May 27, 2022 | ktru, reviews
Saturday
Once I arrived at Oblivion Access on Saturday morning, I made my way to Native Hostel to check out the art and merch on display. From the fest’s own psychedelic-hued merch to a Polyvinyl pop-up shop, to local artists such as Decadent West, the jewelry shop Desired Objects, and the custom embroiderer Rodeo Rainbows, the goods on display were a vibrant and well-curated introduction to the festival’s unique energy. Talking to the artist behind Desired Objects, they explained that they’d taught themself the art of creating chainmail via online tutorials during lockdown; similarly, OA co-founder Dusty Brooks told me that the fest’s team had discovered new artists to add to the lineup via YouTube recommendations. I felt that the vendor aspect of OA epitomized the fest’s anything-goes, DIY attitude- plus I was able to make sure that I was dressed to impress when I headed out to the shows!
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May 19, 2022 | ktru
By Soleste Starr
I arrived early to the sold out Car Seat Headrest concert last Thursday, May 5th, the neon sign of White Oak Music Hall like a beacon through fog and the beginnings of light rain. However, I certainly wasn’t the earliest, as the band had attracted a line as far as six hours in advance, including a pair that had followed the band from San Diego to Los Angeles to Austin to Houston. Hearing the story of this mother-son duo only made me all the more excited to see this cult-captivating band play live, eager to learn what so clearly enraptured over a million Spotify listeners, a number that grows by the day.
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May 19, 2022 | ktru
By Jacob Pellegrino
The Avett Brothers are a group that I have enjoyed listening to for the past couple of years, since my mother saw them at Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival and told me to check them out when I was in high school. They have a folk/Americana styling that melds with rock sensibilities to create a unique sound that can be equal parts raucous and tender. I’d recommend them to anyone who likes artists such as The Band, The Lumineers, and Fleet Foxes.
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May 12, 2022 | ktru, Showstoppers
Theatre Under The Stars is wrapping up its 2021-2022 comeback season with the national tour of the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys, on stage now at the Hobby Center. The Tony-winning musical tells the story of "The Four Seasons", and ultimately Frankie Valli's, rise from the streets of New Jersey to international stardom. Featuring Frankie Valli's top hits as well as a variety of songs you may never have heard before, Jersey Boys has something in it for everyone (although note that the production contains "authentic, profane Jersey language"). Jersey Boys had the crowd singing and clapping along from the first song to the last and even treated the audience to an encore performance of "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the Hobby Center's 20th year.
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May 6, 2022 | ktru
Music Department Head Nathan Bergrin and Station Manager Chloe Liebenthal snagged an interview with Dusty Brooks, Co-Runner with Dorion Domi of Austin's own Oblivion Access, a four-day exaltation of underground metal and rock music.
Feb 28, 2022 | ktru
Returning to Houston for the first time since the sold-out 2018 run, Hamilton brought Houstonians racing back to the theater as part of Broadway At The Hobby Center's 2021-2022 season. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony award-winning hip-hop retelling of Alexander Hamilton's biography combines history, music, and dance into a show you won't soon forget. Houston is home to the Angelica cast, one of three Hamilton national tours, through March 20th, with many performances nearly sold-out already. The producers are hosting a Ham-4-Ham lottery for 40 $10 tickets to each performance for those that might not be able to afford the show otherwise (more details below). Whether or not the audience is familiar with the production through the Disney+ filming of the original Broadway production, seeing Hamilton live brings a completely unique experience. From start to finish, Hamilton provides non-stop music and drama without a single dull moment. (more…)
Dec 21, 2021 | ktru, Showstoppers
**Update 12/20** Theatre Under The Stars has decided to cancel all remaining performances of The Little Mermaid due to breakthrough cases of Covid-19 in the cast and crew. Please check tuts.com for more information or for details about other upcoming performances.
Each year, Theatre Under The Stars produces a family-friendly musical for the holiday season, the most recent incarnation of which opened at the Hobby Center December 7th. TUTS brought to life the classic animated film Disney's The Little Mermaid in a magical spectacle, full of the same vivid colors as the original. The score contains all of the recognizable hits from the original, along with songs specifically written for stage productions by original composer Alan Menken. The show featured a combination of live actors and larger than life sea creatures, mostly adorned with either glow-in-the-dark features or string lights, adding another layer of complexity to the design features in the show.
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Dec 17, 2021 | ktru
By Rachel Bui
I'm not sure if it's because this was my first concert since the pandemic first hit, or if it's because this was the last stop of the Pink Moon Tour, but there was a special energy that I hadn't felt in a long time at this concert.
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Dec 13, 2021 | ktru, Showstoppers
Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A parody by Dan and Jeff opened this week in Zilkha Hall at The Hobby Center. This internationally touring production of potted potter brings magic, humor, and… well, mostly humor to the Hobby Center. Potted Potter is a great show for the entire family during this holiday season. From the moment you step foot into the Zilkha Hall lobby you are drawn into the vaguely magical world of Potted Potter. With the twinkling, ethereal music and programs rolled into scrolls, there is an air of mysticism felt upon entering the theater. However, as soon as the first line of the show, this mysticism is broken and the audience is brought into the reality that the show is simply two friends attempting to reenact the entirety of the Harry Potter series live, with minimal props and set.
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Nov 17, 2021 | ktru, Showstoppers
The cast of the National Tour of TOOTSIE. Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade.
Tootsie strutted into Houston Tuesday night as the second show in the Broadway at the Hobby Center 2021-2022 season. Tootsie, based on the 1982 movie of the same title starring Dustin Hoffman, presents the struggle of Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor recently fired and unable to land any roles due to his narcissistic and intolerable nature in rehearsals. In a desperate attempt to save his career, Michael attends an audition for "Juliet's Curse", a role he was helping his ex-girlfriend rehearse for, disguised as Dorothy Michaels, his newly-formed female alter ego. Chaos ensues as he falls in love with both his popular new persona and with one of his co-stars, who does not know his true identity.
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Theatre Under The Stars is wrapping up its 2021-2022 comeback season with the national tour of the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys, on stage now at the Hobby Center. The Tony-winning musical tells the story of "The Four Seasons", and ultimately Frankie Valli's, rise from the streets of New Jersey to international stardom. Featuring Frankie Valli's top hits as well as a variety of songs you may never have heard before, Jersey Boys has something in it for everyone (although note that the production contains "authentic, profane Jersey language"). Jersey Boys had the crowd singing and clapping along from the first song to the last and even treated the audience to an encore performance of "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the Hobby Center's 20th year.
