As if San Antonio needed another needed another struggling music venue, Gatsby’s (http://www.thegatsbysa.com/) comes to the rescue! Located off 1604 and Stone Oak Parkway, in the Sonterra shopping center, Gatby’s has successfully cornered off the live-music-venue-slash-bar market for the uppity hipster crowd. And it is not faring well.
Formerly the Cigar Club, another sinking ship, Gatsby’s boasts of attractive drink specials and a shiny crowd however it lacks grit making it come off as another flash in the pan. Upon morphing the Cigar Club to a music venue a month ago, owner Jacob Larkey hoped to make it the next “it” place in the San Antonio music scene. “It’s hard to book certain bands,” he said, “because some have this preconceived notion that we can’t pack the house.”
He went on to mention how the lease has a ban on smoking. “We can’t allow anyone to smoke in here. That REALLY takes all of the roll out of rock ‘n’ roll. And that really drags down the crowd which is backwards because we used to be a cigar club,” he said.
Despite his frustrations with the building code, it is very apparent that the restrictions affect their numbers. Jonathan Velazquez, bartender, said, “If we can’t attract larger crowds, no one is gonna want to play to an empty room. We’ve got great drink specials throughout the week – I’m talking cheap, especially for this area – but people love their cigarettes.”
In fact, twenty-eight Texas cities and 24 states have passed legislation banning smoking in public places. Some bar owners, like Larkey, say the legislation could hurt business.
Larkey said, “Yeah, this really puts a cramp on our style. We’d really like to be the next Sam’s or something cool. Without the bands, though, we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
Other than the dance area by the stage being somewhat small, and the sound system not overwhelming patrons, Larkey might have a chance. More DJs than bands are booked at the moment, but Larkey says he’s planning to build out the schedule in an attempt to become a go-to club for live music in San Antonio.
“With the additon of a patio, I think we’ll pick up momentum. And school starts back up soon. Word of mouth is spreading and I am thinking positively,” Larkey said.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Rock Out at Boot Camp
Make your dreams of becoming a rock star true this August! The Community of the Music Industry and Arts is making those dreams come true with their Rock Star Boot Camp. It’s rolling registration is ongoing and enticing many around the city.
Chris Lieck, CEO of COMIA, said the program allows people to observe the reality of the music industry beyond what they see on TV.
COMIA is educating young and old musicians; they are learning not just how to play guitar and dream about the spotlight, but learning the business, recording, marketing and video side of the "bidness" and putting it all together. The classes offer one-on-one instruction in each aspect of the industry, which is something Lieck said can’t be offered in a classroom.
COMIA offers four sets of business classes and two sets of marketing classes. There are also a number of labs that students can take to hone their skills.
Rae Drady, COMIA public relations manager said, “These classes are great for those that are especially creative and haven’t had the success in traditional music programs. They’re going to receive individual attention here.”
The summer sessions will run for eight weeks, and the Saturday sessions will start in the fall for students who want to continue.
The Boot Camp is located at 10886 Hillpoint Drive. Prices range between $299 and $399. For more information, call (210) 317-0364.
Chris Lieck, CEO of COMIA, said the program allows people to observe the reality of the music industry beyond what they see on TV.
COMIA is educating young and old musicians; they are learning not just how to play guitar and dream about the spotlight, but learning the business, recording, marketing and video side of the "bidness" and putting it all together. The classes offer one-on-one instruction in each aspect of the industry, which is something Lieck said can’t be offered in a classroom.
COMIA offers four sets of business classes and two sets of marketing classes. There are also a number of labs that students can take to hone their skills.
Rae Drady, COMIA public relations manager said, “These classes are great for those that are especially creative and haven’t had the success in traditional music programs. They’re going to receive individual attention here.”
The summer sessions will run for eight weeks, and the Saturday sessions will start in the fall for students who want to continue.
The Boot Camp is located at 10886 Hillpoint Drive. Prices range between $299 and $399. For more information, call (210) 317-0364.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Underground Jazz Resurfaces in SA
Underground jazz jam sessions make a resurgence on the San Antonio music scene for the month of July. Starting Thursday, July 9, Studio 509 will play host to jazz band jam sessions that are open to the public every Thursday night from 10 pm to 1 am.
Studio 509, a relatively unpublicized, unknown local hangout, has long been THE scene for all things underground in the SA music world. It is no surprise that the establishment has decided to improve its cool quotient by adding a jazz jam session to its lineup.
Sara Dawson, manager for 509, indicates a strong response so far. “Since we don’t advertise very much, word of mouth has been quite impressive in our big, small town. Those that know how to get here have been stopping by all week with questions and requests to play at certain times but it is basically on a first come, first serve basis.”
A local jazz musician, who requested to remain anonymous, sits nearby attempting to tune his rhythm guitar. He expresses relief at 509’s decision to include the “forgotten jazz musician.” He goes on to say, “Finally a forum for the solo musicians to get out and play with others – and maybe band together and create art. That’s how all the greats did it.”
There has been a recent drought in clubs that premiered the jazz musician until now. "Studio 509 is like a breath of fresh air," Ashley Feraude, jazz DJ at Trinity University. "There are many places in town where you can go to hear jazz but they don't entirely embody the gritty, smelly basement click spot that is common in genuine jazz clubs. 509 is a cool place and will more than likely bring in some really great musicians. If only for a month."
For more information, stop by studio 509 located at 509 San Pedro Ave., between the hours of 10 pm and 1 am. There is a charge of $5 at the door.
Studio 509, a relatively unpublicized, unknown local hangout, has long been THE scene for all things underground in the SA music world. It is no surprise that the establishment has decided to improve its cool quotient by adding a jazz jam session to its lineup.
Sara Dawson, manager for 509, indicates a strong response so far. “Since we don’t advertise very much, word of mouth has been quite impressive in our big, small town. Those that know how to get here have been stopping by all week with questions and requests to play at certain times but it is basically on a first come, first serve basis.”
A local jazz musician, who requested to remain anonymous, sits nearby attempting to tune his rhythm guitar. He expresses relief at 509’s decision to include the “forgotten jazz musician.” He goes on to say, “Finally a forum for the solo musicians to get out and play with others – and maybe band together and create art. That’s how all the greats did it.”
There has been a recent drought in clubs that premiered the jazz musician until now. "Studio 509 is like a breath of fresh air," Ashley Feraude, jazz DJ at Trinity University. "There are many places in town where you can go to hear jazz but they don't entirely embody the gritty, smelly basement click spot that is common in genuine jazz clubs. 509 is a cool place and will more than likely bring in some really great musicians. If only for a month."
For more information, stop by studio 509 located at 509 San Pedro Ave., between the hours of 10 pm and 1 am. There is a charge of $5 at the door.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
UIW Student Selected to Compose Fight Song
One of the University of the Incarnate Word’s very own students has been selected to compose the new football team’s fight song. Jason Stiggers, a business student in his final year at UIW is elated by the opportunity to utilize his musical acumen and give back to the university.
It’s no surprise to learn, with that kind of spirit, he started playing in church as a youth. From there he branched out to other venues like small parties and festivals to clubs when he got older.
Discovered only a short while ago at UIW’s Asian Festival, representatives were impressed by, not only his talent, but by his on-campus reputation for being a hard worker and dedicated student – someone that embodies the UIW spirit.
“I’m getting antsy,” Stiggers proclaims, while talking about the upcoming football season. “All eyes will be on UIW cause this is our inaugural year; I’d like to think a little of that attention will fall on the school fight song.”
Stiggers graduates in the fall and is going on to pursue jobs in the business field but would also like to keep his foot in the door as far as music is concerned.
“I know it’s rough trying to balance a career and a hobby I am passionate about but my time at UIW has taught me many things like time management and achieving my dreams. I am ready.”
Sounds like a good fight song in the making.
It’s no surprise to learn, with that kind of spirit, he started playing in church as a youth. From there he branched out to other venues like small parties and festivals to clubs when he got older.
Discovered only a short while ago at UIW’s Asian Festival, representatives were impressed by, not only his talent, but by his on-campus reputation for being a hard worker and dedicated student – someone that embodies the UIW spirit.
“I’m getting antsy,” Stiggers proclaims, while talking about the upcoming football season. “All eyes will be on UIW cause this is our inaugural year; I’d like to think a little of that attention will fall on the school fight song.”
Stiggers graduates in the fall and is going on to pursue jobs in the business field but would also like to keep his foot in the door as far as music is concerned.
“I know it’s rough trying to balance a career and a hobby I am passionate about but my time at UIW has taught me many things like time management and achieving my dreams. I am ready.”
Sounds like a good fight song in the making.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
SA Loses One More Beloved Station
Power 106.7 has ditched their hip-hop format for a more subdued signal. Virgil Thompson, VP of programming, announced today that the station will no longer be San Antonio’s choice for hip-hop and R&B. Instead, the station plans on introducing a talk format.
This decision was made based on the numbers Arbitron provided to Cox Radio, Power 106.7 parent company. Arbitron, a company that provides a type of listener meter, maintains a diary, taken four times a year, that indicates who is listening and at what frequency. They call it a Personal People Meter. And many of the people it meters are outraged.
Kevin Barnes, aka Rewind, former disc jockey at Power 106.7, says that stations like this one are flanker stations. They change every three years or so to strategically knock down a rival formatted station. “For example,” he says, “the Beat 98.1 was getting a nine share – which is outrageously good – in the ratings. Power went in and tried to take them out and their rating dropped to a six. So the two were basically neck and neck.”
But, despite being able to knock a similarly formatted station out of complete dominance isn’t enough. Virgil Thompson said Power wasn’t bringing in enough money or ratings. “The hip-hop format didn’t appeal to listeners enough – Cox saw the numbers and decided to change.”
To that, Barnes replies, “Those numbers that Arbitron puts together are a joke. “ What the company does is randomly selects households and calls to ask household members what they listen to. But in this day and age, Barnes points out, “How many 18 -34 year olds have house phone? Almost none. That system is flawed. There has been an injunction introduced for ethnic benchmarks to be considered. I think a new system will revolutionize radio.”
“Let’s hope so,” remarks Manual Solis, hip-hop writer for the SA Current. “If we lose our lone hip-hop station, it will kill what so many of our local hip-hop artists have worked towards. Just recently some of the local groups have been nationally recognized. Another blow to the scene, and who knows how much the city will fall off.”
For more on Arbitron, visit their site www.Arbitron.com.
This decision was made based on the numbers Arbitron provided to Cox Radio, Power 106.7 parent company. Arbitron, a company that provides a type of listener meter, maintains a diary, taken four times a year, that indicates who is listening and at what frequency. They call it a Personal People Meter. And many of the people it meters are outraged.
Kevin Barnes, aka Rewind, former disc jockey at Power 106.7, says that stations like this one are flanker stations. They change every three years or so to strategically knock down a rival formatted station. “For example,” he says, “the Beat 98.1 was getting a nine share – which is outrageously good – in the ratings. Power went in and tried to take them out and their rating dropped to a six. So the two were basically neck and neck.”
But, despite being able to knock a similarly formatted station out of complete dominance isn’t enough. Virgil Thompson said Power wasn’t bringing in enough money or ratings. “The hip-hop format didn’t appeal to listeners enough – Cox saw the numbers and decided to change.”
To that, Barnes replies, “Those numbers that Arbitron puts together are a joke. “ What the company does is randomly selects households and calls to ask household members what they listen to. But in this day and age, Barnes points out, “How many 18 -34 year olds have house phone? Almost none. That system is flawed. There has been an injunction introduced for ethnic benchmarks to be considered. I think a new system will revolutionize radio.”
“Let’s hope so,” remarks Manual Solis, hip-hop writer for the SA Current. “If we lose our lone hip-hop station, it will kill what so many of our local hip-hop artists have worked towards. Just recently some of the local groups have been nationally recognized. Another blow to the scene, and who knows how much the city will fall off.”
For more on Arbitron, visit their site www.Arbitron.com.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Jackson Parten and his Soda Pop Social Explodes on the Scene
After several name changes and subsequent line-up shifts, Soda Pop Social is ready to do just that: POP (back) onto the SA music scene with a new album. Because of their history in SA as great performers and talented musicians, their debut as SPS, after a long hiatus, has fans clamoring to get their hands on the new album.
“Our fans are great,” Jackson Parten, SPS frontman, admits. “They’ve been following me since Catastrophe (The Jackson Parten Catastrophe) and Ryan (Shortt) as Experiment (The Parten Experiment). Will (Kelly) just came aboard and everyone’s been real receptive to him, as well.”
In Parten’s corner since the beginning is Erik Christiansen, President of Waldo Entertainment. He has played an integral part in landing the band gigs. “Jackson works his ass off getting out there and schmoozing the crowd and getting the word out. When he sets his mind to something, it gets done – sooner or later,” he laughs. “But I had no doubts in my mind that they would be big. They are well on their way. They’ve started playing gigs in Austin and that is a big deal for a fledgling band in SA.”
Since beginning in 2002, Catastrophe played various venues doing cover songs. When Parten tired of ‘doing someone else’s songs,’ he started including his own in the set list. Positive reaction to his originals lead to studio time: “I released my first album years later,” Parten recalls, “but I wanted something more.
After meeting and teaming up with Shortt, the group became Experiment, “Because,” as Shortt puts it, “we didn’t know where we were going or what we wanted to do. All we knew is that we wanted to perform.”
“So,” Kelly picks up, “the recruited another drummer – me.” Once Kelly joined, the group still played as Experiment but knew collectively that everything had to change.”
“We owed it to our fans,” Shortt says. “We needed a wake up call. The quality of music was ok but the cohesiveness as a band had to come together. So we decided to take a break, write our own stuff as a new band and record it.”
They make their triumphant return to the stage with a new album and material in tow at Sam’s Burger Joint, June 19th at 10 pm. Make sure to get your tickets ahead of time cause it is sure to be a packed house.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Airfrance
The Brazilian military has recovered 17 bodies in the ocean near the area where an Air France jet crashed one week ago. Troops from all over the world are assisting the effort to recover as many bodies and as much wreckage as possible.
Pilots continue identifying bodies and wreckage from the air and ships are being sent in to recover them 700 miles off the coast of Brazil.
"We are still looking for new debris on the sea surface with our aircrafts -- Brazilian, American and French aircrafts and also with the surface ships," Captain Christophe Prazuck, a French military spokesman, said.
However, the key element is to find the plane's black boxes. They are each equipped with a device that sends out a signal. Those signals only last about 30-days and it has been a week since the plane went down.
There are still questions about whether faulty speed sensors may have caused the crash. Air France admits that these sensors have iced up and failed on other flights before. The plane's manufacturer, Airbus, recommended changing them, but Air France had not changed the sensors on the plane that crashed.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Beat Post #1
A few months ago I attended a Ryan Adams concert at the Majestic Theatre. Wait, let me start over again… A few months ago I attended a stuffy Ryan Adams concert at the same place I first saw Singing in the Rain when I was a child, clad in black, patten leather shoes and my Sunday’s best – the Majestic Theatre. Same place. Ryan Adams. Yeah.
While Adams has shirked his bad boy reputation by curbing his drug and alcohol abuse, and marrying pop tart Mandy Moore, he is still Ryan Freakin’ Adams! And when I go to see Ryan Flippin’ Adams, I wanna hear rock ‘n’ roll, feel sloshed-out-of-the-cup beer between my toes, smell think cigarette smoke and TASTE LIFE. But you can’t do that from a chair seated behind two yuppie hipsters, discussing the French Revolution. You just can’t.
So where do you go in SA for good shows? Like, good rock ‘n’ roll shows? Adams’ popularity among the ‘alternative’ crowd doesn’t garner enough ticket sales to play Verizon – home of the $17 (hot) beer and 30 minute bathroom lines… He’s too popular for little ol’ Sam’s Burger Joint… And his price tag is too heavy for County Line to provide a free show on a Wednesday night. So, besides the ornate and stuffy Majestic, where can he play to a crowd that likes to get a little rowdy? Austin.
Therein lies the problem: San Antonio doesn’t lack the draw of pseudo-big name performers (cause Adams' last tour did NOT include Austin, surprisingly), SA lacks VENUES. And without contemporary venues, like Stubb’s, how can we expect our local musicians to spread their wings and fly?
IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, THEN PLAY ON!
Music is not only the food of love, it is the heart and soul of Austin; it’s what sets the capital aside and puts it on the map. And that is rightfully theirs… I’m not trying to make our claim to fame live music, I’m just trying to facilitate bands like Adams & the Cardinals so that maybe, maybe, they’d invite a local act to open for them!
Brandon Hodges, manager for several large and small acts, gets quite annoyed with SA. Hodges, in the business for almost ten years and based out of San Marcos, cites our uncontrollable growth and lack of venues as our number one problem: “Obviously there are a ton of people in San Antonio and a large fraction of them are transplants. They want variety. Myself, I specialize in rock, Americana and Texas country. Those three combined create a HUGE draw in this area. If I put three acts on one bill in San Marcos or Austin, I can sell out a show, no problems. But SA just does not have anything central to its' city. Floore’s comes close but that caters to one crowd and it’s in BFE.”
So where can OUR musicians go? Where can they expect a crowd and put themselves out there?
Jeremy Menking, musician to several acts, including The Corby White, the Sidewalk Saints and K Phillips and the Concho Pearls, says sometimes they branch out and look to outlying areas for shows: “We play Seguin almost every Friday night. I really like being able to ‘fill seats’ (so to speak) in Seguin but it shouldn’t be that hard to do at home. I have a 9-5 and it’s tough coming home those late nights. SA suffers from the Sheep Syndrome. People go see acts they’ve seen over and over, at the same bars because that is all they know .
Unfortunately SA is also stuck trying to overcome geographical issues. The population of SA is very spread out, therefore the bars/clubs are spread out. I can get to Gruene Hall in New Braunfels faster than I can get to Floore’s on the other side of SA. There are very few places in SA with any sort of concentration of live music venues. Downtown Austin is so concentrated with clubs/bars/venues that if you take a shot at going to see a new band, and you don’t like it, you can go next door and try out someone else! It alleviates the risk of trying something new. In its heyday, Dallas’s Deep Ellum District worked in a similar fashion. There is nowhere like that in SA.”
So perhaps, aside from shrinking our city and/or starting from scratch, we investigate a little more. Maybe someone has tried to erect such a venue… Maybe noise ordinances shut them down… Maybe someone lacks the funding or the drive to get this project off the ground…
Whatever the case may be, this blogger would like to find out what it will take as a resident, as a musician, as and music LOVER to get this fire burning. AND… how hot will it burn?
While Adams has shirked his bad boy reputation by curbing his drug and alcohol abuse, and marrying pop tart Mandy Moore, he is still Ryan Freakin’ Adams! And when I go to see Ryan Flippin’ Adams, I wanna hear rock ‘n’ roll, feel sloshed-out-of-the-cup beer between my toes, smell think cigarette smoke and TASTE LIFE. But you can’t do that from a chair seated behind two yuppie hipsters, discussing the French Revolution. You just can’t.
So where do you go in SA for good shows? Like, good rock ‘n’ roll shows? Adams’ popularity among the ‘alternative’ crowd doesn’t garner enough ticket sales to play Verizon – home of the $17 (hot) beer and 30 minute bathroom lines… He’s too popular for little ol’ Sam’s Burger Joint… And his price tag is too heavy for County Line to provide a free show on a Wednesday night. So, besides the ornate and stuffy Majestic, where can he play to a crowd that likes to get a little rowdy? Austin.
Therein lies the problem: San Antonio doesn’t lack the draw of pseudo-big name performers (cause Adams' last tour did NOT include Austin, surprisingly), SA lacks VENUES. And without contemporary venues, like Stubb’s, how can we expect our local musicians to spread their wings and fly?
IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, THEN PLAY ON!
Music is not only the food of love, it is the heart and soul of Austin; it’s what sets the capital aside and puts it on the map. And that is rightfully theirs… I’m not trying to make our claim to fame live music, I’m just trying to facilitate bands like Adams & the Cardinals so that maybe, maybe, they’d invite a local act to open for them!
Brandon Hodges, manager for several large and small acts, gets quite annoyed with SA. Hodges, in the business for almost ten years and based out of San Marcos, cites our uncontrollable growth and lack of venues as our number one problem: “Obviously there are a ton of people in San Antonio and a large fraction of them are transplants. They want variety. Myself, I specialize in rock, Americana and Texas country. Those three combined create a HUGE draw in this area. If I put three acts on one bill in San Marcos or Austin, I can sell out a show, no problems. But SA just does not have anything central to its' city. Floore’s comes close but that caters to one crowd and it’s in BFE.”
So where can OUR musicians go? Where can they expect a crowd and put themselves out there?
Jeremy Menking, musician to several acts, including The Corby White, the Sidewalk Saints and K Phillips and the Concho Pearls, says sometimes they branch out and look to outlying areas for shows: “We play Seguin almost every Friday night. I really like being able to ‘fill seats’ (so to speak) in Seguin but it shouldn’t be that hard to do at home. I have a 9-5 and it’s tough coming home those late nights. SA suffers from the Sheep Syndrome. People go see acts they’ve seen over and over, at the same bars because that is all they know .
Unfortunately SA is also stuck trying to overcome geographical issues. The population of SA is very spread out, therefore the bars/clubs are spread out. I can get to Gruene Hall in New Braunfels faster than I can get to Floore’s on the other side of SA. There are very few places in SA with any sort of concentration of live music venues. Downtown Austin is so concentrated with clubs/bars/venues that if you take a shot at going to see a new band, and you don’t like it, you can go next door and try out someone else! It alleviates the risk of trying something new. In its heyday, Dallas’s Deep Ellum District worked in a similar fashion. There is nowhere like that in SA.”
So perhaps, aside from shrinking our city and/or starting from scratch, we investigate a little more. Maybe someone has tried to erect such a venue… Maybe noise ordinances shut them down… Maybe someone lacks the funding or the drive to get this project off the ground…
Whatever the case may be, this blogger would like to find out what it will take as a resident, as a musician, as and music LOVER to get this fire burning. AND… how hot will it burn?
You've been charged with two misdemeanors... What will you do now? Go to Disney World?
A suburban mother of three, who claimed she and her daughter had been abducted and stuffed in a car trunk, is in custody in Florida after the pair were found at Walt Disney World. They had flown-in hours after the mother reported their abduction.
Bonnie Sweeten, 38, of Feasterville, PN, will be charged with false reports and identity theft, both misdemeanors, Bucks County District Attorney Michelle Henry said.
Sweeten apparently borrowed a co-worker's driver's license and presented it as her own when she bought an airline ticket and flew to Orlando, Fla., then checked into the hotel with her daughter, Julia Rakoczy. The two were taken into custody Wednesday evening, Henry said.
They had very few bags packed and the hotel was paid through Friday, Henry said. Sweeten had withdrawn about $12,000 from several bank accounts over recent days but authorities were not sure if the money had been stolen.
"We believe that there were some domestic concerns with her husband and some financial concerns as well," Henry said.
The child is now safe with her father, Sweeten's ex-husband, and Sweeten is to be extradited from Florida, Henry said.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Bonnie Sweeten
Bonnie Sweeten, wanted for identity theft and false reports, was arrested today. She was found, along with her nine year-old daughter, vacationing at Disneyworld.
A resident of Featerville, Pennsylvania and 38 year old mother of four, Sweeten faked her abduction and left for Florida using her co-worker's identity. She told police she and her daughter were stuffed in a trunk by two black men...
A resident of Featerville, Pennsylvania and 38 year old mother of four, Sweeten faked her abduction and left for Florida using her co-worker's identity. She told police she and her daughter were stuffed in a trunk by two black men...
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