SPANDEX
6 10 14 22 26 SPANDEX ~ 2
CULTURE ART MUSIC FASHION FILM SPANDEX ~ 3
SPANDEX ~ 4
about about us us Juliana is a n00b. The members of SPANDEX pwn her everday. It’s kinda sweet. She is so n00bish that failsauce oozes out her pores. While we drink pwnsauce for breakfast, she drink n00bsauce. It’s pretty sad. Juliana is such a n00b that she eats her own poo and throws it around the room. This upsets Ms. Young quite a bit. Even more proof of how n00bish she is. While our pieces for this magazine pwn t3h n00bs, Juliana’s are n00berific. Just to let you know, this bio was authorized by t3h n00b herself. That is all.
SYDNEY SYDNEY
Rachel hates bios. Honestly, there isn’t much to write. She also feels slightly dirty writing about herself. Oh well. Rachel plays sax almost every day. That’s kinda all she does...except not really. She also has this super amazing dog named Pepper that she takes on long walks a whole bunch. Hmm, let’s see. Rachel loves the rain, is extremely cynical, and is also quite shy. What more is there to say? Just read the magazine already. I mean, come on! Stop wasting your freakin’ time here. Get to the good stuff.
Et maionestiis quisita taectiasperi nulluptias ut vendia coreped qui quunt. Ibusam Sydney vel magnihitat as aut la quos eaqui te maioriam, autem raturio remporatatur seque ad Sydney estotaes que senit landa pedipic tem se nosam ut etur, vellacc abore, omnihil etus, optinum ad eat my shit quam simoloriae. Sydney acidelit esedicimi, officiis quid exped maion repersped ut volum aliaspeliqui totae quunt quam, utemporatur sita dic tem laut min conem qui re, in porenih icatur? Quis enitiis ma sitionsequi Sydney.
Kiley licks Venus Flytraps for fun. She lives in Sweden in a bomb shelter underneath a yogurt factory. This living situation offers a lot of perks for Kiley - she is fed oats and curdled milks on a daily basis. She owns four guinea pigs named Schu, Lorelle, Toaster, and Ginng. Kiley teaches young immigrants how to weave duct tape. Kiley has three kids that earn money by making cupcakes for Canada’s prime minister. Kiley has had a lot of fun working on Spandex and hopes you enjoy it as well. Thanks for reading!
JULIANA J
SPANDEX ~ 5
culture
Blog Wars:
FMyLife.Com VS MyLifeIsAverage “Today, I asked my dad for money. When he asked what for I simply told him it was for ‘lady products’. He nodded and gave me 10 bucks. I’m a guy. MLIA.”
T
he other day, a huge cluster of people were crowded around a table in our lunch room. I ran over to see what I presumed to be a fight. It turned out to be the Japanese foreign exchange student peeling a banana with his feet. It was SO much better than a fight. MLIA.” This is a typical MyLifeIsAverage (MLIA) story; very light, funny, and entertaining. MLIA and FML are both blogs that publish posts sent by users about their life and experiences. FMyLife is a lot darker and has more out of the ordinary stories. For example, “Today, I decided to propose to my girlfriend on the Charles Bridge in Prague. A little boy thought it would be fun to chase a flock of pigeons towards me. I freaked out and dropped the 2 carat diamond ring. Into the river. FML.” These websites (blogs) have been battling for viewers and comments as soon as MLIA came out as a parody of FML. FML is depressing and unreasonable. It makes the reader feel bad and only about 1 of 15 posts are mildly amusing. Most of the content in the site is about boyfriend/girlfriend sex failures, rude in-laws, and people getting hurt. These might be funny if the tomes of the stories weren’t so whiny and monotonous MLIA is better because the posts talk about things that are funny and people like to read about. MLIA has better overall content. The topics they talk about most are fort building, Harry Potter, ninjas, cool teachers, and how MLIA is better than FML. For instance, “Today, I was in art class trying to figure out something orignial to draw. I asked my teacher for an ideas and said, “I want to do something that nobody has ever done.” She replied, “How about a virgin?” She is now my new favorite teacher. MLIA.” MLIA is very light, funny, and relatable while FML is such a downer and makes me feel sorry for the people who wrote the submission. Here is an FML that just does not make me happy, “Today. I had my wedding. My father was drunk and threw up on me. While we were walking down the aisle. FML.” This kind of story doesn’t make me want to keep reading down the page. MyLifeIsAverage is also better because it is more kid friedly and leans towards a younger and more exciting audience than FML does. The people who visit FML go
because they’re bored and they have nothing else better to do. FML is a last resort site that people go to to waste time. People want to check everyday to see new posts and vote on submissions, and even submit there own, because they are so funny. This is different from FML because In MLIA’s words, “Today, I submitted a post to FML. It said, “Today, MLIA was under construction, so I was forced to come here. FML.” …I don’t think it got submitted. MLIA.” And, because it is more kid friendly, MLIA is not blocked by school districts like FML is. Finally, MLIA is the best because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s very easy to navigate, all you have to do to sign up is to put in an email and a password, and submissions are fairly easy to write. A lot of the FMLs are fake and just written because somebody got bored. MLIA is fake-proof and all of the stories are 100% true. If they have been posted and MLIA finds out they’re fake, they post “LAME, because of FAKE.” So you know that you’re getting quality with MLIA. And, MLIA is updated more than FML, so there are more new posts to go through. As a solution, I propose that we bring the weaker man up. We make FML better by adding funnier, true stories and filtering out the more inappropriate subject matter. But we should also promote MLIA more, like posting links of the site onto other heavily read blogs such as Perez Hilton or FAILBLOG. More viewers on both sites would be a huge step up. Even though these sites are enemies, they do promote each other. Working together brings in viewers for both sites, because the Overall, MyLifeIsAverage is better because it has better, funnier, and purer content; it leans towards a younger crowd; and doesn’t take itself too seriously and everyone can navigate through it. MLIA- The average person’s past time.
“Today, I taught my students the importance of the squiggly line over the n in Spanish (the tilde), because it makes the difference between “I am 17 years old” and “I have 17 butt holes”. I feel as if I am teaching important life lessons to America’s youth. MLIA. “
By Juliana By Juliana H.H.
SPANDEX ~ 7
culture Trapped in a Religious Childhood
N
o abortions, no out of marriage sex, no smoking, no divorces, no tattoos, no holidays, no voting, no drug use, no bikinis, no out of religion friends, and no college. This was the life of a Jehovah’s Witness, a religious branch of Christianity. Melanie Duke-Hall had been sheltered by this lifestyle for thirty years. Family Bible studies once a week, meetings on Sunday, meetings on Tuesday and Thursday, and field service (where you go door to door spreading Jehovah’s word) every Saturday and Sunday. Jehovah’s witnesses have very strict rules and values that have to be followed by everyone in the congregation; especially an Elder’s daughter. “We weren’t allowed to listen to Madonna. My dad threw away my Red Hot Chili Peppers album. I remember them going through all of my brother’s albums and throwing away a bunch of stuff; he threw away music that he deemed demonic, like the Blondie album where they looked high on the cover.” She began smuggling things into her house secretly in her teen years; it was hard for her to be a normal teenager without being with the teen culture, however demonic it might be.
SPANDEX ~ 8
Left Top: Melanie with her friends in gym class (1989) Left Bottom: Melanie at a Halloween party dressed as a sea godess (2009)
Parents in the congregation keep their children very sheltered when it comes to drug use so their children are not tempted. “I was never offered a cigarette or drugs. I didn’t know anyone that did drugs; I didn’t know anything about drugs. I lived a very sheltered life,” Melanie said. If Witnesses were to start using or experimenting with drugs or smoking, they would be immediately disfellowshipped and not allowed back into the congregation.
Being disfellowshipped is a huge scandal. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does everyone knows about it. When Melanie’s brother, Mike, was disfellowshipped, he was stripped of all ability to contact people inside the congregation. Mike was kicked out because he had been experimenting with drugs and he was constantly committing sins with worldly kids. His parents wouldn’t speak to him, and he moved out soon after. He hasn’t been heard from by any members of his family for fifteen years. Ms. Duke had never really been immersed in the meetings and beliefs. “My life has been pretty filled with lectures. None of them stand out.” She was never deeply touched by what her congregation leaders had to say. She just went to the meetings because that was what her family expected of her.
By the beginning of her high school years, Melanie started to question her faith. “You’re not supposed to think about the how’s, what’s, and why’s of what is going to happen, you are just supposed to have faith.” This is one of the reasons Melanie lost faith, not just in being a witness, but to all religions in general. Although she doesn’t believe in religions, she still feels bad when she celebrates holidays and does other worldly things. She didn’t let her kids trick-or-treat nor have birthday parties until they were 11 and 8 years old. And during the Kerry/Bush election was the first time she had ever voted. “If my mother found out, she would never speak to me again,” she said. Melanie now freely celebrates a lot of the regular Christian holidays like Christmas and Halloween, joining and having her own parties. She still has respect for her family’s values and faiths, but she does not follow them. Since she has left her house, and she has not tried converting her faith. Jehovah’s Witnesses are good people that have very wholesome, conservative values. Most of the congregation is made up of elderly and middle-aged people; teenage culture is completely ignored. Teenagers weren’t allowed to have friends that were not of their faith, so there were only 6 teen/preteens in the whole town Melanie could be friends with. “This is only temporary until you reach Paradise Earth,” Melanie said. This is one of the main expectations of the congregation; to be ready for the future,
“We weren’t allowed to listen to Madonna. My dad threw away my Red Hot Chili Peppers album. I remember them going through all of my brothers albums and throwing away a bunch of stuff; he threw away music that he deemed demonic, like the Blondie album where they looked high on the cover.”
started doubting her faith and doing things that are not allowed, like wearing bikinis and hanging out with “worldly people” (non Jehovah’s witness faith). “You get to a point where you don’t care about what your family expects, you have to do things for yourself.” She was caught several times and was grounded most of her junior and senior years in high school. To be a Jehovah’s Witness, you really have to believe strongly in your faith; it’s a huge commitment, and there aren’t a lot of hard facts that go along with the lectures. “You’re not supposed to think about the how’s, and
but not by education or money. Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t go to college; higher education and excess of money are frowned upon. This is one of the many reasons that she lost faith. Melanie lost faith in all religions, probably because of high and constricting expectations of her family and education. Now she is a free woman with a family and a set of values of her own. By Juliana H.
SPANDEX ~ 9
art STREET SIGNS
By Sydney C.
Austin street life is teeming with beauty and I set out to find the most authentic of street art.
Top left, Mellow Mushroom Pizza. Top right, Intellectual Property. Bottom left, Intellectual Property. Bottom Right, the Drag
Photographs by Sydney C.
Top left, Intellectual Properties. Top middle, the Drag. Top right, Intellectual Properties. Bottom left, eco-friendly structure. Bottom right, Austin alley.
art THE ART OF SHARON KYLE KUHN
You can find more of Sharon’s art at the East Side Studios. Her art can be seen in numerous private and corporate collections across the United States. by Juliana H.
music
THE CASE AGAINST MUSIC SNOBS
SPANDEX ~ 14
Art by Jacquelyn Z.
Do you listen to the Oldies? Thousands of hipsters are popping up all over the country. This article ponders the thought process of these snobs. Perhaps it will be made clear who’s music taste prevails overall.
L
ast year I went to San Diego for a band trip, and on the bus ride there, I was confronted. Not about my sexuality, not about my gender, nor about my race. Nope. None of that. I was confronted because I was listening to Coldplay. One of my friends came up to me, saw what I was listening to, and got a disgusted expression on his face. “Whatcha listening to?” he asked. “Coldplay.” “Wrong answer. Whatcha listening to?” “Coldplay.” “No. You’re supposed to say crap. Because that’s what Coldplay is. Crap,” he said, and then paused. “The only good bands are the old ones. I bet you can’t even tell me who the lead singer of Metallica is.” “James Hetfield,” I said casually. “He’s really obnoxious. Who wants to listen to a bunch of songs about death and destruction? They’re a bit of a downer, if you ask me.” My friend put on a nasty grimace and called me names too obscene for this article. I shrugged to myself. I knew who he was – perhaps not before our lovely little conversation, but at least now I did. My friend was a complete music snob. Led Zeppelin is a rocking band and Pink Floyd is genius. But so are bands that are up and coming right now. I’m fine with people enjoying some old classics; that’s super groovy. Yet discriminating against other peoples’ music taste just because they don’t love the Oldies like these snobs do is asinine. For example, Plain White Tee’s is a great band, but just because the radio stations have played “Hey There Delilah” a thousand times, everyone seems to hate them! I have two PWT’s albums and they are definitely worth listening to. Yet people know this band based off their opinion of only one of their songs. These fiends don’t just love a few bands; they hate on everyone who likes other bands and consequent their so called “brilliant” category. If you don’t jam to Jimi Hendrix, you are simply “not cool” in the eyes of these music snobs. If you enjoy some Miley Cyrus once in a while, you’re immediately shunned. There’s another issue that cannot be ignored. If
you thought these snobs couldn’t get worse, they do. A LOT worse. The thing about music snobs is that they have a one-track mind, or rather a one-track playlist. If you suggest another band to listen to, they immediately consider the band awful before even listening to them. This information should be blasphemy to your eyes!These jerks are strutting around declaring the best bands, yet they haven’t even listened to most of what’s out there. How would they know about all of those other bands? The answer is simple. They don’t. Another friend of mine was making fun of me yet again for listening to Coldplay. I asked him if he had listened to more than two songs. He said no. Point for Rachel. This issue is even worse if a certain band is mainstream. The music snobs go crazy. They immediately reject it. The accuse music corporations for feeding the general public “crap”. I must admit, a lot of mainstream music isn’t so pleasant and some of it does sound the same. But you’ve got to listen. Some of it is pretty good. Mainstream music is something played on a very popular radio station, like artists such as Kanye West, 3OH!3, Britney Spears, and Beyonce. The point that these music snobs bellow back at us when we use these arguments is essentially the definition of mainstream music. In a nutshell, they argue that mainstream music is created to appeal to the general masses and is supposed to seem familiar to the listener. This music comes with a downside: there’s no variety to the music. Since it is supposed to appeal to generally everyone, it doesn’t have much feeling. Mainstream music’s purpose is having the exact opposite effect it was created for; no one really likes music without soul. Yet not all mainstream music is horribly reduntant and atrocious. This is the point music snobs just ignore. In their minds, there’s no point wasting their time with music that is so general, so they just don’t listen to it. The one thing I will say to these music snobs is take a minute and just listen. You might be surprised what you hear.
“The thing about music snobs is that they have a one track mind, or rather a one track playlist.”
By Rachel Z.
SPANDEX ~ 15
By RacheL Z.
THE MUSIC MAN
music
I
the summer of 1985, a young boy invites his friends over to play “school”. He is the teacher and they are the students. In the fall of 2009, a successful musician and band director sits before me, the passion of teaching still very much alive inside him. He is sitting in a tiny practice room on plastic chairs. His alto sax leans against the faded green wall. Outside the room, another director can be heard teaching some beginner trumpets and trombones. The setting could not be more perfect – a director in his natural
setting. Most teachers perform their job for about three years and then move onto something else. Ponder East is different. He revealed that he has no intention of switching jobs. “It just doesn’t make sense to switch jobs,” says East. “Music is my passion and I will continue sharing my knowledge for years to come.” East was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas. At the age of eleven, he started playing saxophone. He was not particularly spectacular, yet his love for music was definitely stronger than a typical sixth grader. “I grew up listening to classical music and movie soundtracks,” East said. “I remember listening to Raiders of the Lost Arc, Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. “I had lots of cassette tapes as well. I can remember that for five or six years I would listen to the same two or three cassette tapes of Mozart or Beethoven right before I’d go to bed. Those piano concertos really relaxed me. It was just the perfect way to end a day.” Before his saxophone career began, East had been taking piano lessons on and off throughout his elementary school years. East was surrounded by music all his life as his stepfather was actually one of the music professors at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. His stepfather’s friend, John, was also a music professor at the university and played saxophone. “John was a really cool guy,” East says. “I took sax lessons with him on and off for about seven years and loved it. John was a great figure in my life.” East is currently the Jazz director at LBJ Band. Growing up, East had no jazz in his life. Yet as he got a little older, the unique music style began to play a role in his life.. “There was no jazz in my life until I was in about eighth grade,” explains East. “John had come over one day and he and my stepdad turned some jazz on. I just stopped for a second and
thought, ‘Hey, this is really cool!’” East attended college at the University of North Texas at Denton, which is recognized as one of the best public universities for musicians. Each student at the university has a music education plan, called a concentration, and East’s was saxophone. While at North Texas for four and a half years, East was a member of the marching band for three years and was the saxophone section leader for two. “There were no jazz classes to take if one was majoring in music education, so in order to know what was happening in the jazz world, I made friends with all the jazz study majors,” East said. “I wanted to be surrounded by their music and the specific personality that those kinds of people have.” The day after East graduated from North Texas, he got a call for his first job interview in Wylie, Texas. He went in for the interview and the interviewers called him back to tell him that he landed his first job. He was to start on January 3, 1998. “My first job was pretty much all a learning experience,” East said. “The average day consisted of me teaching fifth and sixth graders basic music theory.” East laughs. “Let’s just say that I learned very quickly that this was not the job for me.” Ponder taught these young musicians from 1998 to 2001. After three and a half years, it was time for a change. “I wanted to play again. I loved teaching music and I still do, but I missed playing with bands and living like a real musician.” After his decision, Ponder came to Austin to find a day job and be in his brother’s upcoming band. He thought about working at Radio Shack, but after finding out that the job did not pay nearly enough, he had to find another way to make money. “I realized I could be making way more money teaching private lessons than working at Radio Shack. It was pretty much the best path – I could still teach students, but I was also in a band.” Ponder taught between thirty and fifty-five students a week in his first two years in Austin. He made a name for himself by calling all of the A.I.S.D. high schools in the phonebook and asking if he could teach private lessons at the schools. “I just sat down with the phonebook and started calling schools; I had to put my name out there to let people know that I was interested in teaching [lessons]. The first school that set up an appointment for me to come play was LBJ. I came out the day before school started and played in the band hall for about ten students. I still remember what I played! I did jazz improv on Summertime and My Funny Valentine and played the melodies as well. After I was done, I just straight up asked the students who
“I just sat down with the phonebook and started calling schools...the first school that set up an appointment for me to come play was LBJ.”
SPANDEX ~ 17
music TH ER
H UM BL
INE GLISTE NIN G
PL
R SU EA
E
COR
listen
AL FA
N
G
GI
o1. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line. Indie
A
NT
ST
EPS
pop. For lovers of Vampire Weekend and Passion Pit
o2. Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head -
Glistening Pleasure. Electronica. For lovers of Shiny Toy Guns
o3. John Coltrane - Giant Steps. Jazz. For lovers of Louis Armstrong and Tito Puente
o4. The Distillers - Coral Fang. Punk Rock. For lovers of Hole and Spinnerette
SPANDEX ~ 18
London Calling
By Kiley K.
SPANDEX ~ 19
“Where words fail, music speaks.” The Hans Christian Anderson quote is tattooed on 19-year-old Chicago native London Anderson’s upper back along with blue music notes, inspired by those on singer Michelle
Branch. For London, music is her life. London has worked very diligently to get where she is, but her story isn’t without hardships. At 14, London Anderson went to a Michelle Branch concert with her mother. It was at that point in time when she realized that music was something she wanted to pursue. “I could do that,” London said after the concert. That Christmas, London received her first guitar as a Christmas gift. From then on, she purchased books on guitar and locked herself in her room to practice. She fell completely in love with music. Now, London is 19 and still in love with music. “It’s not something I can turn on or off, it’s always a part of me,” she said. After five years and a lot of work, London has come a long way. She is now signed to an independent label and hopes to tour with big names like Michelle Branch and A Fine Frenzy. Michelle Branch’s husband even planned to play on her most recent record. Although that didn’t work out, a lot has gone well for London Anderson. She went from a 14 year old looking up at Michelle Branch in
SPANDEX ~ 20
the audience to a 19-year-old playing for her own audiences. Like many other singing sensations, London made her name on the Internet. “People are looking for musicians that can get their own buzz,” she said. London started off by posting her music on to websites like YouTube and MySpace. Later, London got more hits and started getting noticed. This gave her the platform she needed to get noticed by other people already in the industry and also gave her the chance to build her own fan base. Her music wasn’t well received by everyone, and her London’s story is not an instant success tale. “Not everyone’s gonna be a fan” London said. She would know. When she first started posting, people would post all sorts of inflammatory messages that went so far as telling her to kill herself. Although some people posted hateful comments, London was incredibly well received by others. In fact, that’s how London got signed. London’s advice to aspiring musicians is simply, “Don’t give up.” “I can’t really take a day off from being a musician because it’s definitely a big aspect of who I am,” London said. She is almost always doing something music related. Soon after London started to get noticed online, she began playing open mics. Nowadays, London does all her own booking and now plays shows in bigger venues such as The House of Blues in Chicago. She has to find investors to help get funding for shows since she is signed to an indie label. A typical show day for London varies. Sometimes she’s rushing around before a show, but she tries to stay pretty organized and get everything done the day before. When London isn’t playing shows, she’s either writing or recording. “I’m pretty much always writing. I would go a little crazy if I wasn’t writing,” London says. The writing process is different every time and for she has found out that inspiration can strike anywhere. “The song ‘Carried Away’ we wrote outside the office of Severe Records at 11pm and we sat there on the curb writing music...it was a summer night. It was really beautiful,” London said. She usually gets a template started by playing around with melodies and beats that serve as an outline for the rest of the song. After that, London adds on to the basic structure and messes around with lyrics until she has an idea for a sound. She said she has to finish a song once she’s started and even called into work late on day to finish a song. Writing is a huge part of London’s life. “It is really great at times when I’m pissed off or really happy and I just want to put a melody to it,” London said. London finds inspiration in many different places such as events in her life, books, and other songs. She’s influenced by all kinds of music. “My music taste changes, but I’ll always keep those foundation musicians,” London said. She started out listening to Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne, but she tries to keep her interests open and often find herself going into phases where she listens to a certain genre of music. She has a lot of musicians including her father, so music has always been a part of her. In addition, she says, she has been inspired by a lot of her past relationships and her family life.
“My parents divorced when I was 15, which had a big impact on me,” London said. London has inspiration coming from many directions in her life. Not only is she inspired musical art, visual art also decorates London’s life. London’s body is scattered with tattoos, most of which are heavily influenced by life. London had known that she wanted to get tattoos since she was 12-years-old and she got her first tattoo when she was 16. The first tattoo she got was a tattoo of blue music notes on her back inspired by a tattoo that Michelle Branch has. Following that was the Hans Christian Anderson quote, “Where words fail, music speaks” inspired by a tattoo Jess Origliasso from music duo The Veronicas has. Next, she got sparrows tattooed on her hips, which is a traditional tattoo that people would get in the navy because they represent home. Later, she had “fate and faith” tattooed on her wrists. She then had bass and treble clefs tattooed behind her ears. Following that, she got sound holes called “F holes” from arch top guitars. Then, she got her next tattoo, which was inspired by a tough time in her life. She had the words “He is teaching me what love really means “tattooed.” “I had just found out that my mom had cancer and I was very upset and angry about the whole situation and I was like this sucks, this isn’t fair,” London said. London got the inspiration for her next tattoo from a Flyleaf song that came on the stereo while she was in the car waiting for her mom at the supermarket. After hearing the line “he is teaching me what love really means,” she restarted the song and listened to it again. “I heard that line and I was like hold on, I restarted the song, kept listening to it and it was like we go through trials and tribulations to grow as people and we have to go through hard times because it pushes you to be a stronger person and it really does show you to appreciate what you have while you have it,” London said. After that, she got the word “passerby” tattooed and the meaning behind that is just that she can’t be in everyone’s life all the time and she hopes that as she passes through, she can make a difference. Her most recent tattoo is a phonograph with flowers swirling around an old fashioned microphone. London’s tattoos shape her as a person they are like personal trademarks artfully representing certain parts of her. London Anderson has worked very hard to get where she is with music. Music makes her who she is and serves many purposes for her. Music is her means of expression, freedom, and release. She’s definitely come a long way since the 14-year-old girl staring up at Michelle Branch in the audience. Now, London plays for audiences of her own. It didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely wasn’t without hard work and persistence. said.
“Put yourself out there. Don’t take no for an answer,” London
Find London at http://www.myspace.com/londonamusic
Photo Credit to Amanda Miller, Phillip Bracco, and R-Evolve Records
fashion Mutant Shoes Attack
G
asp” and then I turned around sharply to get a better look. We were mortified. My father and I were eating brunch one morning with when he briefly turned around to get a clear view of the street. We noticed a passing woman’s horrendous choice in shoes. Now I know what you’re thinking, my dad is some super critical fashion snob or something. Not the case my friends. Not the case. My father is a simple guy, well-dressed I’d say but not any real “follower” of fashion and still, my dad knew that this woman had committed a major fashion crime in all 50 sates and Canada. The object of mine and my father’s disgust were a pair of repulsive Boot-Sandals, (Bandals?). These
SPANDEX ~ 22
atrocious pieces of footwear have a heel wrapping up and around from the sole around the back of the foot and usually sit just above the ankle or higher; the rest of the foot is left uncovered for the most part not including a few straps or a flip flop like fit between the toes. They come in many different styles and shades from industrial, to the super strappy, bohemian and even the mutant cowboy boot/flip flop. No matter the style, the end results of these are mutants of half boot half sandal, the likes of which could quite possibly be the newest super villains in the footwear industry. You are most likely wondering why I have such a strong hate for these shoes.
in. If you try to pull your jeans over the boot part, you might as well just save your money and buy sandals. Some might claim that the “Bandal” is more practical than other shoes because you can wear them all year around, but I disagree. I think these shoes are IMPOSSIBLY ridiculous and impractical. You can’t wear them with any pants or long skirts. They look just as bizarre with shorts, short skirts, and dresses. You wouldn’t wear boots with shorts or dresses unless you had some sort of leg covering. Similarly, you wouldn’t want to wear these without tights or socks because it would be uncomfortable and impractical. It seems the only solution is to NOT wear them. Another reason people wouldn’t want to wear these, as if you need anymore reasons, is that ladies, when you mix a summer shoe and a winter shoe, you’re going to have quite the interesting foot climate dilemma. You definitely cannot wear these with socks because socks and sandals are one of the biggest fashion “no-no’s” ever. If you go sockless though, that may be an even worse crime. I couldn’t imagine going sockless in boots. That’s just disgusting because your feet will get sticky and sweaty. Yuck! There is no solution with sandal-boots. Sockless, your feet are going to sweat enough to fill the Grand Canyon in a matter of hours. With socks, you might as well pull your pants up to your chin and lecture on quantum physics. You’ll look like a major weirdo. Life is much simpler with seasonally appropriate shoes staying in their rightful places. Also, these shoes are considered “high fashion” most likely because they look more like something out of a modern art museum than something you would actually wear. Since, these shoes have a “high fashion” status that means that means designers and retailers usually price these things incredibly high. People on eBay are bidding hundreds, even up to a thousand dollars on these ridiculous shoes. Why would you want to spend
such an insane amount of money on a mutant hybrid of shoes? Think about it guys, you could spend half of your money on sandals and half of your money on boots and you’d be set. This is also just a fad. Let’s just hope these will be out like shoulder pads by the end of 2010. Which means you would be spending your money on something that would go out of style within the next year. This is not the best fashion investment. (Although, even if I had all the money in the world I’d doubt I’d spend it on a pair of these.) I consider myself a fairly fashion conscious individual, so you could say I know a few things about current fashion. I have also researched this topic. I have read many articles and scoured shoe retail websites. I believe I am qualified enough to say that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to this recent trend. I’m not the only person to be mortified by this fashion faux pas, both Glamspree and Shoewawa take my side, but this certainly hasn’t been covered enough. So, next time you guys are tempted by a picture of Rachel Bilson in these tragic footwear mistakes, think before you buy. They are impractical for many reasons and they are incredibly high priced and I know, I know everyone from Prada to Doctor Marten’s have come out with their version of the “Bandal”. You may be swayed by advertising or high-status celebs, but just resist the temptation.
“It’s not only because they are loathsome in appearance., these shoes are ridiculously impractical.”
By Kiley K.
SPANDEX ~ 23
fashion By Alyssa Malvern
THREADFAIR UNRAVELED
T
he models strut down the runway, their cheeks flush with excitement, swiveling on dangerous stiletto heels. Cameras flicker wildly, and catch the fluorescent colors of their spring frocks, and the designers watch on, eyes shining. This is Threadfair, a fashion show run entirely by Austin high schoolers, and the upcoming spring show is a public affair. Threadfair was started 3 years ago by Rosie Rittenberry, a LASA alumni who graduated last year. She and a group of her friends had the idea to hold an entirely student-run fashion show, and in 2006, the first Threadfair show made its debut. This year, the reins of Threadfair have been passed down to LASA junior, Isabel
SPANDEX ~ 24
Legate, who designed for Threadfair in the ’09 season. “It’s quite a lot of work,” she says with a smile. It definitely is, since Isabel has set her eyes on making this year’s Threadfair the greatest yet. She plans on having publicity from the radio, to set up vendors and have a bigger venue and a bigger profit. There’s a simple process to participating in Threadfair. Prospective designers will submit applications with a portfolio displaying their previous creations and a description about what they hope their collection for Threadfair will convey and look like. Designers also need to have a central theme that the four cohesive and original outfits they create will to revolve
around. Models send in applications with their measurements. Last year, the designers get to choose their models, however, what with the awkward walking and the pressure on the designers to choose their friends to model the designs, things are going to change a little this year. “I have this idea to have a set of 25 girls who will be re-walked. They’ll be the girls who can walk the best and look the best in the clothes.” Last year, there were two Threadfair shows, one in February and another in May. It was extremely successful; the venue filled up and there were even people looking through the window at the show. The first one was at Mexicarte museum downtown. The runway was a
raised platform weaving between mirrors that were set up in the area. “That one was maybe a little bit rough just because it was the first time for a lot of people. But we pulled it off!” Brigeda Hernandez, a LASA junior who modeled in the spring shows, says. The second one was in May at a salon down on south congress. “That one was really, really fun, and definitely went a lot smoother.”
But there’s always an asymmetrical fun in the chaos. “Backstage can be hectic, but it’s really fun. All the models and designers cram in to try on their outfits and put on make-up...eventually you’re told what to do – like for models how many turns to do at the end of the runway, and how to line up. Then you just wait… which is hard. But you get to talk to everyone while you’re waiting, so it’s cool,” she says.
What the audience sees is usually the sleek end product of the designer, model and manager’s hard work – the lights bright and shining on the model, who floats down the runway with beautiful clothes. But backstage, it’s hot, messy, and chaotic.
But there’s much more than just pretty clothes at stake with Threadfair, for not only is it a fashion show run by and for teenagers, it’s also a contest. Three judges, who are asked to make an appearance, will score each designer’s collection. At the end of the runway show, the designers and models will be called out, and will be critiqued – Project Runway style.
At the salon, “backstage” was comprised of the small, cramped area in which the hair stylists shampoo their client’s hair. The designers are crowded with their models, making frantic last minute fixes and colliding with small catastrophes. “Last year, there was a girl named Blayr Brophy who was also Kara’s model. Her dress kept coming undone; the stitching in the back kept coming undone. We were backstage for a really long time, for over an hour, and Kara was working feverishly the entire time,” Brigeda recalls.
The winner receives either a scholarship or a unique opportunity to be an apprentice for a local Austin fashion designer or free fabrics or the like. And the heat for winning Threadfair has returned, as preparations for the ’10 spring show go under way. Isabel is looking for a space to accommodate a runway and an adequately large backstage space, and this year, Brigeda’s going to design her own collection.
Threadfair’s been the first step in the direction in which both girls want to explore. “I know compared to the real world Threadfair is very small scale, but it was my first time modeling on a runway, so it was a good first step. And since I’m also considering designing, it was good to hear what the judges said about each collection and what they were looking for,” says Brigeda. For Isabel, she already writes a popular fashion blog entitled The Animal Talk. “I definitely want to be in the fashion or art industry, and it’s just great to have this experience under my belt.” So far, Threadfair has garnered much attention and buzz from the local Austin community, and many students from different schools scattered around Austin have expressed their interest in participating as a model and a designer. “I hope that young adults can take away good experiences from Threadfair and get a taste of whatever interest they want to follow in the future.” And come spring, we can do just that.
By Sydney C. Want to be a part of Threadfair? Contact threadfairblog@ gmail.com
SPANDEX ~ 25
films How to
Pee Your Pants
10 movies that will make you sleep with the lights on By Rachel Z.
10 HALLOWEEN 9 JAWS
The classic shark-eats-man thriller. For those new to horror, we recommend this. There’s not much blood and guts, but the amount of suspense is pretty terrific.
Michael Myers is always around the corner in this 1978 classic horror film. Filled with lots of surprises and creepiness, this movie is definitely one to watch. Oh, watch out, he’s right behind you.
THE SHINING
The victim of “Sloth” in Se7en
8
Bruce the Shark in Jaws
Jack Torrance (Nicholson) is the creepy hotel caretaker that we’ve all come to love (and fear). Want to be creeped out? Put in The Shining and get ready to pee yourself.
Jack Torrance in The Shining
Starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, this horror is all about the seven sins. Yup, you guessed ‘em: Pride, Envy, Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, and Greed. And each sin has a victim.
6 EL ORFANATO
SPANDEX ~ 26
7
SE7EN
A woman brings her family back to her childhood home, where she opens an orphanage for handicapped children. Before long, her son starts to communicate with an invisible new friend.
5 PSYCHO
Norman Bates is your average guy...or is he? Regarded as the film that changed the face of horror, this classic cannot be missed. Prepare to be scared.
4
Norman Bates in Psycho
THE SIXTH SENSE
Usually horror films are about scary little kids. This one’s about a scared little kid. Not only does this guy see dead people, they talk to him and try to make him do things. One of the best jumpy movies out there.
3 THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs
This ain’t no farming movie. Unless you call serial killers and psychopaths farmers. In this fast-paced film, there’s a surprise around every corner...and we really do mean every corner.
2 THE AUDITION 1 THE EXORCIST Japanese horror film about a girl who kills people for an audition. ‘Nuff said.
Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist
Ever heard of someone possessed by a demonic figure? Imagine that personality in a cute little 12-year-old. Little Regan starts out like your typical preteen, getting more and more out of control. The final result is a cursing, vomit-spewing satanic figure who constantly moves her body in unexplainable movements. Enjoy!
SPANDEX ~ 27
films
Homegrown Austin Films Many popular movies have been filmed in Austin. Some notable scenes include... By Kiley K.
The scenes in the Chotchkies restaurant in Office Space were filmed at Aligator Grill, 3003 S Lamar Blvd.
The drive-in movie scene in Dazed and Confused shown here was filmed at Top Notch Burgers. Top Notch closed November 14, 2008, after the owner passed away. The restaurant has since been reopened as of April 2009. Top Notch is located at 7525 Burnet Rd.
Several scenes in the movie How To Eat Fried Worms including the scene shown, were filmed at Zilker Elementary School, 1900 Bluebonnet Ln. Austin.
This promo for Spy Kids 3-D was shot at 301 E 5th St. near the intersection of 5th St. and San Jacinto Blvd, in front of Eddie V’s Edgewater Grille downtown. Spy Kids was filmed and produced in Austin.
SPANDEX ~ 28
music CONT. FROM PAGE 15 wanted lessons. Four or five kids raised their hands.” And so the private lessons began. After people started hearing about Ponder, he began to teach at more schools like Kealing and McCallum. As of right now, Ponder has roughly twenty five students a week. When he wasn’t teaching lessons, Ponder would sometimes hang out with the LBJ Jazz Band. The old Jazz Band director, Travis Ancelet, was good friends with Ponder. After landing a job as head band director at McNeil High School, Ancelet realized that Ponder would be the perfect replacement. “I guess you could say I was at the right place at the right time. [Ancelet] realized he would need another jazz director and I just so happened to be standing right there. It was perfect timing.” Yet not everything about getting this job is perfect. Along with the opportunity to teach jazz to young adults (something Ponder always wanted to do), he now has to deal with the massive amount of paperwork and odd jobs that come with being a band director. “I love being a band director...except when I don’t. No job is perfect; sometimes there is too much emailing to take care of and sometimes it feels like there are a lot of paperwork things to manage. Even then, I realize why I do what I do. I don’t mind it as much as I used to - now that I’m a little older and a little wiser, I try to stay really organized and do that stuff as soon as I know I need to. But all the teaching stuff and music stuff… man, I love that. That’s why I keep doing what I do.” Along with being the LBJ Jazz Band Director, Ponder plays in a number of bands around Austin. Ponder plays lead alto in the Austin Jazz Band, which has been around for over sixteen years. He’s also in the Belltower Trio, which consists of Chris Bell on guitar, Aaren Al on bass, and Ponder on sax. Since April Ponder has been a part of a really cool group called Akina Adderley and the Vintage Playboys, Akina being the great niece of the saxophone legend Cannonball Adderley. “Akina is a great singer and lyricist, writing most of the songs we play. I’m on alto and tenor and Shane Pitch is on trumpet. We’ve got two guitarists, a drummer, a bass player, and a percussionist. It’s really a great group of musicians.” AAVP play at Momo’s, Antone’s, and other music places around Austin. The band went on tour last August, traveling to Tyler, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. “I hadn’t been on tour since 2001, so going on tour again was just awesome. I had a blast! Those guys are so cool and it was great to just hang out with a bunch of musicians for a few days. I absolutely love teaching music, and of the greatest joys I get is from sharing music with my family and friends.
Sharing the gift of music is something that I find extremely special and valuable, so no doubt will I continue teaching music for many years to come.”
SPANDEX ~ 29
art
SPANDEX ~ 30
Starting with top left going clockwise, Kiley, Sydney, Juliana and Rachel’s sand creations from thisissand.com
SPANDEX ~ 31