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JANUARY 5-18, 2015
Editor’s Note
What a year... So I spent the majority of 2014 raising my daughter, meeting tons of cool people and going on, um, ‘interesting’ dates. I did manage to find a special someone and get engaged so I suppose it was all worth it. It’s been a pretty hectic year and I got to work with some really talented writers who’ve helped add content over the past year but we’re still growing and expanding
our reach so there’s some excitement to look forward to. And this June will mark our second anniversary so perhaps there’s a need for some celebration? I’ll get back to you on that. And between all that I still managed to watch a few good movies and pick up some great albums. I’ve included a list of some of my favs from 2014 even though some of my most anticipated flicks have
Records Ryan Adams Ryan Adams You know, I felt really bad for never really listening to a Ryan Adams record until now, but damn, what a great album. It sounds as though Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen decided to mix their genes and create some hybrid mutant mellow rock monster. Favorite track: Kim
Jenny Lewis The Voyager I’ve been a fan of Jenny Lewis for a really time and this is her most adult sounding record to date. She’s given up the lovelorn heartbroken tracks and croons about growing old and what that means when you feel like you’re staring at the end of the tunnel. Favorite track: She’s Not Me
Tokyo Police Club Forcefield
yet to make their way to wide release (‘Inherent Vice’ I’m looking at you) I’ll possibly include them at the end of this year. I hope everyone had an awesome and safe holiday season and here’s to this one being ever better yet. Cheers.
– Paul Gonzales Editor
Movies
This album starting off as my least favorite at the beginning of the year. It’s so different and the layers of music that have become so familiar from their other records was missing. It took some time to get used to the new TPC but by year’s end I couldn’t turn it off. Favorite track: Toy Guns
contributors PAUL GONZALES Paul does things and then writes about them. That’s pretty much it. Now, sometimes, he gets to do really fun stuff and still manage to have a job when he returns to his office. Maybe they’re just not on to me yet?
KATY REX
Katy Rex is a freelance comics analysis writer at Comics Bulletin, Talking Comics, and Bloody Disgusting. She hosts a podcast about independent comics and music at endoftheuniversecomics.com. She also writes scholarly articles about comics for various academic journals. She has a background in pop culture and literature, and is particularly interested in modern independently published comics. She’s extremely interested in the role that comics play in our society, whether they are interpreted as modern mythology or social reflection. In her free time, she likes to cook, read about paleontology, and make scary noises at her cats. She currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Twitter: @eotucomics • Email: katy@endoftheuniversecomics.com
editor Paul Gonzales email Paul@stxscene.com phone (361) 343-5207 website stxscene.com twitter @stxscene facebook facebook.com/stxscene Published bi-weekly by Beeville Publishing Co.
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film
DON’T MESS
Rogen and Franco’s new flick ‘The Interview’ nearly sent us to war, but in the end, it just proved that they hate us because they ain’t us.
WITH
AMERICA T
by Paul Gonzales
here hasn’t been controversy like this over a film in a really long time. Actually, there may have never been anything like this in all of film’s history. By now the majority of American citizens have heard of “The Interview” either from the movie’s trailers or the fact that two weeks before its nationwide release it was on the news constantly for North Korea’s threats on the U.S. if they release the film, which depicts their supreme leader as a manchild suffering from extreme narcissism. For “The Interview”, the road to movie theaters was paved with terrorist threats, both physical and cyber, that eventually led to the our very own president to weigh in on the subject. Here’s the rundown of the craziness that led to the film being pulled from theaters, but subsequently released anyway in independent cinemas and online. “The Interview” was set to be released on Oct. 10, 2014. It was a comedy written and directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who first worked together on 2013’s
“This is the End.” Rogen stars once again with real life buddy James Franco, and the plot revolves around Franco’s David Skylark who gets the
getting to know
North Korea
– Kim Jong-il, father of current leader Kim Jongun, reportedly spent £700,000 on Hennessy per year. That’s roughly $1.2 million. The average annual income in North Korea is estimated to be between $1,000 and $2,000. – Marijuana is legal and is not even classified as a drug in North Korea. – North Korean archaeologists announced to the world in 2012 that they “discovered” the lair of the Unicorn ridden by legendary King
chance to interview North Korea’s leader Kim Jongun. Rogen is Skylark’s show’s producer, and they decide it’s going to be a huge ratings hit.
Tongmyung 2000 years ago.
Then the CIA shows up and decides it would be a good idea if the two could assassinate Jongun while they’re there, leading to all sorts of hijinks and laugh-outloud humor.
On June 20, an unofficial spokesperson for North Korea said, “The Interview shows the desperation of the U.S. government and American society. A film about the assassination of a forBut it was also the eign leader mirrors what source of all the contro- the U.S. has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria versy.
– North Koreans may only choose from 28 approved haircuts.
continued on pg. 4
Going on tour? Let your fans know where you’re going to be.
– In the last 60 years, over 23,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea. Only two South Koreans have gone to the North.
Tue. Mar 18 - Vancouver, BC with the Boondocks
Wed. Mar 19 - Seattle, WA with Wildlife & Peter Rabbit
– North Korea has its own operating system called Red Star OS. – In 2013, North Korea’s president killed his own uncle by throwing him naked into a cage with 120 starving dogs.
and Ukraine.” Then on June 25, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the staterun news agency of North Korea, reported that the Korean government promised “stern” and “merciless” retaliation if the film was released, stating that “making and releasing a film that portrays an attack on our top-level leadership is the most blatant act of terrorism and war and will absolutely not be tolerated.” But most casual viewers thought it nothing more than a publicity stunt and went on with their lives. On July 11, the KCNA wrote President Obama and asked to have the film pulled from theaters. The request was shrugged aside. Sony Pictures (the studio that produced the film) finally decided that it would re-edit the film to reduce its insensitivity to North Korea, but the publicity was going so well that they moved the release date to the prime Christmas Day spot. But something was also brewing underneath. The
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P. 4
JANUARY 5-18, 2015
film
Interview cont. powers that be thought that the film could stir a sort of revolution in North and South Korea, so the Fighters for a Free North Korea organized balloon airdrops of the film throughout both countries. Pretty strange for a Seth Rogen comedy. But then things took a turn for the worse when, on Nov. 24, Sony Pictures had their computer networks hacked by a group claiming to be called “Guardians of Peace.” They leaked company emails, employees personal information and even recent Sony films. The emails showed how coarse and money hungry the studio heads were along with some embarrassing remarks about actors and directors and their films. But the big blow came on Dec. 16 when the hackers issued this warning on movie-goers: “We will clearly show it to you at the very time and places The Interview be shown, including the premiere, how bitter fate those who seek fun in terror should be doomed to. Soon all the world will see what an awful movie Sony Pictures Entertainment has made. The world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th of September 2001. We recommend you to keep yourself distant from the places at that time. (If your house is nearby, you’d better leave.) “Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment. All the world will denounce the Sony.” After that, Rogen and Franco canceled all their
comic books public appearances along with the film’s New York premiere. Soon all major North American theater chains followed suit and stated that they will not show the film. Sony then decided to shelf the film indefinitely. The $44 million dollar budgeted film was going to cost the studio over an estimated $100 million after all the marketing costs and overseas bookings were pulled. But that wasn’t the end of it. In a press conference, U.S. President Barack Obama stated that he thought Sony had “made a mistake. We cannot have a society in which some dictator in some place can start imposing censorship in the United States. I wish they’d spoken to me first. I would have told them: do not get into the pattern in which you are intimidated.” Americans began to revolt and call out Sony Pictures and began organizing other screenings of films that made fun of the tiny country. Then, on Dec. 23, Texas-based theater chain Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League announced via Twitter that the film would play on Christmas Day in their theaters. Soon, other small independent theater chains would join in, and all together, more than 300 screens played the film. And on top of that, Sony Pictures announced that they would release it online through their own website and other streaming platforms Christmas Eve. The film grossed $2.9
million total over the holiday weekend and a whopping $15 million in digital downloads and became the company’s highest grossing online release to date. It just goes to show that no one can bully Americans, even if it is just a raunchy R-rated comedy featuring Rogen and Franco. But after all is said and done, is the movie even any good and worth all the hubbub? It’s exactly the movie you would expect from the duo. It’s a hilarious, toilet humor filled vulgar comedy that some can say does portray North Korea in a unflattering, realistic light, albeit a little more ridiculous. Hopefully, more ridiculous. The stories about North Korea and its leader that are true are hard to fathom. Overall, the movie is just a movie, and the only thing North Korea did, though they claim they are not responsible for any of the threats, is make everyone want to see the film. Even grandparents stood in long lines to see what the fuss was all about. It was great publicity for the film brought on by a country that has no business threatening anybody, much less America. And, hopefully, everyone walks away from this learning a lesson about art and our God-given right to freedom of speech. You can stream or buy “The Interview” at www. seetheinterview.com, iTunes, YouTube, Google Play and on XBox. Also look for it to expand in theaters in the coming weeks.
here seems to be a growing trend in comics these days with publishing houses mining cult films from the ’80s and ’90s and expanding their legacies. The newest comic book follow-up is a sequel to David Cronenberg’s 1986 awesome horror/sci-fi flick “The Fly” from IDW Studios. And, while there was a film continuation, “The Fly II”, in 1989, there is no mention if it will factor in to the new five issue miniseries. The comic sequel will launch in March and be written by Brandon Seifert (“Hellraiser,” “Witch Doctor”) and will feature painted interior and cover art by menton3 (“Silent Hill,” “Monocyte”). “To be totally honest, ‘The Fly’ is one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen!” said series writer Seifert. “It was really resonant for its time. And in the last 20 years or so, with all the advances in Genetically Modified Organisms, the film has taken on a lot of meaning it didn’t originally have. It’s really exciting to explore those elements in this miniseries — and great to have an amazing, super-distinctive artist like menton3 on the visuals!” The press release describes the miniseries as follows: Years ago, a scientist had a horrific accident
when he tried to use his newly invented teleportation device and became a human/fly hybrid. Now his almost-human son continues to search for a cure for the mutated genes. But a breakthrough turns into a breakout, and anyone exposed risks turning into a monster as well… “Equal
parts
gory
allegory and tragic love story, ‘The Fly’ was perhaps David Cronenberg’s crowning achievement,” editor Denton J. Tipton said about the film. “That’s a lot to live up to, but I believe Brandon and Menton are equal to the task. The script is sharp and poignant, and the art is visceral and haunting. No one is safe!” The five-issue miniseries launches in March and boasts two variant covers by Jason Edmiston and Lukas Ketner. Find your nearest comic book retailer at www.comicshoplocator. com.
THE BUZZ ‘The Fly: Outbreak’ is a five issue miniseries that begins in March from IDW Publishing. The first issue will feature two variant covers (below) by Jason Edmiston and Lukas Ketner.
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comic books
his comic is the best of Daniel Clewes, John Waters, and Highlights magazine. It combines camp and kitsch with a f***you attitude, the real kind of f***-you attitude, not the kind you could buy at the Hot Topic in the mall in 2002. It is, at its core, what a locally created comic should be. Created by J. Kelly and John G., out of Cleveland, Ohio, the stories are a lovechild of Strangers in Paradise and “Creature from the Black Lagoon”, plopped unceremoniously into the biggest busiest city of that, er, sophisticated
and metropolitan state (heh heh). The writing is the easy conversational dialogue that we’ve come to be familiar with in works like Love & Rockets, and as campy and cheesy as the plot can get, the realistic characters and their natural-feeling conversations keep the book as a whole grounded enough to keep the reader engaged. Because of the ease in which one can sink comfortably into the page with barely a bloop as one is absorbed, the predictable horror tropes aren’t even remotely jarring or boring. ‘Camp’ is a trend in comics, and maybe it always has been (does that still make it a trend?), but there’s a huge difference between a campy story and some bulls*** attentiongrabber in a feather boa and fedora w i n k i n g obnoxiously at the audience. This comic? Not bulls***. The art, in full-color A MONSTER WITH ISSUES Now that the five glossy (a luxissue story arc has finished, The Lake urious printErie Monster will continue on as an ing option in ongoing horror anthology series of sorts the world of beginning with issue #6 which will be indie comics, released in March 2015. but extreme-
ly well executed in this case), straddles the realistic and the grotesque. It nods, at points, to the gritty spattered aesthetic so popular in the 90’s, the bright mod look of the 60’s and 70’s, and the cheesy B movie horror thing. The images seem thicker, more textured, than the more traditional inks. Each panel is drawn with care, no lazy halffinished faces or hands/ feet hidden behind set pieces, and the characters are consistently both easily distinguishable and easy to read, expression-wise. The character design, in fact, matches perfectly with the characters as they are written: realistic, mundane, but somehow appealing. This is a fantastically fun-to-read comic, and the cherry on top? I don’t know, I guess this banana split has 2 cherries. The first is the letters column. Written by the Commodore, a sort of mascot, muse, and “Tales From The Crypt”-style host, the letters column gives absolutely no sh*** about the fans who write in. In fact, in the second issue, the Commodore printed AND THEN REFUSED TO ANSWER several letters that were not properly addressed to him in the opening. The writer who did remember to write to the Commodore had her question generally dismissed, since he did not appreciate her writing “in an attempt to trick me into writing your term papers for you, Ms. Wooley.” The second cherry—or, I don’t know, let’s call this one a lychee berry. For variety. The lychee berry next to the letters column cherry is, bizarrely, the ads. It’s unclear whether the ads are designed
CULT CLASSIC MONSTER The Lake Erie Monster was created by J. Kelly and John G. out of Cleveland and showcases their love for John Waters and Daniel Clewes, not to mention classic movie monsters like The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
entirely from start to finish by John G. and J. Kelly, but they’re certainly part of the book. They’re cartoon-styled, occasionally with panels, and always with a sense of humor that makes it perfectly clear that the business would not have ad space with the Shiner Comics Group if they didn’t deserve it. Genuinely, the record store and restaurant ads have made me want to move to Cleveland,
or (when I’m rich and famous) at least buy a vacation home there. And in particular the advertisements for the local comic shop, Comics Are A Go, are self-aware and hilarious, poking fun at us, the nerds, while celebrating the painful elitism, insecurities, and immaturities that we have learned to mostly hate and/or embrace as a subculture. At $5 a pop, The Lake Erie Monster is a traditionally more-high-
ly-priced indie comic, but as a thick and quarterly release crammed full of content, I’d say it’s well worth it. Now that the major narrative arch of the first five issues is complete, The Lake Erie Monster will continue to be an ongoing collecting short horror stories. According to creator John G., issue #6 will be available starting this March. Check them out at www.thelakeeriemonster. com for more details.
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P. 6
JANUARY 5-18, 2015
cover story
story & photos by Paul Gonzales
Girl in a Coma lead singer Nina Diaz has battled drugs and alcohol for years but now she’s recovering with a new batch of battered tunes and a solo career waiting to explode with the release of her new album. ina Diaz has dark, deep eyes. At nearly 27 years old, you can see that they are world weary and those of a woman twice her age. And as we talk, I can’t help but just stare into them and travel to the places and things she’s seen over the 14 years as lead singer for the punk rock band Girl in a Coma. Now she’s heading out on her own with a new solo project and a record to be released in the coming months. Her voice is quiet but eager. Her words are precise and excited when she speaks about her new songs and new, sober life and what the future holds for herself and her new band. “I tried coke for the first time at age 16,” Diaz remembered. “Was on and off it. First drink at 13. Was on and off that. “But when I last relapsed it was meth that hooked me. Tricky drug
that one is. Once in a tamed. while turns into every“Being an addict, you day. automatically feel like a victim all the time,” Diaz said. “And I always have that mentality; I think everyone has that mentality when they feel like the world’s against them. “But it’s also a selfish way of thinking. I was just holding in so much, and I felt like I couldn’t communicate that well, and I think part of that relapse was something inside of me that just wanted to change.” “I was doing it four months straight, lost weight really fast. Everyone was worried, ’til the time came and I finally asked for help.” It was during the end of 2012 when Diaz turned to drugs and alcohol to get her through the day. She had wrestled a few times before with those same demons, but this time they weren’t easily
Diaz took to writing new songs. This time around she wrote everything from the bass and drums to the keyboard parts and guitars—something she had never done with Girl in a Coma. “I tried showing them one of the songs and showing them what to play, and it just felt weird. It felt like I was telling them what to do. And that’s not our band is like.”
P. 7
cover story
Diaz decided she needed to sober up (she’s going on two years) and figure out what she was going to do with all these new songs. “I had a talk with the girls, and I told them I need to do this. I think I need to go solo. And I need to see where this takes me.” Jenn Alva and Nina’s sister Phanie Diaz, who made up the roster of Girl in a Coma, decided to take the time off by focusing on their Chicana punk rock band, Fea, which also features Aaron Lee
Magana (Michael J. and the Foxes) and Letty Martinez (Angela and the X’s). “I think it’s just my time,” Diaz said with a small, sincere grin. “It’s either I needed to change, or I would just stay the same, and I would suffocate, in a way, with my thoughts. “It’s not because the girls couldn’t play this
Gone Girl?
music; it’s just that I didn’t want to make them play something that they didn’t really feel. This is what I’m feeling. The majority of my songs are about recovery and addiction. I feel like I really need to spread the message about it. It’s my way of talking to people that are my age and younger that are dealing with this issue, and I just happen to sing about it.
“I feel like it was my path, and I chose to walk it.”
a track with the band that will also be featured on the new album.
Her solo album, titled The Beat Is Dead, was recorded with musician friends of Diaz last year. Her current band, whom she calls her “boys,” is still relatively new to playing Diaz’s music, but they work so well together that at the end of January they’ll record
And Diaz going solo presents a whole new set of problems she’s facing for the first time. The last four Girl in a Coma records were released through Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records label, which Fea is now signed to. Girl in a Coma decided not to stay with
Fans of Girl in a Coma have been up in arms about the band splitting up to do their own solo projects, but never fear. Nina Diaz explains that the girls aren’t breaking up and how this could actually be very cathartic for the band.
most responsible thing couple of tours when for us to do to continue the album comes out, to make music. we’ll get in to the room “So for the rest of this together and start workyear it’s definitely going ing on some songs. to be about my solo stuff “We have two songs and the girls doing Fea, actually, one called who are going to release “Invisible” and one that a full length album them- is called “Here is Now” selves soon. that are new for Girl in “So probably not until a Coma that we wrote 2016 will Girl in a Coma before I started working really have the mental on my solo stuff. and physical energy to “So it’s going to pick put out something. And back up. I feel like it’s of course this year I want going to be stronger that to hopefully jam with the it would’ve been if we girls and have things just continued on. It’ll be happen organically like a new form of appreciait used to. tion we’ll have for each “And after I do a other.”
“Girl in a Coma isn’t breaking up,” Diaz explained. “That’s what a lot of fans are afraid of. “We have our own personal things with each other. Of course spending so many years together it’s going to take it’s toll in different ways. I feel that this is the
the label, and now with a new record Diaz is trying to figure out what to do with it. “I think if you sign to someone in a dream world they give you money to do this or that. “It just doesn’t happen anymore. “So it’s going to take a lot of work to put this out right and not just releasing it and saying, ‘Oh, I got that out of my system.’ I want it to reach everybody. I want it to reach as many ears as possible, and that takes time.” And she’s also learning the pratfalls of going it alone and hitting the road to promote herself and her music, which isn’t always a bad thing. “I’m having to do more business stuff which Phanie would always take care of. I’ve always been the one going, ‘What? Where are we? What am I doing?’ “It’s like now I’m growing up in the scene, how I should’ve, but I did it to myself where I decided to go down that hole for a long time. I’m rebuilding all those things that I should’ve learned then. “And now I’m learning it all, and I’m learning it all on my own. I mean, of course, I have my guys with me now, and they’re a great support system, but inevitably it’s like I was just riding in the van with them here, and it’s like ‘They’re doing this for you. All of this is for you.’ And it’s not in a selfish, egotistical way. It’s more like, here it is. Don’t chicken out. Don’t abuse it. Just be happy that it’s happening.” continued on pg. 10
P. 8
JANUARY 5-18, 2015
The
Aftermath
local music
J
immy Willden released his new EP Melodies of the Aftermath Thursday, Dec. 18, at the House of Rock to a raucous crowd. Local artists Steven James and Lady Katherine were there to lend their support and open the show for Willden.
“The release party was amazing,” Willden said of the night’s show. “It was so heartwarming to see all of these people in the same place, supporting new, original music in Corpus Christi. “Steven James and Lady Katherine killed it, and the crowd was just perfect.”
Having known Willden for some time now, it was great to see him relaxed and performing perfectly with his band live for the first time. “Some of my favorite moments from the show was having the full band on stage with me, bringing these songs we’ve been working on for months to life in front of an audience,” Willden recalled. “The special appearance by Clarissa Serna to sing a duet with me also stands out, and for me, looking out into the audience and seeing old friends, new friends and brand new faces who’ve never seen us before finding out what we’re all about brings this whole journey full circle.” Willden will be performing in the Corpus Christi area throughout the next couple of months as he prepares for his Melodies of the Aftermath tour which kicks off in March. You can catch him live on Jan. 29 at Cassidy’s Irish Pub, 601 N. Water St. in Corpus Christi.
JIMMY JAMS Local Corpus Christi singer Clarissa Serna, who competed on NBC’s “The Voice”, joined Willden on stage for a duet during his EP release show at the House of Rock.
SUPPORT GROUP Steven James (left) and Lady Katherine (below) showed their local support for Jimmy Willden Thursday, Dec. 18 for the release of his EP Melodies of the Aftermath. Willden can next be seen at Cassidy’s Irish Pub, 601 N. Water St. in Corpus Christi.
P. 9
music
Here’s a few tips from creativeallies.com to get your artistic gears turning Some of the things you need to include are:
photo by Sandy Carson
Some of the things you should avoid:
The EP is looking to be released early this year, and the deadline for the contest is Jan. 13. Ume are a crazy energetic group that hail from Austin. Lead singer/ guitarist Lauren Larson leaps all over the stage, wildly swinging her guitar, all the while never missing a beat and mysteriously appears right in front of the mic when it’s
her time to sing. I caught them at Brewster Street Ice House a while ago when they opened for their good friends The Toadies. Their performance was explosive, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Their latest full length album “Monuments” was released in June 2014 and got the attention of music fans all over the world and publications such as Rolling Stone, Nylon and the Village Voice. The band has shared the stage with Black Sabbath, Soundgarden, The Smashing Pumpkins, Warpaint, …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Franz Ferdinand and Wu-Tang among many others.
• Avoid the obvious (world, Austin, Texas).
• DO NOT use live or promotional photos of the band in your design.
• Please do not include the word ‘EP’ anywhere on your design. If you want to provide the title of this release, include just ‘Too Big World’.
• Respect copyright. DO NOT submit copyrighted work. • Please do not • DO NOT use stock include the images or clip art. band’s logo on your design. • You MUST be
ustin indie rockers Ume are looking for artists to design their album cover for their forthcoming EP Too Big World. And get this, if your album cover is chosen, it will not only be their official record cover, but you’ll walk away with $500!
• Required text: “Ume” • Optional text: “Too Big World” • All submissions must be original art/illustrations. • The winning designer should be able to submit a layered file (.psd, .eps, .ai) of the winning design.
able to prove ownership of any photographic elements (even in a modified state).
GRAPHIC CONTENT You can also head over to creativeallies. com and check out designs that others have entered in to the contest. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 13.
I think it’s pretty rad that they’re looking to their fans to design their eagerly awaited new EP as it could possibly be seen by hundreds of thousands of music fans on
billboards and in the top music magazines. For more info check them out at facebook.com/ umemusic or the contest page at creativeallies.com and search ‘Ume.’
P. 10
JANUARY 5-18, 2015
comics
cover story
Diaz cont. The album The Beat Is Dead is a line from one of the 13, possibly 14, tracks titled “Queen Beats King.” Diaz mentioned that, while it is a little on the dark side, it does get in touch with her dance side as well, tossing out Bjork and Ace of Bass as influences. “It has this kind of dark Tim Burton kind of vibe but with some bright colors here and there. It’s a duality between good and evil. And I feel, again being an addict and alcoholic, that’s what you battle with the most.” With a small tour of Texas during the month in preparation of the forthcoming album and a video shoot in a few weeks for the first single, Diaz is a busy girl at the moment. She has high hopes for her first solo
album and by the looks of it is willing to put in the work. “I want to play Coachella. I want to play at least one late night TV show. I just want to get as many ears as possible and have them come out to the shows and have fun “I always loved the ’90s. I’m always jealous of the girls because they were teenagers in the ’90s and they were able to go and mosh, and everything was Docs, and it was crazy, and it was fun, and people really loved being at the shows. And I want to bring that back in a way. “I want people to have fun and not be afraid to let loose and talk about those things they feel they can’t talk about. I hope with my lyrics they hear a song and think, ‘Finally, I’m going to tell my mom this,’ or ‘I’m going to tell that guy this.’ ‘Finally, I’m going
to tell myself this, and I’m going to get help,’ or ‘I’m going to enjoy myself.’ “That’s what I hope for this album.” It will be interesting to see how far Diaz has come by year’s end and what she’s learned and how much she’s grown, not just as a musician but as a person. She seems calm and collected and doesn’t mind talking about her addictionriddled past. But one worries how the road will wear on her as she embarks on an extensive tour to promote her album and how she plans on staying sober on the long trek. “It’s actually easy to stay sober on the road— always moving helps. If I ever get frustrated, I go to meetings and work with my sponsor. “A lot of prayers and letting go and letting God.”
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P. 11 and a hot dog lunch. It all begins at 9 a.m. 23194 Park Rd. 25 in Mathis.
Wed. Jan. 7 • CC Downtown Farmers’ Market at La Retama Park: The Corpus Christi Downtown Farmers’ Market is open every Wed. from 5-7 p.m. and it all kicks off Jan. 7. Come shop South Texas’ freshest local produce, grab dinner from a new food truck every week and enjoy some live music, this week featuring Dorothy Peña. The event is free and open to the public. Schatzell St. & N. Mesquite St. in Corpus Christi.
Sat. Jan. 10 • Aaron Watson at Schroeder Hall: Texas Music Chart topper Aaron Watson returns to Schroeder Hall and is sure to pack the place. The doors open at 8 p.m. and it’s just $20 to get in and dance, dance, dance. 12516 FM Rd. 622 in Goliad. • Rock’s Xtreme Fight Night at American Bank Center: Men and women, professional and amateur MMA fighters battle it out all night long. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Ronald McDonald House. It all begins at 7 p.m. 1901 N. Shoreline Blvd. in Corpus Christi.
• Underground 361 at El Paisano Ballroom: Underground 361 and the Elite Acapella Division present a pretty big rap battle show featuring performances by Dirty Music, D-Checc, Supernova E and more. The battles include The Wrekka vs. O-Travio, WarZone vs. Prince Troy, Lessthanthe3 vs. Young V and more. The even is just $10 and begins at 8 p.m. 300 W. Hefferman in Beeville.
Sat. Jan. 24 Tues. Jan. 20 • Millionaires at The House of Rock: These hip-hop gurls will be thumping their party anthems during the day starting at 4 p.m. but it’s still looking like a blast. It’s just $12 to get in and get down. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.
Thurs. Jan. 22
Mon. Jan. 19 • American Aquarium at The House of Rock: North Carolina’s very own Americana/roots rock and roll band make their way to Texas. The doors open at 8 p.m. and it’s just $7 to get in. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.
• The Independent Thieves Cd Release Party at The House of Rock: Corpus Christi’s very own Independent Thieves will be releasing their album ‘Letter from the End of the World’ Thurs. They will be joined by Lady Katherine and Mathias Isassi and the show kicks off at 9 p.m. and is free to the public. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.
• Stoney LaRue at Schroeder Hall: Stoney finally returns to Schroeder Hall as he currently has a chart hit with “Golden Shackles.” The doors open at 8 p.m. and it’s just $15 at the door. 12516 FM Rd. 622 in Goliad. • Piñata Protest at The House of Rock: Black TarPoon, Rock Bottom String Band and The Knockouts will be opening up for Piñat Protest. It’s also Oatmeal Reed from Black TarPoon’s Bday so make sure you stop by and wish him well. Doors open at 8 p.m. and it’s just $10 to jam all night long. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi.
Sat. Jan. 31 • Two Tons of Steel at The House of Rock:
Ty Dietz will be opening the show as Two Tons of Steel returns to Corpus. The doors open at 9 p.m. and it’s just $8 for a night full of great songs and awesome musicians. 511 Starr St. in Corpus Christi. • 23rd Annual Kid Fish at Lake Corpus Christi: Bring your kids ages 5-12 out to the park and fish for Rainbow Trout for Free. Fishing poles will be provided and they can take them home, too! There will be games
Thurs. Feb. 5 • Sean McConnell at Brewster Street Ice House: Texas Throwdown Thursdays return with Sean McConnell. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the music starts at 9 p.m. It’s just $15 at the door. 1724 N. Tancahua St. in Corpus Christi. Need your awesome event listed? Drop us a line at Paul@stxscene.com or send us a Facebook event invite at facebook.com/stxscene.
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JANUARY 5-18, 2015