210) 227-CLAS / Fax - (210) 227-7733

A New Refrain

The San Antonio Symphony’s musicians are working to revive the orchestra —this time with a viable future

The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group THE PRIDE ISSUE: FROM BROWNSVILLE TO BALENCIAGA, QUEER ASIAN AMERICAN ART, RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE JUNE 29 - JULY 12, 2022

San Antonio Distribution – The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader.

Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval.

Event submissions are not accepted by phone.

Pushing Back at Preconceptions

The McNay’s exhibition of 5 queer, Asian American artists aims to shatter the ‘model minority’ stereotype

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.

29 Screens

Point of Pride

Texas-raised actor Zane Phillips offers queer take on Jane Austen character in Fire Island

31 Food

Food Truck Journey

Chef Ryan Rhys is all about change

Verified Audit Member

O

n the Cover: San Antonio-raised drag performer Jorgeous is headed back to her hometown for two summer shows. Photo: Marco Ovando.

Design: Pedro Macias.

Come see Tony Parker’s private pop culture and superhero statues from Hollywood’s biggest films.

Ok, and some villains too!

EXHIBITION OPEN DAILY TUESDAY–SUNDAY

Adjacent to the Pearl | 200 W Jones Ave www.samuseum.org sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

5

FULL-SERVICE MARKETING AGENCY. LOCAL ROOTS. NATIONAL REACH.

6

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

PROFESSIONALS

BUSINESSES

Work a shift

Post a shift

Use promo code SACURRENT and get a $100 bonus* after working your first shift!

Get your first shift free with promo code SACURRENT

*$100 bonus after first shift for first 100 Professionals who sign up with SACURRENT promo code. Limited time offer active in San Antonio only.

Don’t wait - sign up today!

Qwick.com | @QwickShifts sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

7

That Rocks/That Sucks

H

As was widely expected after the May leak of its draft ruling, the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court last week handed down a decision reversing nearly 50 years of legal precedent protecting the right to abortion. Under a law passed by the GOP-controlled Texas Legislature, all abortions — including those in cases of rape and incest — will be prohibited 30 days after the court’s formal ruling is released.

H

City council approved nearly $31 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to help San Antonio small businesses recover from the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

Of that total, $17 million will be distributed through direct grants to businesses. The grant application period opens August 1.

H

Gov. Greg Abbott’s latest immigrant-bashing stunt is racking up a hefty price tag for Texas taxpayers.

So far, the Republican governor has spent nearly $3 million to bus just 1,800 migrants from South Texas to Washington, D.C., according to the Daily Mail. Abbott argues the program is designed to force the Biden administration to toughen its border policies.

State Sen. Roland Gutierrez has sued the Texas Department of Public Safety to gain access to its records about the Uvalde school shooting. Gutierrez, whose district includes the South Texas city, filed the petition in Travis County District Court — arguing that DPS violated state law by refusing to grant him timely access. “The State of Texas failed these families and [they] deserve to know the complete, unalterable truth about what happened that day,” the suit reads. — Abe Asher

YOU SAID IT!

“The Supreme Court has sent this back to the states, and our state’s current governor has outlawed abortion beginning at conception with no exception for rape or incest. If you care about protecting a woman’s freedom to make her own decisions about her own body, health care and future, join this campaign and help us win.”

— Beto O’Rourke,

Find more news coverage every day at sacurrent.com

Democratic candidate for governor on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v.

Wade

ASSCLOWN ALERT

Calling the Uvalde police response an ‘abject failure’ doesn’t let DPS Director Steven McCraw off the hook Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.

Facebook / Texas Department of Public Safety

It would be hard to find anyone willing to disagree with Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw’s description of the police response to last month’s Uvalde school shooting as an “abject failure.” Phrases like “shit show,” “profound tragedy” and “national embarrassment” also come to mind.

But McCraw’s willingness to state the obvious in testimony last week before a Texas Senate committee doesn’t clear him from responsibility. Nor does the growing evidence suggesting Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo, the on-site commander, botched the response so badly it would be laughable had 19 children and two teachers not died.

No, there’s plenty of blame to go around.

While it’s a safe bet at least some will fall on McCraw before the dust clears, it’s hard to know precisely how much. He and his department have shown little interest in transparency around their handling of the shooting.

In the massacre’s aftermath, McCraw was a full-fledged participant in the bumbling game of “he said, she said” that prevented the public from fully understanding what transpired.

Within a week, DPS stopped holding public briefings after details shared by both McCraw

and Gov. Greg Abbott turned out to be wrong.

Indeed, McCraw’s Senate committee appearance didn’t take place until nearly a month after the shooting. Further, his explanation in testimony why the 91 DPS troopers at the scene didn’t take command from Arredondo sounded like a trite cop-out. In essence, McCraw’s excuse boiled down to this: violating procedure at a crime scene is a bad idea.

Even if means saving the lives of kids trapped in a classroom with a homicidal gunman? Give us a fucking break.

It’s telling that a day after McCraw’s testimony, State Sen. Roland Gutierrez sued DPS, demanding the release of information the lawmaker sought in a May 31 open records request about the police presence and ballistics at the crime scene.

McCraw’s department had 10 business days to respond or make a case to the AG’s office.

Gutierrez’s suit argues it did neither.

A word of advice to McCraw: just because you called someone else as an assclown in public testimony doesn’t mean there’s not greasepaint under the collar of your DPS uniform and a red rubber nose in your pocket. — Sanford Nowlin

A report released last week by a trio of environmental groups found that Texas leads the country in serious natural gas pipeline accidents such as fires and explosions. From 2010 through much of 2021, Texas experienced 287 such pipeline breaches — incidents that killed 14 people, left 87 injured, and accounted for more than $116 million in damages to communities. The report recommends that the U.S. reduce its reliance on methane gas.

Uvalde CISD Police Chief Pete Arredondo has been placed on leave as a storm of criticism swirls around the law-enforcement response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. Arredondo was one of the first officers to respond to the shooting, yet law enforcement took more than an hour before moving to confront the shooter. The school district won’t say whether Arredondo’s leave is paid or unpaid.

— Abe Asher

A bipartisan group of 13 Texas mayors, including San Antonio’s Ron Nirenberg, sent a letter last week to Gov. Greg Abbott calling for a special legislative session on gun violence in the wake of the Uvalde school massacre. The letter, also signed by Austin’s Steve Adler and Dallas’ Eric Johnson, asks that Abbott place reforms such as universal background checks and a red flag law on the legislative agenda.

Courtesy Photo Environment Texas Research and Policy Center, TexPIRG Education Fund, Frontier Group

TEAM

#PrideMonth

reminds us all that energy is for everyone, and comes from everyone. We celebrate the impact of the LGBTQ+ community in our workforce. Thank you for helping us serve San Antonio. cpsenergy.com sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

9

Diversity makes for a better cocktail party.

10

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

news GLITTER POLITICAL

Climate Justice Activist DeeDee Belmares Envisions a Cleaner Future — With Pride

BY JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA

I

’m sitting across from climate change activist DeeDee Belmares at Cake Thieves Bakery on the East Side as she reflects on the social changes she’s seen in the local queer community.

Our conversation unfolds two weeks into Pride Month, and Belmares, 52, is sharing her journey as an advocate for cleaner air.

True to her LGBTQ-activist roots, she’s wearing a rainbow-colored watch band. That prompts me to ask her what Pride Month means to her.

“Being able to do everything that I want and need to do, whether professionally or personally, as a queer mom, a queer partner, a queer activist,” she says. “Just being able to be myself.”

I ask Belmares what impact marriage equality had on her 22-year relationship when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015.

“Well, my partner and I have a 19-year-old son,” she explains. “We did all the legal preparation for ourselves prior to marriage equality. Once we did that [and] once marriage equality passed, it was like nothing changed.

We were still the same people we were before, and getting married wasn’t going to change that. I’m glad people are able to do that, but for us it wasn’t necessary for our relationship.”

Belmares is the former co-chair of the Community Alliance for a United San Antonio (CAUSA), the coalition that worked to get the 2013 non-discrimination ordinance passed.

“It was tough juggling work, the kid and activism, but we had to make time to get the NDO passed,” she says.

“That was actually my first step into the activist world.”

At a core level, why is it important to fight for equality?

“Because people are dying,” she replies, almost instantly. “People are fired. People are abused. People are getting murdered because of who they are. It’s a life and death situation for [LGBTQ+ people], I think.”

While there’s a season for activism, Belmares notes that there’s also a time to be a mother, a partner and a human.

For her, that time came shortly after the NDO was passed.

“I had to step back from the coalition because my dad was getting sick [and] my mother had just been diagnosed with dementia,” she says. “If you can’t take care of your own family, you can’t take care of everybody else. My parents were sick for a long time.”

In 2018, on one of her frequent trips to Port Aransas, Belmares made two life-changing observations.

“On the way to Corpus you see the refineries and all that smoke coming out. I’m at the beach and I see the wells outside on the ocean and tankers coming in and out of the harbor with LNG — liquid natural gas. I thought to myself, ‘This can’t possibly be good.’”

She continues: “Then, it was ... probably Trump’s first State of the Union address where he referred to coal as ‘beautiful and safe.’ Man, I just lost my shit! I was like, ‘What is he talking about? That is absolutely false, and dangerous, and deadly! A friend of mine worked for an organization called the Environmental Defense Fund. They were looking for a parttime organizer in San Antonio, and she was like, ‘You wanna come on board?’

I was like, ‘Hell, yeah I want to come on board.”

By coincidence, Belmares joined the movement on Earth Day 2018.

“At the time, it was getting San Antonio to pass the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. Also, this has been a very long-time struggle here in San Antonio [to get] CPS Energy to shut its last remaining coal plant,” she says. “That’s what it looked like at that time — and it still looks like that. The climate plan passed, but we’re still trying to get CPS Energy to shut its coal plant.”

Belmares — who’s a member of CPS Energy’s Rate Advisory Committee — explains that the city-owned utility is actively looking at alternatives to the

Jade Esteban Estrada

plant, which is one of the area’s biggest sources of air pollution.

I ask her what her vision is for San Antonio’s air.

“That it would be clean and breathable for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to pollution,” she says.

“That’s poor people, people without health insurance, children, the elderly, people with respiratory illnesses and asthma.”

Do you think this is going to happen in your lifetime?

She laughs.

“It has to,” she says. “I’m certainly going to keep fighting for it.”

Belmares is now a climate justice organizer for Public Citizen, a watchdog organization based in Washington, D.C. Given her deep involvement in environmental causes, I ask if she still considers herself an LGBTQ+ activist.

“I consider myself a climate justice activist who happens to be a queer,” she explains after a contemplative pause.

“Here in San Antonio, it’s the queer activists doing a lot of this heavy lift,” she adds of the climate-activist community. “I do believe that climate change is the overarching issue of our day. Climate change affects certain people, like Black and Brown communities, more. That coal plant is on the southern part of the city. It’s not in Stone Oak.” How does that make you feel?

“It hurts me, you know? I grew up on the South Side. My parents are buried at the cemetery right where that refin-

ery is at.”

Belmares attended St. Leo’s Catholic School, though she admits she’s no longer Catholic.

“I think the church is boring,” she says nonchalantly. “I got tired of praying for other people and nothing ever happened. I never used to pray for myself, really. I always used to pray for other people and things didn’t change, you know? I don’t think God hears prayer, or if there is a God, he’s not listening. The more I see things happen to children, the more I realize that we can only save ourselves.”

What would you tell a passionate, young activist just now joining the climate community?

“Take care of yourself. Take breaks.

Talk to everybody and keep on challenging power,” she says.

What have you learned about yourself through this work?

“That I’ve learned to work with different kinds of people,” she says. “I always thought in order to do this work, you have to work with people that you’re aligned with — like, politically, that only progressives will do this work.

And, by and large, that’s true … but I can’t discount that there are people out there who are not necessarily like you that care about the same issues.”

Finally, I ask her what she would tell a young person who’s experiencing Pride for the first time this year.

“Have fun! Enjoy it! Bring someone with you to do the same thing, because you could really be helping that person a lot.” sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

11

NLC

NVC

PAC

SPC

SAC

OPT INTO COLLEGE MADE FOR YOU The Alamo Colleges District offers clear, concise career pathways and makes support personal, with your own personal success team from start to finish.

We make learning accessible, with loaner laptops and no-cost textbooks. And we make transportation easy, with free bus passes.

You won’t just get a degree or certificate, but an in-demand skill set. Not just an education, but a learning experience that leads to a real career, all with flexible course schedules and affordable tuition.

That’s college made for you and your brightest future.

CALL 21-ALAMO AT ALAMO.EDU OR 12

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

news

Scalpsa.com

CURRENT EVENTS

Let Your Votes Channel Your Anger and Despair About the Roe v. Wade Ruling

BY SANFORD NOWLIN Current Events is column of opinion and analysis.

F

ollowing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to reverse decades of precedent protecting the right to abortion care, there’s a good chance you’re seething right now. Not just pissed, but probably feeling helpless and hopeless too.

Understandable. The court’s decision has shown it, in no uncertain terms, to be an instrument of minority rule — an institution stacked with ideologues bent on a far-right reshaping of the country.

It’s also clear the court’s extremist majority is unlikely to stop with the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Consider Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion in which he said he and his colleagues should next “reconsider” access to contraceptives and same-sex relationships and marriages.

Given what’s at stake, we cannot allow ourselves to become paralyzed by our rage and despair. We cannot be lulled into thinking we should disengage from our political system simply because it’s too broken to fix.

No. Now more than ever before, we must participate. Like we never have before. And before it’s too late.

While that participation can and may include volunteering for candidates, contributing monetarily to political campaigns or even running for public office, at the bare minimum, it must include voting and urging others to do so.

Our votes can’t reverse the course of the court, at least not in the short term.

However, they can, and should, send an irrefutable signal to politicians who favor minority rule that their time is up. If we can’t do that — and if can’t muster the courage to urge our friends and family members to do the same — the American experiment is doomed to failure.

As voters, we also must channel our anger and dissent not just in national

elections but in state and local contests. While it’s tempting to view the extreme right’s takeover of the U.S. as something playing out in the halls of Congress, the rot runs far deeper. It’s infected school boards, city offices and state legislatures.

Just look at the fascistic underpinnings of the Texas GOP’s newly adopted platform if you need further convincing that we must fight back in every election. Also remember that the election of a Republican district attorney could spell the difference between the most extreme enforcement of Texas’ abortion ban and a degree of protection for women’s bodily autonomy.

Perhaps the most compelling signal that voting works is in the palpable fear of those who embrace minority rule. The Republican Party’s full-court press for voter suppression in Texas and other red-controlled states reeks of their terror. They know they can’t hold power without it.

It’s time to become their worst fucking nightmare.

210.425.9169 sanantoniosmp@gmail.com

SCALP MICRO PIGMENTATION HAIR LOSS TREATMENT

#1 in San Antonio Tx For men & Women Free Consultations | Appointments Only

Thank you to our Press Club members

for keeping independent local journalism alive!

publisher

$ 5 0 / M O . O R $ 5 0 0 O N E - T I M E D O N AT I O N

Alfa Lopez Celeste Hernandez-Minick

Dustin Murders Jennifer Hussey

Letty Sonju Nancy Rogers

Editor

$ 2 0 / M O . O R $ 2 0 0 O N E - T I M E D O N AT I O N

Abbie Ward Alan Brown Amy Chang Anna Luna Bill Badger

Celia Davis Christopher Sy Dale Tessman David Rodriguez Dawn Soto

Howard Marnan Jaime Diedrich Jan Volz Javier Villanueva Jose Gallardo

Beat Reporter

Judi Pianta Lolita Soto Nick Banda Patricia Gilmore Patrick Shearer

Randy Beamer Richard Wells Sean Wood Tanya Clark Teresa Garcia

$ 5 / M O O R $ 5 0 O N E - T I M E D O N AT I O N Adriana Vargas Allison Boerger Alyssa Montes Amber Hoey-Paul Amena Leauvano Anavel Gonzales Andrew Casillas Andrew Quiroga Angela Martinez Anna Hoelting Areetha Carter Aubree Hoffman Becky Hudson Bianca Alberty Bianca Flores Brad Johnson Brad Randle Brian Buster Carol Pope Cathey Ambush Cecily Pretty

Jaime Monzon

Charla Davies Christina Cragg Craig Yugawa Cynthia Munoz Daisy Torrance Dan Yoxall Danica Murillo Daniel Kleffner Daniel Conrad Debra Cobb Desiree Martinez Diamond Eskridge Diana Blinn Diva Eytch Doug Creedon Elizabeth Farrell Elizabeth Parlato Emile Huggins Erin Baker Evan Barbosa Evan Hansen

Frank Brigante Gail Newberg Gale Mccommons Gavin Wood Greg Harman Haleigh Pena Hunter Warren Ira Babb Isidro Herrera Jan Piedad Jana Gray Jane Henry Janice Diehm Jason Davis Jen Wan Jena Wendel Jennifer Gonzalez Jerico Magallanes Jessica Ramirez Joe Kreidel John Bellett

Jonathan Stevens Joseph Yakubik Joyce Raposo Katharine Martin Katherine Diana Kathy Keevan Katie Jarl Kayla Beltran Keneth Kanagaki Kim Johnson Kimberly Gibson Kindel Hollis Kristian Persson Kurt Bergo Laura Barberena Laura Jesse Laura Barberena,Ph.D. Lea Svoboda Linda Perez Linda Suttner Linda Grace Solis

Lindsey Dodd Gooch Lisa Ayres Liz Hollingsworth Loren Busta Lori Moye Madeline Mccollom Mae Escobar Mags Jesse Manuel Ayala Manuel Iruegas III Marilyn Mitchell-Chapman Marina Uriegas Marina Alderete Gavito Marissa Cardenas Mary Monroe Mary Briscoe-Cushman Melissa Benavidez Melvin Rose Michael Johnson Michael Silvas Micheal Acovio

Mindi Overman Miriam Flores Misty Downing Monica Velasquez Neff Hudson Nicholas Tamsma Nicole Foy Norma Arriola Norma Jean Garza Patrick Pringle Philip Tchou Priscilla Mejia Rachel Hegedus Reid Hackney Ricardo Gonzalez Richard Halter Richard Arredondo Robert Reese Robert L Macnaughton Roberto Alonzo Robin Overbay

Rudi Harst Samuel Shreve Sarah Erickson Shannon Carr Stephanie Plaza Suellen Ehrmann Theresa Fossier Tom Rademacher Travis Poling Vicki Hannigan Victoria Martinez Wade Cruse Wayne Owens William Perdue William Patry

Join the San Antonio Press Club at sacurrent.com/sanantonio/SupportLocalJournalism today. sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

13

FRI | 07.01 SUN | 07.03

ic flair to one of downtown’s busiest tourist attractions. The event features an array of floats dedicated to people in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and launches from the International Center at 203 S. St. Mary’s St. The approximately 40-minute parade will make a loop,

COMEDY

returning to its starting place by noon. For those who want to scout out

MARK CURRY

the ideal spot, a full route map is available on the River Walk website.

Comedian Mark Curry, best known for his lead role on the 1990s ABC

Those with deceased loved ones who served in the armed forces also

sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, is hitting center stage at the Laugh

may submit their names to the Armed Forces River Parade’s Military

Out Loud Comedy Club for five performances. After starting his career

Remembrance Project via the website to have those veterans commem-

as a host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo, the funnyman landed slots on

orated on a float in the parade. Free, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., San Antonio River

series including An Evening at the Improv, Living Single, Martin, The Jamie

Walk, (210) 227-4262, thesanantonioriverwalk.com. — Macks Cook

Foxx Show and The Drew Carey Show. Most recently, Curry has starred

SAT | 07.02 + SAT | 07.09

in the Netflix series Family Reunion and in the Bounce TV sitcom In the Cut, about a barbershop owner and his estranged son. Last year, a video of Curry made the rounds on social media when an LA reporter interviewed him at a filling station about rising gas prices and didn’t know who he was. Social media users poked fun at her for referring to

FI LM

Curry as “this LA driver.” One local radio station joined in the ridicule, tweeting, “The news didn’t realize they were hanging with Mr. Cooper.”

GOLDENEYE AND SKYFALL

$60-$160, 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday,

Slab Cinema’s Six of 007 outdoor movie series of James Bond flicks is

7:30 p.m. Sunday, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, (210)

extending the iconic British agent’s exploits into July. Next up: 1995’s

541-8805, improvtx.com/sanantonio. — Kiko Martinez

GoldenEye (July 2) and 2012’s Skyfall (July 9). GoldenEye marked the first

Courtesy Photo / France Dubois

artist chronicles the presence of American soldiers in his hometown of Heidelberg, Germany. Rounding out the exhibitions is “The Other Side,” a group show featuring a selection of films by artists Faezeh Nikoozad, Aki Pao-Chen Chiu, Breech Asher Harani and Fumiko Kikuchi. The films were selected from Darmstadt Sezession’s 2021 prize shortlist and explore themes of change, transitions and morality. Free, 6-9 p.m., Friday July 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through Oct. 9, Blue Star Contemporary, 116 Blue Star, (210) 227-6960, bluestarcontemporary.org. — Ashley Allen

SAT | 07.02 SPECIAL EVEN T

ARMED FORCES RIVER PARADE As one of the largest parades presented annually along the River Walk, the Armed Forces River Parade brings a July 4-appropriate patriot-

Courtesy Photo / LOL Comedy Club

FRI | 07.01 SUN | 10.09

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

time Pierce Brosnan played Bond in the franchise. Brosnan was the fifth actor to portray the super spy since 1962 and made four movies during his run. Directed by Martin Campbell (Edge of Darkness), the

ART

film follows Bond on a mission to stop a Russian crime syndicate from

‘FAKE PLASTIC FOREST,’ ‘DE AMI’ AND ‘THE OTHER SIDE’

using a space-based weapons program. Sean Bean (Games of Thrones) plays Alec Trevelyan, the film’s primary villain, a spy once known as

Blue Star Contemporary is debuting three new exhibitions on First

Agent 006 who faked his death and betrays his agency. GoldenEye also

Friday that examine a diversity of themes. The work of photographers

was the first Bond film to feature an actress, Judi Dench, in the role of

and lens-based artists France Dubois, Annette Isham, Işık Kaya and

M, the head of MI6. Skyfall is the third of five movies in which Daniel

Leigh Merrill has been collected in the group show “Fake Plastic Forest,”

Craig, who followed Brosnan, portrayed Bond. Directed by Academy

which explores human interactions with nature. The artists explore

Award-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes (American Beauty), the feature

themes of artifice, theatricality, truth, fiction and healing within the

follows Bond on the heels of an ex-MI6 operative-turned-cyberterrorist

context of humans’ relationship to and impact on the environment.

named Raoul Silva, played by Academy Award-winning actor Javier

Andreas Till’s solo exhibition “De Ami,” meanwhile, explores the rela-

Bardem (No Country for Old Men). The screenings are family-friendly

tionship between Americans and Germans between the years of 1945

events, so, sorry, no shaken martinis will be served. Free, 8 p.m., Hemis-

and 2013. Utilizing found footage material from various archives, the

14

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Courtesy Photo / Visit San Antonio

fair, 434 S. Alamo St., (210) 709-4750, hemisfair.org. — KM

calendar

Oscar Moreno

MON | 07.04 SPECIAL EVENT

H-E-B FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

H-E-B and the San Antonio Parks Foundation welcome San Antonio residents and visitors to bid happy birthday to the United States at their annual Fourth of July Celebration at Woodlawn Park Lake. The beloved local tradition will include carnival games, live music by the U.S. Air Force Band of the West and DJ Plata plus a fireworks show above the lake to bring the festivities to a close. Local food trucks and vendors will be scattered across the park grounds, serving up barbecue, burgers, hot dogs, tacos, aguas frescas and snow cones to fuel the family-friendly fun. Fitness fanatics can get their blood pumping at free water aerobics and Zumba classes before the gathering. The start times are 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively. Activities will predominantly take place outdoors, so attendees should bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating, reusable water bottles, plenty of sunscreen and trash bags to help keep the park clean. Free, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday, Jul. 4, Woodlawn Lake Park, 1103 Cincinnati Ave., (210) 207-7275, saparksfoundation.org. — Caroline WolFF

TUE | 07.05 SUN | 07.10 TH EATER

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spiritual rock opera phenomenon Jesus Christ Superstar will stop in San Antonio for six days as part of its 50th Anniversary Tour. Winner of the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival, Jesus Christ Superstar recounts the last seven days of Jesus’ life through the perspective of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Known for its invigorating soundtrack, the musical takes audiences on a riveting journey through complex character psychology as Judas grapples with anger, envy and fear in his decision to betray Jesus. Despite its historical setting, the production is full of contemporary influences, including ’70s-era music and dance moves and the use of present-day colloquialisms.

The approach broke ground in the early ’70s by merging the seemingly disparate realms of musical theater with amplified rock. While that made Jesus Christ Superstar controversial with some Christian groups, it also helped it become one of the era’s longest-running and top-grossing musicals. $40-$480, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — CW Matthew Murphy, Evan Zimmerman - MurphyMade

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.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

NOVEMBER 15

MAJESTICEMPIRE.COM

AT&T Center: 1 AT&T Center Parkway San Antonio, Tx 78219 For tickets visit ATTCenter.com/Events 16

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

calendar FRI | 07.08 FI LM

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Tobin Center’s free outdoor screening of Bryan Singer’s 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody may have some viewers rocking in their lawn chairs and dancing atop their blankets. The invigorating musical drama tells the story of Queen frontman Freddy Mercury, one of rock’s most beloved and groundbreaking entertainers, charting his humble beginnings to his time leading one of the 1970s’ biggest bands. July makes the perfect month to experience or revisit Bohemian Rhapsody since the month marks the 37th anniversary of Queen’s iconic Live Aid performance. If the band’s tunes alone aren’t enough to woo viewers to the free showing, Rami Malek’s controversial and fascinating performance as Mercury is worth checking out. Just look at those teeth! Free, 8 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — MC

Courtesy Photo / Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

TUE | 07.12 SPECIAL EVEN T

THE MASKED SINGER

SUN | 07.10

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

If you’re now wondering aloud, “Isn’t this the show that featured Rudy Guiliani in disguise?” the answer is: yes! That’s right, the campy TV sensation is headed straight from your living room to the stage. The Masked Singer’s premise is pretty fricking simple, so try to stay with us here.

There are singers — in masks, of course — and panelists try to guess their identities via a series of clues. The live production will be hosted by British singer Natasha Bedingfield, who appeared on the show as “Pepper” and had the massive hit “Unwritten” in the mid-’00s. Each stop of the tour features a local “mystery celebrity” who will be unmasked at the end of the evening. The TV show, which originated in South Korea, recently was renewed for an eighth season that’s set to kick off in September. No official word on whether “America’s Mayor” will be present for the live show, but given his current woes, we’d guess he’s got other things on the top of his priority list. $49.50-$510, 7:30 p.m., Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — Mike McMahan

lead role but also made his directorial debut with the picture. Adapted

cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will

from the 1988 novel of the same name by Michael Blake, the film was

do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in

selected in 2007 for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry at

a statement. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome

The winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best

the Library of Congress. Along with Costner’s performance earning an

of the investigation, whatever they are. I love this company and am

Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, the 1990 Western drama Dances

Academy Award nomination, his co-stars also received Oscars nods —

committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen

With Wolves stars Kevin Costner as Union Army Lieutenant John J.

Mary McDonnell for Best Supporting Actress and Graham Greene for

our culture and our Company.” As of press time, McMahon’s daughter,

Dunbar, who’s sent to a remote Civil War outpost where he befriends

Best Supporting Actor. Greene played Kicking Bird, the tribe’s medicine

Stephanie, has taken over as interim chair and CEO. $20-$550, 6:30 p.m.,

a group of Native Americans known as the Lakota people. Costner,

man. Some critics lambasted the film for its handling of the Lakota

AT&T Center, One AT&T Center, (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com. — KM

who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, not only starred in the

language, while others labeled it as a “white savior” film. Even so, it led

FI LM

DANCES WITH WOLVES

the Lakota Nation to adopt Costner as an honorary member. $6-$12, 1 p.m., Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St., (210) 299-4499, briscoemuseum.org. — KM

MON | 07.11 SPECIAL EVEN T

WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW Cody Rhodes, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro, Rey Mysterio, Damian Priest, Bobby Lashlet and other superstars will enter the ring for an episode of the pro-wrestling TV series WWE Monday Night Raw. The stop at the AT&T Center comes at a curious time for the WWE brand after CEO Vince McMahon recently stepped down from his top position following a misconduct scandal in mid-June. The WWE’s board is investigating an allegation that McMahon paid a former female employee $3 million to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

stay mum about an affair he had with her. “I have pledged my complete

Courtesy Photo / AT&T Center

sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

17

Julián P. Ledezma

The One That Got Away

San Antonio showgirl Jorgeous won our hearts on Drag Race

BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

A

s a flamboyant child growing up in San Antonio, Jorge Meza idolized game-changing drag queen RuPaul, often danced in front of the television and even performing choreographed routines during family parties.

As a fiercely determined teen, Meza crafted the sultry drag persona Jorgeous — pronounced Georgeous — in the vein of fierce Latina divas including Selena, Jennifer Lopez and Chi-Chi Rodriguez, the latter portrayed by John Leguizamo in the 1995 classic To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. With her parents acting as chaperones, Jorgeous made her big debut at the bygone local gay club Babio’s at the ripe old age of 16 — a nightlife feat that rubbed some old queens the wrong way.

“A lot of people were jealous,” explained photographer Julián P. Ledezma, a Current contributor who tirelessly documents the San Antonio drag scene.

“A lot of people were jealous of Ada Vox as well,” he continued, referencing the singing San Antonio drag queen who competed on both American Idol and Queen of the Universe. After seeing Jorgeous perform at Babio’s in 2017, Ledezma tapped her to perform at his Emerald Ball — an annual fundraiser benefiting

18

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Photographer Julián P. Ledezma captured San Antonio-born drag performer Jorgeous in 2017 at age 16.

M

Entering Season 14 as a self-billed “Tex-Mex Latina showgirl” who “might be small but packs a big Pride Center San Antonio. punch,” Jorgeous already had a substantial social Although now based in Nashville, the 22-year-old media presence. Building on her early start in San Anperformer still draws creative inspiration from her tonio, she became a Nashville club fixture and even hometown and proudly celebrated her South Texas landed on a 2020 billboard for Virgin Hotels. roots as a magnetic and candid contestant on Season “I’m already starstruck because I’ve followed 14 of reality competition show Jorgeous for a very long time,” New RuPaul’s Drag Race. She’s also poised York-based Season 14 contestant Rey Lopez Entertainment for a summer homecoming with July Jasmine Kennedie confessed to Drag presents performances booked at San AntoRace producers. nio’s Bonham Exchange and Majestic Chicago oddball Daya Betty echoed Theatre. that sentiment, admitting to Jor$20-$25 During the introductory episode geous, “My boyfriend is obsessed with 10:30 p.m. and midnight of her season of Drag Race, Jorgeous you. I’m pretty sure that you’re his Thursday, July 14 Bonham Exchange described her drag style as “very favorite drag queen.”

411 Bonham St. | (210) 386-4537 Tex-Mex. … You’re going to catch It wasn’t until the fifth episode facebook.com/reylopezentertainment this look from the West Side of San that Jorgeous landed in the bottom Antonio, Texas.” and got tasked with lip-synching The geographic cues in her fashion “for her life” in an elimination round. choices weren’t lost on Drag Race judge Carson KressFacing off against Grand Rapids-based Orion Story ley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), who amusingly in a battle over Ava Max’s dance track “My Head & exclaimed “San Antoni-ho” as Jorgeous strutted onto My Heart,” Jorgeous took no prisoners and slayed her the runway. competition with ease. Ironically, the two performers had a fondness for one another and struck up a little behind-the-scenes “showmance,” although “no lips Lip-synch assassin

Jorgeous

arts

were touched.” several cast members teased Jorgeous for not That tense moment marked Jorgeous’ arriv- returning texts and being incredibly hard to al on Drag Race since it showcased her biggest reach. assets: an electric stage presence, killer danc“I’m so booked and busy, I don’t know what ing skills and undeniable lip-synch prowess y’all want me to do!” she responded.

— complete with emotive expressions and Atlanta-based finalist Angeria Paris Vanintense eye contact.

Michaels put the situation in a nutshell: “To On the following episode, Jorgeous won be fair, it would be easier to get in touch with the “Glamazon Prime” the president than Jorgeous.” maxi-challenge by crafting What’s been keeping her so a sexy dress from castoff busy? As it turns out, lots of Werk the World materials including a curfun stuff.

Tour tain, a pillowcase, cookie In March Jorgeous was $49.50-$79.50 cutters and a piece of a among the Drag Race stars 7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 17 kiddie pool. hand-picked to perform in Majestic Theatre That may have been her tribute to her idol Jennifer 224 E. Houston St. (210) 226-3333 only official win, but our Lopez when the singer and majesticempire.com hometown girl scored big actress was honored with an in other ways, earning a Icon Award at the iHeartRadio rare blessing from Mother Music Awards.

Ru — “You were born to do drag” — and scorAnd in April, she joined Drag Race alumni ing significant screen time via four additional Jaida Essence Hall, Lady Camden, Yvie Oddly, lip-synchs for a Drag Race record of five. Those Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and others on the Eurothoroughly enjoyable performances earned pean leg of the Werk the World Tour, which Jorgeous the unofficial title of the “lip-synch made stops in Milan, Paris, London, Berlin assassin” of Season 14. and 20 other cities.

Gretchen Wieners may not have been Somehow along the way, she managed able to make “fetch” work in Mean Girls, but to squeeze in filming a Pride-themed comJorgeous got her catch phrase “hello-tis” to mercial for the cannabis-infused beverage stick on Drag Race — judge Michelle Visage Cann alongside Olympian Gus Kenworthy even repeated it to an auditorium full of fans and actors Sarah Michelle Gellar and Patricia during the “Reunited” episode. She also inArquette. Drag Race Season 14 castmates Kerri spired copycats with a signature dance move Colby, Willow Pill and Kornbread “The Snack” she calls “Punching the Ghost.” Google it and Jeté also appeared in the spot. you’ll find a video of her Season 14 castmates Given that busy schedule, it took us nearly a doing their imitations. month to get the San Antonio-born starlet on Although she struggled with acting and the phone to chat about her early club days, comedy challenges, Jorgeous was humble and her turn on Drag Race and her upcoming honest about her shortcomings. As fans of performances at the Bonham Exchange (July the show may tell you, dropping your guard 14) and the Majestic Theatre (July 17). and being yourself can go a long way on Drag Race, especially when it comes to fandom.

During a poignant moment on the backstage spinoff series Untucked, Jorgeous bared her soul, expressing self-doubt and frustration about her performance on the show. After a full-on sobfest, the Drag Race producers surprised Jorgeous with a well-timed video call from her incredibly supportive family back in San Antonio.

For all the layers of artifice and attitude that surround drag, that moment reminded viewers that Drag Race contestants are real people with real feelings — feelings that are amplified under the pressures of the show and the isolation it demands.

Following the unlucky 13th episode that triggered her departure in a double elimination alongside Fresno-based competitor DeJa Skye, Jorgeous appeared relieved to be homebound. The candor that made her so endearing throughout the show culminated in an enthusiastic and entirely relatable quote: “I’m going to smoke a fat-ass blunt!”

Let’s start by rewinding to your early drag days in San Antonio and performing at Babio’s. What was that experience like for you as such a young performer?

Oh my god, that experience for me — for me being so young — was just a dream come true. Ever since I was younger, I watched To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, watched Selena, and I wanted to be able to perform on stage and live my dream. And I wanted to see where else it could take me.

And sure enough, it took me all the way to RuPaul’s Drag Race.

And your parents would actually go with you to the club?

My entire family would go with me to the club — like my tía, my grandma, my brothers would both go see me — and make sure I wasn’t getting into trouble. The only way I was able to perform was because of them being there. I wouldn’t honestly be able to do what I do today without my parents letting me do that.

That sounds a little nerve-wracking to have your whole family watching you perform in a club.

You know, when I was younger, I would dance at our family parties and stuff, so it was like second nature.

And you taught yourself to dance?

Yes, I did! I would watch Britney Spears’ music videos and try to copy what she was doing.

Post-Drag Race, Jorgeous set off on the European leg of the Werk the World Tour.

q

Life after Drag Race During the Season 14 reunion special,

Marco Ovando

Find more arts coverage every day at sacurrent.com

improvtx.com/sanantonio | 618 Nw Loop 410, SaN ANTONIO, TX 78216 | 210•541•8805

20

JULY 1-3

JULY 6

JULY 8-10

Mark Curry

Hans Kim

Nathan Macintosh

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

JULY

JULY 29-31

Anjelah

Jason Banks

14-16 & 21-24

Johnson-Reyes

arts

All because of Britney, I know how to dance now.

What was the response like from the other queens? Did you feel supported by the San Antonio drag community?

Well Kristi Waters was my first ever drag mother — I was Jorgeous Waters at one point. I had asked Kristi if I could perform and she was like, “How old are you?”

And I said “16.” And she was like, “We’re going to have to talk to the manager.” Ever since then, she took me under her wing. Other than Kristi, some of the other San Antonio queens did not like the fact that I was performing at a bar at such a young age.

I’ve heard rumors about jealous queens calling the cops.

Exactly, yes. I had to stop performing for like two or three months, and that was the most depressing thing. They called TABC, they turned off the music, they would turn on the lights, and were basically telling everybody to get out. It would be like a weekly inspection. It was crazy, crazy, crazy. So, I was like, I cannot wait until I turn 21, so I don’t have to worry about this shit. It was kind of scary. (Laughs.)

Even though you live in Nashville now, I’m sure you know that San Antonio claims you as one of its own. What would you wear in a runway challenge designed to celebrate your hometown?

Oh my god. I’d probably do something kind of folklórico-style, or even something inspired by Selena.

Obviously, a red lip — you already know — and my hair would be a slicked-back high bun.

When you were describing your style on the “Meet the Queens” episode, you used the slang term chunti. How would you translate that to someone outside of South Texas?

That’s crazy because when I said chunti, everybody in South Texas knew what I was talking about — that felt so good. But the people that don’t understand chunti, it’s like this little Latina ’hood girl, you know, eating Hot Cheetos, drinking a Capri Sun or Big Red.

Marco Ovando

drag. And I kept on failing, failing, failing. I was like, “What could I do differently?” And seeing my family in that video, it just gave me a boost and inspired me so much. It reminded me of why I was there in the competition.

You also had everyone rallying around you. It was one of those moments that really illustrates the whole “sisterhood” aspect of Drag Race.

Like flea market chic?

Yes, flea market chic down.

Yes, absolutely. A lot of the girls were there for me when I did have my little meltdowns on the show, and I appreciate all those girls so much.

What is the origin of your catch phrase hello-tis?

Does it have anything to do with the San Antonio suburb of Helotes?

Your “Glamazon Prime” challenge win was pretty epic. Who are some of your favorite designers and style icons?

Well, when I started doing drag, me and my girlfriends would be backstage, and I would walk in and say, “Hello-tis!” And that kind of stuck. But it is from that neighborhood of Helotes, Texas. A lot of people have asked me what it means or where I got it from.

I’m like, “It’s a city in Texas!”

I totally teared up on the episode of Untucked when you got the call from your family. Can you give us snapshot of how you were feeling before and after that call from home?

Before that call that I got from home, I was honestly feeling so defeated in what I was doing on Drag Race.

I don’t know, just the way I kept on embarrassing myself. It made me question a lot about what I did in

I love Versace. Versace down. And now that I have that Ru-girl money, I can get me some Versace! I live for Versace. I live for Godoy. She lives in California.

And also Michael Brambila and this other [designer] named Cazias. They helped me a lot throughout the entire show, and I would not have been able to do it without them.

Has anything topped your iHeartRadio gig with J.Lo?

Honestly that was so amazing. I think that’s one of the highest points of my whole entire career. Because J.Lo’s someone that I look up to and I remember being in the prayer circle [before the performance] and I wasn’t even praying. I was just looking at J.Lo the

entire time and I just started bawling. [I was thinking] like, wow, I made it.

Did you get any face-to-face time with her?

When we were rehearsing, she was watching us and giving us pointers on what we should do. She wanted her show to be one of the best things ever. It was so important to her. And she wanted everyone to feel good doing it. She’s a beautiful person.

Can you give us any teasers for your Bonham show? And is Werk the World going to be different in the U.S. than it was in Europe?

My number for Werk the World is going to be redone entirely. My number’s going to be a different vibe, and it has a little bit to do with weed — of course.

I cannot wait to go back home to see my people because it’s been a long time since I’ve seen people in Texas. And I already know when I go, it’s gonna be lit — it’s gonna be crazy.

What else do you want to do while you’re here?

Honestly, I want to get me some Bill Miller’s. I need some Bill Miller’s, girl!

No Tex-Mex?

Obviously, some Taco Cabana down.

What’s your order gonna be at Taco Cabana?

Oh my god, a fajita taco and some rice and a Big Red. sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

21

22

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

arts From Brownsville to Balenciaga South Texas non-binary model Fish Fiorucci seizes the moment

BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

T

he word “model” may conjure visions of physical “perfection” — a statuesque creature with chiseled features and zero body fat.

But the last decade has marked a shift in the notoriously exclusive fashion and modeling industries.

More people of color, plus-size models, trans and non-binary individuals and nontraditional beauties are appearing in fashion shows, editorials and ad campaigns. As many critics and watchdogs will remind us, it’s not enough, but it’s a start.

Through work in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and back home in Brownsville, self-described “non-binary supermodel” Fish Fiorucci factors into this shift in more ways than one.

Growing up in South Texas, Fiorucci — who uses they/them pronouns — was regularly picked on by kids who told them they “looked like a fish.”

“I hated that word for so long, and it made me feel bad about how my face looked,” Fiorucci told the Current. “I always had a weird appearance growing up [and] didn’t grow into my body until my late teens.”

Those adolescent experiences inspired the moniker Fish Fiorucci, which marries that reclaimed insult with the poppy Italian fashion label Fiorucci.

San Antonio start Armed with otherworldly style and a keen understanding of walking — they even coached Miss Brownsville and Miss McAllen, among other teen queens — Fiorucci began navigating San Antonio fashion circles as a teen.

“I spent so much time in San Antonio in my early years of modeling,” Fiorucci recalled. “That was actually where I got my break into the industry. I started attending Fashion Week San Antonio probably at age 16. I would beg my parents to let me go up there … and just try to get my foot in the door.”

That led to Fiorucci assisting stylists, collaborating with the multimedia collective Essentials Creative and cutting their teeth on local designer Agosto Cuellar’s Runway en la Calle during Una Noche en la Gloria.

“I think the first time I ever walked in heels was at Runway en la Calle,” said Fiorucci, who has since mastered the task. One collaboration with Cuellar involved giving Fiorucci a slightly alien look by bleaching their eyebrows.

“That was the first time I ever bleached my eyebrows,” they said. “And the first time I kind of migrated to where I am now today — with no eyebrows

Essentials Creative (left), Courtesy Photo / Fish Fiorucci (middle and right).

[laughs]. I definitely had a start in San Antonio … in terms of gender identity and playing this non-binary, genderless role in fashion.”

Niche agency That genderless role has attracted major attention over the past few years.

In 2019, they were among the diverse talent tapped to star alongside Lady Gaga in the premier ad campaign for her cosmetics line Haus Labs — a gig that entailed flying to Los Angeles and working with Mother Monster herself for four days.

Fittingly, avant-garde fashion designers celebrating gender fluidity have gravitated to Fiorucci, who’s walked in shows for Luar, Palomo Spain and Charles Jeffrey Loverboy.

As an extension of their modeling work, Fiorucci also runs F10 — a niche agency that represents emerging models and boasts a broad network of collaborators.

“I [represent] non-binary people, trans people, straight men, queer women,” Fiorucci said. “It’s a wide range of people, but they’re all POC.”

New look A diehard chameleon, Fiorucci says they’ve “been through every look,” but settled on one last year that took their career to new heights.

“I spent two years growing out my hair and it was really curly,” Fiorucci recounted. “I knew if I got a straight perm that I would have the long luscious hair I’ve always wanted. (Laughs.) So, I got a straight perm, but it wasn’t giving the kind of energy that I wanted it to give. [I wanted] a look that you’d find more on female models — and just went for the bangs.”

As wacky as it might sound, Fiorucci believes those bangs helped pique the interest of Demna — creative director of Balenciaga, founder of Vetements and one of the most influential people in fashion today.

“I had my agent [Joseph Charles Viola] submitting me to Balenciaga for like three years,” Fiorucci said.

“It wasn’t until I got bangs [that] I finally hit the right look and got a response back from them. And this was a direct booking — no casting, meetings, anything like that. … They were on my agent’s ass about just flying me out to Paris for the show.”

That Fall/Winter 2022 show turned out to be

Fiorucci photographed by Essentials Creative (left); with Euphoria star Alexa Demie at Balenciaga in Paris; at the New York Stock Exchange show.

M

among the most talked-about spectacles of the season. In a glass rotunda resembling an epic snowglobe, models battled wind machines and artificial snow while trudging through ice, some carrying totes resembling garbage bags. A dramatic gesture addressing the atrocities of the Ukraine-Russia War, the show also referenced Demna’s family escaping war in Abkhazia, Georgia in 1993 when the designer was just 10 years old.

Hardest runaway There’s often a defiant bent to Balenciaga shows, and the “snowstorm” only upped the ante.

“The kind of excitement that Balenciaga brings to the runway is something you can’t prepare for,” Fiorucci explained. “They had rehearsals with the wind going at a certain speed but the day of the runway they cranked that shit up — and they didn’t tell us! That was the hardest runway I’ve ever walked on before.”

Three months later, Fiorucci was handed an entirely different challenge during Balenciaga’s 2023 Resort Collection show. Wearing a black suit and a latex mask fit for a fetish club, Fiorucci stomped through the New York Stock Exchange in front of a high-profile audience that included Kanye West, Megan Thee Stallion and New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

“I had to learn how to deal with my anxiety when I wear stuff like that with no breathing room,” Fiorucci said.

Balenciaga storming the Stock Exchange with an ominous procession — on a Sunday morning, no less — naturally got the internet in a tizzy. Once again, that placed Fiorucci in the middle of one of the buzziest fashion conversations of 2022.

“It’s rare that you see bigger brands casting trans folks and non-binary folks,” Fiorucci said about their work with Balenciaga. “So, I’m really happy that this was the beginning of a breakthrough in my career — and for it to be respecting my identity in the way that I want it to be respected. So that feels like an accomplishment to me.” sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

23

400+ Beers. 100+ Breweries. 1 Glorious Day.

SATURDAY

starts at 12:00pm*

Last Call for VIP Tickets!

Crockett Park

event ENDs 6:30 PM

sanantoniobeerfestival.com

OCT. 15, 2022 vip | GA+ | GA 24

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Tickets on sale now at

benefiting

arts A New Refrain

The San Antonio Symphony’s musicians are working to revive the orchestra — this time with a viable future

BY ABE ASHER

W

hen the Symphony Society of San Antonio announced in mid-June that it was shuttering the city’s professional orchestra after a nine-month labor dispute, it was a watershed moment. The San Antonio Symphony had entertained, educated and enlightened the community for 83 years.

But the musicians and their supporters are adamant that management’s action doesn’t spell the end of elite orchestral music in San Antonio. The move, they argue, frees the city to build a new, more sustainable organization.

“That’s a decision by a group of people, but they cannot wipe out history, legacy, and heritage,” said Sebastian Lang-Lessing, the orchestra’s former music director, of the Symphony Society’s decision. “They cannot. And they shouldn’t. It’s basically just a name game.”

The unionized musicians called their strike last year, resisting drastic proposed cuts that they say would have destroyed the symphony anyway. Those included moving from 72 full-time positions to just 42, eliminating four positions and converting 26 more to part-time.

The two sides entered a federal mediation process designed to end the strike, but the musicians walked away in early May, citing management’s inflexibility.

A month-and-a-half later, the Symphony Society said it was dissolving the orchestra and filing for bankruptcy.

In a statement, the Symphony Society wrote the decision was based on a “unanimous vote” of the Board of Directors, though Musicians of the San Antonio Symphony (MOSAS) chair Mary Ellen Goree said the three musicians who sat on the board had been excluded from meetings for months and weren’t consulted on the matter.

Goree called the dissolution a “a very sad end to a very proud organization,” adding that her preference — which she stated in a communication to the Symphony Society — was that the Board of Directors be dissolved but the symphony itself left intact.

That didn’t happen. However, the upside, as far as the musicians and their allies are concerned, is that their nearly year-long standstill with the Symphony Society is now over.

“It was clear from the beginning that there was no way we could reach an agreement that they would accept that would allow for a fully professional orchestra in San Antonio,” Goree said. “We could not agree to anything that would ensure our own destruction,

Courtesy Photo / Lee Hipp

so now there’s an opportunity to build an organization with a vision.”

‘It will be done’ While there’s some excitement about the possibilities now on the table, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said that the Symphony Society’s dissolution will likely have to be finalized in the courts before the city or county can take steps to help get the orchestra back on track.

“I feel confident that some people will come together to revive the symphony,” Wolff said. “I just can’t tell you what form it will be in or how it will be done.”

Even so, there’s broad agreement that the next iteration of the orchestra needs to be more steadily and robustly funded. Lang-Lessing said the yearly budget for the symphony should be closer to $15 million than the $5 million proposed by the Symphony Society, and he said the musicians’ pay should be nearly doubled from its last rate of around $30,000 per year.

Given the difficulties San Antonio’s had funding a full-time orchestra through private philanthropy, that will almost certainly take significant public funding.

“There’s no other way,” Lang-Lessing said.

Funneling more public money into the symphony may mean reframing it primarily as a public good.

Lang-Lessing noted that roughly half of the orchestra’s programming was educational — and that’s not including the teaching and tutoring many musicians do in addition to their symphony work. Keeping an orchestra playing, he said, is a civic obligation.

“We built the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts with taxpayer money as a resident home for the symphony,” Lang-Lessing said. “Opera and ballet as well, but in terms of impact, number of performances — that was always the symphony.”

Still playing The good news for musicians and their allies is that elected leaders seem open to the possibility of intervening to help keep an elite orchestra playing.

Lang-Lessing has met with multiple city and county leaders, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg, while Wolff

said he’s been tracking the situation closely and plans to have his own meeting with Nirenberg to review potential models for reviving the symphony.

“There are different groups talking about the possibility of standing up, but it won’t be an easy process,” Wolff said. “I think we have a chance for a new beginning, but we’re going to have to sort it out and figure out what that new beginning looks like.”

For the time being, the musicians are operating a nonprofit organization led by orchestra player Brian Petkovich and a board composed of both musicians and community members to support ongoing events and programming.

Petkovich said that the group wants to launch a series of concerts as well as programming in schools after Labor Day. How much they’re able to do, Petkovich said, depends on fundraising. In the spring, for instance, the musicians received a $100,000 grant from the San Antonio Symphony League in part to fund concerts that took place at First Baptist Church in April, May, and June.

Lang-Lessing, who was removed from his role as the symphony’s music director emeritus after it was announced that he would conduct two of those performances in May, said that he’s continuing his work on behalf of the musicians without any official title.

He said his work in the city isn’t finished.

“I still feel responsible for helping to fix this constant struggle and help developing a model that will save us from failing approaches,” he said.

Goree, who came to San Antonio in 1988, said she and many musicians — including a share who played with other cities’ orchestras during the strike — feel similarly committed. Even with the Symphony Society dissolved, the “overwhelming majority” remain rooted in the city and are waiting to see what will happen in the coming weeks and months.

“San Antonio is a major city,” she said. “It deserves a major orchestra.”

For Goree, the long-term vision remains much the same: an endowed, full-time orchestra with 72 or more musicians, playing 30 to 40 weeks of concerts annually. Whether she and her fellow musicians can make it happen is an open question.

But in the end, it was clear that the Symphony Society couldn’t. sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

25

TWI N LI QUOR S

FULL-SERVICE MARKETING AGENCY. LOCAL ROOTS. NATIONAL REACH.

C E L EB R ATI O N

JUN E 27 - J U LY 4

SAVE

ON SELECT BOTTLES OF

WINE & SPIRITS* I N- STO RE & O N L I N E

26

*July 4th Celebration runs 6/27/22-7/4/22. 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.

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

arts Pushing Back at Preconceptions The McNay’s exhibition of 5 queer, Asian American artists aims to shatter the ‘model minority’ stereotype

BY MARCO AQUINO

A

new exhibition at the McNay Art Museum challenges preconceived notions about Asian Americans, particularly ones that ignore the challenges people face in their adopted homeland.

“Reflecting Selves: Asian American Artists in Texas” brings together five queer, Lone Star State-based artists whose artworks examine the diverse Asian American experience. Curated by Philana Li, the 2021-2022 Semmes Foundation Intern in Museum Studies, and Courtesy Photo / McNay Art Museum McNay Archivist Leslie Straus, the exhibition opened June 9 and will run through October 9. connection,” Aqua reveals in an artist statement. “The The works in “Reflecting Selves” refute the idea of portraits invite the viewer to question: what does the “model minority” — a stereotype that took hold being a ‘queer Asian’ mean, what is our connection to in the 1980s which implies Asian Americans are suTexas, and how can we thrive authentically in a world perior to and should be viewed as the ideal example for other U.S. immigrant groups. The concept ignores which often stereotypes and tokenizes AAPIs into rigid ‘model minority’ boxes?” the diversity of Asian Americans experiences and the discrimination they often face.

Tucked away near the far end of the Museum’s Challenging stereotypes Garden Level, the exhibition is small in scale but still packs a punch. As a visitor whose family is of mixed In an interview with the Current, curators Li and Mexican American and Filipino ancestry and includes Straus said they didn’t set out to look for queer members of the LGBTQ+ community, the exhibiartists. Initially, their goal was to find artists not only tion felt personal. I wanted to learn more about the focusing on identity but also challenging stereotypes. communities around me and see others like myself Coincidentally, all five artists they ended up selecting represented on the walls of the museum. identify as queer.

Ben Aqua’s photo series Theysians, seen here in Straus further explained that “Reflecting Selves” video form, includes more than falls in line with the McNay’s 20 portraits, making up the bulk mission of presenting diverse of the exhibit’s 36 artworks. From programming and exhibitions.

“Reflecting Selves: Asian dark skin to light skin, and from Everyone at the museum welAmerican Artists in Texas” pink hair to no hair, the features comed the idea for the exhibiof the many subjects included in tion with open arms, she added.

Free-$20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Theysians reflect the diversity of Vietnamese American artist Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. the queer Asian American and Antonius-Tín Bui, who works Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday Pacific Islander community in with traditional paper cutting through October 9, Texas. One of the subjects wears methods, challenges ideas of McNay Art Museum, bunny ears while another wears Asian Americans as apolitical 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., sunglasses. The portraits range and submissive with his series (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org. from lighthearted to serious in Not Sorry for the Trouble. Bui’s tone, each giving a glimpse into delicately crafted creations, the world of the individual being which resembled vases and other photographed. objects, include phrases such as “remodel minority” “The process of creating these photographs has or “not your novelty.” become a mirror for my experience as a queer, “I daydream of all the boundless, infinite ways we’ll non-binary, Korean American; each image acting as a be able to not only identify, but be seen, respected, record of diversity, existence, struggle, resilience and and loved beyond the English language,” Bui wrote

The work of artist Antonius-Tin Bui challenges stereotypes of Asian Americans as apolitical and submissive.

M

in a statement. “A queer utopia where I am celebrated for everything I am, not just for the work I produce.”

Examining colorism Zoë Watts, Jana Ercilla and Brandon Tho Harris each present a series of photographs that examine the shared trauma Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders experience.

Harris explores hidden familial histories while Watts considers outside perceptions of a gender non-conforming self.

Ercilla’s series of portraits explores the concept of colorism, or how those with lighter skin are given privilege over those with darker skin within a certain community. In Itim, five seemingly vulnerable figures reveal their bare shoulders and make-up-free faces, highlighting their various skin tones. Some of the subjects stare directly at the viewer while others look away.

“Colorism was and is still imbued within Filipino culture,” Ercilla’s artist statement reads.

“Daily reminders come in the form of TV advertisements for whitening soap, wearing long sleeves to the beach and grandparents reminding kids to not play too long in the sun.”

To help guide exhibition visitors, the museum has posted a learning guide on its website that includes key glossary terms, resources for both the LGBTQIA+ and Asian American communities and statements by each artist. sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

27

“NICE STOCK AND EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT VIBES WITH THE HOME FEELING...”

-N.T., GOOGLE REVIEW

W E A R E A D D I N G A N E W L O CAT I O N !

SA M E G R E AT S E L E C T I O N A N D S E RV I C E !

NEW LOCATION! 28126 HWY 281 N. SAN ANTONIO, TX 78260

9822 POTRANCO RD #115 • 210.957.0636 | 19422 U.S. HIGHWAY 281 N. #105 • 210.251.4058 | 7325 N LOOP 1604 W STE 101 • 210.988.3720 28

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Point of Pride

community.

Texas-raised actor Zane Phillips offers queer take on Jane Austen character in Fire Island

BY KIKO MARTINEZ

T

here’s been no shortage of film and TV adaptations of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice, but the 1813 novel has never been reimagined quite like in Fire Island.

The Hulu original comedy movie follows a group of gay men maneuvering their way through the complicated hierarchy of the LGBTQ+ community while on summer vacation. In case you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice since high school, Jacuzzies and speedos weren’t in the original narrative.

Actor Zane Phillips plays the role of Mr. Wickham — or in this case Dex — a charming and manipulative new friend they meet on the island. Phillips, who starred in the fourth season of the CW vampire-werewolf series Legacies, grew up in Fredericksburg. When he travels to Texas today to visit his parents in Boerne, he likes to spend time in the Alamo City.

“San Antonio is a weird home for me,” Phillips told the Current during an interview earlier this month. “I love it. I’m rooting for her. I’ve been taking my parents to cool spots downtown. I’ve told them, ‘Listen, San Antonio is on the up and up.’”

Fire Island director Andrew Ahn told the Current that he enjoyed working with Phillips because the actor understood the Pride and Prejudice character he was loosely portraying — especially how the character uses his sexuality to get what he wants.

“Zane’s talent and his excitement and inspiration to do the work were super apparent to me,” Ahn said. “I also love that he’s a good person. He’s nothing like his character. It’s

unfortunate that his character ends up being so unlikeable.”

During our interview, Phillips talked about his love for Austen’s story, how he feels about non-gay actors playing gay characters and how the film takes on serious issues in the LGBTQ community. Fire Island is currently streaming on Hulu.

What resonated with you about the script for Fire Island?

I’ve always been a fan of Pride and Prejudice.

It’s something my mother raised me with.

You could not leave my home without having a healthy respect for Jane Austen. I’ve always liked the source material and all the adaptations. I remember several years ago when [Fire Island screenwriter] Joel [Kim Booster] first tweeted that he wanted to [adapt] Pride and Prejudice. I was like, ‘I want to be part of that.’ It’s now come full circle, which is crazy.

It’s like the most perfect idea. I don’t know why anyone else hadn’t done it first, but I’m glad we did.

How do you define “toxic masculinity” in the LGBTQ+ community?

I think when you’re a part of the LGBTQ community, you try to figure out what kind of social capital you have in order to rise to the top. In this nation we live in, even as a gay man, white men have the highest standing.

For a lot of people, that doesn’t mean anything. But for some, there’s a fear of losing this thing you have that puts you on top of the totem pole. It’s all bullshit because we can’t have a queer community unless we are a

screens

Hulu

Do you think we’re past the point in Hollywood where non-gay actors will be cast to play gay characters, or do you think that will still happen from time to time?

I feel like we’re still seeing it, honestly. It is one thing to have a queer character, but I think where the real representation starts to really matter is when you have queer actors, directors, writers and creatives. Suddenly, you have a broader idea of what kind of roles queers can take. Lord knows, I studied how to act straight for 18 years. At the end of the day, if I just bring myself, then I’ve contributed to the definition of what it means to be queer.

The film is a comedy, but it tackles serious issues too. How was the cast able to tread the line between both tones?

The spirit on a set starts from the top. Andrew created an incredibly safe environment for people to play and for them to feel comfortable and extremely vulnerable. You were dealing with some real issues. This [film] is coming from a queer brain. So, everyone is being confronted with some real insecurities.

Andrew guided us through every step of the way and made us feel like we knew what we were doing.

Did you feel any added pressure because you were playing such an iconic character who has been adapted countless times before?

No, because for the most part, I just wanted it to feel honest. Jane Austen still allows [Mr. Wickham] and Lydia to end up together at the end of the book. There’s no real punishment for him except having to spend the rest of his life with Lydia. But I was just trying to find the empathy in the character and what drives people to do what they do. [Dex] is not a good guy, but he’s good at appearing to be one.

Find more film stories at sacurrent.com

JUNE 1 - August 13

Our Summer Meals FOr Kids campaign secures nutritIOus meals and snacks Or children Over the summer break.

GET SUMMER MEALS

30

GIVE SUMMER MEALS

LOCATE SITES TO ACCESS NO-COST SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS

DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN

sasummermeals.ORG

SAFOODBANK.ORG/SUMMERMEALS

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

food

Food Truck Journey

Chef Ryan Rhys is all about change in his personal and culinary life

BY NINA RANGEL

I

t’s no exaggeration to say San Antonio Chef Ryan Rhys is in the middle of two of the most transformational journeys of his life.

The trangender chef-owner of the Satisfried food truck and ghost kitchen began his journey in the business venture with a different name and gender identity but recently embraced ones more suited to his soul.

At the same time, Rhys and his wife Paige are expanding their business with several concepts inside the new Lombrano Foodhall in San Antonio’s Five Points neighborhood — all while continuing to operate the Satisfried mini-empire and Enzo’s Culinary Events catering outfit.

We caught up with Rhys to chat about what’s next on these journeys.

What inspired the idea for Satisfried’s menu, which you refer to as “healthy-ish fat kid food?”

It’s big-kid food, you know, just a little bit better now. As kids, we all like tacos, sliders and mac and cheese, but when we grow up and eat them, it’s often subpar, mediocre.

We really do try to strive for the best quality that we can, and we make everything from scratch and it’s all made to order. Nothing on the truck comes in frozen. And we like to be fun and funny. I’ve worked in fine dining the majority of my professional life. So, when we were diving into the truck, I decided that I want this to be like the most fun parts of me without being too much.

Between you and your wife and business partner Paige, is there one that’s more creative and one that’s more business-minded? Or do you find those roles kind of interchange between the two of you?

We go back and forth on creativity and organization. My wife is definitely more blackand-white organization, in the sense of, like, spreadsheets, diagrams, schedules, calendars, HR, billing. That’s all her. And then I always make sure that the truck is functional, we have everything ordered, you know, the food side of everything. The presentation of our business, like our social media and website, that’s all my wife. She creates all of that content.

What is the next couple of years looking like for Satisfried? Is an expansion in the

Nina Rangel

works?

I would say we’re actually in our expansion process right now. We’ve been an anchor truck over at StreetFare since October of this last year, and it’s been great. [The summer] has been a little rough, you know, when it’s so hot, not as many people want to come hang out with us and eat our delicious food. So, there are those struggles. But I have opened a commercial kitchen as well over at Lombrano Foodhall. So, we do all of our catering out of there, and we’re launching multiple food concepts out of that kitchen. There’s a lot going on. The last month or so has been a crazy roller coaster. It’s like we just decided to do everything all at one time.

Everything was kind of on hold for two years, so that makes total sense.

Satisfried has been in business now since April of 2021. And then the previous months, I was doing meal prep and planning, and that was what kind of got me started and what got my business out there. So, we had focused all of our energy on the truck, but now we have the kitchen, too. So, we run Satisfried the truck, Satisfried the kitchen and Enzo’s Culinary Events all under our umbrella.

It sounds like you two probably don’t get any down time at all. How do you relax together?

Yeah, we don’t really. People say that, but we have a 15-year-old as well, so whatever downtime we have, he occupies. I guess we do try to go out to eat, but I’d be lying if I said we have a weekly date night every Tuesday. I would say Sunday, from around 11:30 at night to about

1 o’clock in the morning — that’s our quality time when we watch our trashy TV or whatever we’re binging. And if that’s the case, then Bob and Timmy’s food truck is oftentimes our dinner.

In preparing for this interview, I came across an Express-News piece on you from December of last year and noticed that the name of the Satisfried chef in that article was different from yours.

Yeah, that was our first big piece. I was super proud of that. And that’s when I started coming out, actually, right after that article.

I told my wife, “I gotta stop the shenanigans.

You know, this Superman-Clark Kent, sort of double-life situation is confusing.” And I was finally getting confident enough and comfortable enough in my own skin to say, you know, “This is me.” That’s still a very new process for me, so this is probably going to be like my coming out piece, essentially. I’ve been out and all these things. I changed my name on social media, and I always introduce myself as Ryan. But I haven’t had that oneon-one with a lot of other people that are in my outside life, if that makes sense. I always joked that I’m a bad homo because I was the straightest lesbian you’d ever meet. Because I wanted a wife and a kid and a dog and a house with a picket fence, and in my mind, that was always heteronormative. This last year, my wife and I sat down and talked about all the feelings that I was having and why they weren’t making sense. I credit her with a lot of where we are now, both personally and professionally.

Find more food & drink news at sacurrent.com

food

Night and Day

South Presa Street’s three new bar additions offer differing takes on light and shade

Ron Bechtol

The proprietor of South Presa Street’s Hands Down tends bar with a smile in front of the establishment’s colorful mural.

M

served over a single large ice cube. At first, I found it a tad unbalanced in the direction of the sweet

BY RON BECHTOL vermouth and Benedictine, but with time it all came together. behind the bar. t’s just 50 purposeful steps down South Presa Switching to a gin base, my next nod went to the For my money, Near Dark’s quasi-goth, What We Do Street, give or take, from recently opened bar Army Navy ($12), one of the menu’s classic cocktails.

Hands Down to Near Dark, another newish addi- in the Shadows theme doesn’t add much to the drink Because of its almond-based orgeat, you might think offerings, but it’s fun enough. It could be taken furtion to the south-of-downtown drinking scene. ther, though, with the addition of more ghoulish por- of this drink as a baby tiki minus the orchids or umBetween the two, you’ll also encounter Bar Ludivine, traits and bleached skulls, not to mention closing the brellas. Yes, the almond comes on strong, but this too which opened late last year. mellows out after the first sip or two. black draperies against My original notion was to pitch my Bar Ludivine occupied the middle the vampire-vanquishvisit to this trio of newish establishground my South Presa odyssey — in ing late afternoon sun ments as the city’s shortest pub crawl. every possible way. Where Near Dark’s and the mood-killing But during my visit, timed around Near Dark Bar Ludivine walls are a deep plum color, Ludivine streetscape outside. sundown, a different kind of move1024 S. Presa St. sports a bright, French blue. A mural With those changes, ment emerged — a transition between 1014 S. Presa St. inside tells a tale of two towers: San the name of the spot’s day and night. A buy-in to either met(210) 600-4009 (210) 908-9209 Antonio’s Tower of the Americas and Not Today Satan cockaphor is optional, by the way. neardarkbar.com barludivine.com Paris’ Eiffel. The artwork proclaims tail might seem even Here’s what I mean: when it comes the bar is “Your destination for craft more appropriate. to décor, my stroll took me from the cocktails and wine,” but it’s unlikely During my visit, my shadowy into the light. Near Dark that wine lovers will beat a path to the drink choices were is the newest of these three tippler’s door for that alone. Even so, credit is due for listing driven more by ingredients than amusing names, havens, having opened exactly a month from the day lesser-known whites such as picpoul de pinet. though. Among the house cocktails, I went with the I visited. The two proper-looking bartenders also The cocktail list looked more impressive at first Southtown Beat Down ($12), a stirred blending of turned out to be the owners, their practiced and preglance. The Emerald Dagger ($14) stood out from the bourbon, Campari, sweet vermouth and Benedictine cise shaking techniques speaking of much more time

I

32

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

drink, while the other was billed as an menu’s seasonal list, but alas, it was “improved” Long Island Iced Tea, a connot to be. “We’re out of green Charcoction that normally includes a kitchtreuse,” confessed the lone server, and en sink’s worth of boozy ingredients though it’s not listed as an ingredidesigned to inflict maximum pain. It ent, this potent liqueur would have didn’t hurt — until later, anyway — that contributed both the emerald aspect both were $5 happy hour specials. and a powerful jolt of herbal flavor.

If you want to actually taste any froThe switch to a “Blanco” Negroni ($12) zen drink, its flavors must be exaggeryielded a well-made, mezcal-forward stirred drink with Suze and Lillet Blanc. ated, and Hands Down’s blend of gin, juniper tonic and salted lemon-lime Emboldened by this positive expecordial pulled it off perfectly. After the rience, I moved on to the Café No Se initial sinus freeze, the flavors softened ($12), a heady blend of Jamaican rum, as the drink slumped into submission.

Suze, coffee liqueur, demerara gomme A bowl of curried pecans proved an syrup, pineapple and lime. The drink ended up being more like Café No Hay, amiable companion.

I was initially less impressed by the since the bartender had used the last of the Suze in my Negroni. Undeterred, bar’s take on a Long Island Iced Tea, despite a pedigreed list I suggested subbing of ingredients such as Cynar, a favorite amaro, Bonal, Cocchi Ameriexpecting that it would cano and Fernet — the play well with others in Hands Down latter being a bully that the lengthy ingredient often dominates, as it list. Shaken and served 1012 S. Presa St. did here. I might be with floating coffee (210) 462-1430 tempted to add more beans, it did indeed. handsdownbar.com orange liqueur to balThe moral here? ance Fernet’s bitterness, Come to Ludivine but this drink also prepared to be flexible, relaxed into a libation perhaps when there’s a worth contemplation as the sun set. musical act on stage to distract you.

Lest you sink more quickly into Early evening, when it’s still bright outside, probably wasn’t the ideal time a state of heightened inebriation, I don’t really suggest you hit all three to visit either Ludivine or Near Dark, but it was perfect for Hands Down. The places on the same night. The crawl I mentioned earlier was just another light — filtered by screens at the sidemetaphor. walk’s edge — brings the space to life, illuminating the colorful mural, the wall of thoughtfully curated bottles Bar Ludivine, another South of wine and the back bar loaded with Presa newcomer, bills itself impressive amari and aperitivi. as a destination for both cockIn the appealing setting, I was inspired to order two cocktails I usually tails and lesser-known wines. disdain. One was a gin-based frozen

q

Facebook / Bar Ludivine

OPENINGS

this year. 22831 North U.S. Highway 281, Suite 116, chickensaladchick.com.

Dance club Cream is now open in the Beacon Hill space that used to house Babio’s. A latenight kitchen also is in the works. 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., instagram.com/cream_satx.

Southtown coffee spot Gold has teased a new “food and beverage idea” called Lil Treasures in the space that formerly housed Bandit BBQ. 1913 S. South Flores St., instagram.com/lil_treasures_sa.

The Pearl’s new WonderSlice pizza spot is now serving up slices, full pies, homemade subs, salads and soft serve. 312 Pearl Pkwy., Building 6, wonderslicepizza.com.

The owners of the El Remedio food trucks will open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant this summer less than a mile from USAA’s headquarters. 5018 Research Drive, facebook.com/ElRemedioSA.

Crockett Tavern, the new concept from chef Justin Ward, is now open inside the historic Crockett Hotel, bringing locals and tourists alike “an authentic Texas dining and an immersive Alamo experience.” 320 Bonham Street, crocketttavern. com.

NEWS San Antonio’s El Camino food truck park is home to two new mobile kitchens. The Pita Chick serves Mediterranean fare, while the Masshole Food Truck specializes in New England lobster rolls. 1009 Avenue B, elcaminosa.com.

Catering outfit 375° Social Kitchen has opened a brick-and-mortar location in the Northeast San Antonio space that previously housed The South Chicken and Waffles. 8124 Agora Parkway, Suite 200, threeseventyfive.com.

Japanese restaurant Yuko will make its debut at San Antonio’s Eilan Hotel Resort next year.

18603 La Cantera Terrace, eilanhotel.com.

Mexican restaurant Rosario’s is eyeing an August opening for its new, larger Southtown location.

722 S. St. Mary’s St., rosariossa.com.

Fried-chicken chain Zaxby’s will expand its Texas footprint with a new West San Antonio location later this year. 11903 Alamo Ranch Parkway, zaxbys.com.

Atlanta-based Chicken Salad Chick will open its first San Antonio location in Stone Oak later

Dog-friendly Hops & Hounds will open a second location along the Museum Reach of the River Walk, complete with a dog park and a coffee shop.

The days of rushing through an alcoholic drink before your group begins to board its flight will soon be over, at least in the Alamo City. San Antonio International Airport will now allow alcoholic beverages inside the terminals.

Courtesy Photo / WonderSlice

sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

33

34

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s Jess Haney talks about the band’s ‘surreal’ journey to success

BY ALAN SCULLEY

W

hen Jess Haney was asked to join Rainbow Kitten Surprise while its band members were in college at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., he certainly wasn’t thinking it would be a long-term commitment. In fact, as commitments go, he thought it was as minimal as it gets.

“I got into the band through Ethan,” Haney said, referencing guitarist Ethan Goodpaster during a recent phone interview. “Me and Ethan went to high school together, and we kind of played in my basement and did covers of random things. I wasn’t like a full-time drummer. It was just kind of a thing I did in high school with my friends. And Ethan ended up getting into the band and he was like, ‘Well, my roommate used to play drums and he might be able to help us out with a few shows. I was like ‘OK, I’ll do one show with you guys and then we’ll figure it out from there.’

“I always thought it was funny that I was insistent that I was only going to do one show,” Haney said. “It changed my life forever.”

Since then, Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s engaging blend of indie pop and a variety of other genres has won it high-profile festival appearances and a fervent nationwide following. The band is scheduled to play a sold-out show at New Braunfels’ Whitewater Amphitheater on Saturday, July 9.

Up to the point Haney joined the band, Rainbow Kitten Surprise had been the duo of singer Sam Melo and guitarist Darrick “Bozzy” Keller. They had started playing shows around the Boone area and wrote and recorded the earliest Rainbow Kitten Surprise songs as a duo.

But before long, Melo — who recently announced on Twitter that she is trans, her pronouns are she/her and that she wants to be referred to as Ela Melo — and Keller decided they wanted to have a full band, and that’s when fellow students Haney, Goodpaster and bassist Charlie Holt joined up.

Even at this early stage, there were signs that Rainbow Kitten Surprise might grow into something more than a just-for-fun college-years band. In 2013, Melo and Keller had self-released a three-song EP, Mary, and the band followed that with a self-released full-length, Seven.

The group then worked out a deal with Split Rail Records, a student-run label at Ap-

Aubrey Denis

palachian State’s Hayes School of Music, and in 2015, released the album RKS. Things have happened fast since then for the band, which got its unique name when someone’s hospitalized, heavily medicated friend inexplicably kept repeating the phrase Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

One trigger for the success came when the band submitted their song “Devil Like Me” to the VH-1 reality show Make a Band Famous and saw it voted into the top 24.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise appeared on the show, and even though the group was eliminated in the first round of competition, the appearance brought a notable measure of exposure.

“Devil Like Me” went on to get radio play, as did two songs from RKS — “Cocaine Jesus” and “Lady Lie” — propelling Rainbow Kitten Surprise onto tours and appearances at notable festivals including Bonnaroo and Sasquatch.

That success drew the attention of Elektra Records, and the major label signed Rainbow Kitten Surprise, setting the table for an even bigger breakout.

“It was all just very surreal,” Haney said. “It all just happened so fast. One day we were all sitting in Boone and the next thing we were touring the world. It was incredible. I just couldn’t be more thankful to be able to do what we do.”

The move to Elektra put the band on a different level. Suddenly, the five musicians found themselves driving to Nashville, where they all now live, setting up shop in the highend Neon Cross Studios and working with

music

Fast Forward

one of the city’s most in-demand producers, Jay Joyce.

“Yeah, it was zero to 100 for us, really,” Haney said. “It was like, we did RKS. We did that on a studio-run label thing, and all of that was cool. Then a couple of years later we’re doing it with Jay Joyce in Nashville in like this incredible studio with all of this [label] support behind us. It was incredible, but it was a lot to take on at the time. Somewhere in our minds, we’re still just the kids playing music in bars in Boone. So, to make that jump was definitely a little bit of a shock for all of us. I think it was something we had to get acclimated to a bit.”

Learning how to navigate the technology and capabilities that come with a true professional studio wasn’t the only challenge for Rainbow Kitten Surprise.

The band had arrived in Nashville with only a couple of songs partially written and all two and a half weeks to write and record the rest of the songs for what became the 2018 album How to: Friend, Love, Freefall.

What’s more, it was the first time all five band members were involved in the creative process from the ground up.

“I think the (time) restraint was probably good for us,” Haney said. “Yeah, we were pumping out a song a day and it felt good.

Obviously, some days we didn’t get anything.

But then some days we got more than one song. It ended up working out, and we did it.

I don’t know, it was a lot of fun.”

Sold out, 8 p.m., Saturday, July 9, Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM306, New Braunfels, (830) 964-3800, whitewaterrocks.com.

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.

music listings Wednesday, June 29

Jose Amador & Terra Nova Expect an evening that highlights Latin arrangements of compositions from Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie and Horace Silver, although the Puerto Rico-born percussionist and his band are also likley to perform original compositions. Amador has a colorful background beyond his approach to music. Not a lot of bandleaders can claim they served for 20 years in the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer and paratrooper. $15-$20, 7:30 p.m., Jazz, Tx., 312 Pearl Parkway, Bldg. 6, (210) 332-9386, jazztx. com. — Mike McMahan Cole Ritter and the Night Owls Nashville’s Cole Ritter and the Night Owls exude nostalgia from every pore. The group pays tribute to the country music of years gone by — not just with their ‘50s- and ‘60s-inspired duds but also with an authentically retro sound. Much like Johnny Cash, Ritter and his band specialize in a twangy sound that fuses country with blues, folk and more. $10, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com.

Thursday, June 30 A. Wright Though he cut his teeth as a blues player, San Antonio’s A. Wright has been working rock material into his live show of late.

That versatility helps explain how he won the Bud Light Riverfest Battle of the Bands in 2016 while also putting in two recent appearances at the Luckenbach Blues Festival and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. His most recent release is the simply titled EP Acoustic. $10-$40, 8:30 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — MM Vampiro, Federico Fong (Tribute to Jaguares and Caifanes) Though the show is billed as a rock en español “tribute,” that word sells things a bit short since the evening actually features two former members of the band Jaguares, including bassist Federico Fong. Both Caifanes and Jaguares hail from Mexico City and specialize in a mix of styles. Jaguares were more on the alt-rock side of things, with Caifanes farther afield, mixing not just Latin influences but also prog and new wave. $25, 10 p.m., Fitzgerald’s Bar & Live Music Venue, 437 McCarty St., Suite 101, (210) 607-7007, fitzrockssa.com. — MM

Friday, July 1 Kyle Nix Backing musicians in big bands seldom get their due. Their time in the spotlight is rare, and when they get to take solos, they’re usually brief. Kyle Nix, the fiddle player for the Turnpike Troubadours has managed to work as both a bandmember and bandleader. The Okie fiddler doles out memorable Americana with a voice to match his fiddling prowess on the album Lightning on the Mountain and Other Short Stories. Sounds like an excuse for Turnpike Troubadours fans to catch Nix in an intimate venue. $20, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, (877) 856-0806, gruenehall.com. — Enrique Bonilla Killer Hearts With their tight pants, big ‘80s hair and no-frills riffage, this Houston band looks back to a time when rock ’n’ roll was straightforward, tough and more than a little sleazy. Killer Hearts’ latest album Skintight Electric occupies the sonic space somewhere between the Dead Boys and early Motley Crue. $10, 8 p.m., 36

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Dale Watson

Courtesy Photo / Dale Watson

Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com.

Friday-Sunday, July 1-3 Parker McCollum Recently named New Male Artist of the Year at the American Country Music Awards, Texas’ own Parker McCollum is headlining this three-night stand over the Independence Day weekend.

Propelled by the success of his major label debut Gold Chained Cowboy, McCollum blends a foundation of country and Americana with blues and folk rock. Catie Offerman opens the Friday and Saturday shows, which are sold out. Jacob Stelly opens the Sunday show, for which tickets remain available. $39 (Sunday night only; others sold out), 8 p.m., Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM 306, New Braunfels, (830) 964-3800, whitewaterrocks.com. — Danny Cervantes

Sunday, July 3 Dale Watson Alabama-born, Texas-raised Dale Watson is trucking back to Gruene Hall for a honky-tonking night of real dancefloor country.

Known for his grueling tour schedule, the tattooed troubadour averages about 300 shows a year. His latest album, Call Me Lucky, tells tales of those travels and life on the road. Watson calls his music “Ameripolitan” to differentiate it from today’s country that seems to be more suited for suburban strip malls than rural dance halls. $15, 7 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, (877) 856-0806, gruenehall.com. — EB Crown the Empire Despite passing on Post Malone as a guitarist when its members were in high school, Crown the Empire managed to carve out a niche in the metalcore scene. In honor of the 10-year anniversary of its debut album, The Fallout, the band will do what seems to be expected these days: will play the sucker in full. That means the Dallas natives will let their guitars chug, synths chime and catchy choruses ring out just as they did a decade ago. $28$30, 7 p.m., Vibes Event Center, 1223 E. Houston St., (210) 2553833, facebook.com/VIBESEventCenter.

Wednesday, July 6

Jimmy Spacek SA music fans who haven’t heard of Jimmy Spacek by now you need to pull up Peace & Distortion, a 2016 album that showcases his blues and rock fretboard magic. The veteran South Side guitar slinger has shared the stage with local greats including Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Randy Garibay, which provides more testament to his musical strengths. $10, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — EB

Thursday, July 7 The High Curbs The High Curbs’ sound ranges from heavy, fuzzy goodness to upbeat, carefree punk vibes. The Southern California-based band likens the growth it’s displayed over the course of its albums to the transition from youth to adulthood — evolving from thinking about pizza and girls to pondering bigger life issues. $15, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx. com.

Friday, July 8 Dead Register, Cortege, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, In A Darkened Room Decibel described Dead Register as possessing “plenty of substance when so many of the band’s peers just have so much black nail polish.” Which, of course, suggests this self-described “gothic doomgaze” act is doing something right. On the power trio’s new album Alive, the tempo is exactly what you’d expect — slow — but the guitar playing is more melodic than that of most of its peers. Perhaps that’s the gaze part, eh? $10, 9 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 310-5047, papertigersatx. com. — MM Kody West Denton native West has been making a name for himself by keeping a rigorous tour schedule that includes both headlining shows and supporting acts including Whiskey Myers and Koe Wetzel. On his latest release, Overgrown, the singer-songwriter’s earnest approach breathes fresh life into country rock.

Earlier this month, he reached half a million listeners on Spotify,

suggesting all his hard work is paying off. $18, 7 p.m., Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com. — EB Anything Box On any given night in a Latin American nightclub, there’s a good likelihood you’ll hear the electro-pop goodness of Anything Box’s “Living in Oblivion” setting the mood. More than 30 years after dropping its debut album, Argentinian born frontman Claude S. continues to keep Anything Box’s retro-futuristic sound alive. Cause and Effect opens. $30-$50, 9 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — DC

Saturday, July 9 Haunt Me After its original late-’70s and early ’80s heyday, post-punk has been experiencing a recent revival. Austin’s Haunt Me gets the mix right, offering up a sound that’s dark and gloomy but plenty danceable. This show is the kickoff to the band’s first tour, which will take it to 16 cities across eight states. Haunt Me has dropped nine releases since February 2021 including an album, an EP and plenty of singles. $15, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — EB Josh Abbott Band If you’ve ever thought, “My significant other definitely reminds me of a state,” the Josh Abbott Band has got you covered. Abbott is known for the ballad “She’s Like Texas,” which compares

every physical trait of his love interest to the Lone Star State. But the singer-songwriter excels at more than that, offering up both good ol’ boy party anthems and more introspective work. $25$125, John T. Floore’s Country Store, 14492 Old Bandera Road, (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton Heat, Hickoids Texas psychobilly stalwart the Reverend Horton Heat and his band are rolling into town again like a big red rocket of love.

Corpus Christi native Jim Heath, a commanding guitarist and frontman, formed the group in Deep Ellum in 1986, eventually adding Jimbo Wallace on upright bass. Those two, along with a myriad of drummers — currently Jonathan Jeter — have managed to crank out a 30-year career aided by hard touring along with appearances on Beavis and Butthead and video game soundtracks such as the Tony Hawk series. Long-running cowpunk act Hickoids will open the show in appropriately chaotic fashion. $20, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — DC

Saturday July 9 Tab Benoit Benoit made a career channeling the sounds of the bayou into his gritty, soulful blues, and he’s been named BB King Entertainer of the Year twice for his efforts. The guitarist’s dedication to Louisiana extends to the fight to save its wetlands through his conservation project Voice of the Wetlands. Lightnin Malcolm opens the show. $30, 9 p.m., Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Road, New Braunfels, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com. — DC Courtesy Photo / Reverend Horton Heat

sacurrent.com | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | CURRENT

37

E M P LOY M E N T Business Analyst, 3M, San Antonio, TX. Utilize current business intelligence tools & apply leading techniques, interpret data & trends to support business strategies & operations. Develop comprehensive findings of sales activities by market, by geography & by sales teams. Collaborate w/business partners to develop data models for customer segmentation & targeting.

Build enriched customer profiles/opportunities for end-users & create & manage complex dashboards in visualization tools such as Tableau & PowerBI. Must have a BS in Math, Info Mgmt, or Statistics req’d. Must also have 5 ys exp. in a reporting or analytics role: (i) Navigate large & complex data sets while providing statistical analysis & identify relevant patterns for end users; (ii) Analyze data w/ R, Python, or SQL; & (iii) Provide business marketing/strategy consultation. Of exp. req’d, must have 2 ys exp. creating visualizations using Tableau or PowerBI. Exp. may be gained concurrently.

Apply at: www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/.

Associate Veterinarian (Multiple openings available) sought by Destination Pet Veterinary Group of Texas, PC in San Antonio, TX. Under close supervision, treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery. For further job details, rqmts & application info refer to: http://jobpost.works/8832ma/.

is s e r u t a ic r a C Blas

w ring!

NoH i Seeking 3 artist interested in learning the craftsmanship of Caricatures.

Immediate start after training & placed at prime locations! *Prior knowledge of the skill is preferred

Perfect for Private Parties • Events • Festivals • And more!

38

CURRENT | June 29 – July 12, 2022 | sacurrent.com

Text 210.781.2435

F R I D AY, A U G . 2 6 | W I T T E M U S E U M

Featured Distillers

HILL COUNTRY DISTILLING TRINITY RIVER DISTILLERY WILLIAM PRICE DISTILLING

SPONSORED BY

LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SAWHISKEYBUSINESS.COM