Live music preview: HAAM announced benefit day band schedule on October 2

The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians(HAAM) announced the 2012 schedule of bands for HAAM Benefit Day on October 2 yesterday at a press event at The Belmont. HAAM helps Austin musicians get access to proper health care. These artists are often self-employed and uninsured. Businesses throughout Austin (see list here) will donate a portion of their proceeds next Tuesday to HAAM while bands play free for audiences around the city.... Read more at Examiner.com

Live music review: Adam Ant invaded Emo's for first U.S. tour in 17 years

Adam Ant at Emo's

80s rockers playing in Austin is a theme that has emerged this week, with Blondie, Devo and Wednesday night, Adam Ant appearing on stage in the Live Music Capital. Ant (Stuart Leslie Goddard) was an MTV star in the early 80's with a string of number one hits both in the UK and America. In subsequent years, the musician and actor has struggled with bipolar disorder, consequently enduring an extended hiatus from live shows until ... Continue reading at Examiner

Weekend music preview: Cilantro Boombox, TWWL, Politics, Twin Shadow, Pelons

Cilantro Boombox show poster

 

 

Welcome rainy weather has arrived in Austin this weekend along with a host of great local music shows to celebrate the Fall weather along with Mexican Independence Day. This weekend preview includes sold-out Twin Shadow performances (and a chance... continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: What Made Milwaukee Famous, Mother Falcon, Baths at WFF 3

What Made Milwaukee Famous

Wild Frontier Festival (WFF 3) celebrated its third year in Austin by moving to one of our favorite venues, Mohawk which we hope will happen again next year. The Mohawk has done a great job renovating the space to accommodate music fans. They built additional balconies overlooking the outdoor stage, improved the upstairs patio bar and even moved the downstairs outdoor bar to give fans more room to maneuver around. All this allowed us to get a great vantage point to watch... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Weekend music preview: Psych Light & Sound Fest, Wild Frontier Fest, GrulkeFest

Wild Frontier Fest 3

We may have to re-brand Austin "The Live Music FESTIVAL Capital of the World" with three music festivals planned this weekendand Austin City Limits Festival and Fun Fun Fun Fest still ahead. Friday, The Psychedelic Light and Sound Festival hits 29th Street Ballroom at Spider House while on Saturday Wild Frontier Fest and... Continue reading at Examiner.com

Live music review: Dia de los Toadies, Helmet, Mariachi El Bronx, Brutal Juice

                                  The Toadies                                        Photo: Emily Lim

The fifth annual Dia de los Toadies music festival at Whitewater Amphitheater this past Saturday featured the seminal rockers from Fort Worth, The Toadies. Also performing were Helmet, Mariachi El Bronx, Brutal Juice, The Soldier Thread and several other Texasacts. The Toadies and Helmet have been on national tour this year but took a brief hiatus (with the exception of the festival) while Helmet drummer, Kyle Stevenson... Read more at Examiner.com

Weekend music preview: Ruta Maya end, Vivogig Launch, Funk Ark, Toadies Fest

This weekend Austin is rotating back to a full schedule with college football kicking off (Hook 'Em!), school starting and the promise of Fall beginning.. There are several good shows you should be aware of. Some are nostalgic like the closing of Ruta Maya and the last show ever there tonight. Others are beginnings like theVivogig (concert photo app) Launch Party withGirl in a Coma or.. Read more at Examiner.com

Weekend music preview: Nakia, Batfest, Hot Sauce Fest, Les RAV, Hard Proof

It is as if Austin is throwing an end of Summer soiree this weekend with traditional weekend festivals before students are back at the Universities. Thursday, Nakia will be playing Unplugged at the Grove, The Soldier Thread, Vallejo, Alpha Rev and Fastball are on the Batfest bill.The Hot Sauce Festival is back at a new location with Residual Kid and Crooks.Mother Falcon, Les RAV and Hard Proof also have dates scheduled. The nice part... Continue reading at examiner.com

What Was I Doing Fasting for Ramadan?: Try Fasting Part II

Last year my friend, Amanda Quiraishi  (we call her Q) suggested I try fasting for Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, as part of a one-day, interfaith experiment. I chose to join and it was a good decision. The event was a success in terms of the participants enthusiasm for  fasting, the support each gave one another and the conversation generated. This year, Q expanded upon the theme, convincing many more folks to "try fasting" and hosted an Iftar (break the fast dinner) at her home. Needless to say, the conversation in Q's living room that evening was exceedingly interesting. The goal of fasting in observance of the holiday is to realize how fortunate we are not to worry about hunger and poverty as millions on the planet still do. Yet another benefit is understanding that our religious differences are outweighed by our similarities.

A noticeable difference in Try Fasting this year to last was the amount of charitable acts folks performed in honor of Ramadan. Rob Quigley distributed water and snacks to homeless folks in Austin. Genevieve Pardo impulsively covered the cost of groceries for a customer in line next to her who did not have enough money to purchase food for herself in Florida. Hannah Kapasi volunteered pro-bono legal assistance. Many donated money to their chosen charity. In all, the good energy sent into the world was awe inspiring. I could not get over how amazed I was at myriad of good deeds performed humbly and selflessly. The idea of "paying it forward" really DOES work. The idea of Try Fasting is brilliant, as it our friend, Q whose work in this area I have been admiring since I met her at a blogging event.

As each of us coped with fasting that day and reflected upon our experiences and shared with each other, I was reminded that this feeling of camaraderie and hope stemmed from the variety of people involved and the realization that we were sharing the experience, that is, we were not alone in our slow realization of what Ramadan really means and why Muslims are "just like us". The same realization extends to who we share the Earth with. We begin to understand that human behavior is universal and our differences are minuscule. Regardless of where we live, what we believe, who we pledge our allegiance to, man has the same basic wants, needs and desires. No one culture is the proper way to do things. Rather, we begin to understand there are many paths that lead to the same destination.

Personally I have observed benefits in my own world as a result of participating in Try Fasting; I feel more gratitude, I became more compassionate and aware of others in need, I feel more optimistic and most significantly, I feel hope for our future. Those results are convincing enough to give others reason to Try Fasting. I know I will be there with the rest of our group next year. In fact, I am looking forward to it.

Q's post-mortem blog post provides screen shots highlighting the conversation and and an excellent overview of the day.

Had to share a shots of the delicious meal featuring traditional dishes and an amazing dessert:

The star of the meal was the stew in the foreground, which contained beef, garlic, onion lentils and spices that we topped with fried onions, fresh ginger, lime, cilantro and jalapeno. 

Shahi Tukhra (Royal Portions)

Special thanks to Amanda Quirishi, Sarah Vela, Rob Quigley, Stacey K Face, Anwar Pandit, Kay Marley-Dilworth, Sadia Termizi, Jane Grenier and everyone that participated. See the entire conversation on Facebook by visiting the Try Fasting Group Page. 

Have you ever fasted for religious purposes? What was your experience like? Did it change the way you view the world?

Live music review: Avett and Wheeler Brothers sold out Whitewater

The phenomena known as the Avett Brotherscontinues to defy convention as the act enjoys further success on the road, selling out 3,500 capacity venue (Stubb's holds 2600),Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels last Friday, July 28. The Avetts were supported by Austin's Wheeler Brothers who...

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