BettySoo is a singer/songwriter with a large voice and an even larger musical spirit. Austin Daze got the chance to speak with the Texas girl about her upcoming album, family ties, and what she could have ended up doing if she wasn’t hypnotizing us with her songs.
AUSTIN DAZE: I’ve read that people are usually surprised that someone with a Korean heritage is creating the songs that you do. How do you feel about that and do you have a Korean fan base? Read the rest of this entry »
George Palmer Macias–Firefly: Macias kicked off the release of his first solo CD album, Firefly, with a show at the Saxon Pub on April 18th to great acclaim. Firefly was produced by Stephen Doster and engineered and recorded by James Stevens at East Austin Recording with all of the songs composed and written by Macias (except for “Ringtail” written by Martin Parmer circa 1820). The music on Firefly includes instrumentation such as background vocals, rhythm guitar, organ and piano, fiddle and mandolin, bass guitar, trumpet and drums. The sounds are transcendental and as a songwriter, Macias shines. Macias says, “I was born in Houston, TX beneath the shadows of the Pasadena fires where they make the fluids of industry and garbage bags and tries and they make pills to ease the ills of living in this place and they turn the sky strange colors and blow smoke right in your face the boys and girls are making deals on telephones in air conditioned cars and their fathers sent a space ship to the moon I guess they’re making plans making plans for Mars but the water tastes a bit like iodine in the noisy sidewalk cafe parked beside the pillars of the toll road by the toll road that used to be a freeway.” If that isn’t straight up Macias and an example of what he can do with words illustrating just what can do with his songwriting and his album, I don’t know what is. Wow. 5.0 McRiprock’s Read the rest of this entry »
I walk in to find an older but still fantastic Michael Caine playing a retired magician named Clarence who just moved into a home with other mature adults.He bonds with Edward, the son of the couple running the old folks home.Edward has a morbid fascination with death while Clarence has a grim attitude towards his fading life.Together they discuss death, the afterlife, learn magic tricks, and even take a joyride, all the normal shenanigans that an 11 year old boy could have with an elderly man. Read the rest of this entry »
I usually try not to attend movies on Friday night because the theaters are filled with adolescents and ooey-gooey lovers. But, I decided to brave the crowds to see this flick based on my familiarity with the BBC version. “State of Play” can be described as a political/military thriller which has you trying to figure out who the real scumbag is (or is it everyone?). Read the rest of this entry »
The honor was all mine in catching Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears at Austin’s Art Alliance’s big charity event “Art After Dark.” Read the rest of this entry »
I arrived a little late to the screening but quickly upon sitting down, became absorbed in the emotional story.Robert Downey Jr. plays Steve Lopez, an LA Times reporter who’s lost his inspiration for writing.But through a chance encounter he meets Nathaniel Ayers, Jr. (Jamie Foxx), a homeless man with an incredible musical talent.
Astronaut Academy–Self-Titled: Austin’s very own Astronaut Academy comes to us with endorsements and a resume up the wazoo. Read the rest of this entry »
To say or even think that I could do better would be superfluous. My cat who can be found snoozing in an array of positions, whiich have more conversation value and significance than the garbage I just sat through could make a better film. Oh god…..
I don’t normally do bad reviews. What’s the point? I mean if a film is bad, everybody on the inside already knows it. How could they not? And the film will get blasted by review sites and other papers. I’d rather talk about good things;tell a joke, make people smile or laugh or even cry
I had a choice between two screenings tonight; “The Soloist” and “Fighting.” I went with the latter. I chose badly.
Luckily, this flick screened at the Alamo Drafthouse, so I got to focus on a chocolate shake. They should make a super size for lame movies.
It’s hard to say where this picture went wrong. It is better to say where it didn’t go right. Nothing went right. I have seen better Van Damn movies on the same subject.
Bad movies are depressing to me. When you think of all the wasted talent involved. They all could have done something with more meaning. Did the creators not watch it while editing? Why did they have a press screening? Was this a joke on me? That’s it. I’m not gonna be negative anymore. Besides, my cat and I have a meeting in a few minutes to bounce story ideas around. We will see where it goes!
Brunch is my favorite for two reasons. One, it’s a great excuse to get drunk during the day and still get to bed early. Reason number two is for the cheap and delicious food. This is why I have decided to tour the city of Austin for the perfect brunch.
Brunch #1 Somnios Café
Somnios Café is a new “slow food” café on south first. “Slow food,” according to slowfoodusa.org, is a “global, grassroots movement with a commitment to community and the environment.” Besides feeling good about where your food is coming from, you can also rejoice at the food and bevie prices. Everything on the menu is between 5-6 dollars. I splurged and got the special ($9) that was an incredible shrimp chipotle migas plate covered in goat cheese. Delicious! The corn tortillas, I wrapped my decadent migas in, were softer than any I’ve ever had. One of my 6 comrades got the Buckwheat Pancakes, which are cooked with apples and cinnamon inside the pancake and served with syrup, cinnamon, and sour cream. If you like thin pancakes like I do, they are the best pancakes served in South Austin. No Joke! To top the whole thing off, Somnios Café has a beautiful colorful ambience and a BYOL (bring you own liquor) policy. Their setups are only $2 a piece and yummy. I’ve never had a better kick off to Sunday Funday! I highly recommend it.
Damp Heat: Damp Heat aka Daniel Peter Smith moved to Austin in 2002 and was approached by John King (Currently of Hello Lovers) in 2005 to collaborate on a rap album. Read the rest of this entry »
On Monday, April 13th at midnight, we will close advance ticketing at the OSMF website. Tickets may still be purchased at any Frontgate Ticket outlet throughout the festival. Tickets may also be purchased at the Gate at an increased price. Platinum, four and three day passes (both camping and non-camping) and single day tickets are still available. All Festival-goers might want to buy a four day camping pass to take advantage of seeing the Gourds on Thursday night and participating in the late night jams on the campground. Can’t wait to see you there!
Last seen on tour with Stone Temple Pilots, Seattle’s Sweet Water is back from a self-imposed hiatus with a new CD called “Clear the Tarmac.” Adam Czeisler talks with Rosie during SXSW.
Ume:Sunshower–Pronounced “Oo-may” is an Austin trio and was a Spin Magazine pick as an undiscovered band worth giving a listen. Read the rest of this entry »
Dapper in black suit and fedora, Leonard Cohen grinned like a man on a mission.Opening with an arresting Dance Me to the End of Love, he commanded a stage he seemed truly grateful to be back on. At 75, the concert served as a retrospective of a life fully dedicated and devoted to living. An authentic life of an authentic man, born to sing; to write; to communicate the collective human experience.
He was a beautiful figure to behold, dancing and hopping a bit from side to side like a magic deer in a fairytale.The fairytale, as anyone that knows Leonard Cohen knows, was about love, and after all these years, nobody seems to have more of a lyrical command of it than he does. At times the high priest, the court jester, the doe-eyed creature, the destroyer, he sings about the power of love and all its cruelty in a way that makes it undeniably cool to be in it; to feel and experience it to its fullest capacity.From the first note, his voicegrabbed holed of the hearts of the sold out crowd, at once caressing them, then stroking them, then poising to rip them out so that we might throw them on stage in place of roses.
BettySoo is a singer/songwriter with a large voice and an even larger musical spirit. Austin Daze got the chance to speak with the Texas girl about her upcoming album, family ties, and what she could have ended up doing if she wasn’t hypnotizing us with her songs. 
George Palmer Macias
I walk in to find an older but still fantastic Michael Caine playing a retired magician named Clarence who just moved into a home with other mature adults.
I usually try not to attend movies on Friday night because the theaters are filled with adolescents and ooey-gooey lovers. But, I decided to brave the crowds to see this flick based on my familiarity with the BBC version. “State of Play” can be described as a political/military thriller which has you trying to figure out who the real scumbag is (or is it everyone?). 
To say or even think that I could do better would be superfluous. My cat who can be found snoozing in an array of positions, whiich have more conversation value and significance than the garbage I just sat through could make a better film. Oh god…..
5, the concert served as a retrospective of a life fully dedicated and devoted to living. An authentic life of an authentic man, born to sing; to write; to communicate the collective human experience. 
