Although Monarchs' driving force is clearly lead singer Celeste Griffin, there is more to this group than meets the eye, especially at this Saturday's album release show for The Rise and Fall. In this particular iteration of Monarchs, Jon Sanchez from Roky Erickson will be on guitar, Daniel Jones from Future Clouds and Radar on drums, and Gary Calhoun from One Hundred Flowers on bass. But that's not all - special guests Michael Kincaid from What Made Milwaukee Famous and Hope Buchanan from Till We're Blue or Destroy will also be on hand to join the Austin love-fest for Monarchs album debut at Swan Dive. more ›

While still in need of some funding, in.gredients, the first package-free, zero-waste grocery store in Austin (and the nation), has announced it will set up shop in Central/East Austin. The spot they've chosen is 2610 Manor Rd. "Being close to Austin’s food desert - where corner stores selling highly-processed food are sometimes used as grocery stores - helped determine our location," their announcement post states. For more information on the upcoming store, check out our interview with co-founder Christian Lane, posted earlier this week. more ›

Had they existed thirty years ago, Iceage would have been a criminally under-appreciated post-punk band and New Brigade would have developed a small cult of admiring fans over the years, perhaps even meriting a reissue on a trendy independent label. more ›

The Trip (Violet Crown Cinema) The Trip was an award-winning television series that aired on BBC Two last year in England. The original six episodes of the program, directed by Michael Winterbottom (9 Songs, The Killer Inside Me), have been edited down into a feature film. more ›

Wayne Kramer is no stranger to causes. As guitarist for the highly influential MC5, the veteran songwriter/six-string slasher played many a benefit and stumped (musically) for many a position, and he’s continued his charitable work in his solo career. Nearest and dearest to Kramer’s heart is Jail Guitar Doors, the organization he formed with British folk rocker Billy Bragg that donates musical instruments and organizes outreach programs to folks behind bars, encouraging rehabilitation, reducing prison violence and supporting prison reform. The duo launched the org at SXSW 2010 in Austin, and now Kramer is blasting back for "Howling at the Moon," a benefit show whose proceeds go to JGD’s work with the Travis County Correctional Facility. Kramer still burns with the spirit that powered the MC5, and his solo material rocks just as righteously as his work with the Five. Want to hear “Kick Out the Jams” performed by the man who wrote it? Now’s your chance, and in support of a worthy cause as well. more ›

James Holmes, the man behind fine dining restaurant Olivia's, is arguably one of Austin's favorite chefs, and his fried chicken is certainly one of Austin's favorite dishes. For the time being, you can only get your hands on his tasty, fried breasts and thighs during Olivia's weekend brunch, in the food court at ACL, or at Olivia's Fried Chicken Revival parties during SXSW. But starting later this year, Austinites can get a taste of Holmes' famous fried fowl at a new, casual dining restaurant he's planning -- Lucy's Fried Chicken. more ›

69 Love Scenes, which opened last week at Salvage Vanguard Theater, is to a Magnetic Fields fanatic as X-Men: Generation X is to a die-hard Marvel fan. Written by Monique Daviau and Avimaan Syam (who also directs), with additional writing contributions by other members of Gnap! Theater Projects, the piece embodies perfectly the ideas, concept, and emotion of the album, while also bringing a new, clever interpretation. more ›

Jared Leibowich, front man of the Zoltars, wrote his first batch of songs as a way to blow off some steam while studying for his finals at the University of Chicago. A filmmaker by training, he moved to Austin after graduating in 2008 to find a job in the film industry, only to find himself returning to the more accessible and immediately rewarding pleasures of songwriting. After playing shows with a different drummer as The Zoltars, Leibowich eventually teamed up with Donald Gallaspy and John Gaglio to form the current iteration of the band. The trio all adopted the surname "Zoltar" and have, over the last year or so, seen their profile rise both locally and nationally (regular Beerland gigs and an appearance on Casual Victim Pile II have done the trick). more ›

Adam Lee is one of California's most esteemed Pinot Noir and Syrah winemakers, but he's not a West Coast native. Mr. Lee was born and raised right here in Austin, and is a graduate of Trinity University. Before decamping for California in the early 1990's, Lee worked as a salesperson and manager of the former Austin Wine & Spirits before moving on to a wine buyer role at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. At that job, he met his wife Dianna (who is still Lee's winemaking partner), and the two pooled their savings to move to California and start a winery - truly the stuff of legend. Over the past 15 years, the pair have produced literally hundreds of 90+ wines under the Siduri and Novy labels. Both Lees visit Central Market on Monday evening to host a tasting dinner, so we called Adam recently to discuss his thoughts on winemaking, Austin, and the best story he's ever heard over a glass of Pinot. more ›

More than three and half years since the Great Recession began and two years since the start of a so-called recovery, the paucity of music that overtly addresses or in any way touches upon the all too common personal difficulties and stalled lives that, in part, characterize these times is rather astonishing. After enduring more than a few of their own trials and tribulations, Howth has released a beautiful pop-folk album that artfully illustrates common struggles, small pleasures and wistful longings for things once so commonplace that they were often taken for granted. Most significantly, it showcases Carl Creighton’s masterful songwriting skills, the likes of which have become all too rare in indie music. more ›

So yes, you all broke out your nautical knowledge and decoded the first five bands announced in the line-up leak. More on the announcement follows. more ›

For their monthly installment at the Spiderhouse Ballroom, sex-centric reading series Bedpost Confessions invites guest readers to contribute erotic anecdotes while also minding "ooh that's dirty" stories from their own cabal of writers....and their audience. Today the series will include pieces from Sadie Smythe, Mistress Stephanie, Michael Flower, F*bomb, as well as "salacious Ukulele magic by Jessica Leigh Graves." What is a ukulele if not salacious? more ›

Fantastic Fest, which will take place Sept. 22-29, has made its first programming announcement. The 20 films that have been revealed come from around the world and include digital restorations, US premieres, and plenty of the bizarre fun this festival is celebrated for. more ›

Can you decode nautical flags? Do you recognize the music in the background of this video? If so, you've got all the tools you need to decipher Fun Fun Fun Fest's first lineup leak of 2011. There are five reveals within this video, and the water theme is a hat tip to the festival's new location this year at Auditorium Shores. See if you can decode the video (a quick Google search should prove helpful) and share the answers in our comments section. The first two readers who post the right list and Tweet this post (@austinist) will get a pair of tickets to the festival. more ›

When sitting down with co-founder of recently announced in.gredients, a concept quickly coming to fruition as the first package-free, waste-not grocery store in Austin and ostensibly the U.S., it’s apparent Christian Lane has done his homework. All researching and late night assignments aside, Christian and his partners (also his brothers), Patrick and Joseph, and “brother in spirit,” Christopher Pepe, possess years of actual project implementation vis-à-vis their work as Praecipio Consulting (http://praecipio.com), an IT, business process, and custom development consulting firm based in Austin. more ›

Michael Holden/flickr

Queer V. Gay
Wednesday, July 13
Cheer Up Charlies (1104 E. 6th St.)
7pm-9pm
[info]

While most bars provide an environment for binge drinking, dirty dancing, and club cruising, Cheer Up Charlies is doing things a little queer tonight. Marriage equality project UNITE! and southern queer zine Sir/Ma'am will being hosting a serious discussion about what it means to be gay. Or what it means to be queer. Or what it means to be both (if that's even possible). And what is going on with those lesbians?

Tonight Austinist presents a showcase to keep you rocking straight through the mid-week hump. With local acts Bat Castle, Oak is Keeping, and Anam Milá, the night offers something for everyone--with varying musical genres and dynamics. Luckily we know what we're doing and since it's only Wednesday, we promise to ease you along by starting off slowly with the jazz-fused stylings of the Anam Milá trio led by Amanda Rosalie's soothing vocals. Oak is Keeping will kick it up a notch with their straight forward, guitar-heavy rock. The four piece showcase classic rock sensibilities that draw comparisons to Queens of the Stone Age. Their high energy act blends vocals, fuzzy guitar riffs, bass, and drums for a powerful live performance. more ›

Kathy Augustine, a former deputy superintendent at Atlanta Public Schools, (the same system now embroiled in a national scandal over revelations of organized cheating facilitated and promoted by the school administrators) lasted only one day in her new job as superintendent of the DeSoto Independent School District. more ›

An adults-only boat party featuring Big Freedia is going to be bananas. If you like parties, and you like drinks, and you like flossin' on a boat, and you're not afraid to get azz everywhere [nsfw, of course] then you're going to want to join us, Transmission and Green Potato Ventures for the inaugural event in Transmission's Summer Camp series. more ›

As development of our popular music landscape gets increasingly complex and a little overcrowded, the simplicity and purity of golden era punk - groups like The Clash, Buzzcocks, Ramones and Sex Pistols - risks being overlooked by the rising generations. What better way to get reintroduce and remind everyone of the energy of songs like “London Calling,” “God Save the Queen” and “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” than in a live setting? And, since the original members of these groups are largely either no longer living or in different shades of disarray, the next best thing is a spirited cover tribute. Austin rock and rollers Electric Touch are doing just that, a special punk tribute show, touching on the music of all the aforementioned bands and more, tonight, July 12th at Mohawk. You can pump your fists, shout the same choruses that have echoed through concert halls and dives since the 70s and 80s, and enjoy DJ sets and drink specials. Btw, the show is free. more ›

On Monday, East Austin's neighborhood bar and restaurant Contigo hosted Madison, WI spirit producer Death's Door for an evening of nose-to-tail pork dishes paired with a half-dozen craft cocktails showcasing Death's Door white whiskey, vodka, and gin. Even the pork was spirited: the animal was raised on spent mash from Death's Door at a Wisconsin pig farm, and the meat was flown in to Contigo especially for the event. A sizable crowd took in the warm evening and sampled everything from Brown Sugar Bacon Macaroons to a Porchetta (a pork loin/pork belly combo) with rosemary, lemon, garlic and fennel. more ›

Word of Gov. Rick Perry's impending candidacy is making its way to Republican leaders all over the country, and the initial response seems strong. more ›

TED-heads are well aware of the magic going on in Scotland tomorrow, and are probably already signed up to stream the inspiring and succinct speeches of the TEDGlobal conference. They might not all be aware, however, that on its third day(though only the second of main stage speeches) Alamo South Lamar will be simulcasting all the action in its entirety. more ›

A party put on by anarchists seems like an oxymoron (or possibly terrifying), but everyone’s favorite anarchist bookstore MonkeyWrench Books is a pretty welcoming environment. Nestled in the middle of the North Loop district, neighboring the Parlor (R.I.P.) and a lingerie store, MonkeyWrench has carved out a niche for itself with a wide assortment of literature, zines, and hosted events, from lecture series to film nights. Tonight they’re putting on a spoken word showcase called Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, featuring a number of performers who have a lot to say. more ›

On Friday morning little baby JaMichael Brown was welcomed to the world -- all 16 pounds of him. Putting aside the "everything's bigger in Texas" line, hospital officials at the Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview have stated JaMichael is the largest baby born in the hospital, and might be the biggest baby born in Texas. State records are currently being searched to confirm that. more ›

Centro-matic and Sarah Jaffe played the Mohawk outdoors last night, and Chad Wadsworth caught it for us. more ›

Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg -- whom we tend to fondly associate with that TV show Get Real, but you probably know best for The Social Network -- is in town today to plug his upcoming summer comedy, . In a clever promotion idea, he will be serving pizza at Home Slice during lunch today for 30 minutes. Doors open at 11:30am. [Appetite Bytes] more ›