December BridgeWalk
A Free Event by the Mayor’s Fitness Council The December BridgeWalk will take place on Sunday the 8th. Runners and walkers will assemble at The Galvan House, 1581 N Chaparral Street from 8 am and, after a few brief words and a group photograph, will head off over the bridge at 8:30 am returning to Heritage Park 30 to 60 minutes later where we hope some will take advantage of the other fun activities on offer. When you get to the top of the bridge, on your way back, remember to look for Malcolm standing on the bay side of the bridge waiting to take your photograph; stop, smile, and wave then check the Gallery pages on the Mayor’s Fitness Council website when you get home to see if he captured your “Top o’ the Bridge” moment. (www.ccmayorsfitnesscouncil.com) Check out the Junior League – Kids in the Kitchen activity for this month which will start at 9 am. Please encourage all your friends and relatives with children to turn out for a fun morning in the snow of South Texas – this is not something you get to do for real except every 100 years! Schedule of events: 8:30 am 'til you get back BridgeWalk (Brought to you by the Downtown Management District)
9:30 am Yoga (By Youga Yoga) 9:45 am Tai Chi (By Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA, Texas)
9:00 am Junior League Play in the snow! (This will cancel if it rains even although the BridgeWalk and other activities may still take place)
9:00 am 'til 10 am Zumba (By ZLive Studio)
Industry News & Announcements: Austin FilmWorks' Spring 2014 Course Registration
is open for Austin FilmWorks' Spring 2014 course, ‘The Film Mind: Advanced Cinematography and Directing.' The course blends an in-depth examination of current large sensor digital cinematography with classic filmmaking techniques, both aesthetic and technical. The core tools of cinematography-lenses, filters, exposure and lighting-are melded with the discipline of classic film grammar and director technique, preparing students create their own film and video projects. Our students are diverse in background, to make accomplished films. practical experience, and age. They come The course focuses on three phases- largely from the city's universities, corpopreparation, shooting and editing. Stu- rations, and arts communities. dents will create an individual film and collaborate on a group project. Students Austin FilmWorks has earned a reputawill need access to camera and editing tion for challenging students to innovate equipment for the individual project, but in the independent tradition. That independence is based on a bedrock gear will be provided for the group film. knowledge of film stocks, lenses, cameras The class will meet Tuesday evenings and formats. We believe that technical from February 11 through April 29, 2014. and aesthetic grounding leads to individuSince fall of 1993, Austin FilmWorks has al control of the creative process. offered college level filmmaking courses Visit www.austinfilmworks.com for regwith the aim of providing solid information istration and orientation information. and experience that students may use to
10:30 am Yoga (By Youga Yoga)
Oso Bay Biennial XVIII Call for Entries Documentary Photography Exhibition Home Texas
A&M University-Corpus Christi’s (TAMU-CC) Department of Art invites submissions to the Oso Bay Biennial XVII Documentary Photography Exhibition: Home. Under the theme of ‘home,’ this juried exhibition will showcase works highlighting conceptual and figurative reflections of domesticity, identity, and belonging, from local, national, and international perspectives. Both color and black and white media are welcome; all entries must be submitted by December 31, 2013.
Successful
entries will be exhibited at the Weil Gallery at Texas A&M University -Corpus Christi, Texas. The exhibition will feature approximately forty printed and forty projected photographs selected by guest juror Molly Roberts. A color cata-
logue of the exhibition will be available for purchase on Blurb.com and at an opening reception at the Weil Gallery on March 13, 2014.
Juror’s
statement: The juror encourages photographers to explore the concept of ‘home’ with the most creative imagery possible. Yes, ‘home’ is a physical structure, but it is also a metaphysical construct. Home is a place, home is an idea. It can be a memory, a sense of belonging, a longing for sense, a person, place or thing. Home can be something lost, or something found. Home can be a comfort or a nightmare. Home can be where your heart is, or where you heart was broken.
“[…] perhaps
home is not a place but
simply an irrevocable condition” (James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room, 92).
About
Molly Roberts: Juror Molly Roberts is an award-winning photography editor, consultant, and photographer. With twenty years of experience in magazine and book publishing, Roberts has contributed to the content and aesthetic development of renowned publications such as The Washington Post Magazine, USA Weekend, and Smithsonian Magazine. Roberts’ special projects include books such as Picture This by Tipper Gore; Gods, Gold and Grandeur by Paul Henry Walker; and The Outdoor America series by National Geographic Books. For entry forms and more information: osobay.tamucc.edu/
Oso Bay Biennial XVII Inkslingers Ball Carlos Hernandez 2012
WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 3
CONTENTS SOUTH TEXAS
DECEMBER 2013 VOL. 2 ISS. 9
ENTERTAINMENT 6 COMICS 7 SAVING ABEL 12 & 13 THE ENDS
ORIGINAL COVER ART BY JESSICA FERGUSON CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
WWW STEAMMAGAZINE NET
22 3RD COAST FOODIE
ART
MUSIC
3 FILM NEWS
8 CONCERT CALENDAR
3 OSO BAY BIENIAL
10 WADE BOWEN
16 - 19 GENE GARAND: THE AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS
PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS
STAFF WRITERS RACHEL MILLS, ERIK HINZ, RICK BOWEN, DALE MARTIN, TAMMA HICKS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BUBBA JONES, J MICHAEL DOLAN, DEREK SIGNORE
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS MISTY NELSON, ALLENE HICKS, ERIK HINZ, MATHEW STUESSER
WEBMASTER AFFORDABLE WEBSITE DESIGN
TO ADVERTISE WITH US 361-904-4339
24 SONS OF FATHERS 26 CD REVIEWS
SALES@STEAMTX.COM
SEE US ONLINE AT WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET
WANT YOUR CD, BOOK, OR SHOW REVIEWED? HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SUBMISSIONS@STEAMTX.COM STEAM Magazine is published monthly by STEAM Magazine South Texas Entertainment Art Music in Corpus Christi, TX. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Views expressed within are solely the authors and not of STEAM Magazine. Typographical, photographic, and printing errors are unintentional and subject to correction. Please direct all inquiries to: submissions@steamtx.com
THE FIELD J. Michael Dolan (:38) You’re an artist, an entrepreneur, which makes you different from the others— not better, just different. You have a special place (inside), a ‘field” that you can go to make stuff up, write a song, paint a picture, write a script, design a building, or conceive your next business strategy. It’s also the same place you can go to figure out how to make a buck...or a million of them. Others don’t know where that field is. Really. They have other gifts, like the ability to sell, or market, or read a blueprint, or follow a plan. They know how to finance it, build it, and distribute it. But YOU know how to invent it, create it, per you hear, is coming directly from your own personal creative muse, the goddess of art, the queen of imaginadesign it, and imagine it. tion—the Greeks call her “Mousai.” It’s coming from deep Others rely on research and knowledge, and proven methods. within your soul, from “Divinity” or Divine inspiration, and You can do that too. However YOU have the upper hand, the unique advantage it’s coming from the quantum “field” of all possibilities. of creative insight, keen intuition, limitless inspiration, and the rare ability to Honor it, respect it and learn to trust it. Above all, use this pull great ideas out of thin air. gift to make life a little better. Not only for you, but for all I believe that gift you have, that special talent that makes you YOU, that whis- of us.
WHAT’S AT STAKE J. Michael Dolan (:27) Regarding your impossible dream or your BIG project, what do you have at stake? Your reputation? Your money? Your life? Your business? Do you have your pride at stake? Are the lives and well-being of others at stake? Investors? Do you have your family at stake? Your kids? Your dignity? Do you still need to prove something to somebody or yourself? Having something at stake is the greatest of all motivators. It gives purpose, grants meaning and provides reason. It also sharpens focus, validates intention, beefs up resolve and pumps adrenalin through your system. Not to mention it brings “doubt” to its knees and knocks the wind out of “procrastination!"
desperation, which provokes “manic panic.” Having something at stake is more like making a risky investment in you...in your impossible dream. Not having anything at stake provokes the question: Why are you doing it?
Check Us Out Online! www.SteamMagazine .Net And You Can Take Us With You!
Having something at stake is not the same as
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COMICS LUNARBABOON: Sometime in the 80's a human woman made love to a space monkey and 8 months later a Lunarbaboon was born. Lunarbaboon is married and has one child. He works as a school teacher and lives a life similar to most North American humans. WWW.LUNARBABOON.COM, www.facebook.com/ lunarbaboon THE AWKWARD YETI: Lars started making cartoons in the snowy hills of Siberia, but strong winds devastated his portfolio. Saddened, he moved to the Midwest United States. Lars lives with his beautiful wife, two very young and active sons, and the most awkward dog you've ever met. WWW.THEAWKWARDYETI.COM, www.facebook.com/awkwardyeti, www.amazon.com – The Awkward Yeti
FROSTY
WWW.LUNARBABOON.COM
COOLER
WWW.LUNARBABOON.COM
THE JOB
SPOT
WWW.LUNARBABOON.COM
STAR WWW.LUNARBABOON.COM
6 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
Saving Abel has had a hectic year! They changed management, dropped their label, changed drummers, and spent time in the studio recording new material. Now without a label, the boys from Saving Abel got together with longtime producer Skidd Mills (Skiddco Music) and decided they wanted to give back to their fans. This new EP Crackin’ The Safe are songs that the guys decided on and recorded in Nashville. “We wanted something to come out while we started on a new record. We wanted to say to our fans, here are some songs that we really love and we don’t want you guys to have to wait long for music. It’s to say thanks for hanging around with us and supporting us,” says frontman Jared Weeks.
The new EP Crackin’ The Safe sticks to what Saving Abel is known for, those southern rock roots with catchy hooks and that country soul that can’t help but sneak in every song showing every listener these boys still know where they came from. “So this is for our fans; they helped us and we want to show them we see it. Without a label we’re doing this on our own, we’re making music we want and putting it out. We can’t make music without their support.” And with that in mind, Saving Abel is on tour! But, don’t just go see them, get yourself a VIP Gold Ticket for the show! VIPs are on Saving Abel's personal guestlist, have a Meet & Greet with Saving Abel after the show, and cool Saving Abel stuff!
Download Crackin’ The Safe EP from iTunes or order a physical copy from their website.
Website: www.savingabel.com Social: SavingAbel
Words via Saving Abel
WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 7
DEC CONCERT CALENDAR SUN 12/1 Taproot Zero’s Hard Rock Club Corpus Christi Avril Lavigne & Jason Derulo State Farm Arena Hildalgo Florida Georgia Line Austin City Limits Austin WED 12/4 Juicy J Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi THUR 12/5 Wade Bowen Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi Pat Green Gruene Hall New Braunfels Less Than Jake The Belmont Austin FRI 12/6 Thompson Square Concrete Street Amphitheater Corpus Christi Caleb Lopez Benefit Zero’s Hard Rock Club Corpus Christi John Mayer Frank Erwin Center Austin Francisco Cespedes McAllen Civic Auditorium McAllen Wayne Static Backstage Live San Antonio SAT 12/7 Shadow Fest
Theo’s Billiards Corpus Christi Project Rock McAllen Convention Center McAllen Vallejo Phoenix Saloon New Braunfels Terri Hendrix w/Lloyd Maines Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio SUN 12/8 Michael Martin Murphy Cowboy Christmas Concert Performing Arts Center TAMU-Corpus Christi Marcia Ball Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio Kanye West AT&T Center San Antonio WED 12/11 40oz to Freedom Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi Ray Benson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Shinyribs, Cody Canada, HalleyAnna and Lone Star Antone’s Austin Megadeth Austin City Limits Austin Juicy J Pharr Events Center Pharr THUR 12/12 Kyle Park Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi
MUST SEE OPENDAILY
DEC 2013 STEAMMAGAZINE.NET Drowning Pool Backstage Live San Antonio The Irish Tenors Majestic Theatre San Antonio FRI 12/13 Abiotic/Metal Blade Zero’s Hard Rock Club Corpus Christi Jerry Jeff Walker Gruene Hall New Braunfels SAT 12/14 Saving Abel Theo’s Billiards Corpus Christi Suicidal Tendencies House of Rock Corpus Christi Ska/Punk Fest Zero’s Hard Rock Club Corpus Christi Jerry Jeff Walker Gruene Hall New Braunfels Cat Power-Solo Antone’s Austin SUN 12/15 Beyond I Sight House of Rock Corpus Christi REO Speedwagon Majestic Theatre San Antonio TUES 12/17 Robert Earl Keen Majestic Theatre San Antonio WED 12/18 The Mavericks
Gruene Hall New Braunfels THUR 12/19 Cody Johnson Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi Pam Tillis Brauntex Theater New Braunfels The Mavericks Gruene Hall New Braunfels Band of Heathens The Saxon Pub Austin FRI 12/20 Tercer Cielo Pharr Events Center Pharr Faster Pussycat Backstage Live San Antonio Jay Z AT&T Center San Antonio SAT 12/21 Kevin Fowler Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi Rev. Horton Heat Emo’s Austin Reckless Kelly Gruene Hall New Braunfels Blue Santa Tejano Dance Pharr Events Center Pharr SUN 12/22 Carolyn Wonderland Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio
Hildalgo WED 12/25 Dom’s Christmas Show House of Rock Corpus Christi
Willie Nelson & Friends Austin City Limits Austin TUES 12/31 Willie Nelson & Friends Austin City Limits Austin
Miss Lavelle White The Saxon Pub Austin THUR 12/26 Robert Earl Keen, Lloyd Maines, Terri Hendrix Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve Frank Erwin Center Austin FRI 12/27 Cory Morrow Gruene Hall New Braunfels
New Year’s Eve Parties… Theo’s Billiards Corpus Christi Theo’s Boneshakers Corpus Christi Spazmatics Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi Two Tons of Steel Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio
Old 97’s Antone’s Austin SAT 12/28 JB & the Moonshine Band Brewster Street Icehouse Corpus Christi
Bob Schneider’s Lucky 13 The Paramount Theater Austin Grupo Fantasma The Belmont Austin
Pasadena Napalm Division Zero’s Hard Rock Club Corpus Christi
Wood & Wire, Milkdrive Stubb’s Austin
Eli Young Band Pharr Events Center Pharr
Kevin Fowler Gruene Hall New Braunfels
Ruben V Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio
Josh Abbott Band Cowboys Dancehall San Antonio
SUN 12/29 Hayes Carll Emo’s Austin
Jimmy LaFave Threadgill’s (North) Austin
MON 12/30 DeadMau5 State Farm Arena
Doyle Bramhall II Antone’s Austin
CC Museum of Science & History; Corpus Christi
Mustang Island State Park; Port Aransas
Texas State Aquarium Corpus Christi
Art Museum of South Texas Downtown Corpus Christi
National Seashore North Padre Island
Alamo Mission San Antonio
USS Lexington; North Beach, Corpus Christi
South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center Corpus Christi
DEC DEC EVENT EVENT CALENDAR CALENDAR
STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013
THINGS TO DO TUESDAY WWE: Raw 12/17 Frank Erwin Center Austin WEDNESDAY Farmers Market Wednesdays Tango Tea Room Corpus Christi Sounds of the Season Luncheon 12/4 The Ortiz Center Corpus Christi Omar Chaparro: el Show 12/4 McAllen Convention Center McAllen The Small, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise 12/11 Freeman Coliseum San Antonio Butch Miles Drum Clinic 12/11 The Cove San Antonio THURSDAY First Thursday 12/5 South Congress Austin DMC Music Holiday Concert 12/5 Richardson Performance Hall, Del Mar College East Corpus Christi Big Brothers, Big Sisters Diamonds & Champagne
12/5 Radisson Hotel Corpus Christi WWE: Raw 12/19 American Bank Center Corpus Christi FRIDAY First Friday ArtWalk 12/6 Corpus Christi Oilfield Trash Blowout 12/6 Jim Wells County Fairgrounds Alice SATURDAY Farmers Market Saturdays Market on Everhart Corpus Christi Marina Market Days & MusicWalk 12/7 Corpus Christi Signing Santa 12/7 Deaf & Hard of Hearing Center Corpus Christi Santa Boogie 5K Fun Run 12/14 Cole Park Corpus Christi Railroad Santa 12/14 Railroad Museum New Braunfels Gregory Portland Illuminated Christmas 12/14 Starts @ Stephen F Austin Elementary
MUST DO OPENDAILY
Gregory Winter Wonderland 12/14 McAllen Convention Center McAllen Candy Cane Lane 12/21 McAplin Dr Corpus Christi City Wide 5K Challenge 12/28 North Beach Corpus Christi
Institute of Texan Cultures San Antonio Holiday Lights & Ice 12/1-1-6 Omni Barton Creek Austin Holiday Sip ‘n Stroll 12/5-7 Central Park Seguin Dias Festivos Marketplace 12/5-8 McAllen Convention Center McAllen
SUNDAY McAllen Marathon 12/15 De Leon Soccer Complex McAllen
Christmas Pageants 12/5, 6 & 8 Various Locations Kingsville
Disney Junior Live: Pirate & Princess Adventure 12/22 Frank Erwin Center Austin
S TX Trail Riders Warm Up Christmas Ride 12/6-8 Goliad County Fairgrounds Goliad
Family Art Play 12/29 McNay Art Museum San Antonio
Christmas Celebration 12/6-7 Odem City Park & Pool Odem
MULTIPLE DAY EVENTS 40 Works for 40 Years 12/1-29 Art Museum of South Texas Corpus Christi
Violet Crown Arts Festival 12/7-8 Triangle Commons Park Austin
Heaven: Pillow talk 12/1-1/6 La Villita Historic Arts Village San Antonio CSI: The Experience 12/1-1-26 Witte Museum San Antonio Made In Texas 12/1-31
A Sami Show 12/7-8 Palmer Events Center Austin Buda Fest 12/7-8 Buda City Park Buda Gruene Market Days 12/7-8 Gruene historic District
New Braunfels
Corpus Christi
The Nutcracker 12/7-15 & 21-22 American Bank Center Corpus Christi
Join us for Live Texas Country Music Every Saturday Night!
Sparkling Christmas 12/13-14 Lake Corpus Christi Mathis
Sam’s Burger joint 330 E Grayson San Antonio Voted San Antonio’s Best Live Music Venue!
American Idiot 12/13-14 Majestic Theatre San Antonio Ingleside Renaissance Faire 12/14-15 Live Oak Park Ingleside The Nutcracker 12/14-15 McAllen Civic Auditorium McAllen Dickens in Wonderland 12/14-15 Mall of Americas San Antonio Art Spoken Here 12/19-29 Nave Museum Victoria How the Grinch Stole Christmas 12/27-30 Majestic Theatre San Antonio
CLUB LISTINGS Brewster Street Ice House 1724 N. Tancahua, Corpus Christi Throw down Thursday’s! Frontier Saloon 9709 Leopard St
House of Rock 511 Starr St Corpus Christi Great live music all month long!
7 Brothers Saloon Highway 181, Normanna TX Live music! Don’t want to drive home? Stay in our RV Park! The Phoenix Saloon 193 W San Antonio St, New Braunfels Karaoke, Acoustic Happy Hour, & Live Music! Theo’s Billiards 5815 Weber Rd, Corpus Christi Free pool every day until 7 pm!! Theo’s Bonshakers 4528 Weber Rd. Corpus Christi South Texas’ Only Rockabilly Club! Zeros Hard Rock Club 6327 McArdle Rd Corpus Christi Like us on facebook and never miss a show! Facebook.com/zerosrockclub ** For information to be listed on our calendar pages please email us: submissions@ steamtx.com
Historic Gruene New Braunfels
Art Center of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi
Natural Bridge Caverns San Antonio
The Riverwalk San Antonio
San Antonio Zoo & Aquarium San Antonio
Aransas Pass Aquatic Center Aransas Pass
Morgan’s Wonderland San Antonio (F-Su)
Barton Springs Austin
Six Flags San Antonio (Sa-Su)
Wade Bowen
A Classic Texan Troubadour
STEAM guitar?
When did you begin playing
WB I started playing guitar when I was 17; I really wanted to write songs, so I started to teach myself guitar. I had always written short stories and poems and when I was 16 or 17 I really wanted to turn those into songs. I wanted to teach myself guitar well enough to write songs. STEAM I was looking at your recent tour schedule and I see that you do a lot of shows in the South and Midwest; are you looking to travel more? WB Over the years, we’ve gotten to tour all over the country and starting in January we’re going to do a crosscountry tour. We’ll be heading to the West Coast first. Then we will be back home for a little bit before going to the Southeast and up through the Northeast. So this tour should take us pretty much from Los Angeles to New York. STEAM That’s right; I did see you are going to be at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. We have a lot of friends in that area, so be ready for a great show.
Words By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Mag.
STEAM We are in New Braunfels this morning; where are you? WADE BOWEN Oh cool, I live in New Braunfels; we are on the road to Stillwater. STEAM Oh, I didn’t realize that. I thought you lived in Waco. WB I was born and raised in Waco, went to college in Lubbock, and now live in New Braunfels; have for about 10 years now. STEAM I just love New Braunfels. We stay at the Gruene Homestead Inn right next to Tavern in the Gruene. We just love this town. WB That’s a great place. New Braunfels is a great town and it’s been growing like crazy in the last couple of years; as you can see by all the construction. STEAM I just read that you are planning to put a new CD out in spring 2014. Can you tell me about that project? WB Well, we’re just getting into the studio right now and we don’t really have any plans for release date on this project. Anybody who has followed me over the last few records knows that I take my time and make sure that everything is right. So, at this point I don’t have a release date or even know what’s going to happen with it.
STEAM Tell me about Troubadour Texas. I saw you on the last season and you are back this year too. WB You know, they have certain people on there all the time and we have been lucky enough to be a part of it last season and then a couple of times this season. I love what they do. STEAM I think it’s a great show. I like how they follow the artist around to give insight on what life is like being a musician, both as a new comer and as a seasoned traveler. Being married to a musician I understand what you guys do and I really appreciate that Troubadour Texas gives us a small glimpse into that life. WB Yeah, for sure. I don’t think people get to see that side enough. I think people think all we do is get on stage for an hour and a half each night and then party away. They don’t really see what it takes to get a concert to happen. I’m sure a lot of people think like that. In fact I used to think that way to until I got into music. STEAM That’s right you’ve been in the music scene for about 15 years. How did that come about?
10 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
WB Well, it’s the age-old story of meeting some friends in college and starting a band. I’ve always been around music and love music; I just never really took it serious until I was in college in Lubbock. I met some students there and we talked about starting a band, so once we were all in agreement we did. So after a few practices we started playing around town. And yeah, it has been 15 years.
I want to congratulate you on having ”Songs About Trucks” in the top 5 on the Texas Music Charts throughout November; I know you were at number one for at least three weeks. By the way I just love that song. WB Oh, it’s a quirky little tune. You know I write a majority of my songs, but every now and then a song comes across my table that I wished that I had written, and “Songs About Trucks” is one of those. I think it’s hilarious. I think
it’s funny. It’s also very heartbreak and just what country music really needs and what it’s about. I love country music and always have. And I’ve yearned for it to be sad and depressing and heartbreaking and all those things that make country music so good and that’s what I try to explain to people about Songs About Trucks; it’s a heartbroken song from a different perspective. Basically it says we have written enough about trucks and we need to start writing about heartache and I hope that we are trending back that way.
We started the Bowen Family Foundation to be the administrative division and to distribute the money we raise. After the golf tournaments I’ve always taken the money and distributed it to groups in need throughout the community. A couple years ago we helped an abuse center that was about to close its doors, so we gave them the money to stay open because the community really needs that kind of program. There are a lot of great people out there doing a lot of great things and my foundation is to help those people continue doing great things for our community.
STEAM I’d like to talk about the Bowen Family Foundation and your golf tournament, Bowen Classic.
I have learned through doing this that it’s quite an undertaking to start a foundation like the Bowen Family Foundation. I feel blessed to have such an event, the Bowen Classic, as the groundwork to get the Bowen Family Foundation off the ground and I know it will also take time to be fully established and meet the goals that I have.
WB We started the Bowen Family Foundation last year and I’ve done the charity golf tournament for 15 years. I literally started holding the tournaments when I began playing music. I love golf and I love music, so I figured The Bowen Classic was the perfect combination for a two day event. The first day is a big concert and second day is the golf tournament. Last year we raised almost $250,000!
Wade Bowen Arizona Country Thunder , 2012
STEAM I think last spring I read that you helped out the city of West and I wanted to say thank you. I love to see people give back to their community! I also wanted to say that I love the idea behind the Bowen Classic. I know firsthand how much work goes into making an event that large go so
smoothly. WB It really is a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun! And what really makes it all worthwhile to see the smile on people’s faces when you’re helping them out.
SHOW INFO:
12.5.13 Brewster Street Icehouse, CC TX WEBSITE/SOCIAL:
www.wadebowen.com thewadebowen wadebowen
WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET NOV 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 11 WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 11
THE NORTH END CALENDAR STEAM PICKS CONCERTS Pat Green 12/5 Gruene Hall New Braunfels Less Than Jake 12/5 The Belmont Austin Kanye West 12/8 AT&T Center San Antonio REO Speedwagon 12/15 Majestic Theatre San Antonio Pam Tillis 12/19 Brauntex Theater New Braunfels Rev. Horton Heat 12/21 Emo’s Austin Miss Lavelle White 12/25 The Saxon Pub Austin Willie Nelson & Friends 12/30 & 31 Austin City Limits
EVENTS Made In Texas 12/1-31 Institute of Texan Cultures San Antonio Holiday Sip ‘n Stroll 12/5-7 Central Park Seguin Railroad Santa 12/14 Railroad Museum New Braunfels Buda Fest 12/7-8 Buda City Park Buda Gruene Market Days 12/7-8 Gruene historic District New Braunfels Butch Miles Drum Clinic 12/11 The Cove San Antonio Family Art Play 12/29 McNay Art Museum San Antonio
FOR MORE IDEAS SEE PAGES 8 & 9
San Antonio/New Braunfels/San Marcos/Austin T e x a s singer songwriter James McMurtry has just announced that he has signed a new contract with the Los Angeles record label Complicated Game. The legendary songwriter will enter the studio later this month to start working on his first album in six years. “I’ve got a new batch of songs, organic and with no added sulfites, aged in oak for several years,” says with McMurtry. “Francois Moret at Complicated Game seems to like these songs and producer C.C. Adcock thinks he can turn them into a record. Good times fixing to roll.” Label head Moret agrees. “In March 2013, when C.C. Adcock told me we were going to see James McMurtry at the Continental Club in Austin, I expected to see a good show,” he says, “but what I saw left me mesmerized! I immediately knew I wanted to sign him. As a European, it is an amazing opportunity to work with one of the most talented American singer-songwriters.” McMurtry’s two previous albums, “Childish Things” and “Just Us Kids” were both critical successes. Often called one of the best American songwriters of our time, McMurtry is looking forward to getting his new music released so his fans can enjoy it. Texas icon George Strait was recently presented the “2013 Billboard Legend of Live” honor during the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards ceremony at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Taylor Swift’s “Red Tour” received the top package award as the topgrossing tour with three or more artists on the bill. Billboard Touring Awards honor the concert industry's top artists, venues and professionals for their accomplishments during the past year. Bon Jovi's “Because We
Troubadour Insights
Can” tour won top tour honors as the topgrossing tour. Other winners included Pink, the Rolling Stones and One Direction. In accepting his award, Strait noted he began touring more than 30 years ago. "I played the bars and honky-tonks and stuff in the '70s," he told the crowd. "I finally signed with MCA in 1981 and started realizing my dream of going out on tour and playing for the fans out there and started gathering more fans and playing so many of these venues I've seen tonight. ... It's just been a wonderful career." Strait plans to retire from widespread touring when his Cowboy Rides Away tour concludes next year. The tour starts at Frank Erwin Center in Austin on January 10 and will wrap up on June 7 at Cowboys ATT&T Stadium in Dallas. Backbeat Books has just released “Buck ‘Em!”, the much anticipated autobiography of country music superstar Buck Owens. The book comes seven years after the artist’s death in 2006. In the latter half of the 1990s, Owens began working on the book. For several years, he spoke into a cassette tape recorder, totaling nearly 100 hours of memories and recording the story of his life. With his nearphotographic memory, he recalled everything from his early days wearing hand-me-down clothes in Texas to his glory years as the biggest country star of the 1960’s and beyond.
Dale Martin
Grammy-nominated producer and author Randy Poe assembled all of Owens’ stories and transcribed them so that they are in Owens’ own words. In the preface of the book, Dwight Yoakam says, “The stream of stories throughout this book captures, with an uncanny accuracy, the way I heard Buck speak whenever he told a story to someone.” Born in Texas and raised in Arizona, Buck Owens eventually found his way to Bakersfield, California, where he created his own brand of country music some 2,000 miles away from Music City. Inspiring everyone from ordinary music fans to the Beatles, he changed the way country records were mixed, produced, written and perceived. Owens’ records sold millions of copies and his live concerts constantly sold out. In 1969, he began hosting the country comedy TV show “Hee Haw”, becoming a household name. Buck Owens became country music’s biggest star while breaking all the rules of Nashville. He made his successes look easy, but he was a hardworking and complex individual. While surviving the Dust Bowl years of the Great Depression, he struggled to change his life and went on to change the lives of almost every other person he came into contact with. A two-CD set on Omnivore Records is being released as a companion to the book. Looking for a cool stocking stuffer for the music fan in your family? How about concert tickets? Trust me, with the cost of concert tickets these days; this would make some lucky fan a very happy camper! Some heavy hitters in the pop/ rock world are coming to the AT&T Center in San Antonio next year, including Miley Cyrus on March 15, Journey & Steve Miller on May 22 and Justin Timberlake on August 5th. Concert tickets make cool stocking stuffers, just sayin’. - - www.martinsmusic.com - -
THE SOUTH END
McAllen/Pharr/Hebbronville/Kingsville
Don’t Miss The McAllen Marathon Inaugural Run! Being active and getting involved go hand in hand in the community of McAllen, Texas. From cultural events to sporting endeavors, McAllen has it all, and the community is a key player in all that is offered. One of the most exciting upcoming events in the area is the McAllen Marathon Inaugural Marathon. Featuring a variety of events for runners and spectators, we’d love for you to come race with us! A great Boston qualifier, the McAllen Marathon is a USATF-certified event and offers an enjoyable experience for all in the midst of southern comfort. Featuring a 13.1 mile half marathon, complete 26.2 full marathon, as well as a 4 person relay, this event is sure to be an adventure. The race begins at 7:00 AM on Sunday, December 15, 2013, at the De Leon Soccer Complex at the intersection of Buddy Owens and 34th Street. Lacing through the city and around the community, the McAllen Marathon features a flat, smooth course perfect for any runner with a little heart and a lot of ambition. If you’ve never experienced December in Texas, you are in for a treat. Running (or watching) this fast-paced race in breezy 50 to 70 degree weather promises to be a real treat. The McAllen Marathon isn’t just about the runners, though. Without a crowd of dedicated and excited fans, this event would be little more than a long jog on a Sunday morning. To incorporate more support and engagement in the race, the McAllen Marathon encourages spectator support through additional race events. Fans are encouraged
EVENT CALENDAR STEAM PICKS CONCERTS Avril Lavigne & Jason Derulo 12/1 State Farm Arena Hildalgo Francisco Cespedes 12/6 McAllen Civic Auditorium McAllen Juicy J 12/11 Pharr Events Center Pharr Blue Santa Tejano Dance 12/21 Pharr Events Center Pharr
to show spirit and support of all of the racers. Prizes will even be awarded to the most spirited fans along the course. Other ways to get involved include volunteering to help at a water station or serving as part of a cheer group. Area businesses are also getting in on the action by participating in the McAllen Marathon Expo. This opportunity precedes the running event and gives individuals and businesses an opportunity to introduce new lines and demonstrate new products. Likewise, with a minimal investment cost, the expo promises enhanced exposure at a low price. With an anticipated 2,000 plus runners in attendance as well as their guests, this opportunity is sure to offer maximum exposure. Whether you are interested in running yourself, serving as a spectator, or exposing your business to a new crowd, you will not be disappointed by participating in the McAllen Marathon Inaugural. It’s sure to be an exciting southern special.
Brought to you by Oziel Salinas, Branch Manager www.ozsalinas.com
EVENTS Dias Festivos Marketplace 12/5-8 McAllen Convention Center McAllen Christmas Pageants 12/5, 6 & 8 Various Locations Kingsville Oilfield Trash Blowout 12/6 Jim Wells County Fairgrounds Alice Winter Wonderland 12/14 McAllen Convention Center McAllen McAllen Marathon 12/15 De Leon Soccer Complex McAllen
WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 13
untapped talent and a blossoming scene,” Dylan explained. “I wanted to build a space that catered to musicians that oft times would have to go to a major market to gain access to a professional recording. My family has followed and supported me throughout my career, and we never expected to fall in love with Corpus Christi. With the beaches, surfing, and lifestyle it is a wonderful place for any musician to come stay and create, leaving behind the stresses of big-city life.”
I’m not sure if everyone out there has a musician or artist in their life like I do (in fact I have 3), but it never fails that when a birthday or the holidays arrive they each tell me the same thing…” Oh, I don’t need anything really, but something for my ____ (fill in the artist/ musician blank) would always be appreciated.” And of course, they’ve already gotten everything they could need. So what to do? Well, for the musicians in my life it has gotten easier!! The perfect gift for any musician (at any level of ability) is… drum roll please… the gift of time recording time that is! Brilliant idea, huh?! So that leaves me with the where to go, but again it just got easier! The Loop Studios here in Corpus Christi! Now you’re asking me why them since there are lots of places out there and, heck, a lot of people do it themselves at home. Well, let me tell you about the Loop Studios!
THE LOOP STUDIOS
The Loop Studios is the brainchild of Dylan Ely and wife, Michelle. They co-designed and built the space along with consulting from friend and Studio Design Guru Frank Comentale (Hit Factory NYC, etc.). “Corpus Christi is a sleepy beach town full of
The goal of Loop Studios is to help keep the local artists/ talent here, rather than them having to go to Austin, Houston or even Nashville in search of a high-end facility and experienced engineers with credentials. By providing a facility that is affordable with the warm, beautiful, laid back setting of south Texas Loop Studios also attracts existing major label artists that want to get away from the distractions of the city.
The whole facility was built out of necessity for a space to work. So to fill a need, rather than just do a small mix room, they built a full tracking, mixing and production space. The Loop Studios’ center piece is the 24’x17’x14’ high tracking room with mahogany walls, parquet floor, candelabra chandelier and of course, the white marble fireplace. The facility features Pro Tools HD5, Genelec 8050 5.1 surround monitoring, Universal Audio, Focusrite, API, Neumann, Se Electronics, Sennheiser, a 1930’s Baldwin baby Grand and an assortment of new and vintage amps and instruments.
CORPUS CHRISTI’S HIGH END AUDIO FACILITY Words By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Mag.
The Loop Studios 4209 S. Alameda Ave. Corpus Christi www.theloopmusic.com 361-444-3580 create@theloopmusic.com Social: theloopstudios Dylan and Michelle Ely, Owners/Operators/Audio Engineers of the Loop Studios., doing a radio interview on 104.5 KPUS. 14 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
Our largest ISO, 17′ x 12′ x 9′, features a 1930′s Baldwin mini grand piano and tile floor, with a more “live” acoustical character.
TV, and commercials. You can even send your files/tapes to us via mail or upload. They can mix your project without you ever leaving home! Mastering: The accurate control room along with their trained ears will take your music to the next level! They will sequence your individual mixed songs, make transitions, match levels, and ”sweeten” the audio to maximize the sound quality for your format
of choice (e.g. applying specific EQ for vinyl). Rehearsals: Need to rehearse for your upcoming BIG gig? The live room can comfortably accommodate 8-10 musicians and they can even record and/or film your rehearsal, so you can fine tune every aspect of your show. Just remember, when it comes to recording time there is rarely a case when a musician has too much time in the studio!
Dylan with Jennifer Pena, her husband Obie Burmudez, and an unnamed guest. Jennifer and Obie are from the local area and have had major record deals with international success.
Ok, so now you’re thinking, but what credentials and experience does The Loop Studios’ have to offer? Well, let me tell you… Dylan began learning his trade before graduating from high school in an audio engineering course. He has a degree in Recording Arts at the prestigious Full-Sail University and has worked at some of the most sought after recording studios in the US – he began at Colorado Sound Studios in Denver, then to Chicago Trax in Chicago IL before heading to New York City’s Battery Studios, Source Sound Labs, and PIE Studios. Dylan made his way up from intern to staff engineer to Grammy winning recording engineer. Yep, you read that right! And wait ‘til you hear who he has worked with… R. Kelly, Jennifer Lopez, Ludacris, Linkin Park, Backstreet Boys, Billy Currington, Disturbed, Plain White Tees, Bob Seger, Steve Miller Band, and the list keeps going! Well, now that you’ve that The Loop Studios is the right facility for your musician you’ll need to know what their services are... Music Production: Original music production for all genres of music. Recording/Voice Over’s: The Loop Studios features 3 separate, isolated, recording spaces. Mixing/Post-Production: They have done hundreds of major label mixes, along with a couple Grammy nominated 5.1 surround releases. They can mix in stereo, 3.1, and/or 5.1 for music, films, WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 15
GEORGE JONES
I listened to the DVD Live in Nashville throughout my realization. I wanted to bring his old colored dress style and included an album cover, while keeping the sober George Jones (forgetting No Show Jones). This is a great major man in country music.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 – National Art Center, Ottawa (On) I took a day off work to go to the show. After the fun we had at Willie Nelson’s concert, we all left to Ottawa; that is, my parents, their friends and I. We had a surprise at the arrival ... Nancy Jones, the legend’s wife, was at the merchandise stand. Delighted when she saw the painting, she headed straight to the dressing room for her husband and came back with the signature on my painting. The concert was great: The violinists give heart joy, duets (including Take me and Golden ring) with Brittany Allen, a beautiful young woman with an incredible voice who also performs a song from Rodney Crowell, I Couldn’t Leave You if I Try. What can I say about the Possum ... He gives everything he can and much more! Thank you George! ~ Gene
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Saturday, August 21, 2010 – Casino Rama, Orillia (On) That was a hard one! As every concert, I arrived early to see the buses, facilities and everything, to find THE right person to help me. The buses were in the garage, everything is installed because there was another performance the day before, no merchandise stands, nothing! I inquired for the meet & greet and learned that I had to have to put thousands and thousands dollars in slot machines to participate. My savings are
361.290.7143 WWW BRONSBEACHCARTS COM 18 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
all invested in the journey, concert ticket and including my affordable room at $60 a night. We passed miraculously through the Casino and the hotel hall with my painting, knowing that I wasn’t allowed to bring a bag that big with me. My friend nodded to everyone as a greeting and approval. I had a lot of stress but was so happy. Kris is friendly, talks about his late friend, the famous Johnny Cash and, performed his greatest hits which made Good Times, etc... - Alone with his guitar, in privacy. more than one famous: Help At the encore I headed the stage to show Kris his portrait. Everybody saw the brilMe Make It Through The liance of surprise on the big screen and heard the shock he had, between the sumptuNight, Bobby McGee, For The ous lyrics of Why Me Lord. I am honored. Thank you Kris! ~ Gene
autographed. The Christmas concert is very good and included the most successful songs that Crystal and Loretta recorded. To counteract my disappointment, they include me in the meet and greet at the end of the concert. Sunday August 29, 2010 – Indian Ranch, Webster Going to visit Boston on Saturday and I arrive early to visit the site . The campground is divided by streets named after country legends such as Conway Twitty or Patty Loveless Avenue. The concert is outside, near the
Loretta Lynn Sunday, November 29, 2009 – Festival of Lights, Niagara Falls (On) I had to take another day off. Eight hours of driving to learn that The Coal Miner’s Daughter is hospitalized. Crystal Gayle and Peggy Sue ensure the concert ... but they are not Loretta. I met Mr. Darrell Beatty, Crystal Gayle’s manager, and gave him my painting with a picture of me at nine (9) years old in front of Loretta’s Ranch and a letter offering her the choice to keep my painting as a gift or send it back to me Friday March 30, 2012 – The Egg, Albany (NY) That was a hard day. I did a round trip to Albany. I planned to arrive a few hours before the show to do photos in the city and find a nice restaurant. When I went through customs, I had been put aside. Customs did not believe that I was going to a concert in Albany. I showed them the painting, my ticket and a postcard with all the paintings that I had had autographed. I also gave them my website address. They thought I was a drug seller who was going to meet friends. It is clear that leaving the building site at noon to drive to Albany; I was not at my best. I had a beautiful blouse and my makeup in a bag: Blouse which became a small stack after customs had searched my car. Also, they had torn the postcard I
beach. Few seats, in private, Loretta sang us her best. Between two songs she greeted her fans. She was beautiful. Not to mention the Lynns, Peggy and Patsy who wonderfully opened the stage. She travelled from the bus to the stage in a golf cart, followed by fans. I was there, proudly brandishing my autographed painting. Yes! I easily got her autograph. I took the opportunity to ask about the destiny of my first painting. It should be in the Fan & Doll museum, on her ranch in Hurricane Mills. Thank you Loretta! ~ Gene
Shelby lynne wanted to give to Shelby. They put me in a room for personal search (I had to remove only my shoes and my hoodie) by two men. I guess they had a good time searching me. I only wish there was a female officer in the room with me for respect. I had to fill out some statements; I was interviewed by two (2) different men and swore that the car I was driving was mine. I had quit smoking for a week and I told myself, when I am in the New York state, I will light a cigarette. I swallowed hard and drove until I was out of gas because I was afraid to stop, thinking a police officer is further expecting a plated Lancer X in X time.
In Albany, I was able to relax a little bit. I went to the ATM to withdraw some money and I found a snack annexed to a bar. People who were there and the bartender had never seen a Quebecer in their lives. I became a specimen on which they gambled to know where I came from. About me, what I had never seen in my life was the Belgian beer at $ 2. Those beers were tasty and the concert was excellent. I love intimate acoustic concerts. Shelby has a beautiful voice. After singing with all the greats, she told me it is disappointing that she never had a hit of her own. I was thrilled when she signed my painting and they were stunned to see that I was driving back and forth for the concert. There was even a status on Shelby’ Facebook page the next day saying that a fan from Montreal came to the concert in Albany with a painting she had signed by Shelby! Thank you Shelby! ~ Gene
For more information: www.genegarand.com WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 19
Notes for Animals in Need Dr. Arrington is an emergency and critical care veterinarian here in Corpus Christi who has devoted his life to providing the absolute best medical and surgical care for animals while upholding the compassionate bed side manner that is a key necessity in such situations for both the animal and their "worried parent." His other passion outside the clinic doors is music. He has most recently combined the two passions and formed "Notes for Animals in Need," a nonprofit fund which will provide local musicians the opportunity to be heard and help raise money for animals in need of urgent emergency care.
Create For Animal Critical Care Hopefully, many more bands will contribute to this cause in the future and the donations will keep coming in. The music will be distributed for FREE, either online or on CD. Attached will be a web site link for donations. The goal is to come together with an entire compilation of Texas bands and raise money to provide ongoing care for animals in genuine need as determined by a veterinarian. Let's support local music but most of all help save the lives of animals! For more information, to get involved, and to make donations with Notes for Animals in Need email: drdanarrington@gmail.com
Dr. Arrington’s group, The Dance Hall Rebels, will be releasing a single entitled "Here's To Country" in January 2014 that will serve as the pilot song for this program. “It definitely isn't your average country tune so be on the watch for this high energy, rocking, Texas fueled, sound!,” says Dr. Arrington.
Wishing you a joyous and safe holiday season! From the staff of STEAM Magazine! 20 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
MOVIES
NEW DEC
Cover Art Hard Tears By Jessica Ferguson Graphite-Mixed Media 8”x10” 2009 In “Hard Tears” Jessica portrays the feelings of seeing, but not being seen.
WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 21
Penny-Pinchers Meat is
among the most expensive items on many grocery lists, especially if it’s healthy meat from animals that were treated with respect. But you can save money on meat without compromising the quality in your protein choices. The easiest strategies are to incorporate delicious, well-rounded meatless meals into your diet, reducing the quantity of meat so you can afford high-quality, healthy options; and to choose and use less-expensive cuts of meat without skimping on flavor or quality.
Shop Wisely Cut Quantity, Not Quality. Reducing our consumption allows us to buy cuts from animals raised in ways that actually make their meat better for us. Grass-fed beef and eggs, for example, contain more heart-healthy fats and essential vitamins than their factory-grown counterparts. Sometimes opting for less-expensive, non-meat protein such as legumes, eggs and whole grains helps free our dietary budgets for highquality meat. Cut Cost, Not Quality. Learn to turn less-expensive cuts of grass-fed meat (such as short ribs, butt and shoulders) into fabulous dishes. For example, slow-roasted pork butt can become shredded pork suitable for tacos, sandwiches, stir-fries and potstickers. Buy Whole. Retailers and manufacturers charge for the time they spend breaking down meat, so you can save money on meat by buying less broken-down portions. Buy whole chickens and cut them up yourself to end up with breasts to grill, thighs to braise, legs and wings to fry, livers to transform into pâté, and plenty of bits to cook down into stock. For a good online tutorial for breaking down a full chicken, visit Serious Eats and search “break down a chicken.” Share The Wealth. For large animals, you can really save money on meat by purchasing a quarter or half animal, and often the butcher will cut it up for you. Many farmers sell large quantities directly, and at a deeply discounted price, and “meat shares” in community-supported agriculture (CSA) pro22 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
grams are increasingly common. Visit the Eatwild website to find grass-fed meat producers in your area and Local Harvest to find CSAs to join. Check with neighbors or coworkers, your local farmer’s market or on Craigslist to connect with folks who might want to split a large purchase with you. Strategize Savings. If you invest in a small, energy-efficient chest freezer, you’ll be able to stockpile pricey meats when you spot a sale. Free-range chickens and lambs are usually most affordable in spring, while cuts of beef and pork often see their best price points in fall and winter. You may find other seasonal deals, too, such as post-Thanksgiving turkeys, post-Christmas ducks or post-Easter hams.
Cook Well Slow Down. Slow cooking with low heat in the oven or crockpot helps concentrate flavors, developing deeply flavorful sauces and
t s a o C d r 3 e i d o Fo tender, juicy meat in dishes filled out with healthy whole grains and veggies. Stock Up. You can create delicious dishes with hearty meat flavors (but not that much meat) by using nutritious meat stocks and broths in place of water. You’ll save even more cash if you make your own stocks, which freeze beautifully. Go With The Grain. Grains are highly absorbent and have a toothsome texture. They’re practically begging to be combined with meats! They’ll soak up yummy juices like a sponge and support the meaty textures you’re aiming for. Save The Grease. Reserve the fat from cooked meats to be used in sautés and stir-fries. If you eat a healthy, moderate diet, you can afford to cook a few veggies and grains in real fat — which contains hearthealthy omega-3 fatty acids. Or mix animal fat half-andhalf with vegetable oil. Protein Penny-Pinchers From Natural Home & Garden, by Tabitha Alterman Excerpted from Natural Home & Garden, a national magazine that provides practical ideas, inspiring examples and expert opinions about healthy, ecologically sound, beautiful homes. To read more articles from Natural Home & Garden, please visit www.NaturalHomeMagazine.com or call (800) 340-5846 to subscribe. Copyright 2011 by Ogden Publications Inc.
Homemade Wine the Easy Way From GRIT magazine, by Chris Colby Excerpted from GRIT, Celebrating Rural America Since 1882. To read more articles from GRIT, please visit www.Grit.com or call (866) 624-9388 to subscribe. Copyright 2013 by Ogden Publications Inc.
The Easy Way Your
peach trees are sagging from the weight of their fruit, but your pantry still has several jars of canned peaches from last year’s harvest. What can you do when your fruit trees – or bushes or vines – yield more than you plan to eat fresh, preserve, or sell at market? That’s easy: Just make fruit wine. Wines made from fruit other than grapes are frequently called country wines. To understand how to make country wine, it pays to first understand why most commercial wines are made from grapes. Grape wines are made by crushing grapes and adding yeast to the juice (or, in the case of red wines, the juice and grape skins). The yeast converts the sugar in the juice into alcohol and carbon dioxide through a process called fermentation. Grapes are well suited to this because quality wine grapes contain everything needed to make wine. Good grapes contain enough sugar that creates a preservative level of alcohol when the wine ferments. They also have sufficient acid to balance the sweetness of the wine. Additionally, ideal wine grapes supply just enough tannin to add a bit of astringency – a slight puckering feel in the mouth – which adds to the enjoyment of the beverage. This characteristic is called structure, and many wines (especially reds) are aged in oak barrels to add more tannin structure. The “problem” with making wine from fruit other than grapes is that most fruits do not have the correct ratio of sugar, acid and tannin to make great wine. The straightforward solution to this is to simply add whatever is lacking of those three to the unfermented juice prior to fermentation. Nothing in the winemaking process can turn bad fruit into good wine, or even average fruit into good wine. Great wine comes from great fruit, so don’t use country wines as a way to dispose of inedible fruit and expect good results. Ingredients Fruit – The amount of fruit per gallon in a country wine varies with the intensity of the fruit and the strength of flavor desired in the finished wine. If you want to stretch the amount of fresh fruit you have, you can supplement
it with canned fruit purée. Many home winemaking shops sell large cans of puréed fruit for winemaking. Sugar – Sugar is included in most country wine recipes to supplement the sugars found in the fruit. For most country wines, adding enough sugar so that the wine ferments from 9 to 10 percent alcohol by volume is a good choice. At lower alcohol levels, the wine will age too quickly; at higher levels, the wine can end up tasting unpleasantly alcoholic – sometimes called “hot” by winemakers. Sucrose (table sugar) is cheap and plentiful, doesn’t add any flavor to the wine, and is by far the most common sugar used by home winemakers. However, you can also use honey or other sugars in country wines. Acid – Whereas most fruits contain less sugar than grapes, many fruits are more acidic. In country wines, the addition of sugar water frequently compensates for the higher acidity. Winemaking shops sell
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Sons of Fathers Sons of Fathers
time to hand our demos to a guy at the growth of Beck and Cauthen as the Texas Music Theatre,” Cauthen singers as songwriters as they departed from their country roots. “We knew it recalled, laughing. was a progress and the songs were In December 2010, the pair found getting better,” stated Cauthen. themselves together at a bar, on the last night of a Texas songwriter show- “We recorded our first album in 4 days case in New York City. “We started while [Burning Days] took over a year hanging out and realized that we to record,” explained Beck. Immediately they draw you in with a could work together,” said Beck. Their break-out hit, “Roots and Vine,” wall of sound that would make Phil In April 2011 they had joined forces has received significant airplay in TexSpector proud, two front men with an with co-producer, Lloyd Maines, and as, and showcases the dramatic interincredible knack for harmonies (think released their first album, “Sons of play of Beck’s tenor and Cauthen’s Everly Brothers – but with a Texicana/ Fathers” as Beck and Cauthen. Unfor- baritone voices in a galloping country Rock twist), and an ensemble of ag- tunately, Beck Hansen vetoed their track. The song is so powerful when gressive showman who don’t stop name in what the Austin Chronicle performed live, that I have seen comrocking until they leave the stage. called, “The Most Ridiculous Cease plete strangers spontaneously dance might be the worst opening act ever. Their live performance is so electrifying that even the chariest concertgoer in the back of the room finds themselves front and center by the end of the show, leaving nothing left for the headlining band to possibly follow.
with each other, unable to contain Upright bass player and lead singer and Desist Ever.” David Beck is wildly animated through- Their second album, “Burning Days,” themselves. out the show, dancing with his bass - was released in early 2013 showcasing CONTINUED ON PAGE 27 almost falling off the stage with his bursts of energy. He is starkly juxtaposed by acoustic guitar player and lead singer Paul Cauthen, a stoic presence and intensity that reflect his musical upbringing in the gospel choir. As the band’s name suggests, both men have been strongly influenced by their fathers and grandfathers. Beck is the son of Bill Whitbeck, the long-time touring bassist for Robert Earl Keen. Cauthen was raised in the Church of Christ, where his grandfather was a gospel singer.
24 STEAM MAGAZINE DEC 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
Seeing them interacting today, it is amazing to think that it was only 4 years ago that Beck and Cauthen didn’t even like each other. The Texas natives were competing for the same shows in the San Marcos music scene. “The day we met… we walked up at the same
Words By Rachel Mills, STEAM Magazine
Live Photos by Chris Linn, STEAM Magazine
Promotional Photo by Abby Linne, www.abbylinnemusicphoto.com
Want to win a pair of tickets to the George Strait Concert in Austin, January 10th at the Frank Erwin Center. All entries voting for the KFTX PAAC Christmas Tree in the Forest of giving at La Palmera Mall will be entered into a drawing on December 17th. So head to Center Court at La Palmera Mall and vote for the KFTX PAAC Christmas Tree today!
KEEP IT ON
KFTX TO WIN YOUR TICKETS!
It’s the honesty of this album that I love the most. Minimal production allows the vocals to rise and the lyrics to reach my ears and my heart. There’s a “get sick, get well, hang around the inkwell,” pacing here that brings Bob Dylan to mind. And a “crossing muddy waters” timbre to Jason’s voice that reminds me of John Hyatt. Songwriting ranges from good enough to damn good! My favorite from Jason is Long Road (outstanding)! One line in this song tells an entire story in approximate rhyme. I love approximate rhyme. “It’s funny how we worry about heaven and hell. I get to sleep a little better when my brother’s in jail.” If You Don’t Sing the Blues, a strong runner up, seems to be a statement about the music business. Good Time Blues is a fast talking jazzy cut. Slip this into a movie from the Roaring Twenties and trick the world into thinking Jason is a Scott Joplin contemporary. And the gritty, sexy, boom, chucka, boom last song, Take Me Home, is bound to get this good boy some offers he shouldn’t accept.
song, a loving reading of the Drinkin’ Gourd, a tome that lead many to freedom on the Underground Railroad, lest we soon forget the need for such songs. The guests filter in inconspicuously as the songs flow forward with Andre’ De Lange, Chinka Simon and Ruthie Foster adding vocals, to Freedom Train, and the prophetic Have A Heart. Jerry Brown lays down the drum track on Let The Mothers Step Up, and Victor Wooten slips in on bass for elusively funky The Right Thing. Grant Dermody lends mournful harmonica to the new traditional Death Row Blues, and the amazing Session Horns Sweden, add fire and spice Journeyman singer-songwriter guitarist to three tracks. Eric Bibb and his collaborator Glenn Scott The array of exotic instruments heard is have assembled a wide cast of characters fascinating as the kora, kalimba, djembe with a colorful palette of sounds to weave from Africa, the Irish penny whistle, a Turkthe tapestry that is true world music fu- ish Saz, Scandinavian Clarino, Dobro, sion on the new release Jericho Road. spoons and a fretless gourd banjo make The thirteen song collection draws lyrical inspiration from Dr. King, Mandela, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and the like, while meshing musical textures of folk, blues, soul, African and Latin to create an album of meditation, motivation and celebration. At the center is the rich velvety baritone and story teller sensibility of Bibb’s easy vocal and clean picking guitar.
Blue or False begins with a howl, ends with a slap on the ass and serves to remind us all that the crowd out by the lake is one talented bunch of South Texas musicians.
By Sue Donahoe 26 STEAM MAGAZINE NOV 2013 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
For STEAM Magazine
These songs of heart and hope may be a crowning achievement in Bibb’s fourdecade career, and lord knows the world needs to hear them.
By Rick J Bowen: twitter.com/ RickJBowen; www.nodepression.com/ profile/RickJBowen; www.facebook.com/ The album leads off with its only cover stacyjonesband; www.stacyjonesband.com
The Clint Maddox contribution, Fifth of Whiskey and a 45, is a top shelf number, worthy of pitching to the boys who travel in big busses. Dan Brodhag’s Crazy Around Here is a sweet little treat, written as a letter, a nice surprise. Excellent musicianship throughout the album includes the full range Tony Saracene’s skills. This cat plays lead, slide, six and twelve strings guitars, keyboards, dobro, and percussion. Plus – he has the best hair. Tyler McCumber’s powerful guitar and Savanna Johnson’s electric and standing bass join the mix. Pake Rossi brings his guitar, banjo, harmonica and percussion. George Hermes adds guitar, dobro, and mandolin, Bobby Donaho, Andrew Ray Jones and Arthur “Head” Orona play drums. Nearly everyone adds backing vocals. Hell, even Dan Brodhag sings!
tasteful appearances.
Vision Entertainment
Sons of Fathers
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To Whom,” is one of the last tracks on the album and you might miss on your first listen, but you will never forget it if you saw the way Beck sang it to his grandmother, who recently attended a show at the Gruene Hall, in Gruene, TX. Reminiscent of an Elvis Presley ballad, it has the somber tone of a soldier saying goodbye to his love for the last time that sends chills down your spine. When they aren’t recording, Sons of Father’s is touring the country. Recently, they have played at Bonaroo, Austin City Limits, The Grand Ole Opry, and The American Music Festival. They will finish off their 2013 touring season with a handful of shows in Texas, including Houston, New Braunfels, and Austin. After the tour they will finally take a break and then start working on their third album. Many of the songs have been written and performed during this tour. In a departure from the first two albums, the third albums will be selfproduced. “[On the] second album we couldn’t get the same vibe that we got on the demo,” Cauthen explained. “[We plan] to have a single out in January and then start our Canadian/ European tour,” said Beck. Currently, Sons of Fathers also includes Tony Brown (lead guitar), Dees Stribling (drums), and Kullen Fuchs (keyboard, trumpet, xylophone). Don’t miss an opportunity to see these guys live, but take my advice – skip the headliners, it will just be a letdown once Sons of Fathers is finished!
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The Easy Way
acid test kits that allow you to determine the amount of acid in a must. However, many home winemakers just “wing it” by following recipes initially, and then later using their taste buds to check the flavor of the must, making adjustments as needed. If you want to go to the trouble of measuring acidity, most country wines, especially those with a hint or more of sweetness, do best with an acidity level on par with white wines: 7 to 9 grams per liter (g/L) of acid (compared with 6 to 8 g/L for most reds). For a dry country wine, 6 to 7 g/L of acid is better. Winemaking shops typically sell tartaric acid, malic acid and citric acid, as well an acid blend. The acid blend is a mix of tartaric, malic and citric acid in the proportions they are found in grapes. This is the go-to acid for most home winemakers. The acids are sold as white crystals and keep indefinitely. In the past, some home winemakers used lemon or orange juice to supply their acid. Tannin – Grape tannin is sold as fine tan powder and can be used to add structure to a country wine. In the past, some home winemakers used iced tea as a substitute for grape tannin. Grape juice – Grapes have everything needed to make wine, so many country winemakers add grape juice to their country wine musts to supply some of the sugar, acid and tannins needed. Grape juice also rounds out the flavor profile, making the country wine more reminiscent of a grape wine. The frozen grape juice concentrates, such as Welch’s, work well for this. Generally, one can of concentrate per gallon (3.8 L) is used. White grape juice, made from Niagara grapes, works well for most country wines. For darker and more intensely flavored fruits, red grape juice (from Concord grapes) can be used. Too much of either of these juices can lend a “foxy” character to the wine. Yeast – The yeasts that work best with country wines are generally white-wine yeasts. Champagne yeast is a good all-around choice, especially for light-colored country wines. For darker fruits, Montrachet yeast (a red-wine yeast) may work well. Two other favorites for country wines are Lalvin EC-1118 and Lalvin ICV D-47. Each package of yeast contains enough to make up to 5 gallons (19 L) of wine. Check the date on the package, though, as dried yeast expires after a few years. Some older country wine recipes call for bread yeast, but you are far better off using wine yeast to ferment your country wines. Additives Campden tablets – Campden tablets contain either sodium or potassium metabisulfite, a chemical that, when used properly, suppresses the growth of unwanted, wine-spoiling bacteria or fungi in your wine. It also serves as an antioxidant, preserving the fresh fruit flavors and keeping the wine from oxidizing and turning brown prematurely. Pectinase – Some fruits are high in pectin, and pectin can lead to hazy wine. The enzyme pectinase (sometimes called pectic enzyme) can be added to high-pectin fruit musts to degrade the pectin into simple sugars. It is usually added at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per gallon. Yeast nutrients – Yeast nutrients help ensure the health of the yeast. Two kinds of yeast nutrients are popular, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and so-called complete yeast nutrients. DAP is simply a source of nitrogen for the yeast, while complete nutrients (including Go-Ferm and Fermaid K) also supply key vitamins and minerals to the yeast.
SHOW INFO: 12.7.13 @ GRUENE HALL, NEW BRAUNFELS 12.22.13 @ ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZZAR, AUSTIN WEBSITE: SONSOFFATHERS.NET SOCIAL: SONSOFFATHERS
Potassium sorbate – If you’d like a sweet wine, the best way to accomplish this is to let the wine initially ferment to dryness, and then back sweeten it. Potassium sorbate – added at 1/2 teaspoon per gallon after the wine has been fermented and dropped mostly clear – can be added along with sugar to keep the yeast from fermenting it. The biggest keys to success when making country wine are to use fully ripe, quality fruit and to keep your winemaking equipment clean and sanitized. If you do this, you will be rewarded with tasty, refreshing wine. WWW.STEAMMAGAZINE.NET DEC 2013 STEAM MAGAZINE 27
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