The Armadillo Podcast

Lego Version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

In 1974 a young Tobe Hooper was looking at chainsaws at the old Capital Plaza mall and came up with the idea for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The success of this low-budget horror classic (it out-performed The Excorcist in the box office), gave birth to Austin's film industry.

Flash foward thirty years and Austin in now the number two location to be a filmmaker in the U.S., according to MovieMaker magazine.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was so influential  it inspired this very silly Lego version below, which comes complete with shocking toy violence, including the infamous sledge hammer and meat hook scenes. (Video is available after the jump.)

Enjoy.

Video Interview of Willie: On Why Cowboys (Of all Persuasion) are his Heroes

KXAN, the local NBC affiliate, scored a funny, intelligent, one-on-one interview with Willie Nelson and he talked with Michelle Valles about his new song, "Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other). At this posting, the song is currently the number four most dowloaded song on iTunes.

Regarding BrokeBack Mountain, Willie said, "It was a beautifully made movie. Ang Lee is a great director and you know the guys didn't turn me on. I saw a couple of sheep that turned me on."

Link: KXAN.com - Willie Nelson's New Song. (Click the little red camera icon on the left to see the video.)

Willie's new song about the rodeo that dare not speak its name (sorry, Oscar Wilde) can only be found on iTunes and you can download it here:    

Free 30-second previews of all songs only at iTunes.

Willie, if you see this, we'd really like to interview you on The Armadillo Podcast.

Back in Episode 9, we interviewed your buddy Kinky Friedman and he told us about naming you Energy Czar once he wins the governor's race.  Ask Kinky, he'll tell you we don't bite. As Kinky says, "Why the hell not?" (Sorry, Kinky.)

Headliner's Club: Austinites in the News

Some of our previous guests on The Armadillo Podcast have been making news of late:

Kinky Friedman became the first the first Texas gubenatorial candidate to share a dais with Peter, Paul, Mary and Arlo at Austin's Folk Alliance conference.  Kinky also has a chuckle-worthy new campaign cartoon now online.

• Interested in hearing Kinky's vision for future of Texas?   Click here for Episode 9 of The Armadillo Podcast.

Caroline A. Shearer, freelancer writer, columnist and blogger, has just been nominated as a finalist for one of the Austin 40 Under 40 Awards.  Every year, the Young Men's Business League and the Young Women's Alliance, honor Austinites who have made "substantial contributions" in their professional fields and in community service.  Caroline was one of five nominees in the Arts/Entertainment category.  It's interesting to note that of the 50 nominees, our girl Caroline is the only one listed as an "Independent."

• Hear our interview with Caroline in Episode 13.

Richard Garriott, legendary gamesmaker and creator of the soon-to-be-released Tabula Rasa game, tells Next Generation "Why You Should Never Work with Your Brother."

• Geek out with Richard during Episode 15.

Wayne Alan Brenner, is co-starring with Dan Dietz in A Human Interest Story: Or All the Gory Details, at the Blue Theater, Feb. 9 through March 4.  Go see Wayne chew the scenery and knock down the backdrops in this taut drama about a politician who chooses to end his life in front of a gaggle of reporters.

• Listen to Wayne, count how many times we bleeped him during Episode 16.

Episode 17: Michael Barnes

Our next guest, Michael Barnes, arts and entertainment editor for the Austin American-Statesman is the answer to two of the most frequently asked questions about our show.

For interview, click here to download ArmadilloPodcast17.mp3. 

First, many people outside the state ask the question "Why would anyone ever move to Texas?"

Second, people here in Austin often ask "Why for godsakes would you encourage anyone else to move here?"  This question is usually followed by a rant about the traffic, over-crowding, high housing prices, the breakdown of civil society and an overall destruction of the Austin quality of life.

Let's address the second question first.

Michael Barnes: The Secrets to Getting on the Fortunate 500 List

Were you on the Fortunate 500 list?

Last May the Austin American-Statesman caused somewhat of uproar when it published its first list of who's who in Austin.

As XL reported on the Fortunate 500:

"They're Austin's social warriors.

"You've seen them. Out there every night, making the rounds at every party. In the eye of the social storm, air-kissing and glad-handing. They're not just in the loop; they started it.

"Call them what you will: patrons, sponsors, groupies or party animals. They're the movers and shakers of Austin's social scene. They do the "face time" at the events that make Austin hum."

Next Guest: Michael Barnes

Our next guest on The Armadillo Podcast is Michael Barnes, arts and entertainment editor for the Austin American-Statesman.

He probably doesn't remember this, but I first met him over coffee at Little City, over a decade ago.  That day Michael interviewed me about a play I had written that was going into production.  Afterwards, I walked with him down Congress Avenue and over the bridge to the Statesman office.  While walking we talked about writing in general and Michael noted with not a little awe that for the first time in his life he could now list "writer" as his primary occupation.

Since then, Michael has written more than 5,000 articles on architecture, art, books, comedy, dance, movies, music, opera and theater for the American-Statesman and other publications.  Every article you read in XL, the newspaper's weekly entertainment magazine, is Michael's responsibility.

Over the years, Michael's unwavering advocacy has been the Miracle Grow on the lawn of the arts scene.  And if you're a performer or a patron of the arts, be sure and thank Michael the next time you see him.

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Bird Flu Booyah! Poking Fun at the Statesman

Tim Trentham over at Metroblogging: Austin noticed that over the weekend the Austin American-Statesman devoted seven different stories to the possible impact that a hypothetical bird flu pandemic might have here in Austin.

  chickens Originally uploaded by estherase.

Here's all seven:

1. If pandemic flu strikes, will Austin be ready?
   
2. Utilities prepare for pandemic with skeleton crews
   
3. Pandemic would not stem flow of information
   
4. Pandemic draft plan
   
5. Could Austin's entertainment industry survive flu pandemic?
   
6. Where schools stand on planning for pandemic flu
   
7. Key concern for grocers will be fresh shipments

Scary stuff, huh?

One real impact of the pandemic is that other deserving stories were pushed off the page to make room for this wall-to-wall, in depth hypothetical news.

Here's The Armadillo Podcast Top Ten Stories the Statesman Could Have Covered Instead:

1. Roadside Bombs in Hyde Park--It Might Happen, Sure
   
2. Bush SoU Address Mentions "Human-Animal Hybrids" -- The Dating Scene in Williamson County
   
3. Third Anniversary of Columbia Disaster--Is Your Car Roadworthy?
4. The US Doesn't Torture and Neither does APD
5. Vince Young's Second Cousin's Third Best Friend Who Used to Live Around the Corner from a UT Employee Once Had a Dog, but it Ran Away
6. Alito Sworn In:  Do AISD Students Swear Too Much? Vince Young Never Cusses
   
7. Deep Throat Revealed! (OK, this story is month's old, but we paid for the wire service and we're by-god going to get our money's worth. For up-to-date news, check that Internet thing, not the daily paper.)
   
8. Hey, We Got Blog-like Substances on our Website and They're Just as Good as the Real Thing
   
9. Dominatrix Gets Off  - featured front page, top of fold, bold print, 175 pt. font
10. Charles Whitman's Reign of Terror atop UT Tower (Look, I told you, the wire service is paid for, there's nothing we can do about it)
    

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Coincidentally, our next guest on The Armadilo Podcast will be Michael Barnes, arts and entertainment editor for the Austin American-Statesman.

We didn't ask Barnes anything about why the Statesman does this or that--simply because it would wreck out credibility as pretend journalists. OK, full disclosure:  We also really, really want to be on the Fortunate 500 list again this year.

We did talk to Barnes about the arts in Austin and we hope you'll come back again later to hear our interview.

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The Best Political Anthem by an Austin Musician (Ever): "Long Long Time" by Guy Forsyth   

Episode 16: Wayne Alan Brenner

Austinite Wayne Alan Brenner makes people think.

Reading his novels or plays, watching him act or hearing him rant at open mic night is a bit like going to the doctor.  Sometimes it's uncomfortable. Sometimes it even hurts.  But if you behave, he'll give you a lollipop when it's all over.

To listen to The Armadillo Podcast interview with Brenner, click here to Download ArmadilloPodcast16.mp3

 

Re-Calling All Austin Creative Types

Today is the the last day to give the City of Austin your thoughts on the future of arts and culture here at longitude 30°18'01" North, latitude 97°44'50" West. (More after the arty photo...)

umlaf5bw, originally uploaded by John Gusky.

The Cultural Arts Division (CAD) of Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services office is launching a program to take the pulse of the community, then implement strategies to help further develop the arts, culture and creative industries in Austin.

In the first step of this two-year process, CAD has set up a survey to hear your thoughts on the future of the arts in Austin. Today is the last day to participate.  Take the Cultural Assessment Survey by clicking here now.

The Many Moods of Wayne Alan Brenner

We were in the middle of editing of our interview with Wayne Alan Brenner when our crack team in The Armadillo Podcast research department turned up some rather strange images.  It appears that Mr. Brenner has been leading a dual life and we'll need to investigate this further.

When the research department found this image, we knew immediately that to consider ourselves conscientious blogger/podcaster/faux journalists we'd have to report this in full.

See the image after the jump...