Comment Moderation

Hey everyone! I'm tired of deleting spam from the comments, so from now on, comments will be moderated. So, if you leave a comment on a post, it won't show up right away. I will try to check my email several times a day, however, so it should show up soon. Sorry for the inconvenience. Thank the spammers.

-Rowan

Fuze at Firehouse Saturday

Shady Bash

Bliss: 3 day love fest

Three nights in a row with BLISS

 

Thursday we kick off the Holiday Weekend at The Falls.  You know where it's at, Bitters and West Ave. 

Friday we're at the new sensation Mad Dogs on Loop 410 and Naco

And we finish are weekend off at are home away from home, GRC in the Hill Country of Kerrville!!!!

 

Doesn't matter where we play, let the Jager flow and all is well!!!!!

 

peace --BLISS

Ruben V at Silo & Hooligan's

Hey, Everybody...

See you at...

Friday, August 31
Silo
1604/Blanco
9:00 PM
San Antonio, TX
www.siloelevatedcuisine.com

Saturday, September 1
Hooligans
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM
San Antonio, TX
www.hooligansbarandgrill.com

Grace and Truth,

V

Stop by our website for the full tour schedule
www.rubenv.com
www.myspace.com/rubenvband

SOHO and PAT O's for Labor Day Weekend fun!

From ALTER EGO:
It's the end of August, the beginning of a new month, payday AND a three-day weekend! What more reason do you need to come out and party with ALTER EGO -- the band that gets ROCK DONE RIGHT!

We're back at one of the coolest places in San Antonio -- the SOHO Lounge at 12239 Nacogdoches, just off Thousand Oaks, beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31. Come out and see a little of NYC in SA with a very friendly staff and no cover!

On Saturday, Sept. 1, we start the month off with a trip downtown to one of our favorite spot -- Pat O'Brien's, located at 121 Alamo Plaza. This really is a club that has it all. A piano bar, DJ music upstairs in the front bar, a huge outdoor patio with the Fountain of Flame, and we'll be rocking the rafters upstairs in the huge Briar's Suite, with a great bar staff just waiting to serve you all the tasty and frosty Hurricanes you can handle. Very good late night food as well. Plenty of parking nearby as well, and the beautiful Riverwalk just yards away. So make it a special holiday weekend and join Alter Ego either uptown or downtown!

MERGE @ WISE GUYS THIS SATURDAY!!

Hey everybody, just a reminder that MERGE will be at Wise Guys Bar this Sat. Sept. 1st. If you haven't been to see us in a while, then this is the place to do it! We can't wait to see all of you out there!!!

Peace
 
-Michelle, Jonathan, Raul, & Bru
  
Check us out at www.mergerocks.com.

  

Nate Davenport at Flip Burgers

Fin del Mar, THURSDAY

Check it all out Thursday night, August, 30th!

http://www.myspace.com/findelmar

Swampmouth at Limelight, Friday Night!

Swampmouth hits St. Mary's Strip this weekend!

Don't miss the guys from Texas Special performing their originals!

www.myspace.com/swampmouth

M.O.B. THIS THURSDAY AT WISEGUYS!! HUGE BASH!!!

HEY EVERYBODY!!

WISEGUYS IS HAVING THEIR "WE DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION!"
BASH THIS THURSDAY NIGHT WITH THE M.O.B.  COME OUT AND HEAR SOME GREAT NEW MUSIC AND ENJOY KICK ASS DRINK SPECIALS ALL NIGHT LONG!  GET YOUR WEEKEND STARTED RIGHT.  WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, AS WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE THIS A GREAT NIGHT FOR EVERYBODY!  COME ON OUT!   WWW.THEMOBRULES.COM

PEACE!
MARK ODOM

Bitter End 4 Year Anniversary!

Thursday, August 30th, is Bitter End's 4 year anniversary party! Again, we apologize for having to reschedule the event but we believed it was the best alternative considering how heavy the rain was on our original party date.

Live music begins at 6 PM with Joe Woods and at 10 PM with Brent Wood and Dave Finley. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served from 6 PM - 8 PM, and the first 200 guests will receive a free t-shirt!

Bitter End is located at 903 E. Bitters Rd. in the Redondo Place Shopping Center (between Souper Salad and Mr. Panda).

Improvisation & Surprises: The Key to a Great Cover Band

By Kevin Minihan
(fron GetSigned.com)

So you’re in a cover band or your band happens to play a few cover tunes. First of all, congratulations! That is how everybody gets started. Some musicians enjoy the familiarity and choose to stay the path. In fact, cover bands often make more money per show than original bands. But playing the same songs every show (not to mention songs you’ve heard everyday for the last 20 years!) can cause major burnout within a band and, more dangerously, in an audience.

So how can a cover band raise the bar for themselves as well as the audience? The answer is improvisation and surprise.First let’s discuss what I mean by improvisation with cover songs. Now, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Wait! Aren’t cover songs supposed to be note perfect recreations of the original version?”

Well, yes and no. Yes, the audience wants to be able to recognize and sing along to their favorite songs, but you should take a little ‘poetic license’ and tweak the songs in your band’s favor. The fastest way to put someone to sleep is to play an average cover of a great song. A simple example of this technique would be changing the solos in a song. If your guitar player can really shred, have him come up with an original solo that highlights his abilities. You could also add an unexpected break in a cover song. Try playing very quietly during a section of the music, then rise to a rousing crescendo.

Play around with songs. Have fun. Not only will this make playing the same old sets more interesting for you, it will make the audience sit up and listen. Think about the average Joe in the audience. He’s heard the song you are playing a million times on the radio and subconsciously knows every note. All of a sudden his ears and brains notice something is different! Not wrong, just different and he really pays attention! Mission accomplished.

Now, let’s look at the more radical (and increasingly popular) ‘surprise’ version of a cover tune. What I mean by this is taking an old favorite and totally reworking it. Here, we are not only changing solos, but possibly choosing a totally different tempo (ex. slow down a usually fast song) or musical style (ex. play a Country song in a Metal style).

Change anything and everything musically but keep the words the same. There is, however, a fine line you need to be aware of. First of all, don’t do this to every song in your show. Remember you are being paid to play covers, so don’t play you way out of a gig. Just throw in a reworked song maybe once or twice in each set and you’ll get the desired affect. It’s always fun to watch the ‘light bulb come on’ in someone face when they finally realize what song you are actually playing!

So keep it loose and fun. Use the original versions of the songs as a guide, but make the songs your own. I have people come up to me after every show and comment on how they loved my version of their favorite song. These people start showing up at other gigs and, the next thing you know, you’ve got a following and can demand higher pay! Changing up your cover tunes is a great way to separate your band from the pack.

Kevin Minihan is a musician, writer, jack of all trades (master of none!) residing in the questionable outskirts of Dallas, TX. He plays in 3 bands and never gets enough sleep. When he is not playing music, he is writing about it. He enjoys sharing his experience and knowledge with other musicians. Along with writing articles for this and other websites, Kevin plans to write a series of books in order to help others achieve their dreams of success in the music business.

(Note from SA Rocker: These are articles I find in my many excursions on the Internet when I should really be working! I hope you find them of interst and I encourage you to check out the Web sites they come from!)

An Interview with Last Of Our Kind

When I first saw Last Of Our Kind over a year ago, I was impressed with the band's efforts to bring to the San Antonio music scene a new and exciting style of music that combined rock, jazz, Latin, R&B, and even world music. As far what they sounded like, Last Of Our Kind reminded me of artists such as Mana, Dave Matthews Band, Santana, and John Mayer (among others). But the band was able to do more than parrot these influences and they brought to the surface a sound that was personal, emotional, and even romantic.

Since then, the band has built up their name and reputation as a high-energy and dynamic live act. For proof of this last claim, look no further than the San Antonio Current’s Best of 2007 reader’s poll where guitarist and songwriter Amadeus was voted best instrumentalist—even though the band has yet to release their first CD. The band has also gone through some member changes as well, but, as evidenced by their set at Reggae Fest earlier this month, this was for the best as the camaraderie they now share and the fun they have on stage is undeniable.

The following is an interview I did with guitarist/songwriter Amadeus by email where we dicussed the history of the band, the songwriting process, and their plans for recording what will be their debut release. On the topic of songwriting, new singer/guitarist Bryan also adds in a few words on where he gets his ideas lyrics-wise...

First of all, how would you describe Last Of Our Kind and its sound to someone who is not familiar with the band? What can a person expect if they go a Last Of Our Kind show?

Last Of Our Kind is a music-lover band. We are classified under the rock genre but our influence is not limited to rock; you can hear the Latin, jazz, and jam band influence in our music. Each song is unique in a style and delivery that everyone in the crowd will enjoy…and not get burned out by hearing the same beats and style of songwriting for each song.

I guess that’s what makes cover bands so popular because people want diversity. Just borrow anyone’s iPod or look at their CD collection; it’s rare for one person to just listen to one genre of music.

So people can expect to see a band that will play a diverse range of music and will jam their hearts out for the crowd no matter how big or small. Expect us to give everything we got to make sure you had a memorable night!


What were the circumstances that led to the formation of the band? Where did your unique sound come from?

What led me to start a band was listening to a live CD of Dave Matthews on the way back from Austin after seeing a band called Vallejo. I loved hearing and seeing how people can get so into a band’s songs and I immediately started to call people up to start my own band.

The sound came from a myriad of influences that all the members brought to this band. And it goes back to where we don’t limit ourselves to one genre; if the song is good, we will play it!

Were you guys in any other bands that we might know of?

Mike(bass) used to be in these bands: The Focus, a top 40 cover band from 1999-2000, and Echo Star, a progressive metal-fusion band...until after joining Last Of Our Kind; Jose(percussion) used to be in La Trova, an acoustic Latin cover trio; Bryan(vocals/guitar) was working with Morris Orchids in their first year; And Peter, this is actually his first band, but he is an amazing drummer.


I like the name Last Of Our Kind and think that it’s very simple but memorable. How did you guys come up with the name?

Originally I wanted the name to be Dying Breed and call it DyBRE (die-breh) for short. But, amazingly, when I searched the name, there was a band already named that with the same DyBRE for short...

So I came up with the closest thing that I wanted to represent the music...there are not many people out there writing true original material...and the name Last Of Our Kind came to mind. I also wanted a name that had an acronym, so you will hear us referred to a lot as LOOK.

And so now you’ve played a few shows with the current lineup. How much time did it take to get everyone comfortable with each other performance-wise? How has the crowd response been towards the new lineup and songs?

Well, it only took two weeks to get everyone up and running to hit the stage...the response then was a very welcoming one. It took about 3 shows before we started to lock in on stage and feed off each other’s energy and especially the crowd’s. Our crowd has been growing...and really enjoys the new music a lot!


New singer/guitarist Bryan makes a wonderful addition to the band...What made you feel he was the right man for Last Of Our Kind?

It was simple. He had heart and love for music and you could hear that. When we auditioned him, he sang Last Of Our Kind songs as if he’d been with us forever and we liked that a lot and, as you’ve noticed, he is a wonderful addition to this band.


You also told me that since the last lineup change, you wrote a whole new set of songs. Did you already have these song ideas lying around or did you literally have to "start from scratch?" What’s the Last Of Our Kind method as far as working on a new song is concerned? How do you guys know if a song’s ready for the stage?

A couple of songs were completed but never had the right people to sing or play them. Now these songs are starting to surface, but half the songs were written from scratch.

Our method: I’ll bring a song to the band, and we will jam with it a couple of times to get used to the style. Then Bryan, Jao, and I will sit down and play the song acoustically to get the melodies sounding right and the structure tightened before bringing it back and working as the whole band to complete the song.

The day we can play the song without any stops or mistakes several times in a row and get into it like we would on stage is when we know the song is ready to go live.

Lyrics-wise, what was your inspiration for these new songs? I particularly liked "Walls."

Walls's lyrics were written by Bryan

Bryan: "Walls" is one of the newest songs we have written in our short stint. It was actually never going to be a song just some practice fun. But the bass line stood out and the chorus never changed: "And the walls are screaming, screaming, shout, shout..." I had originally started a verse with Mr. Picaso's name and from there I wrote the song describing the expressive nature of any painting. Hence, the walls are screaming. Inspirations for songs I write can stem from my own broken heart to an abstract juncture like "Walls." A bit of whiskey never hurts that imagination either.

Amadeus: As far as lyrics written by me, it would be my surroundings and current or past events that play a huge role...but I love to write the songs in a certain way to where it can have multiple meanings; so if you read the lyrics, each person can connect to them in their own way. You would be surprised how different your interpretation would be from the original idea of the song, but that is why they are written the way they are. Like the song Mirror Highway: "Mirror highway where you going to take me? To a land so beautiful where only gods will bleed" Or the song Eclipse: "The newborn sun has set again. This evening’s empire cups my hands" How do you interpret those lyrics? You’d be shocked when I tell you what those songs are about!


At Reggae Fest you had told me that you were going to be recording soon. Where will you be recording? Do any of you guys have prior studio experience or is this going to be a learn-as-you-go kind of deal?

We are looking into several places right now. As soon as we decide, everyone will know via our website or MySpace where we will be recording. And, yes, most of us have prior studio experience, but this will be Last Of Our Kind's first real recording.


As far as recording, what kind of project will you guys be working on? Will this just be a demo or an EP? Maybe a full-length album with packaging and the works?

We will be working on our CD, but the first 3-5 songs we record we will immediately post those on our site so our fans can hear what we have been working on. And if they can’t wait for the full CD, we will have an EP for them to buy. But it is our intention to have a full album out; we have enough material for 2 albums and were already working on material for a 3rd, so Last Of Our Kind is here to stay for a good while!

I want to thank for taking the time to fill this out. Any last comments you would like to make to our readers?

SUPPORT LOCAL & TEXAS MUSIC!!!!!! Go see Blowing Trees, Morris Orchids, Nico Adams Band, Sexto Sol, Brookfield, Vallejo, just to name a few, and especially LAST OF OUR KIND!!!!

And also we want to thank all the support from our friends, fans, and the media, especially SA Rocks...Thank you. Without you all, we wouldn’t be here...

---

The band is hard at work on their first CD, but there has been some recent activity in the LOOK camp as of late. This Wednesday, the band will be playing at Hooligans for a chance to win a spot on the AT&T summer concert series at 8:30PM sharp. Also, be sure to check out their MySpace page for further updates, live clips, and a work-in-progress version of the song "Firefly."

UPCOMING SHOWS
August 29, Holligans, 8:30PM
October 26, Rebar, 9:00 PM

Dog Men Poets @ Rebar Fri (Recording for Live DVD!)

Dog Men Poets @ Rebar

We'll be recording for our Live DVD
so please come out and be apart of it all.

When: Friday Aug 31st 10:00-2:00

Where: Rebar 8134 Broadway, SA

Circle of Fifths at The Hangar Saturday

Laura Marie @ Luna

Laura Marie @ Luna
Wed. Sept. 5th
6740 San Pedro
(210) 804-2433
Music starts at 9-ish

What's new?

Laura Marie's show is featuring new material for her next project and collaborations with her former band, Things Between.

Wednesday is singer-songwriter night at Luna. Come out and support original artists in SA.

Mark Monaco at River Road Icehouse and Auslander This Week

Friends,

We've got two very fun and exciting shows this week. I hope you can make it out to one (or both) of these.

Thurs. Aug. 30th at 8 P.M.
"End of Summer Bash"
River Road Icehouse
1791 Hueco Springs Loop Road
New Braunfels, TX 78132
(830) 626-1335
www.riverroadicehouse.com

Friday Aug. 31th at 8 P.M.
Auslander Biergarten
323 E. Main
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
www.theauslander.com
(830) 997-7714

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Alternate Frequency at:

www.cdbaby.com/cd/markmonaco

Best,

Mark Monaco

Radio Junkies

Radio Junkies! Radio Junkies! Radio Junkies!

I'm definitely a FAN

All I can say is WOW! What a show! I definitely can see why you guys are the talk of the town. You had the place jumping and screaming for more and you delivered. It has been along time since I've seen a band turn a place out, young and old, like that. Thanks for a great time. I can't wait to see all of you again.

San Antonio if you are looking for an entertaining explosive live show, you need to check these guys out.

http://www.myspace.com/radjunkies

Good News S. A. Rock Fans! You will have a chance to hear Radio Junkies at the Virgo Bash, come out and celebrate with Rowan and the gang at the annual Virgo Bash, September 8, 2007 at Boozehounds on Perrin-Bietel.This is a chance to come out and show your appreciation for all the hard work Rowan and her crew put into this site and enjoy live music from a great group of musicians. Thanks for all your hard work! On September 8th I want all of you to party like a ROCK STAR!

I came across this comment from Saturdays show and how true it is.

Hey I drove by Wise Guys this morning and there were a bunch of guys up on the roof. I asked them what they were doing and they said they were roofers hired to fix the damage from last night. Seems somebody
BLEW THE ROOF OFF THE PLACE!!!!!

Lee

Hey Girl you are not lying!(Lee is the Sexy Female Drummer for Ulterior Motive)

Rock on Guys

Smiling D.

Prototype @ Stonewerks, 8-31

Jiggers Gig, 9-1

Congrats to Killing Ivy for the airplay on KSYM! Have a great show tonight!


Tomorrow Killing Ivy is going to be ON AIR at KSYM 90.1 around 1:30ish. Make sure to tune in!! Then we are heading over to Jigger's on Saturday night for a great set with The Flesh Merchants, Superposition, and Mind Frame. Come out and have a drink with us.

http://www.myspace.com/killingivy

Radio Junkies

Make sure to come on out

Saturday Night

Wise guys is the place to see

one of the hottest bands in San Antonio

Prototype, Unplugged @ Broadway 50/50

Open Chapter at Hooligan's

Circle of Fifths at Broadway Bar

Fuze at Main Street Friday

ALTER EGO @ Roxy's Fri. Aug. 24 & Helotes Sportsplex Sat. Aug. 25

Fwd: The Lesti Huff Band

from Lesti Huff:

Hey there, quick reminder that we'll be playing @ the Joe's Crab Shack every Thurs. eve. from 7-9.  One of our favorite places to play & we appreciate the support.  Come check it out & get prepped for the weekend. 225 E. Basse, (210)930-1736.

   Sat. Jim & I will be @ Alamo Springs Cafe out in Fredricksburg  from 7-10.  Highly recommended if you enjoy live music & a beautiful ride in the country.  Not to mention excellent food.  107 Alamo Rd. (830)990-8004 for more info.
HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT, Hostile Visa (or something like that)
  

Thursday Nights at Flip

Sexto Sol this Saturday w/ Fin del Mar at Sam's

Hi Fans...hope you come out to Sam's Burger Joint this Saturday night with special guests Fin del Mar and J.J. Lopez. Sexto will have the "barrio horns" performing with them so it should be a special night! The whole show starts at 9pm with J.J . and Fin at 10:30 followed by Sexto "'round 11:30 or midnight". J.J. will be performing between sets spinnin' 45's.

Can't wait to see you all there!

Sexto Sol

Darkwater & Drowning Pool

c5rocks THIS FRIDAY's BIRTHDAY BASH for Rene!!!

Come help us Celebrate RENE's (GUITAR) BIRTHDAY @ Broadway Bar. Circle of FIfths Hits the stage10:30pm. DJ JOHNNY FIASCO Hits the Stage @ 9:30pm and continue all night between sets.

GREAT NEWS!! WE HAVE OUR ORIGINAL BASS PLAYER BACK!!! COME SEE THE ORGINAL LINEUP!! PLEASE TAKE TIME TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS....

WWW.C5ROCKS.COM
JOHN PERALES - VOCALS

ALSO, FAILSAFE AND CIRCLE OF FIFTHS HAVE COME TOGETHER FOR A SHOW THIS THURSDAY AT REVOLUTION ROOM!!!! COME BY AND HAVE A FEW WITH US. SHOW STARTS @ 10:30

NEMESIS - This Friday and Saturday!

BOOZEHOUNDS – FRIDAY the 24th

8531 Perrin Beitel Rd

&

Hemmingway's – SATURDAY the 25th

8931 Wurzbach Rd

Visit NEMESIS at:

http://www.NemesisBand.com

http://www.myspace.com/realmenmusic

Step Aside at El Rio

Virgo/September Birthday Bash 2007

Me, Kel, Staci, Darren and whoever else was born in September or August, or who just wants to hang out and party, will be celebrating Saturday, September 8th at BoozeHounds (8531 Perrin-Beitel). We'll all be turning 29 again this year, so come out and celebrate that we manage to stay so young! The Radio Junkies have been kind enough to agree to play the party for us. (You rock, guys!)



HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT!!

Ruben V: Busy Week!

We're gearing up for a busy week.  It starts tonight!  Hope to see you out...

Monday, August 20
Roadrunner's
14541 Roadrunner Way
San Antonio, TX 78249
Acoustic Solo Show
9:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Tuesday, August 21
Rebar
Sitting in with Chris Taylor and The Bleeding Hearts Club
10:00 PM
San Antonio, TX
www.rebarsatx.com/broadband .htm

Thursday, August 23
Hooligan's
9:00 PM
San Antonio, TX
www.hooligansbarandgrill.com

Friday, August 24
Luna Fine Music Club
9:00 PM
San Antonio, TX
www.myspace.com/lunalive

Saturday, August 25
Dr. Rockit's
10:00 PM
Corpus Christi, TX
www.drrockitsbluesbar.com/main.html

Grace and Truth,

V

Stop by our website for the full tour schedule
www.rubenv.com
www.myspace.com/rubenvband

Flipside @ The Falls – Friday, 08/17/2007

I hadn't seen these guys in a very long while I must admit. I walked in just as they were starting and immediately liked the depth of the sound. They have a great sound overall, very balanced and the drums were able to be felt and heard, without being obnoxiously loud in comparison to the whole. The bass player never missed a note while I was there, and his harmonies were on 99% of the time. I am always impressed with a bass player who can harmonize and keep it all together. I’m jealous I admit it. The drummer was technically on point and the sound of his kit was tight and crisp. Likewise, he didn't miss a beat. The guitarist was better than most I've heard around town good in the gut and even better in the solos. The lead singer was pretty good at keeping the crowd involved, but it was kind of difficult understanding him when he wasn't singing because the effects on his vocals were as wet as San Antonio’s weather the previous week. The effects were ok for the music, but when he would try to talk to the crowd, I was never completely sure what he was saying. His vocals were pretty good. He had areas where he topped out as all vocalists do, and he knew where that “don’t go there” zone was, and let the effects do the work for him. Smart man. I would have liked to hear a bit more clarity and less mud in the vocals; the effects were just a bit too wet. But he had a good voice and good image. Songs that stuck out to me were “Amber,” overdone in San Antonio but these guys really go out of their way to do the song the way it was meant to be done – “Paralyzer,” by Finger Eleven was good as well, nice funky feel in the verses, and rockin' out the choruses. “Santeria” was probably the best I've heard in town in a long time. They started the song and I had no idea what it was. They weren't concerned at all with trying to make it sound anything like Sublime, which is why it was so good. For the first time I can remember, the pop sounding song really rocked - Well Done. Loved the solo played with that dirty-ass mudded up guitar. “It's Not Over,” by Daughtry was done pretty well; first time I've heard anyone in town cover that. I was interested to see what the crowd response would be. Guys could care less, every girl in the place singing every single word. Ah well, that's what you gotta do sometimes. (Whatever keeps ladies coming to your gigs - otherwise you don't have any). I was surprised after doing Daughtry, which really appeared to be very vocally demanding, the singer went into “Pain,” by 3 Days Grace. He had a little trouble getting through that one, but I gotta give him and the band some serious love for a very progressive set list, and the singer got through it somehow. The only song that I thought was off - to the point that they might need to revisit it in the practice hall - was “Hey Jealousy,” by the Gin Blossoms. I think the lyrics were all over the place, or maybe they were shortening the song. If you guys were shortening the song, then for you because it's too damn long anyway. I did hear a few spots in it where the musicality kinda dropped right out of it, almost like there were parts someone didn't quite know completely. Maybe it was a new addition for the band or something, but one song outta the whole ain't bad fellas. I was diggin' it.

I agree with the Manager who was saying the lights and smoke were well done for the most part. We agreed you need a bit more constant light though on the gels, looks like they had a delay in the chase or something and every once in a while the stage would go dark for too long in an already dark corner of the club. But this is the kinda crap club-owners and managers notice. They want a show, not just a band. He did like you guys alot by the way. All in all, I was very entertained and will definitely go to see these guys again when I’m not having to stay sober… On a scale of one to five Stars, I'll give Flipside 4 out of 5 Stars.

Fuze at BoozeHounds

Went up to BoozeHounds last Friday night to see Fuze (and talk to Scott about a Virgo Bash...more details on that later). I hadn’t seen guitarist Ernie Cruz since he was in Rok Candy, so I was excited to get to see him again. He’s such a nice guy and such a good guitarist, and has helped me out with this site quite a bit.

The problem with doing a write-up so long after the actual show is that I can’t remember what songs the band played and I didn’t write anything down that night. I also didn’t get any pictures because the batteries in my camera were dead and I couldn’t afford to buy any more. Of course, had I known that everyone was going to keep buying me beer all night, I would have gotten batteries, but I didn’t know. Thanks everyone!

I do know that they played a lot of good songs and that Kel and I danced our butts off! Ernie kicked butt on guitar, often coming out onto the dance floor and jamming for us. I really liked singer Ruben’s gritty vocals. Excellent job. John on bass and James on drums were also very good. A solid band. They were just all really good and very nice. Hung out with us, bought us beer, played us good music. It was a really fun night.

The main song I do remember that they played was “Killing in the Name.” I had asked them if they played it and they said they did. So I was waiting for it. It’s one of my favorite songs to dance to. They finally did and we danced so hard I was all sweaty (and Kel accidentally spilled ice water down my back trying to cool me off - yikes!). Unfortunately during the song, some people (who previously got mad at me for calling them “rowdy” at another show - I didn’t think rowdy was an insult, but whatever) started moshing and evidently knocked some girl down or something. There were cops and an ambulance...I don’t know what exactly happened. But they were just having fun and didn’t mean to hurt anyone.

Speaking of Rok Candy (from back in the first paragraph), you may remember that they broke up when their singer Duke was called away to Iraq. I had wondered recently if he was back and had made it back all in one piece. Well, he was at BoozeHounds that night, just back from the war and all in one piece. And ready to rock. He even got up and sang a couple songs. It was great to see him back!

It was also nice to see Brad Ponder of Texas Special and Swampmouth and hang out with him. He’s always fun to hang with!

All in all, except for the ice water and the girl getting hurt, great night! Great music!

You can check out Fuze for yourself Friday, August 24th at Main Street, over on Wetmore Rd., and September 1st at Firehouse on Walzem.

Circle of Fifths at Sherlock's Monday

Sorry 'Bout the Schedule

Hey everybody, I slacked off last night, thinking I would have time to do tonight's schedule today. As it turns out, I have more to do today than I thought I did, so I won't have time. So if you can, please add your gigs yourselves. Sorry! - Rowan

Viva la Revolution Room (with ALTER EGO Sat. Aug. 18)

FUZE Tonight!

http://www.thefuzeband.com/

Johnny Drama at Broadway Bar

N'Somnia at 321 Max & Mine Shaft

Hello everyone!  We're looking foward to seeing you this weekend.  N'Somnia is playing Fri (tonight) at the 321-Max inside of 410 access road at Perrin-Beitel exit.  And Sat at the new Mine Shaft Saloon inside the Magic Time Machine restaurant located inside 410 access road between Broadway and N. New Braunfels.   If you haven't been to the Mine Shaft Saloon yet, you owe to yourself to check it out.  It's a great rock venue now.

And don't forget Jeff's birthday kicks off the Virgo and Libra Song of Life Celebration next weekend.  See you this weekend!

Dog Men Poets Debut Music Video

Check out the new music video "Pretty Lady" by Dog Men Poets at:

www.myspace.com/dogmenpoets

Rock n Rescue Winner

ROCKUS CIRCUS TO OPEN FOR BLUE OYSTER CULT at AT&T SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Wednesday Night, August 15th, Rockus Circus was the judge's favorite at Sam's Burger Joint and won overwhelming support that allowed them to win Rock n Rescue #3. They will be the opening act for Blue Oyster Cult at AT&T Summer Concert Series August 25 at Sunken Gardens Theater.

Following Rockus Circus will be South Texas favorite "The Krayolas".

The last three Rock n Rescues will begin August 29th beginning with a big show at "Hooligans" at IH 35 and Loop 1604, "The Falls" on September 5th and "Karma" on September 19th. The winning local band in the last segment of Rock n Rescues will open for "War" on September 29th.

Rock & Rescue features three to four local bands each night, competing for the chance to open for four national music acts that are headlining the AT&T Summer Concert Series in June, July, August and September at the Sunken Gardens Theater at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio, Texas.

Tickets to each of the summer concerts are only Five Dollars and are available at the gate. A one dollar surcharge is added to the admission price. Rock n Rescue is an awareness and fundraising effort for the City of San Antonio's Animal Care Services as it transitions into a No-Kill Animal Shelter.

Congratulations to Rockus Circus!

Bruce Kates

Co-Executive Producer

AT&T Summer Concert Series/Rock n Rescue

www.SARocknRescue.com

Fuze @ Martini Ranch Saturday

Spitfire at The Trap, Friday Night

Sintense, Mind Frame & Killing Ivy, Friday Night

Radio Junkies at Soho Lounge, Tonight

http://www.myspace.com/radjunkies

Angerkill and friends @ Black Diamonds Sports Bar, Friday

http://www.myspace.com/angerkill

Get the Belt tonight at Bombay's

5th Annual Texas Metal Health, Saturday

http://www.txmetalhealth.com/

Egshan Tonight at Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar

http://www.myspace.com/egshan

Ruben V: Adobe Verde, Rolling Oaks & The Cove

Hey, Everybody...

Come out and see us this week!  Here's the line up...

Thursday, August 16
Adobe Verde
7:00 PM
Gruene, TX
www.adobeverde.com

Friday, August 17
Rolling Oaks
8:00 PM
FILMING LIVE! Come be a part.
San Antonio, TX
www.rollingoakssa.com

Saturday, August 18
The Cove
9:00 PM
San Antonio, TX
www.thecove.us/main.html

Hope your week is going great!

Grace and Truth,

V

Stop by our website for the full tour schedule
www.rubenv.com
www.myspace.com/rubenvband

Get shaken and stirred at SWIG Martini Bar Thursday

New cover/original band critic at work....

San Antonio bands beware...

A guy with some musical talent -as evidenced by Rowan's willingness to let me hit this blog with my slightly college educated choice of words- is out and about San Antonio. I'm on the prowl, writing under the cloud of a pseudonym so I don't get death threats and offers of bribery for good reviews. Yes, that's right folks, you guys can try to figure out who I am, and I will be out reviewing both cover bands and original bands alike and posting my reviews to this blog, in hopes that my honest accounts of what I saw and heard will make a difference, and be well received by the musical community. The beauty in this... You'll never know when I am in the crowd, making mental notes. Don't look for a notepad or a tape recorder. There won't be one. I am going to tell it like it is, and I hope the bands of this great city understand I am only attempting to provide a valuable service; helping decent bands get good, and helping good bands get better. I am going to set up an e-mail account for CD reviews, so if you have an original band and want to hear what I think about it, let me know. Just know that I will be posting my reviews on this blog, and hoping you guys take my "Kudos" with a grin, and my "Barbs" with a grain of salt. I've heard some great bands in this town, and I've heard some crap. It's time to let you all know where I stand. You might be wondering right about now, who I am and what my credentials are. I do have them. But if I were to share them, a few select people in the music community would be able to figure out who I am. So, you'll just have to trust me. Bottom line, San Antonio has a great music scene, and I hope to draw attention to it as much as I can. I am not out to make or break bands, only to tell you what I honestly think, and not be harsh about it, unless your band truly just has no business whatsoever touching a musical instrument. The performances will be graded on a scale on half points, 1 to 5 stars, plus commentary of course. Pardon me if I don't get everyone's name in the band, asking around tends to draw attention that some idiot is asking who everyone in the band is. I may refer to the bass player as the, uh, bass player... etc. Feel free to respond and call me whatever you want. I have thick skin and can take it. But know this, I am a music lover and only aim to help bands know where they are going right, and where they are going wrong. Final note before I go out and catch a couple of bands tonight.... My reviews are not the opinion of Rowan, nor SAROCKS.COM nor are they meant to be, They are mine, and mine alone. See you around town, and till next posting - Music is the constant in life, embrace it. See a local band tonight!!!!

Skunkweed to Rock Hooligan's this Saturday Aug 18th!!!

Hey Skunkfans,

 

Your favorite party band will be tearing up the stage at Hooligan's this Saturday August 18th!!

 

We have a wonderful opening act. The lovely and talented Amy Lumm Francis With Tim Phillips.

 

Hooligan's is located in Live Oak Right on the corner of I-35 and 1604.

The Show Kicks off around 9:30 PM

 

See you all there!

Love,

Skunkweed

Bitter End 4 Year Anniversary!

Please join me next Thursday, August 16th, to celebrate Bitter End's 4 year anniversary! Live music by Joe Woods begins at 6 PM and music by Drive at 10 PM. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be available and there will be terrific drink specials!

Bitter End is located at 903 E. Bitters Rd. in the Redondo Place Shopping Center (between Souper Salad and Mr. Panda).

This is one party you don't want to miss!

Bliss on a Monday

Friends, BLISS is going to start your week off the right way!!!!
  
This Monday we will be at Sherlocks on IH 281 and Thousand Oaks.  
  
Drink specials and great atmosphere!!!!!!
  
Hope to see you all out there and thank you for your continous support!!!!!!!
  
Rikk, Florin, Chrissy, Stevo, J.T.  

Prototype @ Stone Werks

www.prototyperockssa.com

Fundraiser for the Roxanne Marmolejo Memorial Fund

Radio Junkies

Papa Wood at Wise Guys & Sherlock's

Johnny Drama at Bitter End & Wise Guys

Fuze at BoozeHounds Friday

Building An Effective E-Mail List and Delivering the Right Message

Building An Effective E-Mail List and Delivering the Right Message
By Les Vogt, reprinted from isound.com

With over 100 emails coming in everyday, I try to set aside a couple of hours each day answering them. I am a firm believer that anyone who takes the time to write me for a legitimate reason, deserves a reply. However, I have noticed an increasing amount of junk that artists put into their emails. In a word, it's becoming very frustrating.
Most artists are not getting the response they expected from their email announcements. Some of the problems deal with the timing of the emails and some with the message itself... one major reason artists don't receive the turnout they expect to their live shows is that they may be emailing their announcements to the wrong people!
One of the biggest problems I have found is that artists don't collect some of the most important information when having people sign up on their mailing lists. You need much more than just an email address to really make a positive connection. Here's what you need and why...
Correct Name - You should "Personalize" your emails. It makes the email recipient feel important... And, there is nothing worse than a wrong or incorrectly spelled name.
Email Address - Review your current email addresses carefully. If recipients have a Hotmail, Yahoo or other free email address, it is possible that your emails are not getting through! Free services have limited storage space, which spammers fill quickly, and emails often get "dumped" before they are delivered. (That means erasing email messages before they go through their servers) If you get a free service email address, ask for another. Or, at one point, send out a response request that requires a reply... and delete those that do not respond.
City & State - While you may know where they signed up, you still need to mark it down in your database for easy reference. It doesn't make much sense to email someone about a show that is hundreds of miles away from them! Separating city & state also helps you pinpoint which areas should receive a particular message.
Zip/Postal Code - Most cities are huge. For example, Los Angeles is about 90 miles in diameter. Simply listing someone as living in LA doesn't work. As you know, anyone who comes to see your live performances at bars/taverns/clubs & pubs will only drive a few miles to and from the establishment because of drinking and driving issues. Research what are the closest zip codes around the venue and only invite those fans that reside in those zip/postal codes to the shows. After all, even if you were invited to a show that didn't serve alcohol, would you drive 50 miles each way?
Venue & Date - The venue & date are things you should definitely put in a separate field when entering information into your database. Always make a note of which venue each person came to see you at because they will most likely come see you at that same venue again. Noting the date is important because it shows you when they last came to a show.
These are the basic items that your email database should include. Now, let's review a few points on writing them so you get a maximum return on your promotional efforts.
Gig & Show Announcements - Unrelated information seems to be the greatest source of frustration among artists and industry types on your mailing list. Most announcements don't provide enough insight as to the purpose of the gig or why this gig is more important than the last one... or the next one. Is there something new, a new CD, or are you just having a party? Let people know what your event is all about.
Also, if you are going to announce a gig, be sure to include all the venue information, i.e. where it is located... general directions and the phone number (where someone actually answers.)
One more thing about gig announcements... know your audience. Why tell someone in Memphis about your Wednesday night gig in Nashville? Is there an important reason why someone halfway across the State should come to your show on a weeknight? Are you showcasing for a record label? Why should they come? Why should they care?
Follow-up Show Announcements - Weekly newsletters/updates from bands is another email "no-no". There is often no relevant information in them except another plea to come to the next show or a request to vote online for them in some kind of contest or award nomination.
Newsletters - Monthly newsletters can be a great source of information... they keep your fans and industry contacts up to date on what's happening with you and/or your band. However, they should contain some significant information. Include fun stuff like what happened to you on your last gig or tour... but, you must include some substance and send monthly, not weekly, or daily.
Check Out My Website - This type of request is totally unnecessary. Your web address-link should be included in every e-mail... the recipient will know they can go there if they choose to. Sending someone an email with an unsolicited request doesn't make a lot of sense. But, when someone does go to your website, be sure it contains all the key ingredients... like a full bio, references, audio samples, recent photos, and more importantly, a decent video clip. Don't ask anyone to review your website until it contains all of the above. Even then, if you want someone to review your video and publicity materials... mail it to them. Asking people to hire you on the strength of a website (no matter the content) is probably not a good idea.
As a final note... when writing emails, keep it simple. An email that has a clear purpose and meaning get a lot more response than one that doesn't seem to have any point. Don't "bombard" them with the same requests every other day. Your e-mails will eventually end up being ignored.
The best approach to emails is to think of something creative to say. Keep it short and to the point. Let people know what you want in response to the email. For example, you hope they will... "check out your next show"... "hire you for their next event"... "buy a copy of your new CD", etc. If they don't respond... try them again next month.

ALTER EGO is on a mission

From ALTER EGO:
The band wants to thank the Babcock Sports Bar for having us fill in last Friday night and decide to have us back for several more gigs in the coming months! We had an incredible night with a packed bar and made a lot of new friends. We'll be back to Babcock Sept. 8, Sept. 21 and Nov. 10 and look forward to working with them for a long time to come.
This weekend, we'll be headed up to Universal City on FRIDAY, AUG. 10 to TRIPP'S, located at 210 E. Aviation, just off Pat Booker Rd. Tripp's is a friendly neighborhood place with a spacious music are and dance floor, so come on out.
Saturday. we're playing a private birthday party, and remember, you'll get a great value booking ALTER EGO for your party! Call Steve at (210) 325-2432 for prices and availability.
Lots of great shows coming up this month at the Swig Martini Bar North, Revolution Room, Roxy's Helotes Sportsplex, SOHO, Pat O'Brien's and many more. Check out the Myspace page or Web site for more information. See you soon!

N'Somnia at Snoop's and the Mine Shaft

N'Somnia will be playing at the following clubs this weekend:

Friday, August 10th - SNOOPS

Saturday, August 11th - MINE SHAFT (Magic Time Machines Bar) love this place!

Hope to see you all there both nights.......

Ruben V at Rebar and Harmon's

Hey Everyone...

We're looking forward to some great shows this weekend.  Hope to see you...

Friday, August 10
Rebar
9:00 PM
San Antonio, TX
www.rebarsatx.com

Saturday, August 11
Harmon's
8:00 PM
Cibolo, TX
www.harmonsbbq.com

Have a great week, guys!

Grace & Truth,

V

Stop by the website to see our full tour schedule.
www.rubenv.com
www.myspace.com/rubenvband

Skunkweed's side bands playing this weekend!!!

Hi Skunkfans,

In case you didn't know, the guys in Skunkweed have a couple of sidebands and both are playing this weekend. Jay and Leon are playing their first ever gig This Friday night at Gruene Hall in Gruene Texas! They are opening for a popular band called The Gourds! Jay and Leon's Americana style band is called The Country Fried Pickles and they go on at 8:00 PM this Friday Aug 10th. So Come out and support them with their newest project!

http://www.gruenehall.com/
www.skunkweed.com

Then on Saturday Aug 11th, Dave James and Maestro will be playing with their new Americana project, The Rick Miller Band at Changos. This band will go on early at 5:30 PM till 9:30 PM Saturday night. Changos is located on IH-10. head toward Boerne and exit the Leon Springs exit and take the turn-around.

http://www.changosclub.com/
www.myspace.com/rickmillerband

Come on out and show the love!

Love,

Skunkweed!!!

Nemesis Double-Shot

It's a NEMESIS Double-Shot Weekend!
Friday the 10th we’re at LEGEND'S SPORTS BAR.
Saturday the 11th we are back at HELOTES SPORTSPLEX.



Visit NEMESIS at:
http://www.NemesisBand.com
http://www.myspace.com/realmenmusic

E314 at the Blue Cactus

Ok, I'm behind and this should have been posted on Monday. The first line would make a lot more sense that way...sorry. -Rowan


Oh nooooo, it's Monday!  But hang on for 5 more days and the new Exit 314 will come to the rescue

When:  Saturday, Aug. 11, 8-11 pm
Where: Blue Cactus Cafe at Wetmore Store, 13525 Wetmore Rd., near the intersection of Wetmore and Thousand Oaks. Phone: 210-490-7330.
What:  Texas-style roadhouse rock and blues
What else: We'll show off two outstanding musicians who've just joined the band.  Bobby Natanson has played drums with everybody from Kelly Willis to Vince Guaraldi to Dean Martin and on stages from L.A. to NYC to Montreux.  Dave Meissner is a top-flight San Antonio bass player who's graced just about every stage in SA with a bunch of different bands.  These guys are the real deal and are great to have around.
Also:  The Blue Cactus has a great grill, it's very kid-friendly (there's a playground).  Cover for adults is $3.  

We had a blast at this venue last month.  C'mon out and enjoy some great tunes, great grub and great folks!  

Groovy Dates for you to Consider!!!

Groove Movement will be performing on the following dates:

 

- Friday, August 10th @ Jack's Patio Bar.  Featuring: Phranchyze1, Diasporic (from Austin) and The Matt Baker Band.  DJ starts @ 9PM.

 

- Friday, August 24th @ Rebar. Featuring: Zeale32 and Phranchyze1.

 

- Friday, August 31st @ Broadway 5050.

 

Stay tuned for next months dates.  You can visit our website @ www.myspace.com/groovemovement for groovy details about shows, the band memebers and our upcoming CD Release date.  Soon to be added our youtube.com videos and CD tracks from our debute CD.

Prototype ROCKS ROXY'S

Spitfire Rocks at Hemingway's

ALTER EGO at BABCOCK BAR Fri., Aug 3

From ALTER EGO:

Greetings Friends and Freaks!
We just picked a new show for TONIGHT, Friday Aug. 3 at the BABCOCK BAR, 8826 Huebner, near the Medical Center area.

This is a cool Northwest location with plenty of drink specials and a great staff, and it's the first time we've played there!

Get your weekend dose of ROCK DONE RIGHT tonight from ALTER EGO, beginning at 10 p.m.

See YOU there!

Prototype Tonight!

Merge at Wise Guys & The Bitter End

Hey everybody, just a quick reminder that MERGE will be at Wise Guys (502 Embassy Oaks) on Fri. and The Bitter End (corner of 281 and Bitters) on Sat. We'd love to see all of you there so come out and live a little.

-Michelle, Jonathan, Raul, & Bru

Check us out at www.mergerocks.com.

Sexto Sol at Barbed Wire Grill Friday

hi folks. for those of you who remember "sonny's by the park" next to the japanese tea gardens near sunken gardens, we will be playing an outdoor show at "Barbed Wire Grill" located 3709 N.St. Mary's st. (call (210) 735-0088 for more info). we used to frequently play the barbed wire when it was located in southtown...now its reemerged in a great location! the show is tomorrow night starts at 10pm....come out and support us and augie's new place!

cya tomorrow!

ss
http://sextosolsa.com
www.myspace.com/sextosol

Fuze at the GRC Saturday

Lesti Huff Band This Week

Hey there here's the lowdown on where the band is gonna be this week:

*Tomorrow night, Thurs. we'll be back @ Joe's Crab Shack in the
Quarry MKt. from 7-9. If you can only make it to one gig please make
this one. They're ready to keep us playing there if enough people
come out & support. Also the SA210 newsrag will be there to do an
interview & take pictures of the band for their entertainment section.
We're real excited about that & hope you can make it out. Joe's
address is 225 E. Basse & the # is (210)930-1736.

*Fri. night we return to Madhatter's Tea for 1st Fri. starting @ 8.
Always a good time & excellent food. They're located @ 320 Beauregard
the # is (210)212-4832.

* Sat. I'll be solo @ the Rivercenter Comedy Club starting @ 7. The
comedians on the main stage will be Spanky headlining along w/ De
McNary & Cesar Cevantes. Comedy starts @ 8:30 unless you show up
early to laugh @ me. You can reach them @ (210)229-1420.

*Sun. afternoon Jim Bard & I will be @ Bubba's Big Deck out in New
Braunfels from 3-7. Come on out & get some wild & crazy river action.
They're right down the street from Gruene Hall @ 1402 Gruene Rd. &
the # is (830)627-8816.

Hope ya'll have a fantastic weekend. Play hard, laugh loud, live
life, wear glasses if you need 'em. peace-out.

Drama at Soho

Circle of Fifths Coming Up

Come by and check out Circle of Fifths this Saturday Aug. 4th @ BABCOCK BAR. Next THURSDAY Aug. 9th we make our Debut @ REBAR! Love that Place!   Across from REVOLUTION ROOM And The HANGAR...  

ALSO BIG PARTY ANOUNCMENT!!!!:

John's(SINGER) BIRTHDAY is FRIDAY, AUG.10th and we are Celebrating  it @ " BARFLY " with C5 Shots on special ALL NIGHT LONG!

C5 shot :
5 Liquers

1/2 oz. - BLUE CAR.
1/2oz. - Peach SCHN.
1 oz. - MELON (Medory)
Pineapple
Sweet Sour
[SHAKE and Pour]

SINK - RAZZ.
FLOAT - JAGER

2007 Rebar 1st Annual Reggaefeast

Hacky sack contest, Jamaican dress up contest - Caribbean bar-be-que - 2 stages of music - Reggae Flea market – lots of liquor and beer specials all day - real permanent tattoos - live podcasting - live remotes - guitar give-a-ways - - lots of freebie stuff - TEXAS NORML - Pulled Pork with beans and rice - Jamaican Pulled Chicken - ********what more could ya want!!!! 1-day - be there or be square

When:
Saturday Aug 04, 2007
at 4:00 PM

Where: Rebar
8134 Broadway
St San Antonio, TX 78209
United States

Jinx at Brooks Pub Friday August 3rd

Bombasta Returns Home to Luna August 4th

BOMBASTA RETURNS HOME TO LUNA
SATURDAY AUGUST 4TH
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
CERRONATO (ATX) & MEXICAN STEPGRANDFATHER (SA)

      San Antonio's Bombasta has been busy over the summer touring the state while continuing to record their upcoming CD.  Saturday, August 4th will mark their return home to San Anto with a special night of music and dance at Luna Fine Music Club on San Pedro.  Continuing in their attempt to expose San Antonio to new and unique performances, Bombasta will be joined on stage by the traditional Cumbia/Vallenato sounds of Austin's Cerronato, as well as the skillful turntablism of San Antonio DJ, Mexican Stepgrandfather.  This unique mix of performers will serve as a balanced highlight of old school traditionalism, new school DJ culture and Bombasta's own unique take on Latino music and politics.  Doors open at 8PM; Music at 9PM; 21+; $7 Cover

BOMBASTA BIO  

      Sparking an uprising where ever they travel, this post modern collective is the sound of their times, the sound of a generation who grew up on both Hip Hop and Cumbias, Reggae and Rancheras, Soul and Salsa.  These are the new sounds from the street, the underground beats, horn lines out of a passing car- a call to resistance. 

      Originating out of the art warehouses and late night parties in the barrios of San Antonio in the summer of 2003, Bombasta quickly progressed to spreading their vision of positivity, liberation and good music throughout Texas.  From the stage of some of the choicest venues in the region, to the streets at political marches, Bombasta crosses borders and speaks the truth as they see it- from the bottom looking up. 

      This collective mixes styles and instrumentations as effortlessly as their lyrics travel between Spanish and English, balancing the traditional with the innovative, developing their own unique sound that reaches far beyond the typical.  Over the past few years Bombasta has forged a new musical path, taking various influences, including Reggae, Cumbia, Hip Hop and Latino Funk and has created a new sound that can most easily be described as 'Bomba Stilo.' 

      This musical co-op brandishes a full horn-section along with accordion, samplers, turntables, guitars and lots of rhythm.  Bombasta has been hard at work touring the region and developing a large family of friends, fans and collaborators.  With a strong mix of Spanglish politics and roots passion, Bombasta tackles various lyrical topics with sincerity and perspective, flowing with ease between syncopated rhymes and melodic anthems. 

      Bombasta has enjoyed helping various community activists in their struggles by performing at numerous fundraisers, marches and community events.  They have worked closely with the ACLU of Texas, Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Red Salmon Arts Project and Southwest Workers Union, to name a few.  Joining in a movement towards involvement and activism, Bombasta has continued to call for unity, organization and positivity- taking it from the streets to the stage.

CERRONATO BIO

     Austin, Texas band Cerronato plays an authentic yet innovative version of Colombian vallenato and cumbia. Their poignant and energetic music attracts a diverse fan base of young and old, many of who dance enthusiastically to Cerronato's lively, captivating sound. That sound merges ornate, tantalizing melodies from the accordion with rumbling and quirky bass lines, the eccentric syncopation of the guacharaca or scraper, the steady beat of the small drum, and the frenzied flourishes of the bongo. High, plaintive cries punctuate the poignant and passionate four-part harmonies of Cerronato on a mix of traditional and original tunes.

     The style vallenato, which is believed to be over 100 years old, draws its name from Valledupar, a Colombian city in the area where it originated. The word vallenato can be translated as "native to the valley." In seeking a name for his new group, founder Mike Maddux looked for a word connected with hills, since Austin is located on the edge of the Central Texas Hill Country—an area renowned for its creative spirit. Echoing the name of the musical style the group plays, the invented name Cerronato means "hill born" or "native to the hills."

     Describing the experience of playing with Cerronato, Maddux enthuses: "It's the biggest thrill—sort of like skydiving or driving a race car. It has that same kind of excitement that people want to get out of driving fast. You have to be skillful; it demands that you be aware and alert and doing the right thing at the right time. If you succeed, the result is something good. One nice thing is that you don't actually die if you make a mistake."

     True to its musical roots deep in Colombian history, Cerronato creates music for people who live their lives passionately, treasuring every moment—especially those spent celebrating. Every time they perform, Cerronato strives to recreate the fervid spirit of the Colombian parranda (translated as revel or jam session). Cerronato has taken their music to surprising new places, appearing twice on national television. In addition to clubs and parties, Cerronato has performed festivals around the state, including the Texas Folklife Resources-sponsored Accordion Kings festival in Houston and the Viking Festival in Waco, where they donned horned helmets to perform—certainly a first for a vallenato group.