Still Drinking in — — Concert Calendar — Todd On Film — The SEC Era Begins — CD Reviews — Colorado Moonrise Kingdom —

JULY 2012 Also inside: Squid Ink Collective Vol. 4—issue 7 At 50 The SEC Era Begins

Finally, what most of us in Aggieland have been waiting for since that fateful announce- ment last fall. Texas A&M University has officially said adios to the Big 12 Athletic Conference and a big hola to the Southeastern Conference, 979Represent is a local magazine more informally known as the SEC. And the rollercoaster ride has just begun, and whether or not you give a big hairy for the discerning dirtbag. crap about sports you too are on that ride.

As of July 1, there will be millions more eyes focused on Editorial bored College Station than we are normally accustomed to. Even though A&M’s football program has sucked balls for quite a Kelly Minnis—Kevin Still while now the former students still fill that stadium and buy pretty much any garment available in maroon with ATM on Art Splendidness it. Although business has been booming for A&M sports and licensing, now it has the potential to go THROUGH THE Katie Killer—Wonko The Sane FRICKIN’ ROOF. And that, my friends, is why this rocket ride includes all of us.

For years Northgate has languished as the cesspool shithole Folks That Do Other Shit For Us eyesore of College Station. There’s been plenty of develop- Mike L. Downey—James Gray—Todd Hansen— ment in this town but none where it really needed to be Michael Roe done. Why? Because all the old families that owned those underdeveloped properties asked exorbitant prices, just waiting for the right time when a developer would consider On the Internetz Cloud Thingy at the returns worth the risk of the high asking prices. And, http://www.979represent.com with the promise of millions more dollars rolling down University those developers are taking the risks. Between Emaily to [email protected] the state projects improving pedestrian AND driver accessi- bility to campus and pretty much every shithole on North- Materials for review & bribery can be sent to: gate either getting a facelift or bulldozed completely in favor of yet another high rise big money luxury private 979Represent dormitory, the SEC move will trickle downhill to affect 1707 Austin Ave. sportos and dirtbags alike. College Station, TX 77840 So what does this mean for College Station? It means more is at stake than the Aggie football team getting smeared up and down Kyle Field by REAL teams until the Aggies finally catch up. It means that culturally, College Station will be changing. College Station already has very little real culture other than what drips from the spit of A&M, but now it will face the challenge of preserving what little bit of tradition it AD RATES has clung to for so long versus the gaping maw of BIG MONEY BIG CITY AESTHETICS. Who will win out? Will it be INSIDE FULL PAGE—$50 those of you that like the down-home, pretentiously unpre- FULL BACK PAGE—$50 tentious feel we’ve come to know and at least learn how to ALL RATES MONTHLY. deal with, or the faux Little Dallas urbanization favored by HUMV’ed big oil douchebags? Break out the popcorn, be- BUY 2 GET ONE FREE cause it’s sure to be one helluva show y’all.—KELLY MINNIS CALL 979-204-4850 FOR DETAILS Todd On Film The Beach Boys Are About The Song What is more emblematic of summer in America than Moonrise Kingdom is not just another quirky Wes singing about girls and cars? That pretty much summed th Anderson film. Yes, Bill Murray is in it, and Jason up the Beach Boys concert on their 50 anniversary tour at th Schwartzman makes an appearance, but their characters are The Woodlands Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion June 8 . not large players in the central story. There are the straight- I’ve been to a few shows at the Mitchell Pavilion over the ahead shots and pans, jokes that are delivered with bril- years -- Green Day, Sammy Hagar, Blink-182, John Fogerty – liantly blunt deadpan, as well as some songs that probably but the venerable Beach Boys (most are in their 70s) had haven’t been heard on a radio in over forty years. Anderson this outdoor venue nailed. You could hear instruments and often gets accused of being too much in his own peculiar voices – especially – so clearly, ways, and his detractors imply that his films go for style even when most of the 17,000 over substance. Sure, maybe not every one of his movies are in attendance were bellowing great films, but the guy knows how to create characters “Let’s go surfing now/ which have great scenes together and give us moments of everybody’s learning how” at pain or hilarity to remember. He also likes to focus on the top of their lungs. children; not the ones who are simply enjoying being kids but the ones who are dealing with the same realities as The Beach Boys are as dys- normal people, such as the two young runaways in this story. functional a band that there’s This quality is what Moonrise Kingdom does so well, and ever been, but most of it is perhaps what sets it apart from his previous works. because since they’ve just survived all these years. I Children always feel like they are closer to being adults than mean look at the Beatles and they actually are, but they can still be very wise in their own the Stones – what will Radio- right. When a kid is looking toward their future desires, head look like in 50 years? Or dreaming of a certain profession or finding love, they some- Coldplay? The Black Keys? times resemble adults better than adults themselves, only to be put back in their place by age and order. This learning But back to the concert. My experience is what makes growing up such a special and college-age daughter and I were on the lawn in the middle unique time, but of course it doesn’t stop when we turn 18 just behind the seats under the shade, but it didn’t matter or get married. The moments and experiences which are since it was the one cloudy day of the month, temps in the collected every year continually teach us that maybe we are 70s. We actually got rained on during the last encore, but not as smart as we think, and are a reminder of how much who cares by then? The Beach Boys’ stage show features more there is to learn about life and our own place in it. about a dozen musicians on risers behind the current five When the world turns upside down on us we sometimes feel long-time members. They mainly focus on vocals although or even act like children, but then reality sets back in, and we damaged pop music genius Brian Wilson (looking befud- must dust ourselves off and make things normal again. dled as ever) sits behind a white piano and David Marks and play some guitar (Bruce Johnston handles Anderson is excellent at portraying these aspects in the some keyboards). just sings and taps the occa- characters of Moonrise Kingdom, effectively putting adults sional tambourine. Wilson is still the walking poster child and children on an equal level without compromising either to just say no to drugs, but he could write some songs way of their identities. When the two young lovers are out camp- back then, and he still can arrange tunes pretty well. Also, ing on their own, their dialogue repeatedly bounces back and there was something especially affecting about seeing the forth from being twelve years old to seasoned adults, often man who wrote the infectious rocker “I Get Around” 48 within the same scenes. It’s hilarious and yet painfully years ago still belting that tune out (although the crowd accurate if you can think back to when you were twelve years was doing most of the belting). old. In contrast, there are scenes when the adult characters sink to moments of helplessness and uncertainty, only to The band did 47 songs, playing from shortly after 8 p.m. prop themselves back up and take charge of the situation. until almost 11 p.m. with an intermission. Up until the The point isn’t that no one ever grows up, but that we can’t astonishing array of concert-closing tunes, the show went really be sure of when we’ve made it. through periods of well-crafted and impeccably-performed often-odd choices from their vast catalog (read: not their Perhaps the most amazing trick that Moonrise Kingdom pulls hits – “All This is That” about transcendental meditation?). off is creating such a simple, believable love story. There People listened politely until the band finally got to the radiant oldies that most of the crowd came for that isn’t a mushy confession of the heart or star-crossed Romeo brought many to their feet and unleashed their voices. and Juliet plotline; it’s absolute. The characters simply know However, one of my favorite Beach Boys tunes is one of that they are in love and refuse not to be together. At the those odd choices they did – “California” from the 1973 same time their romance isn’t two dimensional, either. They “Holland” . It sounded fantastic. But what most may not worry so much about where they are going, but they people came for – the lawn crowd was toddler to senior understand how their motives arose from where they came citizens to college students – it was a chance to hear live versions of all those songs from the past: “California Girls,” from and that life can’t be solved by just running away. But “Good Vibrations,” “Sloop John B (my all-time favorite). despite all that they never doubt that there is nothing more Personally, I haven’t sung that much at a show . . . ever. For important than each other. The conclusion of the movie is me, these tunes not only were part of a lifestyle I never really quite beautiful, and leaves you with a feeling of satis- knew growing up in West Texas thousands of miles from faction that requires no further questions to ask or tissues to California beaches, but also tunes I had shared with my wipe any tears.—TODD HANSEN daughter for years about the joy of music. To be singing “Barbara Ann” -- one of the songs I put on a cassette tape for her when she was probably three -- at a Beach Boys concert with her was just priceless. The concert-closing “Fun, Fun, Fun” is likely the definitive tune for the Beach Boys, a song about the sheer exuberance of driving fast and just being alive in the moment. Additionally, I found a goofy allure in warbling with a really-bad falsetto to “Surfing USA” and shouting the chorus to “Help Me Rhonda.”

It all made the $35 concert t-shirt worth it.—MIKE L. DOWNEY The denver beer trip pt. 1

We parked the car at O’Dell Brewing Co. in Fort Collins and touch anything that looks hot. Or cold. Or wet. Or metal. relished one of Colorado’s most scenic views. In one direc- Or wooden. In fact, just don’t touch anything. A fellow tion, a block away from O’Dell, we could see Fort Collins with finely tuned facial hair (including well-sculpted eye- Brewing Co., its metal beer label signs glistening on the brows) and a tattoo of a canoe walked us through the belly sides of the building. Through the trees behind O’Dell’s of the brewery pointing out various machines and tubs and parking lot, looming with steamy peaks and brick preci- temperatures and smells. He recited the history of the pices, New Belgium Brewing Co. perched above the town, brewery and the head-brewer’s beer philosophy. He talked glowing large and inflated like the Wonka Chocolate Factory environmental philanthropy. How O’Dell strives to use as on a not so distant hill. If my birthday could be measured little energy as possible to brew, ferment, bottle, ship, and in longitude and latitude, I found the navigational intersec- consume their fine products. How O’Dell uses all natural, tion of sheer joy. It’s in the O’Dell Brewing Co. where one organic ingredients. How O’Dell works with only local might gaze on the birthplace of beautiful beers. Colorado businesses for their materials. How O’Dell desires bigger beer bellies than carbon footprints. By the time we Our tours began at O’Dell. My buddy Herb and I checked in reached the end of the tour, saddled around free 6-ounce early for the 1:00 tour and ordered two separate flights to samples of St. Lupulin Extra Pale Ale, I wasn’t sure if the

bide our time and blister our thirst. O’Dell holds a special guide wanted us to drink the beer or the Kool-Aid. place in my heart. The wife and I married in a church that did not allow alcohol on the premises. Still, my groomsmen, As a side note, this is something I love about Texas: our being the righteous wedding day servants that they were, land is so big and wide and plentiful and not pretty that snuck in sixers of O’Dell Cutthroat Pale Ale and Cutthroat when we talk beer we talk beer. Colorado is smaller than Porter. I’m not sure my wife even knows, until here it shows Texas. They have less land but way prettier land, so that up in print, that I had a slight buzz walking into the cere- when they talk beer – or anything else – they’re actually mony. If you gotta get married, you might as well enjoy talking politics and environmentalism, but they do so in yourself in the process – that’s my philosophy. I relayed such a romantic fashion they’ve convinced themselves this story to Herb, who was in the congregation that day and they’re still talking about beer. Honestly, I find this rather sober, sipping Myrcenary Double IPAs and Harmonium Sour endearing. Colorado is a love struck teenage girl, arms Mash. crossed over her books over her mountainous chest, head back against the locker, eyes googly and ceiling gazed, The O’Dell Brewery tour was fairly standard. Stick together. totally in love with that boy in second period named Earth. Don’t wander off. Avoid wet spots on the ground. Don’t It’s cute really.—KEVIN STILL Squid ink collective Profile by mikey roe Brian Maclaskey of Squid Ink Kollective is a busy man, but he soulmate. I do most of their design, working on the cover took some time out to answer some questions. for their full length album Can you give me some background on Squid Ink Kollective? out this year. Who’s who, what do y’all do and how long you been doing it? BMAC: Squid Ink Kollective was started in 2007, right after I I noticed (iN) moved back from Oslo, Norway. It was started with the sect Records intention of being a real collective, although it has always put out the been just my wife Lynnea and I. We make t-shirts, art and Zorch album. house wares. I do most of the design and Lynne is the seam- No question stress, business management and P.R. side of things. there just something I I really dig the flyers you guys print. The Friday the 13th White noticed. Denim show in NYC was killer. I also really liked the one for BMAC: Yeah, Diplo. Are these commissioned or do you just print ‘em for the that was a hell of it and build some hype for the shop? BMAC: Some are commissioned, good one. and some I just contact bands I like and ask them if they’re into it. All What are you listening to at the are done with approval and permis- moment? What’s a movie that you sion of the artists. I love doing love but feel is underrated? What them! are some things that inspire you? BMAC: I have been digging Taake, How many years have you been live Dan Deacon (of course), Fang screen printing at SXSW? Island, Skeleton Witch, Anti-pop BMAC: Two years ago I hooked up Consortium. I recently really with Industry Printshop. I am the enjoyed The Future, by Miranda production manager for the shop, July. I’m inspired by people and they have been live screen making things happen, cities and printing all over for about six people living in them, alone with years, including SXSW. their stories. I really get inspired by documentaries. I’m a huge You’ve also done work for Fun, Fun, “This American Life” fan. Fun Fest. To what extent is the involvement with SXSW and FFF What’s up with the collaboration Fest? stuff you’re doing with kids? I BMAC: During Fun, Fun, Fun Fest imagine as an artist it’s a lot of and SXSW we participate in an fun seeing kids create. event called Flatstock put on by BMAC: That was a fun project The American Poster Institute. organized annually by Chula They are a curated show of poster League here in Austin. They pair sellers from all over the world. up artists and promising young These events feature hand-printed students to collaborate for a gig posters and art prints. show. My kid Adrian Muñiz was really cool and creative. Age 11. We made two editions of prints.

Do you have any Can you tell me about some current projects as well as what juicy rock star might be in the future for Squid Ink Kollective? moments you BMAC: Right now we are getting new designs ready for the wanna share? Fall. We should have some cool stuff out for our slew of BMAC: Nothing Fall and Winter shows. Lynnea is experimenting with re- juicy, only my upholstering some vintage furniture with some original bumbling and designs printed on the fabric, so that could be cool… I’m stuttering meet- working on a project called, “Supreme Pizza Cats,” and I co- ing Zach Hill or opened a gallery called HI5H. being giddy to hang with Dan Where are you guys at in Austin and where can people find Deacon. you online? BMAC: We are on the awesome East Side! Stay in touch, we You designed the cover art for the Zorch E.P. Cosmic Gloss/ are always working on new projects. Online at: E.M.F. I really love that cover. Have you worked with other www.squidinkkollective.com (clothing line/posters) groups? www.industryprintshop.com (our shop) www.hi5h.com BMAC: Thanks man! I have done stuff for little bands and bands that I was in, but Zorch is my musical and artistic (gallery) and www.catsandrobbers.com (cats eating pizza) Find 979represent on facebook And 979represent.com record REVIEWS

line about the Watchmaker and Three years later, Metric finally sets the tone for the most persis- something or another that, even released their fifth studio album, tently-melancholy music the band 10 listens in now I can’t really Synthetica. Damned by some has ever done. The band still has penetrate, makes this album need critics as not far enough of a leap its vocal chops -- groups like the a bit of an immersion process. forward, Synthetica, in my opin- Fleet Foxes owe their career to the Supposedly there will be a comic ion, is further capitalization on Beach Boys’ groundbreaking vocal released to coincide with the what Metric does best: electro- prowess. Brian Wilson is still a album to better fill in the story. fuzz dance-rock with folk-n- musical genius, but it’s quickly Somehow though, I never needed crystal shimmied female vocals. apparent he is not interested in one for 2112 or “The Fountain of Synthetica opens on the tubular- revisiting the “good times” music Lamneth” or the Cyrus X-1 multi- stretched and echoed prelude of his past. While lyrically the album series. “Artificial Nocturne”, Haines’ songs may reference many happy vocals slip up as if from under memories, the music etches a Overall I certainly think it’s a far water, “I’m just as fucked up as sonic – and somber -- landscape better album than their last they say.” Opening a record on filled with beautifully-crafted Rush (2007’s Snakes and Arrows) but such a line immediately tells the vocal harmonies, perfect for a Clockwork Angels lacks the emotional urgency of listener, yeah, it’ll be that kind of dreary cloudy day. This is all “In 2002’s Vapor Trails. But, as I said, record. Dire. Reflective. Intro- My Room” and no “Surfing Safari” I don’t think it’s any secret that I’m a fan and I’m willing to give spective. Both a votive candle and or “Good Vibrations.” Nowhere Rush is prhaps one of my top these guys my full attention and a sledge-hammer in a bathroom are the pop gems that evoke sun- three favorite bands of all time. listen with a patience that I don’t mirror. drenched beaches, cars, and girls Certainly the band I spent the think most anyone new to the that now fill the Beach Boys’ most time listening to between band would give them. Will the I Haines sings violent lines of current tour. This is despite titles 1981-1991. I’ve seen them in Love You, Man promotion give disillusionment on Synthetica’s like “Daybreak Over the Ocean” concert three times, know pretty these guys a true fanbase bump first single, “Youth Without and “Beaches in Mind”. The most much every album word for word and, if so, will they stick with Youth” (Hangman / We played / animated tune is the calypso- and taught myself to play drums them like us old stalwarts have? Double-dutch with a hand gre- flavored jab at reality celebrities: by sitting on the edge of the bed Only time will tell—KELLY MINNIS nade / Behind the church / Hiding “The Private Life of Bill and Sue”. as a kid with a pair of drum place / Apathetic to the devil’s sticks, air drumming along to the face) beneath a chunky-thumped It’s admirable that Wilson and the band’s back catalog. I’m a fan. toe-tapping New Wave bass surviving band members wanted But I feel like the band hasn’t bounce. Two tracks later on stand to do a new album before they progressed all that much since -out track “Breathing Underwater” went on tour to rake in the big 1994’s Counterparts. If you’ve Haines pulls the mirror closer (I’m money; they could have continued heard any of the band’s last four the blade / You’re the knife / I’m to coast on their hits. And it’s since 1994 you’ve pretty the weight / You’re the kite), her equally commendable they are much heard them all. voice vibrant in an undercurrent creating new gorgeous-sounding

of airy-synthesizer and foamy- music for themselves as they But isn’t Clockwork Angels sup- thick guitar. Other stand-out enter their seventh decade of posed to be different, a concept tracks include the playfully music. However, it’s all too album with some sort of vague boppy, synth-stomp “The Void”, cloudy for me.—MIKE L. DOWNEY steampunk story and a heavier where Haines’ voice giddily spins sound? Well, yes and no. The like a late-night club turntable, sound is CERTAINLY somewhat and straight-forward pop rock heavier, and at times points in track “The Wanderlust”, featuring directions that the band hasn’t Metric a very Nick-At-Nite paternal pointed towards in some time. Synthetica sounding chiming in on The title track has a certain jaunty Metric made a grand first impres- the chorus. swing feel that the band really sion on me. I was driving through hasn’t gone for since the early steamy Dallas traffic with no air Critics be damned. I don’t need ‘80s Signals period when the band conditioning. It was July. Sweat Metric making massive leaps was ripping on The Police HARD. ran so thick down my forehead forward as much as I want them “The Anarchist” rips on classic that my eyelashes resigned and making the music only Metric can Yes big time, with Geddy proudly splashed each time I blinked. And make. Synthetica offers solid charging forth with a big Chris then as I pulled into a parking lot proof that Metric can improve, Squier bass tone and feel. And this song came on the radio (yeah, even if only slightly, on something “Headlong Flight” quotes back- air and cd player totally pooped that was already pretty damn wards to “Bastille Day”. That out: we’re talking major first perfect.—KEVIN STILL Rush is beginning to look back- world problems here) that jolted wards more towards what en- my spine. Fuzzy guitars. Preci- deared so many of its biggest fans sion tight drums. Balled-up, fist is certainly a good thing, as I’ve heavy bass bumps. Out of place said before, I find that the 1994- piano that oddly worked. But the 2007 big modern rock sound of thing that stole me in that swel- the band has been largely generic. tering car, that kept me splashing It doesn’t sound like Creedleback from the eyelashes in that damn or Tool, but it certainly has those July hell of a parking lot, was the aspects at times. It’s just that woman’s voice. Shrill but tem- Rush kinda became bland. The pered. Pointed and layered. She music for this album has certainly sang on top of the song and under helped to remove that problem. the song. And I was instantly And certainly the musicianship is sold. still here. Drummer Neil Peart will be 60 in September. I can’t It took several days and much play half as fast or intricate as he Google searching of the only lyrics does on “Headlong Flight” at I could remember to learn that the Beach Boys roughly half his age! song that made July in Texas That’s Why God Made the Radio bearable for four minutes and five The Beach Boys set a record seconds was Metric’s “Gold Guns getting back on the music charts Sadly though, the band has largely Girls”, an ode by lead-singer Emily with That’s Why God Made the left the pop song behind. Even Haines to Tony Montana. She Radio after nearly a half century when the band were at its densist wrote the song after watching since their first appearance, but prog in the mid to late ‘70s the Scarface. (I love that part of the this is not your parent’s Beach band never forsook pop hooks. story.) Metric’s entire Fantasies Boys . . . and that’s too bad. There are never any shortages of record stole me as much as “Gold melodies and what, there’s an Guns Girls” did in the parking lot. It’s not a good thing the most orchestra on this album?! But you Fantasies became a Still family stirring tune is a quiet essentially have to get nearly to the end of favorite, the perfect melding of vocal-less meditation that’s less the album with “Wish Them Well” my girl pop obsession with my than 90 seconds. “Think About to get a good old-fashioned wife’s gritty rock roots. the Days” also opens the disc and chorus. Line this up with a story CONCERT CAlenDAR

7/3—The Conglomerate @ Church Street BBQ, College Station. 7/20—Hindsight @ Zapatos, College Station. 10pm 9pm 7/22—Brazos Valley Derby Girls Exhibition Bout @ VFW, Bryan. 7/7—Waldo & The Naturals, The Insiders @ Schotzis, College 5pm Station. 9pm 7/24—The River Bends, Mike The Engineer, Strike Threagles @ 7/11—Johnny Falstaff @ The Beer Joint, College Station. 9pm Revolution, Bryan. 10pm

7/12—Signal Rising, The Last Hour, Hindsight @ Schotzis, Col- 7/26—Big Waves of Pretty, !NO! @ Revolution, Bryan. 10pm lege Station. 9pm 7/28—Football Etc., The Ex-Optimists, Mike The Engineer @ 7/13—Goodnight Neverland @ Revolution, Bryan. 10pm Revolution, Bryan. 10pm

Moustache Rides with James Gray