STEAM Magazine South Texas Entertainment Art Music volume 6 issue 1 April 2017

**Release dates & Parental Ratings are subject to change, and often do.**

**Release dates & Parental Ratings are subject to change, and often do.**

CONTENTS 3 NEW MOVIES & MUSIC 5 QUICK READ 6 COMICS 7 CD REVIEWS 8 ALBUM COVER OF THE MONTH 9 EVENTS: STEAM PICKS 10 eRIC LUPLOW : SUR-FOLK WATER COLRIST 14 A.S.M: NEPALI BLUES IN TEXAS 16 SPOONFE D TRIBE 17 TEXAS SANDFEST 18 SAN D SC ULPT ORS EXTRAORDINAIRE

PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS COMICS EDITOR ALLENE HICKS STAFF WRITERS STEVE GOLDSTEIN, TAMMA HICKS, RUSTY HICKS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, DEREK SIGNORE, ROB DICKENS, RICK J BOWEN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS, RUSTY HICKS

April 2017

VOL.6 ISS.1 ON THE COVER...

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SUBMIT YOUR MUSIC, BOOK, ART, OR SHOW FOR REVIEW! HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SUBMISSIONS@STEAMTX.COM

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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

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TIME BOMB J. Michael Dolan (:27) This is what the voice of time pesters me with every day: - You’re wasting me!

- You’ll never have enough of me!

- Don't be late!

- The clock is ticking!

- You’re not getting any younger!

- Quit trying to save me!

- After all these years, you still haven’t learned how to manage me!

Important because there are so many important things to do;

Reject the flinch J. Michael Dolan (:41) This is an excerpt from an email exchange between me and one of my clients—a film director who I admire very much. Not so much for his film credits, but for his commitment to continue to better himself and his art.

“Paul: Whatever it is that causes you to pause, flinch or hesitate from

dreaming any bigger or working toward a bigger vision, it’s that same hesitancy that causes you to slow, stall or even stop the process (actually the effort) of producing extraordinary results in your work—instead, choosing to settle for mediocrity just to make a buck. Can you see that? And really, that’s what we should be going for; extra-ordinary results…right? Especially a guy in your position! Because today, “ordinary” does not hold the attention of the audience, nor the interest of potential producers/investors. And your best “ordinary” work will rarely get shared, forwarded, advanced or even “pitched.”

Important because while we may think we are getting closer, just think how close we could get if we could “reject the flinch” and nip-in-the-bud whatever it is that causes us to hesitate from stepping up our vision, and playing a bigger game. A game that demands a more committed, professional, intelligent approach to our life’s work. Not like a surge of temporary confidence, more like a lifelong (daily) commitment to see beyond even our own expectations.

so many great ideas waiting to be born, so many things to fix, so many worthwhile projects to start, so many great songs to compose, so many inspiring scripts to pitch, so many jaw-dropping start-ups to launch, so many ways to contribute, so many ways to make a difference, so many people to help, and so many opportunities to create art that inspires, entertainment that encourages and ideas that matter. It’s a shame that we hastily kill off our precious time, hour by hour, pretending that our aimless clicking and petty distractions are somehow making a difference.

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ineedcoffee.com lunarbaboon.com theawkwardyeti.com Look For These Comics On Facebook.com!!

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CD

RHIANNON GIDDES FREEDOM HIGHWAY (NONESUCH RECORDS)

BY ROB DICKENS Rhiannon Giddens, vocal linchpin for the authentic and engaging trio Carolina Chocolate Drops, set the bar high with her first solo release Tomorrow Is My Turn (2015). Her follow-up Freedom Highway was released in February 2017.

Giddens is a Grammy Award winner (as a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, )was Grammy nominated for her solo debut, received the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Singer of the Year and won the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Bluegrass and Banjo.

Freedom Highway includes nine original songs Giddens wrote or co-wrote, along with a traditional tune and two civil rights–era songs.

Giddens co-produced the album with multiinstrumentalist Dirk Powell in his Breaux Bridge, Louisiana studio, with the bulk of recording done in wooden rooms built prior to the Civil War, over an intense eight-day period. Together they assembled the players, which included her touring band, local musicians from the bayou, a soulful horn section from New York, and talented family members.

You can hear the result. It sounds more personal and raw than its predecessor, which contained only one original song.

The opening track is a slow banjo piece ‘At The Purchaser’s Option’, a co-write with Joey Ryan of The Milk Carton Kids, which is a powerful damnation of a slave’s life. Defiantly she cries repeatedly “you can take my body…blood…bones, but not my soul”. ‘The Angels Laid Him Away’ (by Mississippi John Hurt) is another sparse arrangement, with guitar this time, about a poor young boy who was shot. ‘Julie’ is again sparse in instrumentation but heavy with emotion as a banjo enjoys a little embellishment with violin.

‘Birmingham Sunday’ is a civil rights epic song dripping with meaning as it vividly depicts tense historical events in Alabama.

‘Better Get It Right The First Time’ is the first fully-fledged arrangement – brass, electric guitar, chorus – a full gospel treatment with an effectively-different rap section from Gino Abel Terry.

‘We Could Fly’ passes down the generations the spirit about hope and better days. ‘Hey Bebe’ is a joyous event with the most alluring trumpet you will hear for a while – over a percussive underlay, Gidden’s vocals and Alphonso Horne’s trumpet perform a heady duet. ‘Come Love Come’ is a love tale with an electric guitar and banjo intertwining with pronounced effect, while ‘The Love We Almost Had’ has a smooth, jazzy vibe. ‘Baby Boy’ is a masterful lullaby of love and support with added vocals from Lalenja Harrington and Leyla McCalla – the effect is truly hypnotic.

‘Following The North Star’ is a jaunty banjo instrumental and the Staples Singers’ ‘Freedom Highway’ closes proceedings, another powerful civil rights song that commands much respect, with an important contribution from Bri Bhiman.

What we have with the new album is further proof that Rhiannon Giddens is a force with which to be reckoned.

Her emotive, powerful voice and her grasp of music traditions are potent weapons. But add to those, her understanding of the struggles of minorities and their peace-loving unwillingness to be spiritually subjugated and you have a glorious set of statements that demand respect and reflection.

Freedom Highway is a glorious testament.

RHIANNONGIDDENS.com Rob Dickens: ListeningThroughTheLens.com

REVIEWS

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SOUTHERN AVENUE SOUTHERN AVE (STAX RECORDS)

BY BOB GOTTLIIEB

RUTHIE FOSTER JOY COMES BACK (BLUE CORN)

BY RICK J BOWEN With the aptly-titled CD, Joy Comes Back, award winning Texas troubadour Ruthie Foster returns this month with her first s studio album in three years and the sound is simply full of joy.

Foster is well-known as a blues/roots singersongwriter, but her singing and songwriting writing abilities reach both ends of the spectrum as she explores the full breadth of Gospel to soul, to blues and country. Ruthie even rocks out a cover of Black Sabbath’s bombastic classic from the Viet Nam war era, “War Pigs.” Foster reinvents this metal standard, playing it loud on Resonator guitar and howling blues harp. The 10-song CD features many guests, such as Derek Trucks, who drops slide guitar into the old timey-Gospel soaked title tune. Bassist Willie Weeks (Bowie, Clapton, George Harrison) plays on the Foster’s sultry R&B tune “Open Sky” and drumming legend Joe Vitale (Crosby, Stills & Nash; the Eagles) appears on several tracks. Grace Pettis adds guitar to the gritty anthem “Working Woman” and vocals on “Good Sailor,” a ballad that details how life’s best lessons are the hard ones. Austin’s Warren Hood plays fiddle and mandolin on the bluegrass-tinged “Richland Woman Blues.” A fatback beat and shimmering piano color the reading of the Four Tops’ “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever,” and turn it into an Americana-meets Gospel session.

The soulful “Abraham,” turns the quote from the president “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion” into an altarcall chorus of empowerment. The album closes with a complex and dramatic epic, “Forgiven,” that weaves textures from cello and pedal steel around a challenging lyric that just could be the climactic centerpiece of a Broadway show.

RUTHIEFOSTER.COM RICK J BOWEN: WABLUES.ORG

This disc/group is steeped in the drenched soul that has become associated with the words; Memphis, Stax Records, and Otis Redding. The music of this whole region is a calling onto itself and bigger than itself. And here is this international meeting, unlikely in some ways, and yet because of the unlikeliness of the people in the group it is not unexpected. The guitar player was born in Israel, Ori Nataly, who came over and met up with 2 sisters who were raised in the Southern Church; Tierinii and Tikyra Jackson, truth be told! There is a meeting here of experiences and unlikely hoods that you can feel, it is written strongly in the music. It is that invisible meeting of forces that cannot be denied. There are unnamed powers and forces that are at work here, they will not allow itself to be denied by any probabilities. Just think of the little laid out so far, an Israeli-born blues disciple who first came to America as a soloist, who lands in Memphis and happens to meet these 2 sisters raised in the Church, and he also meets a Jazz-inspired Bassist, Daniel McKee! And the rest you are going to have to ferret out for yourself as you hate to have the whole story spelled out for you.

This disc comes out at the end of February of 2017, it is out on the Stax label and is true to the vision the name “Stax” Records brings up. It is a one of a kind blend of Gospel tainted R&B vocals that are based on blues/roots guitar infused songwriting. That is one hell of billing to live up to, but think about it, and listen to the songs presented for our auditory pleasure; they can transport you back to the heyday of Stax Records and the artists that recorded there and yet do it without making it a nostalgic journey. The music is derived from what happened before, yet without relying on what went on before; a very delicate balancing act that requires great adroitness without making the music sound derivative and contrived. It is fresh and alive; sparkling. Just give a listen to the vocals in “Don’t Give Up,” the first song on the disc. You know from right there that this woman singer isn’t going to allow herself to be pried off the subject, there is just not a chance in hell that she will give up and/or give in. The Power and conviction is there.

Remember folks this is a first disc for this woman and the power and conviction of her voice far outweighs her 25 years of living. It is new and refreshed, and done so well that it doesn’t require a whole boat load of guest artists from back in the day, in fact there are 2 guests’ slots on here, Trumpeter Marc Franklin of the BoKeys and Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars. You also know with a certainty that the live performance of this music is going to make the power that does come thru on this disc (and it is substantial) seem like a mere fraction of what this group can bring to the table live!

If you are looking for solid ‘soul driven’ music that features solid deep soul you don’t have to look any further than this disc. It has the real music from the real new soul capital of the Streets of Memphis. It is old and yet sparklingly fresh at the same time. It is music Alive and Well.

SOUTHERNAVENUE.COM BOB GOTTLIEB: TAOBOY, NODEPRESSION.COM

By 1974, Bob Dylan had severed ties with Columbia Records, the label that had released all 13 of his albums since 1962. His new label, Asylum Records, released the highly acclaimed “Planet Waves” early in 1974 with Dylan backed by his long time cronies, The Band. After completing that album, they embarked on winter tour that ended at the Los Angeles Forum, where all but one of the songs were recorded for this album on February 13th and 14th. After the tour, Dylan reconciled and resigned with Columbia and released “Blood on the Tracks” in 1975.

This is the first official live concert record from Bob Dylan.

Bootleggers had been flooding the market with illegally recorded concerts along with the recordings well known as “The Basement Tapes.” (Was this released “Before The Flood” of bootlegs could hit the record bins? Maybe.)

Bob Dylan, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, and Richard Manuel are all in top form on

this two record set. Why shouldn’t they be? Their history dates back to Dylan’s first electrified UK tour in 1966 backed by Levon and the Hawks – minus Levon.

Featuring sets with Dylan backed

by The Band, acoustic Bob solo, and The Band doing eight of their own songs, there is no shortage of classic, and future classic tunes. Dylan later disparaged this album and the tour as just basically all of them going through the motions and playing characters of themselves. Maybe so, but this is still a very strong listen for their faithful followers.

If in doubt, The Band’s “The Shape I’m In” and Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower” are two, hard-edged rockers to seek out.

This London band was originally the meeting of the minds of Syd Barrett on Guitar and vocals, Nick Mason on drums, Roger Waters on bass, Richard Wright on keyboards, and later, David Gilmour on guitar. There is nothing I can add to the volumes that have been written by and about this legendary group. This two record set was their fourth album, and the third to feature David Gilmour on lead guitar. The title is an inside reference to sex, made up by friend and roadie, Iain Moore. The cover was created by the English artist group, Hipgnosis, and is indicative of the lost art of album cover graphics. Besides doing several covers for Pink Floyd, they also worked with T. Rex, Electric Light Orchestra, The

Hollies, Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Genesis, Bad Company, 10cc, Wings, AC/DC, and many, many more. Sides one and two contain live material from 1969 that was previously recorded in the studio and released when Syd Barrett was still in the band. They were obviously gaining musical strength and developing into an aggressive force in the era of psychedelic, experimental rock. Sides three and four are split into four parts, with each part being a solo piece

by Richard Wright, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason. This pre “Dark Side Of The Moon” LP is a fine example of the trail this innovative band was blazing. Of the live material, Syd Barrett’s “Astronomy Domine” stands out along with Roger Waters’ “Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun.” But it’s David Gilmour’s exquisite interplay with electric and acoustic guitars on “The Narrow Way” that kicks off side four that would be the one to check out if you only have 12 minutes to spare.

Taste of Austin Factory Builder Stores 9715 Burnet Rd Bldg 7, Austin This two-day, family-friendly event will feature foods and beverages native to the city of Austin.

4/7-8 5th Annual Hill Country Wildflower Fest Art & Craft Faire Dripping Springs Ranch Park 1042 Event Center Dr, Dripping Springs 4/8-9

COASTAL BEND

New this year: 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament, BoardHouse Skateboard Show, Racing Pigs, Swimming Pigs and a Tug-of-War Challenge! Exciting new events sure to keep you sitting at the edge of your seat!

4/7-9

Concrete Street Amphitheater 700 Concrete St, Corpus Christi 4/29 Bone Thugs–n-Harmony

Celebrating 30!

Crazy Cajun 303 Beach Street, Port Aransas Come help us celebrate 30 years of Crazy!

4/9 @ 3pm

Boarderline Band Come see us @ World Championship Rattlesnake Races in Old San Patricio, 3/19 1-6pm.

See our ad for full listing!

Frontier Saloon 9709 Leopard St, Corpus Christi Live Music Every Saturday Night! See our ad for full listing!

Giggity’s 722 Tarpon St, Port Aransas Live Music Every Night! See our ad for full listing!

It’ll Do Saloon 4125 Gollihar, Corpus Christi Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Nights! See our ad for full listing!

Shorty’s 823 Tarpon St, Port Aransas Live Music Every Friday & Saturday Nights! See our ad for full listing!

Vino Mio 4102 S Staples St, Corpus Christi Live Music Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Nights!

See our ad for full listing!

Winter Walking Tour Perserve at Charlie’s 1300 Port St, Port Aransas Fridays in March 3pm Earth Day B-Day Heritage Park 1581 N Chaparral Street, Corpus Christi Earth Day-Bay Day, a family-friendly community event, educates thousands of residents and visitors to the Coastal Bend on the importance of environmental stewardship and appreciation for our precious coastal natural resources 4/8 @ 10am Portland Texas Windfest Portland City Pavilion, Portland

Easter Eggstravanganza South Shore Christian Church 4710 S. Alameda, Corpus Christi Easter Egg Hunt, arts and crafts, bake sale food truck, pet adoptions, and much more.

4/15 @ 10am Texas Sandfest Beach Marker 9, Port Aransas Mountains of sand will be sculpted into works of art by master sand sculptors from around the world!

4/21-23 9am-6pm Daily Celebrating Books, Art & Music Festival Corpus Christi Public Libraries 805 Comanche, Corpus Christi Fun and exciting festival in celebration of books, art and music.

4/29 @ 9:30am

NORTH END

Pride & Joy: The Texas Blues of Stevie Ray Vaughn Bullock Texas State History Museum 1800 N Congress Ave, Austin The quintessential, one-and-only exhibition on blues legend Stevie Ray Vaughan.

March-July International Poetry Festival Blanton Museum of Art The University of Texas at Austin MLK at Congress Austin, Texas 4/6-9 25th Annual Swing on the Square Downtown Square, San Marcos Celebrating the official music of Texas for 25 years!

4/6-9

The Big Ass Ring Bulverde, Texas The big ass ring is back! If you’re interested in taking your metalsmithing skills to the next level, this is a don’t-miss workshop.

4/22 @ 9:30am American Heroes Air Show TX Military Forces – Camp Marby 2200 W 35th St, Austin The nation’s premier admission-free, helicopteronly aviation experience.

4/22 @ 8am-5pm Wimberly Arts Fest The Waters Point 13401 Ranch Rd, Wimberly The weekend is a big celebration in Wimberley and the perfect time to visit this little town, named a Texas State Cultural District.

4/22-23 Crawfest NB Comal County Fairgrounds, New Braunfels Music and Crawfish Festival featuring William Clark Green with Pink Floyd Tribute.

4/28-29 Guitar Master Class: Beijing Guitar Duo University of Texas at Austin 1925 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin

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Meng Su and Yameng Wang of the Beijing Guitar Duo will work with Butler School of Music Students in the classical guitar studio in this public master class.

4/28 @ 4pm

SOUTH END

eRic Lulow Art Show Beyond Arts Gallery 114 North A. Street, Harlingen Sur-folk: the place where surrealism & folk art combine- bursting into a kaleidoscope of vivid colors, derived from the palette of the Southwestern skies-the art of eRic Luplow.

3/31-4/21 Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale: Romeo and Juliet McAllen Civic Center & Auditorium 1300 South 10th Street, McAllen 4/6 @ 8pm Earth Day in the Dirt Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center 600 Sunset Drive, McAllen Be part of our Earth Day Team and help us restore our part of nature. Projects included planting, mulching, weeding, and more.

4/22 @ 8:30am The Space Between Screening @ Comic Con McAllen Convention Center 700 Convention Center Blvd, McAllen Join us and Amy Jo for a special screening of her new film, The Space Between at South Texas Comic Con! 4/29 @ 7pm

HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP? submissions@steamtx.com

OWEN SHELLY FUNDRAISER FOR LUNG TRANSPLANT EXPENSES UPDATE… Owen is now 9-months posttransplant and we thought it would be appropriate to share how thankful we are for Owen’s continued improvement following his double-lung transplant on July 28, 2016. Unfortunately, he has experience a number of setbacks including two bronchoscopies that resulted in collapsed lungs (pneumo-thorax) and the development of a bacterial infection.

Each episode has been quite painful and required a week’s stay in the hospital, insertion of chest tubes, and additional medications. Owen is now working on regaining his strength as well as maintaining healthy and positive.

Currently, Owen has regular appointments, weekly blood tests and is being monitored by his medical team. He and his wife Lindsey, and their three children will remain in San Antonio, Texas, so he can be in close proximity to the lung transplant and pulmonary health professionals.

We all appreciate your friendship, support and continued prayers for Owen and his family. We are blessed that Owen’s quality of life has significantly improved and he is able to be home with his family.

Thank you for supporting and donating to Owen Shelly’s fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $100,000. This amount will cover monthly

expenditures including housing, food, childcare, transportation, and health care not covered by insurance as well as insurance premiums, transplant aftercare, and medications.

Owen, his family, and friends appreciate your support! *** NEW *** Owen’s stepdad is Chad Stuart of the famed rock duo Chad & Jeremy, who in the 1960s were thrilling audiences all over the world and are doing the same now, 50 years later.

Chad & Jeremy are offering a special compilation disc of their favorites - including "Yesterday's Gone", "A Summer Song", and "Zanzibar Sunset" - to folks who donate $25 towards Owen's medical costs.

CHADANDJEREMY.NET/CJ/UPDATES Thank you to everyone for your incredible and continued outpouring of support.

NEWCOVENANTURC.ORG/FUNDRAISER-OWEN-SHELLY

SUR-FOLK… the place where surrealism & folk art combine- bursting into a kaleidoscope of vivid colors, derived from the palette of the Southwestern skies-the art of eRic Luplow.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 things don't just happen. Do you draw from memory or do you need to see examples?

A little bit of both. We live in a small town in New Mexico, maybe 800 people. In the town there's a Presbyterian Church that we attended for a while.

Well, I came up with this idea, but I needed a piano to model after. So, I called up the pastor and asked if I could look at his piano. He didn’t have one, but would give me the key to the church and I could study that one. It's a small Church, seats maybe forty or fifty people, and I'm sitting in a pew, drawing the upright piano, listening to some Americana playing in the background when I realize I'm going to put this piano in a bar scene. And here I am in church. Drawing a piano for a bar scene. And I think - I am going in the wrong direction for this one.

The characters and designs you paint are blocky and very bright. What is your reason behind that style?

Well, you know to me life is never in a straight line.

Growing up I had learning disabilities and a speech impediment so I spent some years in special classes and went to shrinks trying to figure out some of the things that we're going on. But it’s out of all that, that I've never seen a straight line. You know it's like when you go to the grocery store, it's never a straight line. So, that's pretty much why my art is the way it is.

It makes sense to me. And honestly, if it doesn't make sense to you, the artist, it isn't going to make sense to you, the viewer.

What size are yours paintings usually?

Typically the biggest piece of a watercolor medium is 20 by 30 (inches). The difference between watercolor papers and a canvas is that if you start working on a piece and that doesn't take up as much room as the canvas calls for you can tear off the page and end it.

You don't have to fill the whole thing. So, really the size of piece depends on the image size.

You use so many bright colors. What’s your favorite color?

Well, green is my favorite color. My dad passed away years ago and I painted him turquoise. And my wife my wife asked me why I choose that color. I said well turquoise is a magical color and I think he was a magical man.

eRicLuplow.com SHOWS: Beyond Arts Gallery March 31st – April 21st, Wed-Sat 114 North A. Street, Harlingen, TX

Kerrville Folk Festival May 25th – June 11th Booth 33 (next to the wine booth in the theatre) Directions: 9 miles south of the Guadalupe River on TX Hwy 16 (Medina Hwy) between Kerrville and Medina, Texas.

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Clockwise: Guys Rita Further Roaming Champagne Ponies Harvesting Blues

ing when my phone died. But really it's been extremely eventful. I've gotten to do a lot of things that have just been amazing.

By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine

So, what is your perception now that you're here?

From what I've seen I would say that each region in the US is more like a little country.

Different cultures, different things.

But all in all, I was immensely helped by the Nepali communities in Washington DC and Chicago. Especially to Kiran Byanjan and Himalayan Restaurant in Chicago and the Gorkhaly Foundation and Neeraj Gorkhaly in Washington DC. And more than anything, my biggest shout-out goes to my friend Kunal Shah! We've known for ages and ages. And I know I don't say this often, because it's a guy thing, but I love him. He moved to the US 10 years ago and is someone I look to for inspiration and turn to when I need advice, because his head is just screwed on straight.

For the shows that you've done in the US, did you have a band backing you? Do you have a preference, solo or band?

Washington was a solo show and in Chicago I did both, solo and band. Here in Texas I’ve had a band. I just like to play, so no preference really.

Abhishek S. Mishra (ASM) is the

Robert Plantesque voice fronting Spirit X and the blues they play.

ASM started music from a young age. With 6 Generations of music in his lineage it seemed that he was destined to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather the great late Pandit Uma Shanker Mishra and then, quite inexplicably, he let it all go. In his time away from music he meandered from one job to another finding himself to finally coming full circle back to music.

His own solo work like ‘Louisiana’ also draws from these same planes and he is one who wishes to explore his own horizons every day. March saw ASM in the US for the first time.

He’s preformed in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, as well as spending a week here in Texas. Now that he’s back in Nepal, ASM is planning for another, longer tour of the US. This is your first trip to America and where have you been?

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New York NY, Washington DC, Chicago IL, and in Texas. Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, and at Friends Bar on 6th Street in Austin during SxSW. So what's your impression of the US? Is it much different than you thought?

It's pretty cool. Well, you know before I came here I specifically told myself not to expect or perceive what it would be like.

Because then I’d end up with expectations that are not fulfilled.

You played guitar since you were a kid and you stopped when you were 18 and picked it back up about five years ago. Why did you stop?

Yeah, it’s been about 5 years ago. I had stopped because I had to. It's not what I wanted to do, but what I needed to do. I had to help my family with upholding my responsibilities and going to University.

When I quit playing it was very frustrating for me, because I ended up working with people who were much older than me, not in my age group. The job was good, but it wasn’t good for me. I was angry a lot, experienced some depression, and honestly I was hard to handle, so I kind of feel bad for my parents now. I know that they were doing the best they could and once I realized that I just let everything go and figured it out.

To me, becoming a musician is also a life education; how to survive, how to keep at it. So, the work ethic that I have is due to being a musician and trying to make it. As such I have to continue on and be better than I am because

And what did your fortune cookie from the other night say?

It said “never expect and you'll never be disappointed.” So, I knew my fortune before the fortune cookie was written.

Highs and lows of your trip.

First time when I stood in Times Square with awe inspiring, just amazing. Getting lost in New Jersey at 1 o'clock in the morn-

ASM PLAYING TO THE CROWD IN NEPAL

I know if I don't do it for myself, no one else will.

A lot of musicians don't make it through that experience and give up; of course the fact that your father is a musician helps I’m sure. Besides lead guitar what else do you play?

A little bit of piano and bass guitar, of course.

I suck at drums, but I can hold a beat. I'm open to all kinds of instrument, because as you mentioned my father is a very accomplished musician, an Oud player. It’s an ancient Middle Eastern musical instrument. Really, I've been blessed with the ear because of my family and my upbringing.

Tell me about your band, Spirit X. There's only three of us; me on vocals and guitar, Gaurav Joshi on bass and Nikesh Joshi on drums. And when it's a three- man group everybody has to pull their own weight. I'm the only one who sings; the drummer wants to, but we won't let him.

Actually the way we started was three bands that I was in all split up at the same time. The drummer and I really just wanted to continue with music and the bass player we have is actually a very good blues lead guitarist who wanted to switch to bass. And he was actually our last resort. But the first time we jammed it was just perfect. We have something and we keep at it.

You play a lot of Blues, classic rock, and grunge as well as original songs. Who are your influences primarily?

The one thing we decide it was that we would only play songs that we like, songs that we grew up with and have a story to us. So, our set list is kind of limited because we all came with a hundred songs but many were repeats on each list.

Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix. When we started we were big fans of the Blues. Freddie King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton.

So we had a lot in common to work with.

Do you have an album or are you going to?

You know we don't and I don't know that we will, honestly. I think what we will do is put songs out one at a time. I have another band that I work with and recording with, called LeoAries and our plan is to release an EP. But solo and Spirit X will be more of a one by one

release.

Anymore, you don't listen to music you look at music, so you have to have a video. You have to have a visual representation of it. In Nepal we don't have Pandora or Spotify. You can get on SoundCloud, but no ReverbNation or iHeartRadio. It's not a market that they're interested in.

I’ve seen pictures on your Facebook of the places that you play in Nepal and Kathmandu and there are. Hundreds of people that come in to watch you play! So, jokes aside, are you a rock star there?

Oh, that's an interesting question.

What’s the music scene like in Nepal?

You know, we have a very amazing music scene back home. I think the lay of the land and music in Kathmandu is so fertile that people come out for live music, easily in the numbers of 300 to 600 every week. A new club just opened and it holds 2,000. So, I would say that our music scene is very intense and our musicians are also.

Intense in the sense that they are baptized by fire on a big stage and you have to play really well in front of large numbers of people; if you can't do that, you can't make it.

Well, do you plan to come back to the US and will you bring your band or other bands?

My plan is to come back soon. As for band mates and others coming, that's really just

ASM @ FRIENDS BAR ON 6TH STREET IN AUSTIN DURING SXSW

pending the conversations I have when I get back home. Chances are high that I will come back. This was an expedition type trip. More channels are open now, so that I'll be able to see more of the US. Is there anything you want to see when you come back that you didn't get to on this trip?

California. I came here to work as a musician; I did not come here to be a tourist. I have not had a peek at the Statue of Liberty or gone to the Empire State Building. Haven't even been to the Alamo or had Texas barbecue; however, I have had New York pizza and Whataburger!

What are your plans when you get back to Nepal?

I arrived home on Wednesday and I have a job on Thursday. There are a couple of huge music festivals that I'll be in. First is the Kathmandu Blues & Roots and the second is the most infamous concert I've ever been part of, Grunge Alive: Phase ll! Grunge is huge, huge In Nepal.

Really. Not to speak for anyone other than myself, but I think that grunge is pretty much gone in the US. We have such a quick turnover of genres and people seem to roll with it.

It was a huge fascination and a lot of musicians came to Nepal for leisure and in concert. I think people listen to the music that they connect to. I connect to Nirvana, some connect with CCR. So, now that you've been to Texas are you going to get in the country?

I listen to all types of music. Eastern to Western classical, R&B, and hip-hop. It’s said, “Every music genre has its place in this world” and without that idea I wouldn’t be here now.

ASM @ MIKEL MAY’S IN CORPUS CHRISTI. WITH LALO GARZA, CODY GONZALES, & RUSTY HICKS ASM @ THE SANDBAR IN CORPUS CHRISTI. WITH WILLY JONES, WOODIE LAWSON, & RUSTY HICKS

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ASM On Facebook.com classicasm, spiritxtv, and leoariesband Youtube.com/spiritxtv

and iTunes and he will have a Live CD and Studio CD within the year.

Do you get to take a little time here for the beach or is it right back on the road?

We take Beach time whenever possible. Go out on a boat, get some seafood. All that stuff.

I know you don’t do a lot of cover songs and I would venture to say that you put a unique spin on them, so how do you decide that it’s a song you can do?

We play anything that comes to mind. A few of us actually have cover bands we put together for when we are not touring. Jerome and Troy do 57 Sauce and Chad and Matt do AhhFugYeahs, both of which have actually played Vino Mio recently. As far as the Tribe, we do very off the wall covers. Fishbone, Mr Bungle, Star Wars Themes, stuff like that.

What kind of a process do you go through to make a cover song “tribeable”? Do you jam until it fits or does someone compose the piece?

We usually stumble across a way to perform it that is unique, not a lot of thought goes into it, or rehearsal.

You guys play at venues and festivals all over the US, with artist like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blues Traveler, and so many others, in fact it seems like you’re always on the road. Do you have any big road trips planned for the summer?

This summer we have just a few Festivals on the books, we are currently filling the year up and looking to hit Fests really hard next year.

We have been getting offers and trying to make the schedule work.

By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine Photo: Chris Look

Formed

in the Fort Worth area in 1999, Spoonfed Tribe is a musical/ visual group known for mesmerizing live shows combining hypnotic walls of percussion, psychedelic sonics, and mind-expanding visuals. Since their debut, the Tribe has remained on the road, building a sizeable fan base inspired by appearances at music fests including Lollapalooza, Joshua Tree, Voodoo Music Experience and Wakarusa.

To describe Spoonfed Tribe’s style you have to use a lot of adjectives…

Original, Avant-Garde, Rocking, and Percussion. With multiple drummers, their music easily turns from song to a percussive wall of sound and put on a show that is a must see!

I often compare band mates and relationships to marriage. So what is the secret to your longevity?

Accepting each other completely. You have to really get dirty and find out what each other is made of, then you have real trust and understanding. If you expect someone to do a thing that they don’t do, you will be disappointed constantly.

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That and never stopping the creative vibe.

When you stop being creative, you stop growing musically.

How did you come up with Spoonfed Tribe?

We as humans, are all Spoonfed what is right and cool, pretty and ugly, cool and notcool, we just sing songs about it and try to remember that it’s all a game and only you r heart and spirit matter.

We officially got it from the Doors Movie.

When a student comments on Jim's movie project that another critical student "needs their art Spoonfed to them."

It doesn’t seem like you head to South

Texas very often, so we are thrilled you’ll be at Vino Mio Social Club on April 29th.

Is your set list going to include new music that we might expect on a new album?

We have a few songs that will be new to the audience. No recording scheduled yet, but we should have something new out by the end of the year.

As for the Recording part, our drummers Matt and Chad, the Cocuzza Bros did a guest spot on Andy Frasco's recent album Happy Bastards. Not Sure which songs, but played with them all over the record. Also, our trumpet/key player David Willingham has his own albums, David Willingham Project (DWP). His latest is 'Mama' out on Spotify

Have you done any touring overseas?

We have played in the Caribbean and on a few Rock Cruise things, but never officially made it to Europe, Australia, or Asia. That is our biggest goal.

You’ve released eight albums, that last being Enjoy the Ride (2013). Tell me a little about Enjoy the Ride.

Enjoy the Ride was put together as an effort to slow down and enjoy ourselves. We used to put albums together that were like written and themed pieces, but that one was more written in the studio with no real theme in mind. Just makin’ music. Our next project will be the same, just press Record and see what comes out of us.

Where do you get the ideas for your pro-

See ‘em Live...

4/13 The Shrine Tulsa OK 4/14 The Bottleneck Lawrence KS 4/17 Gas Lamp Des Moines IA 4/18 The Mission Jefferson City MO 4/20 Waiting Room Omaha NE w/ Calliope Musicals 4/28 One2One Austin TX 4/29 Vino Mio Corpus Christi TX 5/11 Barleycorns Wichita KS 5/12 Chelsea's Eureka Springs AR 5/13 Stickyz Little Rock AR Off ‘til Late June

mo pictures? The bright tuxes on bikes are great and the crazy individual shots are really fun too!

Just Enjoying the Ride. We dress like that all the time.

What inspires the music you write?

All of Creation.

OK, two things that I noticed when I

was reading the list of band members…

First, almost all of you play percussion/ drums. How do you work that in?

Clearly you have never seen the live show.

Our drums are interstellarly famous. And

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KEN BARNETT 1ST PLACE 2015

JEFF STRONG 3RD PLACE 2016

Simple Beginnings Texas SandFest began in 1997 as a play-onthe-beach day, when Sharon Schaefer and Elleece Calvert sat in folding chairs around a card table so they could watch and help children build sand castles — or whatever they wanted to create — in the sand.

AMATURE TEAM 2016

A few years later, the event had developed into a 3-day festival. Dee McElroy, who had experience as a contestant at sand sculpting festivals, joined the team. She recognized that if the event was to grow, it needed to be under an umbrella of a nonprofit organization. She brought the idea to the Port Aransas Community Theatre (PACT) board of directors; she suggested that they conduct Texas SandFest business under the theatre’s 501(c)3 umbrella and make it a fundraiser for the theatre.

As the event progressed, it brought thousands of people to the island — filling rooms and providing business for restaurants, shops and local merchants. Early in 2006, Dee approached the PACT board with the request to release the festival to stand alone as a nonprofit group.

The Mission of Texas SandFest is “to give back to the community by raising funds for local charities and scholarships for high school students.” In 2016 SandFest awarded more than $130,000.

BRIAN WIGLESWORTH 2ND PLACE 2015

Photos Provided

By Texas Sandfest

ABE WATERMAN/MORGAN RUDLUFF 1ST PLACE 2015

SandFest is a Global Event! SandFest is completely run by volunteers and the popular invitational event draws participants and visitors from around the globe. 2017 features participants from all over the U.S., Canada, England, Italy, and Netherlands.

How are Texas SandFest dates chosen?

In the early days of Texas SandFest, it was decided to always schedule the festival in a shoulder tourist season, meaning when very few tourists were in town. Dates are selected by the predicted tide charts, using the lowest tides as the scheduled dates.

Are dogs allowed? Yes. Dogs are allowed into Texas SandFest, but must be on a leash at all times. Be sure to bring water for your dog as they will get dehydrated quickly on the beach. Also, please be considerate of others and the environment, and pick up after your dog. We will have bags for this at the festival.

This popular family event offers attendees a weekend of fun on the beach, while viewing magnificent works of sand art. Unique “island-style” jewelry, art, crafts, food and music will also be available.

DAILY: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Advanced Amateur Contest 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Masters’ Area Open 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Lesson Mountain & Amateur Area Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Vendors Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Beer & Wine Garden Open Friday, April 21 Events Include: Music Tent 2:00 – 4:00 PM: Three in a Row 4:30 – 6:30 PM: Charley Crockett Saturday, April 22 Events include: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM: Adult & Teen Amateur Contests 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Guppy & Youth Contests 5:00 PM: Amateur winners announced Music Tent 10:00 – 11:30 AM: Port of No Return Noon – 2:00 PM: Lone Star Review 2:30 – 4:00 PM: Mark McKinney 4:30 – 6:30 PM: Blue Water Highway Sunday, April 23 Events include: 5:00 PM: Advanced Amateur & Masters Awards 5:00 PM: Golf Cart Drawing Music Tent 10:00 – 11:30 AM: Flat Broke Noon – 2: 00 PM: Selfie 2:30 – 4:00 PM: John Cortez 4:30 – 6:30 PM: Somethin’ Silky

May I bring snacks and drinks? Yes, you may bring your own food and beverages. You may also bring your own ice chests and coolers. Please keep in mind that there is no place to store them. We will also have a variety of delicious food onsite. We also sell beer in the beer tent.

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Knowing that Morgan is a Cali girl I can understand sand sculpting, but Abe aren’t you from Canada? Do they even have sand there?

Abe We do have sand up here in Canada, but most of it is trapped far beneath the frozen tundra. It is prohibitively expensive to extract and therefore sand sculpting is a relatively elite pursuit. Fortunately I was born rich and privileged, and I simply use sand sculpting as one of the means to maintain my status.

When did you discover that playing in the sand is what you wanted to do when you grew up? Do you have a degree in art?

Morgan I was still in my early 20's when sand sculpting fell into me. I pretty much was in denial that growing up was ever going to happen, so sand sculpting seemed like a pretty solid plan for my beach-bum lifestyle!

I don't have a degree in art (I actually wanted to be a naturopathic doctor for a long time, so I was focused elsewhere in college for a few years)--but--art was primarily what I was studying towards the end of my college career. By the time I dropped out of college it was to, "work on my own art." Solid plan, I know.

Abe I don't think I've met a sand sculptor yet who has grown up, only old. Wanting to sand sculpt isn't so rare as finding the time to be able to pursue it to the next level, as someone who has never had a real job, it wasn't difficult for me to find the latter. However, if I had owned a more comfortable couch in my youth, I probably wouldn't be where I am today.

What is the difference between being a Master and an Amateur? When did you make that jump?

Morgan There isn't any real criteria set in law, and those are kind of funny labels to put on anything in life! But, in the world of professional sand sculpting, I'd say that a "Master" is a... Pro. They've got thousands of hours into their craft. They probably sculpt professionally. They can sculpt on demand and within a time parameter. They have a varied display of techniques and skills.

They can reproduce. They can invent. They

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By Tamma Hicks STEAM Magazine

PHOTO: TEXAS SANDFEST

can "read" sand make good structural decisions. Really, it just comes down to Masters having a whole lot of experiences and a lot of mistakes under their belt that have been made... and that have (hopefully!) been learned from!

Abe Masters are generally more cocky and less friendly than their amateur counterparts, apart from that I can't tell the difference.

Personally, I didn't jump so much as fall into the masters division by way of a series of good fortune and luck.

How many competitions have you been in?

Abe I've been repeatedly to several competitions across Canada and the USA. Port A is my favorite (just don't tell the others), we get treated extremely well and the people involved with the event are awesome, simply awesome.

Morgan I've been in approximately 30-35 professional contests.

And where have you competed? (Where in the world is Abe & Morgan!)

Morgan Combined, Abe and I have competed at most professional sand contests across North America. From San Diego, CA to Siesta Key, FL to Vancouver Island, BC...

Abe and I really "get around."

Where is the most exotic place you’ve been and the weirdest for sand sculpting?

Abe I think Portugal would be the furthest I've roamed to sculpt, there's a huge exhibit there each year called Fiesa, and I was fortunate enough to be invited once several years ago. I can't think offhand of anywhere weird that I've sand sculpted, could be my calibration of the word is off.

Morgan Well, exotic always seems more exotic on the other side! For me, I got one of my biggest thrills from going to Palau. I couldn't have even placed it on the map before I knew I was going there! Port A, TX,

however, comes in a close exotic second! As for weird, I'm with Abe on that one. I cannot even wrap my mind around what weird is any more. It's all just life!

Do you always sculpt as a duo or do you compete at solo competitions and do you compete against each other?

Morgan We do both... Here and there.

Believe it or not, but we do have our own lives. We just rarely get to live them! We compete against each other a couple-few times a year. Usually Abe beats the pants off me (read into that what you will!), buuuuut-on occasion--I pull out my own secret recipe for butt-kicking and put Abe back in his place.

Abe We usually do 2 to 3 duos per year and the rest solos. It's said that you're only as good as your last game, and the last time we competed against each other, in Key West (another fabulous contest,) Morgan cleaned up. She even won as well. Believe it or not she's kinda pretty when she cleans up.

What strength of sunscreen do you use?

Morgan I wish I could say that my natural brown-ness protects me from having to use it at all, but I can't. We spend just too many hours in full sun to really ever be fully protected. Honestly--I could use SPF 5,000 and I would still be watching sun damage determinedly develop on my slowly aging, beautiful skin.

Abe I generally employ a fairly heavy sunscreen, 50 to 60. I hate it, but it's necessary in order to keep my pale complexion.

What tools do you use the most? What’s the oddest/most unusual tool you use?

Abe None of my tools are unusual to me, but many people may be surprised to see household items in our hands; spoons, forks, straws, feather dusters, etc., and sometimes bare hands are the best.

Morgan I use mostly masonry tools. Marshalltown's trowel game is pretty strong. I'm

a loyalist, for sure. As for obscure tools, I like to make texture tools out of old hotel key cards. I enjoy imagining the texture that they will create when I attack them with small, pointy scissors.

How do you come up with your designs?

Morgan Designs come out of necessity.

On occasion I'll get a really, really creative idea that feels artsy and brilliant. If I don't sketch it down immediately, I usually forget it (like once I sober up, jk!)... but really though, I usually just forget to record the best ones.

Though, I think I mentally design for more of a "holographic" reality, and those designs rarely translate to a gravity-ridden sand sculpture. It's just a kink in my creative process that I live with!

Abe Where ideas and designs come from is getting close to a religious question, and if we're going there we might as well cover politics as well. I find tequila helps with all the above.

Does the weather play a factor in your designs once you’ve started? Do you have back up designs?

Morgan Weather plays a role in that we try and protect what we can and prevent the worst by making smart choices. If we end up designing a backup plan, it's likely because we are currently in need of a backup plan!

You sculpt in extreme weather, very cold to very hot. Do you have a preference – ice or sand? (remember… you are coming to Texas Sandfest!)

Morgan I prefer warmth and sand any day.

I can really appreciate the qualities of snow and ice, but it's sand and the accompanying vibe of the beach that has my heart.

Abe Ice and snow definitely have their merits, but I think I prefer sand. It's far easier to capture a shadow with and lends itself to subtlety better.

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Spoonfed Tribe @ Vino Mio 4/29

By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine Photo supplied by Ken Barnett

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 correction, not almost, we all play drums during the show. We flip back and forth from Instruments to drums pretty seamlessly.

Second, with the exception of David and Jeff, you all have what sounds like alter egos. Did they not get the memo?

No alter egos, just expressing ourselves. We all have numbers also, Troy’s number is Orange You are known for putting on great shows. Can you explain “mind-expanding visuals”?

Things we put out there to accent the music

in different ways, whether it’s an expensive lighting system, or hand held signs with messages on them, or just stacking everything we see into a piece of Club Art. Not cut and dry, but Creative and MindExpanding.

If you could have one hour to talk to anyone (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you talk about?

It’s a Tie between Michael Angelo and Bob Marley. You know, we would talk about Paint, and Music, and Stuff.... and Junk.

Any final message?

Music is Life, Love is Life, Music is Love.

Follow ‘em online spoonfedtribe.com facebook.com/spoonfedtribe cdbaby.com/artists/ spoonfedtribe reverbnation.com/ spoonfedtribe twitter.com/aspoonfedtribe instagram.com/spoonfedtribe

How did a guy from Alton IL end up in Port Aransas Texas sculpting sand?

I discovered windsurfing in the 90s and began coming to the coast back then.

Often camping on Mustang Island I became attracted to Port A. Being a potter at the time I became involved with creating the Potters On Cotter studio in Port A. During that time I became interested in Texas Sandfest and for a few years was a dedicated volunteer to the event.

How many competitions have you been in? How many have you won?

A few years ago I began to compete as an amateur and I have won 1st the past 2 years.

I heard that you went to Kuwait for sand sculpting. This sounds like such an adventure! Please tell me how you got involved, where you went, and what you did.

The energetic commitment of these artists to this medium had always impressed me so when an opportunity arose to work with one of the best I

traveled to South Padre became a sand slave with Lucinda "Sandy Feet" Wierenga. A fast track into the fascinating world of sand sculpting On her recommendation I was hired as a sand tech to go to Kuwait for 7 weeks to work a very large project called Remal International Festival. I assisted 80 international master sculptors in creating this monumental installation. The theme being 1,000 and 1 Arabian Nights.

Coming back to Mustang Island I noticed the interest in sandcastle building and began offering lessons. The sand here is excellent for this activity.

Why do you use the Easter Island heads in your building?

Easter Island is still a bit of a mystery so I try to put myself in that mode of creating a face that expresses a feeling of wonder and why.

What’s the best part about sand sculpting for you?

For me now I get a lot of satisfaction from sitting in the sand with a group of kids explaining the process of working with sand.