You know that abandoned building on 29th and Guadalupe, just across the street from Taco Shack, in between Ruby's BBQ and Spider House? You know, the one whose east wall has been a graffitti artist's dream for over a year?

C'mon! The one where Steaming Wolf Penis played an informal performance during Snake By Snakepit?

Alright, well, over the past couple weeks you may have noticed local artist Justin Prince painting a mural of various periods in television and cinematic history. This comes courtesy of the guys down the street at I Luv Video, who are planning a move around the corner into what was the former Plasma Center just a few years ago.

The move has been given a tentative deadline of "sometime this summer" and by the looks of it, it's in definite need of a couple more months of improvement. We were assured that this is strictly a move and that the current store will continue to run as long as possible before the store relocates. The Airport Boulevard location will remain the same. No word yet on what will happen to the old location or its neighbor Ecomat. Cross your fingers: no more near-campus, high-density housing...

PS. Justin, if you're reading this, Madeline wanted you to know this.

Austin's post-drone heroes My Education have stayed very busy the last year, issuing Moody Dipper, a CD with original and remixed work courtesy friends like Teith (Trevor from Pelican) and Red Sparowes, recording their upcoming 12" release of Arvo Part's "Spiegel im Spiegel" with Dalek, and they've been diligently working on a new full-length in their home studio. This Sunday, the band will undertake a live soundtracking of F.W. Murnau's 1927 classic silent film, Sunrise, at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown. We figured this was as good a time as any to ask them about the process of sountracking, new material, and their education.

When we spoke with the band, James Alexander (viola) gave us some insight into the direction the new album (as yet untitled) is taking. "Without consciously attempting to do so, we’ve been moving into a somewhat quieter and more contemplative area. There are still some all out sonic assaults, but there will also be a greater emphasis on expansive, dreamy atmospheres," he said. The My Education live show is the band's crowning jewel, and attendees can always count on their sort of wall of sound approach to crescendo to hit them hard wherever they might be playing. What does this new, quieter approach mean for their reputation as heavy-hitters? "Expansive dreamy atmospheres that rock, of course," adds Alexander.

With the addition of new drummer Chris Stelly, the band finds its rhythm section spear-heading a newer, gentler direction. "I'd like to think we're getting better," says bassist Scott Teller. "With the new rhythm section, we are more propulsive, driving and, I think, happier."

Part of that happiness comes from their ability to record themselves in their own studio. Working on new material has been their primary focus the last few months, whenever they haven't been preparing the material for the Murnau film. Despite the luxury of having their own space, the band does take advantage of Austin's ever-growing studio options. "Recording at home has given us some freedom to explore different ways of putting pieces together. It has expanded our compositional abilities and helped us figure out what direction we really want pieces to go in," says Alexander. "There are some limits to how much we can achieve in our limited space, and we will continue to make use of some of Austin’s excellent studio resources. It might be nice to record in a completely different environment. A studio in Greenland perhaps?"

In the coming year, My Education will be completing the new album, playing the CMJ festival, and putting out the "Speigel" 12". Until then, you can catch them performing live at the Alamo alongside Murnau's Sunrise. Follow the jump for a more in-depth interview on the film, their experience writing music for it, and their deep-running desires to write scores for people being tormented in hell.

F.W. Murnau's Sunrise with live soundtrack performed by My Education
Sunday, March 25
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown [map]
7 PM
(tickets)

Continue reading "Austin's My Education Soundtrack Murnau's Sunrise"

Austin MetBlogs scooped traditional media outlets today by revealing that the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown will soon relocate from its current spot, at 5th and Colorado, to the Ritz, Austin's storied dive bar/movie house/pool hall/music venue that once played host to the likes of Roky Erickson, the Butthole Surfers, and the Flaming Lips.

Curiously, the original post on the Alamo's blog has since been unpublished, most likely because an official announcement will be made later this week.

Word on the street is that this has been in the works for "a long time," but that the deal has only recently become official. Tim at MetBlogs notes that this move will likely take place over the summer, which means that you only have a few months left to enjoy a Master Pancake skewering or Music Mondays screening at the original space.

Photo by Ironic Tonic on flickr

With April 6th only a few short weeks away, we were starting to think that there would be no super-fancy Austin premiere for Grindhouse. We'd heard speculation that the film would debut at a surprise screening during South by Southwest Film, but obviously that didn't happen, so we prepared for the worst—seeing Grindhouse on its opening night in April just like the rest of the stupid non-Austin world.

But in the end, Rodriguez and Tarantino came through for us Austin film nerds: yesterday, the AFS announced a special screening of Grindhouse at the Paramount next Wednesday, March 28th, with Rodriguez, Tarantino and "special guests" in attendance!

Here's the lowdown on tickets: starting at noon today, AFS members can buy tickets at the Paramount Box Office. Then at noon on Thursday, the general public can buy 'em at the Box Office, or on GetTix. And if you're some kind of aristocrat, you can buy $100 VIP tickets right now by calling the Austin Film Society at 512-322-0145 (we assume the VIP ticket includes a reception after the film, but details are scarce).

Austin Premiere of Grindhouse
Wednesday, March 28th
Paramount Theatre
7pm, $25-$35 / $20-$30 AFS
[Info]
[Tickets]

Tonight, Music Mondays, AICN and the Austin Museum of Digital Art present 8 Bit, a documentary look at the cultural overlap between video games, art and music.

Through interviews with digital artists (most notably Cory Arcangel, best known for his artistic Nintendo cartridge modifications) and heaps of live performance footage, the film explores the ever-increasing influence of video games on contemporary culture, from digital art to machinima to game-influenced music. And while this might seem like a slightly nerdy topic to build a doc around, it actually makes for some weighty artistic discussion.

Artists, gamers, hackers and musicians alike will love 8 Bit, and we were especially intrigued by the segments involving musicians who use Gameboys as instruments (though we were disappointed that there was no mention of video game cover bands like The Advantage. But what can you do?).

Music Mondays Presents 8-Bit
Monday, March 19th
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
9:45pm, $2 / $1 Student, AFS
[Tickets]

You may want to stay home this week and nest (understandable), but we're going to drop a note in your suggestion box anyway. Starting today, the University Co-op will present Robert De Niro in Costume: Selections From the Archive, a showcase of 13 sartorial goodies from the much-touted Harry Ransom Center treasure trove.

This short-run exhibit is unique because, as HRC film curator Steve Wilson pointed out, few actors have the foresight or the clout to save their costumes--and De Niro saved all of them. (We thought Wilson's analysis very generous, since a less schooled mind might have attributed such wardrobe hoarding to megalomania.)

When we asked Wilson about which costumes in the collection were most prized, he said the leopard print robe from Raging Bull (1980) and the shirt/jacket combo from Taxi Driver (1976) duke it out for top billing. But he indicated that other costumes have higher artistic and scholastic value. The ones from Cape Fear (1991), for example, illustrate how costumes are made, designed and used. Others, like the multiple salmon-colored suits from Casino (1995), offer "an invaluable record of production" because of their varying levels of wear and tear. The same goes for every sock, tie and shirt from Analyze This (1999).

To a Method man like Robert De Niro, costume design and selection are pretty important. And while we're not saying that if you give the guy a petticoat and a corset he can outdo Vivien Leigh, we are saying that his trace DNA-bearing castoffs deserve some homage.

Robert De Niro in Costume
The University Co-op
2246 Guadalupe St.
March 19 thru April 1
M-F 8:30am-7:30pm, Sat. 9:30am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm

Related: Bang the Drum Slowly (1973) is running tonight at the Ransom Center. The show starts at 7pm, the screening is free, and seating is limited.

Bang the Drum Slowly
Harry Ransom Center
21st and Guadalupe
March 19, 7pm

This Sunday, March 18th, the Austin Film Festival and 'Specially for Children will present a free sneak screening of New Line Cinema's family sci-fi film, The Last Mimzy. The screening (which will take place at the Regal Arbor Cinema as part of the AFF's Target Family Film Series) will help raise funds for a film-themed infusion room for teenagers with cancer and blood disorders at the Children's Ambulatory Blood and Cancer Center.

Based on the short story by Lewis Padgett (the pseudonym of husband-and-wife writing team Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore), The Last Mimzy follows the adventures of two children who discover a mysterious box of toys and subsequently begin to develop strange abilities. The screening will be introduced by screenwriter and Austin Film Festival regular James V. Hart (Hook, Dracula, Sahara).

The screening is free, and you can request tickets by emailing rsvp@austinfilmfestival.com. Donations will be accepted at the theater, but you can also donate online by visiting the AFF website. Round up the kids and come out to support this worthwhile cause.

The Last Mimzy w/ Screenwriter James V. Hart Live
Sunday, March 18th
Regal Arbor Cinema
3:30pm, Free (rsvp required)
[info]
[official movie website]
[donate to 'Specially for Children]

The following films played Saturday, March 10th as part of the SXSW Film Festival:

Campaign - This Japanese doc follows the travails of a "parachute" candidate for the Kawasaki city council. He's called that because he moved to the city specifically to run for office through his allegiance to the powerful LDP party. Japan is as big a character as the candidate, as the candid shots of life there offer revealing snippets of the ultra-modern yet amazingly traditional society. The candidate's working wife must refer to herself as "housewife" in order not to offend, older politicos badger and chastise him for not bowing properly, and other party politicians get petty and territorial. While it's about 20 minutes too long, we loved learning the differences (and the similarities) between our elections and theirs. Politics may be murky, but this doc benefits from strong source material and a sympathetic protagonist. He may be flawed, but you want him to succeed. Recommended.

Next showing: Tuesday @ 1:30pm (Alamo S. Lamar), Friday @ 1:30pm (Alamo S. Lamar).

The Ten - David Wain's ten-sketch comedy loosely based on The Ten Commandments defines hit-and-miss. Segments on a parachuting accident, a Mexican vacation, and a CAT-scan battle just kill, while others like a bad doctor on trial just don't connect with an audience with high comedic expectations. The cast is stellar, and kudos go to Liev Schreiber especially for shattering his 'serious Broadway actor' veneer by making an ass of himself here. Paul Rudd stars as the narrator but doesn't have a lot to do, and other notables include a puppet-loving Winona Ryder and all cast members from The State. Overall, we enjoyed the film - when you're in a good segment, you'll really laugh often. We just wish all of the segments were as genius as the best of them. Recommended.

Next showing: None. Opens in Austin in August.

Everything's Gone Green - Very Garden State meets Office Space, this one. This Canadian export mines late 20's angst and dating dilemmas to great effect thanks to very good lead actors and a script from "Generation X" author Douglas Coupland. It's great to see a movie this Canadian - people say "sorry" and "aboot," Vancouver looks amazing, and it reminds you that our North American neighbor is quite different from us. Paulo Costanzo (Road Trip) and Steph Song both give breakout performances here in roles that could become trite or cliched in lesser hands, and you'll likely see more of both of them in the near future. The story also hangs together thanks to generous doses of comedy between the serious bits. All told, Coupland works this tricky genre to positive and original effect here. Recommended.

Next showing: None. Opens in Austin in late April.

David Wain image via TheTenMovie.com. Photographer uncredited.

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. Thank heavens.* -The Editors

Normally I would shy away from doing movie reviews, because we have much more qualified people for the job. But, well, I feel it safest for me to occupy my mind this way, for this week.

300 in 300 words.

****[CAUTION: may be considered a spoiler to some, but really, that's just silly]****

We open in Sparta, a place which apparently exists only to breed dick-dancers/warrior-boys. An ironically peaceful place, all things considered. They don’t explain where their women come from, but they do explain that if you’re a retarded, tanned, or six-fingered baby, you get thrown down into a big pit by some old guy, right in front of your mom. She won’t want you either, because you’re a goddamned mutant. Like Hawking or FDR.

But if you are a perfect boy and not booted into the pit, you are trained from birth to fight that big Dog creature, the Nothing’s goon, from The Never Ending Story. With nothing more than a stick. In the snow. Pretty much bald and naked.

You kill it by combining a narrow crevice, your trusty stick, and the hound’s apparent inability to see anything at all. Not a functioning element in that dog's eyes. Completely blind, that pup.

Then you’re a hero and you become king of Sparta, which is when you get your red cape, the secret handshake, some strappy sandals from Payless, your right to next year’s pinewood derby, and one from a selection of super fancy haircuts.

But you still don’t get a shirt.

Continue reading "Truesday: All Hole, No Glory"

Tonight, Alamo Music Mondays presents The Legendary Joe Meek, a made-for-TV look at the life and death of the eccentric 1960s record producer whose innovative recording techniques and bizarre personal life made him one of the most interesting figures in early 1960s pop.

Probably most famous for his hit songs "Telstar" and "Have I the Right", meek is widely regarded as Britain's first independent record producer, regularly churning out top 50 hits from a DIY studio in his Islington flat. Meek was also known as a technical trailblazer, pioneering the then-obscure techniques of multi-tracking, effects processing and sampling. But despite his success, Joe's drug-fueled paranoia ultimately got the better of him, culminating in an unexplained murder-suicide that has (sadly) become the most widely known aspect of his legacy.

Tonight's screening will also feature a sneak-peek at Howard Berger’s upcoming documentary Something I’ve Got To Tell You: A Life In The Death Of Joe Meek.

* Note: Music Mondays will be preempted by the SXSW Film Festival next week. It will return on Monday March 19th with 8-Bit, a film about art & video games co-presented by The Austin Museum of Digital Art and AICN.

Music Mondays Presents The Legendary Joe Meek
Monday, March 5th
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
9:45pm, $2 / $1 Student, AFS
[Tickets]

Growing up, Diff'rent Strokes was one of our favorite TV shows. But we called the show "Arnold and Willis", because we only had so much room in our hearts for rich white people, and that was reserved for Ricky Schroder. Arnold and Willis were like our adopted siblings, and we happily, faithfully followed their exploits every single week.

Unfortunately, the show's stars hit a rough patch after the series ended. We won't run down the list, but it's no secret that Dana Plato, Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges all spent a significant amount of time in court (though we contend that Coleman's crime was the most hilarious).

But that was years ago. And since then, Todd has cleaned up his act and bounced back, appearing in numerous films and TV shows (often with a good sense of humor about himself). In a lot of ways, he's the epitome of "child star survivor", and we admire his moxie (he played his own crack dealer in a Fox MOW. How awesome is that?).

Tomorrow night, Todd will visit Austin to introduce three of his favorite Diff'rent Strokes episodes, followed by an audience Q&A. Will it be the episode with Mr. T? Or the "very special" episode where Arnold and Kimberly were kidnapped? Or the episode where Sam is kidnapped? Will there be anything kidnapping-related? We can't wait to find out!

Want to win tickets? Fill out the form! (Winners will be notified by the end of the day. Promise.)
The contest is closed. Thanks to all who entered.

Diff'rent Strokes w/ Todd Bridges Live In Person
Saturday, March 3rd
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
7pm, $14
[Info]