Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2007 > April
April 2007
Weekend Picks: Free soul, free drinks, free Devin the Dude
Cheapskates and hustlas rejoice! While last weekend was chock full of tight urban entertainment options, most of them required a little change. This weekend, there are a mess of parties and festivals catering to the empty-pocket crowd (the better part of my posse). With complimentary drinks at the Firehouse on Friday, a Scion-sponsored Devin the Dude show at the Beauty Bar on Saturday and a free soul shakedown at our favorite goat-friendly Eastside Lounge, it’s a fine weekend to be broke in Austin.
Friday: No Excuses party with DJ Diamond Tip at the Firehouse Lounge. Featuring Diamond Tip on the ones and 20/20 (aka Ike of Mike and Ike) holding down host duties, the theme of this party at the swanky Firehouse Lounge is “just ‘cause we feel like it.” Without specifying exactly what drinks or how early, the news release promises complimentary drinks early and specials all night. In any case, Diamond Tip, who lends cuts and scratches on the Projeckt’s recent release, should keep the dance floor hot all night. And yes, the event is free, but don’t show up looking too shambly. The Firehouse does enforce a dress code.
Friday: East End Fourth Fridays. Austin’s Eastside Block Party is back, and merchants and clubs in East Austin invite you to experience “the Soul in the heart of the city.” DiverseArts’ word/jazz lowstars will play an open-air set at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard; the Austin Woman’s Film, Music, and Literary Festival takes over the Carver and Cafe Mundi; and the Texas Music Museum’s Texas Jazz exhibit will be open. The party kicks off at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., avant-jazz icons The Thing with Joe McPhee play at the Victory Grill. Many events are free, The Thing concert is $13 in advance, $15 at the door.
Friday: Stone Sounds of Soul at the Rio Rita. As East End Fourth Fridays winds down, the party picks up at the Rio Rita where cats from Friends of Sound, Waxploitation and KOOP Radio’s recently retired “Soul Sauce” join forces to bring the “rawest and rarest funk/soul sounds ever laid in wax.” In addition, guest DJ Mr. Finewine who hosts Downtown Soulville on NYC’s indie radio station WMFU will be in town shaking up the scene. The Rio Rita doesn’t have a full bar yet, but if you pack a flask, they’ll gladly sell you setups, and cold beer will be available all night long. Best of all, it’s free, daddio, free!
Friday: Brokebread CD Release at Flamingo. Up-and-coming Austin MC Brokebread drops his debut CD, and a veritable who’s who of Austin hip-hop talent shows up for the party. Bavu Blakes, Tee Double, Global, DJ Tats and more will all be in the house. $5-$7
Saturday: Eeyore’s Birthday and Chinese Boat Races. The Austiniest of all Austin events, Eeyore’s Birthday Party is scheduled for Saturday at Pease Park. The music headliner is Tribal Nation, and the DJ section of the party on the north end of the park provides a contrast in vibe if the tripping hippies at the drum circle start to overwhelm you. If Eeyore’s is a little too Austin weird for you, but you’re still looking for outdoor entertainment Saturday afternoon, try the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and Races at Festival Beach on the Northeast banks of Town Lake. Both events are free.
Saturday: Devin the Dude at the Beauty Bar. Sure, there are other things you could do, but nothing says Saturday night like the hazy, sing-song, certainly blunted flow of Houston legend Devin the Dude. Devin just dropped his new joint “Waitin’ To Inhale” earlier this month, and although I haven’t heard the whole thing, the tracks I have checked all go hard. And in the true “Anything is Plenty” spirit of the dude, this Scion-sponsored show on the Beauty Bar patio is 100 percent free. More info.
Saturday: Jamie Foxx at the Erwin Center. Odds are that if you have $60 to shell out for a ticket, you’re probably not reading this blog, but I do feel obligated to tell you that Mr. “Unpredictable,” musician and comedian Jamie Foxx, is at the Erwin Center this weekend. Of course, it should be a good show, and tickets are still available at this point. $60. Online tickets.
Sunday: Brazil by Way of Music at Antone’s. The blues-rock headliners Doyle Bramhall and Derek O’Brian are a little less interesting to me than jazzman Ephraim Owens and the “famed Brazilian community orchestra, Seu Jacinto” who play earlier in the evening, but overall this event is for a good cause that I can get behind. World Preparatory, who I mentioned earlier this week, are gearing up to take 12 Austinites on a cultural learning trip to Brazil. And although I’m terribly jealous of the lucky participants, I think this kind of international exchange is important. $12. Online tickets.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Midweek madness (and free beer!)
There are so many great midweek events over the next few days, I feel obligated to do a mini midweek version of my Weekend Picks.
Tonight (Tuesday): Top Drawer Tunes and Brews. My girl Rebecca who hosts “Now Playing Austin” on KOOP Radio will be down at Top Drawer Thrift on Burnet Road spinning some “funky pressed wax” from 7 to 10 p.m. With true thrift store prices and consistently cute merchandise, Top Drawer is one of my favorite Austin thrift stores. Tonight all clothing will be an additional 50 percent off and St. Arnold’s Brewing Company will be in the house serving free brews.
Wednesday: Local Celebrity at Barcelona. Local MC Zeale 32 plays a free set and Table Manners Crew DJs Digg and Tats (who, incidentally, killed it at the Pete Rock show last weekend) will keep the dance floor hot all night long at this free show.
Wednesday: Fishbone at Emo’s ’90s funk-trash icons Fishbone storm the stage at Emo’s. $13.
Thursday: Cine Las Americas ‘Inside the Circle’ Director Marcy Garriott spent several years following Romeo Navarro’s B-Boy City Competition. Through the process this story of two Texas B-Boys and their “struggle to keep dance at the center of their lives” emerged. Watching a dance battle at B-Boy City is a downright exhilarating experience. Apparently SXSW film-goers caught that vibe from this flick, as it took home the 2007 Audience Award. 7 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. $7 Online tickets.
Thursday: Gator Fundraiser at Dominican Joe’s Gator, from the excellent up-and-coming ATX hip-hop unit Public Offenders, has been offered an opportunity to travel to Brazil for 3 weeks this summer to learn about Brazilian music and culture. The trip, organized by a nonprofit called World Preparatory, will also include volunteer work on community service projects in the Favelas. Public Offenders and their friends will perform at Dominican Joe’s to try to raise money. Almost Urban wholeheartedly endorses this sort of international cultural exchange, and my girl L. Boogie swears the Flan latte at Dominican Joe’s is off the chain. Show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Live shots: Pete Rock and Prince Paul at the Parish
Pete Rock had top billing on Friday night at the Parish, but Prince Paul emerged as the star of the show. An enthusiastic Paul dug through his crates to take the audience on a journey beginning with hip-hop’s origins in New York City in the ’80s and then moving forward through time. Paul bounced back and forth between both coasts with fly-bys dedicated to the Midwest and the Dirty South. The crowd remained thick from the front of the stage deep into the house throughout his set.
Pete Rock didn’t actually hit the stage until after 1:30 a.m. He seemed a little distracted and dropped a couple cuts that Prince Paul had already played before announcing 15 minutes into his set that he had only 15 minutes left to go. It was kind of weird. After his set, Pete Rock made a beeline for the back room of the club, while we tried to figure out what happened.
While Pete’s performance was a little disappointing, overall the show was still solid. Prince Paul put it down hard, and Chicken George and Tats wrecked shop in their opening set. Put those cats on four turntables and they’re downright dangerous.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Weekend picks: Hip-hop legends, Reggae, Custom rides and more
While last weekend was a light on urban entertainment, this weekend is chock full of options. From a killer show at the Parish on Friday night featuring hip-hop legends Pete Rock and Prince Paul to the two-day reggae fest at Auditorium Shores to a custom car show and concert with Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, there’s a little something for everyone.
Friday: Prince Paul and Pete Rock at the Parish. I was already pretty amped about this show when it was just Prince Paul on the bill, but the addition of Pete Rock makes it a true school East Coast hip-hop celebration of the highest order. Prince Paul, you might recall, helmed the board on De La Soul’s 1989 debut album “3 Feet High and Rising,” a joint that was a good 20 years ahead of its time. In the process, for better or for worse, the man invented the hip-hop skit, brief comic interludes between tracks. He later went on to co-found Handsome Boy Modeling School. More recently, he’s been hosting “The Ill Out Show” on XM radio’s Rhyme 65 channel, and also VH1’s “The (White) Rapper Show.”
Pete Rock is a legendary rapper and producer known for both jazzy beats with distinctive bass hooks and intelligent lyricism. He first caught the limelight for his early 90s collaborations with CL Smooth, which are universally considered hip-hop classics, and later went to do production work for everyone from Nas to the Wu-Tang Clan. Speaking of classics, Rock claims that Puffy jacked the beat for the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy,” in my humble opinion, one of the greatest hip-hop cuts of all time, after hearing it at Rock’s home studio. I’m inclined to side with Pete on this one. In any case, this show should be hot. Very hot. $15. Online tickets.
Friday: Dirty Wormz, Zeale 32, KJ Hines and more at Antone’s. This show, headlined by rap-rockers Dirty Wormz, has a powerful lineup of locals on the bill, including feisty young newcomer KJ Hines. In addition, local hip-hop production powerhouse Carnival Beats will be on site filming artist drops for their upcoming DVD “Live From ATX.” $10, all ages show.
Friday: Easy Star All-Stars at Flamingo Cantina. Last time this New York City reggae collective came to Austin, with a dubbed out version of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon,” they packed the house at Flamingo Cantina. This time they’ve taken on Radiohead’s “OK Computer” to create “Radiodread.” I predict the house will be packed once again. $15.
Friday: ReBirth Brass Band at Ruta Maya. Looking for some good old-fashioned Nawlins-style brassy funk and soul? These cats have definitely got it. $18-$20
Saturday-Sunday: Austin Reggae Festival at Auditorium Shores. A long-standing Austin spring tradition, this fest has evolved in recent years from a Bob Marley festival into a broader rasta-themed event. It’s also become somewhat more expensive, but with the price comes higher-dollar entertainment. NYC’s Easy Star All-Stars headline the fest on Saturday, and Morgan Heritage from Jamaica headlines on Sunday. Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca are also on the bill Sunday.
Like most outdoor fests in Austin, no outside food or drinks (save one unopened bottle of water) are allowed as vendors will be on site. Feel free to bring your mild-mannered pup, but keep him on a leash, and interestingly, while there’s no camping at Auditorium Shores you can bring a tent. Hmmm… The festival is a benefit for Capital Area Food Bank, so pack a couple cans of nonperishable food to donate to the cause. A portion of the entry fee also benefits the food bank. Festival starts at noon each day, $10 at the gate.
Saturday: Ohn CD release at the Karma Lounge. I first stumbled across an Ohn CD a couple years back when I first started doing a show on KOOP radio. It was cool but a little too electronic for me. I rediscovered the band earlier this year when they submitted tracks to SoundCheck360. Frankly, I was blown back. The band’s overall sound has matured with complex compositions anchored by catchy polyrhythmic grooves, but really, it’s the recent addition of vocalist Allison Scharf that’s elevates this band into a whole new dimension. Her hazy voice wafts in and out over jazzy soundscapes with an effortless sensuality that’s hard to resist. In my opinion, Ohn is easily one of the most interesting acts in Austin right now. But why take my word? Listen for yourself. Cover unspecified, but free CDs for all who attend.
Saturday: Morgan Heritage at Flamingo Cantina. Can’t make the Reggae Fest on Sunday? Check out the headliners, the Jamaican family band Morgan Heritage on Saturday night. $15
Sunday: Bone Thugs custom car show and concert at Fiesta Gardens. First off, Bone Thugs shows are sometimes a little dodgey in as much as you never know exactly which Bones will show up. I’ve heard tales of failed frat parties which were all Thugs with nary a Bone in sight. However, this event is sponsored by hip-hop station Hot 93.3 FM and does have a steep enough cover that I fully expect the lineup to include at least enough Bones to provide ample thuggish harmony. In addition, the event features a custom car show, freestyle and breakdance competitions and more. Festival begins at 11 a.m. $25.80.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Video: Grupo Fantasma backing Prince
Two short clips of Austin’s all-terrain cumbia funk unit backing the Purple One at a Super Bowl party in Miami. The videos are blurry and the sound is distorted but still, it’s Grupo Fantasma backing Prince. It made me hype.
Grupo Fantasma plays the Old Setter’s Music Festival in Round Rock on Friday night.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Live shots: De La Soul at the Parish
At the last minute last night I decided I’d be a fool if I didn’t at least try to check the free De La Soul show last night at the Parish. By a fortuitous turn of events, I managed to get in the door, and the show was off the chain. Seriously. I haven’t screamed that much at a show in a hot minute. Those cats are amazing performers, and it’s a joy to see a group of hip-hop artists who have been together for 20 years and still enjoy each other’s vibe. Good stuff.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Eastside living: Butter and treasure on East 12th Street
Visitors to the Black Butterfly, a boutique at 1717 E. 12th St., are uniformly met with a warm greeting and a cheery smile from the store’s owner-operator Gloria Henry-Manor. When the Black Butterfly opened 2 years ago, it was an Afrocentric clothing store, but in the past six months or so, Gloria has shifted the emphasis to natural beauty products, which she considers her true passion. Alongside African-themed gifts and cards, she stocks a full line of Nubian Heritage lotions and body washes which are rich in African shea butter.
Gloria also sells raw shea butter by the pound for $16.99, and for special occasions she sometimes mixes up her own custom fragrance blends. Her Valentine’s Day gift baskets, which contained chocolate-covered strawberry scented shea butter, were a big hit. Visitors to the Black Butterfly are encouraged to create their own scents at the store’s natural fragrance bar, which includes oils for men and women housed in separate racks. One of the men’s fragrances is a blend called Bob Marley. No, it doesn’t smell like weed.
The fragrance oils can be purchased individually or mixed into shea butter on the spot. A small vial of oil costs $2.99 and a 6-ounce container of shea butter will run you $6.99. Those of us who spend way too much money in chain stores like the Body Shop and Bath & Body Works know this is a good deal, especially as all purchases from the Black Butterfly come nicely packaged in colored gift bags with a classy black butterfly stamped on the side.
As Gloria expands her business, she hopes to branch into natural make-up. She’s already doing custom color blends for a few of her loyal customers. Eventually, Gloria hopes to open a Black Butterfly spa featuring natural body products and a down-to-earth vibe.
The Black Butterfly is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
Across the street from the Black Butterfly, a new thrift store called Treasure City has recently opened. Treasure City is a volunteer-run nonprofit staffed by a friendly anarchist collective. The goal of Treasure City is to give 60 percent of proceeds to local community organizations including Inside Books, Theater Action Project and Resistencia Bookstore. With a motto of “Solidarity not Charity,” a flurry of grass-roots community activism has taken place on the spot since Treasure City opened. Bikes Not Bombs moved in next door and Food Not Bombs serves free meals for the community in front of the store on Wednesdays and Fridays. The awesome mural on the back of the building was created by graffiti artist J. Muzacz along with a group of youths he’s mentoring.
Treasure City hosts Sidewalk Sale Saturdays twice a month with goods piled in front of the store for 25 cents a pop. Your girl picked up a wooden wine rack and a cool retro salt and pepper shaker set for 50 cents at last week’s sale. Inside the store a jumble of odds and ends, housewares and knickknacks are in the front room, and racks of clothing and shelves of books are further inside. Treasure City is a true thrifter’s thrift store. Much of the inventory is priced under $5. Most shirts are priced at $3, pants and dresses are $4 and skirts and shorts are $3. Children’s clothing ranges from $1-$2. There is actual treasure at Treasure City, but it does require patient digging to unearth it. The Almost Urban thrift store score award went to my homegirl Laura Rios who scoured the Treasure City racks to find a classic Levi’s 501 denim jacket in perfect shape for $7.50.
Treasure City Thrift Store is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Weekend picks: International Austin in full effect
While it seems like a good part of the Austin urban music scene is still shaking off the sleet from the freakish weather that shut down the Texas Relays last weekend, this is shaping up to be a fantastic weekend for world music in Austin.
First, on Friday night, vocalist Zein Al-Jundi celebrates the release of her latest tracks, recorded in Beirut, with an Arabic Hafleh at Spin (the club formerly known as Sky Lounge) on Congress. Al-Jundi, a former child singing sensation in her native Syria and owner of Austin’s Arabic Bazaar, is a true diva and master of classical Middle Eastern sounds. In addition to music and belly dancing, her parties include authentic Arabic food and crafts for sale.
Saturday’s international events start early with The Bengali and South Asian New Year Celebration at Zilker Hillside Theater, which kicks off at noon. As my desi brothers and sisters probably can guess from my conspicuous name, your girl is half a Bengali. While my father spent the later part of his youth in Calcutta, I’ve always been fascinated by his stories about his early childhood in the jungles of Bangladesh, where tribal customs defined village life, and each night he drifted to sleep with the sound of tigers roaring in the distance. The Zilker celebration will include music, dance, food, henna and a chance to mingle with your South Asian neighbors. Later in the evening at Bates Recital Hall on the UT campus, music professor Stephan Slawek presents an evening of Indian classical music featuring himself on the sitar accompanied by modern master Subrata Bhattacharya on the Tabla.
Also on Saturday night, the Sabaya belly dance troupe presents Sahara Nights at Copa Bar & Grill. Sabaya includes some of my favorite Austin belly dancers including Yasmin, Maribel and the lovely Rania, a full-blooded Egyptian with a sublime intuitive understanding of Middle Eastern rhythms. If you show up at 9:30 p.m., you can take advantage of free belly dance lessons. The troupe performs at 10:30 p.m. and DJ Avatar closes the night with a set of global grooves.
Finally, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Indian Classical Music Circle of Austin presents a Grand Hindustani Vocal concert featuring Rashid Khan at the Texas Union Theater.
(photo: Zein Al-Jundi, taken by Ricardo Acevedo)
Friday: Arabic Hafleh with Zein Al-Jundi at SPIN. $18 adv, $23 door (includes food).
Saturday: Bengali and South Asian New Year Celebration at Zilker Hillside Theater. Noon to 10 p.m. Free.
Saturday: Indian Classical Music Concert at Bates Recital Hall. 8 p.m. $10 gen., $5 students.
Saturday: Sabaya presents Sahara Nights at Copa. 9:30 p.m. $5 before 10 p.m., $7 after.
Sunday: ICMCA presents Rashid Khan at Texas Union Theater. 4 p.m. $5-$20
Also worth checking
Friday: Afrofreque at Maggie Mae’s. Free
Friday: FameCast hip-hop finals. Free, RSVP at VIPtickets@famecast.com.
Friday: Prince Sing-along at the Alamo Drafthouse. $10
Friday-Saturday: Comedian Wanda Sykes at Cap City. $32-$35
Saturday: Rock the Casbah with DJ Mel at the Parish. $9
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
Fishbone still packs a killer cacophony
I was pretty pleased to find the new Fishbone CD, “Still Stuck In Your Throat,” sitting on my desk when I came in to work on Monday morning. Somewhere between the funk of Parliament and the screech of Jane’s Addiction, this ska-soul-metal-punk-rap fusion act emerged in the ’80s, packing frenetic energy and a solid wall of sound. I’m surely dating myself to admit it, but the first show I went to in college was Fishbone with Primus at First Avenue in Minneapolis in 1991. I fought my way through the crowd at First Ave. and spent the better part of the show plastered against the front of the stage, watching in awe as “Dirty” Walter A. Kibby II spat out crunchy flourishes on his piccolo trumpet and singer Angelo Moore waved his arms wildly, coaxing the mosh pit at the front of the stage to move in a massive circle.
On the first listen, “Still Stuck In Your Throat” didn’t really grab me until I hit track 4, “Party With Saddam” (the first single), with its bold horn line, bouncy ska backbeat and tightly harmonized chorus. The early part of the album seemed a little more grumble than groove. But I suspect some of the complexity of the band’s cacophony was lost in the crappy sound system of my little Ford Ranger. When I gave the album a second spin with headphones on, I could pick up the fast-paced flute line cascading over the growling guitars on “Let Dem Ho’s Fight,” as well as the hysterical lyrics praising strip-club brawling. By the time Angelo’s voice rose to a tortured howl over the slow blues groove of track 5, “We Just Lose Our Minds,” I was sold. More than 20 years after the band dropped their first EP, Fishbone is still slapping together thrash, funk, ska and soul in a vibrant mix that is absolutely their own. The clincher is the final track of the album, a cover of Sublime’s “Date Rape.” The harrowing tale of karmic justice is told with a ferocious blend of skank and storm and the end result is downright dangerous.
Fishbone plays the inside stage at Emo’s on Wednesday, April 25.
Why is the Beyonce Barbie white?
I spent a few minutes catching up on my favorite blogs today, and in the midst of rampant speculation over Jay-Z’s alleged Caribbean love-child and Don Imus’ hateful heart, I stumbled across this truly troubling question on Radar Online: “Why is the Beyonce Knowles Barbie doll white?”
In fairness, she’s not exactly white, but…
Permalink | |
Urban Music Festival postponed
Due to severe weather conditions, including record low temperatures and rain and sleet, today’s Urban Music Festival performances at Auditorium Shores have been cancelled. Organizer Donell Creech said that festival staff explored the option of moving tonight’s performances to an indoor venue but finally decided that the logistics of moving the audio and lighting sets would be too complicated. Around 4:30 p.m., festival organizers made the decision to pull the plug on today’s event and reschedule the performances for a later date. The new date will be announced within 30 days, and all tickets for today’s performances will be honored. Urban Music Festival organizers ask that festival patrons who bought two-day or VIP passes hold on to their wristbands. “You can cut them off, but keep them around,” Creech said.
Creech had no comment on whether the Urban Music Festival had rain insurance.
Visit urbanmusicfest.com for more information and updates.
Permalink | |
Shivers and soul at the Urban Music Fest
In a way, it’s kind of hard for me to write objectively about the Urban Music Festival because I’m in love with the idea of it. I want to believe with all my heart that there is room in a country-rock town like Austin for a large-scale music event devoted to hip-hop, soul and r&b. Last year’s Urban Music Fest (which was a single-day event) seemed scarcely attended during the daylight hours, but as the sun went down, the crowd poured in to catch the evening’s headliner Chaka Khan. This year, the fest was extended to two days with Friday’s lineup focused on neo-soul and Saturday’s featuring old school funk.
Once again, the crowd during the day was sparse, but tonight as the sun went down, it was cold. Freakishly, unseasonably cold. No doubt, the weather contributed to a less than robust turnout. I also think ticket prices might be a little high for the target demographic, people with kids. Yes, it’s a full day of music, and yes, children 12 and under are admitted free, but $30 advance ($35 at the gate) still seems a little high for a family event at Auditorium Shores. I’m no mathematician, but my gut instinct is that a $20 ticket would pull a much larger crowd. The venue, after all, has the capacity to hold thousands, so there’s little danger of a sellout. I know a fair number of people who really wanted to go to the fest, but couldn’t quite swing the $30.
Nonetheless, the folks who were present seemed to have a great time, the music was fantastic and all of the performers were very warmly received. Angie Stone is a true goddess, Kindred and The Family Soul brought so much true love to their set that I desperately longed for my man, and The Urban Soul Band is very possibly my new favorite Austin r&b act.
What follows is a blow by blow recount of Almost Urban at the Urban Music Festival.
4 p.m. Things are just getting started over at Auditorium Shores. The gates have only been open for 30 minutes and the crowd is sparse. The VIP area at the front of the stage is empty, but the cluster of folks gathered by the soundbooth on the hill responds enthusiastically to the Christian soul of Spirit Groove, which is fitting; it is, after all, Good Friday.
5 p.m. KJ Hines puts down a short but tight set. The kid’s got serious skills. He’s also only 17 years old. Keep him on your radar.
5:45 p.m. The Whut It Dew Fam is probably the most versatile hip-hop crew in the ATX. Their act plays well to all sorts of audiences. On the national mixtape scene, Rapid Ric has been killing it for Texas for a minute now and Chalie boy is insane. His unique blend of soulful song and rap adds a rich depth to all the group’s tracks, and I just love to watch the man on stage. The group also functions well as a unit. Bavu Blakes was given top billing at this performance, but the four men with mics split the front and center time equally, which is refreshing. After spending the better part of the last 5 years with a hip-hop scene comprised almost entirely of solo artists, Austin needs a good solid crew.
6 p.m. Urban Soul is a youth r&b group consisting of seven kids ranging in age from 12 to 18. The band is an offshoot of the Soultree Collective, a fledging program designed to nurture the talents of young Austin musicians. Urban Soul’s chief band mentors are members of veteran Austin r&b act Unified Tribe. With a trio of dangerous young female vocalists and a band that’s already well-versed in the art of groove, the kids have serious potential. Plus they’ve got that effusive youth energy. I love this group!
6:30 p.m. Jean Baylor is best known as half of the ’90s vocal group Zhane. Her set is a little slow, but the setting sun on her face is lovely and her breathy voice carries a lot of heart.
7:11 p.m. Anthony David gets the biggest crowd response of the evening so far. A cry goes through the crowd as comedian Joe Torrey introduces him. He begins his set a capella, his plaintive voice full of soul, seasoned with grit. He performs solo accompanying himself with an acoustic guitar and the crowd loves him.
7:35 p.m. The space seems to be filling out a little. Last year, too, the crowd showed up late, after the relays. This year the weather isn’t helping with the turnout. As the sun goes down, it’s starting to get chilly, and a good portion of the crowd seems wholly unprepared. Nonetheless, when Detroit neo-soul artist Dwele takes the stage he’s warmly received. I’ve been a big fan of Dwele for a minute. More than just a vocalist, he’s a multi-instrumentalist who does much of his own composition. I love him for his complex arrangements and the way his vocal gymnastics send delicate syllables tumbling over each other in passionate flurries.
8:25 p.m. Kindred and the Family Soul really is music for the grown and sexy. They launch into their set with a stirring testament to mature love, then slip into “Sneak a Freak,” a funny track, not about creeping on your mate, but instead about trying to get a little lovin’ without waking the kids. The love between the husband/wife duo of Fatin Danzler and Aja Graydon is so deep and sincere it’s a beautiful thing to witness. The soulful love songs combined with the chill in the air make me wish my own special someone was here to snuggle with.
9 p.m. Comedian Joe Torrey doesn’t really tell jokes at the Fest. As MC for the evening, he focuses on crowd interaction, singling out audience members and customizing quips for them. He drops my favorite on a lady in the VIP, “You enjoying the show? I got some barbeque sauce backstage. I could put it on your toes.” His silly slurping noises make it hilarious.
9:18 p.m. Angie Stone is a true soul queen. Even the folks who shelled out (or hustled hard) for front row seats in the VIP are on their feet as she takes the stage. All of the evening’s entertainment has seemed somewhat skewed toward the ladies but Angie more than anyone else embodies female empowerment. She calls out to the women in the audience and speaks frankly about her struggles with a music industry that pushes image over sound. She’s even considerate enough to coax her male backup singer out of three layers of clothing for the sole purpose of shamelessly objectifying his sculpted chest. (Yes, ladies, Angie Stone loves you like that.)
A gracious performer, Stone takes the time to introduce each member of her backup ensemble individually and gives each musician a moment to shine. Overall, her vibe is solid. Down to earth. She sings, she dances, she even busts a rhyme. The crowd does love her. They scream, they sway, they sing along. But the weather is tough, my own hands are going numb, and I’m not the only audience member who’s already making my way toward the gate as she sings her final notes.
Permalink | |
Weekend Picks: Relays on the side
Is it possible that the addition of the Urban Music Festival (now in its second year) to Texas Relays Weekend will, over time, create a small-scale brown alternative to the annual ubiquitous street carnival that is SXSW? There has always been a massive social component to the Relays, but as the music festival grows, drawing more quality artists into Austin, perhaps it will up the entertainment ante. In any case, even if the two-day soul and funk jam at auditorium shores isn’t your speed, there are a mess of urban entertainment options this weekend. I’m listing the ones that caught my eye. You can find more over here and there are even more parties listed on thescrewshop.com. I don’t have concrete price information on some of these events, so I’ve provided links and numbers when available, but don’t forget to factor in the inflationary effect of any mass population influx downtown on drink, door and parking prices when you’re budgeting your outing this weekend.
Friday events:
Paul Wall, Lil’ Flip and more at Maggie Mae’s. This is billed as a CD release for Lil’ Flip hosted by Houston’s DJ J-Que of 97.9 ‘The Box’. Paul Wall and the Grit Boys are listed as official entertainment as well. I’ve also heard rumors that underground Houston heavy hitter Trae might show at this one too. Reservations and Information, (832) 489-8894.
Air Up There Celebrity B-Ball Game and after-party. Huston-Tillotson University hosts The Air Up There celebrity basketball game at Mary Branch Gymnasium at 900 Chicon St. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the game starting at 7. A portion of ticket proceeds benefits a HTU student scholarship fund. After the game, if you’re young enough or pimp enough to not feel a little creepy in an 18 & up club with sleazy built into its mission statement, Ozone Magazine is hosting the official after-party at Spiro’s. Rapid Ric will be holding down the wheels in the main room and the celebrity guest list includes the entire Whut It Dew Fam, Carnival Beats and a veritable who’s who of eastside movers and shakers.
DJ Kid Capri at Spin Lounge. Austin Renaissance has taken over the Congress avenue space formerly known at the Sky Lounge to host a swanky party with DJ Kid Capri, Def Comedy Jam veteran and one-time side man for everyone from Grand Puba to Puffy. Dress code strictly enforced, Internet presale tickets are $25.
Saturday events:
Paul Wall In-store at Music Mania. The man and his legendary grill will be in the house at this music store in the Fiesta plaza signing autographs (and perhaps dropping a verse or two) beginning at 4 p.m.
‘Willhustle.com’s H.A.W.K. benefit show and day party at the Light Bar. At the free day party from 1 to 7 p.m. (which is billed as a music industry mixer) they’ll even throw in a free lunch if you show up before 3 p.m. There are a whole host of acts I’ve never heard of on the bill, but the name that jumped out at me was Kenika. This fiery female commanded the stage at the UGK show at Visions during SXSW, which became even more impressive after the cats from Zion I who followed her were practically booed off the stage. The girl is definitely on my radar. Later in the evening a free tribute to fallen Houston emcee H.A.W.K. is on the bill with Big Moe, Big Pokey, Dok Holiday and more.
Slim Thug at Maggie Mae’s. Flava TV and Key Players Entertainment present the Fourth Annual Grand Finale at Maggie Mae’s and Houston emcee Slim Thug is headlining.
B-Boy City’s Planet Rock party at the Parish and Ring the Alarm at Copa. Two consistent winners that should be even hotter with the Texas Relays crowd in the mix. Heavy on the breakbeats, old school vibes and today’s killer moves the Planet Rock parties, hosted by Romeo Navarro and crew are always a lot of fun. Pumas vs. Adidas is generally the theme, but just show up ready to move. (18 & up, $8 at the door) A little more on the upscale side, the Caribbean throwdown at Copa featuring DJ Baby G is a perennial fave of the grown and sexy Austin urban set. Dress to impress. (21 & up, $7 at the door.)
Permalink | |
And the winners are …
We’ve got some good news to pass along to two Almost Urban readers.
Dimple Neville and Krissie Hansboro are the winners in our Urban Music Festival ticket giveaway. Each will receive a pair of passes for Friday’s shows.
Thanks to everyone who entered — and there were many of you.
Be sure to check out Almost Urban all weekend long for updates from the festival. Our A-Listers will also be out in full force, snapping photos.
See you there.
Permalink | |
Bavu Blakes named METV Urban Music Director
Bavu Blakes, veteran Texas mc and host of METV’s urban music show “Smooth,” has been named urban music director for the Austin-based regional music television station. In his new position, Blakes will oversee soul, rap, reggae, gospel, jazz and blues coverage at the station. Blakes is a sharp and savvy well-connected man on the scene with a deep knowledge of all aspects of urban music culture in Texas. Almost Urban wholeheartedly approves of METV’s decision to tap his expertise.
METV airs 24/7 on cable channel 15 in Austin.
(photo by Alexander Richter)
Urban Music Fest ticket giveaway
Almost Urban has two sets of tickets for Friday night’s Urban Music Festival performances to give away to readers of this blog! Acts on the lineup for Friday night include Angie Stone, Dwele, Kindred the Family Soul and Rapid Ric’s Whut It Dew Family. (Friday is actually the night I’m excited about.)
To enter the giveaway send an e-mail with the subject Urban Music Festival to austin360contests@statesman.com. We’ll announce winners on Thursday at 2 p.m. The tickets must be picked up at the Austin American-Statesman security desk (located at 305 S. Congress Ave.) before 5 p.m. on Thursday or between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday. The Urban Music Festival takes place at Auditorium Shores. For more info visit urbanmusicfest.com.
Day and night at the Rio Rita Cafe y Cantina
I was grabbing a couple slices at East Side Pies last week when an innocuous pale blue flier on the wall caught my attention. It was an ad for the Rio Rita, describing the spot as “a mild-mannered coffee shop by day, a swanky lounge by night.” I was intrigued. On Saturday, I decided to give the club to the old Almost Urban truth-in-advertising test, and dropped by both in the afternoon and then again later in the evening. I wasn’t disappointed.
The Rio Rita is not a new club per se. The bar has existed on the east side of Sixth Street for over 40 years with a storied, sometimes violent past. After a period of vacancy, the club was recently taken over by Donya and Randall Stockton (owners of Beerland) who reopened the Rio Rita in early March, just in time for SXSW.
The current incarnation of the Rio Rita is a far cry from its rowdy predecessor. During daytime, sunlight streams in through the brightly painted orange security bars on the front windows and the espresso machine cheerily whirrs away in the background while gentle fish float in a wide tank built into one wall. A sparse assortment of light food offerings, including pizza from the aforementioned East Side Pies is available, as well as free wireless Internet. It was a lazy day at the cafe when we dropped by, but both our barrista Chad and the few loitering regulars were friendly. They made sure we met their favorite neighbor, Yagi the goat, beloved pet of Australian Cattle Gods record label owner Bryan Nelson and his fiance, rollergirl “Peachy Mean” of TXRD’s Rhinestone Cowgirls, who live next door.
When we returned to the spot later in the evening, the vibe was still quite low-key, but the swanky lounge potential of the club was clear. Right now the Rio Rita only serves beer and wine, but an application for a full liquor license is in the works. The back area of the bar is designed for clandestine sipping, with four distinctly decorated seating areas separated by ceiling-to-floor curtains for a sense of intimacy.
Music is provided by a CD jukebox on the wall. For $2 I put together an eight-song mix which included tracks by Nina Simone, Gilberto Gil and Stan Getz, The Heptones, Bob Marley and The Pixies. (The only hip-hop CD in the player is the soundtrack to “Hustle and Flow”. A few old school Tribe or De La cds, or perhaps one of Guru’s “Jazzmatazz” joints could round out the offerings a little, without disrupting the loungey vibe.) There are no plans to book live music at the Rio Rita, but the possibility of DJ events is being explored. Currently, the Rio Rita hosts the Nocturnal Film Society on the back porch with “the best in bizarre cinema” every Wednesday through Friday at 10 p.m., and the owners plan to start doing “Twin Peaks” Mondays (complete with cherry pie) in the not too distant future.
It’s a funky little spot, close to downtown, but off the beaten path, with that all-too-rare Austin bar feature — parking. East Austin is hot right now, with houses flying off the market as soon as they are listed and new condos going up on every corner. With a bohemian vibe and hipster-friendly vintage decor, the Rio Rita is likely to do well.
Permalink | |
Services »
