210 Local Media Magazine by 210 Local Media Magazine

210 Local Media Magazine Issue 1 Vol. 1 6 - Who Is 210 Local Media? 7 - Our Pride Will Not Faulter 8 - A Review Tera Ferna’s “Sundown Shadows” 10 - Local Lyric Spotlight “Deadman” by Donella Drive 11 - I Am NOT An Optimistic Person 13 - Imagine That! Photo - Mario Zamarron

Creator/Owner Mario Zamarron has been the sole employee for the podcast portion of the 210 Local Media company. Established in 2013, the podcast has reached over 100 countries and has been downloaded over 20,000 times. The podcast has included interviews, event coverage, live music, entire albums, and mixed tape formatted shows. This is where it began.

The Magazine was something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been on the list of things to do, so here it is. We hope to continue the same ideas and focus as the 210 Local Media Podcast, and bring great content to you. Help us bring San Antonio to the world and share us with everyone you know. Sharing is caring after all.

Our Pride Will Not Falter - By Victoria Stoner

Photo Courtesy of Hailee Higgins

Having the opportunity to attend the San Antonio Pride festival and parade was one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. It was very easy to see the diversity of our community coming together to celebrate their individuality and right to be who they are without apology. This was the very first pride I have ever attended and it was everything an LGBT person such as myself could have hoped for. The festival began bright and early on Saturday July 2 at 11am with local vendors and organizations ready to serve their community in the best possible ways. Unfortunately, the Texas sun played no small part in the day’s events, but that didn’t stop people from celebrating and taking pride in their differences. The day was filled with bright colors and glitter as you might have imagined. However, there was so much more to the festivities than flashy clothing and sparkly skin. Throughout the crowd it was easy to feel the rollercoaster of emotions as we came together not only to celebrate but also to remember our history of victories and defeats. In 2015, as you should well know a very large step forward for LGBT rights came in the form of a nationwide law granting the legality of same-sex marriage. This law was a great victory for us and our ancestors who fought so hard before us. Of course, discrimination doesn’t end with one change in the government. Even after the law was passed, states were furiously trying to find ways to keep it illegal. Then of course, there is the most recent tragedy of the Orlando shooting. There’s not much to be said about this horrible atrocity except that it was unthinkable and absolutely devastating. Our prayers and support go out to the victims and their families. There is a link below if you would like to donate to help the family members. Even with this impossibly horrific event being so recent, it did not deter the LGBT community of San Antonio from coming out to celebrate their uniqueness and self-expression. If anything it simply brought us closer and made us much more willing to remember all the things we have been fighting for and continue to fight for. With the shooting being so recent an event, it gave that much more power to the pride and allowed us to not only celebrate, but it also gave us a chance to mourn and be comforted by those around us who felt the same pain. Through this terrible ordeal we will come out stronger. https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund You can read more of my articles at www.eatsleepcreate.org

Tera Ferna’s “Sundown Shadows” A Review by Anna Richards

Photo - Mario Zamarron

“Sundown Shadows” is the title track on indie rock band Tera Ferna’s debut full-length album. Starting off at full speed, the song does not hold back any punches – electric guitars and powerful drumming provide the background for singer Matt Charles’ desperate but tuneful vocals. His voice is a solid conduit for emotion that compliments the darker, pained lyrics of this song very well. The chorus has the feel of something chaotic or an impending disaster that builds to a crescendo before falling apart, though the music remains well in the band’s control. Charles laments, “I’ve searched through the stones, found my way home but it’s taken its toll…” with a convincing devotion to his words. He somehow balances a reflective longing – the lyrics make this very clear – with a fast paced, loud beat that might in other hands create a less personal atmosphere. It is very easy to get caught up in the song’s tone. However, despite its quick, catchy rhythm and pained lyrics, “Sundown Shadows” avoids falling into the realm of cheesy, adolescent pop punk, anchored by the rock sensibilities of the group. This is not a band of posers – they steer the song away from the clean pop sound it seems all too easy for this type of material to stray towards. Instead, the song is comprised of a dirtier sort of rock music cut through with pop influence and pacing. It is definitely not exactly a gritty, back to the roots rock sound either, but the combination works well together. The result is a radio-ready hit that does not sound watered down or too cleaned up in production.

At the same time, the song does not take itself too seriously. Seemingly coming up for air a little over halfway through its three-minute course, a quick keyboard and drum duo create an upbeat interlude. This breaks up the song and keeps it from becoming monotonous before the guitar crashes back in to welcome the chorus. In fact, it is the song’s lighter sounds that provide contrast to the heavy beat. The keyboard particularly creates an interesting, almost playful effect, helping to keep the song from becoming a dark drone. The song ends with a quick guitar solo before one last round of the chorus that sufficiently builds the pace to a final climax before fading off. It is interesting, too, to look at “Sundown Shadows” in the context of Tera Ferna’s new album. As the second track, it establishes the band as something more than another introspective indie rock band with folk influences. The album contains a number of diverse songs that don’t easily fit in with one particular genre or style of music. It is an interesting range that uses different musical styles as a way to handle different content and tones. Tera Ferna handles slower paced songs with as much skill as this one, but “Sundown Shadows” really captures the energy of the band. These guys know how to have fun while making their music and it definitely shows in their work here. Photo - Mario Zamarron

Donella Drive Lyric Spotlight

Photo - Mario Zamarron

Deadman Ran out of reasons to win over the corpse who won’t take the time to read between the lines, it said over and over… But the lines were too blurred to be seen Been talking to the dead and never got an answer So now it’s off with your head Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time that I look your way… There’s a sudden divide between you and I see you different starting right now. Because you were so shy and both our tongues were tied, we tasted the tongues of other mouths.

Hey deadman, deadman, give me an answer! Too late, now off with your head! Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time that I look your way… In the end I have me to depend on my independence all I have to lean on Keeping you hostage but I still feel empty Falling into the American sitcom that sold to me their idea that said to me “Man will make you happy” Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time Yes I’ll make sure this is the last time that I look your way… Dead man walking Dead man walking Dead man walking

I Am Not An Optimist by Justine Steinle

I am not an optimistic person. In my estimate, humanity is little more than a living virus, content only in a path to destroy itself and it’s host. Recent events have given rise to headlines identifying here and now as the event horizon of western decline, and in some cases, comparisons to the worst points in human history. I am not buying that bullshit. This is a great time to be a human being. Stupid people play the lotto, without realizing they’ve already won the biggest lotto of them all: Being born American. Sure, things are not as good as they should be, and are framed as getting worse all the time. Simply put, anyone that thinks things are getting worse is ignorant of perspective. Today’s orphan, turned homeless drug addict has a far better life than a feudal serf. The truly telling difference rests in the fact that the vast majority of feudal societies were serfs, while today, we have to create an almost negligible scenario as pretext for lack of opportunity and misery comparison. Damn near everything I can think of is better than it has ever been. We’ll start off with our politics. There is politics in everything, and largely, the politics of democratic exclusion have never been less fucked up. Sure, gerrymandering and voter restriction laws are derived solely to disenfranchise those politically opposed to the power structure, but talk to me about Jim Crow. Today, so many people have the unhindered right to vote, that it is actually surprising to find that many people simply choose not to vote. America has one of the lowest voter turnout rates of any country that has a democratic process. As a cynic, that is the definition of progress. Sure, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both shills, and products of a system wherein the best president will never be the best candidate. Surely, a truly decent person would never survive the circus-like, year-round, finance-based campaign system we are all too ready to treat as entertainment. Yet, America has seen actual crooks, serial philanderers, slave owners, chicken hawks, George W Bush, and every type of opportunist take the highest office in the land. The executive branch cannot destroy this country, or the world. There are controls in place, recognizing the fact that the President of The United States is almost certainly not the best person for the job. Next, let’s talk about plague. Sure, we have abused antibiotics to the point where it is pretty scary when considering how we will confront the next super bug. However, the fact that we have overcome so many microscopic death mongers is proof of progress. We have the luxury of worrying about a future threat, instead of agonizing over the current death trend. There is serious work to be done in soil and untouched environments to generate new vaccines and counter actions in the never-ending arms war against evolution, but, the fact we have survived damn near a century without a catastrophic epidemic is proof that we are up to the challenge. We may get hit, but humanity has never been in a better position to deal with this threat that only a few generations ago could have wiped humanity away. Starvation is almost a punch line anymore, thanks to GMOs. All concerns voiced by the public regarding GMOs are unfounded, albeit the lack of naturally seeding

crops, and the need to purchase new seeds every year is a sick bastardization of the arguably greatest achievement of humanity; sedentary culture. There is a serious concern with genetic diversity, which is only compounded by America’s fucked up patent laws, but the public doesn’t care about genetic diversity, and couldn’t find a fuck to give about patent law if the fuck were in their pocket. Fortunately, scientists are fully aware of the threat, and are creating heritage seed banks in the event the worst comes to fruition. That said, there have never been as many humans on earth, and starvation has never been less prevalent. Yes, people starve to death, but the occurrence is considered a tragedy, rather than a probable event. Don’t get me wrong, the current corporate farming structure is not sustainable, but markets have, and will continue to force reasonable progress, even if the major force is crop loss due to lack of diversity. Humans live longer, and die less during birth. Hell, our ancestors used to have more children dead than living. The Oregon Trail is an outdated computer game, not an epic journey costing uncounted lives while they bravely traverse the wild in hopes of opportunity. Medical advances are so rapid and effective, that people literally don’t shit themselves to death in America; a side effect of dysentery that cannot be excluded as one of the biggest cunts in human history, negated with cost effective water treatment. So, people are living longer and die less frequently from environmental stress. Surely, over population must be a problem. False. Malthusian models have all been debunked thanks to scientific advances, and postindustrial growth trends. Simply put, our plows will not run into our urban centers. We throw away more food than required to feed the world several times over. Waste management is a serious business, and given the appropriate diligence, is entirely manageable regardless of population density. Consumerism is distinctly different than population problems. Consumerism is being combatted by direct confrontation. Fair trade, and conscious business, even in my cynical mind, remedies the negativity of vulture capitalism. The people of the countries our corporations rape for recourses, often times rise up and nationalize industry. Historically, America has in turn implanted dictators with death squads willing to enforce our consumerist interests. This trend is broken, the wars in the Middle East, as well as the acceptance of the influx of South and Central American refugees, only proves the point. We are realizing the blow back of foolhardy strategies. Should Exxon decide our foreign policy towards Indonesia? Supporting radical Islamists is even causing normal, ignorant as fuck Americans, to question relations with the Saudis. This is progress. Even climate change is less fucked up than it used to be. At least scientific consensus is established. Humans impact the environment. If you do not believe this fact, then you are a fucking moron. As a cynic educated in science, it is not surprising to find that only religious, or corporate corrupted cunts deny the issue. Funnily enough, the argument against man made climate change is always prefaced with, “I’m not a scientist, but…” But, nothing. You are a fucking idiot if you believe that a main contributor of green house gases doesn’t impact the environment. Go try the air in China, you fucking twat. I digress. Things are better than they have ever been. The sky is not falling. The only thing stopping progress is the main problem facing humanity: stupid people. Fortunately, all people die, and the march of progress is marked one funeral at a time. I am not an optimist, but I cannot deny how awesome the future looks, because, dinosaurs will die.

Imagine That By Anna Richards

Photos - Oscar Moreno

By day, you could possibly mistake Imagine Books and Records, located off Culebra Road, for the average – though well stocked – book and record, hipster hang out. However, you would be wrong. Walking in, you immediately notice the calm but hip vibe. Electric blue walls create a startlingly modern effect, with music playing from behind the desk. It’s a family owned place and you can feel it when you cross through the doors. “There are always new people coming in. We try to meet everyone,” says Ezra Hurd, the Event Coordinator for Imagine as well as son of founder and owner Don Hurd. A welcoming pot of hot coffee stands nearby, ready for visitors The real magic of the place, though, happens at night. Since its founding nearly five years ago now, Imagine has been a place that not only sells recorded music, but also provides a space for bands to play live music. A musician himself, Don Hurd saw the need for another venue in the area. Though not the typical venue for live entertainment – there is no stage or pulsing overhead dance lights – Imagine has been hosting successful events for years. In fact, part of its success might lie in its offbeat style. “Musicians love the idea of playing in a record store,” claims Ezra Hurd, and “a lot of touring bands come through.” In the back of the shop, a hallway filled with the signatures (and doodles) of all those who have played there is noticeable. With the handwriting crowding the walls, it’s easy to see that this is a popular spot. According to Hurd, the store usually puts on several events a month – at least 4 but more likely somewhere around 6 or even more. The bands come from all around, with recent bands traveling from Oklahoma (Naturalist), the UK (Steve Strong) and even Japan (OTONANA TRIO). Holding audiences of up to 60 or 70 people on an event night, Imagine can get lively. Although each band brings in quite a few new people, Hurd admits that sometimes regulars don’t even know who is playing when they show up, but knowthat it will be a fun night out.

“I think it definitely stands as a cultural hub for a lot of people,” says Hurd, “a place to come and relax and hang out.” This past spring, Imagine even put on it’s own weeklong festival – Imaginefest, in which the store saw the performances of 35 bands in seven days. They plan to do the same in the spring next year, with the hope of turning it into an annual event. Although touring bands certainly appreciate such an interesting place to play in San Antonio, local bands make up a big part of most lineups as well. By now, the bookstore has worked with a number of San Antonio acts – either as openers or as headliners themselves. Recent local bands that have played at Imagine include Junkie, Roshii, and Via Dei. “They’re really cool, really laid back, down to earth guys,” affirms Hurd while mentioning that hanging out with the bands is one of the best aspects of his job. Giving shows to local bands also helps out the San Antonio music community at large. “I think the community is great,” says Hurd, “There’s a lot of overlap too – musicians definitely support other musicians.” This month, Imagine contributed to the Local Music Week effort with their June 18 show featuring Lonely Horse, Femina-X and Mandala. The event was well attended and received – a positive way to end the week aimed to spotlight local talent. With over five events already scheduled for July, Imagine is certain to be a great place to catch live music – whether local or touring – this summer. Check for events on their website at imaginebooksandrecords.com.