Cover Story
Whack-a-Pol!
Dems come out swinging at Austin’s GOP House freshmen
Get Your War On II: David Rees in Person
Get Your War On II: David Rees in Person The author of the satiric comic strip Get Your War On tackles current events. For samples of his work see www.mnftiu.cc.
If You Could Only Cook
If You Could Only Cook 1935, NR, 72 min. Directed by William A. Seiter, Starring Herbert Marshall, Jean Arthur, Leo Carrillo, Lionel Stander. A wealthy automobile tycoon and a jobless woman pose as the butler and the cook for an unsuspecting mobster.
Arts Review
Plastic EyesF8 Gallery, Through Nov. 4 Faustinus Deraet’s “Plastic Eyes” photography series is taken in black and white with a Holga camera. These cheap plastic cameras are beloved by the artists who use them, not in spite of but because of the unpredictable distortions and rounded shadows they produce in the periphery. These circular images…
Hip-Hop Home of the Brave
B-boy provocateurs get organized this election
Phases and Stages
The Fighting Brothers McCarthyLadies and Gentlemen … There are no shows in town like the Diamond Smugglers and Dung Beatles, so the Brothers come in with less shite and more Beach Boys. Kevin and Steve McCarthy’s first bit of original work in quite some time is as melodic as “Strawberry Fields” and as infectious as…
Dick Ellis on TV, Then and Now
The veteran (ex-)anchor says ‘it’s a young man’s and young lady’s game’
The Benda Mask
Untold secrets of Jean Arthur
Tarnation
Sometimes people grow up sane despite the best efforts of society to drive them mad. So it is for Jonathan Caouette, who with this film assembles his life into his art.
Confessions of a Romance Virgin
Harlequin heats up a new market with its kickass Bombshell heroines
Lousy With Desire
Soulman Walter Tragert and the light at the end of the tunnel
Phases and Stages
Keg VulturesBendy Straw Brain Massage and Spiritual Dry Cleaning (Propeller) There’s not room for more than one Pocket FishRmen or Sniffy in this town. There must be a million half-baked knockoffs playing Room 710 here and the Back Room there, but is that really necessary? Does late-Nineties schtick-rock really need revisiting? The Keg Vultures’ second…
AISD High Schools Flunk Real-World Test
Audit says district poorly prepares grads for college or careers
Talk of the Town
Films will screen Tuesdays at 7pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown (409 Colorado). Admission is $4 (free for AFS members or new members signing up online or at the venue). Oct. 26: Easy Living Nov. 2: If You Could Only Cook Nov. 9: Talk of the Town/The More the Merrier Nov. 16: Only Angels Have…
Celsius 41.11
Reactionary film claims to reveal the truth behind the lies of Fahrenheit 9/11.
State of Affairs
The current political season is reflected equally in an angry Iraq analysis and a soapy novel with a Sirkian sweep
Phases and Stages
The GourdsBlood of the Ram (Eleven Thirty) “Kevin loves Bob Wills and Jimmy loves the Pogues,” one fan explained of the Gourds’ rustic cachet to another at Jovita’s the other night. “How can you go wrong?” He’s right – they haven’t so far. Not that there’s ever a question of wrongdoing with the Gourds’ music.…
Phases and Stages
Chili Cold BloodRock n’ Roll Motherfucker Never mind the flashing meth-lover on the cover, this ain’t Southern rock. Not by definition, at least. Chili Cold Blood is a trio of dirty, Southern blues-playing white boys who exude John Lee Hooker and blues stompers of the like. While RnRMF showcases the sweaty bar sentiment that Doug…
Can Austin Kick-Start the Hybrid-Car Future?
Austin Energy looks toward ‘electrifying the transportation grid’
‘Primer’ Time
Sundance winner Shane Carruth’s sci-fi vérité
Around the Bend
Family elixir is by turns weepy and hilarious, a little bit Caine and a whole lotta Walken.
Page Two
A functioning democracy is a very hard thing to love, and even harder to trust
Phases and Stages
In this mathematical abnormality zone, “7 & 7 Is” always either 7 and 12 (inches), or 331/3 and 45 (revolutions per minute). And any combination of said figures – bisected by the total number of tree rings (tracks) dividing each slice of vinyl heaven. And hell, if you’re referencing the ambient Sabbath improv of local…
Endorsements
Early Voting continues through Friday, October 29 Following are our endorsements in all contested races on the Travis Co. ballot, as well as selected races elsewhere in Central Texas. We agree this is the most critical election in a generation and encourage all readers to exercise their right to vote. See austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2004-10-15/pols_feature15.html for our full…
No Film Left Behind
‘Variety’ critic Joe Leydon’s program for cinema literacy
Broadway: The Golden Age
Epic oral history of the heyday of the Great White Way as told by the people who were living on graham crackers and dreams back when it was all going on.
About AIDS
One of the world’s premier gatherings of health scientists and physicians is the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, or ICAAC, this year from Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. (The Ick-ack conference may not sound very promising, but trust me – this is one of the very best!) ICAAC is devoted to infectious…
Phases and Stages
Ethan AzarianCaptain of the Town (Jim Thunder) This truly is a “Family Affair.” While the album cover says “Ethan Azarian,” this is the resurrection of the Orange Mothers. Azarian, James Welch, and Jeff Johnston, along with longtime local peers Nina Singh, Vance Hazen, and Cuddy play with all the élan that Austinites flocked to the…
Central Texas House Races
Check out your Lege district rep
Naked City
Headlines and happenings from Austin and beyond
Scenes from the 11th Annual Austin Film Festival
Clockwise from top left: Writer/actor Garry Shandling (The Larry Sanders Show, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show) at Garry Shandling: Up Close and Personal; writer/director Barry Levinson (Diner, Tin Men) at his Driskill panel; and writer/director Dylan Kidd (Roger Dodger) at the Q&A following the screening of his new film, P.S., at the Paramount. Levinson received the…
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
The scruffy, seminal punk band that put the Bop in the Blitzkrieg is given its due in this treasure-laden doc.
After a Fashion
Check it out! Stephen gets a little ‘boot’y …
Phases and Stages
Ron Flynt L.A. Story (Zip) Whether the setting is a dorm room, a barrack, or a nightclub, the path from youth to adulthood is ripe for mythology. But it takes a deft narrator with a compelling story to make such waxings relevant beyond personal circles. Transplanted Austinite Ron Flynt fits the bill on both counts.…
District 50
Mark Strama tries to exploit his opponent’s weakest points
The Redistricting Rematch
Election law experts differ on meaning of Supreme Court’s move
‘Tarnation’ Sensation
Jonathan Caouette’s inexplicably perfect documentary of growing up gay in Texas is the astounding new face of DIY moviemaking
Day Trips
Join Capt. Day Trips on a one-hour dolphin tour
Phases and Stages
Dynah Who knew the Doves and Mansun had been around long enough to become an influence? Who knew Austin’s Dynah would seemingly be taking cues from them? Finally, who knew the local quartet’s self-titled disc would be one of the best debuts of the year? Affixed with guitar textures from an entire ocean away, Dynah…
District 45
Right-winger Alan Askew aims to burst Dem freshman’s bubble
Wal-Mart Suit Dropped
Property owner at MoPac and Slaughter gives up fight against city, Stratus
In Space
Films to see before you vote
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Shark defense from the one-armed bandit
Phases and Stages
A Five and Dime ShipThe Way It All Would End Who said it hasn’t already? By the time this ambitious, 2-CD expedition crashes ashore with its 11-minute title (tidal) track – coming to rest in the hall of electric spirits (the sole voices on The Way It All Would End) – finality has been breached.…
Across the State
Heflin, Hochberg, Mercer, and Mabry among the incumbents on the bubble
YCTs Carp Over UT Kindness
Right-wing objections to reimbursing foreign students’ visa fees
Short Cuts
Spongebob and the Lips converge on Austin Studios, and the local IMAX pumps up its technology for ‘The Polar Express’
To Your Health
Is goat milk better for you than cow milk?
Phases and Stages
A recent conversation with Heart’s Nancy Wilson struck a chord about the titty dancer ideal many young women choose for their musical personas. That image is usually developed at a national level, not local, where female musicians are outspoken and strong. They’re also capable, however, of charmless drivel, such as Burleson native Kelly Clarkson’s Miss…
District 48
Incumbent is too partisan for moderate district, challenger charges
Rules of the (Toll) Road
The CTRMA shops its proposed toll policy – far from Circle C
TV Eye
The Political Dr. Seuss
TCB
No clues in Joe Bates’ murder and other tales from Austin’s music jungle
The Common Law
Effects of common-law marriage in Texas
Phases and Stages
gfire & govindaElectric Sadhana (Gulabi) Break out the aromatherapy and find focus while gfire & govinda conduct a transcendental Yoga session fueled by ambient electro-rhythms. Reciting mantras provided by Yogi Bhajan as a means to ease the transition from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age, gfire (aka Pam Mayo) administers Electric Sadhana with the fluency…
3rd Court: Experience Counts
But what kind of experience? The D’s and R’s differ.
State Wavers on Class Sizes
‘Streamlining’ measure will lead to higher student-teacher ratios, groups charge
County Responds to Voting Machine Problems
Travis County election officials have responded to complaints that voters casting straight-party Democratic ballots are discovering, when performing a final check of their ballots, that their votes for president have been changed from Kerry/Edwards to Bush/Cheney.
Triumph of the Yellow Kid
Comics are art, Spiegelman notes in his panel-busting history lesson
Soccer Watch
Local Lady makes good; and Major League playoffs
Phases and Stages
Wan Santo Condo(Everloving) The 1990s are history, so let’s close the time capsule. This is an era acts such as Austin’s Wan Santo Condo take too much inspiration from. The group has been on the verge of this debut LP for years; only now the dust has collected. So much so, in fact, that defunct…
Yelenosky Takes Aim at Keel
‘People’s lawyer’ runs to unseat GOP appointee to Travis Co. bench
Honeys Hide their Hijinks
UT student spirit group takes down its booze-soaked Web site
‘Three-Five-Zero-Zero,’ Meet Two-Zero-Zero-Four
Another ‘dirty little war’ makes ‘Hair’ current again
Pretty Good Sailing
McCormick & Schmick’s docks downtown with a full haul of satisfying seafood
Phases and Stages
3 Balls of FireChrome & Water (Deep Eddy) Although it’s a convenient way to categorize him, Burnin’ Mike Vernon is substantially more than a surf music operator. He’s an instrumental guitarist of the first order, and when playing in the context of his longtime local trio 3 Balls of Fire, his guitar is a lethal…
In Other Election News …
Levy goes off the rails, the GOP flunks geography, Bexar County races get physical, Nader gets help from a Friend of Rick, and Kerry wins the stoner vote
Daily Not Into Big Breasts
The Statesman censors an ad by the amazing Maxi Mounds
Pauly Shore Is Dead
Born and bred L.A. narcissist Pauly Shore turns auteur for this comedy film outing about … himself.
Tripods Sighted Over Barton Springs!
The Violet Crown Radio Players are re-creating Orson Welles’ infamous radio version of ‘The War of the Worlds,’ and this time, the Martians are landing in Central Texas
Galaxy Cafe
A kicky cafe signals that Southwest Austin is ready to outgrow its chains
Phases and Stages
Blaze FoleyOval Room (Lost Art) The Blaze Foley legend keeps growing. Oval Room continues the re-release of Live at the Austin Outhouse tracks, recorded in December 1988 at the late, lamented Guadalupe venue just four weeks before the obscure Austin songwriter was shot to death. And where 1999’s 12-song CD reissue of Live suggested a…
Unlocking the Texas Vote
Felon disenfranchisement hits more than 3% of the state’s potential voters
‘I Believe in Tolerance’
‘Outing’ Mary Cheney
Woman Thou Art Loosed
Based on a novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes, a black evangelical preacher and author who also co-stars, this unusual film is part revivalist sermon, part narrative drama, and wholly urgent and engaging.
Culture Flash!
KDH Dance joins KDNY in NYC, Kate Catterall tells us how public memorials can heal, the city wants faces of Austin City Hall, and the UT String Project wants anything you have to sell
Liquid Assets
The Wines of Jerez
Phases and Stages
Tachycardia (Pecan Crazy) Tachycardia: an abnormally rapid beating of the heart. And the trio of Walter Daniels on harmonica, Wade Driver on drums, and Carl Smith on sax. While the e.c.f.a. side project’s eponymous debut might not make valves work overtime, its 53-minute track of arrhythmic overtures, blazing tenor sax, and otherworldly bleeps and blasts…
Whack-a-Pol Update
Late-breaking news from the Travis Co. legislative races
Texas Family Values
Why don’t we protect Texas children? Because we’d rather not spend the money.
The Grudge
New American version of haunted-house film follows the same tack as its Japanese predecessor, but is strangely neutered by its infusion of blond American actresses.
Arts Review
With Dracula: A Woman Scorned, a gender-swapped variation on the classic vampire tale, it’s tough to tell if a chick & a dude productions were going after sleepless nights or camp
Food-o-File
We celebrate Texas Wine Month and anniversaries all around, check out some new ventures by some old friends, and ask for St. Elias’ forgiveness
Phases and Stages
FairfaxLight These Dreams (Jacket Weather) Pop rock for 12-year-old girls: Death Cab for Cutie, Dashboard Confessional, and other guilty pleasures for the 25-and-up crowd. Fairfax isn’t quite The O.C. material just yet, but they’re on their way to 101X stardom. With catchy sing-along opener “A Night Like This” gluing itself to the angst-addled brains of…
The Early-Voting Report
Lots of people, and only one missing (empty) ballot box …
Austin @ Large: Balancing the Books
The big hole we need libraries to fill
Surviving Christmas
Money can buy happiness goes the moral of this cynical yet mildly amusing comedy starring Ben Affleck and James Gandolfini.
Arts Review
History and friendship are the fulcrum on which Nightswim balances Steve Moore’s impressionistic, profound look at famous friends Roy Bedichek, Frank Dobie, and Walter Webb
The Ballad of Joe Hill
Get up, stand up – stand up for your rights
Phases and Stages
Zom ZomsOne Brain If you’re gonna go with goofy, synth-driven quickies, it might as well sound like Devo. Or, more accurately, Devo mixed with the Unicorns and the god-awful Les Georges Leningrads. One Brain is intelligent, quirky, and rhythmic, but it’s also annoying, repetitive, and noisy. Zom Zoms’ second release draws a clearer line between…
Happy Trails to All at Austin Confab
National Trails Symposium comes to Convention Center
The Hightower Report
The Bushites harass a grieving war mom; and the prez cozies up to Pervez
Primer
Physics and metaphysics mingle in this minimalist yet intriguing fiction about inventor-scientists who discover a technique of time travel.
Luv Doc Recommends: Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby™ Championship Bout
The big question of novice rollerderby fans – those innocent people badgered into attending by fun-loving, well-meaning friends with phrases like “you’ll love it!” or “It’s hilarious!” or “It’s so campy!” – is, why? The same could be said of an Elk’s Lodge meeting, Sunday morning mass, a gamers’ convention, or a renaissance faire. Really,…
