Pages

Monday, December 27, 2010

INsite's Top 10 Austin Releases of 2010


The Top 10 Austin CDs INsite Owner Sean Claes Listened to this Year


Those who have been following INsite owner Sean Claes' blog, Notes From The Cubicle are aware that between September 2009 and September 2010 he took on a challenge to review one release from an Austin-based band a week for a year. At the end he reviewed 55 different CDs. Why 55? Well, there were 6 EPs in there and he counts those as half an album. Questions about that? click here.

Here are INsite's choices for Top 10 locally-released albums of 2010. You will not find reasoning behind the choices here, but each choice contains a link to the review Claes' wrote in 2010.



10. Bobby Bookout - Bobby Bookout

8. Lennon's Song - We Love, We Learn, We Grow

7. Trashy and the Kid - Songs In The Key of Blow Me

6. Alejandro Escovedo - Street Songs of Love

5. The Jeremy Miller Band - Way Too Fast

4. Ray Wylie Hubbard - A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There is no C)

3. Terri Hendrix - Cry Till You Laugh

2. One-Eyed Doll - Break

1. Dave Madden - Open Eyed / Broken Wide




Dave Madden - Open Eyed



Dave Madden - Broken Wide



Thanks to all who make music for giving INsite the gift of hearing your craft.

God Bless you and keep you safe in 2011 and beyond.


p.s. If you're interested, Claes' new challenge for 2010-2011 is 52 Weeks of DIY Music Advice. Check it out and please give feedback.

Friday, December 17, 2010

INsite's Shop Austin 2010

Shop Austin Gift Guide 2010
"A Lot of Local In One" Place Edition



By Sean Claes
Photos by Jay West and Sean Claes

Each year, INsite likes to share a few places for you to consider shopping during the holiday season. One reason we’re known as Austin’s Other Entertainment Magazine is because we like to root for the underdog. In a town as big as Austin, it’s easy to go to your local “box store” and get your Christmas shopping done in one stop, but just like we enjoy telling you about local bands, just as good if not better than national acts, whom you may have never heard, we also like to share the names and locations of places you can shop local.

All of the places on this list are dedicated to featuring many local artisans in one place. So, essentially, like a “big box” store, these are “outside the box” one stop shops. You can truly find some one-of-a-kind gems for the folks on your shopping list this year. We hope you print this out and use it as a guide.

We hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Great Kwanza, Festivus (Seinfeld is still a great show BTW), or whatever you celebrate during this season.


23rd St. Renaissance Market

23rd St. and Guadalupe

http://www.austinartistsmarket.com
Since 1969 artists and artisans have been gathering on the Guadalupe Street area known affectionately as “The Drag” to sell their wares under the awesome mural pictured at the beginning of this artice. If you’re looking for paintings, jewelry, tie-dyes, candles, or leather goods made by locals this open air market is one option. It’s also located in the heart of the University of Texas area of Austin as well, so it’s mighty popular with the college aged set as well. It’s open everyday between 8a and 10p, and since it’s made up of all local/area artisans, the finds change from day to day.


Blue Genie Art Bazzar

6226 Middle Fiskville Rd
http://bluegenieartbazaar.com/
For the last decade artistans have been getting together for this annual event. This year, they boast over 150 participants, each selling their handcrafted items. It’s located at the Marchesa Hall and Theatre in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center of Austin. This bazzar is free to attend and the caliber of artisans are pretty impressive. I’ve personally bought hand crafted items from a few of these folks, and we’ve featured them in previous issues of INsite as well as gift guides from years past. Funky handbags, jaunty hairclips, kids art supplies, paintings, and jewelry are just a few things you can find here. Check their Website for a full list of participants. This event runs from now until December 24. The hours are: Sunday – Thursday from 10a – 10p, Friday and Saturday from 10a-12m


South Congress Avenue (SoCo)
SoCo runs From the river to Oltorf

http://www.firstthursday.info/
Visit the area of Austin that helps “Keep Austin Weird.” I know, it’s kind of a cop-out to use an entire street as the place to go, but if I listed out each place I think you should stop, this article would be about a million words long. So… a synopsis: Thrift stores, boutiques, fine and funky art shops, specialty food stores, the coolest candy shop in town, and a whole bunch of other places scatter this street.

You can grab some classic candy from the (pictured) Big Top Candy Shoppe (1706 SoCo), the over to Tesoros Trading Company (1500 SoCo) to buy Uncle John some folk art, then wander down to Blackmail (1202 SoCo) to buy your loved one that little black dress. Or perhaps check out the American Indian jewelry at Turquoise Door (1208 SoCo) before seeing what you can pick up for your hard-to-shop-for sister at Monkey See Monkey Do (1712 SoCo) and then to Parts and Labour (1117 SoCo) for a custom-made Chuck Norris handbag, complete with fuzzy mustache.

The choices are limitless as SoCo is a wonderland of funky and great things.



Several Stores who Feature Local Year-Round
Various Locations

Looking for a pillow that features Pee Wee Herman screenprinted on it? hand-blown glass wine-tags? Perhaps a plaid jacket that dons a likeness to the guys in DEVO? Whimsical handmade baby blankets? Vegan soap? Owl hat? Maybe the more classic items like Earrings, dresses, or necklaces? We’ve got several places in Austin that features things like this year-round…

Stores that feature many local artisans under one roof include, but are not limited to: Moxie (11th St) Parts and Labour (SoCo), Lucky Lizard (6th Street), and Sanctuary (Bee Caves). Click their names to visit their site for more information.


I limited this article to feature four destination points for you, but there are hundreds of stores in Austin that feature local artisans. I’ve culled a short list to provide you with a partial list of some of the local places (and Websites) that sell locally made items. Enjoy.


Austin Bikes - 1213 W. 5th St (austinbikes.com)
Austin Museum of Art (AMOA) Store - 823 Congress Avenue (amoa.org)
Austin Visitors Center - 301 Congress Avenue, Ste. 200 (austintexas.org)

Authenticity Gallery - 910 Congress Ave # 100 (authenticitygallery.com)

Blue Moon Glassworks - 108 W 43rd St (austinbluemoon.com)

Creatures Boutique - 1206 S Congress Ave (creaturesboutique.com)

Emeralds - 624 N. Lamar Blvd (helloemeralds.com)

The Gas Pipe - 701 E 5th St (thegaspipe.net)
Images of Austin - 4612 Burnet Road (imagesofaustin.com)
Lucky Lizard - 412 East 6th Street (luckylizard.net)

Mexic-Arte - 419 Congress Ave (mexic-artemuseum.org)

The Oasis Gift Shop - 6550 Comanche Trl (oasis-austin.com)
Parts and Labour - 1117 S Congress Ave (partsandlabour.com)
Prima Dora - 1912 S Congress Ave (primadora.blogspot.com)

Sanctuary - 3663 Bee Caves Rd (sanctuaryhomebathgarden.com)

Secret Oktober - 1905-B South 1st (secret-oktober.com)

Sol Reflections - 107 Ranch Road 620 (solreflections.com)

State Capitol Gift Shop - 112 East 11th Street (texascapitolgiftshop.com)

Storyville - 2001A Guadalupe Street (wearyourstory.com)

Terra Toys - 2438 W Anderson Ln (terratoys.com)

Texas State History Museum - 1800 N. Congress Ave (thestoryoftexas.com)

Things She Adores - 2306 E. Cesar Chavez, Suite 101 (thingssheadores.com)
Wanderland - 3419 North Lamar (wanderlandshops.com)
Waterloo Records - 600 N Lamar Blvd (waterloorecords.com)
Wee - 417 1/2 W 2nd St (shopwee.com)
Whole Foods Market - 525 N Lamar Blvd (wholefoodsmarket.com)


So, Austin, please support Local this holiday season. And from my family to yours, have a wonderful Christmas.

December Cover - ANDY DICK


Andy Dick brings his Stocking Stuffer Music and Comedy Show to Austin




By Veronica Garcia


Ardent comedian Andy Dick is bringing his X-mas act, “Andy Dick's Stocking Stuffer Music and Comedy Show” to Emo’s Saturday night, hoping to end 2010 without incident.


“I’m book-ending my shows - I started in January with five shows and I’m ending it in December with the same five shows,” he said in a recent phone interview from his Topanga Canyon, Calif. home.


It wasn’t part of the act, but what he allegedly did after the show, that landed Dick in a West Virginia jail in January. Dick reportedly groped two men at a club, following his performance.


“I went to jail for 16 hours, I got back out and the club owner said, ‘I understand if you don’t want to do the three remaining shows,’” he recalled.


Being the consummate performer, Dick insisted the show must go on despite the allegations.




“But let’s not focus on that, or the jail time, and the court cases that are pending,” he said. “Let’s talk about the show. The show is fucking awesome! I can’t wait to do it in Austin. People are going to go nuts, seriously.”


Just don’t compare it to stand-up comedy, or you might annoy Dick.


“I’m warning you right now, if you’re coming to listen to stand-up comedy, I don’t even like stand-up,” he said. “I’m sick of it, it’s dumb! My shit, you will enjoy. You will get your money’s worth even if you get in for free.”


Dick, 45, has been performing his X-mas show for 25 years.


“It’s a mixture of songs and characters I do, and then I’ll twist people’s brains,” he said. “It’s stuff that I can’t do on television.”


The X-mas show also highlights whatever is happening in his life at the time, it changes and evolves, he explained.


“It just gets better and better and better,” he said. “Or maybe you could call it a slow retardation - actually maybe it’s getting worse.”


These days, Dick gets high on saving animals and living a raw food lifestyle.


“I’m vibrating,” he said. “It helps your mind, body and soul. Whatever is wrong with you, it’ll fix. It’s how you’re supposed to be. We’re supposed to walk around and eat the things we find.”


Dick recently rescued two dogs from certain death. He also owns two cats, a rabbit and two rattlesnakes. He regularly rescues rattlesnakes while hiking in his backyard.


“I keep them in Andy Dick’s Half-way House for Wayward Rattlesnakes,” he said. “They stay here for a couple of months and I get to look at them and feed them crickets and little baby mice and then I relocate them. People are thanking me for this service because if you call the fire department they kill the snakes.”


During our conversation, on this particular Saturday afternoon, he and guitarist Tim Walsh were headed out in search of psychedelic mushrooms on his 30-acre property.


“They’re growing wild on my yard,” Dick said. “He claims he’s an expert in this and he’s already done some. I will not do it. But he literally has thousands of dollars of ’shrooms. He’s going to pick them and sell them and keep the money.”


Walsh, who performs in a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band, is joining Dick for his show in Austin.


“He’s super funny and talented,” Dick said. “Everyone should clear their fucking schedule and come to the show.”


Local promoter Adam Brewer is excited to bring the X-mas show to Austin and particularly to Emo’s.


“It’s a rock and roll comedy show and it’s a different environment to see a show like this,” he said.


“And everyone knows Andy Dick, for better or for worse,” he added. “But this is a great mix of comedy and music especially with a holiday theme, and Andy is on his road to redemption trying to prove to everyone that he’s not just someone in a tabloid headline; he’s a very funny man. He’s going to light that room up.”

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

MOvember 2010 - TEAM AUS



A man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.


Growing A Mustache
For Charity

Team AUS Participates in Movember

By Sean Claes
If you’re not familiar with the term, Movember may look like a typo. Let my hairy upper lip assure you, it is not. It’s a movement in fine moustachery that reportedly hatched in Australia in 1999 that has grown into a worldwide phenomena.

During the month of November, men “bring back” the mustache in a fun way to raise awareness for a serious thing – men’s health issues like prostate cancer.

In 2009, Austin got into the mix in a big way with a Movember team by the name of TEAM AUS. With 55 members, they raised more than $18,000.

It’s Movember 2010 and TEAM AUS is at it again.

As of November 9, 2010, TEAM AUS was 141 members and is currently sitting in at number 14 in the nation. The goal of the team is to be 250 members and raise $100,000. “With this team and this goal, we will go a LONG way to help raise awareness around men's health and help to raise funds to wipe out this horrid disease,” Aaron Strout, CMO of Powered and TEAM AUS captain, said.



Strout promised that the benefits of participating, other than the obvious one about raising awareness and funds, include meeting new and interesting people in the area at the events throughout the month, being part of a national team, and attending the gala being planned on December 2, 2010 at Highball ($10/person). Sound good to you? Why not join and/or donate via this link - http://bit.ly/atxdonate.

I am a member of TEAM AUS. I decided at the end of October that I was going to grow a mustache for November… but didn’t join a team. That’s when Strout invited me via twitter.com. So, I accepted and now I have a bunch of Mo-Bros and Mo-Sistas who are in support.

Yes, there are Mo-Sistas. The fun and fundraising isn’t limited to the men folk... and it’s not limited to those actually growing a mustache. Anyone who wants to participate is invited. Plus, the donations that are raised from November will go to two worthy causes: The Lance Armstrong Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Now, I could go on and on naming stats like the one at the beginning of this story and things like “a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes” which, while true, may read like words on a screen for folks. So, I thought I’d ask members of TEAM AUS to let INsite know what motivates them to participate. Perhaps one of these answers will MOtivate you or a loved one to take a closer look at their health situation. At the end of their motivation is the link to their personal MOspace page. If you’d like to donate to them, just click.

Again, If you’d like to make a general donation to the TEAM AUS or join the team, go here: http://bit.ly/atxdonate

MEMBERS OF TEAM AUS TALK ABOUT THEIR MOTIVATION

Amanda Adams
Marketing Director
How often does someone have the opportunity to be a part of something huge? Being Part of a community of people successfully changing something that impacts everyone's corner of the world.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/660736/

Elmer Boutin
Webmaster
Too many of my friends and family members have fought the battle against cancer. Way too many. This is but my small part to help in their battle.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/605050/

Aaron Bramley
Director of Digital Media, Ridgewood: Ingenious Communication
My father had prostate cancer and beat that sucker with grace and moxie. Others aren't so lucky and I understand it's hereditary.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/532072/

Charlie N. Browning
Mobile & Social Marketing Consultant
My Uncle Billy, a fun-loving crazy character, is currently fighting Stage 4 Prostate Cancer that has spread to his bones and joints.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/744474/

Max Chirkov
Director of Marketing at PhoenixHomes.com
I know at least 5 of my friends and co-workers, who are males and have/had different types of cancer. A couple of months ago my father had recently his thyroid removed due to cancer as well. We try to donate to ACS through our work at PhoenixHomes.com regularly, and Movember makes it more fun. It's a worthy cause - let us deal with it today, so our kids won't have to! Oh yea, and stache is a bonus :)
http://us.movember.com/mospace/609296/

Sean Claes
Owner, INsite Magazine
At first, it was just an excuse to grow a 1970’s porn star mustache, but then I remembered a friend from church who had a testicle removed just before graduating from High School last year due to cancer. He’s now married and moving forward with life because he was smart and got checked early.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/568742/

Joe Cohen
Consultant (Finance/Business Intelligence)
I wanted an excuse for a great stache...but then I realized that I do know people that have been directly affected. Now it's for them.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/961040/

D'Ann Faught Freelance Sports Writer
I'm participating in #Movember just to support all of my awesome Mo Bros! Love seeing the crazy mustaches that appear in the month of Movember for this great cause.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/616002/



Jonathan Gesinger
Business Development, Emma Inc.
Great way to finally put this rapid growing facial scruff to good use. And most importantly, supporting other members of Team Austin who have themselves, or friends and family, been effected by prostate cancer.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/697584/

Robert Gilbreath
Director of Ecommerce - Calendars.com / Calendar Holdings / Calendar Club
Excuse to grow a mo, but obviously the real reason is to support causes that help with men's health issues. We've all been touched by the horrific occurrence of a family member or friend having cancer. This is a fun way to support research etc in hope that fewer and fewer people have to suffer.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/853446/

Jared Haas
Owner | Archemy Design
One month in the life of Tom Selleck and an ongoing mission to save our boys down under.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/942718/




Dennis Hall
Selling smiles @ ExactTarget
To educate myself, family, and friends about the prevalence and severity of men's cancer (what, we guys are supposed to just grin and bear it?:) and to raise $$$. I've also never been able to grow a decent moustache (wife hates them and my hair does not get soft...ever). Maybe it'll be different this time since it's for a terrific cause?
http://us.movember.com/mospace/884948

Sonny Johns
Business Development at Kashmoo.com and BestFit Media
I'm a two-time testicular cancer survivor and hope none of my brothers have to go through what I went through.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/303232/

Jason Kapler
Sr. Marketing Manager @ Convio
I want to eradicate Cancer & I've never had the guts to grow a mustache. Seemed like a great chance to man up and experience the majesty of Movember.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/606384/

Matt McGinnis
Enterprise Marketing at Dell
I've participated in the Livestrong Challenge a few times before to raise awareness and money to fight cancer. Last year a former college roommate was diagnosed with testicular cancer during a routine physical. He was fortunate and they caught it early. He underwent surgery and chemo treatments and is now one nut lighter and cancer free (for the time being). He has a strong network of family and friends that helped him through it. Not everyone is so fortunate. I want to do my part to help other men who are fighting cancer.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/882890/

Mike Neumann
Principal, Agile Set, LLC
Hey, everyone's doing it, right? No, really. Movember is our turn to step up. Also, one of my best friends back in Virginia lost a testicle to cancer ten years ago. That really woke us all up.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/299062/

Brittany Oster
Sales Coordinator for Powered, Inc.
I think it's a great cause and I love participating in these type of events. Any time I see a creative opportunity to do something fun for a good cause, I'm an advocate.
https://www.movember.com/us/donate/your-details/team_id/75952

Sydney Owen
Associate, WCG Insights
My mother had cancer, obviously not prostate cancer, but you know, it's all about finding a cure. So, let the dudes grow 'staches and I'll be a cheerleader for the team.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/640884/

Russ Somers
Director of Marketing, Invodo
I'm a husband and a father. I've been fortunate in that my life hasn't been closely touched by men's cancers. But my number could be up anytime. And my son Joe is three. I'd like to see him live a long, healthy life without having to worry about cancer. Since one in two men are diagnosed with cancer at some point, either he or I are likely to face it. So that's why.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/562356/

Aaron Strout
CMO at Powered Inc
I have two close friends that have either lost (or will soon lose) a family member to men's cancer. And then there's my boy, Sonny Johns, who is a two-time cancer survivor (testicular). For me, taking this cause on head on allows me to do a lot of good (awareness and fundraising) in a short period of time... and I get to meet a lot of new people doing it.
http://bit.ly/atxdonate (Team Movember Page)

Jason Vogen
Instalations CAS
I'm growing my stache because it looked fun. Just after starting my first Movember, my grandfather passed away due to cancer. Now I participate in his memory.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/400250/


Jonathan Weldon
Senior Account Manager @ Convio, Inc.
My grandfather lost his life to prostate cancer, my mother is a colon cancer survivor, my uncles are kidney and prostate cancer survivors so… this is personal. If my genes have anything to do with it, statistically cancer and I could eventually meet and I'd rather do so with a creepy Mo lettin it know who's the MFing boss.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/532906/

James Young
VP of Products at Spredfast
Last year, it was for fun and for a good cause. This year it is personal. My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July, and had surgery in October. He is doing well, and we are participating together (along with my brother and brother-in-law) to celebrate getting through this part of the process.
http://us.movember.com/mospace/325828/ (James)
http://us.movember.com/mospace/831300/ (James’ dad, Merton)

---

About the beneficiaries:
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (www.pcf.org) uses the money raised by Movember to fund research that is accelerating the discovery of better treatments and ultimately a cure for prostate cancer.

LIVESTRONG (WWW.LIVESTRONG.ORG) uses the money raised by Movember to fund important programs to support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer.

Movember Gala
December 2nd @ Highball (1142 S. Lamar St)
Start: 8:00pm End: 2:00am
$10/person
(Movember participants can "earn" up to two tickets. One for raising $100, and another at $200)



Thursday, November 4, 2010

INsite Hindsite - Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010

Every year the Austin City Limits Music Festival seems to get bigger and better, and this year the weather was awesome, the music was stellar and the times were legendary.

INsite contributor Steve Hopson was the official magazine photographer on hand for all three days of the festival. Steve has shot every ACL Music Fest. here's a little taste of what his eye saw in 2010.

Enjoy, and we'll see you again for the next Austin City Limits Music Festival on September 16-18, 2011.

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
Sign

The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips

Knitta Please, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
The wrapped Art piece by Knitta Please founder Magda Sayeg

M.I.A., Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
M.I.A.

Carolyn Wonderland, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
Carolyn Wonderland

Phish, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
Phish

Ryan Bingham, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
Ryan Bingham

DeadMau5
DeadMau5

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Portugal, The Man
Portugal, The Man

Alex Ebert, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Alex Ebert, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

M. Ward, Monsters of Folk
M. Ward, Monsters of Folk

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010

Robert Earl Keen
Robert Earl Keen

Joe Walsh, The Eagles
Joe Walsh, The Eagles

Christopher Owens, Girls
Christopher Owens, Girls

Music Lovers, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010

Warpaint
Warpaint

Angus and Julia Stone, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
Angus and Julia Stone

The Black Keys, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
The Black Keys

Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010

J.J. Grey and Mofro, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010
J.J. Grey and Mofro

Eleanor Masterson, Angus and Julia Stone
Eleanor Masterson (Angus and Julia Stone)

Zoe Jakes, Beats Antique
Zoe Jakes, Beats Antique

Charlie Mars, Austin City Limits Music Festival 2010

Charlie Mars