Like a lot of people in Austin, artist Stephanie Nance has a great affinity for the airstream trailer. These vintage 1960s wagons have been the subject of several of her paintings, prints, and postcards, and she even fashioned a studio out of one for a while. Part of her beloved "Americana" series, Nance's airstreams are sprightly, whimsical, colorful, and based on her representations, would be totally believable as the main character in a animated film. Still dear to heart, Nance has moved on from airstreams for now (she sold hers last year) and has returned to the East Austin Studio this year with a new collection of paintings that feature a myriad of botanicals, including cacti and flowers native to this region, and a few bird varieties. The same wonderful illustrative quality is here as with her previous work -- a steady line mixed with bright colors and patterns. more ›

Disasters and diseases suck. They kill people, they inspire (with the aid of fearmongers) exorbitant amounts of anxiety, and they provoke playwrights to scribe trite, mawkish, pontificating tripe. Generally. In certain cases, when their implications regarding human relations are looked at from a philosophical, conversational point of view, they've a better chance at being successful (see: Neil LaBute's The Mercy Seat). Sick is not one of those cases. more ›

Photos courtesy Pooneh Ghana. more ›

We’ve been enjoying the live videos from Fun Fun Fun Fest nightly but as enticing as it sounds, repeated viewings of this priceless performance by The Jesus Lizard or this epic Les Savy Fav clip at home shouldn’t be a part of anyone’s Friday evening agenda. Especially since Red 7 is hosting a handful of top-notch local rock acts that will surely expunge any lingering post-Fun Fest lethargy. But be warned, the sounds resonating from the venue this night are not for the weak of heart. Eagle Claw bring the thunder early on with an ample supply of sizzling guitar licks, Woodgrain’s chiming experiments continue the sonic onslaught, and the always impressive Tia Carrera bludgeon through lengthy doses of psych-metal in the penultimate slot. Black Cock’s thumping electro-rock brings down the curtain on this exceptional noise-laden bill, adding some vocals to all the racket along the way. Chock-full of resonating keys and immaculately layered vocals, the band’s debut full-length Robot Child With A God spawns ominous soundscapes that might not usher in the end of days just yet but are disconcerting enough to imply impending doom and darkness. We chatted with Black Cock’s ringleader Chico Jones earlier this week to learn more about the band’s recording process, and their hopes and dreams. more ›

You might be thinking that Electric Tickle Machine - kind of a misnomer at first - is another in a seemingly long line of garage pop / psychedelic rock groups making danceable rock and roll and going the extra mile to make their live show kinetic and engaging but failing to transition that energy into their recordings. But, such is not the case. It’s clear on Blew it Again, released earlier this year, the group didn’t simply enter the studio and bang out tracks, then hop in the van and head to the next show. They gave a damn, and it translates in recordings which toe the line between the produced and lo-fi, allowing for a fair amount of grit and fuzz to enter and join the brightness and clarity among the chorus and keys. It makes for an album with a different look and feel from their live show while channeling some of that raw, live energy, which has been known to include the occasional naked audience member dancing and jiggling their parts uncovered up on stage. more ›

For fifteen years, the members of the Women Printmakers of Austin have dedicated themselves to exploring artistic expression and expanding the audience of fine art printmaking. Deeply rooted in historical printing traditions, these artists are now able to blend classic techniques with modern technology to create contemporary works of art. The WPA recently acquired studio space in Pump Project's newly rennovated Satellite Studio and Flex Space. The new shared space grants 24 hour access to studio subscribers who can avail themselves of etching and intaglio supplies, a large press, and other tools of the trade. The Women Printmakers of Austin are participating in this weekend's East Austin Studio Tour and can be visited at 1109 Shady Lane, just up the road from the Pump Project complex. Artist and WPA Chair Angela Hayes answered some questions for us about the future of printmaking and what it's like to work with a team of talented women. more ›

it’s hard to think of much besides this production after seeing it. So here’s a word: this production is good. That adjective may seem blasé, but it’s intended to be anything but. Breaking String’s Cherry Orchard is good in that ephemeral, indefinable way—good, and to find other words would render them dull in comparison to the experience. more ›

What’s the Deal: Quirky, capricious and dreamy are all adjectives you could use to describe the music of New York’s Freelance Whales. The five piece experimental folk pop outfit has experience playing in locations ranging from decent sized venues as on their current US tour with Fanfarlo to busking on sidewalks and train stations in New York City. They’ve been very busy since their start in late 2008, and this past August saw the release of their debut album, Weathervanes. It’s comprised of vast, melodic arrangements using everything from harmonium and banjo to glockenspiel and waterphone built up around bright, glittering to eerie choruses. more ›

Dan Green of 4ms Pedals builds effects boxes and synthesizers, in both finished and DIY kit incarnations, out of a second-story studio on Cesar Chavez in East Austin. I spoke with him there a couple days before the East Austin Studio Tour began. He'll be there this weekend as well. more ›

Each Friday, we'll be offering up a sampling of Longhorn- and Big 12-related sports coverage making its way around the Web. This week: more Longhorn legal trouble, Kansas' coaching hot-seat, and recognizing the seniors. more ›

Attention Rio Rita patrons: When was the last time you enjoyed your foamy cappuccino (or alternatively, your jalapeno-infused vodka) inside Rio Rita's impossibly adorable environs? In between Scrabble games or knitting or recounting NPR, did you take note of your counter server? There is a good chance you were serviced by Nick Henning, pop art-inflected painter and resident artist at the Pump Project Art Complex. more ›

The universal appeal of this flick is not just in the music and musicians it showcases (Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Clapton, Dylan), but in the fact that it is a documentary of what was (and sorta still is) rumored to be the last performance of The Band. more ›

An Austin man has been charged with fraud as part of a scheme to steal millions from the FCC's Video Relay Service, a government program that is intended to help deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans communicate with hearing persons. more ›

Conservatives can sleep soundly knowing the fight for gay marriage is not returning to Texas shores—at least not entirely. The only Democratic candidate for Texas Attorney General, Barbara Radnofsky, says Texans were so eager to ban gay marriages in 2005 that they banned marriages altogether. Don't understand how? Read on. more ›

Here's something special. Our much-cherished local singer-songwriter, Mr. Daniel Johnston, will be playing an intimate show at the St. David's Episcopal Church this evening at 6:00pm. more ›

• Israel brushes off Obama criticism over Jerusalem.
• US urges release of citizen held in China for two years.
• Russia moves one step closer to death penalty abolition.

Each week, we'll look at some reasons to taunt, belittle, and bully the Longhorns' football opponent. This week: the Kansas Jayhawks. more ›

ElfGirl and JenRea (a.k.a. Team Fabrication) present Fabrication 7, an annual rendezvous of fashion, music, and everything in between, this Saturday at The Mohawk. Besides admiring plenty of exciting new designs, you can also participate in the beloved Karaoke Underground, and enjoy live music by 'Til We’re Blue Or Destroy, Ovenbirds, The Laughing, and The Happen-Ins. more ›

Taking her cues from the "anything goes" rules of children's literature, illustrator Audrey Lopata carefully pens colorful worlds inhabited with scarf-wearing-lizards, zombie pirates, and mermaids. Her black and white comic panels express slightly more grown-up emotions but still convey the sense of whimsy that is so evident through out Lopata's work. Stop by the Pump Project Art Complex this weekend during East Austin Studio Tour to see Lopata's studio space and that of many other talented artists. Audrey sat down with us to talk about what inspires her and how she goes about creating alternative worlds where elves and fairies roam. more ›

There are many skills your average crafter possesses. Decoupage. Knitting. Some light carpentry. But if there's one thing every crafter knows how to do, it's hustle, y'all. Case in point? Etsy.com, a ginormous online catalog of handmade creations. Open since 2005, Etsy allows entrepreneurial crafters from all over to set up shop on the interwebs. And in October of 2008, our fair city got its very own street team: Etsy Austin. You can check out these ladies, and their stationary-making/metal-fabricating/hat-stitching compatriots this weekend during the East Austin Studio Tour, at Smith Studios on 1406 Smith Road (stop 60 on the tour map). more ›

Dear Jody Denberg, WTF? WTF? WTF? AT-WHAY E-THAY UCK-FAY?!! Okay, so I was in the car the other day when I hear the news that you are leaving KGSR. There was irony, for Kevin Connor was the one who was doing the announcing. Now, I know Kevin has long been on KUT, but I will forever associate him with KGSR. Plus, since he was talking about you, and you’re not on KUT, I got confused and thought I’d entered some weird place of crossed signals. When he said the words, Those last songs are for my friend Jody Denberg, I actually looked to see which station I was listening to. Then, I had that dreadful thought that sometimes visits when, say, I hear four songs in one day by an artist not typically played so much-- Oh shit, is he dead? But no. You’re not dead. And yet, I realize I’ve been writing this letter to you in my head, an epistle with the distinct feel of a eulogy to it. Not such a terrible thing. See, I went to a fancy reading recently, the star of which was my great friend Sarah Bird. Sarah just won a big fellowship, and UT threw a gala in her honor. Before she read, there was this speech about her, and a slideshow. more ›

It's the type of thing indie film dreams are made of: four girls, all crafters, long to open their own craft studio. Girls pool their money for an Airstream trailer. Girls move in with crafts. Girls take "craft trailer" on the road, teaching children and adults alike the joys of coil baskets, stampmaking and bookbinding. (Shhh - did you hear that sound? That's the sound of Drew Barrymore purchasing film rights!) The WonderCraft is the real-life lovechild of Austin crafty ladies Beth Hempton, Albrecht, Jen Bryan and Kim Sae-Eua, whose mobile craft trailer "Stella" makes her debut this year at East Austin Studio Tour. Stella will be parked at 628 Allen St. as guests of Courtney Gray/Creative Side Jewelry Academy (stop 45 on the E.A.S.T. map). more ›

In an environmentally friendly move, Dell is replacing the paper, plastic, and foam packaging material for two of its computers with inserts made of bamboo. more ›

Listening to Sunset’s Gold Dissolves To Gray, the fourth full-length album from Austin’s Bill Baird, invites to mind that brilliant line from Noah Baumbach’s Kicking and Screaming: “I’m nostalgic for conversations I had yesterday.” The best thing this effort has to offer is its terrifically timely and magnetic aesthetic of nostalgia for the new. At its high points, Baird seamlessly cobbles together a fresh sound that is both reminiscent (of 60s glam and 70s psychedelia) and of-the-moment, nodding to albums like Department of Eagles’ In Ear Park, dating all the way back to last year. (But yes, we were missing it already.) more ›

Jaime Jo Fisher can be considered a small-scale contemporary metal sculptor. Although she works with traditional silversmithing techniques to mostly create jewelry, her end product often resembles a fine piece of wearable contemporary art. The jeweler extraordinaire fittingly thinks of her pieces as wearable collages - much of Fisher's work includes found objects and re-purposed materials. Along with traditional stones, vintage beads, and polymer clay, Fisher has been known to incorporate broken bits of a reflector, pieces of shells found on the beach, and even dryer lint into her ornate and modern jewelry. Jaime Jo Fisher is participating in this weekend's East Austin Studio Tour, stop by her space at 5609 Steven Creek Way to see her collection of found materials and how she turns them into wearable art. more ›

Proving once again that Austin is a town crawling with talent, creativity, and a most twisted sense of humor, DA! Theatre Collective’s Leave it to Beverly is a totally superb way to while away an evening. Presented as three TV episodes delivered over two acts, the show, written and directed by Kirk German, offers a send up of any number of classic old TV shows, with plenty extra pop culture references to boot. Leave it to Bev is the polar opposite of subtle, entirely intentional as German’s goal appears to be to push even further over the top the material that inspired him which, of course, was already over the top to begin with. Sitcoms are to real life what a Smiley Face is to the Mona Lisa—no room for nuance. Except… more ›

Friendly Fires are one of the most fun dance-rock bands we've heard in recent years, despite there being a myriad of purveyors of that genre. The band throw copious percussion, pretty synths, and choruses full of harmony into a sound equal parts Cut Copy and Franz Ferdinand, which implies that they're on the more interesting side of the indie dance-pop fence. In recent months, the group have been nominated for a Mercury Music Prize, toured with Interpol, and (perhaps most importantly) have had their single "Jump In The Pool" chosen as the theme for BBC's football highlight show! After a trip to SXSW 2009 was canceled due to the chance to play some big European dates, Friendly Fires finally arrive on Red River tonight, and we suspect there will be a lot of dancing.

more ›

Former Austin High School student Hollan Dyer, 18, was riding shotgun in a blue Toyota Prius in Oak Hill when the car came upon the cyclist, Austinite Brad (last name withheld). According to detectives, Dyer allegedly remarked to his fellow passengers something along the lines of, "I hate cyclists on the road!," then, evidently steamed, rolled down his window and fired at the victim. more ›

• World economies grow, but surprisingly, China's economy poised to kick everyone's ass.
• FAA says our state-of-the-art air traffic control system is running smoothly (after a large blip earlier this morning).
• South African runner whose gender was questioned will keep medal.

On October 13th, the Planning Commission (PC) considered the Historic Landmark Commission’s recommendation that Travis House be designated as a historic building. The owner’s lawyer told Planning that the 1945 building was in bad shape and contaminated with lead, mold and asbestos. Susan Villarreal, Senior Planner with the city responded that "It is a distinctive and interesting building" and an "excellent representative of Colonial Revival style." The PC voted 4-2 to deny the historic designation (DMU-H) and recommended DMU zoning. City Council will make the final decision as to whether the building gets historic zoning at its meeting today. UPDATE: City Council denied historic zoning, so the building will likely be demolished. more ›

So I'm not exactly sure what type of people I was expecting to find at Segway headquarters, but when I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. The guy behind the counter, my fellow tourists, and even Our Tour Guide all looked... normal. No duct-taped glasses, no headgear, no 'Segway Or The Highway' t-shirts. But then, as if to intentionally shatter my delusion, the guy behind the counter announced, "You can go ahead and pick out your helmets." Oh yeah. Helmets. While we were choosing our badges of dorkdom, Our Tour Guide poked her head in from outside. "I almost forgot to ask," she said, smiling. "Does anyone want to ride the 'hot pink' Segway or the one with 'flames' painted on it?" We shook our well-protected heads: 'No thanks.' more ›

• Doh! Don’t rob the mayor of a small town! He won’t be happy about it, and he’ll really want the cops to catch you.
• Do you know a real, no-nonsense girl who rides horses, and who is between the ages of 12 and 16? If so, you might want to tell her about this casting call for the lead role in a Coen Brothers movie. Squee!
• Pitchfork covers Fun Fun Fun Fest! (They liked it, they really liked it!)

Austin may be known for it's liberal attitudes, causal fashion, and nearly constant sunshine - as a result, outside of the occasional beat-up cowboy hat or burnt orange baseball cap, we're not big hat wearers. Despite this, Austin is home to a few talented milliners, among them Jean Cannon of Zenda Hats whose studio will be open this weekend for East Austin Studio Tour. Cannon's work is high-fashion enough to adorn the head's of church ladies and Austin enough to accessorize us at our version of church - Sunday morning breakfast tacos. Among the work on display during the tour is a fabulous silken bonnet that Cannon created for a theater costume, a stunning black women's top hat, and a handsome men's fedora. Stop by her studio (at 3709 Werner Ave) this weekend during EAST to try on many hats and see the tools of the trade. Come pretty and prepared - photographers Kristin Ware and Debbie Smith will be at the site with their Polaroid photo-booth to capture everyone's fashionable finery. more ›

Emmis Austin is bringing back the "Todd and Don Show" to KLBJ in December, changing the format of the morning talk program to focus on "community history, expectations and cultural sensitivity." The show was canceled in July after co-host Don Pryor used a derogatory racial slur on air nearly three dozen times over the course of a single hour's program. The resulting backlash by the community, as well as threats of a boycott of all station advertisers, turned nasty. more ›

Little introduction is needed for that maven of cult followership, that original espouser of the effed narrative, that yelper of the adventures of the disturbed you know all too well, The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle. Fashioning tales ranging from the intensely Biblical to the intensely meth-addled, Darnielle has been passionately plying his trade since he burst onto the underground scene with a scad of early-aughts cassette recordings that made his unique voice and narrative gift a must-know for any aspiring music tastemaker. Getting the Antone's crowd ready for Darnielle is an act just as worthy of attention, Canada's everywhere-you-look go-to man on the strings, Owen Pallett, whose one man tour de force, Final Fantasy, is sure to please. more ›

Headlights is not a band out to blow your mind; they probably just want you to make out to their music. Their sound recalls breathy, late-night phone conversations between teenagers. And hey, it’s always past your parents’ phone cut-off time somewhere. As long as prom-night indiepop culture and its Michael Cera-laced accoutrements persist in this endless loop of recreating and reconstructing age 17 (what, if we revisit it enough, we’ll finally get it right?) we may as well sit back and bask in its flushed cheeks and hearts all a flutter. And there’s absolutely nothing not to like about Headlights, including their new album, Wildlife. more ›

Kansas City’s The Get Up Kids formed in 1995 and fast became an integral part of the emo movement that captured many a heart in the latter half of the decade. Chock-full of enduring melodies and introspective lyricism, the band’s seminal recordings (full-lengths Four Minute Mile and Something To Write Home About, and the Woodson and Red Letter Day EPs) positioned them at the forefront of a genre that has inspired much of today’s rampant pop-punk scene. Sure, “emo” was originally utilized to refer to hardcore bands in both the ‘80s and the early ‘90s but after the music world got a taste of Weezer’s Pinkerton as well as artists such as The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, The Promise Ring, and Texas’ own Mineral, the use of the term shifted to signify a slightly softer side of punk -- a mainstream-ready, pop-friendly sound marked by poignant tales of personal plight. You could probably blame thank attribute much of the Warped Tour’s 21st century roster to the lingering effects of The Get Up Kids’ heyday and the influence of those aforementioned albums. more ›

If a book, a record, and a wall painting were to have a ménage à trois together, it is Monofonus Press who would provide the bedroom. In real life, these are called threesomes; in the art world, these are called "collaborations." Just over a year old, Monofonus Press has been facilitating innovative cross-media works with stunning proliferation, reaching out to artists as diverse as Noel Waggener, icon-heavy poster designer; grrl rockers Follow That Bird!; and Michener Center-minted Brian Hart. Recently voted “Best Multiple Media Idea” by the Austin Chronicle,Monofonus Studios, located at 610 Vermont Road, encourages art voyeurs of all stripes to stop by during that East Austin Studio Tour. We spoke with co-founder Morgan Coy, who, suspiciously enough, created Monofonus with two other partners. more ›

• Pirates attack the US-flagged Maersk Alabama for the second time in seven months
• Hillary Clinton makes surprise visit to Afghanistan for Karzai's inauguration
• Attorney General Holder says world will see Khalid Sheikh Mohammed "for the coward he is"

Check it out: Temper Trap, Japandroids and a few others are already confirmed for SXSW 2010. We can't believe it's already begun (guess it's time to start planning our day party!) but look forward to more rounds of reveals. more ›

The fastest computer in the world - the Cray XT5 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory -- contains more than 37 thousand processors from Advanced Micro Devices. UT's Ranger supercomputer is ranked No. 9. more ›

South Austin Trailer Park lost Shuggie's earlier this year, but the outdoor food court has bounced back with two fresh additions: Holy Cacao, a cake ball and hot chocolate dessert stand, and Man Bites Dog, a new hot dog venture a la Frank. more ›

If you plan on attending a 70-minute symphony about an unpopulated continent, you're probably going to want some kind of explanation first. That and maybe a drink. We can help you out with the first one. more ›

On the seventh floor of the mammoth white Alkek Library at Texas State University in San Marcos are the Wittliff Collections, which includes the Southwestern Writers Collection. Somewhere nested in what is described as "an attractive suite of research, gallery, and office space" are the personal artifacts of Grover Lewis, as donated by his widow, Rae Lewis. more ›

Austin Bat Cave, a non-profit writing and tutoring center for kids, recently hosted a Writing About Music workshop led by Austinist music writers. Students wrote reviews of several songs and performed interviews, with some students posing as musicians. We're so proud of the budding rock journalists that we decided to share some of the work from these little geniuses. Enjoy! more ›

Join us tomorrow night at Jo's Downtown as we class sass up hump day with Drag Queen Bingo, a new biweekly game night. Tomorrow's festivities are emceed by the very lovely Saffire T. Stone , 2007's Best of Austin Best Drag Queen and the diva credited with putting on the "first drag show in Williamson County history"—which, believe us, speaks volumes. more ›

It takes some serious effort (and pocket change) to sift through all the handmade CD-Rs, cassettes and seven-inches that fill up the annals of scum-rock and "New Weird American" music. Certainly a fair amount of these groups veer towards noise and semi-ambient clatter and drift, but the line from No Neck Blues Band and Talibam! to an outfit like Blues Control ends up quite squiggly. more ›

• Poll says Americans are divided on health care. Yup.
• NY 23 election, two weeks later: Hoffman un-concedes after nudging from Glenn Beck.
• Don't worry, you can still have your raw oysters - bacteria and all!

Photos courtesy of Chad Wadsworth. more ›

The Paramount Theatre may be nearly 100 years old, but that hasn't stopped the historic venue from incorporating some new technology: an iPhone application is now available to get show updates and buy tickets. more ›

• President Obama’s China agenda
• Obama’s China Town Hall: Smiley faces and happy thoughts?
• Free Aung San Suu Kyi, Obama tells Myanmar PM

Photos courtesy Steve Hopson. Monsters of Folk consists of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes and M. Ward. more ›

Black Star Co-Op unveiled the new location of the world’s first cooperatively-owned brewpub at a party for members and press this past weekend. The new site is at Midtown Commons, the transit-oriented development at the Crestview station along Cap Metro's Red Line. more ›

Seattlest reminded us that we don't watch Mariners baseball for the game, we watch it for the player-on-player bromance.