‘Ranger Danger, Pt. 2’ is the first single from the Austin punk-metal band’s debut album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Austin band MoonKill recently shared the lead singlefrom their forthcoming debut album via New Noise Magazine. (MoonKill, 2024)
MoonKillplays untethered Texas Punk, inserting ambient spacey sounds and new-wave tension into a punk world that is difficult to pin down. Vocalist Dan Aronov croons and howls with the powerful pipes of young Glenn Danzig, while the rest of the band blasts out tight and infectious melodic, metallic punk rock. Together throughout the album, the band harnesses simplicity to powerful effect.
MoonKill materialized in a T-shirt factory, which doubled as an after-hours practice space, in Austin, TX. The quartet all connected for a random jam session in May 2022. The drummer was the lynchpin in a network of friends, which included a guitarist who lived in a trailer in his driveway at the time. The first session produced their initial song “Long Line to Hell” and they have been growing their queue of Texas Punk songs ever since.
The band self-produced a 3 song EP, The Kong Sessions, in the loft of their friend’s screen-printing shop. After presenting it to producer/engineer Roky Moon (of American Sharks), he offered to produce their debut album, which was completed in February 2024. They played their first live show in September 2023, to a packed house, and began a relentless live show schedule.
Since then, others have taken notice, including their growing fan base in and around Austin. Their EP gained notice from music critics, including Greg Kot, (Chicago Tribune) who featured “Dead Holiday” on his syndicated show, Sound Opinions.
MoonKill will be available to stream and download on May 3, 2024. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
The special version of the beloved film and Broadway show will debut in San Antonio for the first time. Photo: Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, used with permission.
Go back to school with the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio and their first-ever musical production, the smart and ferociously funny Mean Girls JR. Premiering Friday, April 5 at the Dance Center of San Antonio’s brand-new Black Box Theatre, the production adapts Tina Fey’s iconic movie and subsequent Broadway smash hit for audiences of all ages, presented by a cast of the region’s finest young performers. (Children’s Ballet of San Antonio, 2024)
Mean Girls JR. tells the story of student Cady Heron who must learn to navigate the treacherous social hierarchy of high school when her family moves to suburban Illinois from Kenya. Cady may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her new school. How will this naive newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on “The Plastics,” a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a queen bee without getting stung.
Showtimes: Friday, April 5 at 7:30p.m., Saturday, April 6 at 7:30p.m., Sunday, April 7 at 2p.m. and 6p.m. Tickets: $20, available for purchase online
Mean Girls JR. is a version of the hit musical Mean Girls that has been adapted for performance by students. The musical, featuring a book by Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), and music by composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), was adapted from Fey’s 2004 film. Mean Girls opened on Broadway in 2018 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards.
The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio and its sponsor school, the Dance Center of San Antonio, are the leading providers of youth dance instruction and performance opportunities in the region. In less than 10 years, CBSA performers and Dance Center students have won numerous international awards and world-renowned scholarships, and founder Vanessa Bessler is a nine-time consecutive winner of Youth America Grand Prix’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The Dance Center was recently recognized as among the top 2.5 percent of dance institutions in the nation. Local audiences delight in CBSA’s biannual professional-grade performances held in San Antonio’s top theatres. Now CBSA is pleased to bring another performing arts opportunity to San Antonio with this Broadway-style musical, the first show to be held in the Dance Center of San Antonio’s new venue, the Black Box Theatre.
Among the stunningly talented CBSA cast are Valeria Velasco as Regina and Madison Aikens as Cady, both committed students of the Dance Center of San Antonio’s Musical Theater day program. Aikens recently won Best Performer in a Musical at the 2023 Broadway World Austin awards. Velasco, is a member of the Texas Cultural Trust’s Young Masters Program, a prestigious scholarship program recognizing excellence in the performing arts. These stars and their CBSA cast members are supported by an experienced production team including specialists in vocal performance, choreography, and theater direction.
The interactive, multimedia production is the perfect show to debut in the new Black Box Theatre at the Dance Center of San Antonio, an intimate performance venue in North Central San Antonio. “The close proximity of the audience allows for intimate and interactive shows,” says Bessler. “Because the black box theatre allows for multiple configurations and settings, it gives young performers the opportunity to play with and explore the space to make creative artistic choices.”
Mean Girls JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 70,000 professional, community and school theatres.
Mean Girls JR. is yet another example of the Children’s Ballet of San Antonio’s ambitious vision for youth performing arts. Don’t miss your chance to see San Antonio’s young stars in action as they dance and sing their hearts out in the city’s coziest new theatre.
The Black Box Theatre at Dance Center of San Antonio 126 West Rector Drive, Suite 120 San Antonio, Texas 78216
‘Ghost Station,’ the new horror novel by S.A. Barnes will be released April 9, 2024. Photo: Amazon
S.A. Barnes works in a high school library by day, recommending reads, talking with students, and removing the occasional forgotten cheese-stick-as-bookmark. The author has published numerous novels across different genres, but “Dead Silence” is the first published as S. A. Barnes. She writes YA and romance under Stacey Kade. Barnes lives in Illinois with more dogs and books than is advisable and a very patient spouse. In her upcoming new horror novel, “Ghost Station,” a crew must try to survive on an ancient, abandoned planet. It will be released on April 9, 2024 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. (Amazon, 2024)
“Ghost Station” – An abandoned plant. A hidden past. A deadly danger.
Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS—the most famous case of which resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. It’s personal to her, and when she’s assigned to a small exploration crew who recently suffered the tragic death of a colleague, she wants to help. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.
And Ophelia’s crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizers’ hasty departure than opening up to her.
That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something even more sinister?
Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by…and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets.
Some dogs can be trained to serve as medical service dogs. Photo: Google/Aquila Corporation
Dogs have become an important part of our lives and most of us have them indoors as part of the family. That’s why it’s often easy to forget that there are some dogs that have unique and high levels skills. Some of them have extremely important roles as working dogs in industries such as search and rescue, pestcontrol, medical assistance, and truffle hunting. Today’s dog topic is about a recent article from The Puppy Gazette regarding how dogs evolved along with humans in the sense that as humans began to create settlements and farms, dogs were bred to develop specific traits to help them along the way.
Earlier this month I introduced you to Allen Kimble’s website The Puppy Gazette. His goal is to be your new source for dog related information. If you’d like to read more about some of the industries where dogs play an essential role, along with which breeds and the specific skill set they have in modern times, this is the place. In the recent article, “Versatile Roles of Working Dogs in Modern Society,” he explains each industry, how dogs are trained, and real world application of their skills.
It’s interesting to read about how dogs have evolved to work alongside humans to make a difference. Even though all dogs have a strong sense of smell, they can be trained to sharpen their attention and focus on the task at hand. This is especially important in pest control because it is an eco-friendly method if there is no need for chemical intervention. I will summarize the important points below but check out the article for more details.
• The Role of Working Dogs in Search and Rescue Breeds: German Shepherds Labrador Retrievers Border Collies • The Crucial Role of Dogs in Pest Control – The Nose knows Benefits: Being eco-friendly (no chemical intervention) Requiring less human scrutiny (visual inspections) Detecting infestations in their early stages • Medical Assistance Dogs for the Ill Breeds: Labrador Retrievers Golden Retrievers German Shepherds Standard Poodles • The Dog’s Role in Truffle Hunting Breeds: Lagotto Romagnolo Pointer Springer Spaniel Belgian Malinois
It’s a well known fact that dogs are highly intelligent and need some activity in their lives to help them lead fulfilling lives. By increasing their mental stimulation, they not only bond with you, but it keeps them from getting bored, which can often lead to destructive behavior. In this article, Allen Kimble does an excellent job of providing detailed information about how dogs are trained to perform specific tasks, the highlight being how they are trained to alert their owners of abnormally high or low sugar by persistent nudging/licking, and physically blocking/herding, among other ways. More information about other specialized jobs they do is coming up in future articles on The Puppy Gazette.
Max Beyond will be available for digital download starting April 23, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In today’s movie news, I have some exciting news about a new action thriller that will be available as a digital download in the US next month. It’s an animated sci-fi movie called Max Beyond. Gamers should take notice of this movie because there will be a spin off video game coming next year and this movie serves as an introduction to the backstory and characters to the game that is currently in production. (HaZimation, 2024)
The Max Beyond game immerses the players into the same world, action and obstacles as seen in the movie, but taking a fresh approach of this being a co-op based game, where both characters have to help each other to restore reality and escape the facility known as Axion, with the engaging game mechanics and alternative timelines.
HaZimation is excited to share that their animated action-thriller Max Beyond will be available on US Digital Platforms from April 23, 2024.
Max Beyond tells the story of Max, a young boy held captive in a research facility. Using his ability to create rifts in the fabric of spacetime across parallel universes, he searches for the reality in which his brother Leon, a former-marine, manages to rescue him. With attempt after attempt ending in Leon’s death, the strain starts to take its toll on both brothers. When Max discovers his captors are using his power against him, he realizes he must stop focusing on how the story ends and rewrite the story from the beginning.
The cast includes BAFTA-award winning actor Jane Perry, Dave Fennoy, and Cade Tropeano. Motion capture performances from Ace Ruele and Alex Kong.
Max Beyond is directed, co-written and co-produced by Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull, co-written by Stavros Pamballis, and co-produced by Paula Crickard.
“What if you had the ability to reset dimensions to find the right moment that will save your brother, but the more you do it, the weaker you get? Strap in for Max Beyond, a tour de force rollercoaster ride of big & intense action, with edge of the seat thrills and emotionally charged characters as the story pulls the audiences into the mind-bending multi-universe.” – Writer/director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull
The film’s executive producers are Yariv Lerner, Amy Gardner, and Jason Potter. The music score is by Miroshot, a band known for their experiential music featured in SXSW 2022.
Run Time: 92 Minutes
Max Beyond utilizes the latest ground-breaking Realtime animation technology called Unreal Engine, the same engine tech used to power video games like Fortnite. Using this approach has also enabled HaZimation to take a Transmedia view to expand the story and universe of Max Beyond into a video game (Consoles + PC).
Easter is coming up on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Photo: Google/Czech Universities
Easter is coming up already on Sunday, so if you are looking for ideas on dining out, consider Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. Planning on celebrating at home with family? How about some cocktail recipes? Here are some festive cocktail recipes from Gray Whale Gin, Cantera Negra Tequila and Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon, which, coincidentally, can also get you ready for National Brunch Month coming up in April.
At Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, nestled along a picturesque residential stretch of the iconic Riverwalk, Landrace’s expert chefs are preparing a delightful Easter menu with a Southern twist. On March 31 at 11a.m. guests and locals alike can indulge in a variety of savory and sweet Easter specials. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2024)
Here’s a glimpse of what Landrace has to offer:
Specialty Stations:
Pasta Station – featuring red sauce, truffle alfredo, chicken, shrimp, spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, and tomatoes
Omelet Station – offerings honey ham, bacon, spinach, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, and jalapeños
Platters & Chaffers featuring the following choices:
Breakfast pastries
Assorted fresh fruits and artisanal cheeses
Crispy pork belly
Homemade chorizo sausage
Tri-colored potato hash
Thick-sliced brioche French toast
Brisket benny topped with BBQ béarnaise sauce
Velvety & creamy mashed potatoes with cheese
Freshly baked rolls
Prosciutto quiche with truffle and lemon
Chopped romaine & radicchio salad with apples and Parmesan
Specials
Honey-glazed ham
Fire-roasted lamb
crème brûlée cascaron
Hummingbird cake with cream cheese icing
Chocolate orange torte
***************
Cocktail recipes: (courtesy photos, used with permission)
Cantera Negra Blood Orange Mimosa
Ingredients:
1oz Cantera Negra Reposado Tequila
1oz Aperol
2oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice
Champagne or sparkling wine
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients (minus champagne) and strain into highball glass over ice.
Slowly add champagne to fill.
Garnish with a blood orange wheel.
Blackberry Negroni
A springtime twist on the classic negroni featuring in-season blackberries along with Campari and Cocchi Dopo Teatro. If Cocchi Dopo Teatro isn’t available, another sweet vermouth will do.
Ingredients:
1.5 parts Gray Whale Gin
1 part Campari
0.75 part Cocchi Dopo Teatro
6 Fresh Blackberries
Instructions:
In a cocktail glass, muddle four blackberries. In a mixing glass, combine Gray Whale Gin, Campari and Cocchi Dopo Teatro. Add ice and stir until chilled. Strain the mixture from the mixing glass into the glass with the muddled blackberries. Garnish with the remaining two blackberries.
Whiskey Crusta
Ingredients:
1.5oz Bib & Tucker 6-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon.5oz 1883 Maison Routin Apple Syrup.25oz Luxardo Maraschino.25 lemon
2 dashes Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters
Instructions:
Shake ingredients with ice & strain into glass with sugar crusted rim.
“The Martha Stone” Series: Important Life Lessons through Engaging Stories is one of two books in a new books series for children. Photo: Amazon
Do you have a young child in your life that’s having a birthday or special occasion and need a gift idea? Books make excellent gifts because they can be entertaining as well as educational. The following are two books in an outstanding new educational series for children.
In an exciting development for young readers and their families, Boutique Digital Press is thrilled to announce the release of two groundbreaking children’s book series aimed at combining fun storytelling with educational lessons and multilingual learning. This series launch features the delightful titles “Hello, My Name is Luke: What’s Your Name?” and “The Adventures of Martha Stone: I Ate Too Much Candy,” each serving as the spearhead for their respective series. (Rita A. Saikali, 2024)
Both series stand out not only for their engaging stories and characters but also for their commitment to educational development. “The Luke Series” breaks new ground by incorporating multilingual learning into its narrative, offering a unique opportunity for linguistic development from an early age. Meanwhile, “The Martha Stone Series” tackles universal themes of self-discipline, moderation, and the value of making right choices, themes crucial for the development of young children.
In addition to their entertaining narratives, both books come with interactive elements and questions that encourage children to think critically about the stories and apply the lessons learned in their own lives. These series represent a valuable resource for parents, guardians, and educators seeking to nurture well-rounded, multilingual, and thoughtful children.
“Hello, My Name is Luke: What’s Your Name?” and “The Adventures of Martha Stone: I Ate Too Much Candy” are now available for purchase. These books are perfect gifts for the young reader in your life, providing not just entertainment but also valuable lessons and language skills that will benefit them for years to come.
“My Name is Luke” Series: A Multilingual Journey for Toddlers “Hello, My Name is Luke: What’s Your Name?” written by Rita A. Saikali, is the first book in “The Luke Series,” specifically designed for children ages 0-3. This innovative series introduces young minds to the fundamentals of Arabic, English, and Spanish through the charming story of Luke Luis Portillo, a young boy with Lebanese and Venezuelan heritage born in America. Through Luke’s engaging adventures, children are taught numbers, colors, and basic words across the three languages, fostering early multilingual awareness and appreciation in a fun, interactive manner.
“The Martha Stone” Series: Important Life Lessons through Engaging Stories Simultaneously, “The Adventures of Martha Stone: I Ate Too Much Candy” also penned by Rita A. Saikali, marks the beginning of “The Martha Stone Series.” This series is crafted to teach children essential life lessons in a gentle and accessible way. Through the narrative of Martha Stone, a bright and curious girl with a sweet tooth, readers learn about the importance of moderation and the consequences of indulgence. The story is filled with vibrant illustrations, engaging dialogue, and thought-provoking questions designed to spark discussions between children and their caregivers about making wise choices.
“My Name is Luke” Series: A Multilingual Journey for Toddlers. Photo: Amazon
High Hopes and Low Expectations is the new single by JD Clayton. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
With his new single, High Hopes and Low Expectations, the Natural State’s new favorite recording artist, JD Clayton, tells the story of a young man searching for a better self and greener pastures, leaving his small town for the glamour of the big city. “This is really a song to myself,” says Clayton who co-wrote High Hopes with Nashville veteran Kendell Marvel. The song was self-produced by Clayton and he teamed up with six-time Grammy Awards winner Vance Powell to mix the track. The song’s protagonist meets an older gentleman who gives him a bit of free advice: “Live with high hopes and low expectations.” It’s not lost on Clayton that Marvel is the one who’s giving him the sage advice back in the real world. “He has become such a good friend and has been so kind to me as I’ve started my career,” says Clayton. “It felt like we were living out the song literally as we penned it.” (IV-PR, 2024)
Clayton found the inspiration for High Hopes and Low Expectations by chasing a blend of James Taylor and Elton John. Acoustically rich, the mid-tempo slow burner rides a heavy emphasis on a borderline-funky backbeat, piano, and guitars playing counterpoint to Clayton’s earnest vocal delivery. High Hopes and Low Expectations is out now and can be streamed or purchased right here. This single is the first in a number of new releases from Clayton as he gears up for a full-length follow-up to 2023’s Long Way From Home.
JD Clayton’s debut album, Long Way From Home, was released in early 2023 receiving overwhelming critical acclaim. Named one of 2023’s most anticipated Americana albums by Wide Open Country, the debut, 10-song offering has simplicity and sincerity running throughout. Earnest lyrics and lived-in vocals are delivered with a balance of warmth and resolve, and his timeless sound has an immediate appeal. Touring-wise, 2023 was spent building fans market by market, city by city while touring with Dwight Yoakam, Old Crow Medicine Show, Josh Turner, Tanner Usrey, Pat Green, Shane Smith & The Saints, Vincent Neil Emerson, Parker McCollum, Hank Williams Jr., Brent Cobb, Ashley McBryde, Cole Chaney and playing tastemaker festivals such as Bonnaroo, Rebels & Renegades, Born & Raised, and Dreamy Draw. On the heels of his debut album’s success, Clayton is putting finishing touches on his forthcoming self-produced record to be announced in spring and released later 2024.
Clayton just wrapped up a 22 date tour with Tanner Usrey through early March and has upcoming dates with Ashley McBryde in April as well as adding additional headline and other support dates to be announced in the coming weeks.
Catch JD Clayton On Tour: April 25 – Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theatre * April 26 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory * May 3 – Cullman, AL – Alabama Strawberry Festival 2024 May 12 – San Diego, CA – Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival May 17 – Bentonville, AR – FreshGrass Bentonville * With Ashley McBryde
Unlock the healing power of nature with ‘The Modern-Day Guide to Science-Backed Herbal Remedies.’ Photo: Amazon
Dr. Janet Willow, MD, PhD is an award-winning clinical psychologist specializing in the psychological treatment of anxiety, ADHD, depression and other mental health conditions. With decades of experience, she is a leader in her field and widely recognized for her passion to help clients achieve optimal mental health. Her approach to therapy focuses on not just eliminating symptoms but also helping clients understand how they relate to their environment, making lasting changes that can improve overall life satisfaction. Her new book “The Modern-Day Guide to Science-Backed Herbal Remedies” is an essential guide to help readers discover the healing power of nature. (Amazon, 2024)
“The Modern-Day Guide to Science-Backed Herbal Remedies”– discover the fascinating world of herbal medicine and harness the therapeutic potential of plants with this groundbreaking book. It bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science, providing readers with a comprehensive and accessible guide to natural healing.
The material discussed includes an in-depth exploration of the historical and cultural significance of herbal medicine, the science behind the healing properties of plants, detailed profiles of over 50 medicinal herbs, including their therapeutic uses and preparation methods, step-by-step instructions for crafting your own herbal remedies, from teas and essences to salves and syrups, practical advice on incorporating herbs into your daily wellness routine, and an extensive reference section with the latest research and clinical studies on herbal medicine.
This book contains everything you ever wanted to know about herbal remedies. In Chapter 1:Introductionto Herbal Medicine, the author explains how she became interested in the healing power of plants when as a child, she watched her grandmother enjoy a cup of chamomile and mint tea. Even after she got her scientific education, her fascination with herbal remedies lingered and she was determined to find a connection between both of them. In Chapter 2: The Science Behind Herbal Medicine, she takes readers on a journey to discover the science behind herbal remedies, while Chapter 3: History of Herbal Medicine gives the history of herbal medicine that proves that humans have always had a connection to the natural world.
The rest of the book is divided as follows:
Chapter 4 Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability – Honoring the Earth, Ensuring the Future Chapter 5 Safety First: Understanding Herbal Contraindications Chapter 6 The Herbal Apothecary Chapter 7 Herbal Remedies for Digestive Health Chapter 8 Herbal Remedies for Muscle Pain Chapter 9 Herbal Remedies for Respiratory Illness Chapter 10 Herbal Remedies for Cuts and Bruises Chapter 11 Herbal Remedies for Mood Enhancement Chapter 12 Herbal Remedies to Strengthen Immunity Chapter 13 Herbal Remedies to Improve Sleep Conclusion
From the science behind herbal medicine, to tips on setting up your own apothecary and herbal remedies for different types of ailments, there is so much useful information for readers of all levels. Whether you are just interested in the history portion or are looking for specific remedies, this is a must-read book. It is well researched and put together and is easy to understand without using complicated medical terms. Readers interested in wellness and herbal remedies should definitely add it to their reading list.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Bakery Lorraine’s Easter themed Moon Pies. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.
With Easter right around the corner on Sunday, March 31, I wanted to share some Easter themed pastries and baked goods available for purchase from Bakery Lorraine at all their locations. There is still time to order: from now until 5p.m. on Thursday, March 28, guests can pre-order a delectable 7’’ Carrot Cake for $80 through Bakery Lorraine’s website. Their carrot cake is full of pineapple, coconut, walnuts, generously layered with cream cheese frosting, and topped with a variety of macarons. Pickup will be on choice of either Saturday, March 30 or Sunday, March 31. (Bakery Lorraine, 2024)
Additionally, Bakery Lorraine will have Easter themed in-store pastries available over the weekend from Friday, March 29 to Sunday, March 31.
These pastries include:
Bunny Tart – White chocolate mascarpone mousse and strawberry centers on dark chocolate shortbread
Egg Shaped Moonpie – Fluffy honey marshmallow sandwiched between house made graham crackers
Chocolate Nest Tart – Salted caramel and dark chocolate ganache in a vanilla pastry shell topped with chocolate eggs nested in chocolate phyllo
Carrot cake slices will also be available for in-store purchase throughout Easter weekend and the following week while supplies last.
Bakery Lorraine’s carrot cake. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.
SA Examiner 