How community theater works around Corpus Christi

Over the past two years, I’ve been a part of Corpus Christi’s theater scene. In that same time, I’ve been through a few shows here at Del Mar College as well. There are plenty of differences between the two, and since I’m involved in another community show, I figured now’s the time to look back on it. The first thing you have to do for any theater show is audition. Between community and college theater, these feel the same: you fill out a form and maybe provide a resume. Typically, community theaters will take your headshot, though college theater does…

A family band with country roots: Texas Bloodline brings, family, community, and music together on stage

In South Texas, live country music continues to play an important role in shaping local culture and bringing people together. From Corpus Christi to surrounding areas across the Coastal Bend, local bands create spaces where people can gather, relax and connect through familiar songs and shared experiences. Among those contributing to the local music scene is Texas Bloodline, a family band whose connection goes beyond the music they perform. Texas Bloodline consists of lead singer Jesse Lopez, lead guitarist Eric Lopez, drummer Jesse Ryan Lopez and bassist Sam Allred, a close family friend. Together, the group performs a mix of…

Brooklyn-based band Makes My Blood Dance had House of Rock jumping

Seeing local music is one of my favorite pastimes. I love seeing a community of people come together under one roof to enjoy a showcase of talent that exists in a city. Being back in Corpus Christi, I took a trip to a venue I had never been in before until recently: House of Rock. A bar, eatery, and stage all in one. I have been now a total of four times and wanted to put a little spotlight on a gem that lies near the shore. What better than to stop in on a night with a lineup of…

Students are ‘Completely Exposed’ in photo exhibition

Eleven student photographers showcased their artwork at “Completely Exposed,” a digital photography exhibition appreciating wildlife, macro flower photography, local architecture, intriguing portraits, and more at the Center for Economic Development on Nov. 20. Free to the public, the exhibition buzzed with a large crowd of attendees and granted the students an opportunity to discuss their work with others passionate about photography. Now framed on the center’s walls for the public to view and purchase, 77 photographs were accumulated throughout the Fall 2025 semester by students of the Del Mar College’s Continuing Education Digital Photography class under the instruction of Jeff…

Across genres and languages, music connects us to our deepest emotions

The same way a jacket on a cold day wraps you in comforting warmth, Tejano music has a way of bringing me back to a place that feels like a safe and welcoming home. No matter where I am in the world, when those familiar sounds begin to play — the bright accordion melodies, the steady rhythm of the drums, the soulful voices that tell stories of love, heartbreak, and hope — I feel grounded. Tejano music is more than just a genre to me; it’s a part of my identity. It reminds me of who I am and where…

Of this issue: holiday edition

Phoebe Bridgers, 2022 EP Best Song: “If We Make It Through December” Worst Song: “Christmas Song” Underrated Hit: “7 O’Clock News/Silent Night (feat. Fiona Apple & Matt Berninger)” Overall: “So Much Wine” is a six-song Christmas EP containing covers of classic Christmas songs. While Bridgers is usually known for her lyricism, she makes the covers of these songs shine. Each song is a typically mellow Christmas song, and I enjoyed that. It kept the essence of her music without her having written the songs herself. The title track “So Much Wine” has the best production, but “If We Make It…

Of This Issue

ALBUM ‘Man’s Best Friend’ (2025) Sabrina Carpenter Best Song: “When Did You Get Hot?” Worst Song: “House Tour” Underrated Hit: “We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night” Overall: I generally did not like this album. The sound – synths, airy singing, and rhythmic choruses – is something Carpenter has been doing for a decade. And it isn’t her best work. It seems that after the success of “Short & Sweet (2024),” she’s leaning towards a more mature sound with innuendos stacked into bubbly pop. The only two songs that don’t fall into this trap are “When Did You Get Hot?”…

Meet the cast for ‘Leading Ladies’

Del Mar Drama is staging Ken Ludwig’s “Leading Ladies” this semester, with performances slated to begin Nov. 7. The cast list was posted Sept. 15. The production centers around two Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, as they impersonate the nieces of the elder Florence to receive her large inheritance. The duo’s scheme soon becomes complicated, love triangles and mistaken identities abound, culminating in a chaotic performance of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” In order of appearance, the cast list is as follows: Natalie Palacios as Meg A graduate of Ray High School in 2021, Palacios studied theater at UTRGV before attending Del…

From punk to aggrotech: Studio B presents six bands

You’d be surprised by how much music is in Corpus Christi. Don’t think there is? I attended a Sept. 23 concert at Studio B that can prove you wrong. I spent that evening at a show that had a whopping six bands perform at the small venue. These bands came from all over Texas, and sported a wide variety of sounds. Let me tell you about who I saw. UNDONE Hailing from Corpus, only one of two bands on the bill from this city, Undone is a five-piece band that has undergone an evolution. I’ve had the pleasure of being…

Review: TAMU-CC’s ‘Electricidad’ a devastating retelling of Greek tragedy

TAMU-CC’s latest play, “Electricidad,” is not for the faint of heart. It is a vulnerable look into a family, a series of crumbling facades, and repeating the cycle of abuse under the veneer of Los Angeles gang life. The nine-person cast provides a series of spirited performances that draws the viewer’s eyes as often as they approach the viewer directly. The play, directed by Marco Munoz, is an adaptation of Sophocles’ “Electra” placed in 2000’s LA. The story revolves around the titular Electricidad looking to right the wrongs of her mother Clemencia’s murdering of her father, enlisting the help of…