Fort Worth Weekly // April 10-16, 2024

Walking Brews

The local Teamsters striking at Molson Coors are still waiting for an equitable agreement.

EATS & DRINKS

Patissery’s French goodies tickle the palate.

BY CHRISTINA BERGER

STUFF

Bling becomes the Rangers’ World Series rings. BY OZZIE GARZA

MUSIC With The Edge of April, Rachel Gollay explores faith and loss. BY STEVE STEWARD

MUSIC

Tulips FTW welcomes social media sensation There I Ruined It on Sunday. BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

Signs of the Times

Strikers continue fighting for better pay and benefits from Molson Coors.

By

Madison Simmons

Francophiles Downtown’s Patissery delights in tasty treats.

By Christina Berger

Monster Mashups

There I Ruined It’s sonic Frankensteins hop from the socials to Fort Worth Sunday.

On her new album, Rachel Gollay does not back down from the hard questions.

By Steve Steward

By Buck D. Elliott

Walking Brews

The local Teamsters striking at Molson Coors are still waiting for an equitable agreement.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MADISON SIMMONS

From his spot in the picket line, John Thomas paused to take in his employer’s large space in his family’s history — and his psyche.

“When I was a small kid,” he said, “my dad worked here, starting in 1976. I remember being a kid and wanting to work here. Now, I don’t even want my kids to come here.”

A member of Teamsters Local 997, Thomas is one of hundreds of employees of Molson Coors fighting to keep their health insurance plan, equalize the pension program, and earn higher wages. The Teamsters’ strike against the brewing giant in South Fort Worth started on February 17, and the strikers say it won’t end until an agreement is reached.

In 2023, Molson Coors achieved six years’ worth of profit growth, and many employees are wondering when any of those monies will trickle down.

Thomas, a shipping clerk and lead administrator on the company’s emergency response team, has been a part of negotiations between the Teamsters and the corporation. The most recent round took place in two separate conference rooms at a nearby hotel. Negotiations stretched over two days. Molson Coors offered the Teamsters a nickel above the initial 99-cent hourly raise over the course of three years.

Thomas said, “They brought nothing to the table. We made them an offer and had to wait over 24 hours. It was disrespectful.”

In an email, Adam Collins, chief communications officer for Molson Coors, said, “We remain committed to reaching a fair agreement and have offered highly competitive wages and benefits off an already strong base.”

Several strikers said they did not feel the wages in their specialties reflected area market standards. Many also pointed to the recent contract that Anheuser-Busch agreed to after negotiations with its 5,000 Teamsters at plants across the country.

“We should get what they did,” said local Teamster Tommy Herr, adding that Molson Coors has “never shown us that level of respect.”

The AB contract includes wage increases of $8 an hour over five years, equal health-care coverage for all employees, and more vacation weeks.

Herr works as an electrician in the brewhouse and walked the picket line last Friday night. The Teamsters take six-hour shifts to

“Thanks to Miller,” the company before Molson Coors took over, “my family has gotten to see a nice life,” said 65-year-old Vincent Hernandez, who over the past 33 years has taken his family on vacations and put his kids through college on his salary. He plans to retire next year, after his wife turns 65. “I’m striking for the rights of the future. We have not really gained. We have lost. I’m all for [the strike], even though I’m about to be out.”

ensure people are covering the entrances and exits around the clock. They spend most of that time walking in front of each station, taking breaks to shelter and socialize under tents set with coolers and snacks.

On Sunday morning, Glenn Ashworth walked the loop in front of the northernmost entrance in a flame-orange Molson Coors long-sleeved shirt, leaning on a matching cane with every step. Ashworth does not use a cane at work or at home, he said, but the hours walking outside the brewery aggravate a hip replacement and recent muscle tear. The 64-year-old mechanic will retire next year. A self-described “workaholic,” Ashworth has considered the six-hour shifts on the picket line an introduction to retirement, but he feels eager to get back to his regular job: fixing machines.

“We’re going back in,” he said. “It’s going to be hell when we go back in. I’m sure half of [the pumps] are leaking by now.”

About a third of a mile south down the service road, another worker nearing retirement picketed, carrying a sign reading, “Don’t Drink Molson Coors.” Vincent Hernandez could have already settled into retirement, but the 65-year-old plans to wait until next year, as his 64-year-old wife uses his health insurance plan.

Working “16 hours a day nearly seven days a week” for 33 years allowed him to “get ahead,” he said. Newer employees are not as well compensated and will have to work more years than he has to earn the same benefits, he said. “I want them to have what I had.” l

still be out

17 years.

was

In the past, 62-year-old electrician Jim Cox has been part of the hiring process and said that, by his estimation, Molson Coors does not have competitive enough pay to afford electricians with experience. He’s been with the company for 14 years.

“I’m just an average Joe trying to provide for my family,” said Mike Hernandez, who raises his four kids and 2-year-old granddaughter off his Molson Coors salary. He said he has enjoyed his seven years working the supply chain in the warehouse, but he claims the company continues to erode pay and benefits. As line captain, Hernandez spent last Friday night overseeing the Teamsters picketing at the entrances and exits of the Molson Coors facility in South Fort Worth.

face. It was unbelievable. I thought we meant more to them.”

Along with Mauqea King (right), Tommy Herr, who has been with Molson Coors for 15 years, recalled hearing about the brewer’s good reputation while working as an electrician at the Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in the 1980s. “But every contract, [Molson Coors bosses] just reduce, reduce,” he said. King nodded. “Oh, man.” The most recent offer was “a slap in the

Erica Johnson took a break from cooking pork chops and mac ’n’ cheese for her fellow strikers on Sunday morning to say, “We shouldn’t

here.” It

Day 51. Johnson works in packaging and has been with the company for

“We have a good community and are a good team,” said Monica Hernandez of her job as a packaging operator on the bottle line at Molson Coors. She has worked for the company for 13 years.

“My opinion is we’re looking at company profit over company labor,” said Darren Maxey, who has worked in packaging at the company for a decade. “I’m anxious to get back inside.”

Roger Sheriff has spent five years driving a forklift at Molson Coors. Both his wife and his young son have had open-heart surgery. He said the new contract featured fewer health insurance benefits. “I worked real hard to get this job for this [health] insurance, and now they’re attempting to take it from us.”

continued on page 7

Last Friday night, Teamsters picketed in front of one of the entrances to the facility. They legally have 90 seconds to block the road before allowing vehicles to enter.

The Teamsters track the trucks coming to and from the facility and report a decrease in activity compared to pre-strike operating conditions.

Blessing of the Vines - April 13 th 10:30AM - 11AM

New Vintage Wineries & Galleries Trail - April 13 th 11AM - 6PM

Most of the 420 Teamsters members have spent nearly two months picketing outside of the facility. The strike began February 17, after the company offered a 99-cent hourly raise over the course of three years. Since then and after weeks of negotiation, the company has offered an additional 5-cent hourly raise.

The Teamsters work in six-hour shifts to ensure picketers are at the facility around the clock. continued on page 9

John and Nadia Thomas have a combined 38 years working at Molson Coors. John has been part of the team negotiating a new contract with the company. “When people laugh and say we make enough money, well, they don’t see what we do for that money,” including 16-hour shifts with allegedly no air[-]conditioning during the summer and no heat in the winter.

TASTE MAKERS TRINITY METRO

Make this year’s MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival more beautiful than ever. Ride a Trinity Metro bus, ZIPZONE, TEXRail, TRE or Molly the Trolley right to the fun, with none of the fuss. Save 50% with GoPass promo code at

(From left to right) Jacob Grafa, Nick Longworth, and Roger Sheriff have been with Molson Coors for about five years and described tough working conditions, from long hours to a lack of air[-]conditioning during the summer. All three are earning for their young families.

CONNECT WITH ART THROUGH COCKTAILS, CONVERSATIONS, AND CREATIVITY.

Each month you’ll find something different—from performances, artist talks, and unique tours to art making, music, and films.

APRIL 11 | 5-8 P.M. FREE Mysteries & Motives

Discover the riveting tales behind the renowned robberies, perplexing forgeries, and thrilling heists that have punctuated American art history.

LEARN MORE

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters formed in 1903. Of the 420 members of the Teamsters Local 997 of the Fort Worth Molson Coors plant, the vast majority chose to strike rather than accept a new contract that initially featured a 99-cent hourly raise over three years.

“It’s all out of whack,” said Roberto Hernandez, right, of benefits and pay at Molson Coors. “We are not appreciated for our skilled trade.” Hernandez has worked as a utilities technician for 11 years at the company. Craig Ringer agrees. “We can’t get people because [Molson Coors does not] pay enough, so we’re always short-staffed.” Ringer has worked as a Molson Coors electrician for 17 years.

Many Teamsters take issue with a tier system that Molson Coors introduced. Discrepancies in pay and vacation time between new hires and employees with seniority causes division among the staff, the strikers say.

Nick Longworth has worked at the company as a forklift operator for one year. He began as a temp worker and describes working 30-plus days without a day off. “The hell they make us go through just to get hired on. … I thought I was coming here to find the career I could retire on.”

Despite being one year away from retirement, 64-year-old Glenn Ashworth decided to strike with his co[-]workers. “I’m a second-generation Teamster, and you don’t break the picket line.”

APRIL 10-23

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 6-9:00 PM

RATHMORE | CELTIC ROCK

SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 5:30-9 PM

CHASING TEXAS | COUNTRY, BLUES & ROCK

SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 11 AM-2:30 PM

LATE TO THE STATION TRIO | AMERICANA

4651 WEST FREEWAY | I-30 @ HULEN | 817-989-4700

FRESH MAHI MAHI FILLETS

SAVE $10 $9.99/LB.

Flown in directly to Texas and filleted by our expert fishmongers. Firm, flaky, and mild, these fillets make awesome island-inspired fish tacos, especially when paired with a fruity salsa.

PRICE VALID 4/10/24-4/16/24

Look Again

Happy Hour in the Kimbell Café EVERY FRIDAY, 5–7 pm

Live music | Beer | Wine | Food

Admission to the permanent collection is always free. View the full schedule of exhibitions, events, and programs at kimbellart.org

Support for the Kimbell is provided in part by Arts Fort Worth and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Mummy Mask (detail), Roman, c. A.D. 120–170, stucco/gesso with paint, gold leaf, and glass inlays. Kimbell Art Museum, AP 1970.05

STUFF

Ringing in the Champs

The Rangers have their bling — and you can have some, too.

STORY AND PHOTO BY

OZZIE GARZA

“Your World Series champion Texas Rangers” has a certain ring to it — one adorned with diamonds and a little Rangers history.

The local team recently unveiled their 150-gram diamond-studded World Series

ring. Featuring more than 200 super-shiny stones and points, including sapphires and rubies, it was awarded to approximately 60 players, coaches, and onfield staff at a recent home game. The bright silver band breaks down the squad’s road to the championship with both visible and hidden stats and storylines from the season.

A removable top reveals the team’s 11-0 postseason away record, and “ROAD Dominance” accompanies the logos of the four teams the Rangers beat along the way.

Each ring also includes a small covering of a baseball from the actual games against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“There was a lot of pressure when designing this ring,” said CEO Jason Arasheben from Jason of Beverly Hills, “not just because it was a first for the Rangers but because it is also our very first World Series ring.”

Based on the players’ reactions at the ceremony, the finished product is definitely a … hit.

In the market for some flashy ice? You can win your very own Texas Rangers World Series championship ring personalized by Jason via Rangers.com/ringsweeps now through Sun., June 23. l

A frequent contributor to the Fort Worth Weekly, Ozzie Garza has been writing about the Rangers for more than 20 years.

Saturday, April 13 10–11:30 a.m. | Free Event for families with children of all ages who are on the autism spectrum discovering and making artwork!

Thursday, April 18 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Free

Neurodivergent adults and their guests are invited to participate in sensory-friendly and social event exploring artwork and engaging in hands-on art activities.

The best events in North Texas this week.

At 5pm, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-738-1933) hosts an evening of cocktails, conversations, and live music. The theme of this month’s Second Thursdays at the Carter is Mysteries & Motives. Pick up your complimentary drink in the atrium and head to the Lounge to discuss famous forgeries, heists, and robberies throughout American art history 5pm-8pm. Seating for the talk is first come, first served. RSVP for free at CarterMuseum.com.

The Jazz Wine Train at Grapevine Vintage Railroad (705 S Main St, Grapevine, 817-410-3185) rides from 6pm to 9:30pm on three Fridays in April — today, the 19th, and 26th. Go for a leisurely ride while enjoying live jazz, assorted hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and a souvenir wine glass with tastings from six local vino purveyors. Tickets are $65 per person or $395 for a table of four at GVRR.com.

At 6:30pm at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-463-4160), local folk-pop singer-songwriter Simone Nicole performs at

After Hours in the Garden. Tickets are $25 at FWBG.org and include one adult beverage and light bites. For more info, visit SimoneNicole.com or Facebook.com/ SimoneNicoleMusic.

From 10am to 11:30am, families with children of all ages on the autism spectrum are invited to Sensory Explorations: Flowers at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817738-1933), where they will discover and make artwork. Then, on Thu, Apr 18, from

explore artwork and engage in hands-on art activities. Both events are free.

Today is also Open Streets, where Near Southside celebrates its community spirit with an all-day six-hour event. West Magnolia Avenue from 8th Avenue to Hemphill Street will be closed to cars and reopened for cyclists, dog walkers, face painters, skateboarders, and more to bike, dance, play, and socialize from noon to 6pm. There will be artisan markets, a roll zone (for bikes, boards, scooters, and skates), and a stroll zone (for children’s activities). This free family- and pet-friendly event even includes free parking at the garage at

WIN

A one hour beer or wine tasting event is a great compliment to your visit to Scarborough Renaissance Festival ! Each weekend has a different theme and variety of beer or wine. Book your tasting event today - before they sell out! (Tasting tickets are in addtion to admission tickets. Must be 21+ to participate or attend a tasting event).

The Amon Carter has three upcoming events worth exploring this week.

Courtesy Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Families with children on the autism spectrum are invited to the Amon Carter for Sensory Explorations: Flowers on Saturday.

Courtesy Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Courtesy OpenStreetsFortWorth.org

LIVING LOCAL

Spring & Summer at The Weekly

Fort Worth Weekly Marketing Feature

With the eclipse behind us, and other spring happenings on the horizon, our thoughts will soon turn to pool season and summer fun. While it’s still too cold to dive in, you know it won’t be long! It’s never too soon to start planning your spring and summer adventures.

This quarter we have Earth Day 420 Section on April 17, Cinco de Madre Sections (celebrating Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day) on May 1 and 8, Summer Edition 2024* on May 22, Pride Month in June, Dads & Grads Section on June 12, Independence Day Sections on June 26 and July 3, and Creature Comforts 2024** on July 31.

*Yes. It’s almost time for SUMMER EDITION 2024!

May is when our annual coffee-table-styled guide to everything summertime is published. This piece will hit the stands on Wed, May 22, the week before Memorial Day Weekend, and will be kept by our readers as a reference throughout the season for where to dine, imbibe, and hunt for warm-weather fun.

**It’s also time to think about CREATURE COMFORTS 2024!

On the last week of July, ahead of National Dog Month in August, we publish our annual animal-friendly reference to all things furry and scaly in our Creature Comforts edition. From animal resources to zoo happenings, this cover-to-cover special edition covers it all.

See examples of our special issues online!

Business owners, we know how difficult it can be to decide how to best promote your business. Along with comprehensive weekly

10.37x1.74

coverage, each year we provide our readers with seasonal guides, special editions and sections with space available in print and online.

If our readers wear out their print copies of Summer Edition and Creature Comforts — we know that they will — never fear. Both live on FWWeekly.com in our magazine drop-down for a full year! That means you can check them out there too. ;)

Have a special event coming up?

Along with the special dates above, each week, we highlight one event for each day of the week in Night & Day and feature food and booze events in Ate Day8 a Week. Do you have any events or offers coming up that we need to know about? Please email marketing@fwweekly.com for consideration.

Want to reserve space?

Our final deadlines are Tuesdays for all the sections and issues above. If you’re interested in reserving space, please go to FWWeekly. com and pick “Want to Advertise” from the drop-down menu near the top of the homepage or contact your FWW representative ASAP..

Hot Deals At Cool Prices

Stock your Kitchen at Mission!

Small wares, pots & pans, and all kitchen essentials available to the public.

Come see our showrooms! MON-FRI 8am-5:30pm

2524 White Settlement Road

Fort Worth • 817-265-3973

EATS & drinks

Not-SoPetite “Patissery”

The French fare served at this cozy downtown spot is nothing short of délicieux.

Patissery, 425 W 3rd St, FW. 214-888-8031. 8am-7pm Mon, Wed-Sat; 8am-4pm Tue.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA BERGER

“Two and a half weeks. We were waiting to get more attractive people behind the counter … and now you know I’m French!”

the most French thing you’ve heard? But also, respect.

The lone jovial monsieur working at Patissery — their confounding misspelling, not mine — in the downtown space most recently occupied by 3rd Street Market declared this in a booming voice, his arms stretched wide in a manner reminiscent of a proud Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof singing a triumphant ballad. The self-deprecating (or “-aggrandizing”?) assertion came in answer to my question of how long the boulangerie and patisserie had been open under new ownership. His smile and joie de vivre

were enchanting, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

Light sleuthing revealed that Patissery — is anyone else’s eye twitching? just mine? — was founded by a man named Kader Garnier Aw, who grew up in Paris and has a passion for crafting handmade French pastries using the highest-quality ingredients.

Garnier goes so far as to import ingredients, like Les Grands Moulins de Paris flour and beurre d’Isigny (a special salted butter from Normandy), an endeavor that surely means extra wait time and money spent. Garnier has said, “If we cannot get premium, then we won’t do it.” Is that not

The operation began as a wholesale service that delivered its specialty offerings to various local vendors. In fact, Garnier’s confections started popping up in town at Bodega South Main in September 2023. Just six months later, Patissery has expanded to a brick-and-mortar corner spot.

Despite some rearranged furniture and a few notable differences, I was struck by how familiar Patissery felt. The building’s façade is still adorned with the same circular crimson sign that’s hung there since Frankie’s Sports Bar opened in 2011 maybe before. Even the window decals continued on page 19

While not as saucy as its “male” counterpart, the croque madame was elevated by the thin yellow yolk of the sunny-side egg atop.

The almond confection featured crunchy sliced almonds and a sweet, almost grainy filling.

Patissery has expanded to the downtown brick-and-mortar corner spot most recently occupied by 3rd Street Market.

Pictured: Elliot & Erick Jiménez, Blue Chapel (detail), 2022. Archival photo print on canvas in Artists’ custom frame.

© Elliot & Erick Jiménez. Photograph by Elliot & Erick Jiménez, courtesy of Spinello

Eats & Drinks

continued from page 17

showcase the 3rd Street Market name but with the added “Patissery” in larger lettering below.

The 8,000-square-foot space at 3rd and Lamar streets still feels just as vast and open, with its incredible windows and tall ceilings. As you enter, the plush velvet lounge seating in teal, blush, and emerald that once dotted the far end of the main dining area now sits front and center. The piano, too, has taken up residence by the door, alongside three small wooden tables with chess and checkers. Artwork depicting French scenes now hangs on the walls, but the same dark wood tables and leather chairs line the windows along Lamar, with the addition of some bistro-style chairs.

On my first couple of lunchtime visits, Patissery had been open only a few weeks and was serving a limited lunch menu: either croque madame, croque monsieur, or “le niçois,” a tuna salad sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions on a croissant. Both times, I wasn’t in a tuna mood (I rarely am), so I opted for the monsieur and then the madame. Both are fancy variations of a toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich but far better — and that’s no croque of shit.

The monsieur was topped with rich, creamy béchamel sauce, melted onto thick, toasted bread and the savory ham within. The madame, while not as saucy as its “male” counterpart, was equally delicious, elevated

by the thin yellow yolk of the sunny-side egg atop. Both came with a simple, satisfyingly light salad of fresh greens dressed with olive oil, salt, and vinegar.

One cannot frequent a patisserie and not indulge in its pastries. I’m fairly certain that’s a mortal sin, if not the 11th Commandment. Did it not fit on the tablets? Seems like that should have been in the Top 5 …

Little did I realize, when I returned one morning for that very reason, that Patissery now offers breakfast, complete with classics like omlettes, breakfast crepes, and granola parfaits. The lunch menu has also been rounded out with quiche, soups, salade niçois (with tuna, boiled eggs, green beans, onion, tomatoes, potatoes, and olives), grilled

chicken sandwiches on baguette, seared salmon, and more.

By the time I realized breakfast was an option, the four different kinds of croissants I had ordered appeared on two plates before me. The Weekly reports, “At press time, Christina emphatically stated — in a strangely put-on French accent and covered in croissant flakes — that she had ‘absolutely no regrets.’ ”

The pistachio and raspberry delights both lightly oozed with a jam-like filling of each respective flavor, a perfect complement to the flaky, buttery shells. I’m a sucker for an almond confection, and this one, with crunchy sliced almonds and a creamier, almost grainy filling, has won a top spot on

my list. Likewise, the pain au chocolat had a wonderfully crisp exterior, an airy interior, and delectable slivers of Nutella at the center.

Perhaps it’s because there are few places in town (that I know of, at least) where one can find a truly exceptional croissant, but each pastry blew me away. Or maybe it’s those specially imported ingredients Garnier and his pastry chefs use to ensure authentic, high-quality fare. Whatever the case — I suspect both are true — those buttery, flaky buns live rent-free in my mind.

What goes best with pastries? (Tea drinkers, go ahead and sit this one out.) A steaming hot cup of coffee is the only right answer here. Lucky for me, Patissery’s java wasn’t some weak diner joe. When I praised its robust flavor, the woman at the register replied, “We love strong, dark coffee here.” Say no more, mon amour

The sandwich board propped outside Patissery promises, “The best croissants in Texas!” Whether or not that’s true — or could even possibly be verified — you won’t find me refuting the claim. As the French say — OK, you caught me; I have no idea what they say … and now you know I’m American! Bon appétit, mes amis l

Patissery

Croque madame $16

Croque monsieur $14

Croissant raspberry .................................. $6

Croissant pistache $6

Pain au chocolat ....................................... $6

Croissant Nutella amandes $6.50

Black Coffee .............................................. $1.85

The 8,000-square-foot space at 3rd and Lamar feels vast and open, with its incredible windows and tall ceilings.

One cannot frequent a patisserie and not indulge in its pastries.

MUSIC

An Olive Grove

Singer-songwriter Rachel Gollay meets the moment with her new album, The Edge of April.

BY STEVE STEWARD

As a songwriter, progressive advocate, and human being living in the United States of America in the year 2024 CE, one of the main channels through which Rachel Gollay processes the moments in her life is music. Prior to the spring of 2020, her catalog contained five recordings — two full-lengths and three EPs. Her previous release, 2019’s Override, put a heavy emphasis on synthesizers and drum programming, which made for a propulsive counterpoint to her previous, folkier material while continuing to charm listeners with her gift for hooky melodies and the memorable details in her lyrics. As the realities of 2020 unfurled, Gollay turned to music to make sense of everything, and, increasingly, she was struck by the contradictions inherent to the pandemic. That’s when she became especially present to the life transitions that year fomented. All that musing, plus a major change in her own life and the war that erupted in Palestine last fall have crystalized on her new album.

Produced by longtime collaborator Russell Jack, The Edge of April explores what she calls “life in contradiction and what it feels like to exist in moments of transition: the pressure, the inspiration, the doubt, the hope, and the ultimate peace one can find in not knowing.”

Gollay wrote the album over the course of a few years, she said, with the oldest song from 2021 or 2020. “I would say I’m always creating and writing and responding to that larger picture of the world, and I’m also processing what is happening in my personal life.”

Reflecting on that pandemic year, she said what made her feel encouraged through all the strife and uncertainty was “how people really stepped up and took care of each other, how people kind of dropped everything and were like, ‘How do we meet the basic needs of our neighbors?’ And I thought, ‘What if we were like that all the time?’ ”

Gollay is Jewish, and while she doesn’t explicitly seed her songs with the traditions of her faith, Judaism finds a way into her music. The idea of people coming together to help one another is a piece of that, as is the idea of homecoming, which became a priceless experience during the pandemic. She stresses

the importance of optimism in dire times, but she’s not myopic about it. In 2020, she said, “We were in a time where we could build a completely different world. We were in a moment that felt like an opportunity, but also, ‘Are we really going to make it out of this with a newly organized society?’ And, obviously, you look around now, and we definitely put our heads back in the sand.”

This contradiction, of stressing the importance of optimism while tempering it with realism, is a main motif in The Edge of April — the opening track is called “Optimistic (Time Is Running Out).” Besides the peculiarities and tragedies of the pandemic hammering home this concept, Gollay experienced a major life transition: After a decade of working a job at a company she liked, she was let go. On the one hand, she suddenly had a lot more time to work on new music, but it also forced her to take a look at what her life at the job was really like.

“It was a great job with a great culture, until it wasn’t,” she said. “It was one of those situations where there was a lot of turmoil in 2020. The pandemic’s happening, so there’s turmoil around that, and there’s also these racial justice uprisings around George Floyd, and also, within the corporate sphere, there are all these companies going, ‘Oh, shit. Are we implicated in this in some way? How do we do business? Do we just do training? Would a meditation app fix it?’ So there was that, and, internally, there were a lot of changes in leadership in the company. The company sold to new financial interests, which, of course, can make or break things, and it really broke the culture. I was processing how much of my identity was tied up in my work and my productivity and feeling like I was influencing this company’s culture from within but also realizing that it’s just a job, that we live in capitalism. The company exists to make a profit, and it will chew up and spit out people the same way that Starbucks or any other huge company will. … I don’t know how much of that comes through in [Edge of April], but they say that the big life transitions are change in job, a death in your family, and moving to a new city.”

“And in the time that it happened, you weren’t really responding to it,” added Jack, seated alongside the singer-songwriter. “We started the album, maybe there were like three songs we started in 2021. … When we were ready to start arranging those songs, [the layoff] happened.”

“And I was like, ‘I have time on my hands,’

” Gollay said. “ ‘I can actually work on music.’ Things that were occupying my time and energy just evaporated overnight. I think that’s when the next five or six songs came together.”

“And then you got a different job,” Jack said, “but also the songs started to reflect what was going on.”

“Some of the songs started to become like, ‘What is the message I want to tell myself right now?’ Like, ‘What’s a song I want to hear?’ And the lyrics became self-soothing in a way. ‘What’s something I need to hear that maybe other people would benefit from, too?’ ”

Jack, who is also credited with arranging, engineering, and mastering the album, said, “With Override …, I had an idea that was more modern and bombastic, and I didn’t really know how to do it, and that album was figuring that out, and doing that kind of turned into me doing most everything production-wise, and on this one, I wanted to do the opposite of that.”

“We wanted to do more and more with that one, and on [Edge of April], we wanted to do more with less,” Gollay said.

“For this album, I wanted to collaborate more. We wanted to make something with more space.”

Indeed, the 11 songs offer ample space, both sonically and metaphorically. Stylistically, you can probably file it under “folk pop,” and it is not as electronic-forward as its predecessor. But space also spreads throughout Gollay’s lyrics. In “Flyover,” she ponders what it might be like to live one’s life with one’s own wants and needs at the forefront of everything else across country “that looks the same as it did before you were born,” where “there is nothing to touch, nothing to spoil.” She references the politics of attraction (“I Want It”) and the importance of the present moment (“Moon Spell”), and both deal with distance in terms of physical bodies and between now and the future as imagined by worry.

There is also this line, regarding the future: “The world to come is an olive grove.” It’s the last line of the album, inspired by her thoughts of homecoming but also by the war in Gaza. “All of my music, I would say, is Jewish music. … The world to come is very much a Jewish concept of ‘What we are working toward?’ It’s a little bit of that ‘imagine the world you want’ idea.”

After October 7, Gollay read “a lot about Palestine pre-1948 and this image of coexistence between people, and of an attachment to the land, and of people being actually able to return to the land, in ways that are not happening in that region, or really anywhere in Western culture. We are not attached to the earth and our cycles in ways that would be nourishing to everyone, so it was kind of a pro-Palestinian song, to be totally candid, but I wasn’t trying to hit people over the head with it.”

So therein lies another contradiction, a song by a Jewish musician in support of Palestine.

“I love pluralism,” Gollay said, “and I am influenced by a lot of things, but I consider a lot of [other spiritual practices] Jewish. … Judaism [for me] is about wrestling with questions. After all, Israel means ‘to wrestle with God.’... There’s so much raw material to draw from, and I’ve had a lot of Jewish friends and teachers over the years who try to empower people to re-envision Judaism in a way that will serve the future. The olive grove, for me, is letting the people who were on that land come back to it.” l

Album cover art by Colton Batts

RIDGLEA THEATER

FRI 4/12 + SAT 4/13 JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB ANNUAL SPRING SHOW

SAT 4/27 CARVIN JONES

SPECIAL 35TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

SAT 5/4 GREG WARREN COMEDY SHOW GALA

RIDGLEA ROOM

FRI 4/12 MR. TIMBERLAKE

FRI 4/26 DEWAYNE, HORROR1X, BRUCE GEEZUS AND MORE!

SAT 4/27 INTRICACY DFW: WASSU

SAT 5/4 CLAWZ-DFW, TX

RIDGLEA LOUNGE

FRI 4/19 DANK, THE P-TOWN SKANKS, JERRY WAYNE AND MORE!

MUSIC

There I Ruined It — Live

The folks ‘lovingly destroying your favorite songs’ are in town this weekend.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

The meta of music is forever changing — that’s the beauty of artistry. One can never quite predict which direction things will turn. Beyoncé is a country star, Luke Combs is a talented Black woman, and Taylor Swift is a Super Bowl MVP. In reality, all these people represent the dinosaurs of the industry, artists who create music. The next wave comprises those who seek to destroy it.

Enter: Dustin Ballard. Current Dallas resident and native Dentonite, he’s a creative director by day and an AI-wielding, homicidal music murderer by night. You might not know Dustin personally, but there’s a good chance that — if you’re active

on the socials — you’ve been exposed to his work. The first time is an emotional experience. It was for me, when a friend recently shared dual scrolling screens, and the lyrics to “Baby Got Back” wafted over the music to “The Sound of Silence.”

And this is just one of Ballard’s myriad sonic Frankensteins. “Surfin’ USA” over “Hurt” by Johnny Cash and “Gangsta’s Paradise” with Elsa from Frozen showing all her thuggin’ origins are a couple of his other gems.

The name through which Ballard releases his mashups is There I Ruined It. A fiddler who performed a lot of Western Swing before the lockdown, Ballard also loves to tinker. His idea to mix popular songs in melodic hell has grown his profile to almost 1 million YouTube followers, and his Instagram and TikTok accounts boast 2 and 3 million followers, respectively.

Ballard said the initial remix run was just as simple as muting a music video and replacing the audio with his own instrumentals and singing but making the lips and actions match what the viewer heard but obviously in the wrong genre. He then took a Lady Gaga number, turned it into a polka song, and stuck it on YouTube. Then the rise of shortform media like TikTok opened avenues for the project to expand and for him to produce content more rapidly, as it was less demanding to put out an entire swapped or blended creation. “Instead of spending more than four weeks on a song, I could just play around with it.”

This led Ballard to experimenting with autotune, artificial intelligence, and other “fun ways to ruin music.” Since he ultimately wanted to play live again, bringing There I Ruined It to the stage seemed like the logical next step. Ballard noted the exceptional difficulty in finding musicians proficient in all of the different genres required to execute a show of this nature. “We jump between polka to Disney tunes to country to rock.”

The group’s performance Sunday at Tulips FTW will be their fourth total. What can we expect?

“People come to laugh,” Ballard said, “but they also don’t really know what to expect.”

He also said most people evidently think they’ll just be watching a person on stage mixing things. “In the first few songs, there’s kind of hesitant laughter, and then people get in the groove of trying to figure out what the joke is. It’s kind of like a puzzle to solve, and it’s been really fun so far.”

Making a 20-second TikTok and arranging songs for a live show are, clearly, two very different beasts. Ballard and his band rehearsed for over half a year before they were ready to perform their first concert, in Dallas in late January. They rehearsed for so long because Ballard said every single arrangement was a song that had never existed in that form before. In most genre-based bands, there are groups of standard songs that most musicians know, but that isn’t the case for the Ruined It octet. “It was quite an undertaking.”

Despite the “mostly traditional” form of the band, Ballard cryptically foreshadowed that concerts include a song with an AI special guest. “We play behind him or her. I don’t want to say much else and spoil it.”

Still primarily known for his social presence, Ballard said his posts are mostly based on trial and error and that he has a running list of songs and genres he’d like to try. “Nine out of 10 ideas don’t go anywhere. I also use the channel to test. If a clip really goes viral, then I’ll consider that as a full version.”

Local radio stations have grabbed ahold of Ballard’s blends as well and play them regularly, but the mixologist seemed especially perplexed and humored by the targeting of There I Ruined It in a congressional hearing on the dangers of AI. “They opened the hearing by playing my Johnny Cash/‘Barbie Girl’ mashup.” l

The popular social creator — the fiddle player hugging the blowup doll — will lead the There I Ruined It octet’s fourth-ever concert Sunday in Fort Worth. Courtesy the artist

CLASSIFIEDS

N&D continued from page 13

Later, One-Eyed Monsters perform at the Boiled Owl Tavern (909 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, 817-920-9616), with the Infamists and Cryowitch at 7:30pm. There is no cover.

The Wings Over Cowtown Air Show is at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (1510 Chenault Av, Fort Worth, 817-377-3276). Gates open at 9am, the show starts at 11am, and then the Blue Angels close out the day with a performance 3pm-4pm. General admission and parking passes are free at WingsOverCowotown.com.

EMPLOYMENT

Applications Support Analyst needed for the University Housing Department at The University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, TX. Related degree & experience required. Will have the option of working from home a few days a week. It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington to conduct a criminal background check on any applicant who is under final consideration for employment with the University. It is the policy of The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA or The University) to provide an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. The University also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally-protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the responsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure the University’s compliance with this policy. The University of Texas at Arlington is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to 817-272-5554 or email ADADocs@uta.edu. Send resumes to: Rachel.Berry@uta.edu, Position ID S05334P

(VITA) free tax centers, you can sit down with a certified volunteer who will help you review your documents, complete your tax forms, understand what you may owe — and ideally get the largest refund possible. You can also enroll in financial education and coaching or develop skills for the workforce. For info on who qualifies and where to go, visit UnitedWayTarrant.org/get-help/ tax-preparation.

Need a job? The East Library & Recreation Center is hiring in Arlington. Courtesy NaturallyFun.org Sunday 14

Monday 15

I’m not trying to harsh your mellow, but don’t forget that today is #TaxDay. Don’t worry. United Way of Tarrant County is here to help if you need it. At its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Tuesday 16

Arlington Parks & Rec wants to add members to its #NaturallyFun team this summer. Today and Thursday, Apr 18, stop by the East Library & Recreation Center (1817 New York Av, Arlington, 817-275-1351) for a drop-in interview 4pm-6pm. To apply, you can also send a resume to Milly.Gomez@ArlingtonTX. gov or visit Forms.ArlingtonTX.gov/forms/ seasonalapplication.

By Jennifer Bovee

The Blue Angels headline the Wings Over Cowtown Air Show Sat-Sun.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

ADVERTISE HERE

Email stacey@fwweekly.com today!

ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-877-689-1687 today! (MB)

SAFE STEP: THE #1 WALK-IN TUB

North America’s #1 Wal-In Tub is Safe Step. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Financing available. Call today: 1-855-868-0192. (MB)

DENTAL INSURANCE

Get coverage from Physicians Mutual Insurance for 350+ procedures. Real dental insurance, NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call 1-888-361-7095 or go online now for a FREE Dental Info Kit. Dental50plus.com/fortworth #6258. (MB)

HAVE YOUR DREAM BATHROOM!

You can have the bathroom of your dreams for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower has many options available. Quality materials & professional installation.

Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time

Offer: FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! (MB)

Call BCI Today! 1-866-913-0581

The Gas Pipe, The GAS PIPE, THE GAS PIPE, your Peace Love & Smoke Headquarters since 4/20/1970! SCORE a FREE GIFT on YOUR Birthday, FREE Scale Tuning and Lighter Refills on GAS PIPE goods, FREE Layaway, and all the safe, helpful service you expect from a 51 Years Young Joint. Plus, SCORE A FREE CBD HOLIDAZE GIFT With-A-Buy thru 12/31! Be Safe, Party Clean, Keep On Truckin’. More at thegaspipe.net

OFFERING PAINTING & HANDYMAN SERVICES

in Tarrant and Parker Counties

Honest, dependable work at a fair price!

Call or Text for a FREE estimate

Chris 817-495-3017

Best Time For Massage? Now!

Hannah in Hurst, professional location, no outcalls. (MT#4797)

817-590-2257

HISTORIC RIDGLEA THEATER

THE RIDGLEA is three great venues within one historic Fort Worth landmark. RIDGLEA THEATER has been restored to its authentic allure, recovering unique Spanish-Mediterranean elements. It is ideal for large audiences and special events. RIDGLEA ROOM and RIDGLEA LOUNGE have been making some of their own history, as connected adjuncts to RIDGLEA THEATER, or hosting their own smaller shows and gatherings. More at theRidglea.com

NEED A FRIEND?

Ronnie D. Long Bail Bonds

Immediate Jail Release 24 Hour Service. City, County, State and Federal Bonds. Located Minutes from Courts. 6004 Airport Freeway.

817-834-9894

RonnieDLongBailBonds.com