KUT appoints new manager of Cactus Cafe
Written by Austin Vida staff
Local taste-maker radio station KUT 90.5 has appointed Matt Muñoz manager of the Cactus Cafe.
Muñoz, 39, has more than a decade of music industry experience, specifically in sales and marketing for both local and national record labels and music distributors. He has a bachelor of music degree in music business from West Texas A&M University. Most recently, Muñoz was director of sales and marketing at Justice Records, an Austin-based label.
In a press release, Hawk Mendenhall, KUT's program director, said of Muñoz, “His experience collaborating with booking agents, artist managers and their artists, and record label executives, combined with his experience managing budgets and negotiating music clearance and performance contracts, makes him the ideal fit.”
KUT took over operations of the Cactus last month. Earlier this year, University of Texas officials announced their plans to close the storied music venue on the UT campus in order to reduce the budget, but community backlash prodded campus officials into handing over operations instead. More than 100 applicants were screened for the position.
Muñoz will start his new gig Sept. 13. He takes over for Griff Luneburg, who managed the Cactus for nearly three decades. Check here for the full press release.
Nominees for the 11th Annual Latin Grammy Awards were announced this morning. Leading the pack with the most nominations is Mexican soft-rock band Camila and Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz, with four nods each. Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba is nominated for Best New Artist and Best Male Pop Vocal Album. We interviewed Cuba last year when he wowed an intimate Stubb's crowd with his strong voice and playful style. Read that interview here.
Latin pop superstar Bebe has two nominations for her stellar album Y. Read our review of that album here. The Best Rock Song category includes Austin Vida favorites Banda de Turistas and Bengala. In her review of Bengala's Oro, Austin Vida writer Sarah Vasquez said their song "Carcel" sets the bar really high. No surprise then that it's nominated for Best Rock Song.
The awards ceremony will take place Nov. 11 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Read the rest of the nominations on the L.A. Times' music blog, Pop & Hiss.
New music video from 60 Tigres: '24 Horas'
Written by Austin Vida staff
Mexican indie rock 'n' roll band 60 Tigres debuted a new music video for their song "24 Horas." Though natives of Monterrey in northern Mexico, the band has a short but detailed history with Austin. They have played SXSW several times and 60 Tigres was a finalist a couple years ago in Austin City Limits' Sound and the Jury competition. They were this close to winning a spot on ACL Fest, but they lost to a local indie band. Read our interview with 60 Tigres here.
After a successful continental tour, Elefante returns to the U.S, bringing their 2010 tour to a close. Three of their U.S. tour dates inlcude Texas, but unfortunately not Austin. Still, we thought we would let you know the dates and locations where you can see Elefante in case you felt like making the trip out of town. It may be worth it for you Elefante fans as they will be introducing the first single from their upcoming album, "Si Te Vas," which will be released at the end of this year. Elefante will be performing with Mexican pop star Kalimba on the Texas leg of their U.S. tour. See dates below.
Sept. 16 – Far West (Dallas)
Sept. 17 – Aragon Music Hall (McAllen)
Sept. 19 – Arena Theater (Houston)
AJ Castillo to give away accordion at concert
Written by Austin Vida staff
Tejano artist AJ Castillo will be giving away one of his accordions at his show this Friday, Sept. 10, at Tejano Ranch. Castillo is one of Tejano's new voices who many in Austin got to see for the first time at the 2009 Pachanga Fest. Castillo fuses the traditional cumbia and accordion sounds with a new-school urban flavor that many in the Tejano industry are branding "urban Tejano." To be eligible to win, all you have to do is be there.
Tejano Ranch is located at 7601 North Lamar. Doors open at 8 p.m. Ages 18 and up are welcome. $10 advance tickets are available, but please remeber prices will be different at the door. Advance tickets are available at the following locations:
South Austin Location 1901 William Cannon (Corner of William Cannon & Manchaca)
Austin, TX
Phone (512) 441-9504
North Location (Round Rock, TX):
Casa Garcia's
1901 North IH 35 (Passed Hwy. 79 on feeder rd.)
Round Rock, TX
Phone (512) 218-8908
East Austin Location:
Estrada Cleaner's
2618 East 7th Street
Austin,TX
Phone (512) 476-8656
This week at Austin Vida, we are giving away two $25 gift cards from our friends at Surropa.com. We know many of you need some new clothes for back to school or just to add to your new fall wardrobe. The Miami-based clothing online retailer is one of our favorite sources for apparel and merchandise from top Latin American brands and designers. Popular brands available from Surropa include SOBO, Ghast Clothing Company and Naco. Some of our favorites include the Hispanic Heritage line and the newly popular Immigration Tees.
We will be giving each $25 gift card separately in a drawing this Friday. All you have to do to is be a fan of Austin Vida on Facebook (click here). When you see this post in the Facebook news feed, click "Like" to enter your name in the drawing.Yes, this means your name can be entered more than once. This is just another small token of our appreciation to you, the readers of Austin Vida. Be sure to click on the Surropa ads on our site anytime you feel like doing some shopping. Supporting Surropa means supporting Austin Vida.
Nuyorican musician and songwriter Rene Lopez is an old soul with a lot of flavor. A veteran and known figure in the New York City music scene, Lopez was part of The Authority, a cult favorite and staple of venues like Nightingales and Wetlands. The son of a trumpet player in the Latin band Tipica ‘73, Lopez grew up in the salsa clubs of New York City, which heavily influences his version of soul. What you will see and hear here below is Lopez's music video for his single "Wednesday" off his latest release, People Are Just People. It is the perfect single to introduce you to Lopez and his blend of old school soul, classic rock and pop.
Gov. Brewer, we need to see your papers
Written by Austin Vida staff
If we remember correctly, the Kansas lawyer who wrote Arizona's SB 1070 indicated that difficulty with English is one factor that could lead to "reasonable suspicion" for questioning a person's immigration status. Based on Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's embarrassing performance at a recent debate, we have our own reasonable suspicions.
During her introduction, the governor paused for 10 seconds, unable to form a sentence, and said, "We have did what was right for Arizona." That's some atrocious grammar, Governor. Later in the debate, when asked about her questionable claims of headless bodies found in Arizona, Gov. Brewer answered with words about her opponent's support of labor unions. Not comprehending a simple question indicates to us a lack of understanding of basic English conversation.
Gov. Brewer, we're gonna have to see your papers.
New music video from Aterciopelados: 'Bandera'
Written by Austin Vida staff
Nacional Records recording artists and Colombian Latin alternative legends Aterciopelados debuted an animated music video for their immigrant anthem “Bandera." Originally inspired by their regular difficulties with securing visas to perform in Spain, "Bandera" is now more relevant as the immigration debate increases around SB1070. The new video, directed by Diego Peñuela, follows an immigrant’s perlious trek across the world, eventually being lit on fire by the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
Preview + MP3: Frikstailers at Beauty Bar 9/26
Written by Austin Vida staff
Buenos Aires' Zizek is coming back to Austin. This time debuting the talents of the Frikstailers (pronouned “Freak Stylers”) on Sunday, Sept. 26 at Beauty Bar. We've seen clips of these guys online, and they look like neon muppets behind the turntables, spinning some of the best cumbia fusion we've heard. They will be joined by label co-founder and DJ, El G. This party should be nothing but pure dance energy, combining dancehall, hip-hop, baile funk, cumbia, dub, house, kuduro, electro, techno and the best sounds of futuristic South America.
Frikstailers are touring in support of their upcoming digital EP, Bicho De Luz, due out Sept. 7. As a preview for both the EP and the party happening at Beauty Bar, Frikstailers are offering their single, "Dancehallete," to our Austin Vida readers. Listen and download below.
Beauty Bar is located at 617 E. 7th St. in Austin. Doors at 8 p.m. Ages 18 and up are welcome. Cover is $7 for 21 and up, $10 for people age 18 to 20. RSVP on the Peligrosa Blog and pay only $5 for admission. RSVP here. Click here to visit the Facebook event page. Peligrosa DJs open.
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