POLL: Your Favorite San Antonio Band

OK, I thought about getting one of those free "Put a poll on your weblog" kind of things, but those usually involve multiple-choice questions, and I don't want to limit the choices like that. So I will ask here:

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SAN ANTONIO BAND?

You can post your answer in the "Comments".

Please feel free to elaborate on your answer. Why are they your favorite band? What do you like about them? Whatever extra you'd like to say about them.

I'll go first:
I've already mentioned that Texas Radio is one of my favorites. I like to go see them because they play a lot of songs from my favorite artists. They sound good. They usually pack the place. XES (formerly known as Spent) used to be my favorite, but evidently they broke up, and if they have re-formed, I don't know about it. I liked them because Robb, the singer, was very dynamic, a lot of fun (and very nice and funny); they played a lot of songs that I liked (stuff by Tool, Bush, White Zombie, etc.); and they had some awesome originals.

OK, your turn...

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Technorati Tags: San Antonio - Music - Bands - Polls

Machine Head at White Rabbit

I just got news that Machine Head will be playing at the White Rabbit Wednesday June 1 with Devil Driver and It Dies Today.

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Technorati Tags: San Antonio - Music - Bands - Machine Head

Vans Warped Tour

Tickets for the Vans Warped Tour go on sale April 30 at 10:00 AM at Ticketmaster. They will be $30.50.

The Vans Warped Tour will be here Sunday, June 26 at Verizon Wireless. Bands include The Offspring, Billy Idol, Atreyu, Boys Night Out, Fall Out Boy, MxPx, My Chemical Romance, Simple Plan and many more.

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Technorati Tags: San Antonio - Music - Bands - Vans Warped Tour

SPOTLIGHT: Vallejo

Ok, I know that Vallejo is technically from Austin, but Austin is closeby and they play in San Antonio a lot. They are playing here at Jack's tonight and tomorrow. They will also be at Jack's Monday, May 2 and at Sam's Burger Joint Saturday, May 14.

I have not yet seen Vallejo perform, but I plan to go see them at Sam's on the 14th, so I will post a review then if all goes well. I did, however, listen to some of their music on their website. (You can find audio and video samples under "extras.") On the first 4 videos, the sound quality was poor, so I couldn't really judge, but the fifth one, a clip from Local Licks Live, sounded great! Vallejo describes themselves on their website as "striking blend of modern rock grooves, potent guitar work, Latin percussion and soulful lyrics."

Vallejo was formed in 1990 by three brothers, A.J., Alejandro and Omar and later added James "Diego" Simmons and Heath Clark. The group moved to Austin in 1995 and was voted the city's best rock band of 2000. They have toured with such bands as Matchbox 20, Fuel and Stone Temple Pilots. Their song "Rock Americano" was featured on MTV's "Real World" and "The Inferno". They have put out 8 albums and are working on their ninth, which they say promises to be the "ultimate Vallejo album."

From a review on austinlive.com from 2001: "Vallejo doesn't just do a gig - they perform an incredible, high voltage, Latin inspired hip-hop funk rock show that leaves the audience exhausted from the nonstop energy."

From a review of Stereo on AustinExperience.com: "Vallejo has a special talent for writing rock songs that no only get people's heads bobbing, but infects their entire body. Listen to Downtown or Rock Americano and see if you can really resist the urge to shake your rump."

I, as I said, plan to go check them out at Sam's. Sounds like a fun experience. Plus I believe they are playing with Del Castillo, another Latin rock band from Austin. (I am in the process of verifying this, as I don't see the date listed on Del Castillo's website.) I remember Rick del Castillo from waaaay back when he used to play with a band called Bad Habit and haven't seen him perform in years. He was an awesome guitarist back then and I can imagine he's only gotten better.

ADDED NOTE: I just got confirmation from Del Castillo that they will indeed be playing at Sam's Burger Joint on the 14th.

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Technorati Tags: San Antonio - Music - Bands - Vallejo

Judas Priest at Verizon Wireless

Judas Priest tickets go on sale this Saturday (April 30) at Ticketmaster. Judas Priest is playing at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 PM. Opening act is Queensryche. Ticket prices will range from $20.00 - $54.75.

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Technorati Tags: San Antonio - Music - Bands - Judas Priest

mtvU Campus Invasion at St Mary's May 3rd

mtvU's Campus Invasion '05 is coming to St. Mary's University May 3, 2005. Muse is the headlining band. Opening for them is Razorlight. Plus, MTV will be hanging out at the campus from 10:30 to 3:30 filming student testimonials and handing out VIP passes and offering "games, prizes and quality swag." Read more about it at mtvU.com.

If you don't know about Muse, you can find out about them and listen to some of their music at their official site. They are an English rock trio that are often likened to Radiohead. They have some pretty good songs.

If you don't know about Razorlight, you can find out about them and listen to some of their music at their official site. MTV describes them as a "...stylish, fizzy mix of Strokes sensibilities and post-Brit pop cool." I had never heard them before, but I listened to some of their music, and they sound pretty good.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster for $15.00.

ADDED NOTE: This concert has been moved to Sunset Station. All else remains the same. According to Ticketmaster, tickets purchased for St. Mary's will be valid at Sunset Station.

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Technorati Tags: San Antonio - Music - Bands - Muse

About Me

I have had several people asking me questions about myself, so I figured I'd go a little off-topic and address these questions.

What I do for a living: I am a web designer. And I work cheap! So, if anyone needs a web page, let me know :)

A couple people have asked about my writing and education:
I have a bachelor's degree in English from UTSA. Took a few classes in creative writing. I have only had one piece of writing published, a short story in Cactus Alley, UTSA's literary magazine. The same story was also published in an online e-zine. That's it. So I don't quite qualify as a "writer", but I like to write.

A couple people have asked if I'm a musician:
I'm a musician about as much as I'm a writer. My mother taught classical piano. She had a masters from Eastman school of music and did some time at Julliard. She was an excellent pianist. She did her best to teach me and I can play piano some, but she never could get me very interested in learning music theory. Same with guitar...I took guitar lessons and I can play some guitar. I have an Oscar Schmidt acoustic (cheap $100 guitar) and a BC Rich Mockingbird electric. I'm not a "musician", but I like to play.

Several people have asked me exactly what kind of music I listen to. Simply, I would answer "rock", but I guess I'll get more specific. The only way I know to do that is to give some examples, so here's just a very small sample of my Napster library:

311 - "Down"
A Perfect Circle - "Judith"
Adema - "Freaking Out"
Aerosmith - "Kings and Queens"
Afroman - "Because I Got High"
Alice Cooper - "Steven"
Ann & Nancy Wilson - cover of Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore"
Anthrax - "I'm the Man"
Bad Company - "Rock Steady"
Barenaked Ladies - "One Week"
Beck - "Loser"
Better Than Ezra - "Desperately Wanting"
Billy Thorpe - "Children of the Sun"
Black Sabbath - "Fairies Wear Boots"
Blackfoot - "Train, Train"
Blind Melon - "No Rain"
Blue Oyster Cult - "Godzilla"
Blur - "Song 2"
Bob Dylan - "Rainy Day Women"
Bush - "Everything Zen"
Butthole Surfers - "Pepper"
Cake - "Rock 'n Roll Lifestyle"
Candlebox - "Far Behind"
Chevelle - "Mia"
Collective Soul - "Shine"
Coolio - "Gangsta's Paradise"
Counting Crows - "Mr. Jones"
Cracker - "Low"
The Crystal Method - "Trip Like I Do"
Danzig - "Mother"
Deep Purple - "Perfect Strangers"
Def Leppard - "Wasted" (the only good song they ever had IMO)
Default - "Somewhere"
Dishwalla - "Counting Blue Cars"
Disturbed - "Stupify"
The Doors - "People are Strange"
Dope - "Everything Sucks"
EMF - "Unbelievable"
Everclear - "Father of Mine"
Extreme - "More Than Words"
Faith No More - "Epic"
Flaw - "Whole"
Foo Fighters - "Everlong"
Fuel - "Jesus or a Gun"
Godsmack - "Serenity"
Gravity Kills - "Guilty"
Green Day - "Brain Stew"
Guns & Roses - "Sympathy for the Devil"
Heart - "Dog & Butterfly"
Helmet - "Unsung"
Hole - "Violet"
Incubus - "Stellar"
Iron Maiden - "Flight of Icarus"
Jane's Addiction - "Been Caught Stealing"
Jesus Jones - "Right Here, Right Now"
Jet - "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
Jimi Hendrix - "Star Spangled Banner"
Jimmie's Chicken Shack - "High"
Joe Cocker - "Can't Find My Way Home"
Joe Walsh - "The Confessor"
Judas Priest - "Desert Plains"
Kid Rock - "Cowboy"
Korn - "Freak on a Leash"
Krokus - "Ballroom Blitz"
Lenny Kravitz - "Fly Away"
Limp Bizkit - "Break Stuff"
Lit - "My Own Worst Enemy"
Lita Ford (w/ Ozzy) - "Close My Eyes Forever"
Live - "Lightning Crashes"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Wino"
Marcy Playground - "Sex and Candy"
Marilyn Manson - "Coma White"
Matchbox Twenty - "Bent"
Meat Loaf - "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"
Meat Puppets - "Backwater"
Megadeth - "Sweating Bullets"
Metallica - "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth"
Montrose - "Rock Candy"
Motley Crue - "Live Wire"
Nine Inch Nails - "Down In It"
Nirvana - "All Apologies"
No Doubt - "Just a Girl"
Oasis - "Champagne Supernova"
Oleander - "Why I'm Here"
Orbital - "Satan" (from the Spawn soundtrack)
Ozzy Osbourne - "Revelation (Mother Earth)"
Pantera - "Walk"
Pat Travers - "Crash and Burn"
Pearl Jam - "Black"
Phish - "Frankenstein"
Pink Floyd - "Brain Damage"
Powerman 5000 - "When Worlds Collide"
Presidents of the United States - "Lump"
Puddle of Mudd - "She Hates Me"
Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"
Queensryche - "Silent Lucidity"
REM - "Drive"
Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"
Rainbow - "Man on the Silver Mountain"
The Ramones - "I Wanna Be Sedated"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Suck My Kiss"
Red Rider - "Lunatic Fringe"
Ritchie Blackmore - "The Temple of the King"
Rob Zombie - "Living Dead Girl"
Robin Trower - "Brigde of Sighs"
Rush - "Jacob's Ladder"
Saliva - "Click Click Boom"
Sammy Hagar - "Heavy Metal"
Sanctuary - cover of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit"
Scorpions - "In Trance"
Seven Mary Three - "Cumbersome"
Sevendust - "Denial"
Slayer - cover of Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida"
Smash Mouth - "Walkin' on the Sun"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Disarm"
Soul Asylum - "Somebody to Shove"
Soundgarden - "Spoonman"
Spacehog - "In the Meantime"
Spin Doctors - "Two Princes"
Sponge - "Plowed"
Stabbing Westward - "What Do I Have to Do?"
Staind - "It's Been Awhile"
Static-X - "Push It"
Steppenwolf - "Magic Carpet Ride"
Stone Temple Pilots - "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart"
Sublime - "Santeria"
Sugar Ray - "Fly"
System of a Down - "Sugar"
Tantric - "Astounded"
Taproot - "Poem"
The Tea Party - "The Bazaar"
Ted Nugent - "Great White Buffalo"
Temple of the Dog - "Pushin Forward Back"
Tesla - "Signs"
Third Eye Blind - "Semi-Charmed Life"
Thursday - "War All the Time"
Toad the Wet Sprocket - "Come Down"
Toadies - "Possum Kingdom"
Tom Petty - "Here Comes My Girl"
Type O Negative - "Christian Woman"
Ugly Kid Joe - "Cats in the Cradle" (orig by Harry Chapin? is that right?)
Uncle Kracker - "Follow Me"
The Union Underground - "Revolution Man"
Uriah Heep - "The Wizard"
Van Halen - "Unchained"
Ween - "The Golden Eel"
The White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
White Zombie - "Thunder Kiss '65"
Whitesnake - "Slow an' Easy"
Yngwie Malmsteen - "Black Star"
ZZ Top - "Tube Snake Boogie"

I have tons of music on my computer, including local bands and I just added Spoonfed Tribe too. This, like I said, is a small sample of what I listen to. And it doesn't include some of my favorite stuff that I haven't found for download yet, like Tool, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin...