Six local bands will be fighting hunger by throwing a benefit concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Capellini Bar and Patio in McAllen.
For a donation of $5 (or $3 and two canned goods) to the Food Band of the Rio Grande Valley, enjoy the original sounds of Darm Darm Dudes, The Equations, The Ex-Boyfriends, Tim’s Myth, Sick/Sea and Land Locked Pirates.
There will also be five artists selling original work, drink and food specials.
The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and when the music ends, there will be a holiday movie screened outside.
WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11
WHERE: Capellini Bar and Patio, 701 N. Main Street, McAllen
COST: $5 donation or $3 donation with two canned goods
Local band The Writing Season will be performing live for the first time at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at Cine El Rey in McAllen.
Lead singer and songwriter JJ Juarez, who local pop fans may recognize from defunct bands The Final Stretch and Madore, only intended for The Writing Season to be a studio project, but friends and fellow musicians convinced him to make it something more, he said.
Also performing at the concert are locals Venture the Wilderness, Land Locked Pirates, The Plea of Ariel and An American Dream.
Sick/Sea (formerly Arrgh!drey) will be performing a show to kick off a tour at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Kohnami, 2005 Nolana (across from Jackie O’s) in McAllen.
Also playing are some local indie and rock bands, including Landlocked Pirates, Moi Je Joue, Vulpes, Peppered Moths and Souloution.
Singer Audrey Scott took a moment to talk about the upcoming mostly east coast tour, what the band is most excited about and the copious amounts of Clif bars and ramen they’ll be eating.
FESTIVA: I don’t think I’ve ever asked you this, but why the name change from Arrgh!drey to Sick/Sea?
AUDREY: That was a marketing decision, like, nobody could say it or spell it, so it would’ve been a little hard to promote ourselves.
FESTIVA: What are you most excited about with this tour?
AUDREY: Seeing the people we met last time … and the food. We’re going to get to have Chicago deep dish and New York pizza.
FESTIVA: What are you guys going to be eating on the road?
AUDREY: We just bought a ton of Clif bars, that’s like, our favorite thing that’s cheap and they have a lot of good flavors. And ramen.
FESTIVA: What is your biggest fear when you’re on the road?
Austin singer/songwriter Aly Tadros will be the headliner of the first Music After Hours show of the year, which starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at Archer Park in McAllen.
Also performing is Brownsville local indie band Ideophonic. Other artists will be added to the lineup at a later date.
Music After Hours is a free outdoor concert series, which is featured each first Friday of the month during Art Walk season – September through May.
Dallas-based screamo outfit Set the Sun and San Antonio’s hardcore band Forever, I Am will be headlining a cover-themed concert at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Nikki Rowe VFW in McAllen.
A slew of local hardcore bands will be covering pop songs at this show. Kings and Liars will put a harder edge on Ke$ha’s “Your Love is my Drug,” Ashes of Alaska will cover Katy Perry’s “E.T.” and The Requested is keeping its song choice hush-hush.
WITH: Forever, I Am; Set the Sun, Scarlett O’Hara, The Requested, Kings and Liars, The Final Burial, At War with Androids, NTAP, Ashes of Alaska, Exist: Avail, For the Taking
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6
WHERE: Nikki Rowe VFW, 127 W. Business Hwy 83, McAllen
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For a Christian band, Abandon is gaining fans in some unorthodox ways.
Last week, the band flew out to Los Angeles to film a promotional music video for FOX Sports. The video will be used for network promotional commercials during the next two months for the upcoming college football season.
And fans of The Food Network and ESPN may have heard the uplifting and motivating “Live It Out,” a track off of Abandon’s latest album, in the past two months.
The exposure is helping bring secular fans to the San Antonio-based spiritual group.
In 2008, Abandon broke onto the Christian rock scene with its indie alternative rock sound but the band’s second studio album “Control,” released earlier this year, takes a decidedly more upbeat turn.
The album is packed with life-affirming anthems full of joy and modern synth-tinged upbeat tunes.
Fun and danceable, sure, but “Control” is also a Christian album, though the message isn’t smack-you-in-the-face-with-a-Bible overt.
Ahead of the band’s concert this weekend in Harlingen, front man Josh Engler spoke with Festiva about trying to live a Christian life as the lead singer of a band, God on Facebook and where he was on the failed “Day of Rapture” (May 21).
FESTIVA: As a Christian you’re trying to live life a certain way, walk a certain path; what are some of the struggles you deal with daily?
JOSH: “Trust, I guess. And timing, and trusting in God’s timing. Those are some of the things that I regularly deal with. It’s weird being in a band and this journey of balancing; trying to become successful and have a sustainable career and time with family and ministry.”
FESTIVA: How would you feel about achieving major mainstream success but possibly having your message fall on deaf ears?
JOSH: “At the core, we’re definitely artists, and our faith inspires us to create music, so ultimately, when we’re asked about our faith, we’ll talk about it. We’re definitely not trying to convert everyone because we don’t really think that everyone will be converted anyway. …More than even talking, we believe that our faith’s better walked out, rather than talked out. We’d rather show love … there’s too much judgment in the world.”
FESTIVA: There’s no denying the five of you are very attractive. How do you feel about some people taking interest in Abandon because of the collective hotness?
JOSH: “Thank you. You know, God gives some people certain gifts and we’re thankful for the ones he’s given us. (laughs)”
FESTIVA: If Jesus had access to the internet, would he use social media to bring people to him?
JOSH: “Absolutely. You know, (the Bible) talks about when Christ returns that every eye will see and every ear will hear. …I think it may happen through technology. I definitely don’t view technology as a bad thing or the Antichrist or whatever some people might claim it to be. …(God) is my friend on Facebook.”
FESTIVA: Where were you guys on May 21, the supposed Day of Rapture?
JOSH: “We were actually playing a concert, and we stopped the show at the time it was supposed to happen and just had a pause, you know, and then resumed. Yeah, it was funny. Everybody accused that guy (Harold Camping) of being a wacko, a kook, and he just needs to read his Bible a little bit more. We didn’t stress. …When it happens, it’ll happen.”
WITH: The Clay Refinery, Heart of Worship
WHEN: (Doors open at 5 p.m.) 7 p.m. Sunday, July 31
WHERE: Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, 1204 Fair Park Blvd.
COST: $8, general admission
BUY TICKETS: Viva Life Christian Bookshop, 6601 N. 10th St., McAllen; Molly’s Gifts and Bibles, 1710 Morgan Blvd., Harlingen; Faith Bookstore, 421 Paredes Line Road, Brownsville or online at www.myharlingenarts.com
Latin pop singer Cristian Castro will be performing at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Pharr Events Center.
“El Gallito Feliz,” or the “happy little rooster,” has been entertaining before he could form full sentences. As a baby, the future heartthrob made his acting debut on the telenovela “El Derecho de Nacer.”
In the early ’90s, Castro almost instantly became a sex symbol and a popular singer.
The Grammy-nominated artist has released 13 studio albums, including his latest, “Vive el Principe.”
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, July 30
WHERE: Pharr Events Center, 3000 N. Cage Blvd.
COST: $42.50 to $87.50
BUY TICKETS: Pharr Events Center box office or at www.ticketmaster.com
The popular merengue and pop singer started her career in the ‘80s and has enjoyed a fair amount of success with the band Chantelle and as a solo artist.
Tañón, or “Mujer de Fuego” (“woman of fire”), as she referred to by her fans, recently released the album “Ni Una Lagrima Mas.”
WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday, July 16
WHERE: McAllen Convention Center, 700 Convention Center Blvd.
Festiva is the Rio Grande Valley’s prime source for live music, entertainment, nightlife, food, arts and human interest stories. E-mail your event notice (two weeks in advance), story suggestion, comment, complaint, etc., to festivamagazine@gmail.com.
Six local bands will be fighting hunger by throwing a benefit concert at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Capellini Bar and Patio in McAllen.
