AltWeeklies Wire
Blind Musical Prodigy Juanito Castillo is 19, and He Knows What He Wantsnew
It seems like only yesterday Juanito was a little boy with an accordion in his hands, playing for crowds at Market Square and local church festivals. Hailed as brilliant at an early age, Juanito quickly moved up the ranks to the conjunto elite and captured the attention of many Tejano musicians on the scene.
San Antonio Current |
Kiko Martinez |
07-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Eric Hisaw Explores a Childhood Fascination with the Carnie Lifestylenew
The glowing 13-track pseudo-concept record--Hisaw's lengthiest release to date--blends an old-school mix of rock, country, Americana, and pop.
San Antonio Current |
Clint Hale |
07-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pregnancy Inspires Thalia's 'Lunada' Beach Fantasiesnew

"In Lunada, I wanted to invoke all my favorite summery songs of all time," Thalia says. "I started to think about the time of my adolescence and the songs I would listen to during the summer. I was pulling together all my favorite songs and writing new songs in the process."
San Antonio Current |
Kiko Martinez |
07-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sean Castillo and the Hubcaps Find the Honky-tonk/Rockabilly Sweet Spotnew
For more than 25 years, Castillo has honed his rock'n'roll chops by playing theme-park circuits and the occasional Texas honky-tonk, and through it all, he has shared the stage with a parade of iconic American roots-music figures.
San Antonio Current |
Sonya Harvey |
07-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Ramon Hernandez Squeezes a History of Latino Music into His Apartmentnew

In the early 1960s, he began collecting literature, periodicals, recordings, photographs, and other memorabilia on Latinos in the music industry, from the crooners of the '40s to the rock 'n' rollers of the '50s to anyone who has ever been associated with Tejano, conjunto, and musica ranchera.
San Antonio Current |
Kiko Martinez |
06-25-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Toadies are Back, but Even They Can't Say How Long It'll Lastnew
But less than a year removed from a sold-out reunion tour, and with a new album -- No Deliverance -- slated for an August 19 release, Lewis will soon learn whether his band will, in fact, live on beyond drunken karaoke versions of "Tyler" and the occasional radio spin of "Possum Kingdom."
San Antonio Current |
Clint Hale |
06-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Swindles on Songwriting, Senioritis, and the Nebulous Nature of Americananew
With a family, a day job, and 46 years under his black cowboy hat, Mitch Webb — particularly when it’s a gig-free week — doesn’t get out as often as he once did.
San Antonio Current |
Clint Hale |
06-11-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Singer-songwriter Jason Eady Followed a Few Rabbit Trails To The Crossroadsnew
Backed by his band the Wayward Apostles, Jason Eady's new album, Wild-Eyed Serenade, wanders from honky-tonk to swamp soul and alt-country ramble with a crackle and an assurance you’d expect from far more experienced hands.
San Antonio Current |
Chris Parker |
06-04-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Madge vs. Miminew

Madonna and Mariah Carey take their battle to the record stores and dance floors.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
04-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tiempo Libre Goes Orchestralnew
It's not easy for them, but the members of Tiempo Libre are learning to control their energy.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
04-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Filipino Fist is Back and He's Bringing His Friendsnew
Before launching that coast-to-coast tour with Kid Koala, DJ Jester will treat San Antonio to a round of shows, and for one night at the Limelight he's bringing a few special friends along.
San Antonio Current |
M. Solis |
04-16-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Heavy Metal Cowboynew
Fans of metal-core group Brotherhood might be surprised to learn that frontman Rod Nichols devoted his teen years to competing as a semi-pro bullrider, achieving local-phenom status by the time he graduated from high school.
San Antonio Current |
Nicole Chavez |
04-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Brotherhood, Despised
The Fleshtones Won't Go Quietly Into the Nightnew
More than 30 years into a career that's seen them laugh in the face of ridicule and spit in the face of imminent success, the Fleshtones are staging their own revival.
San Antonio Current |
Chris Parker |
03-26-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Take A Good Look, The Fleshtones
Dianne Reeves Makes Concept Albumnew
Dianne Reeves isn't generally thought of as a songwriter, but when it came to wrapping up her new album, she knew that the closing statement she envisioned had yet to be written. So she wrote it herself, with more than a little inspiration from her mom.
San Antonio Current |
Gilbert Garcia |
03-26-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Dianne Reeves, When You Know
Charlie Sexton: Haberdashernew
Sexton makes the journey from guitar prodigy to MTV idol to respected producer.
San Antonio Current |
Chris Parker |
03-19-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Charlie Sexton