BOYO Review
Had a great time seeing BOYO playing with Mind Shrine and Vansire at White Oak.
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Mind Shrine Review
We caught Mind Shrine’s set as they opened for BOYO and Vansire at White Oak.
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Aladdin National Tour at The Hobby Center
By Harrison Lorenzen
Overall very good production. The technical delay pulled the audience out of the action, but the talent, staging, and effects made up for it. Major Attaway as the Genie is hilarious and the costumes are breathtaking.
From colorful market dances to starlit magic carpet rides, Aladdin at the Hobby Center has something to appeal every member of your family. This production reimagines Walt Disney’s animated classic bringing all the magic you remember from the original and more. Featuring jokes fit for every age, countless food puns, and nonstop pop culture references, playgoers of all ages are bound to enjoy it. Barring a 5-minute technical delay, the show moves along quite fast, fitting in all the hit songs from the movie with a few new ones added in. While the sets are intricate and shimmering, as are the fireworks, the costumes are by far the best technical attribute. Featuring over 2 million Swarovski crystals hand sewn amongst the beading, the costumes glisten throughout every scene. On the acting side, Clinton Greenspan (Aladdin) effectively embodies the “diamond in the rough” trying to steal the heart of Princess Jasmine, played by the talented Kaena Kekoa, however, Major Attaway steals the show from the overture through the finale as the Genie. Leading a fabulous cast of dancers and singers, Attaway draws in the audience in a way that only the Genie can. Throwing in some Houston specific humor along the way, the Genie spends the whole show appealing to the audience more than he does appealing to Aladdin, his “Genie Master”. Leading the incredible dancers through “Friend Like Me”, the Genie performs just as much magic as he does in the movie, captivating the audience in awe. But above all else, the most mystical scene is when Aladdin takes Jasmine on a magic carpet ride in “A Whole New World”. Soaring far above the Earth on a star-filled stage, the magic carpet will amaze everyone. With something to appeal to fans young and old, Aladdin is a must-see while its in town. Aladdin is playing at the Hobby Center now through July 14th. Tickets are available at houston.broadway.com or at thehobbycenter.org.
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SXSW 2019: Film and Music Collaborating on Broadway
Written by Harrison Lorenzen
During the 2019 SxSW music festival, four major production forces on Broadway came together to discuss the past, present, and future of Film and Music Collaborating on Broadway. Leading the panel was Natasha Davidson, an associate professor of theater at the University of Texas at Austin as well as a producer of The Prom. By her side were Nell Benjamin, lyricist of Mean Girls and Legally Blonde, and Larry O’Keefe, composer of Legally Blonde and Heathers. Rounding out the group was Melisa Sechrest, the Live Stage Representative at Paramount Pictures. The discussion ranged from the current state of Broadway and attracting new audiences, to works already on stage and some future projects.
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SXSW 2019: Music Week, Pt. 2
By Rachel Bui
Wednesday, March 13
Ah, nothing like getting egg on your t-shirt in the morning less than an hour before interviewing Jambinai at their hotel. Despite that blip in the morning, I still enjoyed my time with the band, a Korean avant-rock band I saw the prior day at COREA Impact. Typically when listening to music that blends traditional with modern, you’d hear a funky EDM fusion, yet with Jambinai, you are blasted with rock music tempered with Korean folk instruments. Despite some language barriers, I had the privilege of dissecting what drives them to boldly defy “tradition,” understanding their passion for experimenting with music, and learning how they use their music to make bold political statements on occasion (interview found here).
SXSW 2019: Music Week, Pt. 1
By Rachel Bui
As a first time SXSW attendee, I had no clue what I was doing. By Saturday I was so exhausted it took 3 days for me to fully recover. Regardless, I still had a blast. Click here for our article on tips for SXSW.
SXSW 2019: Pre-Gaming the Music Festival
By Rachel Bui
There are other components of SXSW that overlaps with the music portion, and the music festival typically begins the Monday following the start of the SXSW. I arrived early this year to avoid long lines to pick up my badge [something I would recommend to everyone], and with plenty of time to kill, I explored other components of the festival I wouldn’t have a chance to see once the first sound check began.
Top 35 for 05/19/2019
Top 35 for May 19, 2019
1 – green dome – thinking in stitches – case study
2 – karen o & dangermouse – lux prima – lux prima
3 – frankie & the witch fingers – zam – greenway
4 – weyes blood – titanic rising – sub pop
5 – parcels – s/t – kitsune (more…)
![Bourbon Jelly! KAABOO Texas Day 2 [5/11/19] + Final thoughts](https://ktru.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/DSC_0195-1080x675.jpg)
Bourbon Jelly! KAABOO Texas Day 2 [5/11/19] + Final thoughts
Day 2 was spent mostly exploring other aspects of the festival. While I was not able to attend a comedy stage, I heard a resounding buzz of approval around the festival regarding the lineup. A note to future festival-goers: the stage is inside a tent, and doors close once the show starts, so plan to get in the line early if there’s a stand-up comic you want to see.
Top 35 for 05/12/2019
Top 35 for May 12, 2019
1 – green dome – thinking in stitches – case study
2 – karen o & dangermouse – lux prima – lux prima
3 – weyes blood – titanic rising – sub pop
4 – cochemea – all my relations – daptone
5 – frankie & the witch fingers – zam – greenway (more…)