JUNE
PBR Teams Combine Finals on Thursday at 7:30PM. Championship Rodeos on Friday at 7:30PM, Saturday at 1:30PM and 7:30PM and Sunday at 1:30PM.
Join the Wayne Family for a weekend of fun, games, photos, movies, Duke Spirits and Gold Handle Coffee tastings, and the unveiling of the exhibit’s new expansion. Plus, don’t miss the Texas film premier of “Legrand” featuring Ethan Wayne.
Disco Cowgirl featuring music by Danni and Kris on Friday and Turnpike Tributedours on Saturday. Shows start at 9PM.
Memorial Day Weekend May 23-27 THE NEW FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS APP TM
See everything that’s happening instantly. Get tickets, reserve a table and see who’s playing at your favorite bar. Download it for free from the Apple Store and Google Play.
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By Jennifer BoveeCheck out these weedy drinks before a-hole Republican leaders get
By Emmy SmithHere’s some of what we’re reading this
By Weekly Staff
Keegan McInroe, Ex-Regrets, Spring Palace, and
By Weekly StaffAnthony Mariani, Editor
Lee Newquist, Publisher
Bob Niehoff, General Manager
Ryan Burger, Art Director
Jim Erickson, Circulation Director
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Laurie James, Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward
Welcome to Summa-SummaSummertime. Step right in. We’ve got kids’ camps to recommend and great ideas for staycationing and how to spend your four-day weekends, plus a bird’seye look at new music coming out of and coming to town and also what to do when the temps are high and the AC in our local museums and theaters is just so, so very cool. And more! So, put on your shady party hats. It’s time to do summer right. — Anthony Mariani
If the summer plan involves not leaving town but getting out of the house, keep reading.
BY ANTHONY MARIANIWhile there might not always be the cashola, there’s still always the time for a summer staycation, and in a city like ours — now the 12th largest in the country, in fact — getting out of the damn house to spend a few days and nights in new environs is as easy as it’s ever been (if not cheaper). Whether you’re staycationing with the fam, the kings/queens of your castle (your pets),
your major squeeze, or your buds or are flying solo (in group formation, too), look no further than the Fort for places to rest your head between summertime excursioning. (It’s a word. Now.)
Gotta say, for whatever reason, my family and I (me, wifey, youngster) have the best times at North Texas Jellystone Park (2301 S Burleson Blvd, Burleson,
817-349-2693). There’s just something about this sprawling campground/water park/activities center in Burleson that makes us giggle like bratty schoolkids on meth. Last time we went, we stayed in the pirate ship. A hotel in the shape of a massive pirate ship, it’s walking distance from all the activities, including the playgrounds, paintball courts, and if you visit in the fall — the haunted maze, which is absolutely terrifying and
hilarious at the same time, but since this is our annual Summer Issue, you’ll want to take advantage of the water park and its enormous, death-defying slides, a.k.a. the Burleson skyline.
I’ve been out of the dating game so long, I don’t even know — do people still mosey on up to strangers and ask them for their numbers? The closest I’ve come to a good ol’ fashioned “pickup” was at Lola’s on 6th 100 years ago when some very drunk dude on his way to his Uber kept asking a young acquaintance seated nearby to plug her Instagram page into his phone? Or something? I dunno. He kept trying to hand her his phone. She kept declining, of course — I only hang with proper ladies. All I know is I’m glad I don’t have to deal with all that scheiße anymore. And while I haven’t been single in eons, I have a sneaking suspicion that young people are still going out and hooking up, so for all you solos out there who want to take a staycation that involves nightlife and handling other people’s devices, then I’ve got two indisputably classy hotels with bars for you that not even you and your bad decisions could sully.
Let’s say you’re an artiste and/ or an arts appreciator. The Near Southside is where you want to be. Full of mostly independently owned bars and renowned restaurants, the area in
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and around Magnolia Avenue draws all manner of creatives and other victims of late-stage capitalism. Where you’ll be sleeping (alone or with a group) is right near the heart of the action. Hotel Revel (1165 8th Av, Fort Worth, 817-928-3688) is a stereotypically Near Southside-y boutique retreat because there’s no staff on-site and every transaction is conducted via mobile device — human touch is as overrated as the Springsteen song is under-, anyway. And on the first floor sits Sugarman’s, a “modern take on the classic speakeasy, giving revelers a sense of history with a contemporary spin.” Sounds great, but are the craft cocktails any good? Indeed, they are. Trust me.
Now, maybe while you’re still into Snake Season and Porah Dudette (real artists or names I just made up that sound cool and millennial-y?), you also secretly love President Business (definitely a real fictional name). I recommend the West 7th corridor for nightlife, and if you agree, Hotel Dryce (3621 Byers Av, Fort Worth, 817-330-9886) with its Lobby Bar is your first and last stop. Located in the Cultural District near Dickies Arena but not too far from all the pickup joints in and around West 7th, Dryce is a splendid locally owned boutique whose aforementioned bar oozes swank and not in a pretentious way. Are the drinks
any good? Let’s just say that as far as I know, the Lobby is the only place nearby where you can order an Old Fashioned with Blackland Distillery’s scrumptious Texas Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon. In light of that, if the option is to meet your potential paramour in West 7th or the Lobby, do I even need to say more?
One thing I like doing when getting together with my pals is gathering around the campfire late-night and passing around the ol’ git-fiddle. Lol!
Just kidding. Please kneecap me if we’re ever together and I say, “Bust out your guitar.” No, but I do like a party. Lord, do I like a party. My poor liver. My poorer wallet. And while I’m not saying Hotel Otto (4400 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, 833-468-8639) is a frat house, the micro-resort of eight 160-square-foot bungalows crafted from shipping containers is definitely a good time. Located on the West Side near the Trinity River, the brainchild of celebrity chef Tim Love also offers a full-service “plunge” pool and a daily complimentary cocktail hour.
There are also self- or private-guided activities in and around the nearby Trinity Trails, including kayaking, horseback riding, Pedego Ebikes, and more. Hanging out at Otto on a starry summer night is about as close to heaven as some of us may ever get. Just leave the guitars at home. Please. Literally begging you.
Clearly, if staycationing is on the docket this summer, then we can’t forget our best family members. Good thing another one of my favorite B&Bs is pet-friendly. Located in the heart of the Near Southside, Rosen House Inn (1714 S Henderson St, Fort Worth, 888-7914850) is a proud dog-friendly property, and unlike at most hotels, you won’t have to cross rip-roaring traffic for potty walks. Nearby dog-friendly watering holes abound, especially the Chat Room Pub (1263 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth).
It’s no secret that my favorite staycation spot on Planet Fort Worth is Three Danes Inn (712 May St, Fort Worth, 817-720-6365). Not only are the pastries from the in-house bakery (closed to outside customers now, sadly) delicious, but everything from the lovely rooms to the warm, inviting dining area exudes hygge, a Danish and Norwegian concept defined as “a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality.” l
When I called my mom in late April to wish her a happy birthday and an early Mother’s Day, I asked how she wanted to celebrate. She said she wanted to go to Canton for First Monday Trade Days, the vast monthly flea market in East Texas, “before it gets too hot.” The first weekend of May was already very warm. It got me wondering: How do antique/ junk hounds deal with flea markets in the summer?
For starters, chill out with some frozen treats. Nothing says “country” like hitting the Dairy Queen (17249 W I-20, Canton, 903-567-4153). We have them here — I know, I know — but that didn’t stop my best friend Leigh and me from ordering a Blizzard on the way to pick up Mom. (I’ve been four times since and am now officially addicted to the Choco Brownie Extreme, by the way.)
Josh Abbott’s face greeted me at the door, on a poster, and on a souvenir mug. He’s the chain’s current spokesman and the voice you hear in the latest version of the “That’s What I Like About Texas” jingle.
The historic Dairy Palace (2301 N Trade Days Blvd, Canton, 903-567-6551)
is the local, independent choice for ice cream. Along with 33 flavors of Blue Bell available for a hand-dipped cone, this place is also known for burgers, including exotic meat and vegan options. It gets crowded on trade-day weekends, but it’s well worth the wait.
On the trade days grounds, there are food and drink options aplenty, including homemade ice cream, lemonade, margaritas, and more. (Find the Bahama Mamas booth for snow cones.) You’ll also want to bring or buy water to stay hydrated. Cash is king, as most vendors don’t take cards.
First Monday is open Thu-Sun before the first Monday of every month, rain or shine, from sun-up to sundown. The hottest part of the year in Texas generally falls from June to August, and according to WeatherSpark.com, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy about 33% of the time in Canton this time of year, so you could get lucky.
You’ll also find the best junk by hitting the grounds early. Thursday isn’t as well attended, so it’s a great day to get started. For the sake of nabbing better parking alone, early mornings on FriSun are a good idea.
Many people bring what native Texans call a “Canton Cart” for easy shopping. They fold down easily in the car and are handy for holding your funky finds, drinks, purses, water (!), and the like. I brought mine to work when we once moved our cubes around at another paper. My publisher said I looked like a homeless person. He’d never seen a Canton Cart. He wasn’t from around here. #DamnYankee
Others (young and old) rent scooters. I saw a group of ladies who had theirs decked out with matching cup holders.
It wasn’t their first rodeo, and their rides probably weren’t rentals. For the rest of us, scooters are snatched up fast, so rent one early in the day. Your best bet is J&J Scooter & Wagon Rentals (367 N Trade Days Blvd, Canton, 972-979-1722), which sits right inside the front gate of the trade grounds.
You’ll want to play it safe and go at dawn for the outdoor shopping portion. Wear a hat and sunscreen, too. Or you can stay inside. Once it gets too warm, focus on the several indoor sheds and covered areas with fans. Also, make sure to take advantage of the indoor shopping available in other areas of Canton. The downtown has some nice antique and craft stores and an antique shopping mall on S Hwy 19. If you make a weekend of it, having overnight accommodations will help you avoid the heat of the day. Along with an RV park for camping out, there are several area hotels to choose from. You
could stay somewhere basic, like the Best Western or Motel 6, with a pool for cooling off, but more adventurous options are available, too. Check out VisitCantonTX.com/ Stay for novel places to rest your head, including ones with pools like the Azalea House Bed & Breakfast (17744 FM 1255, Canton, 972-978-3634). Another cute option is the Buffalo Girls Hotel (542 E Dallas St, Canton, 903-567-7829). For more information about upcoming special events, trade days dates, and other resources, go to VisitCantonTX.com. l
but decided to watch from Lush and was pleasantly surprised at what a great view they had. Being a NxtLvl Tige boat customer, I was invited to the annual tie-up with almost 100 boats in the Gate followed
by a concert in the upper pool area – wow what a weekend! The following weekend was one of the coolest events I have ever attended – Larry Joe Taylor’s Pickin’ at Possum 3-day music fest at Lush. 3-night concerts, 2 pool concerts, and 2 brunch concerts – highly recommend!
Sadly, Labor Day approached and we relished the last weekend of summer. But wait, Lush heats their Lakefront Pool until Halloween, summer is not over! I won THE best costume at the annual Halloween Party giving me a free VIP pass for next year. Lush continued offering some great weekends including Boat Parade, New Year’s Eve, and Lush Crush with the Randy Brown Show. Let me tell you,
joining the Lush VIP Club was worth it! I even decided to rent a Lakefront Suite for 3 months to enjoy the perks of being a Lush Resident!! I will have to tell you all about that next year!
Last year, I joined the Lush VIP Club, and let me tell you about all the fun I had all year! After I reveled at PK Mardi Gras Parade, I headed to Lush for their annual Party with Poo Live Crew where I sang along and danced the night away. I basked in the sun by their heated pool during spring break getting a head start on my tan. St Patty’s Day drink specials were so delicious. Easter Weekend, I booked a room for my sister and her kids saving 10% with my VIP discount. The kids’ Easter Baskets were overflowing after the Lush Easter Egg Hunt. And then, my sister and I enjoyed live music and a carafe of mimosas in the restaurant. A fellow VIP member hired a DJ for the 4/20 party where we decked out in rasta gear and partied like rock stars!
My mother felt so special during Mother’s Day Brunch sitting on the patio enjoying the live music, and yes, more mimosas! Before I realized it, Memorial Weekend was upon us, and all the summer fun began. Weekends at Lush were lively and fun, but I certainly enjoyed the quiet weekdays sitting by the pool before all the hotel guests arrived. My father had a great Father’s Day enjoying Chef Gabe’s poolside BBQ party. 4th of July weekend started with a bang while we enjoyed the amazing fireworks show put on by Juniper Ridge. Austin Allsup’s national anthem brought tears to my eyes.
Previously, I enjoyed watching the Hell’s Gate fireworks display in my boat
Along with boating, camping, and swimming while soaking up the sun, summer in ’Murica includes four four-day weekends because why not remember history while school is out and drink about it? Here are some serious and some fun ways to take advantage of the extra time off and a bit about why we’re commemorating these dates as a nation.
Originally called Remembrance Day, Memorial Day was created to commemorate those who died serving the army in the Civil War. Initially, gatherings and picnics were held for a specific purpose: to bring former enemies together to mend a broken country. Today, this holiday honors and remembers all men and women who died serving in the U.S. military.
You can show your respects to the fallen by visiting Mount Olivet Cemetery (2301 N Sylvania Av, Fort Worth, 817-831-0511), the first perpetual care cemetery in the South, founded in 1907, for the 95th annual Fort Worth Memorial Day Service 10am-11am Mon near the center of the grounds. Speakers and special guests include
master of ceremonies Lt. Col. Jungus Jordan (USAF retired), WWII Iwo Jima survivor Don Graves, Col. Alan Duckworth (USAF), and Capt. Beaur Hufstetler (Commanding Officer, NAS JRB Fort Worth), plus city councilmember Jeannette Martinez and County Judge Tim O’Hare. If it rains, the service will be moved indoors. There is no cost to attend.
Later that afternoon, head to RTB, the rooftop bar at Hotel Sinclair (512 Main St, Fort Worth, 682-231-8214) for the Memorial Day Weekend Rooftop Social 3pm-10pm Mon. There will be “backyard bites,” cocktails, music, and, as always, a great view of downtown. As Tres Agaves is the sponsor, you can expect specials on interesting drinks crafted with reposado and anejo tequilas aged in bourbon and whiskey barrels. About those bites, they will be from in-house restaurant Wicked Butcher, so you know they will be on point. Tickets are $25 per person at Resy.com.
It took nearly two and a half years for the news of their emancipation to reach all enslaved people in the United States, with Texans being some of the last to know. In celebration of when Texas slaves learned they were free, Juneteenth is now an official national holiday thanks to the efforts of Fort Worth’s own Dr. Opal Lee. President Joe Biden signed into law a bill to make it so.
Catch up with Opal at the Juneteenth Family Reunion Festival at Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St, Fort Worth, 817-335-2491) 1pm11pm Sat-Sun, Jun 15-16. R&B stylists Tamia and DVSN with Ghost-Note, The Musical Doc, Yaba Buluku Boyzm, and many more will perform. Along with the live music, there will be arts and crafts, cultural activations, food vendors, a kids’ zone, and rides, plus fireworks at the end of each night. Admission is $40 for adults and $10 for kids, plus VIP packages starting at $125. For tickets or to read about other related events, visit JuneteenthFamilyReunionFestival.com.
You can also celebrate at the seventh annual Soul of Sycamore Juneteenth
Culture, Art & Music Fest at Sycamore Park (2525 E Rosedale St, Fort Worth, 817-392-7650) noon-6pm Sat, Jun 15. This community gathering includes cultural demonstrations, dance performances, educational events, live music, a parade, and theatrical productions with the goal of “reflecting on the holiday significance while fostering community spirit.” While food and drinks will be available for purchase, attending is free. Denton is down to commemorate Juneteenth with two big concerts. At Juneteenth with TK Soul, the namesake artist will perform with special guests Ahyonz featuring Kenya C and Urban Mystic at Denton Civic Center (321 E McKinney St, Denton, 940-349-7275) 7pm Sat, Jun 15. Tickets start at $35 on Eventbrite.com.
Then on Wed, Jun 19, Rubber Gloves (411 E Sycamore St, Denton, 940-594-2207) hosts Angelic Vortex’s third annual Juneteenth Celebration 4pm-9pm. Afro Chris, Call Me Xandri, Curl the Band, Deep Cut, and Zeke Forever will perform, plus there’ll be an artisan market, art show, and food vendors. Admission is $10 at the door only.
Known colloquially as the 4th of July, Independence Day is a federal holiday continued on page 17
in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America. (I think you already all about this one, but thanks anyway, Wikipedia.)
Fort Worth’s Fourth, featuring one of the largest fireworks displays in North Texas, will once again take place along the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St, 817-698-0700) on Thu, Jul 4. General Admission is free. In the coming weeks, check FortWorthsFourth. com for more information about activities and times for 2024.
You can also see part of the Fort Worth’s Fourth fireworks atop the Worthington Renaissance Hotel (200 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-8701000) at the Rooftop Cinema Club’s Independence Day Party, where you will also see a screening of — you guessed it — Independence Day, the 1996 summer blockbuster starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and a cast of other beloved American actors in which the world must be saved from an alien attack over a July 4th weekend. Doors open at 5:40pm for food, games, and live music, then the movie screens 7:40pm-10:05pm. Tickets for the Movie+Party Combo are $65 and grant you access to the rooftop party, a catered barbecue meal, a soft drink, and a guaranteed seat for the film. Tickets are on sale until noon Thu, Jun 29, at RooftopCinimaClub.com.
The City of Haslet has a new location for its annual Independence Day Celebration 6pm Fri, Jun 30. It’s at Haslet
Community Park (301 1st St, Haslet, 817-439-5931). There’ll be activities, live music, vendors, and fireworks at dark. You are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, bug spray (!), and drinks/snacks but no alcohol, glass containers, or pets. There is no cost to attend, and parking is free in the event lot accessed from Hwy 156.
The Department of Labor says the first Monday in September celebrates American workers’ social and economic achievements. Labor Day is rooted in the late 19th century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize workers’ many contributions continued on page 19
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 6-9:00 PM
SATURDAY, MAY 25, 5:30-9 PM SEAN RUSSELL & THE
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 12-3:30 PM
Time to fire up the grill for some of the best burgers in town! Each patty is ground fresh and made by hand daily with natural Angus beef raised by Texas ranchers. Choose from favorites like Jalapeño Cheddar, bacon-filled Cowboy Burgers, and more.
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to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making it official nationwide. Me? I’m a workaholic myself, so this marks my last pool day before I take a deep dive into fall’s looming Best Of season here at the Weekly. Sigh. It’s also your last chance to get away before school starts.
It turns out that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma hosts an annual Labor Day Festival at the Historic Tvshka Homma Capitol Grounds (Council House Rd, Tushkahoma, OK), which is just right up yonder. This weekend-long gathering is a decades-long tradition for the Choctaw people, who gather to celebrate culture, faith, and family through gourd dancing performances, live music, princess pageants, and more. The musical entertainment Sat-Sun, Aug 31-Sep 1, includes Rodney Atkins, Casting Crowns, Mark Chestnutt, The Close, Jason Crabb, Gold City, and Joey Green. There is no cost to attend unless you’d like to lease a spot to park an RV. For more info, visit LaborDay.ChoctawNation.com.
And, finally, Labor Day Weekend is also when rock and metal fans migrate to
Oklahoma for the annual Rocklahoma festival Fri-Sun, Aug 30-Sep 1, at the Rockin Red Dirt Ranch (1421 W 450 Rd, Pryor, OK, right outside Tulsa).
Hosted by podcaster Eddie Trunk, this event features 43 bands, including Avenged Sevenfold with Evanescence and Halestorm on Friday, Disturbed with A Day to Remember and Skillet on Saturday, and Slipknot with Lamb of God and Mastodon on Sunday. Weekend passes start at $208.99 at Rocklahoma.com.
By Jennifer Bovee
Cool exhibits and stage shows will give you multiplying chills this summer.
BY ANTHONY MARIANINot too long ago, definitely pre-pandemic, the fine arts would — like an all-Christmas store in Grapevine — shut down for the summer. Not so anymore. Our museums and theaters keep churning out product and programs all year long, and the next few months will be no different. From Broadway shows to blockbuster exhibits, Fort Worth’s fineart purveyors want their comfy seats occupied by your butts.
Easily one of the biggest shows this summer, the Tony Award-winning Hamilton returns to Bass Performance Hall (555 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280) Jun 11-23. Having seen the Broadway production onscreen a few years back and the touring show in Dallas a couple years ago, I highly recommend it. What I love best about the piece is that it’s a work of art largely fueled by zesty wordplay. Even in the long expository beginning, when the play tells us about Alexander Hamilton’s roots and motivations instead of showing them to us, the literary cleverness is hard to look away from. (“We’re finally on the field / We’ve had quite a run / Immigrants: We get the job done.”) Even if rap’s not your bag, there are enough melodic and poignant songs and moments to hit you in the feels, too.
And now something for the Boomers at the Bass. And their offspring. Spinning a tale of young love and wacky comedy to the tunes of disco giants ABBA, the award-winning jukebox musical Mamma Mia! will brighten up the downtown venue Jul 16-21. Dancing in the aisles is encouraged — walkers and metal hips, be damned.
Now, we’re talking Boomer kids explicitly. Gen-X, I’d say. Like me. The first time I saw Grease, it was part of a double-bill matinee (forget the other flick) at the theater up the street in our little ItalianAmerican neighborhood back home in Yankeeland. Third-grader me was scandalized — scandalized — when my best friend Greggy G. told me the movie was going to get better — he could see me dozing off — when Olivia NewtonJohn came out “lookin’ sexy.” *clutches Rosary Beads* “Sexy,” Greggy?! Don’t you know you’re gonna go to hell!!! for having impure thoughts, you perverted spawn of Satan?! The homicidal nuns had warped me majorly, and I’m still recovering. Thanks, Catholic schooling. Anyway, Grease is so much fun, and the songs — “You’re the One that I Want,” “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” and a few more — are catchier than any in Hamilton, or any in contemporary
Broadway altogether. (There, I said it.) I’d say they’re right up there with ABBA. “Grease” will be the word that you heard Jun 1-9 at Casa Manana (3101 W Lancaster Av, Fort Worth, 817332-2272), and while I didn’t appreciate Olivia in red pumps and black hot pants until later, I *makes sign of the cross* was thankful to my still-dear friend Greggy G. for implying that my urges weren’t sinful and horrible at all. They were as natural as ramma lamma lamma ka dinga da dinga dong.
It’s not a blockbuster in the technical sense, but the new exhibit at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (3200 Darnell St, Fort Worth, 817-738-9215) is copious, vibrant, dynamic, and worth y’all’s time. Hanging now thru Jul 28, Surrealism and Us explores the genre in mostly the Caribbean but also Africa. More than 80 paintings, sculptures, drawings, videos, and installations from the 1940s ’til today interrogate the notions of the Afrosurreal and Afrofuturism in the United States by playing on totemic imagery and vibes from the diaspora, including slavery, religion, and *fist pump* voodoo. #kewl
And opening Friday and running thru Aug 25 at the Modern, New Yorker Rebecca Manson’s “Barbecue” will occupy the ellipse, the museum’s oval first-floor gallery (where the winged book usually sits). Composed of thousands of “individually crafted ceramic leaves, flowers, a barbecue grill, and assorted detritus,” the site-specific installation is reminiscent of a suburbanite’s backyard in August. This is Manson’s first solo museum show, and it’s gonna be cooking. (So sorry.)
Hollywood photography is a lost art. Before there were essentially only cameraphone pics of Ryan Gosling and *heart-eyes emoji* Anya Taylor-Joy striking poses on red carpets all over the world, there were lovingly framed and conceptualized portraits of starlets and
stars (and some scenery) that looked like art. Up thru Aug 25 at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-738-1933), Moving Pictures: Karl Struss and the Rise of Hollywood is a multimedia retrospective of the groundbreaking titular photographer/cinematographer and his marked influence on the Golden Age of American cinema, with archival materials, films, and more than 100 photographs from the Carter’s vast Struss Artist Archive. These aren’t just snaps where the subjects themselves do all the heavy lifting by the power of their celebrity status alone. Each Struss pic is different, with different poses, different moods, and different perspectives. We may have done race relations wrong and economics wrong and a whole lot of other things vastly wrong around the turn of the 20th century, but we really got Hollywood photography right (v important), and Struss is proof.
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will be in full swing over these next couple weeks, starting with Dvořák’s Eighth: Dvořák and Chopin Fri-Sun and ending with the Season Finale: Jennifer Higdon, Kevin Day, and Mahler 5 Fri-Sun, May 31-Jun 2. Both concerts are at Bass Hall.
FWSO members will keep rolling throughout the summer. The Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-463-4160) will host a Night of Strings at the Garden several Fridays in June at 7:30pm: the 7th, 21st, and 28th. And at 8:30pm on Sun, Jun 9, the orchestra will perform a Concert on the Lawn at the Amon Carter — pack a picnic — and at 11am on Sat, Jun 15, members will play Peter and the Wolf at the CR Smith Museum (4601 Hwy 360 3, Rm 1C-200, Fort Worth, 682-278-9085). Both shows are free, but you must RSVP.
The FWSO puts a wrap on summer
days Fri-Sat, Aug 23-24, with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestra World Tour at Bass Hall. Led by renowned conductor Arnie Roth, the full orchestra and chorus will perform all-new symphonic arrangements of the game’s music, backdropped by high-def videos.
Tapestry fans, unite! This overlook-itat-your-peril artform is at the center of the new exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum (3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-332-8451) from Jun 16 thru Sep 15. Art and War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries gathers seven large-scale historical tapestries on view for the first time ever in the whole country. More expensive than paintings back in the day, tapestries often functioned as tools for storytelling and propaganda, all told in fine wool, silk, and metal-wrapped thread and at monumental scale. Each tableau at the Kimbell is about 27 feet wide and 14 feet high, depicting Emperor Charles V’s decisive victory over French King Francis I that ended the 16th-century Italian Wars. The pieces were designed by court artist Bernard van Orley and woven in Brussels by Willem and Jan Dermoyen. These bad boys really look like oil paintings. You can feel the sweat equity (but don’t touch).
Why is New York the center of the artistic universe? Having lived there for a few years back in the day, first as a student and, later, as a worker bee, I know it’s not what it once was. New York used to have a middle class. Now, you’ve got to either be super-rich or super-poor to live there. Hard pass. Anyway, the point is, New York remains the center of the artistic universe whether I like it or not, and now the city is the setting of a play everyone should see. Running May 31 thru Jun 30 at Jubilee Theatre (506 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-338-4411), Thoughts of a Colored Man follows seven unidentified Black men … in Brooklyn … as they contemplate their “lives, pressures, and passions,” with each character representing a certain trait: lust, love, anger, passion, wisdom, depression, and happiness.
Though I’m the father of a Black boy, I would not know for certain, but something tells me the “lives, pressures, and passions” of New Yorkers are a lot different than the ones of Texans and, more broadly, Black men in the South. Something to do with slavery and the KKK and whatnot. Still, I’m here for what playwright Keenan Scott II has to say, and Jubilee is so awesome, they can never do any wrong.
What’s coming up at Amphibian Stage (120 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-9233012) is really amazing, and more people should take note, especially you locavores. Love theater? You do because you’re smart and totes cosmo. Love dance? Uh, yeah. We got rhythm, don’t we? Love comedy? Seriousness sucks. Love music? Duh. So drop by the SoMa theater for all that and more Jun 6-18. The ’Phibs’ annual installation of SparkFest celebrates not only the “future of live entertainment” but, this year, the artistry of the Asian American & Pacific Islander community.
As you can see in our Books section (pg. 34), I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, and Stage West (821/823 W Vickery Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-784-9378) is putting on a show right up my dark, mysterious alley. Running Jun 6-23, Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear features a guest appearance by a soon-tobe-discovered Vincent Van Gogh (hence, the “elusive ear” part). Along with
main squeeze Irene Adler and trusty ol’ companion Dr. Watson, the great British sleuth goes about solving the mystery while crossing paths with Oscar Wilde and the daughter of the dreaded Professor Moriarty. Written by David MacGregor and directed by Jay Duffer, the Elusive Ear is making its regional premiere and is Part 1 of three Holmesian adventures planned at Stage West. The game is not afoot but … an Ear. (I’ll show myself out.)
Another regional premiere, Hundred Days asks the question: What would you do if you had only 100 days to live? Written by the indie duo The Bengsons and with Sarah Gancher, this “whirlwind rock journey” runs from Jun 6 thru Jul 6 at Circle Theatre (230 W 4th St, Fort Worth, 817-877-3040).
Out at Hip Pocket (1950 Silver Creek Rd, Fort Worth, 817-246-9775), it’s another summer of ka-razy theater, starting at 9pm Sun, Jun 2. That’s when internationally renowned puppetry artist Basil Twist drops by with his A Twisty Intergalactic Spectacle, with music by local treasure Joe Rogers. The fun continues at Hip Pocket Jun 14-Jul 7 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream Guitar virtuoso Darrin Kobetich will provide the music. The summer wraps up with Raft Project by Lake Simons and John Dyer Aug 9-25 at “a venue to be named soon,” because it sounds like there’s some water involved. Maybe? l
We run down the bigscreen treats awaiting us for the season.BY KRISTIAN LIN
The conceptual problem with these movie previews is that the summer movie season typically starts at the beginning of May while we run our summer issue at the end of the month. There are solid reasons for the latter, but it means that a good chunk of the blockbusters are already out by the time this annual feature runs. Even so, there’s still a great deal to look forward to at the multiplexes as the summer heat bears down on us.
Sequels always dominate in the summer, and this year’s season has no shortage of them, starting with Furiosa, the Mad Max prequel that’s out this week. Another prequel is A Quiet Place: Day One, starring Lupita Nyong’o as a woman visiting New York on the day the super-hearing aliens invade. Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth film in its series, has Will Smith and Martin Lawrence going from cops to fugitives when they’re framed for their boss’ murder from the third movie. This will be the first real test of Smith’s box-office power since he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. On a similar note, Despicable Me 4 has Gru and his family on the run from a new supervillain, voiced by Will Ferrell. Mia Goth reprises her role as the porn actress
aiming for bigger Hollywood stardom in MaXXXine, the final film in the trilogy that included X and Pearl. And possibly the most anticipated sequel is Deadpool & Wolverine, which brings together both the Deadpool and X-Men franchises and also has the Merc with a Mouth referring to himself as “Marvel Jesus.”
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 finds the original film’s core five emotions joined by a host of new feelings led by Maya Hawke’s Anxiety. A new crop of tornado chasers (presumably armed with some 21st-century tech) takes to the plains in Twisters, a sequel to the 1996 disaster blockbuster. The most out-of-the-blue sequel figures to be Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever, Ole Bornedal’s follow-up to his 1994 Danish horror film that has Nikolaj Coster-Waldau reprising his role from the original as a man still haunted by his brief stint as a morgue security guard in Copenhagen.
Elsewhere, Harold and the Purple Crayon brings the beloved children’s book to live action, and the odd couple of Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart star in Borderlands, Eli Roth’s film version of the popular video game. The Garfield Movie, an animated version of the comic strip about the lasagna-loving cat, also comes out this week.
If you’d prefer original content, the summer’s horror movies have you covered. In a Violent Nature is a retro-1980s slasher about a murdered man whose corpse returns to take revenge on the living. The Watchers is adapted from A.M. Shine’s novel (see: our books section this week) about a group of survivors hiding in a glass cage in the forest from mysterious entities, and it marks the directing debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of M. Night Shyamalan. Meanwhile, the elder Shyamalan has his own horror film coming out called Trap, with his other daughter Saleka Shyamalan co-starring and Josh Hartnett as a serial killer. Hunter Schafer stars as a teenage girl stalked at a remote German resort in Cuckoo, and Longlegs stars Maika Monroe as an FBI agent tracking Nicolas Cage’s occult-obsessed serial killer.
Maybe you’re like me and you’re looking for the highbrow fare. Maya Hawke portrays the great American short-story writer Flannery O’Connor in the biopic Wildcat, which her father Ethan Hawke directs. Alicia Vikander, who has been off our screens for a while, returns to star in Firebrand as Catherine Parr, the wife of King Henry VIII who actually survived the experience. A scant half a year after Poor Things,
Emma Stone and Yorgos Lanthimos re-team for Kinds of Kindness, a film set in contemporary America with a plot about cannibal sex cults. On a lighter note, Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson star in Fly Me to the Moon as two filmmakers in 1969 who film a staged version of the Moon landing to be broadcast in case the real one doesn’t work out. Sean Wang’s indie drama Dìdi is drawing raves in advance for its story about a 12-year-old TaiwaneseAmerican boy growing up in the early aughts. Recent Oscar nominee Colman Domingo stars in Sing Sing as an incarcerated man who starts a theater program for his fellow prison inmates. Then there’s the unusual number of Westerns coming to our screens. Viggo Mortensen directs himself in The Dead Don’t Hurt as a Danish immigrant who enlists in the Union Army during the Civil War while his wife has to defend herself on the plains. Kevin Costner climbs back into the director’s chair for Horizon, a six-hour epic split into two films that both come out this season. And Charlie Plummer portrays a construction worker who falls in with a group of gay rodeo cowboys in National Anthem. As always, the season offers something for every taste imaginable. l
Before we dive into our rundown, an important word about water safety. If your young’uns go anywhere near a body of water this summer, it’s going to come down to either you doing your job and protecting them by forcing them to wear a totes uncool life jacket or them going on without one and not only putting you in the crosshairs of a hefty fine but possibly ruining y’all’s lives. Drowning is the leading cause of death on the water in Texas, and more than 75% of last year’s victims were not wearing life jackets. This season will be the first with new state laws in effect. Now, all motorboats must have at least one readily accessible life jacket for every single person onboard, even the too-cool-for-school teens, and everyone under 13 must wear a life jacket on a watercraft shorter than 26 feet and on a canoe, kayak, or paddleboat. Strap up, chillun. It’s the law.
This isn’t to say water is the only fun thing happening this summer for the little peace snatchers. There’s a bevy of camps, including a snippet of our faves below.
From June thru August, School of Rock (4608 Bryant Irvin Rd, Ste 454, Fort Worth, 817-332-7625) will offer several camps for all levels. For the 5-to-7-year-olds, there’s Rookies Camp (Aug 5-9), and for the beginners between 7 and 12, there’s Rock 101 (Jun 3-7, Jun 10-14, Jul 8-12). All the other camps are delightfully themed: Best of the ’90s (Jun 17-19), Taylor Swift (Jun 24-28), Pop Punk (Jul 15-19), ’80s Rock (Jul 22-26), and The Beatles (Jul 29-Aug 2). Visit SchoolofRock.com.
You’ll be amazed what your little people will whip up at Young Chefs Academy.
Benbrook Stables (10001 Benbrook Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-249-1001) is just a wonderful place, and if you’ve got a kiddo who loves animals as much as ours does, it’s a great retreat for summer learning and fun. And at Benbrook during camp two summers ago, when my child was still in the single digits and super-shy, he actually wrote down his email address on a slip of paper and gave it to a fellow camper, a young lady whom he described as “strong and a leader, just like Mom.” Dawwwww! And while love might not be in the air mingling with that lovely farmy aroma, there’s a ton to do at Benbrook to keep the youngsters’ feet firmly on the ground. Like when they’re not in stirrups, because campers won’t ride all day, but they will be doing some riding. They’ll also enjoy arts and crafts, grooming tutorials, hayrides, and even “refreshing horse baths on those scorching summer days.” Space is limited. Visit BenbrookStables.com.
Stage West (821 W Vickery Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-784-9378) is another local institution that does summer camps proper. The theater’s offerings are for kids 5-12 and cover all aspects of the stage experience, chiefly acting, stagecraft, and teamwork. This summer, it’s Finding Nemo: Musical Theatre Camp for kids 8-12 (Jun 3-7 and Jun 10-14) and the Ultimate Theatre Camp for kids 7-13 (Jun 24-28). Even if your little one is just a ham without any real interest in being onstage or in front of a camera or without any real interest in anything other than play-fighting his old man, like mine, they’ll be more than engaged and entertained at this Near Southside haven. Visit StageWest.org.
May 12 – August 25, 2024
As the father of a kiddo who loves to use his hands when he’s not play-fighting with me (connnnstantly), I highly recommend Young Chefs Academy (6333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 260, Fort Worth, 817-989-2433). Their camps are only three hours long, but — slap Bobby Flay with a fillet of flounder — do they pack a ton of learning into that meager time — and also a lot of delicious food that we parents get to sample afterward because we brought you into this world! Some standouts I recall were these fluffy, salty pretzels with a scrumptious savory cheese sauce and a velvety cupcake. #yum All skill levels welcome. Ages 7 to 15. Visit YoungChefsAcademy.com.
I have to say that, as the parent of a 504 kid, I can’t express enough how wonderful the good folks are at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, 817-255-9300). When my son was at one of their summer camps a few years back, he was assigned a special “helper,” a wonderful young man who walked him through all the assorted activities while making his day a little brighter in the process. Thank you. Anyway, the science center offers two kinds of camps: STEM Squad for rising first-thru-fourth graders and Junior Curators for rising fifth-thru-eighth graders. Reserve your spot now because they’re going fast. Visit FWMuseum.org.
And many faith-based organizations also have summer camps and programs this season. Read about some of them in Big Ticket under “Calendar” at FWWeekly.com. l
June 16 --September 15
While I’d really like to smack the sunglasses off the back of his head, I do love me some Guy Fieri. I recently visited Texas Live! (1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, 817-852-6688) and tried one of his concepts. Guy Fieri’s Taco Joint serves scratch-made tacos, salsas, and guacamole, paired with signature cocktails in a fast-casual setting. The margaritas are made with El Jimador tequila, Grand Marnier, fresh lime juice, and sweet-and-sour mix, plus the Caliente version also includes a jalapeno elixir. Foodwise, I’m a fan of the carne asada taco, which is grilled skirt steak with an avocado-tomatillo salsa, Cotija cheese, and sweet onions,
My renewed interest in Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives happened back in March. While working on our annual Zest issue, I wanted something food-oriented streaming in the background and found that all 55 seasons of DDD are on HBO Max. I made it through only some of them but did watch long enough to realize that a lot of North Texas spots were featured, including some in Tarrant County. If you will be a staycationer this summer rather than a world traveler, here are some destination-dining eateries that food travelers visit when they come to us. Be a tourist in your own backyard!
1.) The Dallas location of Cane Rosso was featured on DDD some 12 years ago (Season 14, Episode 5) and also on the spin-off show Triple D Nation. Serving authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, Cane Rosso has five area locations, including Fort Worth (815 W Magnolia Av) and
Arlington (200 N East St). Along with its artisan slices and pies, the place is also known for its animal rescue efforts. Read more about that in our annual Creature Comforts issue in late July.
2.) Chef Point Bar & Restaurant (5901 Watauga Rd, Watauga, 817-656-0080) appeared on DDD’s “Funky Joints” special (Season 6, Episode 1). The episode homed in on the gas station resto’s bread pudding served with a scratch-made cognac sauce and the epic Bloody Mary garnished with bacon, fried chicken, and more. It’s basically a meal in a glass.
3.) During the “Crankin’ Up the Classics” special (Season 14, Episode 3), Guy headed to Arlington with his favorite football player of all time, Earl Campbell, and checked out Chop House Burgers (2502 Little Rd, 682-213-2253). Guy was impressed with the beef and brisket blend, calling it “outstanding.”
4.) Given that it is a perennial favorite with our staff and readers alike, we were very interested to check out the DDD that showcased Fred’s Texas Cafe (7101 Camp Bowie West, Fort Worth, 817332-0083) back when it was in the West 7th corridor. (Artisan Circle, formerly Crocket Row, formerly West 7th, recently bought that old space, by the way. I can’t wait to see what they do with it.) The show focused on Fred’s steak with chipotle brown butter and the green chile and lamb stew, but Guy acknowledged that
the locals came for the burgers. Duh! Read our coverage of the DDD visit to Fred’s at Bit.ly/DDD_Freds.
5.) Jamaica Gates Caribbean Cuisine (1020 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, 817795-2600) impressed Guy with curry goat, goat head soup, and red snapper, stewed or fried whole. This restaurant has always been a staff fave, so DDD’s visit got our attention. Read all about it at Bit.ly/DDD_Jamaica.
6.) Along with falafel, shawarma, tabbouleh, and other traditional Mediterranean classics, Guy tried the Middle Eastern Breakfast Pizza on his visit to Prince Lebanese Grill (502 W Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, 817-469-1811, Season 7, Episode 4). This summer, you can also try Prince delights at some Texas Rangers games at Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, 817-533-1972). The Arlington Eats booth (near Section 101) will also house Ella B’s Restaurant, Sugar Bee Sweets Bakery, The Tin Cup, and Cartel Tacos, along with newcomers Shrimp Doc and TJ’s Catfish & Wings. Read more about this season’s ballpark food in our “And Boom Go the Sticks” article on FWWeekly.com.
7.) During Guy’s visit to Taste of Europe (1901 W Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, 817275-5530, Season 14, Episode 12), he was served Russian comfort food, including potato pancakes with meat inside. Not unlike Grand Prairie, Arlington lies smack between Fort Worth and Dallas, so our friends at the Dallas Observer took notice when the film crew hit the area. Read their coverage of this episode at Bit.ly/DDD_TasteOfEurope.
8.) While DDD stopped at the Deep Ellum location of Twisted Root (2615
As part of their revitalization of Crocket Row, now called Artisan Circle, Younger Properties recently acquired the old Fred’s space from DDD. The new location is on Camp Bowie West.
Commerce St, Dallas, 214-741-7668, Season 6, Episode 4), this Texas purveyor of gourmet burgers has 13 locations around the state, including some near us like Arlington, Bedford, Mansfield, and even DFW Airport. For the one nearest you, visit TwistedRootBurgerCo.com/ locations. Guy enjoyed a venison-and-bison burger with spicy fried pickles, but he really loved the Western Burger with pepperjack, bacon, onion strings, and jalapenos.
Over the years, Guy has visited Big D a lot, hitting up Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant (318 E Main St, Richardson, 972-234-9898, Season 14, Episode 10), Avila’s Mexican Restaurant (4714 Maple Av, Dallas, 214-520-2700, Season 6, Episode 13), Maple & Motor (4810 Maple Av, Dallas, 214-522-4400, Season 14, Episode 2), and Pecan Lodge (2702 Main St, Deep Ellum, 214-748-8900, Season 14, Episode 7), plus my personal favorite, Pepe & Mitos (2911 Elm St, Deep Ellum, 214-741-1901, Season 13, Episode 13). I recommend the botanas platter. The folks at iHeart media — who recently brought 97.1 The Eagle back to the North Texas airwaves (thank you very much!) — compiled a list of every local restaurant profiled by DDD through 2020. Check it out at https:// ihr.fm/3V85uf3. For those traveling the country this summer, find restaurants by state (including the most current episodes that may feature even more Texas spots) at Guy’s website, FlavorTownUSA.com. l
Tabor Farms: Harvest to Market Saturday, June 1, 2024 | 8-9:30 AM
Urban farming is big in North Texas and getting bigger! But what does it take to go from harvest to market? Learn about that and more during free Locally Grown Farm Experiences Presented by Texas Health Community Hope, the series features hands-on activities at a variety of local farms in our community. Spend a morning “on the farm” and learn from urban
farmers firsthand, gain growing tips, and discover how we can all support local farmers in their efforts to enhance community well-being.
The spring series continues with another opportunity for digging into the urban farming scene. On Saturday, June 1, head to one of Fort Worth’s hidden gems, Tabor Farms, for “Harvest to Market.” You’ll get a chance to check
out the farm and learn what it takes for urban farmers to get their harvest picked, prepped, and ready for the market. You’ll also learn about the ins & outs of urban farming and how you can support urban farms like Tabor Farms. You may even walk away with a few giveaways! The event is FREE but advanced registration is required. Registration is open until May 31 or
until the class is filled. Note, this event is designed for adults 18 years or older. Space is limited so sign up today at locallygrowntabor.eventbrite.com.
maximum chill with these fizzy, hemp-laced quaffs.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BY EMMY SMITHDisclaimer: I don’t proclaim to be a weed connoisseur, but I have been known to partake, particularly if I’m on vacation in a state where marijuana has been legalized. I’m still more prone to pop open a bottle of wine than light up a joint or pop a gummy because, as Steve Steward alluded to when we covered “loophole weed” not too long ago (“Let It Grow,” Apr 17), the government-sanctioned
stuff hits different — and not in a good way. Plus, you know, smoking is bad for you.
Then, while enjoying $5 Friday frosè at Roy Pope Grocery (2300 Merrick St, Fort Worth, 817-732-2863) with friends recently, I noticed quite a large selection of THC-based drinks just to the left of the coffee bar. Reading the labels, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the calorie count per serving is
significantly lower than even the lowest-calorie alcoholic beverage (about 40 calories), so I grabbed a few, along with a few “munchies” — it being a grocery store after all — to go. If you’re questioning the legality of such a beverage and how it can truly contain THC, the explanation is that “diluting” the THC into liquid form is the industry’s ingenious way of staying below the legal weight limit of 0.3%.
Part of me is hesitant to even put this in print for fear that some Republican bottom-feeder will make it his sole mission to have them removed from shelves, but for now, you can really find THC seltzers all over town, from Roy Pope to the watering holes of South Main Village, like The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @the_cicada_ftw), Tarantula Tiki (117 S Main St, Fort Worth, @tarantula_tiki), and Southside Cellar (125 S. Main St, Fort Worth, 682-703-2184), to any Total Wine and More.
After a month of careful, definitely scientific research by me and my pals, I’m here to declare this the Summer of (THC) Seltzer. I’ve compiled a list of locally availably libations, all with distinct flavor profiles, potency, and vibey-ness that will pair well with casual bar hangs, backyard barbecues, tailgating, enjoying live music, and more.
One huge perk? While some of these drinks, which run about $4-7 per can, had us chilling “in da couch” rather than hitting the town, none of them produced a modicum of a hangover the next day.
1.) Tejas Tonic Terp-Boosted THC Seltzer (5 mg THC + 15 mg CBD, 0-40 calories)
Available at: Roy Pope Grocery Taste: like a lime Topo Chico but with a strong marijuana flavor
This is the least delicious of the seltzers we tried but also contains zero
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calories per can for the Natural Lime flavor, so who can complain. These tallboys split 5 mg of THC and 15 mg CBD over 16 ounces of liquid, which means you can essentially drink these at a steady pace all day, but it’s also a lot of liquid. Like the PBR of THC seltzers. Some in our group claimed the 3:1 CBD-to-THC ratio made for a mellower effect.
2.) PowerHouse by Martin House Brewing Company (5 mg THC, 0 calories)
Available at: Martin House’s taproom (220 S Sylvania Av, Ste 209, Fort Worth, 817-222-0177), in cans or on tap and around town at places like Tarantula Tiki Taste: refreshing strawberry or lemon-lime fizz with no unpleasant aftertaste
Martin House paired up with Power Biopharms (which was co-founded by a TCU grad) to bring a tasty, hempbased alternative to their taproom for nonbeer-drinkers to enjoy alongside the brewery’s alcohol-based seltzers. The pleasant flavor of the PowerHouses combined with the good vibes on the banks of the Trinity made for a very chill Saturday afternoon recently, and drinking it on tap had a certain “being bad” novelty that our group enjoyed.
3.) Howdy Low-Dose THC Seltzer (2.5 mg THC per 12 oz, 0-20 calories)
Available at: The Chat Room Pub (1263 W Magnolia Ave, @TheChatRoomPub), The Cicada, Roy Pope Taste: Available in Ranch Water and Paloma flavors, these cans are going for a tequila cocktail vibe and mostly achieve it.
Proudly declaring “THC from Texas,” these 12-oz cans have a very light dose of THC for the amount of liquid, sort of like the Tejas Tonic. They taste better, though, and the potency-to-liquid ratio seems to make a little more sense. They made for enjoyable viewing as we sat on a vintage couch at The Cicada and watched a local band perform.
4.) Cali Sober Berry Ginger Seltzer (5 mg THC per 12 oz, 40 calories)
Available at: Total Wine and More (5200 S Hulen St and other locations)
Taste: like a fruity ginger ale, which covers up any lingering “weed” flavor adequately. Cali Sober claims its seltzers provide a “subtle uplifting feeling,” and I’d say that’s an accurate description, but a few friends reported the THC-toounces ratio made them feel “too high” too quickly for the pace at which they finished the can. (See? Scientific!)
5.) Cann Social Tonic (2 mg THC + 4 mg CBD, 50 calories)
Available at: Roy Pope
Taste: very flavorful (for better or for worse), but none of them had a strong “weed” taste
The marketing is strong with this one. Definitely the trendiest of the bunch, these pretty, skinny “hi-boy” cans come in hip flavors like blood-orange cardamom, lemon lavender, and grapefruit rosemary and are designed, per the website, to be consumed “sessionally,” or over an extended period. The herbaceous flavor profiles may be popular (looking at you, lavender latte people), but I found the odd flavor combinations off-putting. Others liked them, though, and they provided a similar uplifting feeling as the Cali Sober.
6.) 8th Wonder Lil Bit Seltzer (2 mg THC per 8 oz, 20 calories)
Available at: Roy Pope Taste: delicious, like a Truly Fruit Punch seltzer, which everyone knows is the best Truly flavor
This was our group’s overall favorite of the bunch. A four-pack of the 8-oz, 2 mg cans is easy to throw into a tote bag on the go, and the liquid won’t fill you up, but you’ll build up a nice buzz over time. Despite its size, the seltzer packed a punch of delicious cherry-lime flavor. 8th Wonder also makes a 12-oz, 8 mg can of lime seltzer that’s billed as the first ever in Texas, but we didn’t get to try it.
It goes without saying that while these may be nonalcoholic and low dose, they all do produce a high, even accounting for how long it takes you to sip a full can. You should still imbibe responsibly and designate a driver if you’re going to be enjoying them out and about.
The takeaway: There are some definite perks to swapping these drinks for boozy beverages, especially if you’re trying to cut out alcohol or calories. We should enjoy these (mostly) tasty, nonalcoholic fun-enhancers while we can before the powers-that-be take them away like so many other good things. l
We turn to our writers for inspiration for summer reading. Or ignoring.
BY WEEKLY STAFFFor the most part, summer is a great time to catch up on reading. There’s no Game of Thrones or other bingeable TV or even good sportsball to distract. So, fittingly, I asked all my writers what they’re reading now or are planning to soon, and while I neglected to include “free beer!” in the subject line, which usually draws them in like cops to a Black motorist, about a handful actually responded. Excuse me. Just had to catch my breath. For a version of this article that includes even more contributions, including one from an actual woman (I know, I know), visit FWWeekly.com.
Pulp Fictions
There’s always a comic or five in my reading queue. I’m revisiting a few from the Bronze Age, when I first started collecting, and a couple from the late 1990s/early aughts, when I returned to the medium after decades away, specifically X-Men and Detective Comics/ Batman. My favorites so far have been some Jack Kirby Captain Americas from the mid-to-late 1970s. They’re so wild and corny, I’ve been reading them to my wife, and we’re both giggling and sighing at the same time. One villain travels by motorized hang glider. I can just see a bunch of ’70s people back then, wearing their loud polyester suits, chain-smoking Camels, telling off-color jokes, thinking, “Hang gliders. This,
I like big books, and I cannot lie. Some “light” summer reading material.
this is the wave of the future.” Ah *snnnfffff, cough*, the ’70s.
We kicked off our Bronze Age Kirby excursion with a couple Cap s I had inherited from my older brother back in the day. I had only merely thumbed through them over the years because I hated “King” Kirby’s ultra-stylized, hyper-modern, patently unrealistic art. Real people didn’t have fleshy cinderblocks for hands. Real people didn’t have one, big, perfect row of a tooth instead of individual teeth. Real people didn’t have perfectly arched backs. It was only after I started drawing my own fantastical tableaux that I realized Kirby’s genius — see his covers to The Eternals for starters — and thought to give him a second chance. I’m glad I did. From a singular
artistic standpoint as much as a literary one, corniness and all.
Cap on his own, his cool-to-a-10year-old uniform notwithstanding, never interested me. He’s a fully grown Boy Scout with super-strength and -speed. Yawn. And I’ve always liked the promise of science fiction more than what I’ve regularly seen onscreen or between the covers — I’m less Star Wars, more 2001: A Space Odyssey. But put Captain America and sci-fi together like Kirby has, and magic happens. The main Kirby/Cap storyline I’ve been following these days involves (a’hem): a mad scientist concocting otherworldly creatures to somehow capture our hero and transplant Adolf Hitler’s brain (still alive, hanging out in formaldehyde) into Cap’s body while also reconstructing
his square-jawed face to resemble the Fuhrer’s. I haven’t been this addicted to an Awesome-capital-A plot since Season 6, Episode 5 of GoT (“The Door”).
When I’m not doomscrolling, I’m sneaking in reading when I can, mostly in the “office” (the bathroom) and in my car waiting to pick up my kid from school. And in ye olde 2008 Ford Escape is where I’ve been chipping away at a few book-books, least lacklustrously (should be a word) a 1966 novella. Still traditionally Pynchonian, The Crying of Lot 49 comes across a lot more cleareyed than the greatest living writer’s National Book Award-winning Gravity’s Rainbow and my favorite Pynchon novel if not my favorite literary text of all time, Against the Day, another
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20-pounder and a correction of sorts to Gravity. (Against/Day has a bona fide ending, for one thing, and it’s powerful.)
Lot 49 simply romps. Young Oedipa Maas wakes up to her going-nowhere marriage to a radio DJ (remember them?) before pinballing through the weird but surprisingly harmless underground of several fictional L.A. ’burbs circa the mid 1960s, drawn forward by a wild conspiracy about: a deceased real estate mogul’s estate, a secret postal service, the mob, a Jacobean revenge play, a psychic machine, a support group for broken hearts, and, finally and really not that importantly, the (fictional but deliciously named) teenage rock band The Paranoids. Pynchon’s narrative legerdemain and syntactical poetry take flight as brilliantly as usual. The chief distinctions: The Lot story unwinds linearly and maintains only one POV (Oedipa’s). You’ll rip-roar through it.
Now, for a word on pulp. We’re apparently not allowed to consume it anymore because doing so means we’re scared — of the end of capitalism, of the end of democracy, of the end of the planet — and we need to be braver and choke down some DFW or Franzen or Zadie Smith to broaden our meager horizons and face our assorted deaths head on. *talk-to-the-hand emoji* Just let me and my cocoon of fun, slightly creepy, totally mysterious, easily digestible stories with tidy, happy endings be. There’s nothing better than getting under the covers after a long day of doing whatever it is I do and swiping to some pure pulp on my trusty iPhone 10 (cellphones — also bad for you).
My reader app groans with pulpy novels, pulpy short story collections (Poe, Dickens, Spooky New England), and one super-pulpy series. Written by a rotating stable of contemporary mystery authors, The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes features mostly new takes on old Holmesian yarns plus some scrumptious pop-culture-infused T-RA-S-H. Holmes and Dracula, Holmes and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Holmes and the War of the Worlds, Holmes and the Ectoplasmic Man, Holmes and the Titanic, Holmes and Jack the Ripper
my wife and I have read them all. And have loved every trashy-ass word. After recently finishing the comparatively tame Cornwall Mermaid (starring Holmes’ daughter Lucy James), the wifey and I will soon move onto The Devil and the Four. That’s after we find out if Captain America becomes a reanimated Nazi leader. Insert: political joke circa 2024. — Anthony Mariani
I suppose the biggest takeaway from my daunting stack of tomes is that my taste in books (and in music, movies, TV shows, and clothing — as well as my general worldview and maturity level) was obviously arrested sometime around 2005. These selections prove that I’ve been kicking around the dusty bibliographies of the same handful of postmodern and post-postmodern writers since my late-night Denny’s coffee- and cigarette-fueled pseudo-intellectual “phase” in high school. A troubling social media addiction has probably robbed me of 15 years or so of time I would (should) have otherwise spent reading actual books instead of skimming through vaguely racist posts
from knuckle-draggers I went to high school with, but the silver lining is that those lost years have left me with plenty of material from my comfort-zone writers still left to plow through.
I’m currently through two of the three novellas included in a Gabriel García Márquez collection that I’ve chosen as a light treat of a read after an especially lengthy Jonathan Franzen novel. I find I follow this pattern in book selection. Like an inverse of my approach to dieting in which I’ll start the day with a nice, small, light meal for lunch, then around dinnertime consume enough food for three fully grown men, I’ll typically reach for a 150-pager after conquering a big, fat book approaching 1,000.
In honesty, the Márquez had been my planned palate cleanser after finishing The Power Broker, Robert Caro’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of New York development mogul Robert Moses which I thought I could hang with. I was moved to tackle that density by a group of local musicians who’ve started a book club around reading it together, but their investment is on a level I just can’t compete with. So, it sits with the receipt of its purchase as a bookmark just 100 pages in, taunting me for my lack of discipline.
As does Gravity’s Rainbow, which Weekly Editor Anthony Mariani suggests I drop in favor of a staunchly similar yet superior (in his opinion) Pynchon work, Against the Day. Yet Gravity is on all of these pride-challenging “How Many of These Great American Novels Have You Read?” lists, and I value a well-read, scholarly perception among my peers above all else, so I’m going to get to it. Someday.
Anthony also can’t comprehend my love for David Foster Wallace, whose infinite run-on sentences still influence me (as Anthony can certainly attest) and whose Brief Interviews with Hideous Men has somehow escaped me, therefore it’s probably next in the queue.
I look forward to DeLillo’s The Names because I’ll be going into it cold. I have no idea what it’s about and won’t before I begin it. He’s one of my most favorite writers. His prose is so lyrical yet unflamboyant that the narrative is often secondary to the words he uses to progress it.
Paul Auster was a love that was passed around our circle during that
pseudo-intellectual phase in the early aughts. I’d mostly forgotten about him until his death last month brought him from the recesses of my addled memory. His novel Moon Palace is one of my very favorite books of all time. Like the DeLillo, I’ll be going into 4321 cold, but if literally every other thing of Auster’s I’ve ever read is any indication, the main character will find himself homeless and living in a dumpster at some point, as Auster himself did in the 1970s in New York City. Though he uses it probably too often, his perspective on that life is always utterly fascinating. —
Patrick Higgins
One of the great things about being a film critic is that it forces me to keep reading. I’m constantly raiding the local library for novels, short stories, plays, graphic novels, and even the occasional epic poem whose movie versions are due out. Right now, this means I’m working my way through A.M. Shine’s The Watchers, a horror novel about a woman who becomes lost in the forests of Ireland and finds that the only refuge from the beasts that live there is a sealed modern furnished room that is unaccountably in the middle of the woods. It feels like exactly the sort of thing that would appeal to the daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, who is directing the movie.
I’ve also started on Rachel Yoder’s Nightbitch, about an overworked and frustrated mother who mysteriously starts transforming into a wild animal. It’s maybe the angriest piece of female fiction I’ve ever read, and I can’t get enough. That movie is slated for Christmas.
I do occasionally read for pleasure or when I have trouble sleeping at night. The book serving that purpose right now is Cait Murphy’s Crazy ’08, a chronicle of the wacky 1908 baseball season that not only tells of the Chicago Cubs’ World Series triumph that year but also delves into related subjects such as the number of deaf major league players at the time, the City Beautiful architectural movement and its effect on stadium construction, and the pitcher nicknamed “Slothful Bill” Lattimore, whose big-league career lasted all of four games for the Cleveland Naps (now Guardians). Athletes today don’t have nicknames that colorful or insulting.
Kristian Lin l
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While it may be difficult to rank the heat factors of a sweltering Texas summer, the steam sauna at some hoity-toity day spa, and the humid thickness of a crowd of sweaty concertgoers pressing all around you, we would argue only the last of these offers any measurable ROI. Texas is unbearable in July. A sauna is a giant waste of money because if we want to sweat our unmentionables off, all we need do is walk outside anytime between mid-May and mid-October. Yet for music fans, live shows can release a dump of dopamine larger than a lifetime of likes on the socials. Though the number of venues in town is certainly slimming, those spots still in the game are running full steam, and their calendars are full of reasons to get off your couch and sweat with your peers all up in your personal space, receiving that electrifying dopamine burst like Thanos gaining the last Infinity Stone. Some say live music is dying. Well, it ain’t dead yet. Here are just some examples to prove it’s not.
If you ever find yourself pining for the days when The Shins and the Postal Service vied for the top spots in the soundtrack of your life, then the Pedro
the Lion show on Sat, Jul 13, at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817367-9798) is for you. The seminal indie rock band likely occupied a slot among the burned compilations in the CD wallet sliding across the dashboard of your ’99 Accord in 2005. Tickets are $27.50-75.
Another huge Tulips show is Sat, Jul 20. That’s when the Near Southside venue will fill up with Dallas legends the Polyphonic Spree and their robed-hippie choral pop. Tickets are $30.
Few more summer Tulips shows to sell you on. On Wed, Jun 12, The Grae will do their stone-y shred thing along with garage-punks LABELS, The Gravehounds, and Intake Drywall, and on Fri, Jul 19, it’s the classic-country twang of Emily Nenni. On Sat, Aug 3, Henry the Archer headlines a bill that also includes DFW soul-rockers Royal Sons and the fempowered Gluestick, and all are invited to come worship at the altar of L.A.’s La Santa Cecilia as they deliver their heartrending baladas románticas and other Latin-tinged musics on Mon, Aug 12.
A few blocks away in the neighborhood on the same night as the Henry/Royal Sons/ Gluestick throwdown (Sat, Aug 3), The Cicada (1002 S Main St, TheCicadaFW. com) does not intend to be outdone. One of the best bands North Texas bar none, the pop-rocking Son of Stan will be joined by the groovy One-Eyed Monster and Psychic Love Child. A few days earlier, on Mon, Jul 29, the powerful Sarah Shook & The Disarmers will take the Cicada stage at 8pm.
Singer-songwriter Keegan McInroe celebrates the release of his seventh studio album, Dusty Passports and Empty
artists. The next few months feature dates with Justin Timberlake, Blink-182, Cage the Elephant, Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, and (!) Janet Jackson. Phew! Cowtown is officially in the big leagues as a national tour destination. However, it’s an international artist who’s grabbed our attention. Peso Pluma makes his Dickies debut on Sun, Jul 28. Why should you care? In only about a year’s time, the charismatic singer has rocketed to the top of the charts with his novel blend of pop and traditional Mexican music. Tickets for his canceled Jun 30 show are valid for this one.
Known for craft beer, scrumptious pizza, and, of course, live music, Fort Brewery & Pizza (2737 Tillar St, Fort Worth, 817-923-8000) will host full-band performances by old-school country stylists Summer Dean and Jeremy Pinnell on Sun, Jun 2. The brewery will offer its full menu to go with its dog-friendly, all-ages atmosphere.
Speaking of brewskies, Rahr & Sons Brewing (701 Galveston Av, Fort Worth, 817-810-9266) will host the hip-hop hijinks of J/O/E on Fri, May 31, with DJ Lazy Tapez providing the dance tracks. Entry is free.
Beds, with a show at the beautiful Rose Chapel at Southside Preservation Hall (1519 Lipscomb St, Fort Worth, 817-9262800). The rootsy troubadour intends to perform all nine songs in order 8pm Fri, May 31. Tickets are $15.
Riot grrrls and allies, Denton will be the place to be on Sat, Jun 22, when Andy’s Bar (122 N Locust St, Denton, 940-3013535) puts on Riot Girls Fest. MZ Bossy, Ex-Regrets, Rosae, Side Chicks, and DJ Lady Ja-Roq will perform. Tickets are $10, and proceeds benefit the nonprofits Finn’s Place and DoGoodDenton.
Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-402-9000) looks to keep running up the score in mid-level occupancy concert revenue with a summer schedule of absolute juggernaut national
If you like it even heavier, then you gotta drop by the Haltom Theater (5601 E Belknap St, Haltom City, 682-250-5678), where hot rockin’ is de rigueur. One major summer throwdown is part of the Retrace My Steps Tour with Saints Can Lie, Third & Delaware, Donella Drive, and Terminated on Sat, Jun 15 The following week, on Wed, Jun 24, Big Story, Set//Adrift, and Mother of the Bride will hit the Haltom stage.
In a seemingly unusual genre flip, the legendary Stockyards dance hall Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, 817-624-7117) welcomes “The People’s Champ,” H-town/Get-down rapper Paul Wall, who will no doubt send question marks floating above countless cowboy hats in the crowd on Thu, Jun 20. l
We haven’t even made it to Memorial Day, and the most hated organization in the entire state, the Energy Reliability Council of Texas, has already issued warnings about our archaic “freedom”-fueled electrical grid standing up to high demand from “unusually” hot days. In addition, a super-soaker of a spring has meant the only thing we hate more than ERCOT — mosquitoes — are about to enjoy their own Hot Girl Summer and descend upon us in numbers rivaling nepo babies at Coachella. And as the general election campaign season gets ready to kick off in earnest, it looks like we could be in for a particularly hellish summer.
However, bloodthirsty mosquitoes and campaign robo-texts aren’t the only things amassing in giant numbers. Musicians both near and far are about to unleash a swarm of new music that an industrial-sized bug zapper or an army of intimidating “poll watchers” couldn’t keep at bay. So, slather on the SPF, bathe yourself in OFF!, pop in those AirPods, and let these upcoming summer releases cool you off. This listicle is in no way comprehensive, just a mix of newsworthiness, our interests, and nice artists who’ve reached out to us.
If your tastes lean to ’90s underground indie-rock like Pavement and Modest Mouse, you should be looking forward to the debut full-length from Spring Palace. The Fort Worth three-piece is currently tracking its upcoming Rodeo Fortune with Jordan Richardson (Son of Stan, Oil Boom) at his Electric Barryland studio.
Equally ’90s-esque, the indie-rocking Hotel Satellite are releasing the single “Nothing Much Happens (World’s Greatest Mess)” — recorded in Dallas at Modern Electric Sound Recorders with Joel Raif (Leon Bridges, Cameron Smith) — in late July.
Mandy Hand hinted at new songs from her dream-pop outfit Big Heaven coinciding with a couple upcoming gigs: Saturday at Growl Records (509 E Abram St, Arlington, 682-252-7639) and Fri, May 31, at The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, TheCicadaFW.com).
Fort Worth indie-rockers Spring Palace are set to release their full-length debut later this season.
International troubadour Keegan McInroe will release Dusty Passports and Empty Beds at the end of this month. The release party for his seventh studio album is 8pm Fri, May 31, at Southside Preservation Hall (1519 Lipscomb St, Fort Worth, 817-926-2800).
Lisa Hardaway and her pop-rock group Darstar are working on two singles for summer, “Chubby Thighs” and “Ghost of Bleach,” plus a handful of new tracks that need to be committed to wax which she and her mates will release by “bread crumbing” them on streaming platforms.
One of Fort Worth’s most prolific artists, hip-hop producer Phil Ford, a.k.a. BLKrKRT (pronounced “Blacker Karat”), is piecemeal releasing an 11part series of instrumentals infused with piano-based jazz, R&B, and soul. Ever an intellectualist and a student of historical civilizations of color, Book of Hermes is inspired by ancient Egyptian/Kemetic mythology and invokes The Emerald Tablets, a set of texts about history, geometry, and spirituality. Ford has been putting out one volume at a time every Thursday since Apr 4, with the next installment, Part 8, due this week.
For a dose of heavier sounds, hardcore punks Antirad have a self-titled EP set for the end of May. Frontman Brad Barker said they’re not trying to “reinvent the wheel” but instead lean into their West Coast roots, promising eight raw and raucous blitzkrieg tracks.
Old-school riot grrrls Ex-Regrets have been releasing singles every month since March with a full album slated for fall or later. Their next single, “Keeping Up with the Joneses,” comes out Friday, and they’ll be tearing shit up at Growl Records with another kickass fempowered band, Hen & The Cocks, plus Bullet Machine and Blanket of M on Fri, Jun 14
For country-tinged singer-songwriters, we’ve been teasing the debut album from the electrifying Jessi England for a bit now and are hoping summer sees it through. Until then, there’s more than enough rustic tuneage to tide us over, including Hannah Owens, who has a new single en route, her first in four years. Summer Lane looks to make a return with an upcoming album as well, and next month, Colton Sanders sets off “Wildfire,” a new single.
continued on page 41
Beyond the great local shows and national acts in town this summer, what’s happening out of town? Get a wild hair, follow one of your favorite local bands to a date across the state, and take in some tourist sites while you’re at it. Get in, loser. We’re going touring.
You can always count on Cut Throat Finches for a good time. Their recent album release party at a skating rink looked epic. Follow them this summer to some Texas shows, including a free one on a back porch under a water tower ’neath a blanket of stars at Central Provisions (223 FM 480, Center Point, 830-634-3663) with Landon Lloyd Miller 7pm Sat, Jun 28.
But if you really wanna get away, you can find Cut Throat in Colorado at the Ouray Riverside Resort (1804 N Main St, Ouray, Colorado, 970-3254523) on Tue, Jul 23. This place has a trading post with all the supplies you need on-site, so just enjoy your stay at the cabins or the inn and have some barbecue, hear live music at the on-site Smokeouse restaurant, and take a dip in the hot springs pool. For particulars like pricing and where the afterparty bonfire might be, keep an eye on CutThroatFinches.com.
Tejas Brothers have a big summer ahead of them, including the Flying Pig Festival in Mineral Wells Sat, Jun
14; the Dosey Doe Big Barn in the Woodlands Sat, Jun 22; and at San Marcos Plaza Park for Summer in the Park Thu, Aug 8.
Their big-ticket show is the 8750’ BBQ & Music Fest in Red River, New Mexico, (100 E Main St, Red River, New Mexico, 575-414-8887) Fri, Aug 16. This three-day festival includes cooking competitions and live music each evening Fri-Sun at the historic Motherlode Saloon on the festival grounds. Our local boys will be joined by a couple other 817’ers, namely Josh Weathers and Jack Barksdale. Marquee acts Ray Wylie Hubbard, Mickey & The Motorcars, Uncle Lucius, Dale Watson, and more
round out the bill. Tickets start at $39 at 8750Festival.com.
If you’re longing for some great Cajun food and can spend your upcoming fourday weekend for Memorial Day in NOLA, catch up with North Texas’ DJ Dogstyle while you’re there. He will be spinning vinyl with special guest E Maxmillion at Soul Rotisserie, an event full of funk, soul, classic R&B, modern tunes, and more at the Dew Drop (2836 Lasalle St, New Orleans, Louisiana, 504- 948-3002).
For more road dates from your favorite local musicians, see the expanded version of this Crosstown Sounds column at FWWeekly.com under Calendar.
The Troumatics plan to release a couple singles over the summer and then put out an album in the fall. “I Am a River,” produced by Todd Pipes (Deep Blue Something), is a tune about fake news and “how we are metaphorical rivers that have to stay true to ourselves,” said frontman Stephen Troum, “and keep on flowing.” The indie-rockers are working with producers Joe Tacke (Mean Motor Scooter, Cory Cross) and Peter Wierenga (Spring Palace, Sur Duda, Siberian Traps) on the other tracks.
Arlington indie-poppers Cherry Mantis are applying their jazzy, math-rockish style to existing songs. An album of covers, Cherry Covered hits the streets later this summer.
The hard-charging Caterpillars are about to pump out their fifth studio album. After the Flood is set for a tentative Aug 16 release.
And while we here at the humble Weekly naturally tend to be hyper-locally focused, we are still aware that there’s also great music elsewhere. Chiefly, we’re looking forward to the 75th (!!) studio album by — with apologies to Dr. Opal Lee — perhaps the greatest Texan to ever live. At the end of this month, 90-year-old Willie Nelson offers The Border. The title track is a cover of a Rodney Crowell tune, a haunting tale of a desert dweller existing amid the greed of cross-border corruption and violence. It has all the chilling, tragic beauty of a Cormac McCarthy novel sung in the depths of Willie’s register.
One of the biggest, best albums of the summer came out only a few days ago. Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft is sort of a snapshot of the dynamic, rangy singer now and a good look at how far she’s come since arriving fully formed on the international scene only a few years ago. The sonic mood is still shadowy and minimalist, though there are moments when the charismatic goth really stretches out, even dipping a little into the blues and jazz.
Fresh off their mind-bending psychedelic performance at Las Vegas’ Sphere, the world’s lynchpin jam band (and perennial music-snob punchline) Phish looks at a Jul 12 release for their next studio album. Evolve will likely be a much more enjoyable listen than the Imagine Dragons album coming out Jun 28. After a few decades of performing toddler-friendly lyrics over scribble-y, jazz-noodling solos for sunburnt wooks and the various other creatures that frequent the jam-band festival circuit, what form does Phish evolve to? Our money is on “Amfibian.”
Summer closes with Wild God, the first album in five years from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Cave says the Aug 30 release is “complicated” but “deeply and joyously infectious.” Which, of course, could also describe the entirety of the Bad Seeds catalogue. l
Email stacey@fwweekly.com today!
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