Music Preview: The Shins, The Rapture Play Sunday @ The Backyard

We know what you're thinking. Weren't The Shins just here last month at the same venue? And weren't they at Stubb's in September, and at ACL? The answers are yes, yes, and yes. But success means new fans, and the #2 Billboard debut of Wincing The Night Away has led to a headlining spot on the MTVu tour of college towns - thus, the Shins play Austin for the fourth time in a year on Sunday evening out in Bee Cave.

The positive side of this is that not only are tickets cheaper this time around (a mere $20), but there are four support acts on the bill. Most prominent among them is The Rapture, perhaps the first breakout band of the innumerable post-punk/dance acts that have pervaded the indie scene of the last five years. Fans who couldn't get into The Rapture's private gig at SXSW can catch the band while dancing under the stars with a margarita, which should be good fun.

Other support includes emo from The Academy Is..., synth-pop from Shiny Toy Guns, and MySpace folk (whatever that is) from Ronnie Day. So put on your burnt orange cap, buy some Lone Star, and head down Highway 71 on Sunday. And tell them that Natalie Portman sent you.

[The Shins MySpace]
[The Rapture MySpace]
[Shiny Toy Guns MySpace]
[The Academy Is... MySpace]
[Ronnie Day MySpace]

The Shins, The Rapture, Shiny Toy Guns, The Academy Is..., Ronnie Day
Sunday, April 22nd
The Backyard [map]
Doors at 3pm, Show at 3:30pm
$20 [tickets]

Shins image courtesy of Sub Pop Records. Photo by Brian Tamborello.