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Pick up the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin Issue This Thursday!

Mikela Floyd — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:34:00 GMT

The Austin Chronicle’s 23rd annual “Best of Austin” issue is on stands November 8th! Find out how your favorites have fared in this year’s balloting. Highlighting both reader and critic choicesin over 300 categories, The Chronicle’s “Best Of” issue has a long history of celebrating all the great things to do and see in Austin.

Come celebrate our Best of Austin issue on Tuesday, November 13th at Emo’s East with a FREE night of music from Crooks and Sons of Fathers. Doors at 9pm.

Pick up the Best of Austin issue available in over 1,800 Austin locations and online at austinchronicle.com.

Austin Gets a New Music Video

Mikela Floyd — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:52:00 GMT

The Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) announced today the premiere of the collaborative music video set to Grammy Award Winning Blues Musician Jimmie Vaughan's song "Tick Tock." The promotional video draws from a variety of musical genres and features a wide range of Austin artists set in The Live Music Capital of the World®.

"We see this project as a destination calling card like no other. We know Austin's music scene draws a large audience of visitors," said Bob Lander, president and CEO of the ACVB. "We're in the Live Music Capital of the World® and this video showcases the diversity of our local talent in a variety of iconic locations across the city."

Austin musicians added their own style and creativity to Vaughan's hit "Tick Tock." This diverse group of talent includes Tje Austin, Marcia Ball, Ray Benson, Rosie Flores, Ruthie Foster, Mother Falcon, Nakia, Gary P. Nunn, Peterson Brothers, Tee Double, Tessy Lou & The Shotgun Stars, Vallejo, Haydn Vitera, Patricia Vonne and Dale Watson.

"Tick Tock" embodies the totality of Austin's live music scene resulting in a thread that takes viewers across the city to see the best and brightest of Austin landmarks and venues with a talented group of musicians.

Spend Halloween with HAAM!

Mikela Floyd — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:58:00 GMT

Good Eggs & HAAM kick off their inaugural Halloween party ‘A Wild & Dirty HAAM-O-WEEN’ on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Antone’s, 213 West 5th St. Musical guests include The Dirty River Boys, Wild Child and Ashley Monical.

The social arm of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), better known as Good Eggs & HAAM, is a community of Austin music lovers whose mission is to raise funds and awareness for the organization, which provides affordable healthcare for Austin musicians. HAAM-O-WEEN is the social group’s main fundraiser and all of its proceeds will go to HAAM.

Sultry songstress Ashley Monical starts things off at 9 p.m. followed by indie band Wild Child and Outlaw Folk-Americana foursome The Dirty River Boys. Costumes are encouraged and the bands have a few tricks and treats in store for the evening.

Dirty River Boy Colton James just underwent surgery with support from HAAM and is looking forward to testing out his new and improved knee at the party. “I thought I was going to have to attend the HAAM-O-WEEN bash as a peg-legged pirate until HAAM helped me to get my knee patched back up and now I can come as a Dirty River Boy,” joked James.

A Wild & Dirty HAAM-O-WEEN tickets are available at antones.net. General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show. VIP tables for 4 are $200 and include upper level seating with complimentary drink tickets and food provided by Bacon. Good Eggs & HAAM will be donating 100% of ticket sales to HAAM.

Austin City Limits Festival to Expand to Two Weekends in 2013

Mikela Floyd — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:21:00 GMT

Get ready for even more music, Austinites. Austin City Limits Festival came to an agreement with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department to expand 2013's ACL fest into two weekends. The 2011 festival infused an estimated $106 million into the Austin economy over three days, with 59 percent of attendees visiting Austin for the event. Stay tuned for more info, as C3 Presents continues to discuss the expansion of the ACL Festival to two weekends in 2013, scheduled for October 4-6 and 11-13 in Zilker Park.

Stars Turn Out for The Andy Roddick Charity Gala and Concert

Virgil Solis — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:15:00 GMT

The red carpet was indeed rolled out Friday night in downtown Austin, for the 7th Annual Andy Roddick Foundation Charity Gala & Concert featuring John Legend, which took place at The W Hotel and next door at ACL Live at The Moody Theater. Looking stunning as usual, Roddick's supermodel wife Brooklyn Decker hosted the night with her husband to raise money for a great foundation that works with underprivileged youth through sports-based mentoring. Celebrity friends Matthew McConaughey and very pregnant wife Camila were also there to show support.

Nine time Grammy award winner John Legend who was the nights entertainment showed support with long time girlfriend Chrissy Teigen. All in all it was a great night for Austin and especially for the AR Foundation who hit their goal of one million dollars.

Check out photos from the red carpet!

Alamo Drafthouse to Temporarily Shut Down South Lamar Location

Mikela Floyd — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:32:00 GMT

South Austin's Alamo Drafthouse fans are likely very thankful that they have the Slaughter Lane location to fall back on, as CEO Tim League announced today that the Lamar theater will close for 6-9 months, beginning in January.

The locations will close to make way for the re-development of the South Lamar Plaza Shopping Center. The Highball will close for the re-development on November 17th and Alamo South Lamar will follow on January 3rd, 2013. Both locations are slated to re-open in the third quarter of 2013.

"As much as I love the current shopping center, the redevelopment of South Lamar Plaza will enable us to execute much-needed lobby renovations and increase the parking capacity for the complex. I am very excited about the design of the new space and I feel that after a brief closure we will re-open with the best Alamo Drafthouse yet." Tim League, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Founder and CEO.

The Alamo South Lamar will undergo extensive renovations including the construction of three additional screens, a new lobby with additional capacity, and greatly increased parking capacity. The new Alamo South Lamar will continue to support both 4k digital as well as 35mm archival screenings.

The Highball will re-open in the third quarter of 2013 and will be rebuilt adjacent to the new Alamo South Lamar location. The new Highball will still feature multiple private karaoke rooms, a stage for events and live performances and a menu featuring beer, wine and specialty cocktails from Beverage Director Bill Norris. The new incarnation of the Highball, however, will not feature vintage bowling, but will include ample open-air seating.

Here's an artist's rendering of what the new development will look like:

Vote in The Austin Chronicle's 'Best of Austin' Poll

Mikela Floyd — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:20:00 GMT

If you love KGSR, and you want to spread the word, well now's your chance! The Austin Chronicle’s ‘Best of Austin’ ballot is on stands now soliciting votes for the best of the best in over 150 categories. For 23 years the Chronicle has tallied votes for everything from best annual comedy event and local podcast to best food event, bar staff and record store. This is your chance Austin to recognize the places and the people that you support and admire!

It’s easy to participate in the Austin Chronicle ‘Best of Austin’ Poll. Just pick up a copy of the Chronicle, fill in the blanks on the ‘Best of Austin’ ballot and mail it in before Monday, September 10, 2012.

"We're shaking up this year's ballot to reflect the shifts in our nightlife and arts. We've added some categories that hat-tip Austin's vibrancy, indie ethos, and laid-back charm," says the Chronicle’s Kate Messer, Best of Austin editor. "Like 'Best Social Bike Ride' and 'Best Place to Sit With a Beer and Look at People'"

The Austin Chronicle celebrates 31 years as Austin's independent news source, covering music, film, arts, and politics, with a readership of 195,000 a week in the greater Austin metropolitan area. The Chronicle is the eloquent and incisive voice of the city, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. The Austin Chronicle is available at over 1,800 locations every Thursday. For more information, go to www.austinchronicle.com.

Celebrate The Spice of Life with Austin's Hot Sauce Festival

Mikela Floyd — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:39:00 GMT

In the twenty-two years since its inception, what started as a friendly contest between Austin and San Antonio has become one of the largest annual contests in the world, the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival. Free to the public (with a donation of three healthy, non-perishable food items or a cash donation to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas), the event draws upwards of 15,000 spectators and more than 350 entries every year.

The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival is presented in conjunction with the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB), and last year raised over $17,000 and almost 19,000 pounds of food for Central Texans in need.

The 2012 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival will take place on Sunday, August 26 at Fiesta Gardens from 11:00am – 5:30pm.

Austin Art Beat – Austin's Art Garage Provides Culture Off the Beaten Path

Taylor Browne — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:59:00 GMT

There are a slew of live music events each week, and happy hours aplenty, but Austin’s art scene is well worth exploring. So we’re going to bring you a weekly spotlight of some of the eclectic artful activities that grace the Capitol City. Because it wouldn’t kill us to get a little culture in between margaritas, right?

This week, we visit the Austin Art Garage on 2200 S. Lamar Blvd. Co-owned by artists Jake Breyer and Joel Ganucheau, the Austin Art Garage prides itself on hosting pieces by Austin based artists. And more importantly, says artist/employee Tim Lasater, the AAG offers “good art at a reasonable price.”

After a work related accident some months ago, Lasater fell into painting. Now he has put up shop in the Austin Art Garage. The Garage has a “laid back and easy going vibe,” he says, with a more friendly approach towards both artists and customers. He related how owners Breyer and Ganucheau had become increasingly unhappy with the art galleries around town. They found places to be “stuffy” and were given contemptuous and judgment laden scowls when they would ask how much a piece was.

“If you have to ask the price,” said the snobbish art gallery owner while adjusting his monocle, “then you probably can’t afford it”. Infused with bohemian rage the pair set out to create a haven for local artists. And it seems that they have succeeded. The array of artists in the Garage was impressive, eclectic, and highly affordable.

Mary Streepy’s art was the first to catch my eye. Much like the gallery around her, she seemed to have numerous styles. One piece, titled Wayne Coyne (front man of The Flaming Lips), had a heavy influence from graffiti art while the next (titled Wedding Bell Blues) looked like something that a recently dumped Dr. Seuss would have drawn. A small, charming, painting followed these two pieces; which depicted David Bowie from his Ziggy Stardust days.

Next was Gabe Langholtz’s The Preconceived Hope. At first glance, one doesn’t think much of it, but upon a closer inspection the piece is immensely gorgeous and has numerous, however faint, layers to it. Joel Ganucheau’s H is for Home is simplistic and beautiful. The space of it and the glaring red draws the eye in. Tim Lasater’s cleverly titled piece Bon Motivo has a rich texture to it. Doug Farmer’s The Primitive Directive had a giggle-inducing comic book charm to it, which any nerd could not help but enjoy. In the same comedic and pop culture vein, Jake Breyer’s Spaghetti Modern will catch any Clint Eastwood fan’s eye.

While all of the artists in the garage are immensely talented, two artists of special note are Graham Franciose and Jason Eatherly; more specifically Franciose’s Don’t Worry, He’s a Vegetarian and Eatherly’s See You Later. Franciose (who is appropriately involved in drawing children’s stories) has a cutesy and clever approach to his magical art. Meanwhile, Eatherly’s Banksy-esque graffiti art is just plain engaging and strikes true to the heart of any viewer.

Simply put: the owners of the Austin Art Garage have succeeded in creating a safe haven for local artists of all varieties. Simultaneously, they have created a gallery off the beaten path (they are literally located at the end of a dirt road) for anyone who loves art but doesn’t have the cash to afford the habit as it were. The gallery is great for both bohemians and families alike (bohemian families are in for a real treat).

Concert Preview: The Avett Brothers Head to Whitewater Amphitheatre

Elizabeth Hinojos — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 20:00:00 GMT

Ostensibly one of the most progressive old-time country bluegrass bands, The Avett Brothers will take the stage (along with Blues on the Green artists Wheeler Brothers) at New Braunfels’ Whitewater Live Music Amphitheater Saturday night. The indie collective bridges traditional folk music and pop melodies to hone in on what The Washington Post calls “post-civil-war modern rock.”

Hailing from North Carolina, Scott Avett (vocals and banjo) and Seth Avett (vocals and guitar) decided to start the band after their project Nemo broke up. Adding the third member, Bob Crawford (bass) and more recently Joe Kwon (cello,) The Avett Brothers begun to float around from label to label when finally, and ironically enough, the honky-tonkers decided to sign under Columbia Records. Now on their seventh album, The Avetts are sure to impress central Texans with experience under their belt and a raw yet refined country swagger to boot.

KGSR will give away tickets every day until Friday from 10 am - 4 pm. Listen and stay tuned for details!

In the meantime, check out a stellar acoustic performance as part of NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series.