bam zine issue #1
DESCRIPTION
Brownsville Artists and Musicians (BAM) is a collaborative experiment that willingly goes against the grain of the institutionalized arts in pursuit of the marginalized and misunderstood creatives of Brownsville and the surrounding South Texas region. BAM is not another player in the "scene," rather, it is a facilitator and collaborator for the creative class and what can best be described as an "authentic urban venue" for the downtown Brownsville area. /////// SXSM edition featuring short stories, poetry and original photography by Brownsville, TX artists.TRANSCRIPT
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BAM
southXsouthmost2015
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INSTABAMCheck out these posts from folks who have checked into BAM on Instagram and don’t forget to follow us @BAM78520!
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BrownsvilleArtistsandMusicians(BAM)isacollaborativeexperimentthatwillinglygoesagainstthegrainoftheinstitutionalizedartsinpursuitofthemarginalizedandmisunderstoodcreativesofBrownsvilleandthesurroundingSouthTexasregion.BAMisnotanotherplayerinthe“scene,”rather,itisafacilitatorandcollaboratorforthecreativeclassandwhatcanbestbedescribedasan“authenticurbanvenue”forthedowntownBrownsvillearea.
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Carlos Solitaire III: Co-Owner, CEO and Booking Agent
Josh Morales: Sound Guy
Mike Quinones: Go To Guy--He Does it All
Farmertron: Promotions and Clean Up Crew
Karina Gonzalez: Promotions and Clean Up Crew
Brandi Beltran and Xavier Castaneda: Arts Coor-dinator (Brandi), Promotions and Clean up Crew
BAM101
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Michelle “MoshiMoshi” Serrano: Co-Owner, Director of Operations
WELCOME TO
SOUTHXSOUTHMOST SouthbySouthmost,orSXSM,isatributetothesouthernmostpartofTexasandwheremanyoftheartistsperformingcallhome.ManymusiciansontheothersideofthehipandtrendyspotsoftheSouthTexasregionwilltellyouthattherehasneverreallybeenasteadyspottoshowcasetheirsoundinBrownsville,optingtotraveltoHalingenorMcAllenorevenmovingtoSanAntonioorAustin.KeepingtheflamealiveinBrownsvilleneededtohappen,butnobodywaswillingtostepuptotheplate.Manyhavetried,butrealdealcollaborationandvenueparticipationhasneverhappenedbefore.ThequestionmanyaskiswhythereissuchfragmentationintheBrownsvillemusicscene?IsitacarryoverofHaciendaculture?Aresultofpostcolonialbrowbeating?Thetruthis--wehavealwaysbeentoldtobeguiltyforhavinganymorethana“proper”goodtime.TherearemanymisconceptionsonwhatattendeesorbandsdoataBAMshowbythemainstreamestablishment.Yes,sometimespeoplemove,theydance,theysweatandtheymakecontactwitheachotherphysically.
Thesevisceralexperiencesarebeautifulandunparalleledinvenuesofestablishment.It’syouthculture,it’sBrownsville’syouth.Yourbestandbrightesthavebrokenthemoldandarenotonlybrilliantthinkers,buthavebrillianttalents.BAMconsidersthismusicshowcaseafoundationforourmusicalcompatriotstoplanttheirflagsdowntownandtoletothervenueownersknowthatjustbecausetheydidn’taskfor$500forplayinganhourset,doesn’tmeantheyaren’tGOOD.Farfromthat,themusicfromtheRioGrandeValleyandBrownsvilleisrichindiversityandbeliefs,culturesandlifestylesthatwedeeplyrespect.ThefollowingtwodayswillbeacelebrationoftheamalgamationofMexican,SouthTexasandAmericanculturethatisunlikeanythingelseyouwillfindinthecountry.Borderlifemakesusalittlebitdifferentandsometimesthatmisfitstatusmakesgreatmusic.JUSTLISTENandyouwillsee.Cheerstobreakingmolds!
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WHERE’S THE
PARTY?BAM
1405 E. WASHINGTON STBROWNSVILLE, TEXAS 78520
*BYOB
EL HUESO DE FRAILE837 E. ELIZABETH ST
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS 78520*48 CRAFT BEERS, $4-$6
HALF-MOON SALOON1101 E ADAMS ST
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS 78520*$3 DRAFT, $4 MARGARITA
HAVEN1237 E ADAMS ST
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS 78520*$3 DOMESTIC, $3 WELL,
$1 HAVEN SPECIAL
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ALL GO
OD THING
S MU
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A SLO
PPY EN
D,Co
nrad
o Go
nzale
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MARIA CANTU,Conrado Gonzalez
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UNTITLED,Veronica Gaona 8
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FRIDAY DAY 1BAM
7:00=7:30•IDLE VISION7:45-8:15•MODERN STUDIES8:30-9:00•DIGIBOYS9:15-9:45•INGRATE10:00-10:30•STANTON10:45-11:15•PINKY SWEAR11:30-12:15•BERZOI12:30-1:45•XETASMILK VINYL DJ SET BETWEEN SETS
8:10-8:35•LOZ8:40-8:55•NEW ERA HIPPIES9:00-9:15•CHARZ9:20-9:35•SOUTH COAST ARMY9:40-9:55•XELA10:00-10:15•SOKOHL10:15-10:25•Ozzy/Instrumental DJ Set10:30-10:45•LIL PAX10:50-11:05•SYCOSIS11:15-11:30•ALEX MONTANA11:40-11:55•CONSCIOUS12:00-12:15•A-DRE12:20-12:35•BILLY YOUNG12:40-12:55•EVOLVE1:00-1:15•MARQUEES1:20-1:35•FARMERTRON AUTOMATIC
7:30-8:00•RELIVING CAPE YORK8:15-8:45•MATHILDA9:00-9:30•GRAYSON9:45-10:15•RADIOBOT10:30-11:00•WINTER TEXAN11:15-11:45•OIL
Emilio Crixell & The Bluzanos
MariianaMickey
The Blitz
STUDIO1045
HAVENEL HUESODE FRAILE
HALF-MOONSALOON
881
HIP-HOPSHOWCASE *
*
*CHECK VENUE FOR START TIMES AND LINE UP
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SATURDAY DAY 2
9:00-9:45•SECRETS TOLD IN SILENCE9:45-10:45•VALLES FLYING MACHINE10:45-11:30•THE BOLOS11:30-12:15•THE OBLIOS12:15-1:00•THE RICH HANDS1:00-1:45•OUTSIDE THE RAIN
Los DabsRoleros Cosmicos
7:30-8:00•PAZUZU8:15-8:45•UNDERMINE AUTHORITY9:00-9:30•DIVISION TWO9:45-10:15•INDECISIVES10:30-11:00•THE LOW ENDS11:15-11:45•THE FOLLIES
7:00-7:30•MRA7:45-8:15•PALM LEAF SKYLINES8:30-9:00•LA RATERA9:15-9:45•FANTASTICO10:00-10:30•DEZORAH10:45-11:30•TELE NOVELLA11:45-12:30•FEA12:45-1:30•PINATA PROTESTUNIPORN DJ BETWEEN SETS
STUDIO1045
HAVEN
EL HUESODE FRAILE
Juice Neo-Soul Quintet
HALF-MOONSALOON
YIPPEE KI YAY RECORDS:
TEXAS CARAVAN TOUR
BAM
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Sex workers are laborers just like everybody else, and deserve the same basic human, civil, and labor rights as their employees and clients. The discourse on sex workers as criminals or victims is really a classist argument in disguise—all that is really argued is, “Who gets to be treated how according to their labor class?“ Those who work in the sex industry are not only often arrested for their work, fired without cause, but also denied recognition of employee status and taxed as independent contractors. Sex workers are also more prone to experience violence due to discrimination against the work they do, their class, and identity, worsened by heteronormativity and gender norms (while both are changing, they aren’t changing quickly enough). Deviance and stigma do serve a purpose, but far too often, and especially in this case, it is being misdirected, resulting in the unjust discrimination, exploitation, and ultimately, violence against those who just want to get by, all because of outdated and outmoded ways of thinking.
Because a lot of sex work is criminalized, and has historically lacked unions and similar organizations, sex workers throughout the world have very little representation against that which looms over them. By unionizing, however, some sex workers have been able to demand rights like full protection of all existing laws regardless of the context and without discrimination (including laws to protect them from harassment, violence, threats, theft, health and safety), and full access to non-discriminatory health checks and medical advice loudly and clearly.1
But, at the end of the day, these are basic labor and human rights. We must not only end stigma against sex work but stand in solidarity with sex workers and all workers as well—those who work in the sex industry are no different from the other works who are exploited under modern capitalism. How can we fight for workers to have the same basic rights if we divide labor into classes? We must consolidate to better fight class struggle, and when we do, we will come ever closer to true equality
1 “International Union of Sex Workers.” International Union of Sex Workers RSS. IUSW, 2002. Web. 20 July 2015.
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LIFE IS A SLUT,Eduardo Martinez-Blanchard
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SENOR CATOLICO,Veronica Gaona
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ADAMS ST,Josie Del Castillo
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RicardoandJustinwerecompadres.
JustinhadknownRicardoforalmosttwodecadessinceRicardohadmovedfromMercedestomakehishomeinBrownsville,orBrowntownaslocalscalledthebordercity.
Neitherhadreallybaptizedeachother’schildren,butaftersome20ormoreyearsoffriendship,bothconsideredeachothertobeascloseasafriendcouldbe.
TheyhaddiscussedbaptizingRicardo’sdaughterCristinawhenshewasjustoneyearold,butthatwasblind-sidedbyaseriesofmishapsthateventuallyledtoJustintocoolhisheelsinthecountyjailforaweek.JustinandRicardoagreedtobecompadreswhiletheysatinRicardo’sbackyardsippingonsomebeersoneSundayafternoon.SinceJustinwasnotlivingwithawomanatthetime,theyagreedtoaskJulia,Ricardo’ssister-in-lawtostandinwithJustin.
JuliawasmarriedtoAdamBeto,anoldlawyerwhosometimessatinasajudgeinthelocalcountycourts.WhenBetofoundoutthatthefriendsweregoingtobecompadresandthathiswifewasgoingtostandinasacomadrewithJustin,hetookmattersintohishands.Justinhadbeenconvictedofadrinkingwhiledrivingundertheinfluenceviolationaboutayearbeforeandwasonprobation.WhenaprobationrevocationhearingwasheldonJustin’scaseformissinganappointment,hegothischance.
WhenJustinappearedtowhathethoughtwouldbearoutinehearingwherehewouldgetachancetoarguethathehadmadeupthemissedappointmentthenext
El CompadrE or
Just thE Way I lIkE thEm
ByJuanMontoya
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day,turnedinsteadintoadisaster.Sincehislawyerhadn’tarrived,hetoldBetoaboutthemade-upappointment.
“Ididn’taskyoutomakeexcuses,”BetofumedatJustin.“Ifyoudon’tcomplywiththetermsoftheprobation,yougotojail.We’llgiveyourlawyerachancetospeakforyouwhenhegetshere,ifhegetshere.”
Justinshouldhaveseenitcoming.Inthecaserightbeforehishearing,aclean-cutyoungmaninasuitwasendinghistwoyearsofprobationforwritingbadchecks.Hisprettywifeandnewbabysatinthebenchesbehindthedefendant’stable.
“Ihavemadefullrestitutiontoeachoneofthepersonswhogotthechecks,”saidtheyoungman.“Idon’tevenhaveacheckingaccountanymore.Iammarriednowandwejustgotanewbaby.Ihavelearnedfrommymistake,judge.Thedistrictattorneyhasalsoagreedthatprobationshouldbeendedbythiscourt.”
“Ididn’tagreewithanybodyaboutanyprobation,”shotbackBetofromthebench.“Bailiff,puthiminacell.”
Theaudiencesatlookingoninstunnedsilence.
“AndI’mnext,”thoughtJustin,lookingaroundtotherearofthecourtroomtoseeifhisattorneyLuisChuecohadarrived.Hewaslateasusual,andtoldthecourthehadaprevioushearinginaneighboringtown.Helookedasifhewerenursingahorriblehangover.
“Ionlycarewhathappensinthiscourt,”Betoretorted.“I’mgoingtorevokeyourclient’sprobation.Puthiminjail,bailiff.”
Thateffectivelycastawetblanketonthebaptismforthewould-becompadres.PleastoBetothathereleaseJustinfellondeafears,ThemoreJustin’sfriendsandpoliticalacquaintancescalledBeto,themorerecalcitranthebecame.
“Ifanyoneelsecomesandtalkstomeaboutthatcase,I’llincreasethesentence,”hetoldalocalcountycommissionerwhointercededinJustin’sbehalf.
Andso,JustincooledhisheelsforafullweekbeforeBetorelentedandreleasedhim.
Fromthereon,RicardoandJustinactedasiftheywerereallycompadres,eventhoughCristinawasneverformallybaptized.
OneoftheirfavoritepastimeswasgirlwatchingastheydrovealongElizabeth,thecity’smainstreet
Saturdayafternoon.RicardowouldslowdownastheypassedprettygirlsonthesidewalkandwouldtellJustin,“Lookcompadre,justthewayIlikethem.”
Justinknewhiscompadre’slikesbecausehehadheardthemsooften.“Lithe,brown-skinned,withlongblackhairandbrowneyes.That’sthewayIlikemywomen,compadre,”Ricardowouldtellhim.
OnoneSaturdayafternoon,theydrovealongthecity’smainstreetanddoubledbackalongtheneighboringstreetoglingatthescoresofyoungwomendottingthesidewalks.Therewasnoshortageofprettygirlsintownmostweekends.OnSaturdays,thebordertownwascrawlingwithpeople,manyofthemresidentsofneighboringMatamoros,Mexico.Thefriendsthenwalkedintoaloungetogetoutfromunderthescorchingheat.
“Theresurearealotofgood-lookingwomenouttoday,”RicardotoldJustinastheysatdownatabarstool.“And...”
“Iknow.Iknow.Justthewayyoulikethem,”Justincompletedhissentence.
Theafternoonturnedintoeveningbeforethefriendswalkedoutoftheloungeandheadedforaclubinthecity’sseedierside.Notafewofthewomenatthesebarswereonthemoredaringside,andifyouplayedyourcardsright,somethingelsemighthappenafterclosingtime.
However,despitehistalk,Justinhadneverseenhisfriendconnectwithanyofthem.Usually,theywouldoftenendupdrivinghomeafterclosingtimetosleepintheirrespectivehomes.
Nonetheless,Ricardoneverlackedoptimismthathecouldsnagababe.Whathelackedinlooks,hemadeupinbravado.
“Lookcompadre,justthewayIlikethem,”hewouldtellJustinasheelbowedJustintogethisattention.
Asthenightdraggedon,thesmokeinthebarsoondrovethemawayfromthetavernsandtheystartedforhome.
JustinwasdrivingthatnightandhetookRicardohome.Asheturnedinhisfriend’sdriveway,thefrontporchdoorcameon.Behindthescreendoor,hesawRicardo’swifestandingresolutelyinthedoorway.Shewasnotahappycamper,andsheheldsomethinglong,round,andmenacinginherhands.Itwasasighttomakegrownmencringe.Ricardoreluctantlyalightedfromhisfriend’scar.
Justincouldn’thelphimself,evenifitwashiscompadre.
“Lookcompadre,justthewayyoulikethem,”hesaidashedroveaway.
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NUNCA ESTAS SOLO CON UN CIGARILLO, Veronica Gaona
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Thebeautyofthesilenceservesonlyatransientpleasuretothedeafeningnatureoflife.
Thecoolbreeze,areminderofthatheatwhichawaits.
Sadly,themovementoflifeis,andcannevertornfromitscompanion,thestillnessofdeath.
Whythencherishthesilence,thecoolbreeze,yetbefearfulofdeath?
Forwithoutit,thewonderoflifeisnomore!
Sibilantshiveringsighs
cascadingonmycraniumfins
carryingthemerrymelodyofour
sexualsymphonyintomybrain,
burned,branded,burnished–
cryout!noonetohear,
cryout!noonetofear,
cryout!onlyushere,
turnthevolumehigher.
Thereisnosuchthingasaperfectpoem–
thereissuchathingasaperfectass.
Ihaveyettopenaperfectpoem–
Ihaveoftenmadeaperfectass;
ofmyself,manytimes–
orsoI’vebeentold.
IfonlyIcouldbecomeso
proficientwithmypoetry.
IfIcouldIwouldthenbethe
poetlaureateofperfectasses.
PERFECT ASSby Craig Price
SIBILANT SHIVERING SIGHSby Craig Price
UNTITLEDby Daniel Cantu
POETRY
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BAM OFFICIAL ZINE, 2015EDITOR IN CHIEF / BEATRIX LESTRANGESUPERVISING EDITOR / MOSHI MOSHI SOLITAIRECONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS / VERONICA GAONA, JOSIE DEL CASTILLO, CONRADO GONZA-LEZ, EDUARDO MARTINEZ-BLANCHARDCONTRIBUTING WRITERS / MOSHI MOSHI SOLITAIRE, JUAN MONTOYA, CRAIG PRICE, DANIEL CANTU, NATALIA, ROCAFUERTEFACEBOOK.COM/BAMTEXAS
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