The Mother Hips from SXSW 2009

Local Natives
up n comers – catchy songs and amazing singers.
2pm • The Parish (NPR) Listen Live on KUT

Fader Fort – Thursday Lineup Highlights
3:45 Neon indian
4:30 Local Natives
5:15 Bomba Estereo
6:45 the Morning Benders
7:30 Fucked Up

Dam Funk
3:30pm • Carniville Party

The Mother Hips!
5pm • Kayceman Treehouse Party @ Cheers – FREE!
11pm • Encore patio (official sxsw)
the Fathers of Califonia Soul are back in Austin – DON’T MISS THEM

Lissie
8pm • The Parish (official sxsw)
great vocals – great songs and a magnetic presence

Mountain Man (check out my interview w/ them)
9pm • Buffalo Billiards (official sxsw)
trio of girl singers from vermont – spooky and beautiful folk hymns

The Low Anthem
10pm • Palm Door (official sxsw)
Don’t call it Americana – great songs, rootsy, real, raw vocals

jj
10pm • Mohawk Patio (sxsw)
Mysterious electro pop from Sweden w/ sexy female vocals

Holy Fuck
11pm • Mohawk Patio (sxsw)
Amazing instrumental band from Toronto. Thom Yorke digs it.

Taco Town is getting pumped up about tonight’s National Championship football game featuring our Texas Longhorns vs. The Alabama Crimson Tide.  I know Holy Taco has their mind on other aspects of the game, but we just had to chime in, considering the major taco-related developments concerning 2 Alabama players.  Burnt Orange Nation sums it up for us:

Update on Rolando McClain’s and Rod Woodson’s stomach viruses, which apparently came from bad tacos (which of course is an oxymoron, as there is no such thing as a bad taco, only tacos that make you more sick than other tacos). They will both play tomorrow, but both have been held out of practice and may have some trouble with stamina and cramping in the game as they struggle the rehydrate.

and blogger EDSBS smells a conspiracy:

Now: what do Texans pride themselves on? Besides the wanton use of firearms, Vince Young, titties, and the innate supremacy of their good-but-let’s-not-go-overboard-you-hipster-shitbags music scene?* That’s right: Mexican food. Go anywhere and Texans will whinge and bemoan the current unacceptable state of their taco, sometimes even doing this while standing in the middle of a restaurant in Oaxaca, because “Mexican food in Texas is better than Mexican food made in Mexico!”

Can’t really argue with that logic, but hold on – there’s other suspects in this crime: who could defend the state of California and their baja chipotle fish tacos garbage?…Fish and shrimp will always be the most dangerous tacos – and we have plenty of soiled undergarments to prove that/ plus SoCal’s own Poison made a comeback, and lots of people are throwing up from that, so…I’d say the jury’s still out.

Bottom Line here – Tacos are good – bad tacos are better because they destroy the bowels of your enemy.  You call it food poisoning – We’ll call it Destiny! Hook em Horns!!

-cabeza

Murder Scene: La Sureña Taco Trailer (credit AAS)

Austin Police are still searching for the gunman who shot and killed a 43 year-old employee Sunday afternoon at the La Sureña Taco Trailer (translation: “The Southern”) on South Congress near Stassney. {google street view}.

Hispanic male in his mid-20s to early 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build, wearing a yellow shirt under a dark jacket and dark baseball cap, walked up to the taco stand about 3 p.m. and shot the man working inside, police said. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene. statesman article >

TacoTown has never tried La Sureña, but it’s about 100 feet away from Chilango’s, which is easily one of the best taco trailers in Austin.  We assume its a newer operation, cuz it seems to be in the same spot that used to be Taqueria “Angel”…

The suspect is still “on the runs“, and motive for the shooting is still unclear, though we highly suspect the chorizo.

WELL……on 2nd thought:  While TacoTown has never claimed to be a “classy” outfit, we DO apologize for the light-hearted comments on this subject.  Our hearts REALLY DO go out to the family of the victim and to all other mobile vendors in Austin.  Stay safe you guys.

-cabeza

Wow! Somehow this slipped past our habanero rubbed eyes, but it was just called to our attention that our very own CHAPPY’S Original Green Salsa was awarded honorable mention in the Individual Green Sauce division of this year’s Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival.

This is our 2nd honorable mention award in 4 years of competing at The Chronicle Fest, to go along with our two 1st place champion awards at Joby’s Hot Sauce Contest. – so we’re feeling somewhat validated and definitely movitated to make the podium next year…

after the jump: the full list of Individual winners from 2009:

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival 2009
Individual – Judged Division – Winners

Red Sauce

• 1st Place: Twyla Wick*
• 2nd Place: Michael Hutchinson*
• 3rd Place: Robert Heady*
• Honorable Mention: Heath Garcia (Hurst), Eileen Fuessel (Hutto), Maria Estela Flores, Michael Rypka, Rita Huffman, John Cunningham, Marlo Cooper, Jacob J. Serda, Mark Wayne Choban, B&R Salsa, Chris Samarripas, Adam Wear, Rene Moreno

Green Sauce

• 1st Place: Karen Kessel*
• 2nd Place: Gary Peifer*
• 3rd Place: Brett Appolito*
• Honorable Mention: Eric Reyes, Célangé Santiso, Bobby Nall, Kala Uprety, Dustin & Evan Bozarth (TacoTown.org)

Special Variety

• 1st Place: Burt Friedman*
• 2nd Place: Jim Hoppers*
• 3rd Place: Carol Castillo* (Dallas)
• Honorable Mention: Austin Shockley & Caleb Dawson, Russell & Mattie Lewis, Shane Crawford, Patty Tomasco, Melonie Canga, Jason Parsons, Sonya Miller, Andrea Christi Michelle, Célangé Santiso, Michelle Hardy

Photo by John Anderson

Much Respek to the brothers Vallejo and their 2nd annual Pachanga Latino Music fest this past weekend in East Austin.  The fest was huge success by all accounts…but more importantly, they managed to expand the definition of “a musical instrument” to include the BBQ Grill.

Serrano’s owner Adam Gonzales actually cooked fajitas LIVE, onstage during the Panchanga All Stars set – a super-group featuring members of Vallejo and Grupo Fantasma, with Michael Ramos, Willie Alvarado, Haydn Vitera and a bunch more…

Now TacoTown calls that innovation.

Full Festival Review here >

Generic Mexican?

After 5 years in the same downtown location, Emilia Hurtado Doña Emilia’s mgmt must’ve realized,

“Well, shit…a 250 seat Columbian restaurant may not be working here…and Austinites DO love their tacos- so, if I cant beat em- I’ll JOIN em’!”

On January 8th,  the restauant will re-open at the same location as Latin Café – how’s that for generic?  Apparently, “Latin” includes Tex-Mex, South American & Caribbean options- check out the new menu here…One interesting item is the breakfast taco with coffee crusted carne asada beef & pico.

While I can’t say I’m optimistic about the new direction (do i smell the lingering stench of a doomed location? nope – that’s just my upper lip apparently- matt’s el rancho started there over 50 yrs ago- cabeza=pwned) look for a review very soon.

- cabeza

Latin Café · 101 San Jacinto Blvd · 512.478.2520 · donaemilias.com

• The Chronicle’s Hot Sauce Festival is this Sunday August 24

Its that time of year again.  The music is better (Heathens, Black Joe Lewis, etc), the judges are qualified (Robb Walsh, Tyson Cole) and the food vendors are tasty (Curra’s, Oaxacan Tamaleo, etc) For those wanting to compete – The rules have changed a bit- possibly because of the pepper scare (see below) – basically, you must have your salsa made in a commerical kitchen if you want the public to have a taste- but its NOT mandatory for the judging portion…that should cut the lines down considerably for the tasting tents.  It should be HOT too, so come prepared/ <More info> <Louis Black’s Diatribe>

• Be Careful…

…where you buy those fresh jalapeno’s for your salsa making projects this weekend- Mexican-grown peppers are the likely cause of the latest salmonella outbreak- and many smaller stores & restaurants are still serving them, according to reports…Cabeza has been eating copious amount of mexican peppers in order to build an immunity… <USA TODAY: Mexican peppers posing salmonella risk still being sold>

• Over-Hyped but Under-Sold?

Our doppelgangers at Taco Journalism recently did a piece on Austin’s most over-hyped tacos.  While I applaud their excellent use of “no mames” (and am aware of the very real dangers of hipster hype), I should also point out that “over-hyped” doesn’t necessarily mean bad food.  Notorious hipster havens  Torchy’s & El Chilito actually DO have some of the best and most adventurous tacos in this town. AND I for one refuse to let hype, price, or hipsters OR Yuppies stand in my way of a good taco.  Alas, i’ve always scratched my head about taco shack’s breakfast taco (especially the chorizo= dogfood)…i guess its the safe, gringo gateway drug into the sleazier (and more rewarding) side of tacos.  yuppy-gringo hype….I DO like their crispy beef tacos, though.

-cabeza

Dubbed the TOXIC TRIANGLE, its the 20,000 home subdivision in the southwest part of San Antonio, TX [map] – built atop a former Air Force base. Years of chemical spills, careless dumping and undocumented disposal of mystery barrels have left the area’s water supply contaminated with a dealy plume of cancer-causing chemicals, including Trichloroethylene (TCE)- which has been linked to serious health effects including liver, kidney and breast cancer. Literally hundreds of Toxic Triangle residents have died of cancer over the past 10 years.

While the Air Force authorities have assumed the burden of cleaning up the mess, they still view the cancer studies as inconclusive, and “to bitter, impatient residents, the Air Force’s reluctance to take direct blame for the incidence of disease in the area is demonstrated by what they consider to be an outrageously slow, half-hearted cleanup effort.” SA Current – Full Article here

“WTF does this have to do with Tacos?” you ask??

Well, now the Air Force is pulling what i can only decribe as Taco Town’s Conspiracy Mashup of The Year- combining overt racism with pass-the-buck right wing science (ala global warming denial) Brilliant!

The Airforce is funding (at least partially) a study into the theory that this cancer plague is actually caused by corn tortillas! Here’s their only evidence:

Donnelly says a study in Africa found that a toxic mold sometimes found naturally in corn and grains is believed to be a contributing factor to liver cancer cases among some local residents there, but those people also suffered from hepatitis, or had other liver problems.
“There was a study that was specifically done in South Texas that showed that there are certain corn products that do have relatively high levels of these chemicals in them,” explained Dr. Donnelly, “So, yes, we are suspicious of corn products.” …Full Article Here

What genius came up with this one? Could it be an Aggie scientist (irony in itself)? YES!…I can see it now: “Well, ders lots o’ mexicans over there in San Antonio…bet they eat lots o’ tacos n corn n shit…maybe we can blame it on the tacos?”

You know what else causes cancer? EVERYTHING! cigarettes, red meat, sweet n low, diet coke, computers, microwaves, cell phones…etc…oh and also massive amounts of TCE!!!

But surely this has nothing to do with a Giant PLUME of toxic waste in those mexicans’ drinking water!…Nahhh…its the tortillas…and genetics…

FUCK THAT!!!
- Cabeza.

after the break: links to more info about this mess

further reading:
Graphic: Map of Kelly AFB contaminated Plume
Graphic: TCE’s effects on the body
Video: WOAI ‘s Story
WOAI’s Story: Corn Tortilla’s Causing Cancer?
SA Current Story: Frustrations persist for ‘toxic triangle’
Article: Death Among Residents in Latino Community

ATSDR’s 1999 Public Health Assessment
Related info: TCE Blog