AltWeeklies Wire
Record Store Day is around the corner. What are you getting?new
Saturday, April 21 marks the 5th annual Record Store Day, that special time of year for vinyl-nuts and casual collectors, scalpers, and super-fans alike to come together and salute both the independent record store and the glory of the physical format release.
San Antonio Current |
J.D. Swerzenski |
04-20-2012 |
Music
The Grasshopper Lies Heavy/God Townes: 'In Love'new
Record Store Day was made for releases like this: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy (the name is a reference to Philip K. Dick’s classic novel The Man In The High Castle, by way of the Bible) and God Townes.
San Antonio Current |
Leonard Pierce |
04-20-2012 |
Reviews
Zammuto's second act pays homage to his pastnew
Nick Zammuto has been many things in his life: an entry-level grunt at an L.A.-based pharmaceutical company, an Appalachian Trail hiker (literally, not figuratively), and for six years a devoted homesteader on a Vermont mountaintop where he and his family built a house and grew most of their food. But the 2011 breakup of the sonic scrap-heap pop group the Books — which Zammuto occupied opposite cellist Paul de Jong through a decade of critical acclaim — resulted in two new jobs: serving as public relations and front man for his new project, which bears his surname.
San Antonio Current |
Adam Villela Coronado |
04-20-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Invisible Friendsnew
A year after the release of their first album, 1995's A Typical and Autoctonal Venezuelan Dance Band, Los Amigos Invisibles moved to New York and soon after got a call from an enthusiastic David Byrne, who'd found the album at a local record store and turned into an instant fan. They hung up on him.
San Antonio Current |
Enrique Lopetegui |
04-20-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Héctor Lavoe: 'Anthology'new
Fania, the legendary salsa label, is often compared to Motown. Both companies spearheaded musical movements during the '60s and '70s. Both groomed a stellar roster of artists who yielded hit after hit.
San Antonio Current |
Agustín Gurza |
04-20-2012 |
Reviews
The Shins: 'Port of Morrow'new
Port of Morrow is a bit of a conundrum. On some levels, it represents a sea change for the band, perhaps appropriate given that “the Shins” is now nothing more than James Mercer and a bunch of other guys.
San Antonio Current |
Nicholas Hall |
04-20-2012 |
Reviews
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: 'The Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook'new
Since pigeon-walking his way onto the 1977 charts, Elvis Costello has amassed a huge catalog of classic pop songs and genre experiments.
San Antonio Current |
Chuck Kerr |
04-13-2012 |
Reviews
Esperanza Spalding: 'Radio Music Society'new
Esperanza Spalding is jazz's first bona fide star in decades. Understandably so: she's attractive, immensely talented, and plays an instrument bigger than she is.
San Antonio Current |
J.D. Swerzenski |
04-13-2012 |
Reviews
Los Tres Reyes: 'Romancing the Past'new
On the surface, the romantic trio/bolero tradition is the ultimate old-fashioned Latin genre that appeals more to corny romantics than those into serious musical chops.
San Antonio Current |
Enrique Lopetegui |
04-13-2012 |
Reviews
Selena: 'Enamorada de ti'new
Is it OK to mess with pre-existing Selena vocal tracks and songs? Should we touch them at all?
San Antonio Current |
Enrique Lopetegui |
04-13-2012 |
Reviews
Nothing is Saakred: Introducing enigmatic Melissa Ruizesparza Rodrigueznew
Even though the annual shadow cast by SXSW has receded, it often seems like San Antonio's musicians labor in the perennial penumbra of Austin's music scene.
San Antonio Current |
Jeffrey Wright |
04-05-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Mars Volta: 'Noctourniquet'new
The Mars Volta is back. Back from a three-year hiatus, back from the bad Ouija trip of two albums too full of concept, and back to where they left off with the eerily melodic and sculpted chaos of 2006's Amputechture.
San Antonio Current |
James Courtney |
04-05-2012 |
Reviews
Two new releases keep Janis Joplin's legacy alivenew
Port Arthur singer Janis Joplin, who would've been 69 this year, is back in the record business with two "new" releases.
San Antonio Current |
Enrique Lopetegui |
04-02-2012 |
Music
Stephen Jackson Delivers on Hardwood and Mixtapenew
NBA player Stephen Jackson has dabbled in music over the years, and during the NBA's recent stoppage of play he embraced the opportunity to step back to the mic.
San Antonio Current |
M. Solis |
03-30-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
2012 Most Underrated Band: The Rich Handsnew
For a bunch of young bucks, the Rich Hands are a surprisingly mature, unified band that crank out absolutely infectious and tight rock 'n' roll jams that are over so quick that you're not ready to let go of them.
San Antonio Current |
James Woodard |
03-30-2012 |
Music
