prince practicing when doves cry in 1984... this video has been posted before and then taken down, i assume by the purple one himself.
watch it before he takes it down again.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
live at the cactus cafe
as i get the time, i will search for other folks videos of performances at the cactus and post them here, as a compilation.
they will speak more volumes than anything on why the cactus need be saved.
let's start with guy clark and verlon thompson performing "hemingway's whiskey"
tim easton, "broke my heart" featuring my favorite line... "there's only two things left in this world: love, and the lack thereof"
dean & britta
dean wareham (of galaxie 500 and luna) luna covered this song (orginally done by serge gainsbourg & bridgitte bardot
peter case & gurf morlix doing a version of "milk cow blues"
william fitzsimmons & jenny owens young covering aimee mann's "save me"
they will speak more volumes than anything on why the cactus need be saved.
let's start with guy clark and verlon thompson performing "hemingway's whiskey"
tim easton, "broke my heart" featuring my favorite line... "there's only two things left in this world: love, and the lack thereof"
dean & britta
dean wareham (of galaxie 500 and luna) luna covered this song (orginally done by serge gainsbourg & bridgitte bardot
peter case & gurf morlix doing a version of "milk cow blues"
william fitzsimmons & jenny owens young covering aimee mann's "save me"
Thursday, February 11, 2010
an open letter
This letter was sent to the editor of the Daily Texan, the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin.
To the Students of the University of Texas,
I need to apologize.
Apologize that my generation was unable to preserve for you what was a phenomenal community space for students. This apology comes as a warning as the people we fought who were changing our community space are still at it.
Some of the folks you have elected to office in student government have made a decision to do you and future generations of students an enormous disservice.
I know because I have seen what is happening right now happen before. I was a student at UT in the late 80s and early 90s. When I started at UT, the Texas Union was a vibrant part of the campus community. Many students who lived off campus were able to get meal plans to the Union. Meal plans to fresh, healthy (and granted some unhealthy) food, better than could be found in the dorms. I was one of those students. At the time, we were proud to say that we were one of two public universities in the states which had bars on campus.
Then Andy Smith was hired as director and made a push to close most of the functions that many students held dear, instead turning them over to franchises or "returning the spaces to the inventory for student use".
We did fight. Many students (myself included) showed up to public hearings in protest. We were told that these programs and amenities were losing money. The figures were a moving target. We requested the books be open for public scrutiny. They never were. There were two public "town hall" type meetings, and then... gone...
While many missed the unique nature of the building prior to all of the franchise food services went in, one of the most missed amenities by everyone, hands down, was the Texas Tavern. The Tavern was the main campus pub. At one point, it boasted the State's longest bar. Teachers and students could mingle there for happy hours and into the evening discussing, debating and extending the classroom. I remember often meeting students and visiting professors from majors other than my own. If the Tavern were only that, it would have been worth preserving. But the Tavern was much more. The Tavern also worked with various student groups to allow all manner of functions. Groups held parties there, DJ'd events, you get the picture. The space was large enough to hold them. There was Latino night and Soul night, both of which provided great social outlets for the diversity of students at UT. All with access to a bar, a stage and a sound system. It goes without saying that all Longhorn sporting events could be seen on TV at the Tavern, away games and home games for students who didn't have tickets. To top it off, in the same space, on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Tavern was an integral part of the Live Music Capital of the World. I could list the world class bands I saw there (Pixies, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ziggy Marley, Uncle Tupelo, Dinosaur Jr to name a few), but I could also list a host of bands comprised of students that maybe never made it past their Senior year. I saw several members of the band Spoon start at the Tavern. The Tavern hosted on weekends the loud, electrified music branching and bridging many genres...Alternative, Indie, Hip Hop, Funk, Zydeco, you name it.
So you know, the Tavern was in the space where Quizno's is, and the bands and parties happened in the showroom. The Tavern's music was not booked by students. Students usually brought their own DJs for parties, but the Tavern managed and set up the space for them so it was "plug and play" when they got there. Thursday through Saturday the Tavern was for the most part, filled with people and music.
So I ask you... does this sound like a place or amenity that you would want to see gone?
It is gone because Union Director Andy Smith convinced the student board members at the time that it would be good for students if it were gone. Similar to what's going on now, budget cuts were needed. The student board members were assured that doing so would help lower student fees, etc... All that happened was that amenities were lost and businesses moved in to fill the space. Businesses of which students have absolutely no say in what they do.
I bring this up because I believe they are trying to hoodwink you just as they did my generation. I spent this entire letter telling you of amenities you do not have, and not even focusing on what you are about to lose. I had lots of fun in the Tavern. At the Cactus, my horizons were expanded. It is not an easy feat to run a music venue. You have to stay on top of all the potential performers. How they are doing in other similar markets... to figure out if they will fill your space and for how much. If you want to know why there has been such an uproar over this decision to close the Cactus, it is because it is a rarity. We have a jewel here, and it is because of the stellar booking talents of Griff Luneburg and the staff who know how to interact with the community to create this jewel. The students have a phenomenal, world class, unique listening room (trust me, I have traveled the world over listening to live music), and the folks you have elected now want to repurpose it and let students program the space. This is an idea that sounds great as a sound bite, but think on it. If you ran a company and you had one small division that did their job so well that people the world over call them the best at what they do... would YOU want to "revamp and repurpose" that?
I tell you all of this because I believe this is not a decision that benefits students. I've seen it before. It benefits lazy management. To be clear, I mean the lazy management of the Union and not the management of the cafe. It is easier for them to make their salaries by only having to take in rent checks and renegotiate leases. Otherwise, they have to "oversee" and "manage" employees. All employees that are there to serve you. I will also say I believe it is also driven by an urge to get rid of public bars on campus. Check that. The LAST public bar on campus. How sad.
Let's think about this... Why would you pay dues for a building that rents the bulk of the space you use to businesses?
I actually can't help but wonder what an amazing facility the Union would be if the Union's Director had the vision to create something for the WHOLE BUILDING what the folks at the Cactus have done for such a small, small space. Not only would I advise you to stand up to save the Cactus Cafe and Informal Classes, but demand they give you the Tavern back. Demand the resignations of all management and directors who do not share your vision. Get rid of the fast food as well, and instead bring in local farmers and restaurateurs to serve you world class entertainment and food.
Because you didn't choose to go to a lazily managed generic school for landlords. You decided to attend a World Class University.
Hook em,
J. Hulett Jones, AIA, LEED (r) AP
BARCH '93
To the Students of the University of Texas,
I need to apologize.
Apologize that my generation was unable to preserve for you what was a phenomenal community space for students. This apology comes as a warning as the people we fought who were changing our community space are still at it.
Some of the folks you have elected to office in student government have made a decision to do you and future generations of students an enormous disservice.
I know because I have seen what is happening right now happen before. I was a student at UT in the late 80s and early 90s. When I started at UT, the Texas Union was a vibrant part of the campus community. Many students who lived off campus were able to get meal plans to the Union. Meal plans to fresh, healthy (and granted some unhealthy) food, better than could be found in the dorms. I was one of those students. At the time, we were proud to say that we were one of two public universities in the states which had bars on campus.
Then Andy Smith was hired as director and made a push to close most of the functions that many students held dear, instead turning them over to franchises or "returning the spaces to the inventory for student use".
We did fight. Many students (myself included) showed up to public hearings in protest. We were told that these programs and amenities were losing money. The figures were a moving target. We requested the books be open for public scrutiny. They never were. There were two public "town hall" type meetings, and then... gone...
While many missed the unique nature of the building prior to all of the franchise food services went in, one of the most missed amenities by everyone, hands down, was the Texas Tavern. The Tavern was the main campus pub. At one point, it boasted the State's longest bar. Teachers and students could mingle there for happy hours and into the evening discussing, debating and extending the classroom. I remember often meeting students and visiting professors from majors other than my own. If the Tavern were only that, it would have been worth preserving. But the Tavern was much more. The Tavern also worked with various student groups to allow all manner of functions. Groups held parties there, DJ'd events, you get the picture. The space was large enough to hold them. There was Latino night and Soul night, both of which provided great social outlets for the diversity of students at UT. All with access to a bar, a stage and a sound system. It goes without saying that all Longhorn sporting events could be seen on TV at the Tavern, away games and home games for students who didn't have tickets. To top it off, in the same space, on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Tavern was an integral part of the Live Music Capital of the World. I could list the world class bands I saw there (Pixies, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ziggy Marley, Uncle Tupelo, Dinosaur Jr to name a few), but I could also list a host of bands comprised of students that maybe never made it past their Senior year. I saw several members of the band Spoon start at the Tavern. The Tavern hosted on weekends the loud, electrified music branching and bridging many genres...Alternative, Indie, Hip Hop, Funk, Zydeco, you name it.
So you know, the Tavern was in the space where Quizno's is, and the bands and parties happened in the showroom. The Tavern's music was not booked by students. Students usually brought their own DJs for parties, but the Tavern managed and set up the space for them so it was "plug and play" when they got there. Thursday through Saturday the Tavern was for the most part, filled with people and music.
So I ask you... does this sound like a place or amenity that you would want to see gone?
It is gone because Union Director Andy Smith convinced the student board members at the time that it would be good for students if it were gone. Similar to what's going on now, budget cuts were needed. The student board members were assured that doing so would help lower student fees, etc... All that happened was that amenities were lost and businesses moved in to fill the space. Businesses of which students have absolutely no say in what they do.
I bring this up because I believe they are trying to hoodwink you just as they did my generation. I spent this entire letter telling you of amenities you do not have, and not even focusing on what you are about to lose. I had lots of fun in the Tavern. At the Cactus, my horizons were expanded. It is not an easy feat to run a music venue. You have to stay on top of all the potential performers. How they are doing in other similar markets... to figure out if they will fill your space and for how much. If you want to know why there has been such an uproar over this decision to close the Cactus, it is because it is a rarity. We have a jewel here, and it is because of the stellar booking talents of Griff Luneburg and the staff who know how to interact with the community to create this jewel. The students have a phenomenal, world class, unique listening room (trust me, I have traveled the world over listening to live music), and the folks you have elected now want to repurpose it and let students program the space. This is an idea that sounds great as a sound bite, but think on it. If you ran a company and you had one small division that did their job so well that people the world over call them the best at what they do... would YOU want to "revamp and repurpose" that?
I tell you all of this because I believe this is not a decision that benefits students. I've seen it before. It benefits lazy management. To be clear, I mean the lazy management of the Union and not the management of the cafe. It is easier for them to make their salaries by only having to take in rent checks and renegotiate leases. Otherwise, they have to "oversee" and "manage" employees. All employees that are there to serve you. I will also say I believe it is also driven by an urge to get rid of public bars on campus. Check that. The LAST public bar on campus. How sad.
Let's think about this... Why would you pay dues for a building that rents the bulk of the space you use to businesses?
I actually can't help but wonder what an amazing facility the Union would be if the Union's Director had the vision to create something for the WHOLE BUILDING what the folks at the Cactus have done for such a small, small space. Not only would I advise you to stand up to save the Cactus Cafe and Informal Classes, but demand they give you the Tavern back. Demand the resignations of all management and directors who do not share your vision. Get rid of the fast food as well, and instead bring in local farmers and restaurateurs to serve you world class entertainment and food.
Because you didn't choose to go to a lazily managed generic school for landlords. You decided to attend a World Class University.
Hook em,
J. Hulett Jones, AIA, LEED (r) AP
BARCH '93
Monday, February 1, 2010
save the cactus cafe
the first section of this entry will have updates, the original post follows walter cronkite
updates:
current number of facebook users who have joined the "save the cactus cafe" group:
22,372 (02.08.10 11:34am PST)
20,000 (02.04.10 10:14pm PST)
19,028 (02.04.10 9am PST)
kxan news covering the movement to save the cactus
austin american statesman article covering the save the cactus supporters
austin's UT run public radio station KUT reports on the town hall meeting here.
what you can do (from the save the cactus cafe group)
1) JOIN so we can reach you: http://savethecactuscafe.org
2) JOIN the fan page: http://gjg.gd/stccf
3) EMAIL the Board of Regents: http://gjg.gd/LVzEE
4) COMMENT to Pres Powers: http://gjg.gd/oic2v
ORIGINAL POST
i received a great education from the university of texas at austin. bachelor of architecture.
an enormous amount of my music education came from the cactus cafe, where i worked for several years.
i worked inside the room behind the bar, seeing everything from students on open mic night to many of the revered artists from austin and around the world. i saw many students from open mic grow into musicians worthy enough to open for these touring masters. i drew many posters for the cactus that document just a sliver of its fertile history. and i am proud and grateful for having that opportunity. it fostered and nurtured a love of music that i hope is apparent in this blog.
i recently received news this weekend that the board of directors of the student union at the university of texas has decided to close the cactus cafe.
as i write this, i can't help noting that steve earle just won a grammy for best contemporary folk album for his album, "townes". an album filled with songs written by townes van zandt.
i will post more and more of my thoughts on this later in this post, but for now, i will simply list links and videos that relate to the current state of the cactus.
so on to some info.
first and foremost, go to the town hall meeting if you are in austin. it is feb 2nd and the info for that is here.
if you cannot attend, the proceedings will be streaming on video here.
jimmy lafave on the cactus cafe
i have seen live music in some of the top venues on the planet. there is simply no experience similar to the listening room environment of the cactus cafe. it is an invaluable amenity for the university and for the city of austin. i would actually argue it is invaluable for the planet, for austin's claim of being the "live music capital of the world."
when filled to fire hazard capacity, the venue can hold 150 people. logistically making a place that small work financially is hard. ask any music venue. that said, i do not believe the claim from the university union board that the cactus is requiring subsidy. we will not know unless they open the books.
the idea that the cafe is an amenity that is not focused or geared toward students is absurd. i had countless invaluable discussions with professors and fellow students there during the day over their fine colombian coffee. at night... lessons that have lived with me as long, if not longer, than many of my classes.
next... whom to write. I would start not with andy smith or juan gonzalez. i believe they have already made up their minds. i would write to the texas union board:
texas union board
P.O. Box 7338
Austin TX 78713-7338
and their members individually
Mr. Basil Awad - Chair
School of Business, Senior
(basil.awad@bba06.mccombs.utexas.edu)
281 701 0759
Mr. Nathan Bunch
Sociology, Senior
(nathanbunch@gmail.com)
Ms. Nicole Falkenberg
Communications, Senior
(nicolef@mail.utexas.edu)
512 657 0662
Ms. Alyssa Flores
Government, Junior
(aflores90@gmail.com)
512 246 2289
Mr. Andrew Nash
Student Assistant
Division of Housing & Food Services (nash1407@gmail.com)
Mr. Liam O'Rourke
History, Senior
(orourke.liam@gmail.com)
281 485 0374
Dr. Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Students
(soncia.r.lilly@austin.utexas.edu)
471-5017 (Office of Dean of Students)
Dr. Jerome Williams
Professor
College of Communication, Dept. of Advertising (jerome.williams@mail.utexas.edu)
512 471 7302
Dr. Thomas Garza
Associate Professor
Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, College of Liberal Arts
(tjgarza@mail.utexas.edu)
512 471 3607
that'll be the day
buddy holly recorded a phone call he made to decca in an effort to regain his rights to songs he had recorded for decca (including "that'll be the day"). he was not happy with the production that decca made and was released from his contract. decca, however, told him he could not record any new versions of songs he'd made for decca, in case they wanted to release them. this call was made to decca in an effort to convince them to let him record them since decca was not doing anything with them. at the time he made this call, buddy had already re-recorded the songs intent to release them, which he did.
scratch my back, i'll scratch yours
peter gabriel is soon releasing an all covers album he is titling "scratch my back". he is covering magnetic fields, radiohead, arcade fire, bon iver, paul simon, elbow, talking heads, lou reed, randy newman and regina spektor
as well, peter will be releasing an album titled "i'll scratch yours", in which the above artists will cover peter gabriel songs.
you can hear stephin merrit's cover of "not one of us", along with a bit of stephin talking about the song, streaming at gabriel's site here.
as well, peter will be releasing an album titled "i'll scratch yours", in which the above artists will cover peter gabriel songs.
you can hear stephin merrit's cover of "not one of us", along with a bit of stephin talking about the song, streaming at gabriel's site here.
breathing
st vincent at lincoln center's american songbook
joining her are david byrne, justin vernon (bon iver) and bryce dessner (the national)
joining her are david byrne, justin vernon (bon iver) and bryce dessner (the national)
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