Taco Cabana celebrates Independence Day with all new Sonoran Hot Dogs and special beer bundles. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.
Starting Friday July 2, 2021, celebrate Independence Day all weekend long at Taco Cabana with two all-new Sonoran Hot Dogs while supplies last. TC fans can choose from Ground Beef or Bacon Sonoran Hot Dogs available a la carte for $2.99 at all participating Texas locations. Guests ages 21+ can purchase a hot dog and beer bundle, including a Sonoran hot dog + choice of domestic beer for $4.99 or a Sonoran hot dog + choice of premium beer for $5.49. (Taco Cabana, 2021)
This summer, TC continues to be the home of the $2 margarita. TC fans can enjoy their choice of eight margarita flavors, including Lime, Strawberry, Mango, Strawberry Mango, Mangonada, Blue Curacao, Watermelon, and Dragonfruit all day every day for just $2. The Pickle margarita is available at select Taco Cabanas for $2. Guests have the option to add chamoy at no additional cost. TC guests may also purchase gallon margaritas of Lime, Strawberry, and Mango for $34.99 or Blue Curacao for $36.99.
All menu items, including $2 margaritas and beer bundles, can be ordered online at TacoCabana.com or via the MYTC! App for convenient curbside pick-up. TC drive-throughs are open for food and alcohol purchases and Taco Cabana dining rooms and patios are open for on-site dining as well. Members of the MYTC! Loyalty Program also earn reward points for each alcoholic beverage purchase.
Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRGI), was founded in 1978. The brand specializes in fresh Tex-Mex-inspired food including enchiladas, quesadillas, flautas, tacos, house-made flour tortillas and tortilla chips as well a selection of made-from-scratch salsas and sauces. Restaurants feature open-display cooking, a selection of beer and tequila margaritas, patio dining, drive-throughs, curbside pick-up, delivery and catering. As of June 1, 2021, Taco Cabana operates 142 company-owned restaurants in Texas.
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., owns, operates and franchises Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana® restaurant brands. The brands specialize in the operation of fast casual/quick service restaurants that offer distinct and unique flavors with broad appeal at a compelling value. The brands feature fresh-made cooking, drive-thru service and catering.
Paul Thorn grooves on new album out August 6 via Thirty Tigers. “Here We Go” is the first single out. Photo: google
Paul Thorn has created an innovative and impressive career, pleasing crowds with his muscular brand of roots music—bluesy, rocking and thoroughly Southern American, yet also speaking universal truths. Among those who value originality, inspiration, eccentricity and character—as well as talent that hovers somewhere on the outskirts of genius, the story of Paul Thorn is already familiar. Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, raised among the same spirits (and some of the actual people) who nurtured the young Elvis generations before, Paul Thorn has rambled down back roads and jumped out of airplanes, worked for years in a furniture factory, battled four-time world champion boxer Roberto Duran on national television, performed on stages with Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler, Sting, and John Prine among many others, and made some of the most emotionally restless yet fully accessible music of our time. He has appeared on major television shows, received numerous National Public Radio features and charted multiple times on the Billboard Top 100 and Americana Radio Charts. (Paul Thorn, 2021)
Fans were recently treated to the first taste of music from Never Too Late To Call, “Here We Go.” Fans can hear “Here We Go” and pre-order or pre-save Never Too Late To Call ahead of its August 6 release right here.
Never Too Late To Call opens with a song called “Two Tears Of Joy,” a slow-burn ode to life that finds Thorn naming all that he is thankful for without once coming across as cheesy or overly earnest. “It sounds a little corny to say this but I’m a 56-year-old man who has had a really blessed life,” says Thorn about the inspiration behind the tune. “I’m really grateful and thankful for everything I have and for the people I’ve met. ‘Two Tears of Joy’ is another way of simply saying I’m grateful.” A few tracks later, Thorn and his wife Heather singing a duet called “Breaking Up For Good Again.” “If you’re in any kind of long-time relationship you’ll know there will be bumps in the road and sometimes you won’t get along,” says Thorn. The song is beautifully fingerpicked and sung to perfection by the husband and wife duo who have been together long enough to know the song’s ideas well. “We’ve lived this song and had our moments,” they say. Towards the end of Never Too Late To Call listeners are treated to a pair of groovy numbers in “You Mess Around & Get A Buzz” and “Holy Hottie Toddy.” The former a cautionary tale and the latter a call to love everybody inclusively; both feel comfortable—in classic Thorn fashion—but represent the full spectrum of what this new, thoughtfully mature album has to offer.
On Never Too Late To Call, we find a mellower Paul Thorn. The wit and the – at times – humorous commentary on life’s existential questions are in evidence, but here there is a peace about his life’s journey. Or, to put it in his words, “I’ve been such a lucky boy. I’m crying two tears of joy.”
Never Too Late To Call track list: Two Tears Of Joy It’s Never Too Late To Call Sapalo Breaking Up For Good Again What I Could Do Here We Go Apple Pie Moonshine Sapphire Dream You Mess Around & Get A Buzz Goodbye Is The Last Word Holy Hottie Toddy
‘On Your Feet!’ will run from June 25 – July 18 at the Woodlawn Theatre. Photo: Woodlawn Theatre
Opening this Friday June 25 is the Woodlawn Theatre’s performance of ‘On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.’ This production will run until Sunday July 18, 2021. Tickets to the musical production that was on hold for over a year are now selling fast. Do not miss this opportunity to return to live theater with a show that will have you dancing in the aisles. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3p.m. There will be no show on July 4. There will be a special 7p.m. performance on Thursday, July 15. Due to COVID-19 seating restrictions, all tickets are general admission and must be purchased in advance, online only. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The Woodlawn Theatre Box Office is currently not conducting in-person or phone purchases. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2021)
‘On Your Feet!’ is the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan, two people who believed in their talent, their music and each other, and became an international sensation. Universally crowd-pleasing and uplifting, ‘On Your Feet!’ is a celebration of greatest hits that will have audiences dancing in the aisles. Featuring the songs “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “1-2-3,” “Live For Loving You,” “Conga,” and many more, ‘On Your Feet’ is a portrait of a legendary artist that reveals fierce determination and visionary creativity matched with the exhilarating energy of the Miami Sound Machine. Sponsored by KONO 101.1.
Director: Christopher Rodriguez Choreographer: Carla Sankey Music Director: Jaime Ramirez Assistant Choreographer: Jimmi Nelson-Reid
Cast: Gloria Estefan: Jillian Sainz Emilio Estefan: Miguel Ochoa Gloria Fajardo: Melissa Gonzalez Consuelo: Rita Duggan Jose Fajardo/Ensemble: Michael Rodriguez Rebecca Fajardo/Ensemble: Madeline Gutierrez Young Gloria: Ella Sofia Gonzalez Young Emilio/Nayib: Gavino Garcia/Ricardo Martinez
Special Community Nights: ASL Appreciation Night – Friday July 9 Pride Appreciation Night – Saturday July 3
During the run of ‘On Your Feet!’, Woodlawn Theatre is partnering with Girls Inc. SA and will be collecting in-kind donations on their behalf. Donation list includes crayons, pencil colors, washable markers (thick/thin), blunt scissors, construction paper, paint brushes, acrylic paint, glue sticks, white glue, watercolor paper, watercolor paints, glitter, pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and construction paper.
Everyone over the age of two should wear a mask and practice social distancing while at the theater, including skipping a seat in between parties. Full COVID-19 policies available HERE.
Local favorite gift shop Feliz Modern announces new retail concept. Photo: Laura Alexandra, used with permission.
Pearl is excited to announce the addition of a new retail concept opening in August 2021, Rancho Diaz. Created by Feliz Modern owners, Ginger and Mario Diaz, Rancho Diaz is a high-end eclectic edit of vintage and modern pieces that nod to a desert modern aesthetic for foodies and home decor enthusiasts. The shop will feature a rotating curation of products and designs that will appeal to locals and tourists alike. (Rancho Diaz, 2021)
The Diaz’ latest endeavor combines their design backgrounds with their love for all things Mexico and Texas, with a definite nod to the flavor of their beloved hometown. Rancho Diaz will encompass 1,600 square feet of retail space and will feature small batch vintage finds mixed with newer replicas, including home decor, kitchenware, textiles, table linens, personal handmade accessories, gifts, plants, local art, and more. Rancho Diaz will be a one-stop shop for decor, special kitchen products, at-home entertaining, and dinner parties.
Patrons can expect a shop that feels like home, featuring warm woods and with one foot planted in San Antonio and the other in markets around Mexico and the world. The shop will also feature guest pop-ups that will rotate and highlight different makers and foodie-inspired finds throughout the year.
Owners Ginger and Mario Diaz started Feliz Modern in 2017 as a brick and mortar shop in San Antonio. Feliz Modern quickly became a local favorite for bringing local art to a wider audience, opening Feliz Modern POP at Pearl in 2019. The couple’s new concept, Rancho Diaz, will be located in the Pearl at 303 Pearl Pkwy, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78215, in the space formerly occupied by Leighelena. An exact opening date will be announced soon. For more information, visit Rancho Diaz online and follow along on social media
“Rancho Diaz is based on what Mario and I have in our 1930’s home, and what we dream about putting into a desert modern home someday… The style is West without being Western, with a heavy dose of our favorite handmade pieces from Mexico and around the world. Mario is a huge foodie and home chef, and we are excited about adding that aspect to this shop since it’s located in such a food-centric place like the Pearl.” – Rancho Diaz Co-Owner Ginger Diaz.
Pearl, located north of downtown San Antonio, provides a unique experience as a top culinary and cultural destination. The mixed-use space features retail, dining, picturesque green spaces, paseos riverside amphitheater, and the third campus of The Culinary Institute of America. As a former brewery operating from 1883 to 2001, Pearl reflects a vivid past while embracing the future with environmentally sustainable buildings mixed with historic architecture.
Solar Haze’s The Solar Age will be out July 16, 2021. Photo: google
Southern California’s heavy rock / metal trio Solar Haze will release their mind altering EP The Solar Age on July 16, 2021 via Metal Assault Records. Pre-orders for The Solar Age began on June 18 and the band released their official music video for the single and EP lead off track, “The Solar Age.” In celebration of their forthcoming release, Solar Haze will perform at “Blunt Force Trauma Fest,” a virtual mini festival experience presented by Ebony Jeanette PR & Metal Assault Records streaming July 16 via YouTube. More details about the virtual festival are available online. (Solar Haze, 2021)
Solar Haze is: Guitar/Vocals/Bass Guitar: Stephen Falla Guitar: Ross Cowan Drums/Percussion: Ryan Michael Falla
The end is near, The Solar Age is here. Metal Assault Records will release the eagerly awaited EP The Solar Age from Southern California heavy rock / metal group Solar Haze on July 16, 2021. The three-track, 18-minute EP was produced by Eddie Vasquez (of San Diego based band Tzimani) and includes violent sequences that may induce frequent night-terrors and sudden mood swings which can cause bouts of severe irritability or thoughts of violence. Do not be alarmed if you receive frequent home visitations from mysterious individuals in black, phone calls from numbers with no area codes, or voices in your head that seem to be of foreign origin. These are common side effects that come with indulging in The Solar Age.
‘The Killing Hills’ is the new thriller by Chris Offutt. Photo: amazon
Chris Offutt is the author of the short-story collections “Kentucky Straight” and “Out of the Woods,” the novel “The Good Brother,” and three memoirs: “The Same River Twice,” “No Heroes,” and “My Father, the Pornographer.” His work has appeared in Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays, among many other places. He has written screenplays for Weeds, True Blood, and Treme, and has received fellowships from the Lannan and Guggenheim foundations. His new book “The Killing Hills” is a compelling, propulsive thriller in which a suspicious death exposes the loyalties and rivalries of a deep-rooted and fiercely private community in the Kentucky backwoods. (amazon, 2021)
Mick Hardin, a combat veteran now working as an Army CID agent, is home on a leave that is almost done. His wife is about to give birth, but they are not getting along. His sister, newly risen to sheriff, has just landed her first murder case, and local politicians are pushing for city police or the FBI to take the case. Are they convinced she cannot handle it, or is there something else at work? She calls on Mick who, with his homicide investigation experience and familiarity with the terrain, is well-suited to staying under the radar. As he delves into the investigation, he dodges his commanding officer’s increasingly urgent calls while attempting to head off further murders. And he needs to talk to his wife. “The Killing Hills” is a novel of betrayal―sexual, personal, within and between the clans that populate the hollers―and the way it so often shades into violence. Chris Offutt has delivered a dark, witty, and absolutely compelling novel of murder and honor, with an investigator-hero unlike any in fiction.
Suzanne Santo’s sophomore release features Gary Clark, Jr and Shakey Graves and blends Americana, Southern-gothic soul, and forward-thinking rock and roll. The first single “Bad Beast” is out now. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Yard Sale, the sophomore solo album from the now Austin, TX-based Suzanne Santo, is the musical equivalent of a homeowner’s purging of old possessions in order to clear up some much-needed room. Releasing August 27 via Soundly Music, the album marks the moment where Santo makes peace with her past and embraces a better, bolder present. A tireless creator, Santo has built her sound in the grey area between Americana, Southern-gothic soul, and forward-thinking rock & roll. It is a sound that nods to her past—a childhood spent in the Rust Belt which is also where she learned to love a yard sale; a decade logged as a member of the L.A.-based duo HoneyHoney; the acclaimed solo album, Ruby Red, of which Paste called “shameless, self-aware dialogue that opens the door for conversation that leads to real healing;” and the world tour that took her from Greece to Glastonbury as a member of Hozier’s band—while still exploring new territory. With Yard Sale, Santo boldly moves forward, staking her claim once again as an Americana innovator. It is an album inspired by the past, written by an artist who is only interested in the here-and-now. And for Suzanne Santo, the here-and-now sounds pretty good. The album’s first single “Bad Beast” is available everywhere today, listen here. Fans can pre-order or pre-save by clicking here. (Suzanne Santo, 2021)
Yard Sale finds Santo in transition, physically and emotionally. She began writing the album while touring the globe with Hozier—a gig that utilized her strengths not only as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, but also as a road warrior. Some songs were written between Hozier rehearsals, with Santo holing up in a farmhouse on the rural Irish coast, while others were finished during bus rides, backstage writing sessions, and hotel stays. Grateful for the experience but eager to return to her solo career, she finished her run with Hozier, joining the band for one final gig at Glastonbury before flying home to Los Angeles. Within three days, she was back in the studio, working with producer John Spiker on what was to become Yard Sale.
Upon returning home, Los Angeles became stale for Santo as the city is inclined to do. A partner breakup paired with the hiatus of HoneyHoney left her feeling lonely in her own home—sparking the cosmic relocation to Austin, TX—a city whose fingerprints are all over Yard Sale, thanks to appearances by hometown heroes like Gary Clark Jr. and Shakey Graves. Thus the metaphorical album title of Yard Sale became literal with a cross country move and the emotional unpacking and shedding that happens when life in a new city, with a new love, beckons.
The album presents Santo at the very top of her game musically, writing her own string arrangements and singing each song in an agile, acrobatic voice—perhaps in part due to the cathartic making-of process and what that has meant for her professionally and personally. At times she bridges the gap between indie-rock and neo-soul. On other tracks, she mixes gospel influences with a deconstructed R&B beat. Fans will hear layers of spacey, atmospheric electric guitar and Shakey Graves on a rainy-day ballad driven forward by a metronomic drum pattern, and Gary Clark punctuating with fiery fretwork.
Of the album as a whole, Santo says, “I’m into the emotional concept of what a yard sale really is. This record is about the things I’ve left behind and the things I’ve held onto. I was broken up with while writing the record. I fell in love again while writing the record. And I learned to fearlessly follow my gut, in all places of my life, while making this record.”
Yard Sale track listing: Over and Over Again Mercy Gold Rush Save For Love Bad Beast Since I Had Your Love Afraid Of Heights Fall For That Common Sense To No End Idiot Island
On tour: July 5-6 – The RIDE Festival – Telluride, CO August 26 – Album release show @ Antone’s – Austin, TX September 8 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY November 5 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT* November 6 – Big Night Live – Boston, MA* November 7 – Colony – Woodstock, NY November 10 – Southern – Charlottesville, VA* November 11 – Black Cat – Washington, DC* November 12 – Otto Bar – Baltimore, MD* November 13 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA* November 14 – Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights, OH* November 16 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL* *with Murder By Death
JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Tx. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Need some last minute Father’s Day gift ideas? Show Dad some love this Father’s Day and treat him to a weekend at the stunning, 13,000-acre JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora Texas. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)
Families can celebrate Dad with a gourmet brunch from JL Bar’s expert culinary team on Sunday, June 20, with two exclusive seatings between 10a.m. – 2p.m. (locals and day visitors can book, too). For $39.95 and $12.95 for children, guests and locals will be treated to a special menu of signatures dishes including Brisket Eggs Benedict, Southern Style Chicken Fried Steak, and Chef Carved Mesquite Smoked Rack of Pork. There will be two reservations on The Ranch from 10a.m. – 11:30a.m. and 12:30p.m. – 2p.m. with limited seating for both.
For those lucky enough to stay for the weekend, there is an activity for every type of Father. From a full equestrian program featuring horseback riding and a horse psychology experience to off-road ATV adventures, a putting/chipping Green, and clay and skeet shooting, families will be able to make many memorable moments at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa.
‘My Heart Is a Chainsaw’ by Stephen Graham Jones will be out August 31, 2021. Photo: amazon
Stephen Graham Jones is The New York Times bestselling author of “The Only Good Indians.” He has been an NEA fellowship recipient, has won the Jesse Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction, a Bram Stoker Award, four This is Horror Awards; and has been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and the World Fantasy Award. He is the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder. His new book “My Heart Is a Chainsaw” is due out August 31 and available for pre-order now on amazon. On the surface it is a story of murder in small-town America, but beneath is its beating heart: a biting critique of American colonialism, Indigenous displacement and gentrification, and a heartbreaking portrait of a broken young girl who uses horror movies to cope with the horror of her own life. (amazon, 2021)
“My Heart Is a Chainsaw” – Jade Daniels is an angry, half-Indian outcast with an abusive father, an absent mother, and an entire town that wants nothing to do with her. She lives in her own world, a world in which protection comes from an unusual source: horror movies…especially the ones where a masked killer seeks revenge on a world that wronged them. And Jade narrates the quirky history of Proofrock as if it is one of those movies. But when blood actually starts to spill into the waters of Indian Lake, she pulls us into her dizzying, encyclopedic mind of blood and masked murderers, and predicts exactly how the plot will unfold.
Yet, even as Jade drags us into her dark fever dream, a surprising and intimate portrait emerges…a portrait of the scared and traumatized little girl beneath the Jason Voorhees mask: angry, yes, but also a girl who easily cries, fiercely loves, and desperately wants a home. A girl whose feelings are too big for her body. “My Heart Is a Chainsaw” is her story, her homage to horror and revenge and triumph.
Amazing Radio celebrates World Music Day with genre-jumping and globe-spanning programming on June 21. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In the spirit of legendary border blasting jockey Wolfman Jack and renowned longtime BBC Radio One DJ John Peel, Amazing Radio’s mission, in its simplest form, is to turn listeners on to amazing music and support the musicians making it. Part curated music discovery platform and part artist-friendly incubator, Amazing Radio was the first to spin Alt-J, Haim, The 1975, Dua Lipa, and many more, and on June 21—World Music Day—the team at Amazing Radio will spend the day sharing songs created by artists from over 100 countries around the globe. Throughout the day, listeners will hear playlists packed with artists from Amazing Radio’s incredible indie-spirited roster, compiled and played by a few of Amazing’s finest DJs; Mike Savage, Charlie Ashcroft, and Dominick Martinez. In an official statement, Amazing Radio has encouraged listeners to “Hear music of all genres, and learn about what could be your next favorite act!” DJ shows will begin at 3p.m. Eastern/Noon Pacific on Monday June 21, 2021. Listen all day online. (Amazing Radio, 2021)
Special DJ shows: Mike Savage – 3p.m. Eastern/Noon Pacific Charlie Ashcroft – 7p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific Dominick Martinez – 9p.m. Eastern/6p.m. Pacific
Amazing America is a US-based music business 100% focused on helping new and emerging musicians. It operates Amazing Radio and CMJ, which together have more than fifty years’ experience of helping the world’s best new musicians get the break they deserve.
Mike Savage is the Director, Talent & Programming for amazing and hosts Amazing Radio USA’s “Amazing USA Chart Show.” He is a 25-year music business veteran with a well-rounded knowledge of the music, entertainment, broadcasting, and new media industries. Prior to joining amazing, Savage was the Los Angeles-based Artist and Partner Relations Manager for TuneCore, where he contributed to the digital distribution company’s record-breaking year of client growth. Mike has held on-air and programming positions on terrestrial radio stations in major markets including New York, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and for several years was the host of the internationally-syndicated “World Chart Show” for Radio Express.
Charlie Ashcroft is based in London, England and has been on air in the UK at Amazing Radio since joining the station in 2009. Away from his radio work with Amazing, he oversees BT TV’s SVOD content, curates playlists, runs an indie club night called ‘Somebody Told Me,’ and writes a monthly column for Record Collector Magazine.
Dominick Martinez is a music lover living in Austin, Texas. He has spent years as a touring musician, working in music venues and festivals, as well as documenting live music through photography – all while maintaining a passion for discovering new sounds near and far from home. Since joining Amazing Radio USA in the spring of 2021, Dominick has found a new way to discover and share emerging artists from across the globe. Join Dominick on World Music Day to hear from incredible artists all around the world on Amazing Radio USA.
“The talent that’s been uploading music to the Amazing Radio website is incredible. We’re really excited to put a spotlight on so many great new artists from so many different parts of the world. Metal from Serbia, pop from Israel, indie-garage-rock from Italy, we’ve even found a British artist of Asian descent, living in Spain and working with a Colombian producer—how’s that for an international act! This will be a really great day of music discovery, and reinforces our mantra: Amazing Radio is where talent gets noticed.” -Mike Savage, Director of Talent & Programming.
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