Nike SB Paul Rodriguez/Ice Cube Commercial

I was watching the Maloof Money Cup, a skateboard competition, and a commercial caught my attention. The commercial starts with "Today Was A Good Day" by Ice Cube. If you follow my blog, I went to see Ice Cube at the Mohawk last year and you know how much fun I had. To continue, they show a skateboarder, Paul Rodriguez III, skating down the street doing tricks with his board and at one point the skateboard gets away. Well, that's all I'm going to say, you'll just have to watch the video below. Chris Cole won the competition and $100,000.



Nike also states on YouTube, "In addition to the commercial, there will also be a web exclusive extended version of "Today Was a Good Day" that stars Paul with some special friends. This version premiers on 7/31/09 at: http://www.nike.com/nikeskateboarding...

Este Vato Re-visited at The Tiniest Bar in Texas

June 5, 2009 Austin, Texas - I first saw Este Vato perform back in October 2008 at Flamingo Cantina. In fact Este Vato was my very first blog. I liked them back then and I like them even more now. I've seen Este Vato perform a total of four times. First at the Flamingo Cantina, second at Trophy's Bar and Grill in January, third at the Mohawk for the Remezcal.com En Tu Ciudad Tour in March and last Friday at the Tiniest Bar in Texas.

I've gotten to know the guys in Este Vato and can honestly say they are a very friendly and approachable group of talented musicians. I always look forward to seeing and hearing them perform.

Este Vato has transformed from a newly formed band back in October with only five songs, to a band with a solid playlist, new CD in progress, and with a lot of confidence and stage presence. The band has done a good job of establishing their name and their Cumbia Rock/Latin Fusion sound in a short time frame and in a very competitive music market.

Friday night Este Vato played solidly and with confidence despite the bar's sound technician not showing up for work. They worked the sound board and managed the sound levels excellently. They played my favorite song "El Poder" along with "Quemadura,"Mundo En Fuego" and others. They also played three new songs, "Balazo," "A Bit of a Rattlesnake," and "Movimiento."

I really liked the new songs. They had the familiar Cumbia Rock with an added rock guitar sound in "A Bit of a Rattlesnake." In "Balazo," Rey Treviño used a sample of the news broadcast and shot fired on that infamous day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. "El Poder" also samples recorded speeches by Ché Guevara and Martin Luther King. The samplings adds depth
and impact to both of the song's message.

One of the things I was really disappointed with Friday night was the audience involvement. Every time I've been to a Este Vato performance the audience is out there dancing and having a good time. Even though the audience was appreciative of Este Vato and they sincerely applauded their performance, this audience was not a party crowd. There were three lovely ladies that got up to dance but I think they got discouraged for lack of other dancers and sat down. The only other person who got up to dance, without a partner, was Joaquin Garza. I have seen Jaoquin at all the Este Vato performances and just thought he was an avid fan. I thought it was time to meet this guy. It turns out that Joaquin is Chano Lopez's brother and Chano states "the song "Na Pos" is actually a nod to him named after one of his sayings..."Na Pos."

I think the band uses Joaquin as a plant and at a certain que from the band, Joaquin starts dancing. The audience sees someone dancing and then they join in. It sounds far fetched but it could happen?

This is the first time I've been to the Tiniest Bar in Texas. I like the outdoor set up. There is a small covered stage for bands to perform. The audience area has picnic tables, patio tables and chairs on a gravel covered area. The audience area also has a small covered patio and the area overall accommodates approximately 50 people plus comfortably. There is also an enclosed, elevated patio area, away form the stage, with table and chairs that holds approximately 15-20 people. Two bars in both areas provide alcoholic beverages for your consumption pleasure. Please Drink Responsibly.

Parking spots were hard to find. There were parking meters all the way around the block surrounding the bar but they were all taken. The possible explanation is all the condos in the immediate area. I circled the block a couple of times but with no luck. The second time I circled the block, I saw a sign for $5 parking. The parking was located at The Monarch. They have a covered parking garage and they had available spots. The Monarch lot is adjacent to the bar so I lucked out. The parking garage and surrounding area is well lit and there's plenty of traffic.

Overall it was a good night. I'll have to wait to see Este Vato again because they are going to Laredo and Hebronville, Texas this June to play some shows on their Pacopalooza 2009 tour. I wish them "Good Luck" and we'll see you when you get back.

Band members are: Rocky Reyna, Oscar Reyna, Ricardo Lara, Feliciano "Chano" Lopez, Rey Treviño and Frank "FAAR" Ramirez.

Monte Negro: Free SXSW Show and New Video

Monte Negro is one of my most favorite bands. I've seen them a couple of times and look forward to seeing them again and again. They will perform at a Free Show this Friday, at Mexi Arte Museum, Austin, Texas.

Mexi Arte Museum is located at 419 Congress Ave.

Event: Afternoon Delight Day Show

Date: March 20, 2009

Show Times: 12:00 - 4:00 PM

Performers include: Pilar Diaz, Cosmopolitan, Monte Negro and Leche.


Show Presented by: Cosmic Artist and TKO

They also have a new video to one of my favorite songs, "Lejos." Check it out.

En Tu Ciudad Tour February 25th at Mohawk, Austin, Texas

DON'T MISS THIS EVENT! IT'S FREE
(You Have to Register)

THREE OF MY FAVORITE BANDS:

GIRL IN A COMA-San Antonio's indie rockers, sisters Nina and Phanie Diaz and friend Jenn Alva, will be headlining the show. They have a unique sound which their Myspace page tags as Garage, Rock, Punk. I've seen this band perform and they will rock you in and out and all around. Presently, their new video, Their Cell, is airing on several music video channels. If your not a fan now, you will be.

PINATA PROTEST-When I first heard that this San Antonio band played punk with an accordian, I knew I had to see them. It's been almost a year since I've seen Pinata Protest but it's time for a Mexican mosh pit throw down. You don't go to see or hear Pinata Protest, you physically participate. I do have to warn you, you may come out with a few bruises. They have been described as "puro pedo punk rock" and that's pretty accurate.

ESTE VATO-One of my top favorite, up and coming bands, Austin-based Este Vato combines Latin , fusion, cumbia rock with electronic samples. I've seen Este Vato a few times and I always look forward to seeing and meeting them again. Now with Este Vato, come with your dancing shoes on. They definitely have a beat and a rythme that will make you want to find a dance partner. If you didn't bring a partner, Este Vato always attracts a lot of good looking dancing partners.

Look for AustinVida's feature article on Este Vato this week.

Manolo Black, Hobo D and Pagame are three of the DJs who are part of the Peligrosa All Stars

MOHAWK-An excellent place to have this event.

Presented by: Myspace Latino, Remezcla
Sponsored by: La Otra Puerta Matrix

FREE WEEK in Austin, Texas: Beerland Texas

January 4, 2009: The week of January 2nd-10th is FREE WEEK in Austin, Texas for a select number of Austin clubs and venues. These clubs do not charge a cover which means you can spend your money on other things. It’s a great way to promote the clubs and especially in these hard economic times, provide inexpensive entertainment. I’m not really quite sure if the bands make any money during FREE WEEK but I did my part by buying a couple of CD’s from the bands. I like buying their CD’s the night of the show because the money goes directly into the band's pocket and I also use the CD to refresh my memory of that night.

I wanted to take advantage of FREE WEEK because I’ve had to cut my entertainment budget. I will probably go out less or try to get on someone’s guest list to get into a venue. I really didn’t know what club to go to or what band to see, so I obtained a Austin Chronicle and went to do512.com to see all the possibilities. I decided on something different, something that I wasn’t that familiar with and out of my comfort zone. I decided on Beerland because they had three groups that play Psychobilly/Rockabilly/Punk music. Because I’m not that familiar with this genre, I will use quotes for reviews from other sources and credit will be given accordingly.

This was my first time to Beerland. I’ve walked by it going to other clubs and have seen their listing in the Chronicle and do512.com. To some extent, it’s typical to the other Austin clubs I’ve been to except for the chicken wire wall suspended from the ceiling ready for deployment. The venue is small, holds about 200+ people comfortably, dark and hot tonight. Here we are its winter in Texas, its 80 degrees outside and hotter in the club, I was literally sweating. The wait to get a drink was long because people were either hot, needed something cold, or they had some extra money in their pockets. The club does have some seating available in the form of couches, some tables and chairs. I recommend you get to the club early to get a good seat.

The first act was Izzy Cox. According to her Myspace page, Izzy “is an anarchist crooner….she has coined the style Voodoobilly Jazz as her own”. Izzy hails from Austin, Texas, Hollywood, California, Brooklyn, New York and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She also has an interesting background but I’ll let you read it on Myspace, at this time izzycox.com is coming soon. I like Izzy’s combination rockabilly, western swing, murder ballad style. She sings her heart out and with a lot of emotion and has a commanding stage presence. I felt that each song was a story and she wanted me to feel her pain, joy, happiness and sorrow. Tonight Izzy and her guitar, accompanied by Megan Harris on trumpet from Waco, Texas, were the band. Wow, two powerful women. Izzy is a must see performance and will be in the Austin area until March. I bought Izzy Cox’s Love Letters From The Electric Chair CD and my favorite tunes were: Devil, Devil; Belle Gunness; Man Of The Clothe; and not on CD, Fucking and Fighting and Bad Bad Woman.


Mr. Lewis and The Funeral 5 was the next band. The band consist of six members and all dressed in suit and ties, with most band members wearing a fedora or slicked back hair. They are some cool looking “Dudes.” The band’s music is hard to describe so I am borrowing a review that I found on austin360.com.

“Who is Mr. Lewis & The Funeral 5 anyway? Insane circus rock purveyors? Maybe. Are they what it would sound like if you trapped Queens Of The Stone Age in a dank basement and force fed them Irish whiskey and Tom Waits music? It's quite possible. It's a better guess to say that they are a band that has set out to prove that funerals can be fun if thrown by the right party planner. They couple lyrics about murder, drinking, and just a general desperation as if they were straight out of a Greek tragedy, along with music comprised of jubilant, tuneful song writing to come up with a sound that isn't quite average. Top it off with a whimsical grin, and you've got their unique brand of good old fashioned drinking music. They may take over the world. They may take over a 3 block radius. They may take over the payments on a reasonably priced 1989 Ford Taurus with slight body damage and two new tires. Who's to say? These are all just words anyway.”

Mr. Lewis and The Funeral 5 is a very entertaining band. I like the way the baritone sax gives the band depth and the additional tom tom drums gives the music and sound that heavy pulsating beat. You can’t help but go with the beat. Mr. Lewis does a good job of interacting with the audience using his dry wit and humor. I would put this band on your must see band list. You won’t be disappointed. I liked the following songs from their set and Myspace: Black Coffee Night; My Girl Suicide; The Alleyway King; Tuesday Is The New Monday. These songs and others are on their Murder and The Art of The Dance CD which can be purchased on amazon.com.

The last group for the night was Flametrick Subs. This band’s Myspace page describes their music as “Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Punk….Johnny Cash shooting speed in the graveyard...with the Devil”. That description is correct. The lead singer and guitar player, Buster Crash, has a wicked voice and reminds me of music that you would hear in a early 50/60's suspense movie. Buster's voice perfectly fits the Rockabilly, Reverend Horten Heat style music that the band plays. Flametrick Subs, personally, reminds me a little of Tito and Tarantula, which I blogged in October of 2008. One thing I found incredible about the band is that the bass player, De Marco, doesn’t have a left hand, he plays with his wrist. I was amazed and WOW-ed by his talent and playing style. The drummer, Miss Fortune, is a petite woman who stands as she plays the drums Rockabilly style. You have to make a point to see Flametrick Subs because their music rocks and rolls. I was always a fan of Rockabilly but was introduced to Psychobilly, Punk that night. “I am now a believer.”
My favorite songs were: Can’t Find My Mind, Down, Down, Down, Drink With the Living Dead,

Parking that night was hard to find because of Free Week. I had to circle around several time to find a parking space. I finally parked in a lot across from the Salvation Army facilities, corner of Neches St. and E. 7th St., and paid $5.00. The lot was well lighted and an attendant was present.

After the show finished at 1:30 AM, just outside the club’s door is, Hot Dog King, a trailer that sells hotdogs. The trailer has various hot dogs but tonight I decided on their Chicago dog for $4.00. Actually, it was a great tasting Chicago dog with all the toppings. Strongly recommend you stop by the trailer and have a hot dog. You won’t be disappointed.

All I can say about tonight is: "Life is good in Austin, Texas, Live Music Capital of the World."