Todo periodista tiene cosas que le gustaría hacer y que sabe que nunca tendrá la oportunidad. Cuando se logra hacer alguna de esas cosas, eso es lo que se llama un buen día.
Esta semana escribí una columna para UWeekly en la que me limpiaba el trasero con el nacionalismo ciego de los americanos. Desde decirles que es una tontería odiosa hasta comentarles que hoy Musulmanes en su ejercito, mi característica acidez no se hizo extrañar. Sin embargo, poder citar al genial Doug Stanhope fue lo mejor de toda la columna. Aquí se las dejo.
OPINION: Nationalism: get rid of it
By Gabino Iglesias
Nationalism is, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "the attitude that the members of a nation have when they care about their identity as members of that nation." Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, here in the U.S., as with many other countries across the world, nationalism has turned into a negative thing: the belief that a group of people are better than others and that our chunk of land is better than, and needs to be protected from, other nations. After 9/11, everyone got sucked into a vortex of defensive, confrontational, uncritical nationalism. The result? Nationalism has now ceased to be a way of caring about the U.S. and its mixed heritage and identity, and has become the motor behind our war on terror and our hatred of immigrants, homosexuals and anything that's not deemed quintessentially "American."
Noam Chomsky, undoubtedly one of the greatest thinkers and dissenters of our time, regularly disparages nationalism in his books and talks. However, Chomsky is so damn brilliant that it can be hard for mere mortals to find a single powerful anti-nationalism snippet to hold on to. In that respect, I have to agree with one of my personal heroes, Charles Bukowski: "Genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way." Enter comedian Doug Stanhope.
Stanhope is a genius. His brazen, eloquent, thought-provoking material, always delivered with an in-your-face, fuck-you-if-you-don't-like-it attitude, is a welcome oddity in today's mainstream-friendly, bland comedic landscape. In his special Doug Stanhope: No Refunds, the abrasive humorist spits out the following hilarious, poignant and honest diatribe:
"Nationalism does nothing but teach you how to hate people that you never met. And all of a sudden you take pride in accomplishments you had no part in whatsoever, and you brag about - and the Americans'll go, 'Fuck the French! Fuck the French, if we hadn't had saved their ass in two World Wars, they'd be speakin' German right now!' And you go, 'Oh, was that us?' Was that me and you, Tommy, we saved the French?'"
No, you didn't save the French. Likewise, you didn't help build the Transcontinental Railroad, the Panama Canal or Hoover Dam. What you have probably done is contentedly swallow historical inaccuracies and myths that make you believe this great country was created by whites, for whites. In fact, the average white, non-military American has done naught that would serve as the basis for their heartfelt nationalism.
Black and brown people have fought in every war to protect your freedom. Here's a good one: did you know that, according to the New York Sun, there are almost 4,000 devout Muslims in the U.S. army right now? Yeah, they're fighting the war on terror. A Pew Hispanic Center report shows that, along with those Muslims, there are about 110,000 Hispanics in the army, almost 10 percent of the active duty enlisted force. You want another color? The National Priorities Project Database reported that in 2004 African Americans represented 15 percent of all recruits nationwide. That's a lot of non-whites putting their lives on the line for a country that's not particularly known for embracing them.
I'll bring the point home, literally. UT is a Research 1 institution. A great part of that is due to the amazing, world-changing research that originates here. The fall enrollment reports published by the Office of Information Management and Analysis show that there are 5,186 doctoral students out of which 2,407 are white. That means that 54 percent of researchers here are non-white and, in many cases, from another country.
Enough numbers: our identity is hybrid. Embrace it and be proud of it: that should move us away from blind, restrictive nationalism. Wow. That was a long way of saying Doug Stanhope is right.
sábado, 30 de octubre de 2010
miércoles, 13 de octubre de 2010
Dando caña
Cuando la gente con poder hace cosas malas hace falta saltarles a la yugular. Cuando sus fechorías son cosa de todos los días, hay que caerles encima sin piedad. Esta columna salió en Uweekly la semana pasada. Recibí mensajes de texto, mensajes en la versión digital y una individua envió un mensaje a la página de Facebook de Uweekly pidiendo que me dieran un Pulitzer. No me opongo.
OPINION: Texas Board of Education
Taking care of what really matters
By Gabino Iglesias
Last February, the narrow-minded Jesus-freaks that hold the reins of the Texas Board of Education scored big when they approved a social studies curriculum soaked in all things Republican. Not satisfied with taking names like Thomas Jefferson and Cesar Chavez out of textbooks and rearranging history to fit their conservative agenda, now they're back to make sure their right-wing extremism hits every aspect of education. Bravo!
A new resolution proposed by Odessa businessman and State Board of Education hopeful Randy Rives is based on what he perceives as a powerful "pro-Islamic, anti-Christian" bias in textbooks. The six-page document has one purpose: to eradicate those books that "offend Texas law with respect to treatment of the world's major religious groups by significant inequalities of coverage space-wise and/or by demonizing or lionizing one or more of them over others." The resolution was presented on September 23 and approved on the 27 with a 7-5 vote.
To give you a sense of what the resolution presented as conclusive proof of pro-Islamic bias, here's the first point of the document:
"In one instance, devoting 120 student text lines to Christian beliefs, practices, and holy writings but 248 (more than twice as many) to those of Islam; and dwelling for 27 student text lines on Crusaders' massacre of Muslims at Jerusalem in 1099 yet censoring Muslims' massacres of Christians there in 1244 and at Antioch in 1268, implying that Christian brutality and Muslim loss of life are significant but Islamic cruelty and Christian deaths are not."
As you can see, they did their research. None of what was presented is false. Unfortunately, this column is too short for me to make a list of the murders that have been committed in the name of Christianity that are left out of textbooks.
Given the rampant popularity of Islam and the utter lack of bible-thumping, gunshot-wielding inbred Republican bigots in this great state of ours, I think I have to agree with the geniuses that supported this resolution. If we keep teaching our kids about other religions and cultures while simultaneously promoting diversity and tolerance, what kind of awful future awaits us? We need to accept the fact that academia has skewed way too far to the dirty left and that's what's causing the economic meltdown, the budget cutbacks, illegal immigration and our sorry-ass loss to UCLA. The sooner we purge Texas of all this liberal bias, the sooner we can have what we all dream of: a country chockfull of Rush Limbaughs, Glenn Becks and Sarah Palins. I can't wait for Fox to be on every channel!
Think about it: you haven't noticed how many kids are embracing Islam lately? Okay, at least you've had to become aware of the skyrocketing sales of the Qur'an in Texas bookshops. If you haven't, then you're probably a filthy freethinking liberal and you deserve to remain ignorant. You need to help the righteous Board in their quest to get rid of all the Latinos, African Americans, Homosexuals and Muslims that appear on our way-too-liberal textbooks. The sooner we take care of that, the sooner we can start concentrating on bringing back slavery, making sure we build that wall on the border and getting women back into the kitchen where they belong.
Okay, enough cynicism. As I read how textbooks are supposedly heavily pro-Islam and how we need to take drastic measures to prevent Middle Eastern influences from creeping into the nation's publishing industry, I remembered that these are the same folks who still question Darwin's theory of evolution. Seriously, is anyone surprised at their latest inanity? I vote to leave textbooks as they are and concentrate on eliminating idiocy from the Texas Board of Education - now there's a challenge for you.
At least there's a sliver for hope. I feel that the 7-5 vote is something we can hold on to: it means there's a righteous, thinking minority on the Board fighting for what's right. As for your role in this mess, here's a treat: you can contact Randy Rives at his office at (806) 239-9472 and let him know what you think! Be sure to thank him for contributing to the exposition of the seldom-represented and oppressed Republican political philosophies.
http://uweeklyaustin.com/magazine/10-06-2010/opinion-texas-board-of-education
OPINION: Texas Board of Education
Taking care of what really matters
By Gabino Iglesias
Last February, the narrow-minded Jesus-freaks that hold the reins of the Texas Board of Education scored big when they approved a social studies curriculum soaked in all things Republican. Not satisfied with taking names like Thomas Jefferson and Cesar Chavez out of textbooks and rearranging history to fit their conservative agenda, now they're back to make sure their right-wing extremism hits every aspect of education. Bravo!
A new resolution proposed by Odessa businessman and State Board of Education hopeful Randy Rives is based on what he perceives as a powerful "pro-Islamic, anti-Christian" bias in textbooks. The six-page document has one purpose: to eradicate those books that "offend Texas law with respect to treatment of the world's major religious groups by significant inequalities of coverage space-wise and/or by demonizing or lionizing one or more of them over others." The resolution was presented on September 23 and approved on the 27 with a 7-5 vote.
To give you a sense of what the resolution presented as conclusive proof of pro-Islamic bias, here's the first point of the document:
"In one instance, devoting 120 student text lines to Christian beliefs, practices, and holy writings but 248 (more than twice as many) to those of Islam; and dwelling for 27 student text lines on Crusaders' massacre of Muslims at Jerusalem in 1099 yet censoring Muslims' massacres of Christians there in 1244 and at Antioch in 1268, implying that Christian brutality and Muslim loss of life are significant but Islamic cruelty and Christian deaths are not."
As you can see, they did their research. None of what was presented is false. Unfortunately, this column is too short for me to make a list of the murders that have been committed in the name of Christianity that are left out of textbooks.
Given the rampant popularity of Islam and the utter lack of bible-thumping, gunshot-wielding inbred Republican bigots in this great state of ours, I think I have to agree with the geniuses that supported this resolution. If we keep teaching our kids about other religions and cultures while simultaneously promoting diversity and tolerance, what kind of awful future awaits us? We need to accept the fact that academia has skewed way too far to the dirty left and that's what's causing the economic meltdown, the budget cutbacks, illegal immigration and our sorry-ass loss to UCLA. The sooner we purge Texas of all this liberal bias, the sooner we can have what we all dream of: a country chockfull of Rush Limbaughs, Glenn Becks and Sarah Palins. I can't wait for Fox to be on every channel!
Think about it: you haven't noticed how many kids are embracing Islam lately? Okay, at least you've had to become aware of the skyrocketing sales of the Qur'an in Texas bookshops. If you haven't, then you're probably a filthy freethinking liberal and you deserve to remain ignorant. You need to help the righteous Board in their quest to get rid of all the Latinos, African Americans, Homosexuals and Muslims that appear on our way-too-liberal textbooks. The sooner we take care of that, the sooner we can start concentrating on bringing back slavery, making sure we build that wall on the border and getting women back into the kitchen where they belong.
Okay, enough cynicism. As I read how textbooks are supposedly heavily pro-Islam and how we need to take drastic measures to prevent Middle Eastern influences from creeping into the nation's publishing industry, I remembered that these are the same folks who still question Darwin's theory of evolution. Seriously, is anyone surprised at their latest inanity? I vote to leave textbooks as they are and concentrate on eliminating idiocy from the Texas Board of Education - now there's a challenge for you.
At least there's a sliver for hope. I feel that the 7-5 vote is something we can hold on to: it means there's a righteous, thinking minority on the Board fighting for what's right. As for your role in this mess, here's a treat: you can contact Randy Rives at his office at (806) 239-9472 and let him know what you think! Be sure to thank him for contributing to the exposition of the seldom-represented and oppressed Republican political philosophies.
http://uweeklyaustin.com/magazine/10-06-2010/opinion-texas-board-of-education
domingo, 10 de octubre de 2010
Séptimo buscapié
Hay que reírse de los risible. De eso va esta columnita.
10 Octubre 2010
Fasfú
Cuando me enteré de que Jenniffer González tuvo la maravillosa idea de abrir el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) a la adquisición de alimentos en establecimientos de comida rápida no pude evitar reírme.
Si bien la fatal idea resulta desagradable y peripatética a cualquiera con más de dos neuronas, la realidad es que imaginar a González convertida en “poster girl” de la comida rápida conlleva una imagen mental que fácilmente vence cualquier intento de seriedad y compostura.
Existe una plétora de investigaciones científicas, libros y documentales que exponen los daños causados por ese facsímil irrazonable de alimento que se consigue en los llamados “fasfús.” La comida rápida es alta en sodio, grasa y azúcares. Además, se ha probado una correlación directa entre el consumo de ese tipo de alimentos y la obesidad, los problemas del corazón y la vida sedentaria. En otras palabras, el valor nutricional de la comida rápida es el equivalente al valor intelectual de nuestros líderes: nulo. Lamentablemente, ese dato, aunque harto conocido por la mayoría de las personas, parece haber evadido a González.
Ignorar crasamente algo que es de dominio público es absolutamente inexcusable. La propuesta de González sólo puede ser interpretada de una de dos maneras: o esa señora es alérgica a la lectura, y por tanto carece de sentido común y de la capacidad de desarrollar pensamiento crítico, o conoce los daños que causa la comida rápida y aún así ha optado por atentar abiertamente contra la salud y el bienestar de los puertorriqueños. Cualquiera de las dos opciones lleva al mismo resultado: la propuesta es un atroz crimen contra la razón, un insulto a los agricultores del País y una burla a los nutricionistas.
Si me equivoco totalmente y la proposición no es más que una bienintencionada forma de hacerles la vida más fácil a las madres de familia a la vez que fomenta la conversión de los establecimientos de comida rápida en nuevos foros sociales para la discusión de nuevas ideas y para que compartan los niños, me disculpo. Lo siento, me tuve que reír otra vez escribiendo eso.
n El autor es estudiante doctoral.
http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-fasfu-795597.html
10 Octubre 2010
Fasfú
Cuando me enteré de que Jenniffer González tuvo la maravillosa idea de abrir el Programa de Asistencia Nutricional (PAN) a la adquisición de alimentos en establecimientos de comida rápida no pude evitar reírme.
Si bien la fatal idea resulta desagradable y peripatética a cualquiera con más de dos neuronas, la realidad es que imaginar a González convertida en “poster girl” de la comida rápida conlleva una imagen mental que fácilmente vence cualquier intento de seriedad y compostura.
Existe una plétora de investigaciones científicas, libros y documentales que exponen los daños causados por ese facsímil irrazonable de alimento que se consigue en los llamados “fasfús.” La comida rápida es alta en sodio, grasa y azúcares. Además, se ha probado una correlación directa entre el consumo de ese tipo de alimentos y la obesidad, los problemas del corazón y la vida sedentaria. En otras palabras, el valor nutricional de la comida rápida es el equivalente al valor intelectual de nuestros líderes: nulo. Lamentablemente, ese dato, aunque harto conocido por la mayoría de las personas, parece haber evadido a González.
Ignorar crasamente algo que es de dominio público es absolutamente inexcusable. La propuesta de González sólo puede ser interpretada de una de dos maneras: o esa señora es alérgica a la lectura, y por tanto carece de sentido común y de la capacidad de desarrollar pensamiento crítico, o conoce los daños que causa la comida rápida y aún así ha optado por atentar abiertamente contra la salud y el bienestar de los puertorriqueños. Cualquiera de las dos opciones lleva al mismo resultado: la propuesta es un atroz crimen contra la razón, un insulto a los agricultores del País y una burla a los nutricionistas.
Si me equivoco totalmente y la proposición no es más que una bienintencionada forma de hacerles la vida más fácil a las madres de familia a la vez que fomenta la conversión de los establecimientos de comida rápida en nuevos foros sociales para la discusión de nuevas ideas y para que compartan los niños, me disculpo. Lo siento, me tuve que reír otra vez escribiendo eso.
n El autor es estudiante doctoral.
http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-fasfu-795597.html
miércoles, 29 de septiembre de 2010
Lee un libro
Esta es la columna de la semana pasada en UWeekly. No creo que sea algo que no haya dicho en este foro...
OPINION: Read a book - I swear it won't kill you
By Gabino Iglesias
You know how sometimes you stop in the middle of a sentence, struggling to find a word to express what you want to say? How about those times when you read something for a class and have no idea what a particular word means? Even better: have you noticed that your ability to concentrate on schoolwork is seriously impaired by a nagging little voice that's always telling you to get on Facebook yet again? Well, don't fret; I'm here to offer you a simple, cheap, entertaining and portable solution to all your conundrums: get a book and read it.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't worry; I won't get too preachy on you. Here's the thing, plain and simple: reading is good for you. Want to know how? Well, your brain is a muscle and, in order to stay strong, flexible and sexy, it requires as much training as the rest of your body. When you pick up a book, your brain goes to work. Just like your body responds to resistance training or cardio by getting leaner, meaner and more powerful, your intellect improves when you dig into a piece of literature. Likewise, reading has been shown to improve your memory. And couldn't we all use a bit more of that when finals roll around?
Reading also improves your ability to concentrate. Just imagine: getting through homework quicker, not being as bored in class, and not having to pop Adderalls like candy because you have less than a day left to finish that monstrous final paper. Sounds good, right? All it takes is a little time and a tome.
Let's keep rolling. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows. That translates into less time spent leafing or clicking around to find the unusual synonyms and powerful adjectives to make your papers sound more intelligent. It also translates into a confident, more eloquent you when you have to speak in public or go on that dreaded job interview. Trust me: in the current sad employment panorama, every little advantage counts. I'm not saying that you need to use words like "xylopyrography" on a daily basis or that you need to become a renowned deipnosophist, but being articulate can go a long way.
Now let's get to the stuff that you really care about. First off, reading can help you pick up somebody wherever you go because you'll have something interesting to share. Also, with Austin being the weird and remarkable city it is, there are plenty of independent bookstores where you can get a book for a buck while simultaneously giving corporate America the finger.
Last but not least, opening a book is something you can do for free while sunbathing at the lake, waiting for the bus, killing time between classes or when your Internet is down. What the hell are you waiting for? I've given you enough reasons - now go get a book.
http://uweeklyaustin.com/magazine/09-22-2010/opinion-read-a-book-i-swear-it-wont-kill-you
OPINION: Read a book - I swear it won't kill you
By Gabino Iglesias
You know how sometimes you stop in the middle of a sentence, struggling to find a word to express what you want to say? How about those times when you read something for a class and have no idea what a particular word means? Even better: have you noticed that your ability to concentrate on schoolwork is seriously impaired by a nagging little voice that's always telling you to get on Facebook yet again? Well, don't fret; I'm here to offer you a simple, cheap, entertaining and portable solution to all your conundrums: get a book and read it.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't worry; I won't get too preachy on you. Here's the thing, plain and simple: reading is good for you. Want to know how? Well, your brain is a muscle and, in order to stay strong, flexible and sexy, it requires as much training as the rest of your body. When you pick up a book, your brain goes to work. Just like your body responds to resistance training or cardio by getting leaner, meaner and more powerful, your intellect improves when you dig into a piece of literature. Likewise, reading has been shown to improve your memory. And couldn't we all use a bit more of that when finals roll around?
Reading also improves your ability to concentrate. Just imagine: getting through homework quicker, not being as bored in class, and not having to pop Adderalls like candy because you have less than a day left to finish that monstrous final paper. Sounds good, right? All it takes is a little time and a tome.
Let's keep rolling. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows. That translates into less time spent leafing or clicking around to find the unusual synonyms and powerful adjectives to make your papers sound more intelligent. It also translates into a confident, more eloquent you when you have to speak in public or go on that dreaded job interview. Trust me: in the current sad employment panorama, every little advantage counts. I'm not saying that you need to use words like "xylopyrography" on a daily basis or that you need to become a renowned deipnosophist, but being articulate can go a long way.
Now let's get to the stuff that you really care about. First off, reading can help you pick up somebody wherever you go because you'll have something interesting to share. Also, with Austin being the weird and remarkable city it is, there are plenty of independent bookstores where you can get a book for a buck while simultaneously giving corporate America the finger.
Last but not least, opening a book is something you can do for free while sunbathing at the lake, waiting for the bus, killing time between classes or when your Internet is down. What the hell are you waiting for? I've given you enough reasons - now go get a book.
http://uweeklyaustin.com/magazine/09-22-2010/opinion-read-a-book-i-swear-it-wont-kill-you
martes, 28 de septiembre de 2010
Strippers en el Mono Rosa
Últimamente no me molesta mucho mi trabajo. Mientras algunos esclavos asalariados se sientan durante ocho horas detrás de un escritorio y/o frente a una computadora, mi guiso me permite hacer cosas como esta: visitar un strip club para hablar con las bailarinas estudiantes. La nota que aquí les dejo me entretuvo bastante. Además, nunca había sacado fotos dentro de un antro como el Pink Monkey…
Paying the Way: the not-so-mythological student stripper
By Gabino Iglesias
Unicorns, dragons, gnomes, and gargoyles? Graduate students who also happen to be strippers? Some would argue that the preceding are all mythological creatures. Want to guess which one isn't? While the statuses of the other three are still pending, the reality of stiletto-wearing pole acrobats on their way to professional degrees is an empirical fact.
In a city as rife with students as Austin, it is inevitable that the stripper population would have be an incredibly diverse constituency. Furthermore, the current cost of tuition, textbooks, car insurance and other economics of student life make Austin the perfect place to find financially challenged gals willing to entertain visitors at the bevy of gentlemen clubs all over the city.
Okay, so there is a graduate student stripper population, but is it easy to locate? Sure. Finding them was easy. Getting them to talk on the record was another story. Nevertheless, my conversations with graduate dancers were rich enough to give me an idea of what drives them to climb onto that poll, putting their reputations and bodies on the line.
Joy (last name withheld) was brave enough to talk on the record, simply because she stopped dancing a while ago. Currently on her way to becoming a lawyer, Joy was originally pushed to the stage by the usual sum of circumstances. "I had a car accident, I had to pay for my classes and the bills were piling up." She actually started as a waitress, but quickly understood that the real money was to be made with her top off. After a quick switch of positions, Joy immediately reaped the benefits of being a dancer: a daily income of around $300 and the freedom to schedule her hours as she pleased. She quickly realized the gig was what we all imagine - fast, easy money.
So why did she quit? "I stopped because I was used to being an A student and, when I was dancing, I started getting my first Cs," she explained. "You do have the freedom to set your hours but you still have to be there and it takes time to get your hair and makeup done." But concentrating on schoolwork was not the only reason she stopped: "I just don't want to be a lawyer, hand someone my card and have them go 'Hey, weren't you a stripper?'" Fair enough.
Picture a student with books to be read, classes to attend and papers to write trying to balance the tightrope of it all along with a gig that requires endless preparation - a gig that takes place mostly at night, demanding involvement with the seediest characters Austin has to offer. According to Joy, it wasn't that hard, assuming one can keep it all under control, learn to spot/avoid the perverts, and make sure your hours are enough to make it all worthwhile. "It was fun, it was great," said Joy seeming nonplussed at her time spent straddling strangers. "It has its pros and cons."
Joshua Hawk, Manager at the Pink Monkey Cabaret, knows all about the reasons that drive graduate students to tease their hair and spin around an unsanitary pole. He thinks, like most probably do, the primary reason to become a dancer is the obvious one: "Fast cash."
According to Hawk, girls can "come in, work a few hours a couple of days a week and make more than they would make working for eight hours a day for a whole week at McDonald's." Hawk has worked in the industry for over a decade and says that, during that time, he has worked with "hundreds of students, some undergraduate and some graduate." So would a graduate student do it? "They do what they have to do to get that diploma." And what about the stigma that forces them to keep in hush? "You know, students judge, but they're also in here all the time. In fact, on Tuesdays we have College Nights," said Hawk. "People talk shit before they get in the door and, once they're in here, they open their wallets," the manager frankly concluded.
Nevertheless, as times change so do social norms. It seems that in our post-modern culture opposites can be embraced. Intellectual (and drug-free) strippers might now be the norm. They also might be you child's future teacher. Consequently, next time you pay a visit to a "gentlemen's club," don't hesitate to deposit a few bills on the stage or in a thong, as your dollars could be the tangible stimulus that this country needs-helping a future engineer, lawyer, or doctor achieve her dream.
http://uweeklyaustin.com/magazine/09-22-2010/paying-the-way-the-not-so-mythological-student-stripper
Musiquita de la buena
Esta semana escribí un artículo sobre una banda local de funk, blues y jazz. Aquí se las dejo.
Felan: Meaningful funk and no subtlety at all
By Gabino_Iglesias - Monday September 27, 2010 - 12:13 pm
Bored with what 6th Street has to offer? Tired of the same old sound? Ready for something better than dime-a-dozen singer/songwriters and throwback bands that sound homogeneously boring? Weary of bland punk bands? Then I have a recipe for you: throw together some funk, sprinkle in some jazz, add a touch of blues, put in some Latin seasoning, insert a ton of talent and a mix it all with a good serving of enthusiasm. The result is called Felan, an 8-piece Austin-based hard-edged funk band that has the power, the chops and the fire to shake this town to its core on every performance…and they’re about to blow up.
Last Wednesday I sat down with Alex Felan and Erik Telford, the commanding duo behind one of Austin’s most explosive bands. Felan and Telford met a few years ago when they played together in another band. As it often happens in music, that became the genesis of what they’re doing now. “We’re a hard-edged funk band but we bring a little bit of everything to the table; Motown, jazz, Latin. We’re not a throwback band or a neo-soul band,” explained Felan, who’s in charge of keys and vocals. With a delicious plethora of influences, Felan sounds like everything you want to hear while simultaneously managing to throw a new, fresh sound your way. “When you have a horn section, you can pretty much do whatever you want,” said Felan.
If starts are any indication of future success, these guys are destined for greatness. Their current fiery sound has its origins in a gig they played a while ago. “We were playing and started wondering what would happen if we played all out, balls-to-the wall,” reminisced Telford. And they did. The outcome was a blast of sound that made them choose not to play any other way ever again. Telford mentioned that the experiment angered a few musicians in the audience and that a small exchange of words was had over Facebook. Nevertheless, a great thing can’t be denied so, according to Telford, “it’s all good.”
Yeah, it’s all good. With a band packed with professional musicians trained in places like Baylor, our own University of Texas at Austin and Berklee, Felan boasts that perfect mixture of guts to experiment with and the instruction to back their trips into the improvisational stratosphere. I asked them both what it’s like to play with such great musicians. “It’s a great way to stay different,” said Telford, “every time we play it’s a different show, even if the songs are the same. We like to change things on the spot so that you always hear something new,” explained the trumpeter and composer.
As for Felan, the experience is one of constant wonder: “It’s like magic; there’s no over thinking, we’re just there, doing it. It’s an uninformed process but these guys have serious skills so there are no deer-caught-in-the-headlights looks when we’re up there,” said the bandleader. And watching them in action turns you into a witness of that musical magic: a tight sound full of explosive nuances that makes you nod your head, move your feet and love life just a little bit more. That’s what happens when tremendous musicians are able to meet on the same wavelength: meaningful music.
Want to see for yourself? You can catch Felan every Wednesday after 10:00 p.m. at Austin’s premier spot for sweaty dancing, cold beer and thrilling sounds: TC’s Lounge. The freedom and atmosphere at TC’s is something the band enjoys. “TC’s Lounge is one of the oldest venues in Austin,” said Felan, “there’s some good juju in here.” Erik had a few more reasons why the gigs at TC’s are the best: “You can bring your own beer and they have pickled pig’s feet at the bar. I don’t think they have pickled pig’s feet at Momo’s… and if they do, they’re not $1.75,” concluded Telford.
Felan is currently working on a demo that they hope will be out by Christmas. As soon as it’s out, they plan on getting it in as many hands as possible: “We want to get our music out there,” said Felan, “we are all about touching people, getting a meaningful reaction out of them with our sound.” In other words, be on the lookout this upcoming Christmas and get your hands on that demo: it’s something you will enjoy and want to share.
Before letting them get onstage to do their funky thing, I asked the two musicians why people should go watch them. “We are available for rent, you can buy us…we have no shame and we will do many things to amuse you,” said Telford. How can you pass on a deal like that? “When you see us come out, you’ll enjoy it,” added Felan, “it’s good music for good people.”
You can check out Felan at felanmusic.com, and also check out Erik Telford’s various other projects at ejtmusic.com. Also, if you want to get to know Alex, Erik and the rest of the gang, make sure you drop by TC’s Lounge, on 1413 Webberville Road in East Austin. A minute into their first song you will know why subtlety is not their strong suit.
http://www.austinpost.org/content/felan-meaningful-funk-and-no-subtlety-all
martes, 21 de septiembre de 2010
Prohibido
El viernes pasado asistí a una reunión editorial. Básicamente es una hora perdida en la que un grupo de gente convence a sus editores de que sus ideas merecen ser convertidas en historias y, posteriormente, publicarse. En mi caso, los editores con los que tengo que trabajar jamás me fastidian. Ellos sabrán por qué.
En cualquier caso, el punto es que me tocó sentarme detrás de uno de los jóvenes descerebrados que escribe para la sección de deportes. En su computadora tenía como wallpaper una foto de Bukowski...
Aquí está el problema: si eres un tipo que usa polos y escribe sobre football americano, no puedes leer Bukowski. ¿Por qué? Porque lo digo yo. Estas son las reglas:
No puedes leer Bukowski si:
1- Lloraste o lloras aún por las notas que sacas
2- Te gusta Yanni y/o Kenny G
3- Ves comedias románticas
4- Usas polos con chancletas
5- Lees Pablo Conejo, cuentos de vampiros prepubescentes o poesía romántica moderna
6- Te ríes de los "chistes" de Dane Cook
7- No escuchas Tom Waits
8- No sabes quién es Steven Wright
9- No dices coño o carajo más de tres veces al día
10- Nunca te emborrachaste con vino barato
11- Nunca te quedaste en moteles con cucarachas y manchas extrañas en la alfombra
12- Nunca te hand dado un puño en la cara
13- No te has peleado con nadie (va de la mano con la anterior)
14- No has estado dentro de un contenedor de basura
15- Ho has dormido nunca en el piso
Podría seguir, pero ustedes entienden lo que quiero decir: Bukowski es para cierto tipo de gente. Bukowski es para gente que ve la vida desde la ventana de un autobús, gente que pelea por cada minuto, gente que sabe lo que vale un recuerdo, gente que sabe que el dolor no siempre es pasajero...
En cualquier caso, el punto es que me tocó sentarme detrás de uno de los jóvenes descerebrados que escribe para la sección de deportes. En su computadora tenía como wallpaper una foto de Bukowski...
Aquí está el problema: si eres un tipo que usa polos y escribe sobre football americano, no puedes leer Bukowski. ¿Por qué? Porque lo digo yo. Estas son las reglas:
No puedes leer Bukowski si:
1- Lloraste o lloras aún por las notas que sacas
2- Te gusta Yanni y/o Kenny G
3- Ves comedias románticas
4- Usas polos con chancletas
5- Lees Pablo Conejo, cuentos de vampiros prepubescentes o poesía romántica moderna
6- Te ríes de los "chistes" de Dane Cook
7- No escuchas Tom Waits
8- No sabes quién es Steven Wright
9- No dices coño o carajo más de tres veces al día
10- Nunca te emborrachaste con vino barato
11- Nunca te quedaste en moteles con cucarachas y manchas extrañas en la alfombra
12- Nunca te hand dado un puño en la cara
13- No te has peleado con nadie (va de la mano con la anterior)
14- No has estado dentro de un contenedor de basura
15- Ho has dormido nunca en el piso
Podría seguir, pero ustedes entienden lo que quiero decir: Bukowski es para cierto tipo de gente. Bukowski es para gente que ve la vida desde la ventana de un autobús, gente que pelea por cada minuto, gente que sabe lo que vale un recuerdo, gente que sabe que el dolor no siempre es pasajero...
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