Tag: music

Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes: New Single Recorded at the Legendary Hyde Street Studios

Rock supergroup finds unity in an age of division – Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes. Photo: John Vigran, used with permission.

New Single: Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes Unleash “Animal Magic”

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Blending the grit of the blues, the warmth of Americana, and the heart of Memphis soul, West Coast supergroup Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes has officially released their latest single, “Animal Magic.” (Miller PR, 2026)

Recorded at the legendary Hyde Street Studios, the track serves as a sonic tribute to the deep connection between humans and the natural world.

The Supergroup Lineup

The ensemble brings together a staggering amount of musical history, featuring:

  • Michael Ward: Singer, songwriter, and producer.
  • Prairie Prince: Drums (The Tubes, Journey, Tom Waits, XTC).
  • Chris Von Sneidern: Guitar (John Wesley Harding, Chuck Prophet).
  • Richard Howell: Saxophone (Etta James, Earth, Wind & Fire).
  • Marc Levine: Bass (Barry Manilow).
  • Fernando DeSanjines: Percussion (Chalo Eduardo, Escola Nova).
  • Joshua Raoul Brody: Keyboards (The Residents, BATS Improv).

The Philosophy Behind “Animal Magic”

For Michael Ward, the band’s name and this new single aren’t just clever metaphors. They represent a lifelong philosophy of coexistence.

The seeds for the song were planted 33 years ago when a five-month-old dog wandered into Ward’s studio in the Tenderloin. That moment sparked a decades-long partnership that redefined Ward’s view on interspecies companionship.

“All animals, when carefully considered, exhibit the commonality of just getting by in this fragile accident that is life on earth. Interspecies love, such as that between dogs and humans, is a prime and precious example of evolutionary success.” — Michael Ward

In an era of division, Animal Magic leans into oneness, reminding listeners that togetherness is an instinct, not an ideology.

Recording at a San Francisco Landmark

The single was tracked in Studio A at Hyde Street Studios, a space owned by Ward and designated as a San Francisco Legacy Business.

Formerly known as Wally Heider Studios, these rooms are the “last great temple of the San Francisco Sound.” This is the same soil that yielded landmark albums such as:

  • The Grateful Dead – American Beauty
  • Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – Déjà Vu

By recording here, the band honors a legacy of analog craft and musical continuity rather than mere nostalgia.

Catch Them Live

Following the success of their album Brighter Days, the band is heading East for a rare performance at one of New York City’s most storied listening rooms:

The band continues to perform in honor of the late Drew Zingg (Steely Dan), channeling his incredible musical lineage into their forward-moving sound.

About Michael Ward with Dogs and Fishes

Since 2000, this progressive American rock band has been defined by lyrical depth and “musical telepathy.” With over two decades of performance history, the group balances deep roots with exploratory musicianship, ensuring every arrangement has room to breathe.

“Animal Magic” is out now.

Animal Magic single artwork. Courtesy photo.

Dallas Death Metal Unit Frozen Soul Teams Up with Gerard Way for New Single

Frozen Soul photo by Kate Russell, used with permission.

Frozen Soul Announces New Album No Place of Warmth — Featuring Gerard Way

Dallas’ premiere death metal/hardcore unit Frozen Soul has officially emerged from the frost to announce their third full-length studio album: No Place of Warmth. (another side, 2026)

Arriving May 8 via Century Media, the record is described as a monolithic and exigent collection of anthems. It promises the band’s signature blend of ferocity and subtle melody, guided by soaring guitar leads through a “dark chasm of merciless riffs.”

A Letter to the Fans from the Wasteland

While their previous work explored glacial territories, No Place of Warmth turns inward. The album surveys the emotional wasteland of everyday struggle, serving as an open letter to fans. It decries the cold realities of life while providing the tools and motivation to conquer them.

“Life is always coming at you, and death doesn’t stop—you might slow it down, but it’s always coming—so you have to make the best out of it and march on.”

— Chad Green, Vocalist

The Title Track: “No Place of Warmth” (feat. Gerard Way)

In a landmark collaboration, the album opener and title track features Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance). The track is available now on all digital platforms.

  • The Concept: The song explores the choice between letting the cold consume you or finding warmth in a void.
  • The Video: Directed by Brendan McGowen, the visual features actor London Smith (from 2023’s “Morbid Effigy”) returning to play the personification of Death.
  • The Collaboration: Green and Way became friends a few years ago. “I knew he had a love for metal,” Green recalls. “Gerard is an amazing artist and musician whose creative vision has shaped generations.”

Evolution of the “Cold” Sound

Musically, the album sees Frozen Soul distilled to their primordial essence. Expect a “menacing” version of the band focused on maximal minimalism across eleven new songs.

AspectDescription
Vocal StyleChad Green’s “sandpaper-y bellow” acting as a dungeon master/soothsayer.
Musical DNAHardcore punk aggression meets classic American Death Metal (Obituary, Mortician).
InspirationEarly Earache ruination (Carcass, Bolt Thrower).
Philosophy“Stop overthinking it… emphasizing brutality but with an ear for hooks.”

On the Road

Frozen Soul has solidified their place as leaders of metal’s next generation. This April, they will hit the road across the states with Avatar and Fleshgod Apocalypse. See tour information here.

Frozen Soul is:

  • Chad Green / Vocals
  • Michael Munday / Guitar
  • Chris Bonner / Guitar
  • Samantha Mobley / Bass
  • Matt Dennar / Drums

No Place of Warmth – Tracklist:
1 – No Place of Warmth (Feat. Gerard Way)
2 – Invoke War (Feat. Machine Head)
3 – Absolute Zero
4 – Dreadnought (Feat. Sanguisugabogg)
5 – Chaos Will Reign
6 – Eyes of Despair
7 – Ethereal Dreams
8 – Skinned by the Wind
9 – DEATHWEAVER
10 – Frost Forged
11 – Killin Time (Until its Time to Kill)

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Free Live Music in San Antonio: Heart of Texas Concert Band Returns to OLLU

The Heart of Texas Concert Band will be performing this Sunday at Our Lady of the Lake University. Gemini-generated image.

Experience the Best of San Antonio: Heart of Texas Concert Band Live

The Heart of Texas Concert Band (HTxCB) has been a cornerstone of the San Antonio arts scene since 2009. As a non-profit community ensemble, they bridge the gap between talented adult musicians and rising young stars, all while keeping the music accessible to everyone. (Heart of Texas Concert Band, 2026)

With over 150 free concerts under their belt across 35 unique local venues, the HTxCB is back this weekend to deliver another afternoon of world-class instrumental music.

🎺 Event Overview: Audience & Band Favorites

Join us this Sunday to experience a program featuring timeless classics. From the stirring marches of Sousa to the whimsical arrangements of Leroy Anderson, there is something for every music lover to enjoy.

Featured Composers include:

  • John Philip Sousa
  • Percy Grainger
  • Hector Berlioz
  • Leroy Anderson
  • …and many more!

Leadership:

  • Mark Rogers: Music Director and Founding Conductor
  • Carlos Navarro: Guest Conductor

📅 When & Where

Mark your calendars! This is a perfect Sunday afternoon outing for families and music enthusiasts alike.

  • Date: Sunday, March 1
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Thiry Auditorium (Our Lady of the Lake University)
  • Address: 411 SW 24th St., San Antonio, TX 78207
  • Parking: Free parking is available on-site.

🎟️ Admission & Live Stream

In keeping with their mission to provide music for all, this concert is free and open to the public.

Support Local Arts: The Heart of Texas Concert Band relies on community support to keep these performances free. Consider attending or donating to help keep the music playing in San Antonio.

Photo: Heart of Texas Concert Band

Poison Ruin Announces New Album ‘Hymns from the Hills’ via Relapse Records

L-R: Allen Chapman (drums), Nao Demand (guitar), Mac Kennedy (vox, guitar), Will McAndrew (bass). Photo By Kat Bean, used with permission.

Scythes, Spirits, and Synths: Poison Ruin Announces ‘Hymns from the Hills’

Poison Ruin’s upcoming release, Hymns from the Hills, ambitiously rewrites the rules of punk. The Philadelphia outfit is pushing their sound into expansive new terrains without sacrificing an ounce of the bleak symbolism and uncompromising aggression that established them as one of extreme music’s most urgent voices. (another side, 2026)

Expanding their signature approach to grim mythmaking, these new songs feel equal parts natural, undeniably of this world, and phantasmal.

Release Date: April 3 via Relapse Records

Formats: Vinyl, CD, and Digital

Available for pre-order.

A Tapestry of Dispossession

On Hymns from the Hills, Poison Ruin’s previous stories of toil are revealed to be but one chapter etched upon a bleaker tapestry. This is a landscape populated by:

  • Spirits traversing sunless deserts and wilted hillsides.
  • Demonic torture objects lining the psyche.
  • Bodies transfigured into Luciferian snakes.
  • Sadean prisoners bound to the screaming silence of abandoned towers.

Lead Single: “Eidolon”

The band’s signature raw, anthemic aggression pummels through on the lead single “Eidolon,” recently released alongside its official video.

Frontman, lyricist, and guitarist Mac Kennedy explains the track’s bleak inspiration:

“‘Eidolon’ is about being stuck in a broken reality, a cog in a fate-machine doomed to play out the same cursed loop until it fully breaks down. The ones who had the power to affect change have abandoned the scene… Grim reminders of what could have, but will not be.”

Expanding the Sonic Mythos

The record acts as both a forceful restatement and a bold departure. While listeners will recognize the crackling, cassette-dubbed darkness, it is now supported by a carefully sculpted mosaic of new textures:

  • Killing Joke-style hacksaw primitivism.
  • Blast-beats worthy of the Relapse catalog.
  • Crisp analog synth lines.
  • Ambient serenades reminiscent of Scott Walker and The Durutti Column.

The Craft: DIY Grandeur

Meticulously composed and self-recorded, the LP saw Kennedy relocate to a private practice space to meet the record’s greater sonic demands. To polish this “hissing abyss,” the band enlisted top-tier talent for the final touches:

  • Mixing: Jonah Falco (with Kennedy splicing in gritty tape segments for tonal continuity).
  • Mastering: Arthur Rizk.

The result is a rich structure of unconventional frictions—crystalline flashes of polish ripping through low-end grime, only to shatter against the whipping sting of rusted chains.

Mythic Sensibilities

Lyrically, Hymns from the Hills reaches new poetic heights. While the record continues the tradition of employing medieval-inflected fantasy imagery, Kennedy is quick to note that these figures are not intended to be read as historically accurate, but rather as tools for cynicism and defiant bravado.

“I’m not very interested in conveying the historical facts of medieval culture. If we are to make sense of the present, we need to employ a more mythic mode of language and symbol to reach beyond the spiritual malaise that envelopes us. A mythic truth resonates within any time, but its echoes call from outside of time. Medieval and fantasy imagery are simply effective personal starting points for tapping into that mode of communication.”

Hymns from the Hills tracklist:
01 – Intro
02 – Lily Of the Valley
03 – Hymn from the Hills
04 – Eidolon
05 – Howls From the Citadel
06 – Pilgrimage
07 – Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)
08 – Turn To Dust
09 – Puzzle Box
10 – Serpent’s Curse
11 – Sleeping Giant (Interlude)
12 – Crescent Sun
13 – The Standoff

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Bob Ross Meets The Evil Dead: ‘Art Show! With Captain Skinner’

Experience the ultimate genre-mashup. ‘Art Show! With Captain Skinner’ blends the soothing vibes of Bob Ross with the cosmic gore of The Evil Dead. Photo: ETCH, used with permission.

🎨 ART SHOW! WITH CAPTAIN SKINNER: Bob Ross Meets The Evil Dead… In Space

Get ready to paint some happy little nightmares. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a PBS instructional show was hijacked by cosmic horror and psychedelic chaos, your questions are about to be answered in the most vibrant, gory way possible. (EG PR, 2026)

ARTSHOW! WITH CAPTAIN SKINNER has officially landed.

The Premise: Cosmic Chaos Meets Canvas

Premiering on YouTube and Substack, this series follows the doomed misadventures of a television crew trying to film a “how-to” art show in the furthest reaches of outer space.

Captain Skinner and his tiny crew—including a stop-motion Space Cowboy—battle more than just perspective and lighting. They are constantly thwarted by:

  • Unpredictable meteor showers
  • Intrusive, existential thoughts
  • The stark horror of an uncaring cosmos

The Format: The series consists of 10 episodes, each roughly 15 minutes long. Every episode features Skinner creating a stunning, unique piece of artwork amidst “hyper-phantasmagorical” slapstick and body horror. It’s a love letter to classics like The Joy of Painting and The Secret City, but drenched in gore and off-the-wall comedy.

The Masterminds Behind the Madness

SKINNER (Co-creator / Writer / Star)

Skinner is a legendary artist and a self-described “manifestation of psychedelic nightmare experiences.” His influence spans global murals, skateboards, and toys.

  • Music Pedigree: Created art for Grammy-winning albums (High on Fire, Mastodon).
  • Screen Credits: Hosted shows for Super Deluxe and created commercial experiences for Adult Swim and Warner Brothers.

ALLEN CORDELL (Co-creator / Writer / Director)

An award-winning filmmaker with a penchant for the weird and beautiful.

  • Directorial Portfolio: Music videos for Beach House, Dan Deacon, and Girl Talk.
  • Film: Directed the acclaimed short The Lizard Laughed.

Produced by ETCH

This series is brought to life by ETCH, an independent production powerhouse specializing in the provocative and the horrific. The team includes:

  • Philip Gelatt: Emmy and WGA Award-winner (Love Death + Robots, The Spine of Night).
  • Will Battersby & Morgan Galen King: The creative forces behind The Spine of Night.

ETCH is dedicated to “putting the dark magic back into moving images,” focusing on creative control and innovative distribution.

📅 Mark Your Calendars

  • New Episodes: Weekly starting Friday, March 6
  • Where to Watch: YouTube and Substack
  • First episode premiered February 13

“Skinner exists as a bizarre mixture of entertainment and visual intensity.”

Don’t miss the descent into the colorful unknown.

Photo: ETCH, used with permission.

A Kaleidoscope of Cumbia: Juanes Returns to His Roots with ‘JuanesTeban’

The new album will be released March 3, 2026. Photo: Google

The Latin Rock Titan Returns: Juanes Announces New Album ‘JuanesTeban’

The wait is almost over for fans of the Colombian legend. Juanes has officially announced that his 12th studio album, titled JuanesTeban, is set to drop on March 6. (Hits Daily Double, 2026)

Alongside the announcement, the Latin rock icon released a teaser trailer giving fans a glimpse into what’s being hailed as one of his most personal projects yet. The LP was co-produced by Juanes himself and the reigning Latin Grammy Producer of the Year, Nico Cotton (known for his work with Aitana and Nathy Peluso).

A “Kaleidoscope” of Sound

According to Juanes, this album is a return to his roots, blending his signature rock style with the rhythmic soul of Latin America.

“It’s like a kaleidoscope of my many moods: joyful, enthusiastic, melancholy,” Juanes shared. “I wanted to make the kind of album that would take me back to the land of dancing and cumbia – the feeling of Latin America, the root of folklore.”

Tracklist Teasers & Collaborations

The album features high-energy collaborations and soulful solo tracks, including:

  • “Muérdeme” (featuring Bomba Estéreo)
  • “Una Noche Contigo”
  • “Hagamos Que”
  • “Cuando Estamos Tú Y Yo”

Upcoming Tour Dates & Honors

It’s going to be a massive spring for the “A Dios le Pido” singer. Before the album even hits shelves, Juanes will be honored by Univision at Premio Lo Nuestro with the Lifetime Achievement Award on February 19.

He is also set to headline some of the biggest stages in the world:

  • Viña del Mar (Chile)
  • Vive Latino (Mexico)
  • El Carnaval de Barranquilla (Colombia)
  • Movistar Arena (Madrid, Spain)

About Juanes

With a career spanning over two decades, Juanes remains one of the most influential figures in music history. Since his solo debut Fíjate Bien in 2000, he has secured 26 Latin Grammy Awards and sold over 15 million records worldwide.

Ready to listen? JuanesTeban is available for pre-order.

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Ana Cristina Cash Releases New Bilingual Album ‘The Sunshine State’

Ana Cristina Cash explores her roots in her new album. Photo: Gina Binkley, used with permission.

A Fusion of Heritage and Harmony: Ana Cristina Cash Releases New Bilingual Album, The Sunshine State

Acclaimed songstress Ana Cristina Cash has officially released her latest project, The Sunshine State. A masterful blend of her Cuban-American roots and her home in the heart of country music, this bilingual album is now available across all major streaming platforms. (Aristo PR, 2026)

Recorded at the legendary Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee and produced by John Carter Cash and Willie Breeding, the album is a testament to Ana Cristina’s versatility. Listeners can expect to hear her remarkable vocal range on full display, transitioning effortlessly from a resonant contralto to a soaring soprano.

The Duality of Sound

Having spent over a decade in Nashville, Ana Cristina’s artistry is firmly grounded in country music. However, her Spanish lineage provides a distinct depth that sets this project apart.

“That duality is present in everything I do,” says Ana Cristina. “I’m proud to be an American living in Nashville… and equally proud of my Hispanic culture. I grew up speaking both English and Spanish at home, so it felt natural to record Spanish versions of several of my songs.”

Track Highlights

The album serves as a cultural crossroads, featuring a mix of English, Spanish, and Spanglish tracks:

  • “Daybreak” / “Un Break”: The breezy opening single and its Spanish counterpart.
  • “Florida Girl”: A heartfelt nod to her roots.
  • “Cheap Margaritas”: Available in both the original and a playful Spanglish version.
  • “Last Call”: A fiery track featured in both languages.
  • Brand New Tunes: Including the nostalgic “Janice” and “Don’t Give Up.”

Inspired by the Everglades

Much of the album’s imagery is drawn from Ana Cristina’s childhood in rural West Miami. She recalls a time when the area was “wild and untouched,” bordered by the Florida Everglades.

“The first home I grew up in… I only had four neighbors, a dirt road, orange trees in the backyard, and our own chickens,” she notes. “That formative period of my life influenced so much of this record.”

About Ana Cristina Cash

Ana Cristina’s career began at the age of six. By 15, she had signed with Sony Music Latin. Her career is marked by historic milestones, including:

  • Historic Performances: The first Hispanic American to perform the “Star-Spangled Banner” at a presidential inauguration (2005).
  • Iconic Venues: Performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Madison Square Garden.
  • Nashville Legacy: Married to John Carter Cash since 2016, she continues to record at the historic Cash Cabin Studio and recently signed a global publishing deal with BMG Rights Management.

The Sunshine State is out now. Experience the soulful blend of country and Latin influences today.

The Sunshine State tracklist:

  1. “Daybreak”
  2. “Cheap Margaritas”
  3. “Florida Girl”
  4. “Janice”
  5. “Last Call”
  6. “Don’t Give Up”
  7. “Un Break (Daybreak Versión En Español)”
  8. “Cheap Margaritas (Spanglish Version)”
  9. “Tu Última Llamada (Last Call Versión En Español)”

Amon Amarth and Dethklok Announce 2026 North American Co-Headlining Tour

Amon Amarth. Photo: Tomas Gidén, used with permission.

Amon Amarth & Dethklok Announce The Amonklok Conquest North American Tour

Swedish metal titans Amon Amarth is joining forces with Dethklok for The Amonklok Conquest, an extensive co-headlining tour crossing North America in Spring 2026. With special guests Castle Rat, the tour promises a night of pure theater and over-the-top heavy metal entertainment. (another side, 2026)

This historic run marks the first time the two titan-sized bands have co-billed together, making it one of the biggest raids of the year.

A Clash of Metal Giants

Amon Amarth has long honored the adventurous ethos of their Viking forebears by taking their music anywhere and everywhere, earning a reputation as one of metal’s most vital and imperious live acts. Hot off a busy year conquering the high seas, supporting Slayer in the U.K. and storming the U.S. with Pantera, the band returns with an all-new theatrical stage production and an extended set for these upcoming dates.

Amon Amarth declares:

“Three bands. One night. The strong will scream. The weak will fall. Limbs will be lost. We will crush skulls beneath our boots and tear the halls down stone by stone. This is not a concert. It is a reckoning. If you survive… perhaps the gods have other plans for you.”

Dethklok: 20 Years of Metalocalypse

In 2026, Dethklok celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking two decades since Metalocalypse premiered on Adult Swim. One of the most essential musical multimedia acts ever, Dethklok is both an animated phenomenon and a live metal juggernaut—combining intense musicianship with breakneck cinematic theatricality.

Joining them each night as special guests is the fantastical heavy metal band Castle Rat.

The Rat Queen proclaims:

“On the heels of the Vernal Equinox, our adjacent universes shall align as we bring .•.The Realm.•. of Castle Rat into battle alongside venerable vikings, Amon Amarth, and Metalocalypse metal-masters, Dethklok! Join us, as we seek to expand and defend .•.The Realm.•. from our arch nemesis: Death, Herself — The Rat Reaperess!”

Tour Information & Tickets

The newly announced North American dates are produced by Live Nation.
Tickets and full details are available online.
For additional updates and information, visit the official tour site.

New Music & What’s Next for Amon Amarth

Amon Amarth recently celebrated a bountiful year with the release of their new single “We Rule The Waves,” along with its accompanying video. Their first new song in years, it signals what’s to come—a brand-new album arriving in late 2026.

Carved from salt and steel, echoing across oceans and sonically barbaric, modern metal doesn’t get more epic, or more essential, than this.

About Amon Amarth

From pole to pole and sea to sea, Amon Amarth are the undisputed kings of Viking heavy metal. Formed in Tumba, Sweden, in 1992, the band has forged an extraordinary legacy over three decades of thunderous, anthemic metal steeped in Viking history, folklore, and culture.

From their underground smash debut Once Sent From The Golden Hall (1998) onward, Amon Amarth have remained an unstoppable creative force. Albums like Twilight Of The Thunder God (2008) and the conceptual triumph Jomsviking (2016) cemented their reputation for ageless anthems and explosive theatrical live shows, making them standard-bearers for heavy metal as a communal, life-affirming experience.

About Dethklok & Metalocalypse

Dethklok is an extreme metal band and the most successful entertainment act on the planet, along with being the seventh-largest economy in the animated world of Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse. Live, they are a multimedia powerhouse, blending animation, comedy, and sheer brutality while recreating beloved albums and visuals on stage.

Band members include musician and show co-creator Brendon Small and legendary drummer Gene Hoglan, among others.

Dethklok is:

  • Nathan Explosion – Vocals
  • Skwisgaar Skwigelf – Lead Guitar
  • Toki Wartooth – Rhythm Guitar
  • William Murderface – Bass
  • Pickles – Drums
Dethklok. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.



Contemporary at Blue Star: 2026 Exhibitions, Events, and Artist Opportunities

Mini Art Museum at the Contemporary’s Family Day, 2024. Photo by Bria Woods, used with permission.

Upcoming Exhibitions & Programs at Contemporary at Blue Star

San Antonio, Texas – In 2026, the Contemporary at Blue Star centers its exhibition programming around the theme of community, marking a major milestone: the organization’s 40th anniversary in June 2026. Curator and Exhibitions Director Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray frames the year as an opportunity to reflect on the Contemporary’s history, the role community has played in shaping the institution, and the ways exhibitions can actively build and strengthen local, national, and international relationships. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2026)

Below is a look at the upcoming exhibitions and programs.

Mark Menjívar: Murmurations

Opening Night: Friday, February 6, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
Taco Talk: Friday, February 6, 2026 | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
On View: February 6 – May 3, 2026

San Antonio–based artist Mark Menjívar integrates social practice and participatory education models to create intentional community building. His work establishes frameworks for students, community groups, and leaders to engage in critical dialogue around the issues that shape their lives.

Menjívar’s participatory projects often incorporate oral history recording, archive building, publications, and installations that present collective conversations while inviting continued public engagement. Over the last two decades, he has completed more than a dozen multifaceted, long-term projects.

This mid-career survey highlights selected works—including The Luck Archive—while also debuting new projects. Menjívar is currently an Associate Professor in the Interdisciplinary School for Engagement at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Mini Art Museum

Honoring the Late Mary Cantú

Opening Night: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
On View: March 6 – June 7, 2026

The San Antonio arts community was deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Mary Cantú on February 18, 2025, at age 45. Cantú was a beloved advocate for arts education and served on the Contemporary’s Education Committee from 2014–2016, playing a key role in the development of the Creative Classrooms program and championing free access to art for San Antonio children.

In 2013, Cantú co-founded the Mini Art Museum with Gabriela Santiago. Using standard office binders as gallery “walls,” the Mini Art Museum invited artists to create miniature works sized to fit inside 8.5 × 11-inch plastic sleeves. Featuring original works by professional artists, the museum encourages close observation, often aided by magnifying glasses, creating a sense of wonder and intimacy.

In spring 2024, the Mini Art Museum collection was transferred to the Contemporary. Exhibited here in its entirety and in memoriam of Mary Cantú, the presentation includes over 100 works by artists such as Kim Bishop, Sarah Castillo, Michael Menchaca, and Vincent Valdez, reflecting the profound impact Cantú made on the community.

Roman Franc: Groups Collective

Opening Night: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
On View: March 6 – June 7, 2026

Artist Roman Franc will travel to San Antonio to create new photographs as part of his ongoing Group Pictures / Collectives series. Since 2015, Franc has photographed groups across cultures and geographies, from residents of Tanna Island in the South Pacific to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.

San Antonio’s layered and interconnected communities provide a rich setting for this project. In alignment with the Contemporary’s 40th anniversary theme, Groups Collective offers glimpses into a larger whole, reflecting the city’s diversity and collective spirit.

Franc (b. 1983, Brno, Czech Republic) holds an MA in Education from Masaryk University and an MFA in Photography from the Institute of Creative Photography at Silesian University, Opava. His practice focuses on non-traditional portraiture and staged photography, alongside curatorial and publishing work.

Berlin Residency Program

2026–2027 Application Cycle Now Open

Contemporary at Blue Star is now accepting applications from artists living and working in Bexar County for its Berlin Residency Program. Launched in 2013, the program enters its 12th cycle in partnership with Künstlerhaus Bethanien (KB).

Each year, four artists are awarded three-month residencies in Berlin, Germany, with the opportunity to also visit San Antonio’s sister city, Darmstadt, Germany.

Residency Support Includes:

  • $2,000 stipend for travel and living expenses
  • Coverage of all residency program fees, including:
    • Studio and living space
    • Inclusion in the internationally distributed BE magazine
    • Curatorial visits and workshop access

Eligibility guidelines are available through the application link.
Application Deadline: Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 4 p.m.

About Contemporary at Blue Star

Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions featuring artists from San Antonio and around the world, sharing global perspectives that encourage understanding, empathy, change, and action. As a non-collecting contemporary art space, the Contemporary offers fresh insights into cultural and societal issues by highlighting current trends, movements, and conversations in art.

Admission is always free.

Contemporary at Blue Star
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204

trauma ray’s Carnival EP Is a Dark, Shoegaze-Fueled Descent Into Unease

trauma ray announces new album – Carnival. Photo: Erasmo Viera, used with permission.

trauma ray Explores the Dark Funhouse on Carnival EP

trauma ray’s Carnival EP captures the Fort Worth five’s strongest, most intense, and exploratory work within the boundaries of a whirlwind year. Carnival delves into moodier, more cerebral material, like holding their past excursions against a funhouse mirror. There’s a distinct sense of unease in these songs, built in a fleeting window of time, proving the band works best under pressure and when pulling from the darkest corners of their subconscious. (another side, 2026)

Carnival will be available on February 20 via Dais Records.
Pre-save / pre-order here.

Following the Breakout of Chameleon

Carnival follows the breakout success of Chameleon, trauma ray’s 2024 debut on Dais Records. The album helped firmly establish the band amidst the current wave of shoegaze revivalists. Increasingly agile, trauma ray has proven able to weave between scenes, touring extensively with the likes of Deafheaven, Loathe, Touché Amoré, and more.

A confluence of blitzing riffs and stark beauty, trauma ray’s sound continues to evolve, nodding to loud-quiet-loud greats across metal, grunge, and shoegaze, from Slowdive to Smashing Pumpkins.

New Single: “Hannibal”

trauma ray’s new single and video, “Hannibal,” contorts with a tinge of unprecedented evil, slithery and, as vocalist Uriel Avila puts it, “Stone Temple-y, Alice in Chains-y.” Lyrically, the track taps into teenage angst and the feeling of being dissected and rejected.

“It’s a song about the feeling of doing your best as an individual yet still falling short in the eyes of those you hope to make proud,” Avila explains.

“A lot of it stems from internal battles I faced growing up with my father, role models, and religion. Some of it comes from more recent experiences of being put under the microscope by my peers. It’s a gut-wrenching sensation that I was able to tie lyrically to the visceral mood of the instrumentation that kicks off the track and begins the journey through Carnival’s overall theme.”

Recording Under Pressure

During a brief break in their relentless touring schedule last summer, trauma ray regrouped in Texas for a few days to record a flurry of tracks, later sent to Corey Coffman for mixing and mastering. Core songwriting duo Avila and guitarist Jonathan Perez welcomed increased contributions from the rest of the band, most notably guitarist Coleman Pruitt and bassist Darren Baun, who brought an eerier strain of rhythmic and textural ideas.

This shift coincided with a growing sense of collective dread and anxiety, visually captured in a striking photo set of a deserted amusement park near Brighton, England. Shot on tour by drummer Nicholas Bobotas, the images now serve as the EP’s artwork.

Track-by-Track Through the Funhouse

The wordless opener “Carousel” ushers in Carnival’s unsettling atmosphere, with blasts of static and downcast strums giving way to “Hannibal,” the anthemic lead single packed with power riffs and raw emotion.

“Méliès,” named after French illusionist and filmmaker Georges Méliès, cuts between heavy, sludgy chords and a skyward chorus—“from something scary to like a dream state,” Avila says, channeling the surreal abstraction of its namesake.

“Funhouse” dips into doom metal, featuring sparse guitar work and possibly the band’s slowest BPM yet. Lyrics play with shifting perspectives, culminating in a call-and-response outro—“take my hand / this is not your wonderland”—that conjures opposing forces or frames of mind.

A Jarring Exit: “Clown”

In contrast, the final track “Clown” jolts, flashes, and pummels, like emerging from the other end of a house of horrors, now immersed in the disorienting lights of the carnival. Personified by a knotty, synth-soaked lead guitar squall, the song evokes Robin Williams as an archetype of tragic happiness: those who work hardest to make others laugh may privately be the saddest.

Sonically, the band cites influences like Failure’s “Undone” and “Stuck on You,” alongside the omnipresent Loveless. The result speaks to trauma ray’s growing strength: five musicians absorbing, synthesizing, and expanding on what they love.

Carnival offers a brief, highly loopable detour into darkness from a band growing more formidable by the mile.

Carnival EP tracklist: 

1 – carousel
2 – Hannibal
3 – Méliès
4 – Funhouse
5 – Clown

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Carnival release date