Harpists Play Heavy Metal

Harptallica, a duo of ladies that play the harp, are a really weird pair. They play covers by Metallica, Led Zeppelin and more… on their harp! Now that’s strange, but a definitely pleasing feeling to hear the melodies of songs often associated with loud noise and hard rock. They came to Austin at the end of January to play at Headhunter’s, the local venue downtown.

Here they appear playing Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” at Headhunter’s.

Whether Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World or not is open to debate. To me it’s more marketing than anything, but what’s certainly true is that the city’s got as many venues playing live as the sea’s got sand. There’s just no end to them! Some open and become legendary, like Antone’s or theContinental Club. Others suffer a more unfortunate fate, like the deceased Armadillo World Headquarters or the Steamboat. What’s also evident is that music genres abound. From country, electronica and hip-hop to death metal, R&B and alternative rock, Austin has music for all tastes. So for a city like Austin, Harptallica’s performance was a perfect fit. 

Beard, anyone?

Misprint Magazine hosted a beard and mustache contest at the Mohawk Feb. 20. Is that crazy or what? When I got word I was like, “Of course, it could only happen in Austin.” There I was, thinking Austin could be the only place to host such a thing. How naive of me! Things got weirder when I googled mustache contests and there it was: the World Beard and Mustache Championships. REALLY, it exists!

Talk about weird beards, those on display at the World Beard and  Mustache Championships are the weirdest by far. Some are shaped like octopus tentacles, others reach the belly button. Some shapes are impossible to describe.

Photo by Chrontourage under Creative Commons license.

World championships are like the major leagues for whatever subject in question. In the case of beard contests, people in Austin came together and embraced their hippiness. It’s like why not let nature do its thing? Maybe trim it here and there so it doesn’t look too shabby but kudos if it’s uber stylish!

Tell me something new, this happens a lot in Austin! Which is why it’s fun to point it out. It’s so Austin that people gather to celebrate their hippiness.

There were various categories people could enter to win, for example Best Groomed, FIercest Chops, Freestyle, Sweetest Moustache, Gnarliest Beard, and… (drumroll) Ladies!

Photo by Chrontourage under Creative Commons license.

Remember Salvador Dalí? His mojo was definitely enhanced by the eccentric mustache he wore.

Image taken from Wikipedia.

Boom Chic-A-Boombox

Remember the 80s when kids walked around with speakers on their shoulder? The Boombox. YEAH. Well now that CDs are out of fashion and cassettes are obsolete, you would imagine the boombox would have disappeared. Wrong. I encountered a handmade mixture of a boombox meets ipod generation on Tuesday while standing outside Terra Burger waiting for some free lunch. Yes! They were giving away freebies! But that’s beside the point. 

Isa Pruitt modeling her boombox bag.

Isa Pruitt was wearing this lovely piece she made herself while waiting for the line to go through, and thank God she was because I don’t know what I would’ve done without some music for the wait. She said the bag was from Peru but that she bought it in Austin, and she ordered the speakers from eBay and they cost her $5. She admitted though that she didn’t come up with the idea. She was inspired by the boom box clutch sold at Urban Outfitters.

Hear her play “Air War,” a song by Crystal Castles, a duo from Canada that you should definitely check out if you haven’t yet. And if you live in Austin, say hoorah because they’re coming to La Zona Rosa April 13!