On the Lookout: Big Grams - Fell in the Sun EP

     This week brings with it perhaps the most anticipated collaboration of the year. Electronic Rock duo Phantogram has teamed up with Outkast's Big Boi to make a seven song EP, entitled "Fell in the Sun.” Under the name Big Grams, both parties have been leaking snippets of information over social media regarding the project since late last year.

     The group has collaborated with Big Boi on his most recent LP, "Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors" as well as on Outkast's "Auqemini". In a recent interview with Pitchfork, Phantogram frontwoman Sarah Barthel discussed the direction the project has taken, saying, "It's kind of a taste of ideas. It's not Big Boi and Phantogram music. It's Big Grams, which is different. It's a whole different project. It's stuff that we wouldn't put on our own records, but just kind of something completely different so you get a taste of. There's songs that I rap on, there's songs that Big sings on. There's songs that Josh raps on. It doesn't sound pretentious in any way, because we just wanted to do whatever the fuck we wanted to do."

     Barthel and her counterpart Josh Carter's voices are hard to imagine in a rap setting based on their current work. Even in spite of this, Big Grams has set forth with just as much seriousness, ambition and creative energy as either of their separate projects. Recent posts on social media are hinting that the seven tracks on "Fell In the Sun" each represent one of the seven deadly sins, and artwork representing each sin was done by American artist Kii Arens, whose other projects are visible here.The EP is also set to feature electronic producer Skrillex, as well as the critically acclaimed rap duo Run The Jewels.

"Fell In the Sun EP" is available everywhere today.

-Adam Kinyicky

Men's track: a new beginning

     The spring 2015 season marks the first time a men’s track team has been on campus since 1970. It has been built from the ground up by new assistant coaches and women’s Head Coach Holland. With the season well underway, there are several students athletes making progress in their events.

      “Coach Williams is awesome, funny, persistent, and always pushing us to do our best,” said senior Corbin Grobe. “I came here to play football, but after a head injury, I made a decision of not playing the game that I love. Then I heard about the track team and I decided I could do something that I once participated in high school.”

      The team consists of freshmen, as well as student athletes from other sports participating in this new program. “I never threw shot put in high school,” said freshman Johnny Garcia, who also participates in football, said. “We did really well as a team in the Corpus meet and I felt really good in my event and there is still time for improvement until conference.”

 The SCAC Track and Field Championship meet is on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, many athletes are making a huge influence early on in invitational meets.

      “Being a senior on this team makes me push and work hard for myself and for the newcomers on the team,” Grobe said. “The team’s chemistry off and on the track has helped us connect as a team and we all have high expectations heading towards SCAC.”

-Sam Lopez

Athlete Highlight: Karisa Cantu

Senior guard Karisa Cantu has been a powerhouse in TLU women’s basketball since she started out earning ASC West Freshman of the Year for 2011-2012. The San Antonio native was also recently named the SCAC Player of the Week and is the second leading scorer on her team. I was able to ask her a couple questions about her game.

Q: What made this particular season so good for you?

A: This season has been good for me because it's my senior year. Every game I go out & play my hardest knowing it's almost over for me.

Q: What was your best game this season? What was the worst? Why?

A: It’s hard to look back and say this was my best or worst game because there's times where I may not score as much, but I had more assists. And my worst game, I prefer not to look back at not so good games. I try to completely forgot about those.

Q: What do you tend to do differently or more than others that makes you successful?

A: I think what makes me different from others is how much I study the game. I enjoy watching any level basketball or getting on YouTube to watch certain players and always learning something.

Q: What is satisfying about your sport?

A: Basketball can be satisfying for me because it has always been a way to get away and relieve stress. It has also always been something I truly always enjoy doing when sometimes there's nothing else.

Q: If you could change one rule about basketball what would it be?

A: If I could change one rule about basketball I would change the jump ball call at any level other than NBA. I think we should do a jump ball just like the NBA does it and get put in a tip off situation also.

Make your way to the women’s and men’s championship games tomorrow, Friday Feb 20 at 6pm and 8pm.

Dylan Stork, Reporter

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)

Attention TLU students! This week Dramatic Media students are putting on The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). It’s a student-led production, so that means it’s being directed, produced, and acted completely by students. In anticipation for the show, I sat down with Senior Dramatic Media major Luke Nelson, the director, to learn a little more about the play.

Q: Why did you choose this show in particular?

A: I wanted to do something different. I initially joined Dramatic Media for film, so this was a chance for a new experience, and a chance for me to do a bigger show and to learn a lot.

Q: Why is it important for TLU to continue to do student-led productions?

A: Student-led productions are very creative. You have to figure out how to create something fun and relevant that is also entertaining. We get outside advice, but ultimately the responsibility to create something fun is placed upon us.  We don’t always know what we’re doing, but we figure it out. We get to make the production what we want.

Q: Why should people come see The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged?

A: People should come see the show because it’s all of Shakespeare’s works packed into less than 100 minutes. It’s fun and only consists of three actors who play about 10 parts each. It’s frantic. It’s fast paced. It’s funny. There’s a lot of audience interaction. It also teaches people a lot about Shakespeare.

So there you have it folks. If you have a little time to spare this weekend, come out and support your fellow students. The play will be held in Jackson Auditorium. Remember to show up a few minutes early to guarantee a good seat! Show times are tonight (Thursday) at 7:30, 2:30 and 7:30 on Friday, 7:30 on Saturday, and 2:30 on Sunday.

Tyler Salinas, Reporter

Seguin Decks the Halls

Though Seguin may be on the small side, our small city is certainly accustomed to going big when it comes holiday celebrations. With sweater weather right around the corner, hot chocolate being enjoyed by the masses, and holiday decorations being put out everywhere you look, it’s becoming increasing clear that Christmas time in Seguin is fast approaching.

Starting in December, Seguin will begin with a slew of fun festivities. On Thursday, Dec 4, there will be the Holiday Stroll Parade taking place on Austin Street. Get ready for a parade, entertainment, food booth, pictures with Santa, and the gorgeous lighting of our own Central Park!

This Friday, Dec 5, the Cocoa Sip-N-Stroll will also take place on Austin Street. At this event you can buy an artsy mug with homemade cocoa at participating shops in Seguin. There will even be snow in the park for family oriented fun, more photos with Santa, and horse-drawn wagon rides.

Saturday, Dec 6 has even more festivities lined up with the North Pole Stroll oriented for kids. This includes decorating cookies, writing letters to Santa, and making ornaments. 

Also on Sunday the Holiday Heritage Tour of Homes will be occurring. This begins on Live Oat Street, and features a tour of seven beautiful locations in Seguin. Refreshments will be served at Seguin’s First Church on Live Oak Street. Presale for tickets are $10 and are available online at thetexas.org. Tickets at the door will be $12, and the tour runs from 1 to 5 pm.

And if house touring isn’t your cup of tea, BS Brewing’s 2^nd Annual Winter Festival will be happing on Dec 6, at BS Brewing, located at 1408 Old Lehmann Road. There will be live music by “Will and the Wont’s,” food vendors, and beer tasting.

If you’re not exhausted yet, rounding out the weekend of celebration will be the Yulefest Arts and Craft Show on Dec 7, where you can head out to the Coliseum and browse tons of handmade arts and crafts for sale and get a head start on Christmas shopping.

As for what’s happening here at Texas Lutheran University, TLU’s annual Christmas Vespers will be happening Dec 5 through Dec 7 at Jackson Auditorium. This is a crowd favorite, and should not be missed.

Christmas Bells featuring River City Ringers of San Antonio and Mid-Texas Symphony will also be performing at Jackson Auditorium on Dec 14.

It seems impossible not to get into the holiday spirit with the many enjoyable events Seguin will be hosting. Gather your friends, drink some hot chocolate, and go make memories this holiday season!

Tyler Salinas, Reporter

Dash for Disabled Veterans

They gave for us. Let’s give back.

Registering and check-in starts at 8am and starting at 9am on Saturday, Nov 22 at Starcke Park people from all walks of life will gather to walk, or run, a 5K to help raise funds for the Disabled American Veterans’ Chapter 61 in Seguin, Texas.

It is not too late to participate in this event. By paying $30 the day of, one can still help the Disabled American Veterans.

·         Awards will be given in the following age groups: 1-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50+

·         Register your dog for $5.00. Registered dogs will receive a bandana.

·         The first registered dog to cross the finish line wins a prize.

·         Dogs on leashes, registered or not, are welcome to participate.

This event was organized by the TLU Honors FREX 134 students, in partnership with Disabled American Veterans’ Chapter 61.

More information can be found at SEGUINRESPECT.ORG/DASH or call 830.372.8160