What lies at the intersection of food, feminism, and finding joy? Austin’s own Addie Broyles! Get to know what inspires her, her lifelong food journey, and how she stays curious ahead of her November 22 conversation with British television cook Nigella Lawson.
Hello, Austin food family!
It’s a delight to send this invitation for you to join me on Nov. 22 with Nigella Lawson at the Long Center.
I’m Addie Broyles, the longtime Statesman food writer who now spends her days helping people connect with their ancestors via tarot cards (who could have predicted that?!) and writing freelance stories, including a weekly column The Feminist Kitchen, now published as a Substack newsletter. Later this month, we are welcoming the inimitable Nigella Lawson, Britain’s best-known food writer.
A little background on how the one and only Nigella landed on my radar. My life as a foodie began back in the 1990s, when I was one of those Food Network-obsessed teens who watched every show that aired on this newfangled cable channel. By the time I was in college, I was hooked, watching Rachael Ray and Sara Moulton in between journalism classes at Mizzou, never dreaming that I would one day make a living as a food columnist.
Nigella became a food star in England in 1998 with her debut cookbook, “How to Eat,” which became a bestseller almost overnight, followed by a series of book and TV shows that made her a household name in both the UK and the U.S. I first saw her on one of those early Food Network shows, putting together one of her famous feasts with an ease that I still haven’t yet mastered. I knew she was on her way to becoming a food powerhouse.
With 13 books and countless TV shows and appearances, including as a judge on “Iron Chef America,” Nigella became an outspoken feminist and champion of empowering cooks rather than belittling them. In every book she has published in the past 24 years, Nigella continues to encourage cooks to help them go beyond the what and how of cooking and into the why.
I was delighted to hear that Nigella was heading out on a book tour through the U.S. to promote “Cook, Eat, Repeat: Ingredients, Recipes and Stories,” a collection of recipes and essays that was released during the pandemic, a time when many of us struggled with the monotony of cooking.
Perhaps more than any of her previous books, “Cook, Eat, Repeat” reminds readers that Nigella was a literary journalist before becoming a cookbook author. She penned dozens of small essays scattered throughout the book to give a glimpse into her own philosphy about living a life as rich as the food on the table.
“Although there seems to be an ever-increasing amount of pressure to rise to the occasion of cooking something new and complex and unfamiliar…it becomes our food only when it eases its way into our repertoire, that list of dishes we turn to and repeat, a list that grows and changes, to be sure, just as we grow and change,” she writes.
It turns out that Nigella, too, struggles with what she calls the “Sisyphean drudgery” that sneaks up even on the most enthusiastic of us home cooks. But food nourishes our creativity as much as our bodies. When we’re stuck at home and can’t travel, we can explore different cuisines and cooking techniques, not just once a year but every single night. When we shop for food, we can try a new grocery store or a new ingredient or invite a new friend over to share a meal.
Helping people feel not so alone while they climb that what’s-for-dinner hill every night was also my mission during all those years putting out the weekly food section. But recipes were the Trojan Horse for deeper stories about the unpredictable experience of being alive including getting married and divorced, raising kids as a single mom, navigating Austin’s exploding culinary scene and unpacking racism and sexism in the food industry and beyond.
My desire to ask “why” and “what if” is what made my work as a food writer resonate with so many of you. It’s what I continue to do through The Feminist Kitchen, where I continue to write columns about the texture and topography of the examined life.
The interest in folk psychology led me to having a tarot practice, now Don’t Fear the Death Card, my tarot education and event business. My desire to know more about the plants around me led me to enroll in not one, but two, local herbalism courses this year. My curiosity might have taken me to unexpected places – including my great-great-grandmother’s hometown in Sweden and a fruit forest in Costa Rica – but it has never failed me.
I can’t wait to take the stage with Nigella later this month to find out what fuels her curiosity. How have her own views on food, history and culture changed over the years? What does it mean to live a good life now that she’s almost 25 years into living a very public life?
I hope you’ll consider joining us on Thanksgiving week to talk about ways to keep that flame alive, not only in your own kitchen but in your heart. They say we eat with our eyes first, but what lingers is the feeling we have in our hearts, not our stomachs.
Now, time to feed your curiosity…
Before I leave you, I wanted to share a handful of life-changing, curiosity-feeding books, movies and podcasts that I have been recommending to everyone I know in the past year or two.
“Truly Texas Mexican” – I wrote about this documentary from Houston chef Adán Medrano, available on Amazon Prime, as one of my final pieces for the Statesman in 2021, and it continues to come up in every conversation I have about Texas food, history and culture. It’s so much more than a food documentary and should be required watching for every Texan.
“Heavyweight” and “Strong Sense of Place” – These wildly different podcasts are ones that make me drop whatever I’m doing when a new episode comes out. The first is a Gimlet product from former “This American Life” reporter Jonathan Goldstein, who helps guests reconnect with people from their past to get closure on something that has been bothering them for years. The second is a books-and-travel show from former Austinites Melissa Joulwan and David Humphreys, who are now expats living in Prague. I’ve never met anyone as curious as this couple, and their enthusiasm for learning about new places around the world through the written word is infectious.
“Braiding Sweetgrass” and “Emergent Strategy” – Ever feel helpless about the state of the world? Me, too. These books are often the only thing that gives me hope about the future. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s celebration of indigenous science is a book I wish I would have read years ago. (It came out in 2013 when I still had a toddler on my hip.) The latter book, by organizer and activist adrienne maree brown, became an instant classic in 2017 in its effort to help us look to nature as we learn to lean into the changing world around us rather than resist it.
Buy Nothing – This free, volunteer-led global movement, based mostly on Facebook, now has an app to help people give and ask freely with people in their communities. Participating in the gift economy left such a profound impact on me that I started seeking out books like “The Gift” by Lewis Hyde to help me understand why. I’m also an admin for our neighborhood group, one of more than 40 in the Austin area.
“The Art of Gathering” – Priya Parker’s 2018 bestseller is helping me learn the practical strategies and philosophical ideas that make gatherings more meaningful. The book has been a constant companion as I plan my wedding next year with my partner, Frank, who had me at “squash blossom pizza.”
Yes, I’m getting married again. The boys, now 15 and 12, are thrilled. And so am I. You can follow our journey at thefeministkitchen.com or by finding me on Instagram @broylesa.
I hope to see you on Nov. 22!
Be well,
Addie
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
There’s a slight nip in the air and spooky season is upon us! As you’re settling into your routine, we thought you might be thinking… do I need a new fall hobby?? Enter Adrian Richardson, our Guest Services Manager, who has all the details on volunteering at the Long Center and why you should give it a shot. In this Mid-Week Intermission, hear about their first theater experience and check out our volunteer application so you can hit the ground running this season.
Hello!
My name is Adrian Richardson, and I am what happens when a Theater Kid grows up into a Theater Adult. (No, really!)
When I was five years old, I took my place as an audience member for the very first time and the proverbial bug took its bite. Amongst the heritage stone buildings in my Canadian hometown, the local high school was best known for its annual Christmas musical, and always invited the surrounding county’s elementary students to attend. We filed in to our seats on giddy legs stuffed into snow pants, and all at once were transported to a world of magic, music, and merry.
The show ended all too soon and took my toddling heart with it. When we’d made it back onto our bus and began to pull out onto the street, a few of the actors, still donned in their costumes, popped their heads out of the building’s back door and waved their goodbyes, sending us off with not a single fourth wall broken.
Twenty years later, and while the stages and acts have changed, my love for live performance has stayed ever the same. I’ve seen shows through the eyes of an usher, actor, assistant stage manager, and spectator, and each new position has only continued to charm me over and over again. These days, I am proud to work alongside Austin’s best in the biz at the Long Center, leading and developing the Guest Services department. Being in front of the house allows myself and my team to see firsthand the same joy and inspiration in our audiences that I felt all that time ago.
There is nothing better than being a part of someone’s first theater experience — trust me, it’s the best! I encourage anyone with an interest in live theater, whether you’re a novice thespian or a seasoned one, to join an ushering team and try it for themselves. If you’ve ever been curious about community volunteering, there’s no better way than to visit longcenter.org and send your application to us. The Long Center can’t wait to see you — we’ve saved you a seat!
So what’s volunteering all about?
Our dedicated team of Volunteer Ushers are a major part of what keeps our events and shows seamless, safe, and a whole lot of fun! Get an in-depth look at the events you already love from the ground-up by joining our corps of volunteer ushers whose problem-solving skills, customer service, and warm personalities provide an unparalleled, positive experience for all visitors and guests. And did we mention… free shows??
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Where do Austinites go when the curiosity bug bites? Well that’s easy… Austin’s PBS station! From gardening, local news, and all those loveable kids characters, to the longest-running music series in American television history and everything else under the Texas sun, KLRU pretty much has it all. So in today’s Mid-Week Intermission, we’d like to introduce to you Luis Patiño, the new President and CEO of Austin PBS, but no stranger to Austin. Check out what’s curious in the Austin PBS neighborhood and why you should tune in the next chance you get.
I’m super excited to be back in Austin!
Having lived in Austin for 10 years prior to moving to Southern California, we established some deep roots in Texas and when the opportunity to return came about, we jumped on it.
Thrilled to be leading Austin’s PBS station, KLRU, and the family of brands that make up the media portfolio. Some of you readers might know me from having led Univision, the Spanish language media group in Texas, and others might remember me from my days serving on the Long Center Board of Trustees during the early years. I truly look forward to integrating back into the Austin community. My associations with iconic institutions like the Long Center will be a big part of this.
Having been back in Austin for six months, it didn’t take long for the community to embrace my family and I in my new role as President and CEO for Austin PBS. The Austin community has been, and continues to be, one of the most welcoming cities in America. Every day we see examples of that warm hospitality. It’s been amazing to pick up where we left off with old friends and exciting to be making new friends in this city that is filled with fascinating, civic-minded leaders. The mission for KLRU is simple: continue to evolve into a modern media organization that embraces new technologies while never losing sight of our mission and purpose. Austin PBS will continue to focus on enriching lives and transforming communities through the power of media. Our viewers will likely see more local programming and increased focus on the performing arts.
Having been in the media business for over 25 years, one cannot help but remain curious. Curiosity allows for innovation to flourish. Without this, we become stagnant and even lose relevance in this fast-paced world. Not only must we maintain that deep sense of curiosity in the workplace, it applies to one’s personal development as well. I love to read and learn from history so as to better understand the present. Having context for when and how things came to be has always been important for me.
Take Austin City Limits for example, many people in town don’t associate Austin PBS with ACL when in fact we have been producing this show for 48 seasons. The show was created to explore traditional Texas music, but throughout the years it has taken various paths, leading to music discovery for many. Now, it is a beautiful, eclectic mix of sounds and genres. Most of this happened by design as a way to modernize our own music tastes, but some happened organically as content curation is all about taking risks and being curious.
Public media, and especially PBS, is having a renaissance of sorts. We are bringing in new content and attracting new audiences. While broadcast television viewing has seen better times, we seem to be filling a need for the stimulating, uplifting and aspirational storytelling that people are craving. Our journalism constantly wins awards and accolades for its fact-based, trustworthy reporting. Combine our excellent storytelling, highly credible journalism, passion for the arts and sprinkle in some educational and engaging kids programming, and you have the perfect reason to lose yourself in PBS content exploration. Look for us on the PBS Passport streaming platform.
…we seem to be filling a need for the stimulating, uplifting and aspirational storytelling that people are craving.
As a lover of the holidays, attending Ballet Austin’s rendition of the famed Nutcracker at the Long Center is a treasured memory and definitely a Patiño family tradition we are excited to pick up again.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
Nobody embodies creativity quite like Jimmy LaValle, who you might know better as The Album Leaf. Creating and recreating new sounds is what he’s known for, so we caught up with him ahead of his performance at lookOUT Fest to find out what’s new (so much, including an EP!) and what it was like reimagining one of Album Leaf’s most popular albums for its 20th anniversary.
LOOKOUT FEST 👉 This all day indoor-outdoor fest is coming up September 3rd! Come explore the lookOUT Fest Vendor Market for free and then grab a ticket for the 6-band music lineup feauring The Album Leaf, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Mary Lattimore, and so much more.
MEET JIMMY LAVALLE of THE ALBUM LEAF
Long Center: We’re so excited to have you as a part of the inaugural lookOUT Fest lineup! Rumor has it that you’ve played in Austin once or twice already. Is that true? Any special memories here?
Jimmy: I have been playing in Austin regularly since the late ’90s. So, yes, I’ve been here once or twice 😊 I think the most special memories are with the friends I’ve made here throughout the years. The American Analog Set crew — we’ve toured together, gone to Taiwan together. My first official booking agent was from Austin, Courtney Cooper (Slip Productions), there are countless SXSW performances, Sub Pop showcases, changing a broken Rhodes tine on stage at Emo’s mid-show. Many, many good times have been had here. I love the city.
Long Center: Reading your touring history is so fascinating. Capping everything off with celebrating the 20th anniversary of One Day I’ll Be On Time in the midst of the pandemic, do you have any favorite career moments from the last two decades? What made you decide to reimagine this particular album at this time?
Jimmy: Anniversaries are special, and tricky to celebrate. I’d like to think I’ve grown as an artist over the last 20+ years, so the idea of recreating a record I made in my early 20s was exciting. I didn’t want to fix any mistakes per se, I just thought I could bring my years of production experience to celebrate the record in a new way. Typically, bands will go out and play the record front to back. I’ve never been interested in that. I think it’s more exciting to revisit it and see what new twist you can put on something.
Long Center: You include so many different instruments and electronics in your music. Do you have a favorite or even a top three? Any specific type that you’d recommend as the best tool for new electronic music makers?
Jimmy: I’m immediately drawn to synthesizers and creating new sounds. I also do a lot of sampling of sounds I create to further manipulate the sound. I’m really interested in creating something new, even if it’s a standard sine wave — what you can do on the other end creates something fresh.
I fell in love with the sound of a Rhodes piano when I first played one back in the late ’90s. I’ve had the same Rhodes since then and it’s made an appearance on every record. Since my sound has changed and progressed through the years, I’ve moved on from playing it live, using a Nord instead because I run a lot of midi messaging in the show, trigginger sounds I’ve created from multi-sampling. But in general, I’ve always loved and gravitated toward the sound of acoustic analog instruments mixed with electronics.
Long Center: This season we’ve been encouraging our readers to get back out there and give into their curiosity to discover new artists, hobbies, art, or cool things in the neighborhood.
What have you been curious about? What will you explore next — in your music, in your own backyard, anything?
Jimmy: I’ve stayed away from modular synthesis for many years and now I’m diving in. It’s been something I’ve always been curious about, but when it became really popular over the last decade, there was a lot of noise being made. There’s beauty in that but I really look to create melody. I’ve discovered many exciting records and artists over the pandemic that have really inspired me to step into that space. I’m excited to see where it takes me.
Long Center: Any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
Jimmy: I’ve been working on a new record for a really long time. Every time I make solid headway and can see the finish line, I’ll be offered a film to score so that sets me back with its deadline. Then during the scoring process, I create new sounds that I get really excited about, so I go back to the body of work I was ready to release and start to work on it again. I’m nearing the end again 😊
But, I’m on two films currently that will release over in 2023. I also will release my score to Something in the Dirt, the last film I scored that will release in theaters this October, I believe. So, new music will be coming, just not a proper Album Leaf record until 2023. But I will start to release a series of singles coming up soon. Finally sharing new music! I also just released an EP a week ago, called Past and Future Tense.
Long Center: Could you give us a little tease about what you’ll be playing at lookOUT Fest?
Jimmy: Well, expect a typical Album Leaf show that will include visual eye candy along with selections from the last 20 years. And you might just hear something new, too!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
One more mixtape for you, folks, until lookOUT Fest commences on September 3rd. If you’re just joining us, we’ve embarked on a series of mixtapes curated by three of the bands performing on our lookOUT lineup to get us ready for the big day.
This week, it’s a bright, shiny cassette tape created for you by The Album Leaf, and we hear that Jimmy LaValle himself put it together.
After you pop this one into your tape player, make sure you listen to our other two mixtape experiences from Felt Out and The Kraken Quartet. And once you’re done there, check out Album Leaf’s newest album One Day XX.
Artist Mixtape: Curated for you by The Album Leaf
Tracklist
EURYBIA (feat. Polonius) // Francesca Heart
IN EVERYONE REPEATING // Asa Tone
BY FOOT BY SEA // Jeremiah Chiu & Sofia Maria Honer
MIRROR // Dolphin Midwives
AMYGDALA // Jako Jako
MOIRÉ – Piano & Organ // Jan Jelenik
RODEN // The Growth Eternal
NIGHT FIRE // James Tillman
TALK SHOW HOST // Nailah Hunter
BOA // Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes
SLEEP WITH YOUR WINDOWS OPEN // Brett Naucke
FAST MOVING CARS // Carla dal Forno
About lookOUT Fest
This indoor-outdoor, one-day festival is your one-stop-shop for end-of-summer music. With 6 bands and a summer day filled with visual artists, food trucks, vendor market, curated experiences, and tunes from Soundfounder to cap it all off, there are infinite ways to get lost.
Be there as we gather audiophiles from across the city to experience the vibes, the sounds, and the feels of summer before they’re gone. Your ears will thank you.
EXPLORE THE LINEUP 👉 grab your tickets to see Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, The Album Leaf, Julianna Barwick, and more on September 3rd!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
For those of you who missed our first Artist Mixtape with Felt Out, all you need to know is that this is exactly what it sounds like — a shiny, little cassette wrapped up in a bow, curated for you by someone else. And for those of you who haven’t stopped listening to Felt Out’s Artist Mixtape… here’s another!
This time, Austin’s own percussion four-piece The Kraken Quartet has curated a 12-song adventure for us with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises — just like a Kraken performance (which you can experience live at lookOUT Fest on September 3rd).
So pop this cassette in and let’s go.
About This Mixtape: a message from The Kraken Quartet
The four members of The Kraken Quartet are heavily influenced by a wide variety of genres, artists, and instrumentations. This playlist contains songs that inspired us during our formative years, and songs that continue to inspire us today.
Just want to listen? Find the full playlist here.
Tracklist
LAST LIGHT // Son Lux
Son Lux are masters of transforming familiar sounds into something otherworldly. Every layer of this track has something compelling about it, something that makes you want to listen deeper. Their music has been a huge inspiration as we continue to explore new sounds to write with, and this track perfectly encapsulates why.
STRANGERS ALL ALONG // Sō Percussion
As college students, we took a trip from Ithaca, NY to Brooklyn, NY to see Sō Percussion perform “Where We Live” in December 2012. All of us consider that show a monumental point in our lives as young percussionists. It inspired us to reconsider what our newly formed percussion group could be and sound like.
NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU RUN TODAY, YOU WILL NEVER CATCH UP TO TOMORROW // ensemble, et al.
CHICAGO // Sufjan Stevens
TURKEY DOG COMA // Flying Lotus
As we write music for our group, no style of music is off the table… there has always been a steadfast acceptance of polystylism. As we prepared to write our first full length album, “Separate | Migrate,” we were enamored by this Flying Lotus record that seemingly abandoned any notions of “genre specificity.” This track in particular really takes you on a ride all over the place.
UNTITLED #1 – VAKA // Sigur Rós
RED ROOM // Hiatus Kaiyote
BLUES SUBTITLED NO SENSE OF WONDER // Gastr Del Sol
8 (CIRCLE) // Bon Iver
LOS PLÁTANOS // Rumberos de Cuba
THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF THE DAY // Explosions In The Sky
SOME // Nils Frahm
About lookOUT Fest
This indoor-outdoor, one-day festival is your one-stop-shop for end-of-summer music. With 6 bands and a summer day filled with visual artists, food trucks, vendors, curated experiences, and tunes from Soundfounder to cap it all off, there are infinite ways to get lost.
Be there as we gather audiophiles from across the city to experience the vibes, the sounds, and the feels of summer before they’re gone. Your ears will thank you.
EXPLORE THE LINEUP 👉 grab your tickets to see Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, The Album Leaf, Julianna Barwick, and more on September 3rd!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
An Artist Mixtape… what’s that?? Exactly what it sounds like — a shiny, little cassette wrapped up in a bow, curated for you by someone else. Except this time, it just so happens it was crafted and mixed by Felt Out. This local Austin duo composed of Sowmya Somanath and Walter Nichols is a magnetic partnership that demands to be explored, and you can catch them live at lookOUT Fest on September 3rd.
So sit back, strap in, and pop this cassette into your tape player (that you totally have right next to you and isn’t in your friend’s 1999 Toyota Tacoma that sometimes works).
About This Mixtape: a message from Felt Out
We take inspiration from lots of places, from classical to indie rock, pop, experimental, to the way the gate at our house squeaks. Felt Out is about taking these messy, cloudy bits of inspiration and repackaging them within a pop-adjacent context. Here’s some music that adds to that inspiration cloud.
Just want to listen? Find the full playlist here.
Tracklist
PATIENCE // Porches
Porches is a constant source of inspiration for us. His music has evolved hugely over the years, but every one of his songs has the same recognizable heart at its center. The way Patience moves freely between worlds of electric piano, synth, and acoustic guitar, all while being undeniably singable completely haunts us.
GLUE // Dan English
PALE // Helena Deland
AL OESTE // Juana Molina
7-21-17_substitute_hifi_v3 // Toro y Moi
MAZURKA IN A MINOR, Op. 17, No. 4 // Frédéric Chopin (performed by Khatia Buniatishvili)
c2.0 // Charli XCX
Our favorite moment on this playlist is the transition from the Chopin Mazurka to this song. The things we love about the Mazurka — its inventiveness, its design, its beauty — are the exact same things we love about c2.0 (and literally all of Charli’s songs). Two perfect little pieces of music separated by 200 years, adhering to completely different aesthetic conventions, but making us feel exactly the same way is pretty cool.
PIYA BINA SUNO CHEJI MHARO DES // Kishori Amonkar
Hindustani (North Indian classical) music is an eternal spark to our imagination. It is built on a sophisticated melodic system of ragas, focusing on sonic color and mood to build an immersive environment, relying mostly on improvisation. Piya Suno Bina Cheji Mharo Des is a semi-classical piece about a wandering devotee of Krishna, stuck in the material world and waiting to unite with him. Listening to Vidushi Kishori Amonkar improvise melody is like witnessing a conversation into some divine realm, a reminder that the mystery is real.
CHICHESTER PSALMS // Leonard Bernstein
About lookOUT Fest
This indoor-outdoor, one-day festival is your one-stop-shop for end-of-summer music. With 6 bands and a summer day filled with visual artists, food trucks, vendors, curated experiences, and tunes from Soundfounder to cap it all off, there are infinite ways to get lost.
Be there as we gather audiophiles from across the city to experience the vibes, the sounds, and the feels of summer before they’re gone. Your ears will thank you.
EXPLORE THE LINEUP 👉 grab your tickets to see Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, The Album Leaf, Julianna Barwick, and more on September 3rd!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
When musical boredom is on the horizon, there’s only one place we turn to… Soundfounder’s weekly show on KUTX (8pm on Wednesdays, by the way). The man behind the Soundfounder mic, Andrew Brown, is synonymous with electronic music in this town and beyond, so bringing him on board with lookOUT Fest was a no brainer for the Long Center. In this Mid-Week Intermission, see how he got his start and why he’s decided lookOUT Fest is worth a listen.
Hello!
My name is Andrew Brown but many people around town know me as Soundfounder.
I’m a DJ, producer, radio host, event curator, and record store manager here in Austin. My music journey started around 1999. I was in high school in San Antonio and I got a job so I could save up for my first pair of turntables, a sampler, and start my record collection. I was determined to start making beats and electronic music like some of my heroes. After making tons of music and bouncing around the SA music scene for a few years, I moved to Austin at the age of 20 to expand on what I was doing.
When I got to Austin, I was excited to be a part of the vibrant music community, but at the same time I felt like I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for in electronic music. All of the events I attended were focused on partying, dancing, and DJs (which is great), but there were very few events focused on creativity and the people who were actually producing their own electronic music. There was a massive void waiting to be filled in our music community.
Around 2009 I met my friend Ben Webster, who goes by the artist name Butcher Bear, and it turns out that we were both thinking the same thing. Later that year we created an event called Exploded Drawing that would focus on creativity in electronic music, above all else. It was immediately successful in DIY spaces around East Austin, with hundreds of people attending our events in the first year. 12 years later, Exploded Drawing has won awards, been featured in publications like The Austin Chronicle and Texas Monthly, and most importantly, been consistently supported by our community.
My obsession with creative electronic music has led to countless collaborations in the community, including a record store called Exploded Records at JuiceLand, my weekly radio show on KUTX, and now lookOUT Fest. When the Long Center reached out to me about helping host and promote an electronic music festival, I was very excited. The Lady Bird Lake Trail and Auditorium Shores nearby are very special places to me, and the idea of bringing a world class, forward-thinking lineup of ambient electronic music to this set of public spaces to share with my community sounds like a dream come true.
I think this is a groundbreaking concept for public music in Austin and hopefully the first of many to come.
This indoor-outdoor, one-day festival is your one-stop-shop for end-of-summer music. With 6 bands and a summer day filled with visual artists, food trucks, vendors, curated experiences, and tunes from Soundfounder to cap it all off, there are infinite ways to get lost.
Be there as we gather audiophiles from across the city to experience the vibes, the sounds, and the feels of summer before they’re gone. Your ears will thank you.
EXPLORE THE LINEUP 👉 grab your tickets to see Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, The Album Leaf, Julianna Barwick, and more on September 3rd!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
If you’ve ever wondered how to tap into Austin’s rap and hip-hop scene, wonder no more! Meet Confucius Jones and Aaron “Fresh” Knight, hosts of the #1 hip-hop show in Austin on KUTX. These two live and breathe hip-hop, so we caught up with them about their journey to radio thus far and what The Breaks has meant for the genre in Austin. Plus, we got a little peek at what they have in store for all of us at the 2022 Summer Jam happening at the end of August, presented by KUTX & KAZI and hosted by — you guessed it — The Breaks!
Wassup!
We are Confucius & Fresh
I’m sure some are wondering how two Black guys hailing from East of I-35 ended up being two prominent voices in Austin music in the last five years. When you’re coming from a heavily marginalized area, sometimes it’s hard to see your full potential, that is, until you decide to throw all the marginalization to the wayside and just go for yours.
That’s what we did. Whether it be through music management, blogging, podcasting, radio, etc., we bet on ourselves despite whomever may have something to say. To give you a little more about ourselves and our journey…
We ran a small music label here in Austin, 1987 Music Group. Well, Confucius ran it, and Fresh helped. Fresh also was running his own music blog at the time, Fresh Prince of the ATX (hence the name “Fresh”). From there, we took a break from music and jumped into the world of podcasting with Those Damn Comic Book Guys. That became a success, with us touring across Texas to various comic book conventions, speaking on panels — one time including speaking at Wizard World Comic Con — and the podcast even landing on two top podcast lists, one in Austin Monthly and the other on TimeOut.
From the podcast we thought the natural progression was to be on radio, so we set out to do just that — be on radio. With us coming from being immersed in Austin Rap/HipHop beforehand from DJing, blogging, and running a label, we thought, why not have a show that represents that? We reached out to literally every radio station in town and only heard from two. Initially, we went to KAZI 88.7 out of a sense of obligation, being two young Black men from Austin, but things didn’t work out. And then… you guessed it… KUTX came knocking, so we rightfully answered.
We met with KUTX for about a month or a little less, pitching the show, talking with them about the Austin Rap scene, doing the My KUTX guest DJ spot, etc., hoping it would lead to a spot on-air, even after being told by KUTX Program Director, Matt Reilly, that there was no room in the budget for a new show. But low and behold, someone quit, and we were in there, baby! On January 7, 2017, we began what is now “The Breaks.”
The Breaks is set to be the voice for Austin Rap/HipHop. While we aren’t the first rap show in the city, we do feel like what we do with giving our opinions, takes, and highlighting the local scene was highly needed at this particular point in time. We haven’t had a rap show on radio that also did shows highlighting just the homegrown talent. From our official SXSW show, SXSBreaks, to our Valentine’s Day show Love Lockdown, and Summer Jam (which we’ll get to in a bit), we do our best to show Austin that Rap/HipHop is alive and very much pushing forward in the live music capital. While The Breaks isn’t guest-driven, we do have guests we feel should be heard, but The Breaks is more about the personalities and highlights of the Austin Rap/HipHop scene.
Let’s double back a bit. Earlier we spoke about the shows/events we put on that showcase and highlight the immense talent within Austin and its surrounding areas. One being Summer Jam, which is probably the biggest event The Breaks does. Starting out as an idea (as so many things do) with us wanting to do a show that was all local to prove that local acts can sell (since some venues swear that’s why they don’t book or do all local shows), we tried early on once we landed at KUTX but hit a wall.
So enter artist managers Eric Radford and Wane, who were and still are managing top talent here in Austin. They joined us in working on getting this dream show of ours off the ground. Low and behold, they were pretty good at it. Long story short, we got it down and in 2018 the first annual Summer Jam took place at Barracuda (what is now Creek and Cave). The event was such a success with the likes of Deezie Brown, The Teeta, J Soulja, Mélat, and Jake Lloyd hitting the stage.
2018 was such a success that we came back in 2019 and did it all over again. 2020 was peak COVID-19 pandemic season, so we went virtual. With the continuous help of Wane and Eric, we had a Summer Jam stream and, for the first time in public radio, had an event air on public television (at least that’s what was told to us). 2021, we took off due to COVID, but this year, we are back to let everyone know we haven’t abandoned Summer Jam and we are coming bigger than before. We sincerely see Summer Jam as the premier event for Austin HipHop with the platform provided. It gives chances for some people to see Rap in Austin who otherwise wouldn’t have paid attention before.
We feel like Summer Jam has helped bridge a gap between two very different sides of the city, and erased all the excuses that were given before as to why HipHop in Austin doesn’t work — “no one wants to see just locals,” “local shows don’t make money,” “the locals don’t have bases that want to see them,” etc. The Breaks has proven all that to be wrong while, not single handedly, we have played a significant part in that in this time, at least. Summer Jam is the time to show all the naysayers that Rap/HipHop is the number one genre in the world for a reason, and that Austin should get with the times and stop being in this 1980s time warp where people think Rap is a fad. It’s here to stay and be upfront, and Summer Jam shows that.
If you want to see for yourself, you have your chance this summer on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at the Long Center, to see great performances from Moody Bank$, Tribe Mafia, Anastasia, and Geto Gala.
KUTX & KAZI PRESENT SUMMER JAM HOSTED BY THE BREAKS 👉 $20 tickets go on sale Friday!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
You’ve probably heard Jake Lloyd’s voice on the radiowaves over the past year, especially if you (like us!) have been taken with his October 2021 release “Cold Summer.” Now, during this very very hot summer, Jake is back for The Drop-In with Geto Gala, a new project hitting stages with co-creator Deezie Brown. Read on to discover Geto Gala ahead of their Drop-In performance!
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DROP-IN 👉 With free music every Thursday, you might want a reminder or two. We can help with that.
1️⃣ Make sure you’re following us @longcenter wherever you get your news to see who’s playing next.
2️⃣ Sign up for weekly notifications so you know when RSVPs open.
3️⃣ Grab your lawn chairs and your buddies and prepare to Drop-In.
MEET JAKE LLOYD
Long Center: We’re so excited to have you back at the Long Center after you played a Good Vibes Only set with us last year. We heard that Geto Gala was kind of a side project for you and your co-creator Deezie Brown — what brought you together and how did this project take on a life of its own?
Jake: Deezie and I have been friends for a while, but in 2019 the friendship turned into a brotherhood when we set up a string of studio sessions to focus on working together.
Naturally, after recording a handful of songs we wanted to release them, so the idea of forming a group was created. The rest is history.
Long Center: We’re halfway throug a second season of The Drop-In, and super pumped for Geto Gala to take the stage with San Gabriel. What’s your experience been like as Austin and the world have opened back up for live music? Does this summer feel different?
Jake: I feel like me and my guys worked so much all the way through the height of the closures that it doesn’t feel that different for me.
We played in person all of 2021, and with all the virtual shows and the few in-person shows we did in 2020, the work hasn’t stopped.
Long Center: You described your sound to us as “southern credo blended with sports-centric story raps” and “imagine if Panini cards made music.” We just have to know more — can you elaborate for us?
Jake: With Deezie and I both being sports fans, the duo gave us room to explore topics we may not necessarily do as much in our solo projects.
Both of us being from Texas and, more generally, the south, sothern rap has played a big part in our lives. GG is an extension of that. I mean, the name itself “Geto Gala” is a nod to the rap group Geto Boys.
Long Center: This season we’ve been encouraging our readers to get back out there and give into their curiosity to discover new artists, hobbies, art, or cool things in the neighborhood.
What have you been curious about? What will you explore next — in your music, in your own backyard, anything?
Jake: Recently I’ve been getting into plants a lot. I’ve always liked the idea of having plants in the house, but lately I’ve really dived into it. I like it and it’s very gratifying.
Musically, exploring is basically my mission statement. I love pushing myself to try new things and new sounds. Continuing to work with artists from across all genres, staying sharp, and keeping an open ear is the plan.
Long Center: Any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
Jake: Geto Gala is working on a follow up to our first record. A single will be coming soon, while Jake Lloyd is also preparing to release a new single in late summer.
Long Center: Can you give us a little tease about what you’ll be playing at your Drop-In performance?
Jake: We’re excited to show off a few of our favorite tracks from the pool of songs recorded for the upcoming project.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
If you’ve been following our social media over the last two weeks, it’s no secret that we are super excited about The Drop-In returning for a second summer with this Austin-centric lineup. While we can’t tell you what day he’s playing The Drop-In yet (keep on eye on @longcenter for that info!), we managed to catch up with David Garza — musician, producer, genre jumper — from his El Paso studio. This UT alum is no stranger to the Austin scene, and we’re fairly certain this is a performance you’re not gonna want to miss.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DROP-IN 👉 With free music every Thursday, you might want a reminder or two. We can help with that.
1️⃣ Make sure you’re following us @longcenter wherever you get your news to see who’s playing next.
2️⃣ Sign up for weekly notifications so you know when RSVPs open.
3️⃣ Grab your lawn chairs and your buddies and prepare to Drop-In.
MEET DAVID GARZA
Long Center: First off, we just have to ask you about Twang Twang Schock-A-Boom and your UT connection. Do you ever miss your busking days? Going from playing on campus for tips to sell-outs at Liberty Lunch seems like a true Austin story that is harder to come across nowadays.
David: Austin in the fall of 1989 was a fairytale. Students smoked cigarettes in the Cactus Cafe at lunch time while debating current events & films. Fresh-faced young souls shared poetry & UT Union burritos on the steps by the Drag. Politics & philosophy & culture & romance were all equally flowing in every corner of the West Mall.
Twang Twang Shock-A-Boom fell into this magic place at the perfect time. Busking for hundreds of our teenage peers with no PA system & no permission was an experience I will never forget. To now know that Janis Joplin & Roky Erickson & Townes Van Zandt & Lucinda Williams were among the legends who had also prowled the Cactus Cafe through the decades was not on our minds as young punks. We just wanted to make our own history.
Long Center: Well, we’re super pumped to bring The Drop-In back for another season this summer (and for your performance!). What’s your experience been like as Austin and the world have opened back up for live music?
David: Since the pandemic, I have only played one gig of my own music. It was at The Kessler Theatre in Dallas, TX, and was a true healing party. Humans need the oxygen of live music in their consciousness. As concerts have opened up, I feel an immense joy in the shared experience of this ancient communal dialogue. The artist learns from the audience & the audience shares in the artists’ groove.
Long Center: Your list of past collaborators is such a good read. Any highlights or special moments that stand out to you most?
David: Producing albums for other artists has been such a revelation! The biggest highlight of the last few years was winning the Grammy for my producing role in the Fiona Apple “Fetch The Boltcutters” album last year. I collaborate with so many great talents on songs and also compose music for films. Scoring the HBO Documentary on Beto O’Roarke (“Running With Beo”) was also a huge thrill. But I gotta say it is kinda cool to have a Grammy on top of my piano. 😊
Long Center: This season we’ve been encouraging our readers to get back out there and give into their curiosity to discover new artists, hobbies, art, or cool things in the neighborhood.
What have you been curious about? What will you explore next — in your music, in your own backyard, anything?
David: Two passions of mine I have really embraced lately are painting and very amateur sewing!
Both good for the soul but sometimes tough on the eyes.
Long Center: Any new projects or albums in the works that you can share with us?
David: Album projects I’m excited about are compiling & mastering unreleased albums from my own catalog in El Paso and scoring a few documentary films in LA while producing artists as diverse as Ozomatli, Chris Perez, Hanson, Fastball, Lisa Morales, Esteromance, Lucy Woodward & Suzanne Choffel.
Long Center: Could you give us a little tease about what you’ll be playing at your Drop-In performance?
David: For the upcoming Long Center event, I could not be more excited to share songs of mine that go back to those old Austin ’90s days. Crazy to think I sing songs I wrote that go back over 30 years… I have a batch of new songs to share as well, but the old songs are what bring the smiles that make my heart sing.
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
If you’ve been anywhere near the Long Center lately (hopefully soaking up some sun!), you’ve probably noticed the very large sculpture hanging out under our Ring Beam. But don’t let what you see on the surface fool you — LOVE HATE, by artist Mia Florentine Weiss, is an “ambigram,” meaning either word can be read as “love” or “hate,” depending on how you view it. If you’re feeling like you need a change in perspective, today’s your lucky day — this Mid-Week Intermission checks in with Mia about the power of public art, the power of this particular piece, and why the message matters.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JOURNEY 👉 This sculpture traveled the world before it landed right here in ATX. Many thanks to Google for helping us get LOVE HATE to the Long Center! Be sure to tag @longcenter in your pics.
MEET MIA FLORENTINE WEISS
Long Center: Tell us a little bit about yourself as an artist, and your approach to creating art.
Mia When I was a teenager, I wrote the following:
I’m art
Says my heart
I’m a born idea
That’s why I’m here
My creativity was my greatest weapon — I collected words as well as objects (objet trouvé) to create something out of them. Growing up in an artistic household (my mother is a designer), in addition to creative days, life-drawing courses, workshops, etc., we were constantly shown new formats in which we children could make art. That shaped me — just like my time at the Free Waldorf school.
After graduating from high school, I found my main topic: What is your place of protection? or the primal human longing for security. Goethe’s Faust in us — love hate of life — the contradiction of things: beauty & horror, light & shadow, war & peace, past & future — is my inspiration. The “human,” the snapshot of a feeling to translate this into pictures / installations / artworks was my vocation, and eventually became my profession.
Long Center: How did the idea of LOVE HATE come to you? What’s the story behind this piece?
Mia: “LOVE HATE is everywhere!” There is a battle of extremes on both sides — for or against.
It seems as if we can only love or hate — do or do not — blaspheme or praise — kiss or romp — dance or stand still — be there or go — follow or lead — judgment or mercy — shame or harm?
That is why art in public space is so important to symbolize a change of perspective.
The LOVE HATE sculptures have been installed in over twenty European cities in cooperation with the EU’s culture committee, even in Moscow, and are now taking this transatlantic step thanks to the EU Delegation to the US and the German Embassy in Washington. We are also in dialogue with the Israeli Embassy and Mayor of Jerusalem.
From image to message to movement, from sculpture to social sculpture for all people.
LOVE HATE reflects the turmoil but also the hope of the 21st century like no other work of art.
Long Center: As you said, LOVE HATE has toured through many different countries before landing in Austin, and its message rings loud and clear given the cruelty happening in Ukraine. How has each location contributed to the message of the piece, and why is this an important message for Austin?
Mia: Art has always changed the world. It is a guarantor of democracy, freedom of expression, and a culture of debate. Artistic freedom as an indicator of democratic societies must always be defended. History shows that artists, like seismographs, sense social/econimic tensions and make them visible to the public through their works. That is why art in public space is the No. 1 exhibition platform that inspires us for a change of perspective.
Art + resistance/actionism = ARTIVISM! This is the answer to conflicts of the 21st century. In the terrible example of Ukraine, we see what people around the world are capable of doing to defend their democratic values (which include artistic freedom). They demonstrate, they show solidarity, they use WORD and deed, they improvise, they use their creativity, they create a common narrative and they are literally a living example of how an image can turn into a movement. That’s LOVE HATE for me. It’s not an artwork — it’s a revolution! We are all children of the revolution.
Austin is a super upcoming city in the US reflecting a NEW NOW. Just like Berlin was for Europe 10-20 years ago. Where better to install LOVE HATE than in the heart of Texas, where more free & creative spirit, like Austin, is needed?
Long Center: What keeps you curious and creating? What ideas and messages will you explore next?
Mia: I’m a deep diver when it comes to humans and stories — every day gives me ideas & inspiration. In my case, it’s more a selection of information that I will decide on, whether this will be another Mona Lisa piece or not 😉
I cannot not work or reflect — my life is my art and the other way around. Even when I’m depressed. In fact, that’s great in many ways because pain is the petrol for creativity, right? So my advice: stop talking, start acting. Take your broken heart and turn it into art!
Long Center: What are you working on now? Any projects you can share with us?
Mia: Besides the European tour and the roadshow of LOVE HATE in the US, our studio is dealing with exhibitions, installations, and art fairs. As a personal, symbolic project right now — reflecting the war in Ukraine — I just built a giant NEW NOW for the city of Berlin in cooperation with an indpeendent new channel who broadcast from a media boat called Mediapioneer. Together we curated an online auction to sell it and donate all proceeds to journalists in the Ukraine.
Long Center: What do you hope people take with them from the piece?
Mia: A change of perspective — hopefully! That art is system relevant! The only way out of any absurdity is creativity!!
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
