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Cover Story

Who Let the Dogs Out?

“Dogs,” the Judy’s July 1976: Killings began in New York City, amid a nation high about its 200th birthday. They seemed random, then not so random. The horrific acts of David Berkowitz, who called himself “Son of Sam” in a taunting note to police, gripped the country in bloody outrage for a year. A dog…

Who Let the Dogs Out?

“Old Shep,” Kinky Friedman The only entry in our canine collection without “dog” in the title comes from cowboy singer Red Foley, who penned the song in 1935. The oft-covered pooch ballad enjoys added historical significance for being the first song Elvis Presley performed publicly, at age 10 in a singing contest at the Mississippi-Alabama…

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Swamp Dogg Barks the Beatles “You need this,” Swamp Dogg swore to me after his show at the Continental Club in 2007. The gonzo soul legend born Jerry Williams had just signed my copy of his 1970 cult classic Total Destruction to Your Mind and, sensing a sucker, made a hard sell on the most…

The Luv Doc: Mind Blown!

Dear Luv Doc, When I blow my mind, is that a selfish or perverted act? It used to be accepted back in the Sixties, but today, I’m not sure. And what are the repercussions or consequences, if any? I began to wonder if Republicans were the result of parents who experienced too much reality or…

Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

Flatworms can plunge their penises into their own heads to inject themselves with sperm and reproduce when there are no mates around. Back in the Twenties, if a man was called a “cake-eating bimbo,” that meant he was a macho ladies’ man. Later, however, “cake-eater” became slang for homosexual. People in total weigh more than…

Headlines

Nearly one year after rolling into Austin, Uber announced that it will begin offering service in San Marcos. No word yet on whether or not Lyft intends to join the party. San Marcos’ city council approved a resolution in April to allow transportation network companies. Jefferson Davis down? A final public meeting on what to…

Public Notice: Dog Week of Summer

Regular readers of this column may have noticed that there’s often kibbles and bits of pet news scattered through the small print at the bottom. This week, in keeping with the “dog days” cover story theme we’ve got going, I figured what the heck, let’s bring it front and center. By the way, for many,…

Quote of the Week

“The bomb-Iran naysayers for whom the only good deal is a dead deal will unceasingly raise obstacles, but ultimately reason will prevail and the President’s leadership will be sustained.” – Rep. Lloyd Doggett, on the U.S. nuclear agreement with Iran

Hairspray

The musical delights again, thanks to Zilker Theatre Productions’ stellar cast and quality staging

Who Let the Dogs Out?

“Atomic Dog,” George Clinton “Yeah, this is a story of a famous dog.” In 1982, P-Funk’s R&B chart-topper almost got run down in the street, the author’s industry revolt colliding with radio programmers and the oncoming youth tidal wave. Later sampled into a standard, its “nasty dogs,” old-school lyricism (possibly crack-induced, according to Clinton), and…

Who Let the Dogs Out?

“I Wanna Be Your Dog,” Alejandro Escovedo Alejandro Escovedo: I think I’ve performed that song more than my songs! [Laughs.] It was the first song I learned how to play on guitar. That was my “Louie Louie,” my “Gloria.” That whole first record, The Stooges [1969], I learned it. My friends, we’d smoke pot, and…


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