If you don't already know about Nick Lowe, it's time you found out. The quick and dirty: He's been around since the mid-'60s, playing a mixture of country, rock, blues, and pop. His first band Brinsley Schwarz is constantly noted as a major influence on '70s punk. He wrote "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a song destined to become an Elvis Costello hit in 1979; in fact, he produced several Costello albums. The man has 19 albums of his own and has produced scores more beyond that. He was Johnny Cash's son-in-law (for a while). They played together, and Cash even recorded some of Lowe's tunes.

Tonight, they're celebrating the living legend at the Continental Club. Opening the event (and hosting the evening) are The Lowelies, an Austin-based Nick Lowe tribute band. This is happy hour time (7 pm), so you have no excuses for missing. Stay for The Costellophones, an Austin-based (you guessed it!) Elvis Costello tribute band. Rounding out the night are Ron Flynt & Eric Hisaw and Paul Minor. Also, they'll be giving away Lowe's newest album At My Age and featuring a "most excellent montage" of Nick footage, contributed by Kier-La of the Drafthouse’s Music Mondays.

The Nick Lowe Tribute Show & Record-Release Party
Thursday, July 12th
Continental Club [map]
Show at 7pm, runs til 2am

Benefiting the Austin Music Foundation
The Lowelies on [MySpace]

Images courtesy Super Amanda on tribe.net and YottaMusic