South Texas Pop Culture Center: Chicano Soul Record Listening Party

South Texas Pop Culture Center:
Chicano Soul Record Listening Party
Featuring music by JJ Lopez and Alex La Rotta

I had the chance to catch up with JJ Lopez and the Alamo City Soul Club spinning records at the South Texas Pop Culture Center on a Saturday. JJ has been playing records on the San Antonio underground scene since 1997. Alex LaRotta and Jeff Blaggard formed the Alamo City Soul Club a few years ago and spin their unique sound in and around clubs and social gatherings, recently holding residency at the Limelight club. With the three DJs as scholars in their own right and that of soul music, I sat down with them to get some words on the focus of the event.

Let's talk about Chicano Soul!

Community At Large:  Soul music, a popular understanding of "soul" as a music can be defined in terms of figures such as James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and even today through artists such as Lee Fields, Sharon Jones, and others. "Chicano" being a revolutionary change concerning the identity of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans living in the U.S. With these African-American and Mexican-American cultures coming together, bringing about a new energy and ultimately creating American heritage , is that how we can define "Chicano Soul"? How would you define Chicano Soul?

JJ:

Community at Large: Taking a look around the walls here at the South Texas Popular Culture Center, we're steeped in the history of Chicano Soul as well as the cultural happenings of a post-WWII America. Was there a time frame, a certain period of the cultivation of Chicano Soul?

JJ:

CL: Given your background as a DJ spinning jazz, house, disco, soul, etc., how did you come across Chicano Soul? What caught your ear?

JJ:

CL: Speaking of Manny Castillo, on the way in I passed by the book Chicano Soul: Recordings & History of an American Culture by Ruben Molina. With this part of the history of San Antonio and South Texas being told, do you feel that the movement is gaining momentum?

JJ:

CL: It's exciting being here at a record listening party and discovering new sounds in the process. As a DJ, I understand that your tastes in music are shifting constantly. For the curious or discerning listener, what are some of the defining Chicano Soul records for someone to pick up? What would you recommend for listening?

JJ:

CL: To wrap things up, you and a host of other DJs are out at this event, helping the scene flourish. With that in mind, where do you see the future of Chicano Soul going?

JJ:

Alamo City Soul Club

Community at Large: Speaking with JJ earlier, we discussed Chicano Soul in terms of "chicano" and "soul". I find myself inspired by my parents who were a part of the Chicano movement at the University of Texas at Austin in the 1970s, listening to soul, conjunto, ranchera, and rock 'n' roll just the same. How would you define "Chicano Soul"?  

Alamo City Soul Club:

CL: Can we get a bit of your DJ history?

ACSC: 

CL: Given your eclectic backgrounds as DJs, how did you come across Chicano Soul?

ACSC:

CL: Alex, you mention your academic career. Are you pursuing music or history or cultural studies?

ACSC:

CL: Jeff, earlier you mentioned "Northern Soul". From what I understand of the movement it was started by working class young people of the northern U.K. coming together to play American dance music of the '60s and '70s. For those of us who may not be as familiar, can you shed some light on Northern Soul?

ACSC:




CL: At a time when used records were priced no higher than new releases...?

ACSC:

CL: What are some of your favorite Chicano Soul records?

ACSC:

CL: As accomplished DJs, you two are capable of playing records from the '60s alongside music released or re-released over the past decade, making for a unique set. How do you feel that Chicano Soul is relevant today? Why does it resonate?

ACSC: 




The South Texas Popular Culture Center is located at Mulberry Ave @ Broadway. Open Saturdays & Sundays - 12pm-4pm.
Tune in to KRTU 91.7 on Saturdays from 1pm-3pm to listen to the Digging Deep Soul Shakedown with JJ Lopez. He also maintains residency at Tucker's Kozy Korner, 1338 E Houston St, every 1st and 3rd Friday night.
The Alamo City Soul Club can be heard at nite clubs in and around the San Antonio area.
These interviews were recorded live on Saturday, June 23.

Gastronomy Revisited: Vol 1, Issue # 1

Where Y'At? Food Truck

Gastronomy can be defined as the relation between a culture and its food. We believe that much of the quality of that relationship has been lost due to existing phenomena in today’s society - prolonged work-days, fast food, food "deserts" etc. Our mission for this segment is to seek out and highlight quality, homegrown food in San Antonio. And what I mean by “homegrown” is food being cooked with love, food that speaks to your soul from the kitchen, from any cultural/ethnic background.

• On this episode we will be stopping by the Where Y'at? food truck with head chef Pieter Sypesteyn at the stove. With First Friday being a hotspot in the King William and Southtown districts, many San Antonians and out-of-towners make their way out to the Alamo Street Eat-Bar for a night of music, grub, art, unexpected encounters, and good times with close friends.

• After relocating from New Orleans, Pieter has made his way in San Antonio cooking fine cuisine for restaurants such as Le Reve and Il Sogno. I've had the chance to work together with Pieter at a local kitchen and he exudes passion when preparing a meal, never too busy to share knowledge of the culinary arts with those who inquire.


Community at Large: So tell us a bit about where you're from, what inspired you to cook, what you're serving up...

Pieter Sypestyn:

CL: New Orleans and San Antonio have been noted as sharing similarities in culture. What do you think about the feel of San Antonio in comparison to New Orleans? What makes San Antonio unique?

PS:


CL: Coming from New Orleans and bringing that flavor here, what are you bringing to the table, in terms of New Orleans cuisine and street food?

PS:


CL: With Le Reve as one of the top restaurants in the nation at one point, and recently your time at Il Sogno, what was it like working with Chef Andrew Weismann?

PS:


CL: Gaining experience in the world of fine dining, are those skills incorporated into presenting your street food?

PS:


CL: One last question to put you on, why should people come and try your cooking? Why should they order from Where Y’at?

PS:




Special Feature: Gumbo 101

Pete breaks down how he does his gumbo on our special feature: Gumbo 101


Pete, it’s been a pleasure to get your insight on the culinary arts. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to spend some time in your kitchen.


The Where Y’at? Food Truck can be found at the Alamo Street Eat-Bar, Boardwalk on Bulverde, and other locations around town. You can follow them online on Twitter - WhereYatSA - and at their website at thirdcoastfoodie.com.