TONIGHT: Zombie jazz in Austin.

Hi all!

Megan joins us again today for an interview. With LADY. F-ING. GAGA.

I'm just kidding. World, meet Father Figures, a "zombie jazz" band playing this weekend in Austin.

Now people, have you ever been to The Elephant Room on Congress? Well, this post has nothing to do with The Elephant Room, or Congress, but since we're about to discuss jazz I feel the need to inform Austin's hipster contingent about this (literally) underground den of thrills. It was where Ross and I went on our very first "friend date," followed a few days after that by our first PROPER date. And here I am referring to Team America.

Anyway, this is all to say I'm really happy that a hip little Brooklyn band is bringing jazz to Red River's strip of beer-soaked, tight-panted, SXSW-tred music venues. Here's Megan with a little some-in' some-in' from Father Figures, and hopefully, you'll be as pleased as I am that parts of this interview are kind of hilarious.

From Megan: 

Last January, some merry pranksters hacked into the City of Austin’s electronic road signs so that commuters would read “Zombies ahead! Run” when driving to work. When I first read that story, I was secretly delighted -- even beaming like a proud parent, as being a resident of Austin automatically grants you the right to take credit for any and all of its Awesomeness.

In the same vein, Brooklyn is like a sister city to Austin, and I feel a sense of kinship whenever her eclectic talent makes its way to Austin. When I heard about ‘zombie jazz’ by the Brooklyn-based band Father Figures, I had to hear them for myself.

Since they swing into town tonight for their Austin tour stop (details at the bottom), the fine young men of Father Figures (Adam Schatz, Jas Walton, Ross Edwards, Spencer Zahn and Ian Chang) took the time to answer some of my pressing questions. Check out our conversation below, and see you tonight at the show.

The song “Flight of the Tumbleweed” charms me, and it’s not just because I own cowboy boots. Did you write this song just for me?

Yes we did. It's a combination of our affinity for really awful plays on words and brief compositions that motivate improvisation in fun ways.

Did that answer your question?

For now. Moving on…you’re neither zombies nor is your music entirely jazz. Discuss.

Well, to be fair, you don't know that we're not zombies. I'm pretty sure we aren't. (Though we could turn at any moment.) The genre ‘zombie jazz’ represents our music stemming from jazz's history of strong melody and improvisation, and combines it with a zombie's instinctual and often destructive energy and motivation. It's a little ambiguous, but I think we've been growing into the term, and when we explain this to people after we play, it seems to make more sense.

Austin might be known as the live music capital of the world, but almost every band out of Brooklyn proves it has a fair share of eclectic talent. How does your band stand out?

We're bringing improvisation to the rock clubs. Not solos, not free jazz, but improvisation; where the band collectively composes together, pushes one other with our sounds, ideas, and, occasionally pre-determined improvisational cues. We weave from our composed music in and out of the improvised, without it being totally clear as to which is which, creating a new plane of sonic spectacle. It's been a blast to bring our music to spaces that have been presenting rock bands and use the energy of the space to help make our music for different people in each city.

How do you plan to conquer Austin when you play on July 31st?

We're ALSO playing on July 30th! At Headhunters. 10 pm. How about that??

Also, Jas says: “Artillary first. Then we send in the calvalry. Then the infantry. Then the saxophone section.”

Also, Ross says: “We'll convince the Austinites to conquer themselves.”

But I think we'll just eat all of your breakfast tacos.

What do you hope the immediate future holds for Father Figures, aside from breakfast tacos, tequila, and Barton Springs?

Barton Springs! Let me add that to the list.

This was our first major tour, and we've just released our first record, a vinyl double LP on Museum People records, a label I started with a fellow in Japan (order it at www.museum-people.com). It's the dawning of a new era for us for sure. The uphill battle we face is getting folks in the DIY rock world to let us in, even though we have saxophones and stuff.

We always work better with other rock bands than with other instrumental groups, so the next step is to try and get an open-minded booking agent and record label interested in what we're doing, to help push us further into that scene. Folks are definitely ready, so we'll see what happens, but no matter what,we're just going to keep playing and having a blast doing it. We're also going to start work on a new record in the fall.

FATHER FIGURES in Austin

Friday, July 30th at Headhunters, 10 pm

Saturday, July 31st at Club 1808 with No Mas Bodas and Plutonium Farmers, 8 pm

Your food recipes at Arthouse Texas.

Happy Friday, all!

New Eavesdropper contributor, Megan, has two posts today. The first is about an in-progress art exhibit happening at Arthouse Texas, and it's calling for YOUR favorite food recipes.

I joked with Megan that I was going to submit my mom's Better Than Sex chocolate cake (actual name of recipe), but now - I think it might not be a joke.

Because that cake really does belong in a museum.

Read below, then tell us:

what's your favorite recipe?

From Megan!:

To anyone who has somewhat of an interest in this thing we call food: Would you like to stuff your face with Better Than Sex chocolate cake? What ingredients comprise the $25,000 Pie? Will you make me some Porcupine Meatballs? Do you think that Prince eats?

If none of this sounds interesting, you’re clearly a robot. Or Prince. If your curiosity is piqued by any of the above recipe titles, or if you think you can top that, you’re in luck.

New York-based artist Jason Middlebrook is seeking submissions of family recipes for his latest project: a massive drawing incorporating these recipes as well as a communal pot luck dinner featuring a few lucky chosen ones. This is all part of the inaugural exhibition in Arthouse’s new second floor gallery.

The dinner will be held in November, but the deadline for submitting a recipe is this Saturday, July 31st. Please submit your favorite or most memorable recipe along with the name(s) of who passed it down to you.  

You may also include an anecdote of why this recipe is important to you, what memories it conjures, or a story of when it was served.

*The recipes don’t have to be unusual or have epic titles, either. They just have to be what you consider tasty or perhaps have a sentimental tinge.*

Please email your recipe by Saturday, July 31 to Middlebrook.Arthouse@gmail.com, or send to Arthouse, PO Box 160490, Austin, TX 78716. Also include your name, phone number and email address.

ABOUT JASON MIDDLEBROOK

Jason Middlebrook was born in Jackson, Michigan in 1966 and lives and works in Hudson, New York.  His work, which has been shown extensively in the United States and Europe, typically features found and recycled everyday materials that are redeployed to reveal practices of overconsumption and the points at which culture and nature collide.

ABOUT ARTHOUSE

Arthouse creates meaningful opportunities to investigate and experience the art of our time through exhibitions, programs and commissions of new work.   All exhibitions and programs at Arthouse are free and open to the public.

FACILITY INFORMATION

Arthouse at the Jones Center is located at 700 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX  78701.  Arthouse is closed temporarily for an extensive renovation and expansion designed by LTL Architects and will reopen in fall 2010.

SUPPORT
Arthouse Season Sponsors:  Austin Ventures, Roger Beasley Highline Group, Four Hands Home, Guerilla Suit, Intercontinental Hotel – Stephen F. Austin, and Jones Villalta Funds.

Photo credit here. 

Introducing MEGAN.

Happy Thursday evening, friends. Have I ever told you about my friend Megan?

Wait - yes. Yes I did. Megan and I have known each other for years, and were even roommates at one point, here in Austin.  Megan's good at a lot of things, including but not limited to competitive karaoke singing, but this email below basically sums up why I love her so much.

(Note: "spark" means instant message).

She emailed me that two weeks ago, and I am STILL dying, sitting here posting it.

Anyway! Megan will now be joining us here on Austin Eavesdropper, joining the ranks of our other beloved Eavesdroppers, GARY! and Breanna. We're like a little harem!  Except the man in our group is gay.

Megan has two - count 'em, TWO - posts going up tomorrow, and both are really fun. The first is about Arthouse Texas, and a new art project they're hosting that involves YOUR (imagine my finger pointing at you) recipes; the second is a Q&A with Father Figures, a grungy jazz band making a tour stop in Austin tomorrow night. Among other songs in their musical repertoire, one is called "You're Not My Real Dad." Heh. Take that George Michael!

Welcome, Megan!

Lights. Camera. Help!

Austinites, do you all know who David Neff is?

Of course you know David. He's probably the most well-connected person I know here in Austin, and possibly, the world.

I call David my Networking Genie! That's because at least once a month, I receive an email from him that says, "YOU TWO SHOULD MEET," with an important person CC'd. He is a master connector with a crazy Twitter following, a social media trainer to non-profits, and on top of all that, a co-host for a local TV show about ghosthunting in Austin. Facebook like button, meet my finger.

So when David wrote me a few days ago to ask if I'd get the word out about his organization's upcoming film festival, I said: No.

Just kidding, I said yes, a thousand times yes, David.  Because who could say no to that face? NO ONE, that's who.

It helps that I really like the film festival.

David and his buddies run Lights. Camera. Help., a non-profit that teaches other non-profits how to use film and video.  Last year, they launched the Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival, the world's first fest dedicated entirely to cause-driven films. This year, it has expanded from one day to three days, 20 finalists to 35. ALL proceeds from tickets ($12 for one-day pass, $30 for all three days) will be donated to the organizations featured in the winning films.

Now, a word on those films. I didn't know what a "cause-driven" film was, so I looked at the line-up.  We've got:

-Children reading in Queens
-A goat being rescued
-Gay people getting married!
-People with cerebral palsy being included in their families' lives
-Hungry people eating
-I'm not very good at describing these

I know! Let's look at some trailers. The first is produced by EcoViva, an organization that promotes sustainable development in El Salvador; the second is for Daraja Academy, a girls' school in Kenya. I LOVE that one.



Do you see what I mean? Those girls' smiling faces pull at le heartstrings, non?

If the goal of this film festival is to inspire viewers, then it worked, because I immediately hopped onto Daraja Academy's website the first time I watched that trailer. "I wonder how feasible it would be to fly to Africa and teach girls MATH?" I thought.  And I don't even like math.

That's why this is a genius film festival.

Lights. Camera. Help. Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, and runs through Saturday. To buy tickets, click here.

Me and the moody flowers.

You all are probably sick of looking at my mug by now. But look!:

This is a pic I took with my relatively new Diana camera, which I'm crazy about. 

I accidentally double-exposed this picture when I took it. It was the day after I bought this strange little flower plant, which literally closes up its blossoms in the slightest amount shade, then bursts them back open again when it is receiving direct sun rays.

When I bought the plant, I carried it to my car, and walked through some shade. That was roughly 20 feet. 

Then, I drove exactly three blocks to my house. 

During this time, the blossoms were all, "oh hell no" and immediately closed up.

Because they spent a grueling four minutes without sunshine!

Can you believe a flower is that sensitive to light? You probably can, but this is my very first time to buy and attempt to take care of flowers. Isn't that sad?

Things are about to majorly turn around though here at Eavesdropper HQ. I am all UP in this grow-your-own-everything business. I mean, it's not Swiss Family Robinson at our place yet, but I'm determined to eat something I grow this year.

do you guys garden?

Austin Bleet-Up: Blogger Smorgasbord!

I'm not gonna lie, people. This Bleet-Up photo booth got a little out of control.

Maybe because we were all so deliriously happy it didn't rain.

Maybe because Jennie Chen (from MisoHungry) brought a puppy!

Or, maybe, because our props included a coconut bra, Bon Jovi wig, and fake chest hair.

All of which bring out a different side in people!

which austin bloggers do you spot?

Pause. This is the crew from Kohana Coffee, who came and sampled their delicious Cold Brew at the Bleet-Up!

Event planner people, I'd like to strongly recommend this group for your next party.

Our folks were crazy about their coffee, and on top of that, Piper Jo - second from left, one of the co-founders of Kohana - is just really cool. When I got to Four Seasons, visibly flustered because I was 99% sure it was going to rain, she hugged me and said, "so what if it does? We'll party inside!"

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

By a singular miracle, it did not rain! But all the same, I really want to thank Four Seasons for graciously agreeing to do the whole event outdoors, even though the sky was threatening to open up and pour on us. The staff went out on a limb to accommodate our group, and speaking of the staff, they're extra fun to hang out with!

Heh. Here's a server I grabbed to take a picture with me. We're holding appetizer sausages.

More madness:

Flicktress Cory Ryan is a little bit magical, non?

Cory has the ability to make all of her subjects look so warm, energetic, and vibrant. I joke with her that since she was my wedding photographer (three years ago), she doesn't have a choice - she's stuck with me for LIFE! I don't plan parties that often, but when I do, she's my go-to gal for photo booths.

More glorious Bleet-Up pics here.

And finally, thank you to everyone who came to the Bleet-Up! It's a crime how much fun I have doing this.

Thank you, Candace Carlisle, for getting there early and calming me down. Thank you badass goodie bag sponsors, Snap Kitchen, TRIO, Austin Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, and more. Thank you weather, thank you glass(es) of wine, and most of all, thank you bloggers  for helping make our city the radass place it is.

You all are too fun!

Please go watch this movie: The Kids Are All Right.

I have two words on this Saturday afternoon: Annette Bening.

I absolutely, 100%, with conviction and purpose, WORSHIP Annette Bening.

There are many mysteries we encounter in this life. For example:

• What makes Austin so magical?  
• Are fish sentient creatures?
• Duckbill platypuses? (Seriously - what happened there)?

But one of the biggest mysteries, to me, is why Annette Bening does not have an Oscar yet.

Before we talk about her though, is it just me, or did the ho-hum summer movie line-up suddenly get jerked right out of its How to Train Your Dragon-is-the-freaking-box-office-highlight rut?

Inception. I Am Love. And people - oh my God! - The Kids Are All Right.

Are you ready? Because we're going to discuss this.


Now, the way they cut this trailer is a little cutesy. And it does not NEARLY do the film justice.

But as my friend Megan can attest, I could hardly drive home from the Drafthouse last night after seeing it.

I was still swimming in this movie.

The premise: A married, midlife, lesbian couple (Annette Bening - SWOON! - and Julianne Moore) have two teenage kids. Those kids decide to contact their sperm donor. Paul - an early 40s, groovy, motorcycle-riding, organic restaurant-owning, "it's all good!" zen, very sexy kinda guy - is played by Mark Ruffalo. Let's stop right there.

J'adore this sweet face!

Mark Ruffalo is appealing to me in that real-person kind of way. It's like Jeff Bridges versus Tom Cruise. With all due respect to my 12-year-old crush - Maverick in Top Gun - I would take Bridges over Cruise, an Efron, a Gossip Girl cast AND a whole truckload of rippling ab, glassy-eyed Twilight dorks combined.

Just sayin'.

And Ruffalo goes in the Bridges Camp.

Anyway, where were we? Ah yes. Paul, Ruffalo's character. Hot as all get-out.

Well, the kids love him of course. As do most of his restaurant employees, auxiliary characters fainting in his wake, and us, the viewers.

But one half of the lesbian couple is suspicious of Paul. Or rather, the way Paul's sudden appearance draws some repressed family dynamics to the pleasant, suburban surface of things. And one half of the couple ... well. That half is curious.

And this is where I will leave you, because you really must go see it.

Also? I feel like I should warn you, my fellow Austinites. Because this movie is lifestyle porn. Aside from the impeccable casting and performances, the script WRITING, and the crazy good reviews The Kids Are All Right is getting, the film is visually luscious. Too luscious.

No, I'm not talking about the actors. Obviously they are. What I'm talking about is the CAMEO ROLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PLAY IN THIS MOVIE!

Heh. Forgive me - don't know why I felt the need to all-caps (and exclamation point) that last, apparently very important, detail?

But suffice it to say, you'll want to grow your own garden, and eat out of it, after watching. Which is another reason this movie will probably get a lot of awards. Because we're all going to go local and eat sauteed green bell peppers for a week upon viewing.

Speaking of which, food is also the reason you should go watch The Kids are All Right at Alamo Drafthouse. As a dessert special, they offer fresh Strawberry Rhubarb pie during the movie.

And if you're extra lucky, they'll play my absolute favorite "Don't Talk" Drafthouse video beforehand, like they did last night.



UPDATED: My dad just pointed out to me that Annette Bening's last name is spelled with TWO n's, not three.  Sorry Annette!  I know you read this blog all the time!

This is what dreams are made of.

It's the most The Secret-like moment I've ever had in my life!

A) I discover kickass Austin band The Happen-Ins on the radio,

B) I blog about them,

C) I make a fool out of myself in front of one of them,

D) We take pictures together at Pixel Pop!

Couldn't have asked for a better manifestation of the universe, there.

Except for a picture with this cutie pie.

Candace Carlisle, you are such a freakin' hottie. Thank you again for putting on an amazing bash last Friday!

We're lucky to have the caliber of party planners we do here in Austin, Texas, non?

Psst - speaking of parties. You coming to the Bleet-Up tonight?  I hear it's the place to be!

Valet parking for all arrivals, so just pull up, hop out, and let the good folks at Four Seasons take care of you. 

Did I tell you Kohana Coffee is going to be there, sampling their Cold Brew?  Basically, you're going to flip out.  It's oh-so delicious, and this is coming from a bonafide coffee connoisseur (re: addict).

can't wait to see you guys!

The Austin Underground Kombucha Network (or, How to Make Kombucha).

So, remember a couple of weeks ago when we were talking about all the missing kombucha in Austin?

In the absence of our beloved drink, I move to start our own Austin Underground Kombucha Network!

Now to be fair, there actually IS still plenty of kombucha in the city. Buddha's Brew for example. But making your own kombucha at home is durn cheap, and lots of you asked for the recipe. Membership for the Austin Underground Kombucha Network currently stands at one (me), but if you follow this recipe, BOOM. You in da club.

One more word of caution. Actually, two.

First, if you are squeamish to the taste of vinegar, you probably won't like kombucha. It's not terribly strong, but as this is a fermented beverage, vinegar taste is definitely present. If this is you I completely understand and won't make fun of you; I am the uptight snob at parties who doesn't like beer, after all.

Second, the culture you use to make kombucha looks like a spleen or something. It's terrifying. But don't worry, that's what it's supposed to look like.

Now let's get this party started!

* how to make kombucha *

Ingredients / Tools:

-Medium to large stainless steel pot
-A one-gallon glass jar (you can find them at Hobby Lobby)
-Paper towles, coffee filters, or any other clean "breathable" covering
-Water (three qts)
-White sugar (one cup)
-Tea (four bags. I like green tea, but you can use whatever)
-A kombucha culture, often referred to as a "mother"

step one:

Boil your three quarts of water. Distilled or purified is best. While it's boiling, measure out your cup of sugar.

step two:

Add your cup of sugar to the water when a rolling boil is reached. The sugar is added to feed the bacteria and yeast in the Mother, because she eats it!

Boil the water and sugar together for five minutes.

step three:

Turn off heat, and add your four tea bags. I like playing around with different kinds, although I always use at least a couple of green tea bags. Just my preference. The last time I did it, I used a couple of "Women's Relaxation" herbal tea bags, and it yielded this spicy sweet, cinnamon-y flavor. Mmm.

Steep 10-15 minutes, then for God's sake LET THE TEA COOL. I skipped that part the first time, added the Mother in while the tea was still hot, and accidentally killed her! Don't do that.

step four: 

Once your tea/sugar water mixture is cooled, pour it inside your gallon glass jar, and add in the Mother.

Cover the glass jar with a paper towel / coffee filter / whatever breathable covering, secure with a rubber band, and let it sit in an undisturbed, room temperature area for 7-14 days. Keep it out of direct sunlight, and don't let people smoke or cook lots of greasy foods in the same room as your little kombucha. She doesn't like that.

Fresh air is important too, so remember to open a window every so often in the room where your kombucha is growing.

Here's a guide to help you with timing. I used to think that kombucha took at least two weeks; as it turns out it's typically a little less than that.

4 to 6 days: Too sweet. All the sugar hasn't converted yet.
7 to 9 days: May taste like sparkling apple cider.
10+ days: Vinegary taste starts to get stronger. If it gets too strong for you, dilute it with fruit juice.

A few more things. When you are making kombucha, the Mother creates a "baby," i.e., another culture that someone else can turn around and use as THEIR Mother. Isn't that cool? It's one of the reasons kombucha lends itself well to a network, because you can share it with other people.

Mothers vary in their awesomeness, though. The first one I made was completely wimpy, like a falling-apart tissue. But the second one I made was a freaking beast.

Here's a side-by-side comparison.

Now, I have a jar of fresh kombucha that I'm almost finished drinking! It's so yummy. It's earned an honored place on our kitchen counter.

Don't you like how it's hanging out with our liquor? Almost as if to say, "Stand back, fellas. There's a NEW sheriff in town."

happy kombucha making!

Birds have taken over this blog post.

(Even though at first, you'll think it's about my husband.)

Happy Monday morning, friends!

Can I be honest with you? There are several things I want to talk about today. Like the Bleet-Up, like my new favorite yoga studio, like the fact that Anthony Bourdain, Bill Murray, and Quentin Tarantino should just admit their collective crushes on Austin, Texas and all buy a summer home here together.

HOWEVER, none of these topics are allowing themselves to congeal into proper blog posts.  Why? I think it's because all I want to talk about is the fact that Ross comes home from the Amazon in nine days.

Nine days! We are in the single digits now. Can you believe it? Nine days until Claudia gets her favorite human back, nine days until I swerve into Austin Bergstrom Airport, nine days until I burst, snarling and wild-eyed, into baggage claim and vigorously hump my husband's leg. Family, I'm sorry you had to read that.

But here's my question: What do you do with a man who's been living in the jungle for two months?

It's cultural re-entry I'm talking about. I'm not saying Ross has gone native or anything. But you go from living very simply - one might say aescetically - for a long while, and then you come home to America with its bells and whistles and Olive Garden (heart) and Bravo TV (double heart). That's right, I said I like Olive Garden. And I don't care who knows it!

So are there things you can do to make it easier for the person coming home?

I've been joking with Ross that to help him out, I'm going to turn the house into a setting he's used to. Namely by dressing Claudia up as a baby jaguar. Really not too much of a stretch there.

And it's true, I am redecorating. Oh, nothing drastic.  Just a kitchen remodel and a new pool! some new art for right now. How do you like these guys?

Sparrow, meet Rooster. You two shall fight over avian territory in my home office.

I'm going through a rather strong bird phase right now. They fly across my dining room:

Fluttered onto my bedroom walls:

And can be seen preening, in my bathroom.

They've even started a little nest on the back of my neck, where I have a bird tattoo.

While we're on the subject. Last weekend, a real life birdwatcher found his way over to my blog! Everybody, I'd like to introduce Mikael.

Obviously, this is not Mikael. It's a photograph he took, one of several on his little Austin birdwatching blog. It really is so cute and calming.  I've been reading it every day since he commented here.

happy monday, all!

P.S. - I started this post last night while I was a little bit drunk.

P.P.S. - I fear I may have made some irreversible interior decorating decisions while I was drunk.