Papa's Brand-New Bag

Jazzers and jam bands alike just wanna funk, Austin style

"...of the living room is one of Funkybatz's favorites, Topaz McGarrigle, whose merry band of musical funkateers offers superlative..."

July 27, 2007 Music Feature by Jim Caligiuri

Off the Record

Sad Days, Lonely Nights: Visiting the Sahara Lounge and The Jon Dee & Friend Show

"...are the new owners behind the bar: local saxophonist Topaz McGarrigle; his mother Eileen Bristol, an electric bassist associated..."

Aug. 12, 2011 Music Column by Austin Powell

Playback: Saturnalia Lands

Austin welcomes new DIY music fest while another gets blocked in court

"...Late Sunday afternoon, Topaz McGarrigle stood in the grassy, multi-acre expanse fronting Webberville..."

Dec. 1, 2017 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Faster Than Sound: Music Venues React to Stage 5

New city recommendations halt shows at many venues ahead of New Year's Eve

"...operate through contactless options such as curbside and delivery." Topaz McGarrigle, who owns Sahara Lounge with his mother Eileen..."

Jan. 8, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Snapshot: Saturnalia Festival

At this psychedelic music fest, it’s all about community

"...Eileen Bristol (bass), co-owner of Sahara Lounge with son Topaz McGarrigle (of Golden Dawn Arkestra), and Reverend Charles Easley..."

Nov. 23, 2018 Arts Column by David Brendan Hall

Playback: DaveTV's Cable Access Comeback

DaveTV returns to cable access!

"...lauds Mgawi, who looks suspiciously like Sahara Lounge co-owner Topaz McGarrigle...."

Aug. 22, 2014 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Mad Beat Hip & Gone

Steven Dietz's play about the Beats might best be considered as the kind of literary experiment they engaged in

"...a saxophone playing along (played by the awesomely named Topaz McGarrigle)...."

April 19, 2013 Arts Review by Elizabeth Cobbe

Topaz & Mudphonic

"...Topaz & MudphonicMusic for Dorothy..."

Aug. 8, 2008 Music Review by Thomas Fawcett

"Austin City Limits" Festival Picks & Sleepers

"...TOPAZ: NYC-based acid-funk-jazz, yes, but Topaz is also the rarest..."

Sept. 27, 2002 Music Feature

Crosstalk: Golden Dawn Arkestra Records Live Album and Metal Breakouts the Sword Break Up

Austin music news headlines of the week

"...to do the farthest thing from that," explained bandleader Topaz McGarrigle. The disco-Afrobeat-jazz-funk Ra worshippers – who, along with..."

Oct. 28, 2022 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

Watch This: Golden Dawn Arkestra Becomes a Self-Help Cult in “I Deserve Success” Video

Call 1-866-79DAWNS to manifest your prosperity!

"...Lukens, the vocally dynamic “I Deserve Success” incorporates bandleader Topaz McGarrigle’s soft-spoken lead with layered backup singing and a..."

Oct. 21, 2021 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Five Recommended Austin Arts Events

Our weekly pick of the top art events to get you out of the house

"...(composer); Ciceley Fullylove & Oolaf (musician); Rachael Hanlon & Topaz McGarrigle (musician); Oddalys Salcido & Reese Maultsby (percussionist); and..."

Oct. 15, 2021 Arts Column by Wayne Alan Brenner

Faster Than Sound: Spoon Returns On Full Blast

Reigning local rockers' surprise show at Mohawk and more music news

"...Sue. Fearless solos from vocalist Mickey Rose and saxophonist Topaz McGarrigle of Golden Dawn Arkestra supercharged Lukens' set of..."

July 9, 2021 Music Column by Rachel Rascoe

New Austin Music Worth Your Bandwidth This Week

What we’re listening to

"...of social distancing, it's no surprise chief GDA wizard Topaz McGarrigle took matters into his own hands for new..."

May 14, 2021 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

Portraits of Austin Musicians With Their Pets During Stay-at-Home

"...Rose and Topaz McGarrigle (Golden Dawn Arkestra) with Pepe and Simi..."

May 7, 2020 Photo Gallery

The Austin Chronicle 2019/20 Austin Music Industry Awards at Emo's

"...Sahara Lounge co-owner Topaz McGarrigle (l) accepts the award for Best Music Residency..."

March 3, 2020 Photo Gallery

UtopiaFest 2019 at Reveille Peak Ranch

"...Utopia Players led by Topaz McGarrigle at UtopiaFest on November 14, 2019..."

Nov. 18, 2019 Photo Gallery

People, Not the Place, Make This Festival a Utopia

UtopiaFest's triumvirate of land, music, and people takes shape

"...a jazz/funk/fusion/Afrobeat superjam led by Golden Dawn Arkestra front-alien Topaz McGarrigle. Unlike the average fest, Utopia continues to present..."

Nov. 15, 2019 Music Feature by Kevin Curtin

Q&A Hole: Music for First Contact

What song would you play for a lost tribe?

"...Hole. I surprised five Austin musicians – Jackie Venson, Topaz McGarrigle of Golden Dawn Arkestra, Riverboat Gamblers and Drakulas..."

Aug. 14, 2019 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

New Chronicle Video Series Q&A Hole Blindsides Austin Musicians With Bizarre Hypotheticals

Staff writer Kevin Curtin's late-night musings brought into the light

"...Mike Wiebe from Riverboat Gamblers and Drakulas, Walker Lukens, Topaz McGarrigle from Golden Dawn Arkestra, Duel singer/guitarist Tom Frank,..."

July 31, 2019 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

Austin's House Music Scene Clings to the African-American Community That Birthed It

House music rose to prominence from Chicago’s black music community and hangs on here in its original form

"...character as owned, in part, by Golden Dawn Arkestra's Topaz McGarrigle...."

Feb. 1, 2019 Music Feature by Dan Gentile

Playback: Love Us or Hiatus

Rare gigs and soft breakups from Iron Age and US Weekly

"...performance, including current single "Children of the Sun" and Topaz McGarrigle proselytizing positive vibrations, quickly stirred up nearly 300..."

July 13, 2018 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Playback: The Future of Austin Recording Studios

Studio owners look at different solutions to surviving in an increasingly expensive city

"...than a recording studio, but Golden Dawn Arkestra leader Topaz McGarrigle, who happened to know one of the developers,..."

Aug. 5, 2016 Music Column by Kevin Curtin

Texas Playboys Baseball Club

Keeping the sandlot field of dreams alive

"...Texas Playboys are Dan Dyer, Amy Cook, Jesse Ebaugh, Topaz McGarrigle, and KUTX’s Matt Reilly. Musicians usually play between..."

April 3, 2015 Music Post by William Harries Graham

Thursday Picks & Sleepers

SXSW Thursday handicapping by the blurb

"...Led by Austin saxophone master and Sahara Lounge co-owner Topaz McGarrigle, Golden Dawn Arkestra pays tribute to jazz extraterrestrial..."

March 20, 2015 Music Feature

Free Week Live Shots

"...outfit, led by Austin native and Sahara lounge co-owner Topaz McGarrigle, wound through a spectacle of jazz-funk tinged with..."

Jan. 9, 2015 Music Feature by Doug Freeman

Had Me a Real Good Time

Faces/Small Faces hoot ropes in a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

"...a big night at the Sahara Lounge when co-owner Topaz McGarrigle and the staff roll out not one, not..."

Aug. 28, 2014 Music Post by Chase Hoffberger

Golden Dawn Arkestra

"...sun-kissed sand sweep of "Saharan Knights," saxophonist/bandleader/Sahara Lounge partner Topaz McGarrigle and company launch the type of musical spaceship..."

Aug. 29, 2014 Music Review by Chase Hoffberger

Wednesday Rewind

Humping in three clicks or less, plus Hellfire Social

"...Sahara Lounge owner Topaz McGarrigle has a new gothic-psych project, Hellfire Social, that's..."

Aug. 10, 2011 Music Post by Austin Powell

Playback: You Can’t Press Pause on Life

A musician’s life: laid off, livestreaming, and … giving birth?

"...Dee and William Harries play, and I love watching Topaz and Rose McGarrigle of Golden Dawn Arkestra hustle virtual..."

April 24, 2020 Music Column by Kevin Curtin