Dawn Belotti
By Dawn Belotti
their path of success.
When I say KILL you say CODE! One cannot frequent the New York City music scene and have not heard this audience participated chants from one of New York’s most popular rock bands. Killcode, formed by frontman Tom Morrissey and guitarist Charles Banellis in 2008, immediately drew the attention of local established musicians. With the addition of bassist Erric Bonesmith, and drummer Rob Geyer and the eventual addition of guitarist DC Gonzolez, Killcode became one of the most sort after local bands, opening for major touring bands such as Godsmack, Seven Dust Kiss legend, Ace Frehley. This summer finds Killcode reaching beyond their American shores bringing their unique style of music to the European festival circuit. Killcode released their first 6 song EP To Die For in 2008 and the second Taking it All in 2010. The track “Breaking Away” from their second EP appeared in the David Swajeski documentary, “BLESSED.” 2012 found them back in the studio with Producer Stacy O’Dell to record what would be their most successful release to date. The self-titled Killcode reached number2 on Billboard’s Mid-Atlantic Heatseekers Chart. Their current release The Answer containing the band’s strongest song writing and musical arrangement is bound to take the band farther along
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On May 26, Killcode returned to the local stage playing to a packed house at New York City’s Marlin room. From the opening chords of “Slave” the crowd immediately reacted in a frenzy of cheers setting tone of the evening for the band’s ever-growing fan base. The band launched into the title song of their most recent CD, “The Answer” followed by “Show Me” showcasing Morrissey’s strong vocals and his command of the stage. Proving that he is a force to be reckoned with as a seasoned front man. “Hands Up” followed shortly after and has become the Killcode anthem. The song’s catchy chorus inspired complete audience participation and showcased the band’s professional perfection as showmen. They moved with ease from one end of the stage to the other. Bonesmith’s intense, melodic bass tone holds the pulse of the music while Gonzalez and Banellis traded off impressive solos and Geyer attacked his drum set with fervor While the band prepared to perform “Own It” the soon to be released single, featuring bassist Chris Wyse, it is announced that the accomplished bass player was set to join the band for the piece. Wyse took the stage with his famous NS Design upright bass and the first haunting notes created by bow against stings commenced. Wyse a much sought after and versatile bassist fronts his band OWL as well as having played with such bands as The Cult and most recently with former Kiss guitarist,
Ace Frehley. Wyse remained on stage switching basses to accompany Killcode’s “Devil”, another strong track from “The Answer.” Of Course an evening with Killcode would not be complete without two of their most popular songs “Bad Mother” and “”6am” both band crowd favorites alike. The evening ended with the final song “Kicking and Screaming” yet another well written track from The Answer CD. Killcode never fails to disappoint which is why they are one of the Tristate areas most popular groups. They are truly a case of the whole being equal to the sum of its parts. Each individual stands on his own as an accomplished musician but as a whole they shine. This summer and autumn Europe will know what New York has known all along, Killcode is destined for even greater success.
Dawn Belotti
CONTENTS 3 KILLCODE 5 QUICK READ 6 COMICS 7 ALBUM COVER OF THE MONTH 8 CD REVIEWS 9 JOEY BLAZEK PAINTING ROCKPORT 10 GENEVIEVE ALLENE THERE’S NO STOPPING HER 13 3RD COAST FOODIE MIKEL MAY’S BEACHSIDE BAR & GRILL 15 EVENTS 16 SOJA 17 RAM DANESSE 19 NEW MOVIES AND TUNES
PUBLISHER RUSTY HICKS EDITOR TAMMA HICKS COMICS EDITOR ALLENE HICKS STAFF WRITERS DALE MARTIN, STEVE GOLDSTEIN, TAMMA HICKS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J MICHAEL DOLAN, DEREK SIGNORE, ROB DICKENS, DAWN BELOTTI STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS ALLENE HICKS, RUSTY HICKS
JULY 2016
VOL. 5 ISS. 4
ON THE COVER...
Max pic 2.09h X 2.2w
GENEVIEVE ALLEN BY MICHAEL MCCOLLUM PHOTOGRAPHY
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ALTERNATIVE WEEKLY NETWORK 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
YOUR OUTRAGEOUS VICTORY CRY
JULY 2016
J. Michael Dolan (:57) Once the great Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi finally battled his way through poverty, resistance, fear and doubt, he planted his flag atop the highest peak of riches and fame and shouted his most profound victory cry so that all artists & entrepreneurs throughout eternity could learn the great secret of how to be victorious:
Create like a god! Command like a King! Work like a Slave! Create like a god: Make something from nothing and create with abandon. Get out of the way and allow “IT” to come through you: songs, books, scripts, products, start-ups, designs, photography, acting, videos, art, etc. Be mindful of when doubt and fear sabotage the flow of great ideas, and learn to create a “clearing” for creative inspiration to flow through you, like the blood pumping in your veins!
SHAMELESS J. Michael Dolan (:09) * Asking for directions doesn’t mean you’re inept. It could mean you’re eager to get where you’re going ASAP. * Asking for tech support doesn’t mean you’re over-the-hill and out of touch. It could mean you’re eager to learn something, so you’ll know what to do next time. * Asking for coaching is not a sign of surrender; it’s a sign of determination. * Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re not ready, on the contrary, it means your ready to move on…
Command like a King: With intelligence, confidence, and your own style of cockiness, forever ban pettiness and ego from your creative world and insist that all those who work at your side and participate in your projects demonstrate unwavering loyalty, honesty, commitment and integrity—or they’re out! Work like a Slave: The biggest insult you can say about a successful artist or entrepreneur is “they were lucky.” There’s no such thing as “luck,” it’s an old worn out myth! The only reason professional artists & entrepreneurs achieve success is because they take big risks and work their ass off! They've learned that the only way to achieve their grand desires and impossible dreams is to remove their socks, walk across the hot coals, and DO THE WORK! And while the amateur pauses to admire his creation, the professional works to improve his...and never stops improving it! Plagiarized from a blog I wrote in 2011.
Constantin Brancusi , Artist
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www.theawkwardyeti.com / www.lunarbaboon.com New Books Out Now! Order Yours Today!
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CD
ANDRE WILLIAMS I WANNA GO BACK TO DETROIT CITY (BLOODSHOT RECORDS) BY ROB DICKENS
At 79 years old, Andre Williams has been a singer, writer, producer, publicist and manabout-town for six decades. Don't just take my word for it. The man himself sings about his life on his new album I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City. In fact, his rant about not receiving his just industry recognition ('Hall Of Fame', featuring longtime collaborator Dennis Coffey of The Funk Brothers) is one of the most defiant and fearless songs I've heard for a while. In posing reasons for this continual snub, he opines: "I must've run over The President's dog!" His final words of advice for those in positions of power are priceless, worth the cost of admission here alone. In the 1950s, when Andre first arrived in Detroit from his Alabama birthplace, he made his mark - with his doo-wop group the 5 Dollars and through his on-again/off-again relationship with Motown Records where he produced Mary Wells and Stevie Wonder (to name just a couple). He's the author of songs for Ike & Tina Turner and Parliament, recorded garage rock and collaborated with The Sadies, Jon Langford, Two-Star Tabernacle (featuring Jack White) and Jon Spencer. He’s toured the world in style and lived on the streets, asking for change. For I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City, his fifth album for Bloodshot Records, he
wanted to return to his adopted hometown. Upon his return to see his house in the old neighborhood, he found only a field with overgrown grass. He couldn’t imagine Detroit ending up like this so he went into the studio that day and recorded the wonderfully heavy funk and sturdy 'Detroit (I’m So Glad I Stayed)'. In the same manner, 'Times is a growling and deep meditation on hard and past times. “Mississippi Sue” (with Jim White of Dirty Three and Cat Power on drums) is a fascinating talking country blues song, with lyrics that few performers could get away with these days. In responding to the question as to who is the woman he most loved, his response was the lady of the title: “She was the only woman to get the electric chair/ I really felt bad about that cuz I wasn’t there...”. The excellent funk groove of the closing track 'Morning After Blues' is also compelling. The entire collection is a growling delight. Hats off to the core band on the album - guitarists Matthew Smith and Dan Kroha, David Shettler on drums and the late Steve King on bass. If you like true grooving, attitude and funky swagger, I would highly recommend I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City. If you do listen to it, though TURN IT UP. bloodshotrecords.com/ artist/andre-williams robdickens101.com
REVIEWS
STONEY LARUE US TIME (eONE MUSIC) BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN
GENEVIEVE ALLEN WHISKEY KISSES (SELF RELEASED) BY STEVE GOLDSTEIN
Hailing from the Texas Gulf Coast and currently a Nashville resident, Genevieve Allen links the best of both regions together on her debut, WHISKEY KISSES. This cowgirl brings some country honky-tonk, some hard edged drinking songs and some lonely ballads together and pushes it all with her own stylized vocals. Genevieve comes charging out of the chute with “Lipstick Stains.” She is a rockin’ woman scorned and out for revenge and proves it with her no nonsense vocal. She follows this with the upbeat “Whiskey Kisses” which only leads to broken hearts. “Blue Norther’” is wonderfully melodic and features expert fiddling by Glen Duncan. The quicker it blows through, the sooner it drives away the pain of loving a rodeo cowboy. On “That’s What Cowgirls Do” Genevieve gives first hand instructions on the way of a cowgirl. “Us Always” is a warm loving ballad that shows Genevieve’s tender vocal elegance. “Tequila Called” is a dancing, honky-tonk drinking song. She’s not alone with tequila as her companion to help her do what she can’t do on her own. “This Ain’t Texas” is a two-stepping story of a girl who spends time with a stand-in for the real love that owns her heart in Texas. “Even Now” is a lonesome ballad with an old country feel to it. “You’re Leaving Me” starts off slow and sets you up for an upbeat celebration of independence. Getting dumped never sounded like so much fun. “She’s Thinking About Cheating” is a classic country waltz that exposes the thoughts of a scorned woman who’s been true to her man. It all ends with “El Campo,” a South Texas tale of a girl dancing with the souls of the ghosts of hard-working cowboys. On WHISKEY KISSES, Genevieve Allen brings a polished country sound together with a great backup band and confident vocals that leaves you wanting more. Those cats in Nashville better pay attention. genevieveallennashtex.com
With this current release, Country heavy-hitter Stoney LaRue seamlessly mixes original material with classy cover versions, while revealing just how important the connection with his dedicated fans is to him. Not only is there a collage of Stoney posing with fans on the cover, but the 11 songs on “US TIME” were all requests from the “LaRue Crue” at concerts and on social media. And his fans, old and new, will not be disappointed. Stoney hits the ground running with Jim Croce’s “Box #10,” an upbeat approach to a down and out guitar player whose luck has hit the skids. This is followed by “Into the Mystic,” a much revered Van Morrison tune that Stoney makes his own while still staying true to the original. “Us Time” is a sincere love ballad - “it’s time for some us time.” “Oklahoma Breakdown” is rocking good fun, and one of several that prominently feature Kevin “Frenchie” Sciou’s screaming electric slide guitar. “Empty Glass” is Gary Stewart’s classic
tear-in-your-beer tune that Stoney once again marks with his distinctive vocals while showing off Warren Hood’s tasteful fiddle expertise. “Til The Morning Comes” is another rocking love ballad that Stoney delivers with authentic emotion. The hit worthy “Easy She Comes” is the first release from this collection and is rockin’ Country at its best. His take on the Willie Nelson/Ray Charles classic “Seven Spanish Angels” is simply a joy to listen to. John Hiatt’s “Train To Birmingham” is a whiskey drenched, lonesome heartbreak ride to Alabama. The album closes with a beautiful take on Glen Campbell’s 1968 mega-hit, “Wichita Lineman,” once again delivered with Stoney’s passionate vocal style that’s true to the original without compromising his own creativity. It’s obvious that Stoney LaRue cares deeply for his faithful fans with “US TIME” and the good times roll with each listen. stoneylaruestreetteam.com
By Taylor Hendrix, Rockport Center for the Arts
JOEY BLAZEK (JB) I’m kind of like Popeye - I am what I am and I’m a graphic designer that paints. Making me a designer first and a painter second. For my entire career I have worked to create images that are quick to communicate and are pleasing and attractive to the viewer’s eye. It has taken me several years to realize this, but that is exactly what I have continued to do with the fine art side of my career. Except that I am taking everyday images that people might miss along their way and capturing them on canvas in a way that quickly conveys the scene and is attractive to the viewer’s eye. Same concept but a different product and I’m still approaching them in the same way, just a different medium. As a graphic designer in the ad business, I always considered the demographic of my audience. My work not only had to be engaging, but appeal to a specific audience as well to their cultural ideals and philosophy. As I began to paint in 2009, I innately approached my work in pretty much the same way that I approached my advertising design business. But instead of selling a product or a service, I was creating an image from my coastal perspective that hopefully others could appreciate and enjoy through their similar coastal experiences. Having that common denominator certainly helped. What makes you a coastal/ regional painter? I paint what I am familiar with and attracted to. I’ve always loved the sense of peace I feel at the beach and the joy I get from watching birds or the calming effect of a working pump jack plugging away. I try to create an image from my coastal perspective that hopefully others could appreciate and enjoy through their similar coastal experience.
TOP: WINDOW SHOPPERS | MIDDLE: LEGS | BOTTOM: BAY BREAK
Why do you leave so much out of your paintings? I see composition, light, shadow, shapes come together in nature and I capture the moment in a photograph. That is my blueprint to work from. I then approach the painting as a design problem. Arranging objects, adding light, shadow, adjusting color, working with shapes and fi-
nally adding a few detail tweaks, but careful not to overwork it. I like to allow the viewer’s eye to fill in detail. I am hardwired to approach everything with design in the forefront. Whether it is a construction project, landscaping, or trimming a tree, the same basic design rules apply and I approach them all that way. What is your approach to painting? I always strive to keep my paintings spontaneous and never “over worked”. My approach is to lay in basic shapes quickly and define them as I continue to work over the entire canvas. Ideally the piece should always have an appearance of being a complete thought and could stand on its own as a finished piece at any time during the process. That is why many times you will see areas of unpainted areas showing through the image. I feel at that point I have given the viewer enough to convey the image. Sometimes when I feel I’ve overworked a piece, I’ll go in with a large brush to break up the detail and start fresh. Also, it is amazing the detail you can achieve with the corner of a 2” “throw-away” brush from a hardware store. I want the viewer’s eye to fill in detail. I call it “implied detail”. I’ve had many people comment on first glance that they are amazed at the detail only to look closer to see that it is an illusion. How have recent hurricanes Rita and Ike affected your painting? Living on the Texas Gulf Coast, hurricanes have always been a part of life for me and my family. My great grandparents survived the 1900 and the 1915 Galveston storms in a cypress-planked house in High Island that still stands to this day. I remember the devastation from Carla as a kid and surfed on an enormous swell from Camille in 1969 as a teenager and caught a few good waves from Hurricane Katrina as an “old guy” in 2005. In 2008 Hurri-
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cane Ike destroyed my sailboat and took away my family’s beach cabin on the Bolivar Peninsula that my father had built in the 1950s. The widespread destruction on the Bolivar Peninsula from Ike seemed to give me a renewed appreciation of my time growing up there because so much of what I was familiar with was completely gone. The uniqueness of the community was erased and the quirky family-built cabins from my childhood were being replaced by homes far bigger and grander than what we thought we would ever see on “our” beach. Subconsciously that might have influenced me to begin painting coastal scenes the following year. A byproduct of the disaster was a demand for art to replace what folks had lost and to fill all of those empty new walls, thus creating a larger local market for my work than there would have been. Tell us about your introduction to Rockport. I began painting in 2009 and not long after that my wife suggested that I
CONTINUED FROM PG 9 and my discovery of a true jewel that is Rockport on the Texas Gulf Coast! ### Joey Blazek’s solo exhibition at the Rockport Center for the Arts in Rockport features over 30 original, new works and is on display through July 31, 2016. www.blazekdesign.com
consider applying to some regional art festivals. Rockport was my very first festival in 2013. Being a newcomer to this, I approached it with a hope of at least a small success in case I really bombed.
concerned that I might lose potential buyers because they couldn’t get into my booth. About that time, her friends were starting to disperse, and she walks up to me and says I’ll take that one and that one as she points to two originals. I was thrilled.
During the show, a woman who was obviously a local stopped at my booth. Immediately she had quite the group of friends and acquaintances collect to visit with her. More added to the mix and pretty soon my booth was a gathering place for a small reunion. This was my first show, so I was kind of at a loss as to what to do. I didn’t know if I should be
When she came back later to pick up the pieces she said that she had a friend that she really wanted me to meet. The lady that purchased my paintings was Julia Dutton and her good friend was Lisa Baer Fredrick at Estelle Stair Gallery and that was the beginning of many new friendships
TOP: PINK PROSPECTORS BOTTOM: ENDANGERED SPECIES
3rd Coa s t Foodie
By Tamma Hicks
For me living so near the Gulf of Mexico is
like having a little slice of heaven in my back pocket. The beaches of North Padre Island are a recharging station for many—including me! There isn’t a week that goes by that I feel the pull of the surf and the smell of the ocean breeze. The only problem is when you’re on the beach of the Gulf, where can you eat without leaving the breeze behind you? Well, it turns out there is only one restaurant and bar on North Padre Island that can solve this… It’s Mikel May’s Beachside Bar & Grill located atop Bob Hall Pier. Yep, you actually sit above the Gulf waters and watch the waves come in! On those hot sunny days Mikel May’s rolls up the walls so that wonderful breeze comes right in. Now if that doesn’t make you melt in relaxation the food and drink will! We decided to try a little bit of everything because, well… playing in the surf made us hungry and Shannon (Tipton, our server and the co-manager) kept telling us about all the great food they serve. First thing you should know about Mikel May’s appetizers is that one order is large enough to be an entrée for one person, so we ordered the 10 piece Chicken Wings with Sweet & Spicy and Honey Chipotle sauces.
LOCATED ON
BOB HALL PIER
N PADRE ISLAND TX 361.949.PIER
OPEN DAILY MON—THU 11am-10pm FRI 11am-12am SAT 8am-2am SUN 8am-11pm
LIVE MUSIC TUE: 5-9PM KEVIN HILL THU: 7-11PM DJ DJit FRI: 6:30-10:30 QUARTET JAZZ & BLUES with VICTORIA MAJORS SAT: 11AM-3PM 21 QUARTET JAZZ & BLUES SAT: 9PM-1AM LIVE BANDS! 7/2 SPLENDIFOROUS 7/9 BAD BUOYS 7/16 JAMES LITTLE BAND 7/23 THE DAZE 7/30 MOONSHINE MARTINI SUN: 11AM-3PM GRACE ROBERSON SUN: 4-8PM JOHNNY KISER
If you don’t like the heat of Buffalo wings, you’ll love these! Sweet & Spicy definitely has a kick to it and the sweet helps mellow it out. Our favorite was the honey chipotle, what a great twang it left in your mouth! We also had the Sliders which were mini replicas of their hamburgers, even the sweet rolls! They came with grilled onions, pickles, and we added cheese; very tasty. For our last appetizer we had Beachside Crab Balls and I can ONLINE see exactly why they go through so many plates of these! The corn meal stuffing with big chunks of FACEBOOK.COM/MIKELMAYSBEACHSIDE crab meat were perfectly seasoned and fried. CHECK OUT OUR LIVE SURF CAM @ TEXASSURFCAM.COM
Now that we were stuffed and thinking twice about having ordered so much our meals began arriving and instantly we were hungry again! All of the entrees came with one side and these were definitely large portions. In fact when the side salad arrived we all looked at each other and asking who’d ordered a large salad. No one, that’s just how big they are! Mikel May’s has a great Build Your Own Burger selection, but we went with a basic burger and potato salad. We were pleasantly surprised with size of the Angus burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a sweet bun. Love those buns! The Padre Island Fish Tacos were splendid! Lightly grilled fish served on a bed of lettuce topped with mango-pineapple salsa and wrapped in a flour tortilla. The three tacos were accompanied by a side of coleslaw. What a pleasant sweetness! As May’s Club was sat down in front of us all I could think was, “my mouth doesn’t open that wide!” A buttery croissant stacked high with ham, turkey, bacon, avocado and all the fixings. Wowzers!! Now the Ribeye Steak Sandwich was brought out and I think we all died and went to heaven! I honestly was taken aback by this. I know it said “steak” so I expected chopped steak like in a Philly cheesesteak. Nope! It was a Ribeye steak so tender that we cut
it with a table knife! And the onion rings were perfect and you’re talking to an onion ring enthusiast!
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Mikel May’s Beachside Bar & Grill has a few specials that I think are noteworthy. Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays Mikel May’s features some of the best live music in the area and Thursdays there’s a DJ. Genres range from country to rock to blues to reggae. For those of you looking for party or meeting rooms that will get your group out of a normal setting, Mikel May’s has a room that will accommodate up to 49 people. Oh and did I mention the serve brunch on the weekends? So if you are planning a full day at the beach, staying at the park or beachcombing in the morning they’ve got you covered!
FACEBOOK.COM/STEAMTX
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OWEN SHELLY FUNDRAISER FOR LUNG TRANSPLANT EXPENSES Animal Tracks Inc July 1-30 Agua Dulce, TX Get up close and personal with our animals! take an unforgettable tour of our ranch in agua dulce and create some amazing memories with one of our incredible animal experiences. Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure Daily Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio Turn San Antonio into a giant game board with this fun scavenger hunt adventure. Combine the excitement of the Amazing Race with a three-hour city tour. Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well-known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. 23rd Annual Balcones Heights Jazz Festival Fridays Norris Conference Center, San Antonio Live concert every Friday night. Wetlands Education Center Tour Tues & Thur June-Sept University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX Did you ever want to visit and learn about a marsh without getting your feet wet? This ADA compliant 3.6-acre wetland will allow you to do just that, as you stroll through seagrass, salty marsh plants, and dunes. Thursday Family Summer Nights! June & July Thursdays Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, McAllen Bring the family for an evening of entertainment & education in the park! Bay Jammin’ 2016 Thursday Night Movies in the Park Friday Night Concerts Cole Park, Corpus Christi Summer Fest July 4 San Marcos Park Plaza, San Marcos Bohemian Night Inspired by Frida Kahlo July 8 Edinburg City Auditorium, Edinburg The 2016 return of Frida Fest will celebrate the life and legacy of world-renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo! Charlie Robison July 8 Lone Star Grille & Bubba’s Backyard, Cedar Park Tickets on sale now! Corpus Christi Murder Mystery July 9 Murder Mystery / Runway Theater, Corpus Christi A unique theater and dining experience!
First Annual San Antonio Frida Festival July 9 Brick Marketplace, San Antonio Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter, continues to be admired by so many people around the world. Dripping Springs Tomato Round-Up July 9 Veterans Memorial Park - The Triangle, Dripping Springs Homegrown tomato fans… the wait is almost over! Olivander's Wand Making Class for Witches & Wizards July 9 & 10 Hamlin Pharmacy & Fountain, Corpus Christi A Harry Potter inspired wand making class for witches and wizards of all ages and skill sets. No prior wand making or tool working experience required. All materials & tools provided for you. Austin Empty Bowl 2nd Annual Summer Concert July 10 Central Presbyterian Church The Austin Empty Bowl Project is an effort by Austin area potters to fight hunger. Featuring Susan Gibson, The Mastersons, and Sweet 'Shine & Honey Rock off Cancer Fashion Show July 10 San Fernando Hall, San Antonio Local children being treated for cancer at University Health System’s South Texas Pediatric Blood & Cancer Center will walk as models in the fashion show and attendees can buy t-shirts, teddy bears, raffle and silent auction items to support the organization. Proceeds will benefit University Children’s Health, the pediatric programs of University Health System. Innovation in Transportation Happy Hour! July 14 Executive Surf Club, Corpus Christi Join AFP-Texas to learn more about the newest innovation in transportation, rideshare services or transportation networking. Slightly Stoopid, SOJA, and More! July 16 Concrete Street Amphitheater, Corpus Christi Mandela Day Corpus Christi Celebration July 16 Heritage Park, Corpus Christi Join us as we honor a great Nobel Peace Prize recipient and his fundamentals of Democracy, freedom of speech, and principles of inclusivity, by changing the world one day at a time, regardless of race, reli-
gion or political creed. Bye Bye Birdie July 22-24 Port Aransas Community Theater, Port Aransas The arrival of Birdie in Sweet Apple causes people of all ages to swoon. Birdie is a satire done with the fondest affection. It gives an insight into the everyday life that is very much part of all of us. T.A.A.F. Summer Games of Texas July 28-31 Various Locations, McAllen The city of McAllen is excited to host the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Games of Texas! Girl’s Eye View July 29-Oct 31 UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures has empowered 10 teenage girls to tell their story of San Antonio’s Eastside through photography and poetry. The teens have documented their community, daily lives and heritage in pictures and interpretation of their perspectives through poetry. Poetry readings have been video recorded for playback inside the exhibit. Chef's BBQ Throwdown & Car Show July 30 Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, Mission Join us at our First Chef's Bbq Throwdown & Car Show to provide scholarships to local students! 27th Annual Pepsi Bay Ball Ballyhoop 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament July 30-31 TAMU-CC Dugan Wellness Center and Island Hall Gym, Corpus Christi The 3-on-3 basketball tournament challenges top ballers and Cinderella hopefuls to bring their A-game to the court for bragging rights and for the purpose of raising awareness and funds for nearly 1,900 Special Olympics Texas athletes in the South Texas area. LOOKING FORWARD Cigars On The Patio August 25 The Courtyard at Gaslight Square in Corpus Christi Join us for an evening of food, drinks, music, and cigars in support of Operation: Cigars for Warriors. 100% of ticket sales go to support our active duty military
HAVE AN EVENT COMING UP? Then let us know! submissions@steamtx.com
In 2012, Owen was diagnosed with pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) which is characterized by an overabundance of capillaries in the lungs and can cause pulmonary hypertension (PH) and heart failure. Owen now has both PH and heart failure which makes the simplest tasks of daily living impossible. The only treatment remaining for his worsening condition is lung transplant. Owen and his wife Lindsey have three children, Tiler, Lionel, and Lucy, ages 6, 4, and 2. They relocated to San Antonio, a major transplant center, in June and he has been placed on the waiting list for a double lung transplant. Owen currently enjoys songwriting, reading, and spending time with his family. This April, Owen had to take medical disability from his job in Twin Falls, Idaho at the State Department of Health and Welfare where he worked as a service coordinator for the infant/ toddler program. He worked diligently in this position for more than five years while dealing with medical procedures, hospitalizations, and regular appointments in Salt Lake City. Owen was a committed resource to many of the program’s clients in the Wood River Valley and surrounding areas. In 2004, Owen’s younger brother, Tyler, died from PCH/PH at age 20. Their grandmother also passed away in 2003 from complications from pulmonary hypertension. 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. To learn more about pulmonary hypertension, please visit www.phassociation.org Owen, his family and friends appreciate your support! Be sure to check back periodically for updates!
newcovenanturc.org/ fundraiser-owen-shelly-100000-neededlung-transplant
In the past the mere definition of a reggae band meant that at least someone in the band had to hail from Jamaica. Such is not the case with SOJA who, while not being your typical reggae band, are no doubt the real deal delivering the message of Reggae to a new generation of music lovers, bound by the internet whose steady diet of music is not bound by logistical restrictions. By Dereck Signore, Sound Magazine
SOJA promotes conscious music, it's who you are, in an industry where lyrics are skewed towards money, women and power you promote a positive spin to the negative around us. What is the main goal of your music that inspires you to write? My main goal is and always will be to write music with a message I believe. I want to shine a spotlight on things that don't receive the attention they should, and in doing so I want to provide a voice for those without a microphone. I am motivated not only by my love of music in general and passion for what I'm writing about but also by the response I get from fans. The best gifts I receive are when a fan shares a personal story with me about
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STEAMMAGAZINE.NET
how a particular lyric, song or album affected them in a positive way and either helped them get through a tough time or make an important change in their life or simply allowed them to appreciate a moment differently than they might have otherwise.
We find a balance by requiring that the strong bond with our 7/16/16 @ fan base is always CONCRETE STREET more important than AMPHITHEATER the financial ramificaCORPUS CHRISTI TX tions of a decision. The — two aren't mutually WWW.SOJAMUSIC.COM exclusive anyways. A strong fan base in turn FACEBOOK.COM/SOJA leads to financial opportunities. Regardless The band has been we didn't start a band known to hold fan listento make money and ing sessions in advance of an album rehave never been in this for the money. lease and frequently release free material from your website‌ there is even a We love how, unlike other bands, when free tab on your website. Such routine you look at SOJA you see the band and can obviously build a strong bond benot just one artist. It's that unity that is tween you and your fan base but can be reflected in your music. That being said financially perilous for a band. How do it's not often you find a group that share you find balance between the two? such common views. What's the secret
to the bond of the band? It's that our bond was formed before and continues to exist outside the band itself. I grew up with these guys. A deep friendship and bond existed prior to the creation of SOJA for the original members of the band and for the three musicians that have joined after SOJA was formed our bond and friendship outside of the band is just as strong. We are all involved in each other's lives offstage. As we've toured and have been around so many different bands, it seems that on a very general level there are bands that are family both on and off stage and there are bands that are family only on stage. There's nothing wrong with only having a personal relationship on stage but specific to SOJA, we definitely fit in the first category of being family both on and off stage. It keeps us strong and when you care about the offstage well-being of everyone involved then it provides even more motivation to work hard and support each other. Reggae has never been as big in the US as it is here today but often it is not found on top 40 radio stations. I want to say Magic was the last reggae band to have consistent radio airplay. With the format of radio changing terrestrial vs XM/Sirus, do you feel it is more important to have the message of Reggae and what it stands for - preached on the air than the sound to which it is delivered?
By Tamma Hicks, STEAM Magazine
writing songs that are inspirational and uplifting We first met you at the Quarter in McAllen while you were playing a solo show and since then I believe you've been in the studio recording new music. Yes, I've been in Austin recording my fifth EP. The last one was recorded in Nashville and has a little Nashville twist to it. The new one, Born To Shine, is more pop-rock and radio-friendly. How many songs are on the new EP? There are five brand new tunes that I wrote. The last EP was very acoustic this one is very electric, very driving. I'm very excited about it as I've always thought in this direction I just have never taken the time to write, record, and produce this way. Do you write for other people or is it personal, for yourself? I mostly write for myself; I've done a few collaborations but nothing really major. I'm up for writing for others or singing other people's songs but I just haven't had that opportunity yet. I'm very proud of being a singersongwriter and doing my own stuff. That's good; you need to be proud of that. I read that
while you were recording in Austin you also got married. Yes, it was it was right after I recorded for in Austin I was there for about a week and then as soon as I got back we left to Hawaii for a week. So really it was a two-week honeymoon for me! Congratulations! It sounds like a whirlwind to me. Like I said, I've seen you at the Quarter; where else do you play? I have quite a few residencies and you can catch me just about every night. Mondays I’m at the DoubleTree Hotel in McAllen, Wednesdays at the Quarter, early on Thursdays I'm at the Renaissance Hotel also in McAllen and late night Thursdays I'm at University Drafthouse in Edinburg, early Fridays I'm at Santa Fe Steakhouse in McAllen and late Friday I'm at the Quarter, and early Saturdays at Santa Fe steakhouse at the Santa Fe Steakhouse in McAllen and Saturday evenings El Divino in
Available in August 2016 On CD Baby, Amazon.com, iTunes, Spotify and ramdanesse.com
SOCIAL: www.ramdanesse.com | facebook/ramdanesse McAllen. Besides those I do jobs in Austin, Nashville, Corpus, or wherever. On Fridays at the Quarter we just started a new thing… We feature a guest singer to play with us every month. Wow! I believe a lot of musicians will be envious that you have so many residencies! Well, I'll tell you I've worked very hard to get there and I will continue to work hard to keep them. My thought is that there is no gig not worth playing and there is never a chance that shouldn't be taken to perform. How long have you been playing and when did you get your first guitar? I got my first guitar when I was 10 before that I played drums. I was nine when I got my drums and joined the drum line in high school. My dad taught me the first few chords on guitar and I just kind of took off on my own from there. Then in high school I joined the jazz band playing guitar and right out of high school, instead of
going to college, I took gigs and I haven't looked back. I've been doing that for about 1ten years now. What other instruments do you play? I play drums, bass guitar, and a little bit of piano. And I attempt to sing every night. That's what I tell people when they ask if I'm singing. Do you remember the first song you wrote? The first song I wrote was Like the Rose Needs the Sun. I wrote it for my mom in seventh grade after my dad showed me three simple twofinger chords. I even performed it in front of my 7th grade English class. Who's in your band? My best friend Joey Zuniga plays lead guitar and my drummer is Glendon Voss. I've known Joey since we were 15 and Glendon since we were 11. I've looked through your information and there isn’t a bass player listed. Do you
play bass in your trio? Here's the interesting part… I play a baritone guitar and I've customized it so that the top two strings are bass strings, the rest are regular electric guitar strings. So I play bass while playing rhythm chords and sing. For bigger gigs and festivals we will bring in a bass player or I'll switch to bass and bring in a rhythm player. We've opened for REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent, Styx, The Cranberries and others. For the most part we’re a trio. Why not use a bass player? Well I have a tendency to improvise and although we have a set set-list we flow with what's happening and see where things are going. A bass player for me has to be very flexible and have the ability to follow along and change with what we're doing and bass players CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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JULY 2016
For us the message will forever be the most important aspect of what we do what I look for in all music I listen to regardless of genre. If you’re asking if I think it's more important to change the sound of your music in an effort to increase the odds the message will get on top 40 radio stations, then no I do not think artists should do that or at least SOJA’s certainly not going to do that. SOJA’s music and sound has evolved over the years because we ourselves as artists and human beings have evolved and grown not because I have an agenda on what sound will be most popular. I write what sounds good to me and hope that there are others out there that feel the same way. Would I love it if our music and more importantly our message was on top 40 stations consistently? Absolutely. But it's not what motivates me or to find our success. Clearly today there are so many other forms of consuming music when you consider how many bands, including SOJA, are enjoying success without much or any at all radio play. Here in the states the public is somewhat numb to the constant barrage of political badgering and climate down play we see in TV and radio ads. We still listen but many people turn the channel because they don't know what to believe. Do you find fans in other countries you tour are more receptive to your message, countries where millions aren't spent in false ads to sway public perception? I actually think people do inherently know what to believe regardless of the advertisements and it's more a matter of do they genuinely have the compassion to care about that problem. If they don't care then they mold their “beliefs” to fit what to fit what's best of them personally. Thoughts on fellow reggae artist blending more of an EDM feel into their music as of late? Blend away. Who am I to judge another artist for their sound? I have my personal tastes, which really does encompass every single genre, but regardless of my personal tastes I respect every artist for their decision to put out what they want to put out.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 that do that are already busy, so I got tired of looking for one and decided to try this. It works great. So tell me about the new record. It's called Born To Shine and it's about everyone having the opportunity to shine. As I'm getting older I'm finding that I want to write songs for everyone. I’ve realized that writing while I was young about heartache and girls and parties is not something I can continue as it's not part of my life. Now in the last five or six years what I take the most pride in and is the inspiration for my career is that my daughter. She was born deaf and when she turned 1, we had a surgery done that implanted a circuit board in her brain that her hearing aids connect to. It allows her to hear everything perfectly fine. The last EP was titled Never Give Up so she is my inspiration and because of her and feeling the way I feel I am dedicated to writing songs that are inspirational and uplifting. The first song to be released from the EP is Fire. I wrote it for my friend Charlie Garcia who has leukemia and so the song is about fighting cancer and getting through all the things you have to get through in life. When will the album be released? Born to Shine will be released at the end of July. We'll do a CD release party however the location and date haven't been determined. It'll be available for download at all the digital locations CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and Spotify. After that I planned to take it to Nashville and see what I can do with it there.
**Release dates & Parental Ratings are subject to change, and often do.**
Release dates are subject to change, and often do.
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