Cover Story

The Luv Doc: Bikinis, Banana Hammocks, and Baby Oil

Dear Luv Doc, I just moved to Austin in December and have found that the dress code in my office is much more relaxed than it was in New York. Any suggestions on where I might get some cool, casual office clothes? – Overdressed In the words of Oscar Wilde, “You can never be overdressed…

by The Luv Doc

Record Review: JJ Grey & Mofro

JJ Grey & Mofro Brighter Days (Alligator) Mofro guitarist Andrew Trube, also of Austin funkateers Greyhounds, struggles to describe the band’s sound on the video portion of this live DVD/CD. A documentary brimming with riveting concert footage recorded in Atlanta, the video portion of Brighter Days is the best calling card yet for this group’s…

by Chronicle Staff

Last Days Here

The three-decade descent into full-time drug-taking by Bobby Liebling, the theatrical lead singer of the hard-rock group Pentagram, is revealed in this moving documentary.

by Marc Savlov

Record Review: Steep Canyon Rangers

Steep Canyon Rangers Nobody Knows You (Rounder) Like Alison Krauss and Punch Brothers, North Carolina’s Steep Canyon Rangers, most recently seen backing comic/banjo player Steve Martin, stretches bluegrass in a pop direction in a way that seems natural, apropos. Unfortunately, while the quintet’s musicianship and harmonies are impeccable, its downfall remains subject matter, relying too…

by Chronicle Staff

Lockout

In this Luc Besson-produced thriller, a man must rescue the president’s daughter from a prison in outer space that has been taken over by the inmates.

by Kimberley Jones

Conspirare

The Grammy-nominated choir leads off its Legacy of Sound campaign with a seven-figure gift

by Robert Faires

Oops!

Due to an editing error, Kevin Lovejoy was misidentified as the owner of Lovejoys Tap Room & Brewery in the Kat Edmonson profile “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” (Music, April 6). He is not. Due to a proofing error, an incomplete version of Kimberley Jones’ review of Bully ran in the April 13…

by Chronicle Staff

Texas Platters

New Multitudes (Rounder) Like Mermaid Avenue, the two-part collaboration between Wilco and Billy Bragg, New Multitudes is a resilient tribute to Woody Guthrie based on the folk pioneer’s unpublished lyrics. That’s where the similarities end. This project pulls together four more songwriting stalwarts of alt.country and indie rock in Son Volt’s Jay Farrar, Centro-matic/South San…

by Austin Powell

Texas Platters

Joe Pug The Great Despiser (Lightning Rod) “To meet me is to dare into the darkness,” intones Joe Pug on his sophomore LP opener “Hymn #76.” It strikes as both challenge and warning, a psalm leveled by the songwriter at himself and the listener. Now settled in Austin after garnering acclaim in Chicago following 2008…

by Doug Freeman

Texas Platters

A Giant Dog Fight (Tic Tac Totally) A Giant Dog’s full-length debut is informed by what came before, but not in thrall of it. While spiritual hints of early-Eighties American underground abound, the Austin quintet’s cut-and-paste artistry is here and now. The raucous, low-rent squall quakes with affirmative abandon, while a just-right dose of pop…

by Greg Beets

Texas Platters

Berkshire Hounds Greatest Hits Jim Campo and Spencer Garland still rock gigs with black X’s on their hands, but the underage East Cameron duo writes songs like they’ve run themselves through the ringer on more than one occasion. Berkshire Hounds’ Bandcamp-only Greatest Hits finds the Dallas natives rumbling with a slacker’s defiance as bold as…

by Chase Hoffberger

Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

Che Guevara’s paternal grandparents were both born in the U.S. His great-grandparents had gone to California for the Gold Rush. Nowadays, 20% of third-grade boys and 18% of third-grade girls have a cell phone, according to a 2011 Massachusetts study. Thirty-nine percent of fifth graders have cell phones and more than 83% of middle school…

by Mr. Smarty Pants

Texas Platters

The Bipolar Bears The Bipolar Bears demonstrate a knack for window-down anthems, but on this eponymous full-length debut, the local quartet hasn’t quite cemented its foothold. The group’s clever moniker precedes its lithe sound, equivocating between Fifties beach rock and Eighties power pop, the product of a three-way frontman split. Bassist Devin Hanley, guitarist Daniel…

by Abby Johnston

Texas Platters

Though it’s only four songs biding time until her third LP, Dana Falconberry’s Though I Didn’t Call It Came (Crossbill Records) spins the elegant beauty of her gentle twang, finding expansion in arrangements that highlight her subtle longing as well as harmonies with Gina Dvorak and Karla Manzur. The EP succeeds on the strength of…

by Doug Freeman

Flavors of April

Vaca y Vino Sunday, April 22, 1-6pm Bridges Ranch near Wimberley ($75-95; sold out) In late February, I had the pleasure of attending the trial run-through of an event called Vaca y Vino that’s coming up April 22 to benefit the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (www.farmandranchfreedom.org). The event is loosely based on one of…

by Mick Vann

Flavors of April

Friday-Sunday, April 27-29 – Auditorium Shores and Republic Square Park www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com (Weekender two-day general admission, $250; VIP customized schedule w/opening event and special parking, $850) Having been involved with the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food festival for many years, I’m very curious to see how the new Austin Food & Wine Festival shapes up.…

by Claudia Alarcón

Civics 101

Thursday 19 WALTER CRONKITE PLAZA DEDICATION The area in front of the Jesse H. Jones Communi­ca­tion complex will be named after UT Comm College alum Cronkite, and a public art installation by Ben Rubin will be unveiled. 6pm. UT-Aus­tin campus, 25th & Whitis. Friday 20 WILLIE NELSON STATUE A one-ton bronze statue of Nelson will…

by Chronicle Staff

Flavors of April

� Don’t miss Mark Oldman’s return to Aus­tin. He’s one of the most affable, unpretentious people in the wine business. His presentations are generally hilarious and filled with useful information. Check his freely offered 47 Quick Nuggets To Outsmart Wine (www.markoldman.com) for a preview. I highly recommend both his session on Rosé and the one…

by Wes Marshall

Headlines

� As we go to press Wednesday, City Council is concluding its first day of the formal beginning of the budget cycle (which ends in September), with Budget Officer Ed Van Eenoo forecasting a slowly but steadily improving financial situation while anticipating a small property tax rate hike. With no regular meeting Thursday, the rest…

by Chronicle Staff

Flavors of April

Thursday, April 26, 6:30-9pm Salt Lick Pavilion, Driftwood ($75 at www.austinfoodwinealliance.org) One of the best attended and most successful components of last year’s final Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival was the Live Fire! event held at the Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game Ranch. This wonderful party is now presented under the auspices of…

by Virginia B. Wood

Quote of the Week

“Real Texans don’t hurt seniors and children.” – Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie, in response to Gov. Rick Perry’s Texas Budget Compact

by Chronicle Staff

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