Month: February 2021

Posthumous Tony Joe White album Smoke from the Chimney

Tony Joe White’s Smoke from the Chimney is set for May 7 release. Photo: google

Across five decades as a performer and storyteller, Tony Joe White—a.k.a. “The Swamp Fox”—left an indelible mark on American music. His catalog offers indisputable classics such as “Polk Salad Annie” and “Rainy Night in Georgia” and his songs have been recorded by Ray Charles, Kenny Chesney, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, and Tina Turner. On Friday, May 7, Smoke from the Chimney, a nine-song album of never-before-heard Tony Joe White tunes, will be released on Easy Eye Sound. Produced by Dan Auerbach and rounded out by Nashville’s most seasoned studio musicians, Smoke from the Chimney started out as several unadorned voice and guitar demos from White’s home studio before being transformed into full band arrangements harkening back to the albums he recorded in the late 60s and early 70s in Nashville and Muscle Shoals—just as he was emerging as an internationally recognized songwriter and recording artist. (IV-PR, 2021)

On Friday, NPR/World Cafe gave fans their first listen of “Boot Money,” a gritty, thumping ode to keeping a little bit of extra scratch hidden away. “Boot Money” comes accompanied by an animated video from director Robert Schober which colorfully places White and Auerbach in the recording studio to kick off the tune before following along while White lives out the song’s storyline. Fans can see the video for “Boot Money” at this link and pre-order or pre-save Smoke from the Chimney here.

After his father’s death in 2018, Jody White, White’s son and manager, started transferring his father’s multitrack home recordings to digital files. Looking back on the moment he unearthed the demo of “Smoke from the Chimney,” he recalls a mix of happiness, gratification, and shock. As he continued to find other songs that did not make an album, he moved the material into a separate folder. Within a year, those select recordings would evolve into Smoke from the Chimney. Jody says that even in those basic tracks, that definitive Tony Joe White groove instantly stood out. “He always finds a tempo and a pocket that is exactly right. And it’s a little bit different than anybody else would choose themselves,” he says. Jody believes that his father would love the way Smoke from the Chimney turned out.

Smoke from the Chimney Track list:
Smoke from the Chimney
Boot Money
Del Rio, You’re Making Me Cry
Listen to Your Song
Over You
Scary Stories
Bubba Jones
Someone Is Crying
Billy

“Smoke From The Chimney” is more than a faithful tribute to one of the great Americana musicians and national treasures, performed by an ensemble who capture the DNA of Tony Joe White’s songs with beauty, warmth, and reverence.” – NPR’s Bruce Warren

Award-winning documentary After the Murder of Albert Lima

The Video on Demand release of the documentary After the Murder of Albert Lima is set for Thursday, March 18, 2021. Photo: google

The award-winning documentary After the Murder of Albert Lima tells the story of a son obsessed with capturing his father’s killer. Paul Lima has spent over a decade seeking justice for his slain father, Albert. Though convicted, Albert’s murderer has remained free in Honduras. After years of the legal system failing him, Paul takes the unorthodox step of hiring two bounty hunters to travel with him to Honduras to track down and capture his father’s killer. This riveting, and, at times, darkly comedic documentary explores both the importance of family and the dangers of taking the law into your own hands. This Crackle original will be premiering exclusively on Crackle in the US on Thursday, March 18, 2021. (EG-PR, 2021)

Documentary features: running time: 97 minutes/ Language: English / Country: USA, Honduras. Director: Aengus James, Executive Producers: Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Jude Harris, Meredith Vieira; Producers: Amy Rapp, Aengus James, Colin King Miller, Paul Lima. A Gunpowder & Sky/This is Just a Test/Meredith Vieira Productions Production
Official Selection: DOC NYC, Woodstock Film Festival and many more.

Aengus James is an award-winning filmmaker and television producer. His recent works include Scandalous (Magnolia, CNN, BBC), the untold story of The National Enquirer, Undercover Billionaire (Discovery), and the GLAAD Media Award-winning I Am Jazz. Aengus began his career serving as Barry Levinson’s cinematographer in Poliwood. After the Murder of Albert Lima follows Aengus’ directorial debut and IDA award nominated documentary comedy American Harmony. He has created and directed content for global brands and non-profits, and his work has received numerous honors including special recognition from the White House and the United Nations for raising awareness on issues including veterans’ mental health and women’s healthcare around the world. Aengus is the co-founder and head of This is Just a Test.

Crackle Plus owns and operates ad-supported VOD networks Crackle and Popcornflix and garners 50 million streams of its movies and TV shows per month, making it one of the largest AVOD streaming platforms in the U.S. Crackle Plus has over 80,000 hours of content available across all its networks, and premieres at least one original and one exclusive program each month, differentiating it from other AVODs.

Texas Hill Country road trip: The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa

The JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa is a luxurious yet rugged destination for a Texas Hill Country road trip. Photo: JL Bar Ranch Resort & Spa, used with permission.

With road trip travel continuing to gather steam in 2021, Americans have the unique opportunity to rediscover their own backyard. One stop to consider for an epic Texas road trip is the luxurious yet rugged JL Bar Ranch Resort & Spa. (JL Bar Ranch Resort & Spa, 2021)

Nestled among the sloping hills of Sonora, JL Bar Ranch Resort & Spa offers unmatched luxury in the Texas Hill Country. The 32-room boutique resort just a few hours away from major Texas cities boasts standalone accommodations on the sprawling 13,000-acre property. With wide-open space and conveniently located near Texas Wine Country and the iconic Sonora Caverns – JL Bar is perfect for cross-country road-trippers looking to refuel and recharge. The resort is also ideal for those seeking an extended stay that immerses them in all things Texas with activities and amenities including:

Luxury Cabins & Cottages: The JL Bar Ranch boasts 16 standalone luxury cabins and 16 spacious guest rooms with premium amenities, as well as the new Archer’s Nest Villa, a stunning six-bedroom villa that accommodates up to 12 guests and has a private swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, and a full home theatre. The resort also has “drive-up” style rooms with private golf carts available, perfect for a naturally distanced getaway.

Hill Country Adventures: From a full equestrian program featuring horseback riding and a horse psychology experience to off-road ATV adventures, a Putting/Chipping Green, weekend yoga, wine tasting, and clay and skeet shooting, JL Bar Ranch’s slew of activities and programming take place primarily outside for the ultimate ‘safecation’ escape.

Cowboy Cookout: The culinary team at JL Bar Ranch has designed a decadent and interactive social distancing-approved dining experience with its new Cowboy Cookout. Guests can take in the Texas Hill Country views with a horseback ride to the property’s cookout camp, enjoy cocktails and snacks as the culinary team prepares a lavish steak dinner, and relax to country music while soaking in the magnificent sunset.

Relax & Recharge: To balance its outdoorsy and adventure programming, JL Bar Ranch guests can
unwind and practice self-care at the property’s full-service spa, which offers luxurious massages and spa treatments alongside a full nail/salon menu.

Black Restaurant Week San Antonio 2021

Black Restaurant Week is taking place from February 21 to 28 to benefit the community and black owned restaurants. Photo: San Antonio Food Bank, used with permission.

Black Restaurant Week San Antonio (BRWSA), Tim Duncan Foundation and Spurs Give are joining efforts to support the San Antonio Food Bank through donations and a matching effort. BRWSA is February 21-28 with more than 30 Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, and businesses participating this year. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2021)

Each restaurant will have a featured special on the menu that will serve as a give-back for the week and for each one purchased, BRWSA participants will give back 21 meals to kids and seniors facing hunger. In addition, the Tim Duncan Foundation and Spurs Give have each pledged $100,000 to the Food Bank, funding 1.4 million meals to help feed those in need.

Visit the full list of participating restaurants on the Black Restaurant Week San Antonio website. Curbside and delivery options will also be available to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its second year, families continue to face hunger, many for the first time. This partnership strives to help feed those with the greatest need, while also raising awareness for locally Black-owned restaurants to help them thrive during this time. The campaign to raise $2.5 million is still going strong until February 28 and anyone wishing to donate may do so online.

Black Restaurant Week San Antonio was founded in 2019 to focus support on and highlight Black owned businesses and Black professionals in the culinary field in San Antonio. The goal is to not only bring awareness but to celebrate “Cuisine, Culture and Community” through an assortment of events and charitable giving.

The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non‐profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 530 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long‐term food security.

About Spurs Give: We are a family – a team – passionate about sports. We are passionate about what sports can do for our community – especially our youth. At the heart of it, we believe sports can provide a family with a common goal, and a hope for a better future. We are Spurs Give – the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Since our founding in 1988, we have invested $30 million in our community. Through our players’ passions, our grants, and our impact programs, we are changing lives and leaving a lasting impact. You give. We give. Spurs Give.

“This is our biggest Black Restaurant Week San Antonio to date. With over 30 participants, there’s something for everyone. I am also excited about supporting these Black-owned businesses and the diversity and cultures that they represent. And, I am grateful to be able to help out community members in need by helping to raise funds for the San Antonio Food Bank.” – Ryane Smith, organizer for Black Restaurant Week San Antonio.

Award-winning documentary My Name is Pedro will be available February 23

My Name is Pedro opens on Video On Demand and DVD on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

My Name is Pedro, the award-winning film from first time director Lillian LaSalle, explores the seemingly impossible journey of South Bronx Latino educator and maverick, Pedro Santana, a former “special ed” student, whose mantra is – every kid can learn despite their circumstances. A The New York Times profile of his “Out Of The Box” teaching techniques, thrusts him into the spotlight, which creates great opportunities for change but also has its downside – public school politics which, despite the cries of students and parents alike, threaten to take him down. A documentary with unpredictable twists and turns, it harnesses a compelling message of optimism, hope and tragedy. My Name is Pedro is an essential and timely reminder of the importance of great educators that exist within the infrastructure of our country’s public education system. (EG-PR, 2021)

It will be released on VOD and DVD on Tuesday, February 23 in the US, Canada, and UK. VOD: Amazon, Apple TV, iTunes, GooglePlay, Youtube, Vimeo on Demand and Fandango NOW. Cable: Verizon, Comcast, Charter, Cox, and Wave Broadband. Documentary (USA), 127 Minutes, in English.

OFFICIAL SELECTION AND AWARDS:
Winner: Best Documentary, Golden Door International Film Festival
Winner: Spotlight on Documentary Award, St. Louis International Film Festival
Winner: Audience Award, Chicago Latino International Film Festival
Winner: Audience Award, Brooklyn Film Festival
Winner: Award of Merit, Impact Docs
Winner: Honorable Mention, Woodstock Film Festival
Official Selection: Women’s Filmmaker Showcase, BAFF
Official Selection: San Diego Latino International Film Festival

My Name is Pedro is a powerful and poignant documentary about one man’s effort to reach even the most challenging students. As a child, Pedro Santana struggled in school early on and stuttered sometimes, except when he was onstage. He became an educator, mentor, and community leader because his work went beyond the school grounds. His goal was “I want to have an impact in people’s lives” and he truly influenced students as well as their families and everyone he met. While living in a culturally diverse community, he was able to cross the cultural divide. Like most people who think “outside the box,” he rattled the status quo and became a target of those who pushed back. The lesson to be learned is that the best way to honor someone’s memory is to keep his or her work alive.

“The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers and lovers of all kind.” – Dalai Lama

Upcoming book release: ’13 Days to Die’ by Matt Miksa

’13 Days to Die’ by Matt Miksa will be released on March 9, 2021.

Matt Miksa is a former FBI intelligence analyst who helped prevent foreign spies from stealing America’s secrets. Today, he writes espionage thrillers that blend history, politics, and science. Matt holds a graduate degree in China Studies from Columbia University and has spent time living in Beijing. His debut novel, “13 Days to Die: A Novel” is a mixture of Red Sparrow and Inferno and electrifies a Cold War spirit with fresh, modern-day expertise as the Olen Grave and Dr. Zhou Weilin wrestle society’s darkest nightmares. It is scheduled for released on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

In “13 Days to Die,” in a far-flung Tibetan village, prayer flags flap against whitewashed houses and a majestic monastery stretches to heaven. It is Shangri-La, an earthly paradise, until a stranger staggers out of the forest and collapses into a bloody, lifeless mass. He is the first victim of a crippling epidemic, but he is no ordinary man. Olen Grave, an American intelligence officer, heads directly into the hot zone to investigate. Posing as a journalist, he joins the Chinese research team, led by a headstrong female virus hunter, Dr. Zhou Weilin. Together, the unlikely allies discover that Patient Zero was a spy who deliberately infected himself. But they do not know why or who he worked for. As Olen and Dr. Zhou rush to uncover the shocking truth behind the epidemic, they unravel a twisted conspiracy that reaches from Beijing’s great halls to Washington’s corridors of power. With the superpowers now at the brink of war, the fate of the world will rest on the duo’s shoulders.

World premiere of ‘The Spine of Night’ at SXSW 2021

‘The Spine of Night’ will premiere at this year’s virtual SXSW. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In SXSW Film Festival 2021 news, Yellow Veil Pictures has acquired the sales rights to the animated fantasy “The Spine of Night.” It will premiere in the SXSW Midnighters section of the festival which will run virtually from Tuesday March 16 through Sunday March 20, 2021. Written and directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King, the cast includes Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, Joe Manganiello, Abby Savage, Larry Fessenden, and Rob McClure. (EG-PR, 2021)

From Gorgonaut Pictures, “The Spine of Night” is an ultra-violent, hand-rotoscoped epic fantasy inspired by the cult classic works of animators Ralph Bakshi and Frank Franzetta. The film is set in a fantasy land ripe with magic and intrigue where a dark force is unleashed sending mankind into an age of ruin. It falls on heroes from different eras and cultures to fight back. This epic begins many years ago when an ambitious young man steals forbidden knowledge from a sacred plant and, as he falls to its darker temptations, unleashes ages of suffering onto mankind. As his power grows over the years, there are many who stand against him. Among them are a daring tomb-robber, star-crossed lovers, a maniacal necromancer, winged assassins, and an undying guardian.

COVID-19 Rental Relief Program registers thousands of Texans

There were more than 21,000 account registrations in statewide COVID-19 Rental Relief Program. Photo: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, used with permission.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) received approximately $1.3 billion in emergency relief funds from the national Coronavirus Relief Bill Rental Assistance Program. TDHCA launched the statewide Texas Rent Relief program to help income-eligible Texans struggling to keep up with rent and utility payments during the pandemic. (Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, 2021)

Low to moderate income tenants who have suffered financial hardship during the pandemic can register and apply for aid by visiting Texas Rent Relief or calling 1-833-989-7368. Landlords can also apply with tenant approval. The application process has two parts: registering your account and requesting payment. Assistance on the website and call center is available in multiple languages.

In the first 24 hours of application opening, Texas Rent Relief saw:
• More than 42,000 calls at the call center.
• About 90% of those calls were from tenants.
• More than 21,000 total account registrations.
• 2,921 landlord accounts registered.
• 6,556 tenant account registered by landlord invitation
• 11,578 tenant accounts registered on their own
• More than 5,700 payment requests submitted, totaling more than $20 million; these payment requests have not been reviewed and approved; this is only the number of submitted requests.

Households must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income and meet several other criteria. Full eligibility details are available online. Per federal guidelines, TDHCA is prioritizing applications for an initial time period for households at or below 50% of the area median income level and households where one or more members are currently unemployed and have been for at least 90 days.

The Texas Rent Relief Program can help renters with costs starting as far back as March 13, 2020:
Past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected rent costs
Past due, current, and up to 3 months of expected utility and home energy expenses
After the initial 3 months of forward assistance, you can apply for 3 additional months of assistance if funds are still available.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is committed to expanding fair housing choice and opportunities for Texans through the administration and funding of affordable housing and homeownership opportunities, weatherization, and community-based services with the help of for-profits, nonprofits, and local governments. For more information about fair housing, funding opportunities, or services in your area, please visit Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs or the Learn about Fair Housing in Texas page.

San Antonio Food Bank emergency distributions

The San Antonio Food Bank will be hosting mega mobile distributions this weekend. Photo: San Antonio Food Bank, used with permission.

The San Antonio Food Bank is ramping up emergency outreach on the backside of the recent, crippling weather system. Volunteers are in critical need, with more than 500 needed over the weekend alone. Volunteers can register online to support a mobile food distribution. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2021)

For individuals needing to restock their shelves this weekend, the Food Bank is hosting 7 mega mobile distributions (details below). Pre-registration is recommended for all who have access to the internet. Those without the ability to pre-register will not be turned away and can access food while it lasts at each site. Additional information for those seeking help this weekend is available by calling the Food Bank’s helpline: 210-431-8326 on Friday or Saturday during normal business hours.

Upcoming Mobile Food Distributions: Friday -Sunday
WHEN: Friday-Sunday (February 19 – 21)
TIME: 10a.m.- 4p.m.
WHERE: San Antonio Food Bank main facility, with pre-check required beforehand at Camargo Park: 5738 Castroville Rd (78227)
WHAT: 1,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water

WHEN: Friday, February 19
TIME: 11a.m. – 1p.m.
WHERE: NISD Gustafson Stadium: 7001 Culebra Rd (78238)
WHAT: 2,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water

WHEN: Friday, February 19
TIME: 2p.m. – 4p.m.
WHERE: Rackspace Technology: 1 Fanatical Pl (78218)
WHAT: 2,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water

WHEN: Saturday, February 20
TIME: 1p.m. – 4p.m.
WHERE: Harlandale ISD Memorial Stadium: 1109 Apollo St (78214)
WHAT: 1,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water

WHEN: Saturday, February 20
TIME: 9a.m. – 11a.m.
WHERE: River City Church: 16765 Lookout Rd (78154)
WHAT: 2,000 households (more than 5,000 individuals) get 100+ pounds of food, water

The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non‐profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 530 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long‐term food security.

“Our community is hurting. We have been meeting the emergency food needs all week for the homeless and those in shelters across our community. Now it’s time to reach those in homes through our distributions and home deliveries.” – Eric Cooper, President & CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank.

New book release: ‘A Stranger in Town’ by Kelley Armstrong

‘A Stranger in Town’ by Kelley Armstrong is the novel in the Rockton series. Photo: amazon

Kelley Armstrong graduated with a degree in psychology and then studied computer programming. Now she is a full-time writer and parent and lives with her husband and three children in rural Ontario, Canada. She is the author of the Rockton mystery series featuring Detective Casey Duncan, which begins with “City of the Lost,” and the novel “Wherever She Goes.” She is the editor of the young adult anthology Life Is Short and Then You Die. In “A Stranger In Town: A Rockton Novel,” the next riveting thriller from #1 The New York Times’ bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, the paranoia increases, along with the stakes, as the town of Rockton tries to solve the latest mystery at their door. (amazon, 2021)

In “A Stranger In Town,” Detective Casey Duncan has noticed fewer and fewer residents coming to the hidden town of Rockton, and no extensions being granted. Her boyfriend, Sheriff Eric Dalton, presumes it is the natural flux of things, but Casey’s not so sure. It seems like something bigger is happening in the small town they call home. It is all hands on deck when an injured hiker stumbles from the woods, someone who seems to have come to the Yukon for a wilderness vacation but instead is now fighting for her life. What – or who – attacked this woman, and why? With the woman unconscious, and no leads, Casey and Eric do not know where the threat is coming from. Plus, the residents of their deeply secretive town are uneasy with this stranger in their midst. Everyone in Rockton wants this mystery solved – and fast. Excerpt available here.