A few weeks ago Animal Lovers of Austin heldBarkitecture 2011on the upscale (Dallas-like) 2nd street district. The event raises money for local area animal rescue groups. The money raised is by silent auction of these awesome doghouses built by some of Austin’s most creative architects and designers. A few blocks were lined with these one of a kind doghouses, as well as a lot of cool dogs enjoying the festivities and a great day out. Heres some pics of some of our favorites.
This doghouse had a slightly slanted roof with an opening so that the reservoir on the floor level could collect rainwater for the dogs to drink.
This guitar themed doghouse was built by students from the Art Institute of Austin.
Many of the doghouses used “green” materials in their construction, everything from found re-purposed wood, used tires, and even glass bottles.
Longhorn football- I honestly think most of these public art cows are annoying and gaudy, but this one was pretty cool.
QR codes were used as the siding on this doghouse, which is a pretty cool idea…but then again…well, whatever.
This doghouse was awesome; the water wall was used to help cool the inside of the house for a pampered pet on a hot day.
Ran across this graffiti piece on the east side while walking to the bi-annual Pecan Street Festival on 6th street. Those letters are well done, real cool color combo- painted by No Bounds Krew – painted by Reks, Saint, Shock, Worm, and Sloke
Then came across this cool collection of stickers. Big ups to FAILURE, cool image although some other artists added to it.
This lego made lion welcomed me to 6th street.
Then we got tired of looking at bad art in the numerous tents lining the street and dipped into visit with our friends at Sole Fresco , check out this dope ODB tee shirt.
I was digging a lot of these great caps that they have but was turned off by the snapback trends and lack of my fitted sizes. I was told they would be carrying more fitteds soon, which is way cool in my book.
Festival foods, this is really what Pecan Street Fest is all about.
On the walk back we came up on the Dub Academy. This place was amazing. I had heard a lot about this place from a few folk and was really interested in checking the spot out. Creative Director, Lorenzo Villareal explained that the school taught students the art of DJ’ing through serato as well as the ability to make beats using Ableton. All of the rigs use professional Rane mixers, Technics tables, and Mac interfaces….impressive. The space was great, high ceilings with custom paint from Austin graffiti favorites SLOKE and MEZ 1. Make sure toc heck out their website or space if you or someone you know is interested in learning to mix, scratch, or produce.
The following week Rob Swift of X-ecutioners fame held a Q and A and scratch session at the academy….found out the day after, bummer.
I have been really interested in the movement that has grown on New York’s Wall Street in the last few weeks. “Occupy Wall Street” buzzed on our “social media” radar before last weekend, you know, about the same time that the weekends parties and multiple event invites for rookie rappers’ online mixtape releases hit my twitter/FB stream. It only peaked through a few streams though, and only from a few very liberal friends, and there wasn’t anything on mainstream media…and still hardly is. As I went looking into the movement I was really wary of the hype (same goes with those event invites), you know “the boy who cried wolf” effect. The online pictures and videos were strong and professionally composed so I was drawn into them more so from a visually composed aspect as opposed to the emotional outlet. This changed for myself throughout the week, however, and even moreso as I researched the movement for this blog..
Truth be told, though; unless you are the 1% of wealthy Americans, which I seriously doubt will ever come upon this blog- this should interest you. 1 in 6 Americans are living beneath the poverty line.
Photos and videos of fed up Americans in groves that were peacefully protesting on Wall Street to bring attention to the woes and evils of corporate greed and then being assaulted and arrested by city police for doing no more than documenting the event was enough to keep this “event” on my radar.
The Occupy Wall Street movement is hard to define; there is not just one idea or demand. This is what probably most people and media are using to discredit the movement. The Occupy movement is more the understanding that there is not just one problem in today’s society; instead, it is opening discussion and protesting against the complex and numerous affinities that plague the current state of our union. It is the state that 99% of our country lives in spanning from judicial wrongdoings, rising higher education costs, poor health care, shaky economy, corporations running our government, the 2008 Banking bailouts, rise in unemployment….you know, pretty much everything that has resulted from corporate greed. This is why you have not seen or heard of this movement from mass media, not so much because of the “disorganization” of the protesters. This is also why the movement itself has been full steam ahead into the media of today’s generation; social media. We are going into week 3 as Occupy Wall Street activists have been camped out in NY’s financial district and are being aided by volunteers and people from all over the world who have been sending supplies, food, encouragement, and coverage to the protestors. The Occupy Wall Street website blogs daily as well as offers a live feed from Wall street so that anyone could see and hear exactly what is going on without having bias of what a reporter may say. This video from Democracy Now of Dr.Cornell West explaining the movement can perhaps be the best said reason of what is going on in our society right now. In reference to the revolutions and protests happening this past year from many Arab countries, “it’s the makings of a U.S. Autumn responding to the Arab Spring.”
The group has garnered support and some legitimacy from some NY union members including the United Federation of Teachers and the Transport Workers Union Local 100.
Here is another great video of rapper Immortal Technique visiting the movement at 2am on September 26th to drop knowledge on the current state and the movement.
…and a video of Immortal Technique’s rap poetry, “A Toast to the Dead”
September 26, Michael Moore visited Liberty Plaza to offer some demands for the protests such as corporate accountability and higher taxes for the rich as he explains that “The 400 richest Americans own more wealth than 150 million combined.”
On the 11th day of the protests, over 700 uniformed pilots representing the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) carriers also took to Wall Street to voice grievances as they protested for wages and benefits in light of a stalled merger between the airlines.
On Day 12 of the protest, hip hop mogul, Russel Simmons lends his support as he explains that “The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer”
Through this weekend the movement in New York had protesters march over the Brooklyn Bridge which led to the eventual netting of and arrest of 700 peaceful protesters. Several sources write that the protesters were led by police to the bridge and then trapped and arrested. Here’s some video.
The “Occupy” movement has now seen a rise in protests and plans for protests in over 66 U.S.Cities, as well as in other countries including Canada, Mexico, and Japan that are standing in solidarity for the Wall Street protestors.
Occupy LA, over the weekend saw over 1500 protestors at City Hall, Occupy Boston has seen well over 1000 (in the rain) in front of the Federal Reserve Bank. Most of the other cities are using October 6th as the date to protest in their cities, including our fair city of Austin.
Occupy Austin will occupy the Austin City Hall beginning at 3pm on October 6th
Here’s some pics of the Gary Clark Jr show at Sam’s in San Antonio, TX. The show was sold out, and people were waiting for hours before the show to get in. It’s pretty cool to see that Gary is now truly being recognized for the talent he is. This San Antonio show was somewhat of a homecoming to Texas, as Gary and band had been touring for months selling out shows from NY, to Chicago, to all over Canada. More recently, Gary has been invited to 3 Brazil show dates in the next few weeks to open for guitar god, Eric Clapton. Kudos.
Houston just held the regional leg of the Red Bull EmSee battles at Warehouse Live. This event pits 8 freestyle MC’s in rap battles to compete for the chance to battle in Atlanta at the finals where Eminem will be one of the judges. What makes this different from other battles is that there are a group of different items flashed on a screen before and during the battle that the rappers are required to include into their rhymes. Strictly for pros.
The judges of the battle who also performed during the show included Houston legends, ESG,Bun B (UGK 4 LIFE), Trae the Truth, and super producer, Alchemist.
Suffice to say, Phranchyze took the regional crown…again. This didnt come as much of a surprise, however, there was a point in the judging of the final round against HoodStarChantz where it looked like he may of been robbed (PlayDough) but luckily Bun B gave the crowd and judges a bonus round where Chantz melted and ended up beating himself.
Phranchyze will be in Atlanta in November for the finals.
Great night in the H- big ups to Scuba at Red Bull and Matt Sonzala, and Warehouse Live for putting this great night together. Enjoy the pics- DJ Mik One, Geezy, and Jess were dodging the camera, but we see you.
Bun B , who held hosting duties also took time to perform an amazing set with Alchemist
Public Zoo’s Robojosh and Devin the Dude holding it down
ESG chuckling at a Phranchyze punchline
I enjoyed all the sets by all the H-Town talent that night, but ESG really…really put it down for his city.
Here’s some cool graffiti we came across near the venue.The technique to paint that green character is just plain awesome.
More Houston graffiti
Here’s a picture of Matt Sonzala hosting Damage Control on 90.1 KPFT. The radio show has been a beacon of real hip hop and Houston culture for years now. Matt is also pretty known in hip hop circles for his popular Houston SoReal turned Austin Surreal blog, as well as many of the great events he has a part in coordinating and promoting. We finally had a chance to visit the show with Phranchyze as they talked about the then upcoming EmSee battles..then proceeded to freestyle.
Some more great Houston street art near the venue.
Phranchyze put it on Hoodstar Chantz in the finals.
Frank of Proper Entertainment and Matt Sonzala who helped to put this amazing event on.
Proper Entertainment was repping thick in Houston that night.
Phranchyze and Trae the Truth chopping it up outside of Warehouse Live.
B-Boy. This picture was taken a few years back at a 4 elements hip hop show in Austin, TX at the Mohawk. I always loved the angle and the direction of the dancer and his competitor looking at each other during this break dance battle.
Another ACL season brewing in Austin. I can tell this by the general interest in wall posts and timeline discussions by friends or internet connects located everywhere but Austin. Austin’s biggest and maybe most prolific weekend festival I feel doesn’t generate so much excitement within the usual Austin music community. I feel ACL is for the superfans or the type of music fan that only goes to festivals and throughout the year misses the tons of great local and regional touring acts that bless this city on a daily basis. I also presume it may have something to do with the cost of ticket prices, or maybe the fact that you can catch most of the great ACL acts at after parties and secret shows for a fraction of the cost and a whole lot of convenience.Either way, its a great idea to go out in Austin this week and support some great musicians no matter the size of the stage. Here’s some information about the festival and the afterparties.
It is impossible to ignore the festival’s impact on the city - the city does seem to turn into a party atmosphere going into the weekend in a quickfire (no disrespect) way that not even SXSW does. SXSW is like instead a slower, more exciting, year long build in hype, whereas ACL is like the broseph festival that takes shots of Jager to get the day started. The usually rock…classic rock heavy festival this year however, actually seems to have a pretty fair lineup for a hip hop/soul fan this year I mean Stevie Wonder..STEVIE WONDER headlining…thats going to be coke classic. Then thrown in for good measure C3 has also gathered Kanye West, Nas and Damian Marley, Cee Lo, Big Boi, Aloe Blacc and the Grand Scheme, Chiddy Bang and others. This is all fine and good, but kudos to them for having some legitimate Austin acts that are on the verge of stardom in soulstress Susanna Choffel, rockers Electric Touch, and soul.bluesman Gary Clark Jr.
Gary Clark Jr to most of the music industry right now has been an overnight success. Yes, Gary has recently recieved 4 Stars in Rolling Stone for his Warner Brothers debut 4 song EP, yes, that was Gary who stole the show at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar festival, Yes, that was Gary you saw jamming with the legendary Roots crew a few weeks ago on the Jimmy Fallon Show, and yes, that is the same Gary that is selling out shows seemingly everywhere he goes from the US to Canada to wherever hes going next…..but, most Austinites will remember the years that Gary has put in playing in probably every venue in Austin alongside legends and amateurs alike. I first saw Gary at a happy hour probably about 6 or 7 years ago at the The Continental Club on SoCo and at that point was amazed by the versatility in range that the musician can access and dominate songs genre to genre. I believe he was doing a Cody Chessnutt cover at that time, and then went into some old blues right after all awhile mesmerizing the crowd with his insanely fast guitar hand. Gary will ascend into ACL straight from months of touring to bless the festival with some magic I’m sure. Gary Clark Jr’s homecoming ACL set is on Friday September 16 at 6:30 on the BMI stage.
I first recall seeing Suzanna Choffel singing as part of the popular organic San Marcos hip hop band called Liquid Stereo Project..this had to b probably well over 10 years ago. Fast forward to today and she has grown into a successful solo career who tours regionally and nationally as well as has recently headlined one of the popular Blues on the Green shows. Suzanna’s voice is packed to the brim with soul and her songwriting is a fresh breath in the current state of music, as it is very personal and endearing. Choffel’s set should be on your list if you are attending ACL, she plays Sunday September 18 at 2:30 on the Austin Ventures stage. You can visit Suzanna Choffel’s website here.
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Austin’s Electric Touch will also play the ACL fest. The Island recording artists who are working on their studio album have also just come back from an insane tour schedule in part to their duties during the east coast of Van’s Warped Tour, as well as their dazzling Lollapalooza set. ET’s brand of indie rock is a great listen and they are gathering quite the buzz lately with their new single “Don’t Stop” which is as catchy of a song as they come. Electric Touch will play on Friday at 3:45 on the Austin Ventures set. You can visit Electric Touch’s website here.
I’ve had a great time at every ACL Festival I’ve attended and stumbled somehow into, however, ACL is usually out of the average music goers reach- costwise and timewise, and thats where the afterparties come in- These are the sweet morsels of awesomeness that happen because tons of great acts from the festival are around to play and would rather get paid for playing a show then sitting up in a hotel room I imagine. These are more affordable…can you say $10 for Nas and Damian Marley, $20 for Big Boi with Phranchyze and Perseph, and $15-17 for Gary Clark Jr. These are where you wanna be.
Big Boi will be performing at Mohawk on Friday September 16th at 8:30. Joining the half of Outkast and performing will be Austin MC, Phranchyze who is fresh from an MC buffet at the Houston leg of the Red Bull EmSEE rap battles. Phranchyze will go on to the finals in Atlanta sometime in November to compete for the championship. Houston’s own Perseph One Gunz will also perform , she is a monster on the mic that sort of Aesop Rock’ish for lack of a better comparison. Big ups to Proper Entertainment, Knuckle Rumbler, and Attal Recordings for this one.
Nas and Damian Marley will also be playing on Friday, September 16th with DJ Green Lantern at the Haven. Tickets are $10 but you have tp RSVP on do512.com here is the link.
