By Courtney Bell
CD: The Warren Hood Band
The Warren Hood Band released its self-titled debut album this summer, kicking off a tour to showcase what the talented trio has accomplished. Warren Hood, son of Austin’s beloved Champ Hood and award-winning fiddle player, has joined forces with guitarist Willie Pimpkin and singer and pianist Emily Gimble. Gimble, like Hood, is a child of music, being the daughter of Grammy Award-winning fiddler Johnny Gimble. The 11-track album was co-written by Hood and offers an eclectic blend of folk rock, blues, country and soulful crooning from Gimble and Hood.
Gadget: Xbox 1
The Xbox 1 launches this November and is the most expensive Microsoft console ever at $500, but boasts some features that make it worth your purchase. The Xbox 1 gets to know you and your gestures through the built-in Kinect, building a personalized home screen with your favorite apps, upcoming sports games, movies and shows. Xbox 1 including voice activation allows you to switch from TV to movies to music to games; gone are the days of switching inputs. Built-in Skype, Blu Ray player and enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity round out the features of this entertainment system. Pre-order yours today here.
Book: La Salle’s Ghost
Miles Arceneaux’s second book, La Salle’s Ghost , is slated to be released this fall. This tale set on the Texas coast is a murderous ghost story of a sunken ship, a lost fortune and a deadly obsession interwoven with betrayal, lust and greed. The 17th-century shipwreck of the La Belle casts the backdrop for this jaw-dropping page-turner from the Texas trio (Brent Douglass, John T. Davis and James R. Dennis) who brought you Thin Slice of Life . Book release party and signing set for Oct. 2 at BookPeople.
Web Tool: Ticketbud
Austin-based Ticketbud is the place to go to create an event webpage, sell tickets and promote your event. With online or mobile access, it is quick and easy for anyone to buy tickets to your next fundraiser barbecue or party boat on Lake Travis. Ticketbud connects to social media, increasing your turnout and provides tools to track ticket sales and registration. Use the free app to manage entry with any smart phone or tablet by scanning in tickets or checking in people at the door. Plan your next party with the free tools from Ticketbud.
Music Maker: The Wren V5PF
Wren Sound Systems recently launched the Wren V5PF, offering Android users a sophisticated Wi-Fi music solution delivering vibrant, room-filling sound in a beautiful and convenient way. It is one of only two wireless speakers in today’s market to deliver impressive audio quality via DTS Play-Fi technology to Androids. The unique internal diamond-matrix grille protects drivers without distorting sound. The underside has a low- durometer silicone pad to stabilize the chassis and absorb cabinet vibration. Available for $399.
