Victoria House

Victoria House is a private residence that has dedicated the majority of its space and time to fostering Beaumont's underground arts scene since 2010. We represent local artists. We promote worthy events. We book shows at supportive venues. We work with several businesses, organizations, and festivals to do the best we can do for the people who need art to make their lives worth living, and the artists who are worth our investment. We need to spread the word about local creative outlets to the bored masses who are convinced that our city is nothing but country cover bands and oil refineries. We open our home as a free B&B for overnight guests who are touring the country creating artwork of many kinds. We open our home as an art gallery for burgeoning local artists that need a space to show. We open our home to art aficionados coming to check out the latest creations we have on display. We open our home as a listening room for talented and dedicated musicians and folks who appreciate original music. We open our home as a safe space for the misfits of our community. UPCOMING SHOWS: check it out here. SUPPORT US: via Patron

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Hanging Out with the MaxiFads 

by Daniel Pemberton 

The MaxiFads are a new punk band out of Beaumont, Texas who will be opening up the annual Christmas Band Nite at the Art Studio on the night of Dec 25th. The band’s members are a synthesis of past local punk groups that have existed on different sides of the punk genre but nonetheless complement each other. I stopped by their last practice session before the show and got a chance to talk with them about the adventure of starting a new project, how they found their sound, and what the fuck they are actually screaming about.

The makeshift “practice room” is located in the living room of an unassuming split level a few minutes outside of the southwest corner of Beaumont. Sandwiched between a U-Haul location and a refinery currently undergoing renovations. Don’t let the modest space fool you, something is brewing here. Fast paced three-chord rock riffs scream out of the amps of the two guitarists Jared Hughes and Ryan Thomas, while bassist Philip Rhodes and drummer Noah Gates keep a tight rhythm section, an essential element to any punk act. Vocalist Braleigh Sparks sits on a grungy couch, mouthing the lyrics. She assures me that she is fine, just saving her voice for the performance.

“I am having to sing a lot louder than I am used to with this type of music. Of course, I am used to projecting, but what we are doing is much more aggressive”, says Sparks, “ It was definitely a shock for my voice when I first came in. I don’t know what I was expecting but I was worried I would damage my voice or put it out, anxious I would want to do something in the future but would ruin my voice here. But I decided I want to do something now, I want to create music now”. This urgency can be felt coming from all members of the band, having only been a project for a handful of months and already eager to perform. Some of the songs they will be playing are only a few weeks old, but bassist Rhodes says that the most important thing is to get out and just play as many shows as they can to build momentum.

Instrumentally the band falls somewhere in the neighborhood of Husker Du and that era of Descendants when they were actually good, young and full of snot. Of course, the MaxiFads agree with this assessment, but according to Hughes their main goal is to just make “loud noises and punk rock”. While Rhodes says, “I feel like we are definitely rooted in the core of punk rock. But at the same time, we are trying to be different. I mean everyone is trying to be different. If you are in a band you are trying to do something different and you are probably still going to sound like someone else”.

When asked about what they were setting out to do when they first got started, guitarist Ryan Thomas just shrugs and answers, “We really didn't have a single direction we wanted to go in, we were really just jamming”. Rhodes jumps in to clarify, “There were definitely some difficulties at first. With Ryan and Noah coming from a hardcore punk background they wanted to play everything super fast, much faster than I was used to. It was about finding that happy median most of the time”.“That is still something we are trying to do, to be honest”, adds Hughes, getting a laugh from his bandmates. “ It is kinda like all of our different sounds mixed together. Like you have Noah and Ryan who come from a more hardcore background and then you have me coming from Delicious Fuzz which was kinda more pop-punk I guess and we kinda combined those two things. Along with some other elements, I think Jared brings this surf rock thing”.

Rhodes tells me that they spent their first few months fiddling around with a few songs that just were not going anywhere, but that their creativity really took off when Sparks joined the group.

“Yeah we started writing more but we didn't really have a direction which I think came from not having a singer or any lyrics for that matter, it was all just music. Braleigh was coming to our practices with Ryan and she was here most of the time and hearing us play these songs and finally one day it just made sense for her to be our singer because she was here anyway, she knew the songs better than anyone, and she literally sat down at one of our sessions and just wrote lyrics to those three songs. And that was the point where we were all like, dude she just wrote lyrics for three songs in an hour this is going somewhere.” says Rhodes.

But Sparks clarifies that the creative momentum is sustained by every member of the group, “Noah and Ryan also wrote the riffs for a few songs so it wasn't just me that kickstarted the band. Everyone has played a part in keeping up the creative pace. It is the fact that everybody in the band contributes to the writing process whether it be riffs or lyrics or whole songs. So we get to see a bit of all of us in the music”. When Sparks was asked about how she studies up on her punk singing, something entirely new to her before this project, she drops one name, “Kathleen Hannah”. But although they have this vocal influence Thomas is clear to point out that they are not necessarily a riot grrl band. “I would say the vocal style is riot grrl but the music isn't riot grrl because it is not really politicised music about gender equality specifically. That is something we may want to talk about in our music down to road but currently, none of our songs are explicitly political”. Rhodes jokes that if they did decide to explore more political territory, “Now would be the perfect time for it with everything going on”.

So if the band isn't singing about politics, then what are they singing about?

“We have one song about the government stealing peoples brains”, says Gates, “That is about as political as we have gotten so far”.

“We have one about panic attacks, anxiety,” says Sparks, on a more serious note, “I didn't want to talk about it because it is something people are having conversations about these days, I want to talk about my own personal experiences and put those into words”.

The idea of writing songs from a personal, as opposed to societal, standpoint is one that resonates with Rhodes, “These songs are definitely from a personal perspective but at the same time they are relatable. That is something that I always liked about punk, that is what got me into the music in the first place. I was listening to songs and felt like they were about my life. So while a lot of the songs come from personal experiences I feel like they are experiences that people can relate to and share in. To me, that is what punk rock has always been about”.

The MaxiFads will be debuting what they have been working on at Christmas Band Nite at the Art Studio on Dec 25th.  

Photos courtesy of Shane Brown 

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The Lonesome West Review

By Daniel Pemberton

Local theater troupe Ad Hoc Beaumont recently premiered its latest production, an adaptation of The Lonesome West, a dark comedy by contemporary Irish playwright Martin McDonagh (Also known for his directorial/writing work for the screen with In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, and his latest, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). The story takes place in the town of Leenane, a truly dismal place on the west coast of Ireland. Its occupants spend their days drowning themselves in Poteen (which, for the uninitiated, is a very, very strong traditional Irish beverage), watching their all-female football team and. . .well… that's about it. The audience is thrown into the story of two of the town’s most vile residents, the brothers Coleman and Valene Conner (played by Michael Mason and Michael Saar respectively), whose preferred form of family bonding involves instigating petty squabbles that quickly ignite into explosive acts of violence against one another. Coleman (Michael Mason) is loud, abrasive, and lazy, preferring to sit around and read an old issue of “Take A Break” rather than bring any real money into the household. Valene (Michael Saar) is obsessive and neurotic, making sure to measure his poteen reserves often to make sure his brother has not been drinking any (he has) and always bringing home new figurines of Jesus, the saints, and the Virgin Mary (under the impression that somehow the more he collects the higher his chances will be of getting into Heaven). The two’s only certifiable friend is the local priest, Father Welsh (a standout performance by Jody Reho), an alcoholic in the midst of a serious crisis of faith (“His 12th this week”!) due to a recent string of deaths in his parish. The trio is occasionally visited by Girleen (Heather Rushing), a quick witted schoolgirl who makes her money by selling poteen to Valene. The plot follows the brothers as their relationship begins to deteriorate in the wake of their father's death by way of a tragic shotgun accident. As the brother’s feud heats up, so does their appetite for self-destruction.

Ad Hoc’s production pulls out all of the stops in its rendering of McDonagh’s words. The play takes place entirely in the sad little hovel owned by the brothers and the detail put into the set design is excellent, considering how much of it is abused by Mason and Saar as they act out their character’s over-the-top quarrels. There are many clues and nuances to the brothers’ relationship that are imparted solely through the set, I won’t spoil anything but keep an eye on those figurines (speaking of which, I don’t think I have ever seen that much religious iconography coalesced outside of a Catholic church). Stage management was swift throughout the production despite a few hiccups and sound and lighting was consistent. Special props given to the soundtrack, a collection of traditional Irish songs as well as some more modern tunes that add a superb sonic variety to the play as well as a tasteful accompaniment to the more moving scenes. As for the acting, it was impressive as usual for Ad Hoc. Rushing is commendable as the irreverent Girleen, portraying her well as a young woman holding her own and bringing a much needed feminine voice to a world of depressed and violent men. Pay special attention to a moving scene between her and Father Welsh where Rushing’s acting talent is put on show. Saar’s Valene is just as he should be, manic and constantly wound up. Mason plays a pitch perfect Coleman, paranoid and animal, a time bomb with a constantly burning fuse. His body language portrays a man who appears relaxed but is always plotting his next odious move against whoever crosses him next. But it is Reho’s performance as Father Welsh that steals the show here. Reho takes his character’s gradual disillusionment with the certainty of faith and creates something both humorous and compelling. Watching the only character with any moral center in the play gradually deteriorate in the face of the utterly corrupt Coleman brothers brings home the many questions raised by the McDonagh about the place of religion in a world that seems increasingly morally bankrupt.

McDonagh’s writing is bleak, nihilistic, and cynical in all the right ways, something the talented people at Ad Hoc understand. This is easily a must-see performance and one of the most impressive the group has put on. They deftly balance the moments of violence, humor, and emotional catharsis into a production that stays with you long after you leave the theater.

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PHOTODUMP by Miguel Perez

Layout by Sarah Howard

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PHOTODUMP by Caroline Badon

Layout by Sarah Howard

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A Brush With Betty

By Melody Boyd

I sat down on the stoop of LoveYoga to catch up with one of SETX’s most influential artists and entreprenuers, Betty Smith. I may be just a tad biased, as she is one of my most cherished friends and confidants. Nonetheless, she is rather prominent in our ever-growing arts community; what with a number of solo exhibitions under her belt, her personal studio aptly named Betty Smith Creative Works, and her niche window painting business that boasts over 75 clients throughout the Golden Triangle, I may not seem so biased after all. Thanks to her grandfather supplying her with any and all manner of mediums during her upbringing, as well apprenticeships under Geraldine Watson, Rose Stark, and Andy Ledesma, she has made her mark on the world through a vast array of mediums. Soon, she will make her mark in downtown Beaumont, via an upcoming mural project that will feature local artists spanning a variety of styles. She was the first to be contacted for such a project, given her experience muraling, so we caught up on her latest endeavor whilst waiting for more attendees to arrive at the event she was hosting in her space, located in the same building of the yoga studio we sat down at. Serenaded by jays and cicadas, our conversation punctuated by the sound of her daughter skateboarding in the nearby parking lot, it was a fitting atmosphere for her to explain more of her personal background as a piney woods Southeast Texas artist. Tell me more about your personal background as an artist. B: Like most, I draw inspiration from my life and childhood. I explored many different artistic avenues; I studied, apprenticed under, and was mentored by many different artists, trying to discover myself as a creative individual...My work very closely aligns with Southern, rural America - that shabby folk art look that is really popular right now. I almost resent that my style is so popular [laughs]...The important thing is that it comes from an authentic place in me. There are different ways that artists approach such subject matter; some do landscapes or interactive scenes like people swimming in a creek, but growing up, those are not the memories that stuck with me. What stuck with me was sitting on the shore, seeing a little oyster shell and studying it up close. So, how did this mural project even come about? B: Dean Conwell [of the Convention Visitors Bureau] and Greg Busceme [Director of The Art Studio, Inc] had...independently had a similar idea and were able to put their brainpower together and figure out how to bring it into fruition. Why do you think now is the best time for this to finally come together? B: The museums downtown have always been informally known as the arts district, but there is finally a move to get state recognition and make it official, so it’s coming at the perfect time because having more murals downtown and making it more aesthetically appealing should play a part in helping them gain this recognition. Lastly, tell me what you do NOT plan to do for the mural, and also what DO intend to do. B: My kneejerk reaction upon finding out about the project was to do something to promote Beaumont: the oil derricks, bluebonnets, the word itself, the big fire hydrant - and that’s probably going to be everyone’s reaction. What I’m very pleased to find is that is not what they are looking for. They want the work to reflect the artists and their existing work. So, I’m kind of evaluating all my work and I’ve narrowed it down to a few ideas. It’s definitely going to be bright and colorful… Is it going to be botanical or historical, or….? B: It’s either going to be botanical, or small creatures presented larger than life!

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A Discussion With Alan Ponce

ABOUT ORAL ENTERTAINMENT written down by Christopher Dombrosky

HST: Who are your favorite comedians? PONCE: Doug Stanhope. Marc Maron. Tig Notaro. Maria Bamford. The dead ones did important stuff, but I like the stuff we have now. HST: When did you get into stand-up? PONCE: In high school I was a comedy nerd but I had no real desire to actually do it. But it’s like anything you obsess over. If you listen to enough rock and roll you’re going to want to pick up a guitar. I listened to a lot of comedy while I was a medic in the army. I came back around 2011 and there was an open mic already going at Jerusalem Hookah Café. HST: How often does Jerusalem do comedy these days? PONCE: There’s an open mic twice a month, every other Thursday. We’re toying with the idea of moving it around, but there’s nothing for sure yet. HST: How has Jerusalem been as a venue? PONCE: It’s great. They’re very supportive. Anyone who’s willing to let us do it is amazing because there’s always the risk of running your customers off. That happened at the Logon. Some people didn’t like the bad words and that’s alright. It’s not my place. But we don’t have that issue at Jerusalem. I think the rules that apply to guitar open mic, to poetry open mic or any other open mic, should apply to comedy open mic. You show up because you love comedy and you want to see somebody grow. The comedy scene in Beaumont is like a less angry version of “What do you want from me?” What do you want to get out of this? Do you want to be involved? Do you want rougher stuff? Softer stuff? Comedy in Southeast Texas has an interesting past because we’ve tried so many things. Laugh Out Loud was in The Gig, then it moved to the Zumba building. Nothing survives there. There’s another comedy club downtown right now called Jazz & Jokes, but I haven’t had a lot of contact with them. Comedy, Texas [the former Beaumont comedy club on Interstate 10] is where I did my first set. It was awful. I was 18 and wasn’t even supposed to be there. HST: On open mic nights do you guys get hecklers? PONCE: Not as often as I’d hoped. We have a really good audience in Beaumont, but I think a lot of the local comics are really missing out on some drunk person interrupting the set that you’ve worked on for three months. I do standup in Houston whenever I get the chance and Houston is a meat grinder for comedians. They will tell you exactly what they think and tell you to go fuck yourself. And then when your three minutes are up you get to walk off to no applause, pay your tab and leave to go do it again. Hecklers teach you what you’re willing to fight for. HST: The next question is pretty standard... PONCE: Seven inches flaccid. HST: …what’s your biggest tip for aspiring comics? PONCE: Do it. There’s no point waiting. Go up there. Start writing whatever stupid idea you have, and I say that lovingly because they’re all terrible. Whatever makes you giggle. The sooner you get it out of the way the sooner you can start writing some more meaningful things. HST: What’s your dream? PONCE: I don’t want to stay local, but I don’t call comedy a career. I want to keep writing and see where it goes. Right now I’m just good with growing.

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Flora and Fauna

By Julia Rodriguez

Flora and Fauna, Kailee Viator’s first ever installation, is going hard. The extensive all immersive encounter with the art will make the participants feel like they are in an “enchanted womb wonderland.” If that seems a little strange, then it’s a sign you haven’t properly interacted with any of Kailee’s work before. “I want it to be an experience, rather than just looking at something on a pedestal or on a wall. I want people to be in the art.” The transformation of the High Street Gallery into a sophisticated wilderness has begun. The forest will be alive and brimming with wonder on October 21st at 7pm.  Most of senses will be engaged - sight, sound, touch, and even smell. When the clock strikes 10pm, the charmed existence will have breathed its last and a hush will fall over the gallery. Sure, you can see the art another day, but it won’t be the same. It will be a ghost of what it was - and you’ll be haunted by the whispers of magic that you had to have seen to believed. Walking into her work space there are over 30 cartons of eggs, skulls, bones, dead insects, birdcages, a giant beautiful backdrop, and an explosion of pink, ribbons, glitter, and lace. It’s quite a contrast. If you caught Viator’s last show “One is Pink, One is Blue…” then you’ve already gotten a preview into the mind of the artist. “Flora and Fauna” dives deeper into the stereotypical rose colored femininity and exaggeration of gender roles - but the blue shades of masculinity has been eliminated in this show. “I’ve been thinking about feminism and the power that women have. [The installation] is like a softened subtle feminine version of myself. When I was in high school, I painted roadkill and things to be offensive or shock people or prove something. But as I’ve matured, the darkness is still there, I’m just dealing with it in a different way.” When you walk in the gallery, you’ll be transported into a mythical wonderland - but think the Grimm’s Fairytale version, not the diluted Disney princess shit we’re accustomed to. Looking at her artist statement (which is a visual art in itself in lieu of words typed up in black and white) there is mention of Diana, the goddess of hunting, the moon, and women. “In Roman mythology, Diana was bathing in the forest, and Actaeon saw her. She turned him into a deer and he was devoured by his own hunting dogs.” The message is clear - femininity isn’t weakness. Traditionally, men are the inheritors of power, control, and autonomy over themselves. If a woman has a strong sense of anything other than a taste for all things sweet and delicate and decorative, then she’s overstepping her bounds. And she’s probably a bitch. “Gender roles are weird,” Kailee says. Diana took back control of her body, in a fierce and gruesome way, a deathly fuck you to a careless Royal who wanted to objectify her. Upon learning about the legend that propelled the installation in the direction it has taken, I begin to see the layer of gloom that hides under the blush colored veneer, giving a terrible depth to the gilded forest. “It’s like…a pretty nightmare,” Kailee muses. This particular nightmare has been taking form in her mind for years. In Kailee’s past work the themes of life, death, and rebirth in various explorations has been key themes since ye olde high school days. “I’ve always been fascinated by religion and spirituality,” she says, pulling out a work that has hints of both a mythic paganism and Christianity mythos with other belief systems sprinkled in. In the larger scheme of things, every person who has ever existed and will ever exist questions the point of their life and finds distractions to avoid the thought that one seemingly basic day they will cease to exist, never mind what happens afterward. Living in the Bible belt, even Christian beliefs vary dramatically; from Catholicism to fundamental views to charismatic interpretations - add to that a growing collection of knowledge about Buddhism and pagan mythologies, and what is left is a peculiar way of perceiving these concepts. “I have a deep respect for different believe systems and think it’s very interesting that everyone has a different story for why the world is here. Everyone is trying to find a reason for things and why we are here, even scientists.” To illustrate this point, Kailee shows me a birdcage that has a representation of a live bird and a dead one. “We’re born, we live, we die and then question mark. Everyone wonders about that, I mean, how can you not?” There is a sketch of an hourglass on a discarded piece of paper on the desk that I’ve been glancing at the whole interview. It will just be a matter of time before it is brushed to the floor and swept up and thrown away in one of the giant garbage bins. “Everything is temporary,” she says. The body will decay, art will crumble, and who will remember any of it? “I make work about temporal aspect of life because like anyone else, I have a hard time accepting it. I’m always trying to plan stuff, you know get from point A to point B. But like everyone else, I have a hard time accepting what’s now, because if I don’t I won’t be enjoying my life very much.” Ironically, it comes back to control or the lack thereof - sometimes we have no control about what happens to us. A hurricane, death, being turned into a stag for checking out the wrong girl, could devastate your life. “Think about a forest fire. It’s a fire, it burns everything down [and causes destruction], but from the ashes, new trees grow.” This only scratches the surface. There are smaller personal themes intertwined with the sweeping metaphors of impermanence. Ultimately though, it’s up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions and connections. “When I make art, the conception stage is the most personal. By the time I’m creating it, it’s the big picture, the grand scheme, the overall message that I want others to take away from my work is what fuels it.” When I get up to leave, I look at the little sketch again, but it’s upside down and it reminds me firstly of a Death Cab for Cutie song, and secondly about perspective. There’s a hidden phrase in the show that I want you to look for - find it and you’ll understand what I mean. I’m starting to think that despite identifying with a particular religion, that Kailee does have a faith - in self, in art, and the necessary chaos of life. And, maybe, you’ll be a believer too.

Photos by Richard Tallent

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Just announced: EAT CAKE 🎂 a dress-up party at V Haus on December 9. (at Victoria House)

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ONE. FUN. SUNDAY. 8/20/17

We have a sweet selection of oddities to get you grooving on a Sunday night! The show starts on time so everyone can get to bed at a reasonable hour so don't try to be fashionably late or you WILL miss something rad. THE KILLER LINEUP: 8:00 - Echoed Sycamore (a local/Turkish solo ambient project) "I always wanted to make music that helps people get zoned-out from their environment. Not necessarily sad songs, but songs that can wake up people’s inner personalities and emotions. I wanted to make music that sounds free with no limits and borders." --Cat5 9:00 - Chrononaut (Nashville, TN) a psychedelic electrobrass band who bend space and time to allow for maximum amounts of party time. Brought to life by the legendary Matt Owen. 10:00 - Sakura Shock (Nagoya, Japan) a 2-piece band consisting of drums, guitar, one guitarist, THREE AMPS and many pedals! Their live show speaks volumes of no degree leading the listener through a journey of crushing layers of organized noise along gentle waves of melody. Be sure to catch them live in the U.S. while you can! 11:00 - Snorlaxxx (a local 2-piece blasting groovy beats 4 ur body) "Shrouded in a cloak of synthesizers, reverbed samples, guitar and drums, Snorlaxxx has a sound in a very smokey, almost subterranean league of its own." --High Street Times Zine

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  Let's kick off this back 2 school weekend with a loud-assed noise/rock show. $5 at the door at Texas Rose Saloon (2013 S MLK Pkwy in Beaumont, TX) SUPER THIEF (Austin) CARREERRS AND Jamey Lewis and the Noose

>>>> RSVP HERE! <<<<

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  Party like the summer's almost over with a luscious local lineup: - The Ramblin' Boys! - Mighty Brother (from New Orleans!) - THE DISGUSTOIDS! - Quincey (LAST SHOW EVER???) at the LogOn Cafe $5 at the door 21+ only

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More detail shots of progress towards a very special installation at High Street Gallery on September 15th, 2017.

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Manifesting Mantis Fest

Fine artistry, live music, fashion design, drag shows, film screenings, hook suspensions, tarot, and massage, oh my! This is just a mere taste of the spiritual smorgasborg that was the Preying Mantis Arts and Music festival, hosted by Beaumont artist Nathan McCray. The forecast for the second annual event was less than promising; the fickle Texas weather taunted in the days preceding the event, being sunny one day and a downpour the next. Luckily, the festival gods smiled upon us in all their glory; the day could not have been more stunning!

The sun shone through a makeshift pergola of branches, casting shadows over Latricia Badgett, frontwoman of The Ron Jeremies, as she laid out her homegrown wares of abstract paintings, custom essential oil blends, and sprouts from her garden. Woodblock printer and graphic designer Maurice Abelmon set up shop next to the stage, a bohemian creation of reclaimed woodwork, and proceeded to outfit two of the performance artists of his latest project, Avatar Archetypes. Kyle Gaspard and Garrett Hoffpauir worked tirelessly to create a soundscape for the 300 or so attendees as they wandered the festival grounds where they were body painted by artist Betty Smith, enjoyed the delectable dishes from Dat Mac, and perused the shops.

Vendors boasting a variety of goods and services, such as Will Daley’s resinwork, Kailee Viator’s mixed media assemblages, and Jackie’s Herbals, lined the parameter of McCray’s property where he lives and works on personal projects that range from mixed media paintings to handcarved driftwood sculptures. Many of his creations dotted the whimsical grounds with intricate designs and inviting faces, adding to the surreal scenery. One of his sculptures, a spinning wheel aptly named the Trance Inducing Holographic Time Machine, was a commonly used landmark for locating the makeshift catwalk utilized for the drag performances as well as Betty Pruitt’s fashion show, whose designs explored the concept of twin flames.

Beyond that was the area designated for hook suspensions by Adam Newgins, a local tattooer and piercer. A crowd formed as the rigging was set, but a hush fell over the gathering as Cody Haynes was slowly hoisted into the air, suppressing groans that veered between euphoria and agony. Those who couldn’t stomach such a thing meandered in different directions, some checking out film screenings run by the Boomtown Film and Music Festival team, others venturing to the booths of Kevin Clay and Xenia Fedorchenko to print a custom shirt.

First-timer John Rollins proclaimed, “I didn’t like [the festival]. I loved it!” He described the event as a “beautifully crafted mix of art, music, good times and all the creative energy you’d ever want in one place,” and right he was. As the sun disappeared beyond the trees, the bonfire grew and the crowds dispersed to their respective pockets of people, simultaneously venturing out to catch the array of sounds drifting from the stage that featured the likes of newcomers Dogs With Hands, local favorite Snorlaxxx, and Isreali two-piece outfit, Dodies.

Michael Edwards, one of the many volunteers who worked behind the scenes to help bring the event to fruition, said everything turned out to be the best time he’s had in Beaumont in a long while, with “flashing vibes, those fun soothing tones, and quirky noises. McCray was overjoyed at the best turnout they’ve had thus far, and is quick to exclaim that he couldn’t have done it without all of the helping hands. “It was a great day of celebration for the amazing artists and performers that we are so lucky to have in our community!”

BY Melody Boyd

Photos Shane Brown & Bryan Lee

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Burn Out Brighter

I had a moment with Chris Boaz, Drummer of Burns Out Brighter and we cover origins of the band and telling us how Burns Out Brighter really brings it. So let's take a look at what Chris wanted to reveal with us here at High Street Times! Burn Out Brighter is a lyrically driven Pop Punk band from Orange, Texas. We deal with real topics such as depression, overthinking, and the occasional break-up song.

Toney:  What would you say is your main influences? Music, Family or your past?

Chris: Definitely a mixture of the 3! Lyrically our songs deal with everything from depression to family troubles to ex-girlfriends, and of course musically we have the bands we've always looked up to and have drawn influences from.

Toney: What was starting the band like - would you say you had it easy or rough in the beginning of your bands development?

Chris: I'd say we as a whole have had it pretty easy so far! We've gone through a couple lineup changes through the past 2 years that we've been a band, never any bad blood between past members, just different path that life drew us to. As of now, that's the only really "rough" challenge we've had to face.

Toney: What song in your EP discography says the most about you and Burns Out Brighter?

Chris: "The Fall" for sure. Sonically it sums up our sound as a band pretty well and it displays some of the main topics we discuss lyrically. It's also the first song we ever wrote together as a band so it holds a special place in our hearts.

Toney: Was there any difficulty in your creative and musical process that really made the bands development stand out?

Chris:4. I feel like from the beginning it's been pretty clear the sound we've wanted to go for, and even the newer members that have come into the band have hopped in and contributed so much to the creative process. We've definitely butt heads before, but you're going to get that when 4 guys with lots of different musical tastes get together, but at the end of the day, the sound we've got is something we're all proud of.

Toney: How would you say Burn Out Brighter's career is going in the local area surrounded by so much talk and support?

Chris: There's still a long way to go, but we're doing pretty good for a band that has only been together for 2 years! We're lucky to have a lot of friends in the area that come out and support, and for all the different bands that we've made friends with, it makes things a lot easier when there's so many bands lifting each other up and helping each other out.

It was great of Chris to lend a few moments to High Street and let us pick his brain for a bit. The band Burn Out Brighter is on Facebook and Spotify! Chris had some final words to the fans and readers:

"The one thing we want to do as a band is inspire people to figure out what they're passionate about, and to go out and do it. We hope you enjoy our music and can come away with something hopeful and positive, thanks for listening."

Burn Out Brighter is

--Tanner Royal: (Lead Vocals/Guitar)

--Austin Confer: (Guitar/Vocals)

--Reid Manley: (Bass)

--Chris Boaz: (Drums/Vocals)

BY Toney Emmons

[victoriahousetx]

Wake Up Beaumont Podcast

    My morning routine of near lethal coffee consumption and a gruelling run has recently been shaken out of its monotony by our own Julia Rodriguez and her Beaumont-centric podcast Wake Up Beaumont! Ranging from breaking down what districts are and how they work to city council candidates, Julia has set out to ask questions and bring the answers to the attention of potential voters and the politically ignorant alike.   I found myself stopping mid-stride many times during a run to laugh at the relatable humor or to intently listen to the incredibly interesting interviews where many previously unknown issues were brought to light. In one of the first episodes we listened to our host struggle with her journalistic ethos and the impact of her words in the face of scandals brought out by two of the candidates running for seats on the district 4 school board. In the end Julia left us with the resources to educate ourselves on the issues and a plea for action in the upcoming election. I have a lot of praise for the show and very few complaints, most of which, like the low volume of some interviews, have been solved in recent episodes. Julia, what you are doing is a great service to our community. Your enthusiasm for change is infectious,  and you inspire action on the part of your core listeners. It's time to Wake Up Beaumont!  

BY Shane Brown

[victoriahousetx]

(BEST BET) B&M Blueberry Patch 2017

Blueberries are considered a super fruit. No, unfortunately, they won’t give you super powers or anything, but they are good for a myriad of other things. If you want to improve your eyesight, lower your blood pressure, increase your memory and boost your immune system amongst some other things, head down to the B&M Blueberry Patch on Sat, May 27th from 8am to 6pm. Located at 2365 Blueberry Patch in Silsbee. A special Blueberry Lemonade will be served ice cold and you can get some fresh air while you pick your own blueberries. Not feeling up to trekking around, but still need your dose of fresh fruit? Call 409-385-1200 to have your antioxidant packed berries pre-picked and ready for you. Hmm, I think this would be a relaxing close out to a fun month!

BY Jerica Carrier

[victoriahousetx]

(BEST BET) Maypole Festival 2017

The annual Maypole Festival will be held at the Tyrell Park Garden Center on Saturday, May 13th from 11am to 6 pm.  Beautiful dancers from  the Bonnie Cokino's School of Dance will perform the wrapping of the pole at 4:30 pm and music will be provided by the Sabine River Brass Band from noon to 4pm. Pull out your most whimsical garments for this springtime event. Costumes are strongly advised! There will be an assortment of vendors, activities, kid's games and entertainment throughout the afternoon. Bring your picnic blanket and get comfortable in the garden. Entrance is free, but plan on getting a bite to eat. And be sure to wear flowers in your hair!

BY Jerica Carrier