Category: Entertainment

Community, Entertainment

Backyard Show Thrills Fans at Joe’s Backyard in Corpus Christi

Lola Ponce

Local hardcore music scene came alive on Sept 29 known colloquially as, “Joe’s Backyard”, a non-traditional venue, home of Hardcore Demonstration Records owner, Jose Luis Valdovinos, Jr. with bands such as Bed of Nails, Turn Cold, No One Winz, Within Range and newcomers Mind Your Own. Jose Luis Valdovinos Sr., the venue’s VP welcomed attendees with enthusiasm. “I do anything and everything for my son,” Valdovinos said, highlighting his dedication to his son, the label, and its hardcore community. Anyone who is familiar with the genre knows that the atmosphere comes with loud, aggressive music with a strong sense of…

Entertainment, Movies

Salem’s Lot (2024): Mid on Max

Bill Eaves

In the day and age of studio tax write-offs, “Salem’s Lot” was lucky to see the light of day at all. Filmed five years ago, and sat on by Warner Brothers for a couple of years, the film adaptation of Stephen King’s1978 novel finally released on Max just in time for Halloween.  Fans of the book will tune in to see if it is a faithful adaptation, but as with most movies based on the written word, adaptation can prove to be tough. The film suffers from pacing and editing issues galore. The film’s director, Gary Dauberman, claims he had…

Campus, Drama, Entertainment, Staff

Professor Frederick’s farewell production imminent

Lola Ponce

Del Mar’s very own Kim Fredrick will be retiring with his last show as a drama professor. Fredrick, a cherished figure in the drama department, is orchestrating the special production as a farewell to his long and impactful career. Having dedicated over 30 years to DMC, Fredrick is set to retire after a final showcase of “Greater Tuna,” a play that resonates deeply with him. “Of the many plays, “Greater Tuna” – I feel a connection with this play, in particular,” he shares. His connection to the play underscores his belief in its enduring charm and the joy it brings even decades…

Community, Drama, Entertainment

Giving the audiences ‘Goosebumps’

Paul Farias

For the first time ever a South Texas theater, namely Corpus Christi’s Harbor Playhouse, is staging “Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium.” Tickets can be found on Harbor Playhouse’s website at harborplayhouse.com. One of the lead actors, Abigail Martin, felt a certain kinship with her character, Brooke Rodgers. “Brooke is kind of an upbeat, optimistic fun-loving girl who loves scary stuff and that’s me really,” Martin said. The music also influenced her to audition as well. “I loved the songs ‘Babbling Brooke’ and ‘Story of the Phantom,’ and they are my second and third most-listened songs on Apple Music right now,”…

Community, Entertainment

Let’s do the time warp again at Aurora Arts

Paul Farias

For local actor Ricky Martinez, Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” was a calling. “It’s one of those shows that you kind of have to do as a performer,” said Martinez, who portrays character Brad Majors. Despite the calling, he decided to audition later in the process. “It was really a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing, I decided to audition last-minute,” said Martinez. “My voice was shot. It was a crazy audition process.” Martinez is one of many actors for this year’s installation of Aurora Arts Theater’s annual staging of “Rocky.” “With only a month and a half to stage a…

Entertainment, Movies

A cinematic journey through Chicano culture and spirituality

Lola Ponce

“Bless me, Ultima” (2013)is an emotional and powerful film adaptation of Rudolfo Anaya’s beloved novel directed by Carl Franklin. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, this film stands out as a touching exploration of cultural identity, spiritual growth, and a clash between Indigenous tradition and European religion. Set in New Mexico during World War II, “Bless me, Ultima” follows young character Antonio Márez y Luna (Luke Ganalon), a young Chicano boy who is coming of age in a world where ancient traditions and modern influences intersect. His life changes dramatically when Ultima (Míriam Colón), a curandera(healer) with deep mystical wisdom,…

Entertainment

‘Alien: Romulus’ revitalizes stale market of franchises

Bill Eaves

“Alien: Romulus” is the canonically 7th movie in Ridley Scott’s Alien Franchise, written and directed by Fede Alvarez and produced by Scott.  Fans of the Alien franchise, of which I include myself, have been counting our chickens since Alvarez was announced to helm the picture – many fans of his Evil Dead remake as well as his original horror, “Don’t Breath”.  We believed in Alvarez’ horror pedigree, and had high hopes for the gore and terror he could bring to the always endangered employees of Weyland-Yutani. And boy did he deliver. Much like Remus and Romulus founded Rome to unite…

Entertainment

The Bad Seeds: a classic 60s Corpus band

Paul Farias

For the past few issues, I’ve mentioned several modern local acts. I’ve written about the types of bands that you could go see live. This time, I’m looking back to the past for Corpus music with The Bad Seeds. Not Nick Cave’s band, but the Corpus-based garage rock band from the 1960s. Consisting of front man Mike Taylor, fellow singer and guitarist Rod Prince, bassist Henry Edgington, and drummer Bobby Donaho, the four-piece was a popular Gulf Coast rock act during the mid-60s. Ultimately, like many white-hot garage acts of the time, they fizzled out as quickly as they came…

Entertainment, Movies

Honoring female filmmakers who helped shaped the film industry behind the scenes

Heather Medina

The film industry, like many others, is male dominated. That is not to say that women haven’t played an important role in it throughout its history. There have been, and continues to be, incredible women who play a major part in making great films.   Many of these women find success behind the scenes in critical filmmaking roles. There are many amazing female writers, costumers, and editors in film. While they aren’t necessarily common household names, they work alongside male directors that you would likely recognize.  Even the iconic director Martin Scorsese has had the same female editor, Thelma Schoonmaker, since…

Entertainment

DSA-powered music at Studio B

Paul Farias

Another month, another four-band show brought me back to Studio B. On top of music, there were politics at play as well. This show was sponsored by the local Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA chapter, with all of the artists that night showing solidarity for Palestine in the midst of its ongoing conflict with Israel. Not only were there artists meeting under a cause I support, but there were a number of newer musicians performing as well. Thus, with an interest in hearing new sounds, I made my way downtown to 1609 Agnes to shoot another show. Bribba It…