Volume 1 Issue 1
Corpus Christi, Victoria, Beeville, Kingsville, Alice, Port Aransas, Port Lavaca, Robstown, Ricardo, Portland
Plus Inside : Witness by Proxy Evacuate Whale Bossy Entertainment And more
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t was seven years in the making with three guys purchasing plenty of merch to have available for their forming a melodic skate punk band called Dead Sky. upcoming shows. Their sound also included hints of metal and still, In that short time, they have accumulated 2000 “likes” there was a need to go further with their music.. and have started a local buzz of people anticipating “We felt confined and cornered into our genre,” said their first show as Shadow of the Giant. Ejey Alaniz. “We wanted to be be heavy, fast, Their first release, “3 Cheers” is already making waves progressive and melodic.” on Sound Cloud and a video is now about to start the “We decided to change the name from Dead Sky to filming stages. Shadow of the Giant,” said Alaniz, “we are going to mix pop punk with death metal and don’t give a FUCK what Their inspiration for Shadow of the Giant “is our dream to create something bigger than ourselves,” said anyone says… ‘play what you want to play’ is our Alaniz, “something that people can see that they don’t motto.” have to follow a formula, not to be afraid to change Although they have been together for seven years, things up and mix things up.” Shadow of the Giant has really only started pushing “Fuck what people think, it’s better to be be hated for their brand and band since Sep of this year, utilizing who you are than loved for who you are not.” massive social media efforts and marketing by
What’s Next For Shadow of the Giant Oct 29 - release of “We are Energy” On Sound Cloud Nov 22 - Release of Shadow of the Giant EP Nov 23 - Release of Shadow of the Giant video Dec 6 - Release of “We are Energy” video Dec 7 - Shadow Fest at Theo’s Billiards Shadow Fest will feature 20 bands. No Cover Charge Every band will be giving away one piece of free merch in exchange for a “like” on Facebook.
Shadow of the Giant is: Ejey Red Feather- Guitar, Vox-Cleans and lows Reyrey Two Wolves- Drums, Vox-Back ups Ric Falling Eagle- Bass, Vox-High screams
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For the love of music and forming Witness by Proxy with younger brother Mario. "I was out of a band and I contacted Mario about playing in a band because I wanted to see if Mariano would drum for me and we would get something started," said Ballweg, "Mariano came over one day and I just started playing some of the songs that I'd written and he was like ' alright, we can do something with this.'" n a dark Wednesday night in Corpus Christi's west Cruz came along later from a band called Tyler's side near Greenwood, music could be heard Deception around a year later and became their new and coming from the house of Phil Garcia, the father current bassist. of Witness by Proxy's original bass player. Garcia was "They were kind of sucking the life out of me because sitting outside smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer as being the guitar player ...a lot of the stuff was like each the band played one of it's original songs inside. Damon song was a continuous free form jam session," said Cruz, Ballweg, AJ Cruz and Mario Cervantes were positioned in "we really didn't have solid material or good marketing or a semi-circle in the living room and Mariano Cervantes, anything serious. I was kind of looking for stuff like that. Mario's older brother, sat in his drum kit, set up in the "So we (Tyler's Deception) would play gigs with these dining area ...and they played, ate pizza, drank beer and guys (Witness by Proxy) and I started to feel that this band played original songs from their upcoming new album yet wasn't cutting it for me, so I came to Damon and the guys to be named. and was like, ' Do you guys need a bass player?" said Cruz. Witness by Proxy is Damon Ballweg, lead vocals and This lineup has been together about 2 years now. guitar, Mariano Cervantes on drums, AJ Cruz on bass and What's in a name Mario Cervantes on lead guitar. Ballweg and the elder The name Witness by Proxy is actually a combination Cervantes played together previously in a band called of two ideas the guys had for names and was thought up as Black Marker Revival 6 years ago and toured through they were sitting at the House of Rock. Texas, Las Vegas and as far as Los Angeles before heading "I came up with Preacher by Proxy and Mariano came into separate directions before reuniting about 3 years ago up with some gay crap, Witness to Beauty," said Ballweg.
Photos by Eric Alaniz And JJ Adams
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Eventually they decided to put the two together and came up with Witness by Proxy and right after they witnessed a terrible car accident and the name stuck. "It was like, we were here, we witnessed this because we were in proxy to the situation," said Ballweg. What about the music Witness by Proxy's original music is hard to place a label on. They play a mix of genres from hard progressive rock to funk to even a little country-esque style. Each member has their own influences and styles, which makes their sound work. Damon's original influences were bands like Nada Surf and Superdrag and later Ween, Smashing Pumpkins and My Morning Jacket. Mario list Tool, A Perfect Circle, The Toadies, Pearl Jam and Corrosion of Conformity, "but the older Corrosion of Conformity," the younger Cervantes pointed out. He saw a recent performance at the Old Concrete Street Amphitheater and was disappointed. AJ's influence is "obviously" Incubus, as noted by his peers and confirmed by AJ, himself. As for Mariano, he loves classic experimental progressive bands like Pink Floyd, King Crimson and progressive bands like Tool, A Perfect Circle and Rush. He also likes old school classic R&B. "One of my dreams as a kid was to be Michael Jackson's drummer... but he died," said the elder Cervantes. Each had some prior music experience from either school or other experiences, but the Cervantes brothers grew up with music in their genes. Their uncle is Albert Zamora of Albert Zamora y Talento. Another uncle teaches music and yet another uncle "is in a mariachi group that once played for (president) Ronald Reagan." Ironically, both parents are deaf, yet, with their family support, the two became talented musicians. "I remember in 6th grade, I was in school at St. Patrick's and people there are just spoiled up the ass," said Mario,. "and I remember I was trying to learn my stuff by myself and all these other kids got like guitar lessons and bass lessons and got better than me. So that summer I just worked myself to death." The following school year, Mario took a guitar class and turned out to become the best student in the class. The teacher asked Mario to write a piece to teach the beginning students and prepare them to perform in front of an audience, "and I remember thinking about it later on. My grandpa was in the crowd and he was looking at me and I was thinking, 'I wrote this and my grandpa is getting to hear it.'" Getting the crowds Although Witness by Proxy is really focused on their original songs, they are also known for playing a variety of cover songs during their gigs. "The audience likes to hear something they're familiar with," said Mariano, "if you can catch the audience's attention with something they're familiar with, they are
going to be willing to listen to your originals and give you their honest opinion." The band covers everything from Led Zeppelin and Rush to Incubus and Smashing Pumpkins to Tom Petty and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Kiss and much more. Their original songs have gained positive feedback from audiences, as well, and they are currently playing songs from their upcoming, yet to be titled, second album. Copies of their first album are still available at Disc Go Round. As for their upcoming release, "Honestly, it's probably the best any of us have ever released, period," said Damon, "It just sounds so good and crisp and the song writing is
there and the musicianship is there and everybody's parts are just so well meshed together." "I think we all got to express all our ideas and everything just flowed," added AJ. What do you see as far as support for the local scene? "It's tough because we'll go and we'll play a set and have everyone's attention, everyone likes us and some people will get up and walk away but the majority of the time, when people are there, they like us a lot," said Damon. "I'm not trying to sound cocky but that's just how it goes, but to contradict that, when we play shows, it's so hard to get people to go out and see us because it's like oh they'll go like us on Facebook but then they won't come out
to our shows and it's like, ' man you gotta have that support. "It's rough. That's the thing that we want the most," he continued, "We put in so much work, so much effort and so much time and money into everything that we do and then to go play a show for eight people, it sucks. Man, I wish more people would come out and it's hard because we bring our friends and stuff but sometimes that's not enough." "Sometimes playing to an empty venue is a little demeaning or depressing," added Mariano, "but when you think about all the hard work you put into writing these songs, you're like 'fuck it' middle finger in the air, I don't care... we're here, welcome to the rehearsal." "There is no sign of this band, of us stopping," said Damon. "I think playing 15 years, personally, I don't think I'm ever going to stop," said AJ. "No matter how hard, even a girl or situations in life or circumstances will ever push me. I won't ever put down my amp or my bass for anything. "I could be shit broke and dying of AIDS and still want to fucking play music," he finished. A spilled beer later, we shook hands and Witness by Proxy loaded their equipment into their vehicle.
Random Photo
Winners of The American Heart Association Battle Of the Bands At House Of Rock
Story by Jackie Granato Photos by Kaliegh Benck
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he distinct members of a local band Evacuate Whale have combined their anomalous sound since Jan 2013. Nicholas Harper (lead vocals and pedals), Marco Lugo (bass), Ryan Drum (effects and vocals), Alex Maldonado (guitar) and John Angulo (drums and acoustic guitar) bring into existence music with exalting lyrics integrated with memorable and incomparable melodies.
different from the norm - it’s refreshing,” said Harper. Evacuate Whale’s fans are known to get locked in their music. “We do play with your emotions,” said Angulo, “we do make you shift up and down, there are parts that make you feel really great and parts that are dark.” “It’s an epic adventure,” said Harper, “it’s like King of Hearts.” The name Evacuate Whale comes from “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” created by Douglas Adams. “The Earth was coming to an end,” said Drum, “the dolphins were smarter than everyone else and swam up into space.” Dolphins’ swimming into space is undoubtedly unexpected which seemingly adds to the bands’ sound according to their fans after a show, “We didn’t expect that!”
Although the band classifies themselves as progressive rock, “we dabble in just about everything,” said Evacuate Whale has ventured from Angulo, “we have jazzy tunes, light, heavy tunes, psychedelic, experimental San Antonio to the Valley, mostly playing in Corpus Christi and tunes.” Kingsville. "We're basically trying to “We are a very different sound for this grow our fan base closer to home," area,” said Drum. The expressive said Angulo. sound of the guitar, catchy riffs, Contact the band online at trancelike vocals, along with the facebook.com/EvacuateWhale or samples and effects set this band afar evacuatewhale@gmail.com. from others. “We are something
Entertainment
Photos by Lifes Moments Photography Tonya Peel BOSSY Entertainment is a growing community of ladies local to the Coastal Bend Area providing crowd pleasing entertainment for all to enjoy. We are a sister co. of Quadbeat Productions of Austin, TX & are uniting to build a HOT NEW scene for Corpus Christi & the Coastal Bend Area. BOSSY Ent. was created & founded by Brittney Cassel & Dj Kaycee Paul only less than a year ago and have already made a lasting impression with their diversely entertaining events. Quadbeat's & BOSSY team up with Wikkd Heir Clothing this fall to bring you the hottest Panty Party in South Texas , The Wikkd of Oz - Panty Party [10/18/13] featuring Kids At The Bar only at Revolution. BOSSY is known for GoGo Performances , Modeling , Video Vixens , & Female Pudding Wrestling. Keep an eye out for these ladies! BOSSY is Brianna Blasingame , Tabitha Barbree , Chelsea Oestreich , Amanda Perez , Danyelluh Platz , Rozling Gomez, Chelsea Flanagan . Allison Danielle , Michelle Barrera and Cloressa Shedd
Coming Nov. 27 Inside the Backroom At Gator’s
The Elise With Special guests
4610 South Padre Island Drive (361) 225-4300
Hours Monday - Saturday 7am - 2 am Sunday 12pm - 2am Sunday and Monday Poker Tournament Tuesday is Sindustry Night Friday and Saturday Music on the Patio
Cupid’s Victim, In Left Field And Witness by Proxy
er 3 e mm 1 h T u 20 S m f o la d S n E sic u M
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t was billed as one of the biggest shows featuring local bands in recent memory. Twenty of the area’s local bands in a two-day event for charity. Ultimately, it was a gathering of musicians playing together to raise money for charity, the South Texas Children’s Home Minitries. Bands from as far as Victoria, Beeville, Port Aransas, Kingsville, Alice and
From the lenses of JJ Adams and Eric Alaniz And Kaliegh Benck
Robstown joined local favorites in the Labor Day weekend party. The variety of genres made the show even better. From Metal core and Hardcore Punk to Christian Metal Core on Friday night. Saturday night offered a mixture of Industrial, Alternative Rock to Pop Punk and Metal. Some of the bands included Spanish Reds, Black Lung Conspiracy, Wolves Amongst Sheep and Steadfast.
There was Bioluminescent, Diamond Eyed Strangers, Purple Monkey Lasers and Sure Thing Falling. No Questions Asked, Evacuate Whale and A Delicate Process also helped fill the bill.. All in all, it was an awesome time.
(More photos next page)
Through the Lens: The Photography of Raven Durrent
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any people like to take pictures. Some use their smart phones while others are happy with a simple point and shoot camera. Then there are those like Raven Durrent, people who have the desire to perfect a craft so that some of life’s moments are preserved in amazing quality so that the viewer can look at an image and feel the moment without actually being there.
by using flash and natural lighting techniques that can only be perfected by continuous practice.
Raven has been shooting for just over half a year. In that time, he has continued to improve his quality of photos
Look him up for all your photography needs.
Many of his photos can be seen on his Facebook page. RavenDurrentPhotography. He is now branching out to include weddings, senior photos and models into his portfolio.
Scenes from the Scene