The first annual Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival will take place on October 22, 2021 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Photo: Circle Drive-In, used with permission.
Calling all horror movie fans and drive-in movie enthusiasts. The Frankenstein Monster from 1971’s cult classic Dracula vs Frankenstein will be returning from the dead after a 50-year rest, courtesy of makeup effects artist Roy Knyrim of Sota FX Studio. The man-made monster will be making a live appearance as Sam Sherman’s Retro Road Show Drive-In Tour returns to the State of Pennsylvania with two back-to-back screenings of the Al Adamson cult classics, Dracula vs Frankenstein (1971) and Brain of Blood (1971). Both films will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary, on October 22, 2021 as part of the First Annual Blood-o-Rama Shock Festival at the Circle Drive-In in Scranton, PA. (Circle Drive-In, 2021)
Gates open at 4p.m. for this special event which will feature a local community blood drive and an opportunity to see the resurrected Frankenstein’s monster before the sun sets. The film festival begins at 6p.m. The night will also feature two other blood-soaked movies, The Mad Doctor of Blood Island and Beast of Blood, during the evening’s film program, as well as an opportunity to experience the Circle Drive-In’s spooky Halloween haunt, The Circle of Screams. Do not be surprised if another creature, The Beast of Blood, shows up to meet and greet fans during the evening’s drive-in festivities with free Zombie swizzle sticks. In addition, the first 100 cars that arrive at the drive-in will receive a free “Drac Pack,” which includes a plastic Dracula ring and plastic vampire fangs. (Note: One “Drac Pack” per car.)
The idea for the Circle Drive-In’s Blood-o-Rama Shock Festival, the drive-in blood drive and blood themed movie event was based on producer/distributor Sam Sherman’s packaging and marketing campaigns for Hemisphere Pictures during the early 1970s, entitled The Chiller Carnival of Blood and the Blood-O-Rama Shock Festival. A number of the films Mr. Sherman worked on emphasized the word “Blood” in the title to lure “blood-thirsty” horror and gore fans to seek the films out at their local theatre or drive-in. Some of the film campaigns and titles Sherman worked on include Blood Creature, The Blood Drinkers, Brides of Blood, Blood of Dracula’s Castle, Horror of the Blood Monsters, Hell’s Blood Devils, and Blood of Ghastly Horror. In fact, it was Mr. Sherman who was the brains behind the classic drive-in campaign and audience-participation gimmick called “The Oath of Green Blood” for the Tiki creature feature, The Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1968), which is part of the festival. Mr. Sherman, a drive-in movie pioneer, just completed his memoir “When Dracula Met Frankenstein,” (Murania Press) which will be available in limited supply at the Circle Drive-In.
Circle Drive-In Theatre has continually been running since September 10, 1949, making it one of the longest running drive-ins in America. The Circle Drive-In Theater operates from the spring to fall each year, showing first-run features and retro classics.
The tenth annual festival returns November 5-7, 2021. Photo: google
Tickets are on sale now for the tenth annual Austin Food + Wine Festival taking place November 5-7, 2021. Presented by FOOD & WINE Magazine and C3 Presents, Austin Food + Wine Festival is proud to be the benefactor of the Austin Food & Wine Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in the Central Texas food and wine community through grants, educational programming and events. To date, Austin Food + Wine Festival has contributed over $1.1 million to the Alliance. (Austin Food + Wine Festival, 2021)
The tenth annual festival will feature chefs, restaurants and wine and spirits experts over three days at Auditorium Shores and the newly refurbished Republic Square Park. Festival highlights include the return of Friday night’s Grillin’ and Chillin’ hands-on, interactive dinner party hosted by chef Tim Love; fan favorite Rock Your Taco competition on Saturday night featuring several first-time competitors and James Beard Foundation Award nominees and winners; engaging cooking demonstrations + conversations; pit masters and chefs cooking over interactive Fire Pits; samples of signature dishes from local chefs and restaurants; dynamic wine, beer & cocktail tastings; live music; book signings; and much more. Showcasing a dynamic roster of chefs and restaurants throughout the weekend, attendees can sample signature dishes from some of Austin’s most beloved spots. Additional programming announcements will be made over the course of the fall. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.
Grillin’ and Chillin’, Tim Love’s ultimate hands-on grilling dinner party hosted at Auditorium Shores, kicks off the Festival on Friday, November 5. This interactive party offers All-In ticket holders the opportunity to sharpen their skills as they join chef Love for a fun and informative evening of hands-on grilling, drinks and dinner, all underneath the Austin skyline. Grillin’ and Chillin’ attendees will share a charcoal grill with a partner and prepare their own dinner as chef Love guides them through the menu while offering tips for how to become a grilling expert. Grillin’ and Chillin’ is exclusively included with the All-In ticket and will be the only time that the hands-on grilling demonstration will be offered throughout the weekend.
On Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7, the festival grounds will come alive with cooking demonstrations, book signings and an interactive area where chefs and pit masters will cook over live fire pits and offer tastes to attendees throughout the weekend. The fire pits will showcase live fire cooking expertise from John Bates (InterStellar BBQ); Sonya Coté (Hillside Farmacy, Store House Market + Eatery); Lance Kirkpatrick (Stiles Switch BBQ); Tom Micklethwait & Ren Garcia (Micklethwait Craft Meats); Marco Oglesby (The Switch); and more pit masters and chefs to be announced.
Festival attendees keen on learning from the pros can listen in as a host of chefs and authors, including Dawn Burrell (Late August, Houston); Helene Henderson (Malibu Farm); Fermín Núñez (Suerte); Yoshi Okai (Otoko); and Jam Sanitchat share their tricks, tips and favorite recipes during Cooking Demos and conversations. A roster of sommeliers, wine, beer and spirits experts to be announced will help round out the Austin Food + Wine Festival line-up.
Rock Your Taco, Saturday evening’s signature tasting event, returns to a newly renovated Republic Square Park. Chefs will square off against one another to create the ultimate taco, as deemed by a People’s Choice award. Rock Your Taco competitors include: Tatsu Aikawa (Ramen Tatsu-Ya); Nicola Blaque (Mi Roti, The Jerk Shack, San Antonio); Dawn Burrell; Tyson Cole (Uchi); Diego Galicia & Rico Torres (Mixtli, San Antonio); Sarah Heard & Nathan Lemley (Foreign & Domestic); Helene Henderson; LeAnn Mueller (la Barbecue); Ryan Pera (Eight Row Flint, Houston); Jam Sanitchat; Charles Schlienger (Sway); and more chefs and restaurants to be announced.
Detailed health and entry policies will be released closer to the event. Please visit Vaccines for questions about the COVID-19 vaccines or resources to find a vaccination location.
Tickets: All-In ($625/per person) The All-In ticket includes Saturday and Sunday Festival access; interactive cooking demos & book signings; hands-on beer, wine and cocktail tasting sessions; wood-fired culinary creations from the Fire Pits; tastes from Austin’s best chefs & restaurants; Friday night’s Grillin’ and Chillin’ with Tim Love; Saturday night’s signature Rock Your Taco competition; and more.
Weekender ($250/per person) The Weekender ticket includes Saturday and Sunday Festival access; interactive cooking demos & book signings; hands-on beer, wine and cocktail tasting sessions; wood-fired culinary creations from the Fire Pits; tastes from Austin’s best chefs & restaurants; and more.
The Austin Food + Wine Festival is generously sponsored by Toyota, HEB, Republic National Distributing Company, Angry Orchard Hard Cider and FOOD & WINE.
For more than 40 years, from classic to cutting-edge, FOOD & WINE has defined the American epicurean experience. With the confidence of undisputed global authority among consumers and the culinary trade, we inspire and empower our wine and food obsessed community to discover, create, and devour the best in food, drink, travel, and home.
Slow River Blend Whiskey will be available in bars and liquor stores throughout Texas and for nationwide shipping staring September 15, 2021. Photo: Bahnbrëcker, used with permission.
Country star Randy Rogers and co-founders Eric Chase, Cary Schindler, Ash Wineinger, Michael Devers along with spirits-industry veteran Steve Luttmann, are excited to announce the launch of their new spirits brand, Bahnbrëcker, based in New Braunfels, TX. Bahnbrëcker will enter the marketplace with Slow River Blend, the first-ever Hefeweizen-style whiskey. Slow River Blend will be available in bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout Texas, as well as for nationwide shipping, starting September 15, 2021. (Bahnbrëcker, 2021)
Bahnbrëcker, derived from ‘trailblazer’ in German, is a nod to the company’s hometown of New Braunfels, TX, and to the spirit of ingenuity found in the early pioneers of Texas. Slow River Blend is a blend of Texas and Midwestern straight wheat whiskeys macerated with lemon peel and clove. The end product features notes of lemon, clove, caramel, and vanilla, making it reminiscent of a Hefeweizen-style beer. Inspired by an ideal Texas summer day spent floating down the river in New Braunfels, this unpretentious craft whiskey is designed for easy drinking and a smooth finish. Tastes great neat, on the rocks, or with your favorite mixer or soda. Bahnbrëcker is a truly craft spirit made with only real ingredients, and is completely “WONF-free” (i.e., no “With Other Natural Flavors”).
With two Top 10 hits and multiple albums hitting the country charts, Randy Rogers has already distinguished himself in his hometown of New Braunfels, but along with his fellow co-founders, the Texas musician decided the time was right to leave another legacy in the historic Hill Country city.
“We wanted to create something that the people who came before us in this great community of New Braunfels would be proud of. I think you’re going to find that this craft whiskey distinguishes itself from others. Slow River Blend gives you this aroma, it gives you this flavor of the lemon and the clove blended with your whiskey that creates this Hefeweizen taste, this Hefeweizen spirit that is the spirit of New Braunfels.” – Co-Founder Randy Rogers
Bahnbrëcker Slow River Blend will be available throughout Texas starting September 15, 2021, including top venues such as Pour Haus, Freiheit Country Store, Cheatham Street Warehouse, Nutty Brown Café, and Nickel City. The brand will also be available to purchase in 750 ml bottles throughout Texas at all Total Wine & Spirits and Skip’s locations, and other locations starting September 15, 2021 for a suggested retail price starting at $37.99 per bottle. RNDC is Bahnbrëcker’s exclusive distributor for the State of Texas. The whiskey will also be available for nationwide shipping starting September 15, 2021. While this marks the brand’s first and only product to date, Bahnbrëcker has plans to expand with additional spirits offerings in the future.
An eclectic group of New Braunfels friends wanted to pay tribute to their unique Texas town founded by German pioneers in 1845 where the Comal and Guadalupe rivers meet. What better way to capture the spirit of New Braunfels they thought, than with an easy drinking craft whiskey. They called it Bahnbrëcker, meaning ‘trailblazer’ in German, and like New Braunfels, it is a quirky combination of German engineering and Texan swagger. Slow River Blend, the first product to launch, is a smooth Hefeweizen-Style Whiskey distilled from Texan and Midwestern winter wheats with notes of lemon peel, clove, caramel, and vanilla. Co-founded by Randy Rogers, Eric Chase, Cary Schindler, Ash Wineinger, Michael Devers, and spirits-industry veteran Steve Luttmann.
‘Cloud Cuckoo Land’ by Anthony Doerr. Photo: amazon
A new month means new books on the horizon. These are some notable new releases for the month of September in my favorite categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, History & Biography, Mystery & Thriller, Science fiction, Fantasy, and Historical fiction. If I could pick just one this month, it would be “The All-Consuming World” by Cassandra Khaw because the topics of artificial intelligence and robots fascinate me. (amazon, Goodreads, 2021)
Fiction: “Cloud Cuckoo Land” by Anthony Doerr Release date: September 28, 2021 Thirteen-year-old Anna, an orphan, lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople in a house of women who make their living embroidering the robes of priests. Restless and insatiably curious, Anna learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds a book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. This she reads to her ailing sister as the walls of the only place she has known are bombarded in the great siege of Constantinople. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, miles from home, drafted with his beloved oxen into the invading army. His path and Anna’s will cross. Five hundred years later, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon’s story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege. And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father. She has never set foot on our planet.
Nonfiction: “Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters” by Steven Pinker Release date: September 28, 2021 In the 21st century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding–and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, medical quackery, and conspiracy theorizing? Pinker rejects the cynical cliche that humans are an irrational species–cavemen out of time saddled with biases, fallacies, and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and discovered the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains that we think in ways that are sensible in the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning our best thinkers have discovered over the millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, correlation and causation, and optimal ways to update beliefs and commit to choices individually and with others. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book–until now.
History & Biography: “True Raiders: The Untold Story of the 1909 Expedition to Find the Legendary Ark of the Covenant” by Brad Ricca Release date: September 21, 2021 This book tells the untold true story of Monty Parker, a British rogue nobleman who, after being dared to do so by Ava Astor, the so-called “most beautiful woman in the world,” headed a secret 1909 expedition to find the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Like a real-life version of Raiders of the Lost Ark, this incredible story of adventure and mystery has almost been completely forgotten today. In 1908, Monty is approached by a strange Finnish scholar named Valter Juvelius who claims to have discovered a secret code in the Bible that reveals the location of the Ark. Monty assembles a ragtag group of blueblood adventurers, a renowned psychic, and a Franciscan father, to engage in a secret excavation just outside the city walls of Jerusalem.
Mystery & Thriller: “My Sweet Girl” by Amanda Jayatissa Release date: September 14, 2021 Paloma thought her perfect life would begin once she was adopted and made it to America, but she is about to find out that no matter how far you run, your past always catches up to you. Ever since she was adopted from a Sri Lankan orphanage, Paloma has had the best of everything—schools, money, and parents so perfect that she fears she will never live up to them. Now at thirty years old and recently cut off from her parents’ funds, she decides to sublet the second bedroom of her overpriced San Francisco apartment to Arun, who recently moved from India. Paloma has to admit, it feels good helping someone find their way in America—that is until Arun discovers Paloma’s darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her own fragile place in this country.
Science fiction: “The All-Consuming World” by Cassandra Khaw Release date: September 7, 2021 A diverse team of broken, diminished former criminals get back together to solve the mystery of their last, disastrous mission and to rescue a missing and much-changed comrade, but they are not the only ones in pursuit of the secret at the heart of the planet Dimmuborgir. The highly-evolved AI of the universe have their own agenda and will do whatever it takes to keep humans from ever controlling the universe again. This band of dangerous women, half-clone and half-machine, must battle their own traumas and a universe of sapient ageships who want them dead, in order to settle their affairs once and for all.
Fantasy: “The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina” by Zoraida Córdova Release date: September 7, 2021 The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch never leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptisms. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed, leaving them with more questions than answers. Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly’s daughter, Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what is left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, the four descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked back.
Historical fiction: “Matrix” by Lauren Groff Release date: September 7, 2021 Cast out of the royal court by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, seventeen-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease. At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. In this crucible, Marie steadily supplants her desire for family, for her homeland, for the passions of her youth with something new to her: devotion to her sisters, and a conviction in her own divine visions. Marie, born the last in a long line of women warriors and crusaders, is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects. But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie’s vision be bulwark enough?
‘Rock Paper Scissors’ is the new novel by Alice Feeney. Photo: amazon
Alice Feeney is a bestselling author and journalist. Her debut novel “Sometimes I Lie” was an international bestseller and has been translated into over twenty languages. She spent fifteen years with BBC News where she worked as a reporter, news editor, arts and entertainment producer, and One O’Clock news producer. Alice has lived in London and Sydney and has now settled in the Surrey countryside, where she lives with her husband and dog. In her new novel “Rock Paper Scissors,” things have been wrong with Mr. and Mrs. wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. It will be released on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. (amazon, 2021)
“Rock Paper Scissors” – Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He cannot recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts–paper, cotton, pottery, tin–and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they did not randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone does not want them to live happily ever after. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget. “Rock Paper Scissors” is the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist, bestselling author Alice Feeney.
‘Me (Moth)’ is the debut YA novel by Amber McBride. Photo: amazon
Amber McBride teaches English literature at Northern Virginia Community College and has a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. Her work has been published in Ploughshares, Provincetown Arts, Decomp, and more. “Me (Moth),” her debut YA novel-in-verse, is about a teen girl who is grieving the deaths of her family, and a teen boy who crosses her path. (amazon, 2021)
“Me (Moth)” – Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted. Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. If he knows more about where he comes from, maybe he will be able to understand his ongoing depression. And if Moth can help him feel grounded, then perhaps she too will discover the history she carries in her bones. Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable. Here is an exquisite and uplifting novel about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe.
Malison will release Death’s Embrace on September 3, 2021. Photo: google
New album releases are coming next month from Metal Assault Records. These are the September heavy hitters that are releasing new music: Malison, Dawn Fades, and The Blue Prison. See descriptions below. (Metal Assault Records, 2021)
Malison – Death’s Embrace Metal Assault Records Release date: September 3, 2021
Created in 2014, Malison is reaching the heavy metal community with clean vocals and a unique amalgamation of speed, shred and harmony. The band released their first, self-titled album via the legendary Combat Records and embarked on a Southwestern tour in support. Since then, they have become a staple of San Diego metal shows and have toured the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Malison is ready to release their second album featuring a stable and hungry line-up, as well as a new set of thrashing and melodic songs.
Malison is: Steven Rondina (vocals, bass) Mario Lovio (guitar) Nick Mafi (drums) Eddie Spade (guitar)
Blending together the best elements of traditional heavy metal, thrash, power metal and neoclassical shred, San Diego, California quartet Malison capture the energy and fury of their live show onto their newest full length studio album, Death’s Embrace. Recorded at San Diego based Plaudit Studios, the new album will be released by Metal Assault Records on physical and digital formats on September 3, 2021. Pre-orders for the album and merch bundles are available online.
Dawn Fades – Ode Metal Assault Records Release date: September 10, 2021
Los Angeles CA post-metal group Dawn Fades will release their sophomore album Ode on September 10, 2021. Ode will be available on vinyl, CD and all digital platforms via Metal Assault Records. The single and music video for “Taste” is available here. Pre-order can be place online.
Comprising six songs spanning ethereal experimentation and crushing heaviness, Ode shows a band unshaken by the time away from the stage, more resolute in their vision and execution. Mixed by heavy music mainstay Josh Newell (Intronaut, Anthrax, Linkin Park), the album manages to be more mature and rawer than their critically acclaimed self-titled 2019 debut. Retaining the core elements of their highly successful debut, Dawn Fades takes their musical evolution to the next level on Ode, undoubtedly leaving an even stronger impression on listeners.
Frontman and songwriter Sam Sherwood says the album is “a picture of feelings about the trappings of the world we find ourselves in.” The band also includes Scott Rosenquist on drums, Markus Erren Pardiñas on 8-string bass, and Nate Hertweck on guitar. LA Weekly describes Dawn Fades as “a mashup of Deftones and Neurosis, with hints of Eyehategod and Enslaved.” Ode will be available everywhere September 10, 2021.
Ode track listing: 1. Dearth (8:17) 2. Taste (5:11) 3. Ode: Part 1 (1:51) 4. Ode: Part 2 (5:56) 5. Front (6:57) 6. Chains (8:36) 7. Turning (3:23) Total Runtime: 40:11
The Blue Prison – The Blue Prison Metal Assault Records Release date: September 17, 2021
Instrumental progressive metal duo The Blue Prison have filmed their first ever official music video and are streaming “Kaleidoscope” from their upcoming self-titled album now. Watch and listen to “Kaleidoscope” here.
Slated for release September 17, 2021 on Metal Assault Records, The Blue Prison will be available on digipack CD and on all digital music platforms along with exclusive merch bundles. Pre-orders for the anticipated debut launched today and can be accessed on The Blue Prison bandcamp page. All pre-orders include an instant download of “Kaleidoscope.
The Blue Prison is: Keigo Yoshida (guitar) Jaime Munoz (drums)
Through four EPs and one single released over the past six years, The Blue Prison has presented a stellar blend of sweeping progressive metal patterns, heavy dissonant guitar riffs, groovy rhythms, as well as shades of jazz fusion and ambient music. Their full length debut explores all of these elements and more. The Blue Prison is a multifaceted collection of melodic music that is heavy as hell and teeming with technical prowess and compelling musicianship.
The Blue Prison track listing: 1. Beacon (1:22) 2. Alchemist (4:57) 3. Shadows (5:27) 4. Artemis (3:34) 5. Kaleidoscope (4:28) 6. River (1:30) 7. Tyrant (4:16) 8. Vengeance v2.0 (5:35) 9. Los Angeles (3:23) 10. Rosetta (3:50)
A Thousand Turns, The Delevantes’ first album of new music in twenty years, will be out September 17 on Moon River Records. Photo: google
On the precipice of brothers Bob and Mike Delevante helping define a new collective genre of music, Rolling Stone once said “The Delevantes deliver a broad view of the American musical crossroad where country and rock meet and, in this case, become one.” To put it simply, The Delevantes—along with contemporaries like Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Son Volt, the Jayhawks, and Whiskeytown—were right in the middle of it all when the term “Americana” started getting thrown around in regards to music. Now, after two decades since their last album, The Delevantes find themselves releasing new music into a thriving international scene of the roots-meets-rock-meets-country sound they helped pioneer. On September 17, Bob and Mike are releasing The Delevantes’ A Thousand Turns, a full-length album produced by The Delevantes, long-term production partner and founding member of E Street Band, Garry Tallent, and multi-instrumentalist, Dave Coleman. Fans can hear the album’s first single, “Little By Little,” right now and pre-order or pre-save A Thousand Turns right here. (The Delevantes, 2021)
Opening with a jungle-y drum beat and jangle-y guitars, “Little By Little” is a feel good tune, celebrating life’s perseverance—purposeful or not. Born and raised in a working-class New Jersey family, the brothers’ dynamic harmonies evoke classic duos like The Everly Brothers and The Louvin Brothers before them, and The Avett Brothers and Fleet Foxes after.
The Delevantes debut album, Long About That Time, was released by Rounder Records to considerable critical acclaim in 1995. Garry Tallent, long-time bass player in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, co-produced the record. A growing fanbase creating a buzz, hits on the new Gavin Americana radio chart, and a memorable roots-rockin’ performance at SXSW in Austin helped the Delevantes seal a major label deal with Capitol Records. Their second album and major label debut Postcards From Along The Way, was again co-produced by Tallent.
Tallent is back yet again as co-producer on A Thousand Turns. In 2019, Bob and Mike Delevante returned to New Jersey to open for Southside Johnny, joined by Bruce Springsteen and Tallent, at the legendary Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Performing together again sparked new creative energy. With an invitation from Nashville’s Blackbird Academy to record, the brothers reunited with bandmates Tallent and Bryan Owings. The sessions gave birth to A Thousand Turns, produced by the Delevantes, Garry Tallent and Dave Coleman, and mixed by Mixmaster Bill Schnee.
A Thousand Turns Track list: All In All Little By Little Short Bed Blues The Rain’s Been Falling Come And Go The Light Of Your Eyes If You Let It Dear Kate Deeper Shade Of Blue Every Sunset This Old House The Junkman A Lot On My Mind I See
‘Such a Quiet Place’ is the new suspense novel by Megan Miranda. Photo: amazon
Megan Miranda is The New York Times bestselling author of “All the Missing Girls,” “The Perfect Stranger,” and “The Last House Guest,” a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. She has also written several books for young adults, including “Come Find Me,” “Fragments of the Lost,” and “The Safest Lies.” She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Her new book “Such a Quiet Place” is a riveting suspense novel about a mysterious murder in an idyllic and close-knit neighborhood. (amazon, 2021)
“Such a Quiet Place” – Welcome to Hollow’s Edge – a picture-perfect neighborhood where everyone has each other’s backs. At least, that is how it used to be, until the night Brandon and Fiona Truett were found dead. Two years ago, branded a grifter, thief and sociopath by her friends and neighbors, Ruby Fletcher was convicted of murdering the Truetts. Now, freed by mistrial, Ruby has returned to Hollow’s Edge. But why would she come back? No one wants her there, least of all her old housemate, Harper Nash. As Ruby’s return sends shockwaves through the community, terrified residents turn on each other, and it soon becomes clear that not everyone was honest about the night the Truetts died. When Harper begins to receive threatening, anonymous notes, she realizes she has to uncover the truth before someone else gets hurt. Someone like her.
UTSA Whataburger Resource Room at UTSA Main Campus Ribbon Cutting. Left to Right: LaTonya (LT) Robinson, Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA); Whataguy; Dash Blaker, Director of Community Experience and Public Relations, Whataburger; Herb Ganey, Executive Director of the Student Union at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA); Rowdy the Roadrunner; Melba Harris, Manager, Media & Community Experience, Whataburger; and Eric Cooper, President & CEO, San Antonio Food Bank. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
As part of the Whataburger Feeding Student Success program, this rebranded, student-operated resource room provides nutritious food, toiletries, and other basic needs to help UTSA students succeed on their college journey. This is all made possible by Whataburger’s three-year commitment to support this resource room. With the help from the San Antonio Food Bank, nutritious food, free of charge, is now available again year-round. The UTSA Whataburger Resource Room is open to all UTSA students. A similar Whataburger resource room also operates at the UTSA Downtown Campus.
Since 1950 when Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a small roadside burger stand in Corpus Christi, Whataburger has focuses on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service. Today, the company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 850 locations across its 14-state footprint, and sales of more than $2.8 billion annually. Whataburger has 50,000 Family Members (employees) and more than 60 million customers who like to customize their Whataburgers just the way they like it.
UTSA Whataburger Resource Room at UTSA’s main campus. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
SA Examiner 