Arts & Entertainment

Monday night, the Austin Critics' Table, an informal collective of local arts critics, will usher in seven new inductees to the Austin Arts Hall of Fame, and will dole out achievement awards to this year's nominees in categories including Theatre, Design, Dance, Art, and Classical Music. The "Table" has been in the award-giving business for 16 years, recognizing Austin's wide variety of talent with a pat on the back and an annual rip-tootin' good time. more ›

Renowned for excellent sound quality and a feeling of coziness that belies its substantial size, The Parish Room has been Sixth Street's favorite little concert hall for quite a while now, and this Friday they'll be hosting yet another quality show: four of Austin's most interesting and diverse pop acts. Headlining is the clap-happy and catchy Built by Snow, a band who often channel an updated version of cultural phenomenon Weezer in their tunes--they will soon be heading into the studio to record their second CD, and this show is sure to provide some pleasant previews of the new material. more ›

Men, do not let your girlfriend drag you to Sex and the City. While, typically, there is some knowledge of the “fairer sex” to be gained from the usual chick flick fare, there is nothing for you here. Go play some football or see Iron Man for the third time because this movie will feel like torture for you. For women (and their gay best friends), the film will still feel rather tortuous. At two-and-a-half hours, it’s pretty hard to not get antsy for Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) to get to the point already. more ›

Breakaway Records, located at 1704 E. 5th St. (Ste. 105) next to Cafe Mundi, is throwing a massive shindig this Sunday as a part of its Grand Opening Party. Besides the awesome promise of free beer (for 21+ only!), entertainment will be provided by Waxploitation! DJs, The Sock Hop DJs, Ready Steady Go! DJs, Heart & Soul Soundsystem, the list goes on -- check out the flyer on the left for the full line-up. It all kicks off nice 'n early at 11 a.m. Also on Sunday, one time one-hit wonders, Chicago’s Local H rock out at Emo’s but may have to play second fiddle as the incredible energy and imminent anthems of local hot-shots Lions precede them at this concert. Local H’s new record Twelve Angry Months hit streets on May 13th. more ›

Straight up punk rock may be all the rage at Beerland on most nights but pop melodies are in vogue this Saturday when The Strange Boys and Shapes Have Fangs headline with sugary sweet potions that will keep your heads bobbing in unison throughout. The sound of the '60s is unavoidable in both bands’ lo-fi garage-rock and we decided to catch up with each of them for a quick rundown on the state of affairs in their respective circles. more ›

It’s no secret that we love the Red River District here at Austinist so we want to get the word out on this City of Austin Waller Creek District Survey. It’s a bit long so bear with it but definitely participate if you want your voice heard for plans that include an area which has become a beloved and enduring segment of downtown Austin. The survey closes on May 31st. more ›

They’re one of Japan’s greatest and most under-appreciated indie punk exports, and they’ve been going strong since the late '80s. One member of the Le Diamant team fondly recalls an interview with the group for a zine back in 2003 via translator. Some consider them the Japanese equivalent of Cursive, but that could be because the two groups have a strong relationship from touring together and sharing space on an impressive split CD, 8 Teeth to Eat You. more ›

Tonight, the Austin Film Festival is screening Public Enemy: Welcome to the Terrordome, a documentary look at PE's past and present, focusing heavily on the group's individual members. Through extensive live footage (including an Austin performance of “Son of A Bush”) and interviews with Henry Rolllins, The Beastie Boys, Tom Morello, Talib Kweli and DMC, Welcome to the Terrordome explores the band's personal politics, as well as their extensive influence on music and culture. more ›

For almost ten years, Shearwater have made huge strides as a progressive folk project that began with sparse, humble origins which has since blossomed into something altogether more intense and uplifting. They’ve also made Austin proud through a continued career of challenging and strikingly original material, not to mention the fact that they've given the seabird that inspired their name some much-needed attention. more ›

From now until June 1st, the Arthouse at the Jones Center is once again exhibiting over 1,000 diminutive works by 600 contemporary artists. more ›

Is it us, or does it seem like this is going to be a really hot summer in Austin? It's hot outside, dude. Really hot. We advise staying out of the sun as much as possible for the sake of your health as well as for the sake of your overall comfort. As for the evenings, well, by all means, go outdoors, it's nice and cool. Here are this weekend's recommended activities once you get there: more ›

Clinic, wrapped in their customary cloak of anonymity, play to the crowd at Emo's on Friday night. Their set was prefaced by an a capella rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," performed by recent tourmate, Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater. As for the proper set, it was a doozy, starting with Do It! (their latest), and then a short break before a mind-blowing "Archive Set" including popular favorites from Winchester Cathedral, Visitations and more. more ›

Colored by a near fatal bout with pneumonia and periorbital cellulitis, Jason Pierce's sixth release (and first since 2003) as Spiritualized covers well-tread ground in many ways. References to medication, God, pain and eidos are all present, but there's a sense of revitalization, too. more ›

Austinist Indieroke took over The Mohawk’s Green Room this past Sunday for a night of thrills, frills, and plenty of awesome stills (courtesy of Nash Cook). We would like to thank everyone who came down and made this an incredible party, especially the early birds -- we had six songs in queue before we even had a bartender up there! Of course, very special thank you’s go out to The Mohawk for putting up with our shenanigans, and our rock star friends from Zykos, White Denim, The Boxing Lesson, and Belaire, all of whom turned in some magnificent renditions. more ›

Upon returning to the United States, Wester began painting in a studio at the Pump Project in East Austin. His photos, now digitally manipulated into a high contrast two-tone reminiscent of stencil art, are combined with bold, graphic imagery such as the Red Cross logo and Arabic text. Touching, but often hopeful, Wester uses bright primary colors and images of children in many of his pieces. For Wester, capturing the images and turning them into art has been a healing way for him to discuss his feelings about the war. more ›

Have you ever spent Thanksgiving at your significant other's house, where you realize that while you like his or her mom, the pumpkin pie or stuffing isn't nearly as good as your mom's? Sure, you're satisfied. You're about to fall asleep from being so jam-packed with stuff, but you're missing a little bit of that childhood nostalgia of biting into Mom's fluffy pie. That's how Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull feels. You have yearned for it for so long, you've built it up in your head, but it's just not quite the same.. more ›

Vancouver, BC’s Ladyhawk are on the road in support of their haunting sophomore LP Shots (released in March on Secretly Canadian), and they’re having a rough time of it — according to frontman Duffy Driedger, not many people are turning up to hear the band’s boozy jams. You can help make the tour a little brighter by heading to Emo’s tonight, where Ladyhawk are sharing the inside stage with Saddle Creek barflies Neva Dinova. more ›

As you may have read somewhere, we are launching Phase Two of our almost-monthly Austinist Indieroke shindig this Sunday at 9 p.m. at The Mohawk. The event will take place upstairs on the deck -- please look for the “green light” on 10th St. and enter through there since there is a band (Colour Wheel) and a cover charge downstairs. Hopefully you have already added us as a friend on MySpace since all our nominees in the various contests shall have their sweet face historicized in our “Hall Of Mirrors.” Additionally, each winner’s mug will also be displayed on Austinist the following day. As promised previously, there will be a handful of local rock stars present to serenade us with renditions of their favorites -- Mike Booher (Zykos), Cari Palazzolo (Belaire), and James Petralli (White Denim) are all expected to take the stage during the course of the evening. more ›

Switchboard, the all-female improv super-troupe comprised of Second City alumnae Debra Downing-Grosz (UCB theater, Second City Chicago), Rebecca Sohn (The Annoyance Theater, Second City Chicago), and Jean Villepique (iO Chicago, Sceond City, The Office, 30 Rock), performs at the Coldtowne Theater tonight and tomorrow night. more ›

Stubb's indoors will host your fill of contemplative instrumental tunes this evening, so come out tonight to fulfill your recommended dose of dreamy lap-pop, spacey guitar work and thick reverb with a trio of performances from upcoming acts. more ›

What's happening in town this weekend? Take a look! more ›

Liverpool, England, how we love thee so. You have served the world well for many a century, being an essential port for trade and also during war, providing native delicacies, and being home to one of fútbol’s most successful clubs. And we naturally love the fact that you changed the course of pop music by birthing The Beatles but did not rest on your laurels and continued to enrich our culture by supplying endless incredible acts like Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Merseybeats, The La’s (and Cast), Echo & The Bunnymen, The Zutons, Ladytron, Wah! (Pete Wylie), and The Coral to name a few, a very few that is. And yes, the innovative, noisy, organ fueled concoctions of Clinic also originated on the banks of your River Mersey. Clinic was formed in 1997 by Hartley and Ade Blackburn upon the demise of their previous band Pure Morning. Brian Campbell and Carl Turney joined the ranks shortly afterwards and that line-up remains intact to this day. more ›

Foxboro Hot Tubs, the nom de plume of the latest not-so-super-secret Green Day side project, headline Emo's inside stage tonight. Conjuring up the frantic protopunk energy of The Kinks, MC5 and The Stooges, Green Day members Billie Joe, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool will be joined by friends Jason Freese, Kevin Preston and Jason White as Foxboro Hot Tubs. But the jangly 60's garage-pop group's sound is still unmistakably Green Day; Billie Joe's signature voice and song writing style gives it away. more ›

Jarboe is one of my favorites. She is really neat, and old, and kind of hot. more ›

This Austin band likely chose this moniker because if dinosaurs all of a sudden pulled off the greatest coups ever and rose from ocean depths to take back the planet, this would be the band they listened to as they stomped feeble humans in highly populated areas. It’s sludgy, hearty and crude. The seven-way brutal noise explosion that is this group just released their debut, Not Noiice, with a sound mixing overlapping primal vocals, music scrapes, distorted chords and pure fun that could encourage either artful interpretive dance or a straight-up slam fest. more ›

In When Something Wonderful Ends—a blend of autobiography, American history, and analytical rant about Middle East politics—Barbara Chisholm charms from start to finish, fully engaging the audience effortlessly. That's no mean feat, considering much of the subject matter is heavy fare, weaving together a convincing argument that the war in Iraq is all about oil. We attended the show with someone we consider conservative; he found the analytical nature of the piece compelling and convincing. See it to bask in Chisholm's sparkle and to check out Barbie's groovy gear, but take away a great night of thought-provoking theatre. more ›

Photo's from Bun B's performance at Emo's on Wednesday night. Update: Austin360 is reporting that Bun B's brief (28 minute) set was followed by some scuffling with the APD. Opening act Lowkey from SouthBound had some words with a bouncer, and was Tasered by police at least three times. No word yet on what caused the scuffle, or how it was resolved. Feel free to chime in if you saw anything, or have any further information on this incident. more ›

I tried my best to avoid the leaks of II Trill, mostly because I knew I would buy it. If there's one rapper that deserves my 18 bucks at Cheap-O, it's Bun-B; and not just because he's been through hard times no man should have to know or because I feel like my cash in his pocket doesn't just = weed. No, I say that because I feel compelled to not steal his shit. I like and respect all sorts of rappers, but would I care if Jeezy came over to watch some Gossip Girl and a burned copy of The Inspiration was on my dresser? No. But if Bun came over for some C-Span and found "3_damn_im_cold_ft_lilweezy.mp3", I would be WAY embarrassed. more ›

After two releases of live performances (at MoMo's and Antone's, respectively), Band of Heathens are hoping their studio performance can live up to their reputation as one of the best live Americana acts in the Lone Star State. more ›

Austin, lace up your walking shoes and prepare thyself for a quadruple blast of high-caliber musical entertainment across the downtown area this Saturday. Yes, it appears that the stars will align this weekend, giving us a ludicrous amount of options from which to choose in just one night. It's like the summer solstice of live music, dontcha know. We now pass the difficulty of choice to you, gentle readers: we are merely the conduit for such information. more ›

Looking back, there probably wasn't a more appropriate patch of weather to be weathered than the intermittent rain and deep, damningly grey clouds that fans had to maneuver underneath on their way the Woodlands Pavilion last Saturday evening. Spirits weren't dampened by one high E string, though. Not only did the mildly adverse meteorological conditions set a suitable tone for the set to come (not to mention the copy of In Rainbows we were warming up to whilst waiting our turn for a space in the White Lot), but it was endearing to see that the multitudes milling towards the venue would have straddled the San Andreas fault line in the middle of the Big One to catch a glimpse of Thom wheedle his internal narrative out of a Rhodes piano until being swallowed alive. Needless to say, we were all looking forward to the show, rain or shine. more ›

El Rey is the second record out from the Wedding Present after they broke a lengthy hiatus with 2005's Take Fountain. Frontman David Gedge's penchant for bittersweet love songs and catchy hooks remains intact, but the album strikes a hair dark. more ›

What's more appealing than a beautiful girl singing Tom Waits songs? For some, nothing. Though much has been said (and speculated about) regarding Miss Johansson's decision to record an album of Tom Waits covers (well, there is one original tune on there, but you wouldn't be able to pick it out if you weren't at all familiar with Waits), the actual reviews are pretty much split down the middle. more ›

Though DJ Mel is primarily known for his legendary Rock the Casbah parties at the Parish, he's been bringing a little debauchery to the Beauty Bar with his SWOLL parties. SWOLL sets are focused on the higher end of the BPM range, mixing Miami Bass, Baltimore club and "anything fast". Last weekend's event including DJ Klever, Cosmo Baker looks like it was a really good time. more ›

We're too old to have a proper sense of the seasons any more, but we figure it must be summer, because a) there was minimal traffic on 35 this morning and b) The Paramount Theatre's 2008 Summer Classic Film Series kicks off this Thursday with a double-shot of Bogey and, er, a single shot of Travlota! Huzzah! Perennial Bogart classics Casablanca and Key Largo (which, we assume, need no preamble) will kick things off, while the feel-good summertime musical Grease rounds out the weekend. more ›

Tonight at the City Council Chambers, Austin's Live Music Task Force will meet to discuss sound issues -- and you're invited. more ›

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club brings its leather jacket strut and guitar-rock grit to Antone’s tonight. The California act’s first two records, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Take Them On Your Own, conjured up anthemic rock with its fair share of noisy feedback and shoegazing tendencies, resulting in instant classics like “Love Burns”, “Whatever Happened To My Rock 'N' Roll (punk song)”, and “Stop.” The three-piece then changed its tune a bit, shifting course with album number three, Howl (released in 2005), which was a primarily acoustic, extremely bluesy, sometimes country flavored record that had loyal fans a tad mystified. However, Howl did not disappoint in terms of quality and was followed by 2007’s Baby 81, which harnessed the swagger and stomp of their earlier work while also harboring the roots of Howl. Even though the in-your-face immediacy and unavoidable panache of the first two albums seemed a bit toned down (for better or for worse), there was little doubting the band’s ability to churn out memorable hooks and catchy melodies. Crunching blues ditties (“Took Out A Loan”), chant-along chorus’ (“Weapon Of Choice”), lengthy jams (“American X”), and radio-friendly fare (“Cold Wind” and “All You Do Is Talk”) kept Baby 81 enjoyable if not fresh, engaging if not ground-breaking. more ›

Take a break from your generic rock 'n pop this week and see the world through a martini glass. A Pink Martini glass, that is! Pink Martini was founded by Thomas M. Lauderdale (piano and artistic director) and currently boasts a double digit line-up. Incorporating various styles and spanning many genres, the act’s eclectic, exotic compositions can be found on three albums: 1997’s debut full-length Sympathique, Hang on Little Tomato (2004), and last year’s Hey Eugene! China Forbes’ impressive vocals neatly nestle upon the band’s concoctions that range from classically influenced pieces to diverse world music, and from soft jazzy numbers to picture yourself in another place and time soundtracks. Forbes keeps things fresh by singing in a few different languages while the ensemble’s astute musicianship impeccably complements their innovative arrangements. more ›

We'll never forget the summer we discovered our parents' abandoned .45 collection in the garage. In between shiny black discs featuring songs we'd been raised on (probably Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Chicago), we discovered some gems that were totally new to us. Our first introductions to Nilsson, Harrison's solo stuff, Tim Hardin and Steve Young all happened that summer in the garage, and many a mixtapes for boyfriends of the future were forced to deal with our romantic nostalgia because of it. more ›

It’s as if the over-the-top angst of the last generation of alt-rock has been sublimated into something abstract and hidden, expressed through warped songcraft rather than screaming and feedback. more ›

The Friends of the Austin Public Library are holding another Monster Book Sale this weekend. Books of all sorts will be available for $1 or $2 (at past sales, you could fill up a box of books for $10). more ›

This Sunday, as part of the Austin Film Festival's "Conversations in Film" series, Writer / Director / Actor / Producer Johnathon Schaech will appear at the Hyde Park Theatre for an intimate discussion about screenwriting. more ›

KOOP 91.7 FM has had a rough couple of years, dealing with accidents and arson. KOOP serves our city daily with quality programming and their mission “is to provide high quality, innovative, and diverse community-oriented programming to Austin with an emphasis on those communities that are ignored or under-served by mainstream media” (Read it in its entirety on their MySpace page.) more ›

Hailing from Athens, Georgia, Dark Meat perform an ecstatic sort of revivalist rock'n'roll, joyfully creating their own spectacle of noise by any means necessary. About 18 performers (give or take), including a brass section positioned on one side of the venue and a more traditional outfit on the other (including two wildly talented and seemingly tireless drummers) electrified the audience at the Mohawk last night with their unique sound, which lies somewhere between Spritualized and Rocket from the Crypt. more ›

Stubb's has been heavy this year with big acts in relatively small confines: we've already seen Justice, R.E.M., Wilco, and The Raconteurs there and it's merely May 15th. The list will continue in August when the pride of Kentucky, My Morning Jacket, headline a scorchingly hot evening at the BBQ venue on August 24th as part of their Evil Urges tour. more ›

Chaos In Tejas 2008 kicks off this evening at Emo’s with Roky Erickson & The Explosives headlining the outside stage. Erickson has had a storied if troublesome life -- he was an instrumental force in the psychedelic music revolution in Texas in the 60’s with the 13th Floor Elevators, he then battled mental illness and had some run-ins with the law, and in the 80’s, he apparently claimed to have been possessed by a Martian. Erickson’s career returned to some sense of normalcy in the 90’s and by 2005, he was back in the limelight, performing at the 2005 Austin City Limits Music Festival with The Explosives. more ›

Austin's no stranger to the printed poster—in fact, between Flatstock and the East Austin Studio Tour, we get many chances to view and purchase original art by some very talented printmakers. This weekend, our affinity for all things screenprinted, letterpressed, linocut, and block printed is being even further catered to at various galleries around town. more ›

We don't think anyone will question our assertion that Radiohead are the most respected and sought-after band in the universe. Ever. After The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A shorted out the synapses of the entire world, all of us insignificant plebes agreed to elevate them to legend status along with the boys from Liverpool, a few members of the Stones, and Evan Dando. That's it. That is the VIP list for our musical Mount Olympus in its entirety. Thom, Mick, and Evan watching America's Top Model and eating pepperoni pizza Hot Pockets in the inner sanctum of some island-volcano hideout. more ›

Matador records describes newish signees The Cave Singers as "folk music approached by way of punk rock," and apparently this Seattle band didn't have an inclination to work in this genre in the first place - it just worked out that way. It's moody, maudlin stuff, and the kind of genre-splicing act that fits right into the Matador roster, which includes everything from Matmos to Shearwater, Cat Power to Mission of Burma. more ›

Austinist Indieroke: The Second Chapter begins next Sunday the 25th at The Mohawk’s sweet outdoor deck next to their brilliantly renovated Green Room. Fret not though because all the classic tunes you’ve grown to love in our karaoke collection are still available for you to enhance (or slaughter) with your personal renditions. But we are confident that you will love our new ideas and incentives. First off, there is an Austinist Indieroke MySpace page now. Get in there and add us as a friend -- photographs of all our contest nominees and winners shall be archived there in our “Hall Of Mirrors” because “even the greatest stars find their face in the looking glass / even the greatest stars live their lives in the looking glass.” more ›

They have been a secret building in Austin for a short time now, but it’s getting to the point where the blockages are about to break as these Americana Austin, Texas boys gear up for the release of their brand new studio effort out this month. This collaboration-turned-band made up mostly of songwriters – Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi, Gordy Quist, Seth Whitney and John Chipman – has so skillfully utilized instruments like the dobro, lap steel and harmonica to create soulful, bluesy and rocky country-mingled tunes. more ›

The Amazing Race is holding a casting call in Austin this Friday afternoon. For those unfamiliar with the Emmy-winning series, teams of two travel around the world with the teams going up against each other in challenges, all in an attempt to be the first to get to Phil's mat at the pit stop. The show in its 12 season run has made stops in six continents (no Antarctica pit stops yet). The winning team gets a million dollars in the end, but usually the first team to reach the mat at each pit stop wins a little something. more ›

A number of bands, restaurants and businesses will donate time and gifts tonight at Antone's in one of e series of events designed to benefit Stephen Moser's ongoing battle with prostate cancer, a condition currently affecting more than 2 million American men. more ›

In the five years that have passed since their last studio album (Waiting for the Moon, 2003), Stuart Staples and Tindersticks have shed three members and constructed a studio in France. They've also managed to write a record that doesn't stray too far from the soulful ballads of their past, but breaks new ground with some "not so serious after all" tunes about the devil's hunt for your literal heart. more ›

"I said, 'Aren't you the woman who was recently given a Fulbright?'" If you're a nerd for Paul Simon, you've been looking to drop this line at a party since the mid-80s. And you should totally do it if Shara K. Lange is in the room. Around this time last year, the Fulbright committee granted her an award and shipped her off to Morocco to film a documentary. She had recently graduated from UT's Radio, TV, and Film Department’s MFA program in production. Her thesis project, "The Way North," was in a stage of mid-completion, but that project is now finally wrapped up (much to our delight)! It premieres at AFS this Wednesday along with other UT films. more ›

A regular fixture on Austin's stages, Jeff Tweedy and Wilco certainly appeal to a broad cross-section of our city's music fans due to their sonic juxtapositions of alt.country, folk, and noisy Neil Young/Sonic Youth guitar rock. The group turned down their amps on last year's Sky Blue Sky, which found a pensive Tweedy retreating into gentle folk tunes after a series of critically lauded experimental albums like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born. The new record was more of a polarizer: in a "year in music" wrap-up on KUT last year, KUT DJ David Brown named it one of his Top 5 of the year, while Austin American-Statesman music writer Joe Gross called it one of the year's biggest disappointments. more ›

In Austin, we’ve got so much weird that it needs in-depth classification. For example, you’ve got the guy-inexplicably-dressed-as-a-panda type of weird, and the guy-inexplicably-vomiting-blue-stuff-all-over-the-bus weird. We’ve got happy weird and sick/sad weird, epic weirdness and little sprigs of weird popping up all over the place. And musically, we have everything from the honestly odd Daniel Johnston to the bad-strange of Blue October – from the massive drum circle-cum-circle jerk held during Eeyore’s birthday to the more underground but even more visceral strangeness held each week by The Church of the Friendly Ghost at The Salvage Vanguard Theater. more ›

Beerland, known for music, old school video games, and, um, beer, will host a kind and compact cluster of five bands this Friday night, with all five bands making names for themselves within the confines of our fine city. Headlining will be The Diagonals, a subtle and scratchy outfit that, despite their somewhat workmanlike stylings while on stage, carries an innate danceability. Beyond that, Diagonals vocalist Steve Garcia, in some of his more speed-speak moments, has been compared to a young Michael Stipe...you know, before Michael Stipe had that whole fifteen years of boredom thing. more ›

Nine Inch Nails has become less about the music and more about the new and creative ways in which it is being marketed and consumed. more ›

Tonight, Austin's Victory Grill will be metaphorically moving to Beale Street. KOOP's "Excavation Nation" show is sponsoring a STAX Nite, which will be packed with live and DJ-spun tunes celebrating the likes of Booker T, Issac Hayes, Carla Thomas, Albert King, Sam & Dave, and the incomparable Otis Redding. more ›

Mason Jennings’ poignant folk-rock can be enjoyed at La Zona Rosa this Friday. In February of this year, Jennings signed with Brushfire Records and his first full-length for the label, In The Ever will be released on May 20th. Pre-order it here -- we especially enjoyed “I Love You and Buddha Too”, a reasonably cheerful track despite its weighty subject matter. Prior to teaming up with Jack Johnson's label, Jennings had joined forces with Glacial Pace Recordings, headed by Jennings fan Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), who persuaded the Minnesota based artist to release his 2006 album Boneclouds on the Epic Records subsidiary. more ›

Local outfit What Made Milwaukee Famous have already had a seasoned career since forming in 2002 in the state capital. They captured the city's attention early on with a number of captivating live shows, charming audiences with their catchy pop songs. Their debut full-length Trying to Never Catch Up initially dropped in 2004 and was greeted by Austinites as gem of a record with the act touching on a number of genres and garnishing their melodies with appropriate instrumentation and impeccable production to conjure up a wide variety of delightful ditties -- many gratifying immediately, others already timeless. The record was re-released by Barsuk Records in 2006; the label is also home to the band’s sophomore album What Doesn’t Kill Us released earlier this year. Keeping with the times, What Made Milwaukee Famous launched a YouTube channel called WMMF TV this March where fans can enjoy the band's videos as well as live clips from their concerts. more ›

Ballet Austin will be the venue of choice for a presentation of avant garde visuals, performance and music its organizers are calling Oko Jumu, “the name that the Andamanese call a person that has either come near death, spent time alone in the jungle to talk with spirits, or talked to spirits in a dream," according to a tome by the symbolism-obsessed Joseph Campbell. more ›

In January, Mohammed Al-Farra traveled from Gaza to Park City, Utah, to help promote Slingshot Hip-Hop, a film about him and a number of other artists in the young but strong Palestinian rap scene. The other members of his group, called the Palestinian Rapperz or PR for short, were unable to leave Gaza to join him, and after Sundance, Al-Farra was - and still is - unable to return to Gaza because of the closed borders. Instead, he currently resides in the Dallas area. If Al-Farra’s story is any indication, his show tonight with fellow Palestinian group DAM has the sort of context, history, and implications that you won’t see for quite some time, rap show or otherwise. But you shouldn’t go to Scoot Inn tonight just because of the world these artists live in or Israel’s fast-approaching 60-year anniversary or Al-Farra’s forced status as an ex-pat. You should go because DAM and PR choose to respond to all of this through rap. more ›

While walking down Sixth Street during the Pecan Street Festival it’s easy to get bummed out, what with the multitudes of mediocre arts vendors and everyone stuffing their faces with fried meats. But thankfully, the grand sound of The Noise Revival Orchestra Experience broke the smatter of children’s chatter and pan flute solos. This orchestra of thirteen or so adding vocals and instruments like trumpet, bells and synth crafts sounds that are classically epic, poppy and experimental. more ›

It’s a weird weird weird weird weird weird world, and The Weird Weeds are emblematic of our times. Our favorite avant-garde local pop band gets quite a few mentions on this site, and here’s why: the band are simultaneously challenging and odd while remaining irrepressibly goofy and even a little cute and cuddle-able. The same can be said for very few experimental rock bands out there, save for Weird Weeds stage-sharers Xiu Xiu – and even they traipse on the “creepy” side a little too often for many of us. more ›

Two years ago, Matmos astounded and amused listeners with a tenacious concept album with the mouthful of a title - The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast. Taking eleven gay pop culture celebrities, the duo, M.C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel, made an record using complex and interweaving field recordings and electronics to reflect upon subjects like writer/former junky William S. Burroughs, Valerie Solanas of SCUM Manifesto fame, and figures ranging from the heavyweight philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein to grimy Germs frontman Darby Crash. The Rose… was utterly listenable but was perhaps more interesting in approach than anything else – how many albums in 2006 could boast samples of snails crawling on a Theremin, typewriters, and a cow’s vagina? Few, no doubt. more ›

If you're a fan of Flatstock and, like us, consider gigposters to be an artform, today's your chance to score some awesome locally-made prints on the cheap. more ›

Costello has already released Momofuku on vinyl (2xLP), but the CD release arrives today. Those who purchased the vinyl two weeks ago had codes to download digital versions then, but not much has "leaked" to the web yet in terms of reception. Costello's 24th official release features collaboration with new friend Jenny Lewis, who enlisted EC to help with her upcoming solo release. more ›

The current production of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow, closing this weekend at Austin Playhouse is great theatre. It's brisk, fun, and sharp, with plenty of kick. In the hands of a stellar cast, you get to hear the words and see the scenes of this well-known work in their most intense, funniest, very best light. more ›

UT's Ransom Center has acquired the archives of Jim Crace, author of such award-winning novels as Being Dead (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award) and Quarantine (Booker Prize shortlist). more ›

The Raconteurs (Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence,Patrick Keeler, and Jack White) played a two-night stand of sold out shows at Stubb's this weekend. Like a car at the very edge of control their messy, wobbly guitars delivered the kind of nervous energy you can't turn away fearing (or hoping) it might crash at any moment. more ›

Founded in 2000, Kentucky post-rock outfit Foxhole specialize in (largely) instrumental epics that utilize the tried and tested routine of building songs layer by layer until the desired crescendo and ensuing coda can take full effect. The band’s early compositions employed a number of instruments, some generic, others self-created, while the trumpet is heavily featured on most of their work. Previous recordings in Church settings have accentuated their sound with a distinct, spacious element and Foxhole’s intricate arrangements include exhilarating moments of clarity perfect for pacifying far reaching emotions. The act falls within the Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky family tree (relatively speaking) and their grand soundscapes should definitely appease fans of the genre. Their newest EP, Push/Pull is available off their official website as is their 2004 debut full-length We the Wintering Tree. more ›

There has been a good amount of buzz swirling around these guys for the past year or two in anticipation of this, their debut full length. Their self-titled EP had many people in a frenzy and left them with very high expectations, expectations that were probably a little unrealistic. Because next to those six very passionate and strong tracks from the EP, the music from Plunder, Beg, And Curse just doesn’t deliver. Sure the songs herein are good, solid indie rock songs, but they’re missing much of the fire from the earlier music. more ›

Here at Austinist, we're always looking for compelling (read: freaky-deaky) events to attend. In addition, one of our raison d'etres is making sure that, you, our readers get a heads-up so you can meet us out. One of the best things about this city is the bountiful selection of artists and their intangible wares, so we've got a humdinger for you that's going on tomorrow night. more ›

Besides big shows like The Raconteurs at Stubb’s and Atmosphere at Emo’s outside stage (both concerts are on Friday as well as Saturday) and tonight’s Tapes 'N Tapes and White Denim at Antone’s, there are a number of other stellar events of interest in our city this weekend. Soundcheck Magazine’s Spring Showcase takes place at Buffalo Billiards on Friday with two expert songwriters in the spotlight -- Brother Will (Brothers and Sisters) shall be accompanied by a variant set of musicians for this gig while Micah P. Hinson (Le Diamant Brut) also puts in a shift, fresh off his recent European jaunt. Swing on by to catch their performances and enjoy a game of darts or shuffleboard to boot. Toppie Haynes and Chris Brecht round off the bill. more ›

Friday night will be quite the night at Antone's, as indie-pop wonderboys Tapes 'n Tapes take the stage with their pleasantly simple hooks and choruses. On the backs of their debut release, The Loon, the Minnesota quartet forged themselves a river of hype that extended all the way from Blogland to Spin to Rolling Stone, as the album borrowed liberally from stalwarts like the Pixies and Pavement and made something brand-new from the parts. And now, with the release of their somewhat tentative sophomore album, Walk It Off, they are establishing themselves as a band with a solid and immediately recognizable sound, not to mention a live show that has garnered no shortage of raves. more ›

There are a variety of reasons why last month’s release of My Bloody Underground, the thirteenth album by the Brian Jonestown Massacre, wasn’t met with the reams of bated-breath publicity reserved for Portishead, another culty 90s rock band that’s been MIA for awhile. Most of them have to do with the kind of publicity the band has attracted elsewhere in its career: Anton Newcombe, the creative force behind the Massacre, is at least as notorious for his legendary onstage meltdowns, including a gig at the Viper Room in LA that was supposed to have resulted in a six-figure major label deal, as he is for his warped, postmodern take on '60s pop and psychedelia. more ›

The question of what Jack White would sound liked backed by an entire band and not just the no-frills beats of his supposed sibling/actual ex-wife Meg White was answered when Mr. White, solo artist Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler formed The Raconteurs in 2005 and released their hooky debut Broken Boy Soldiers in 2006. Since then, the band has toured everywhere, released their sophomore album Consoler of the Lonely at the tail end of March, and are on the docket to play the Austin City Limits Festival again this September. more ›

Bonde Do Role is a hot, sweaty mess. Setting the stage with the opening bars of the Indiana Jones theme, the band went on an adventure through the land of synthfunksamplehop while being chased by sweaty, sweaty headband wearing hipsters who were all too willing to worship at the temple of booty shakin' bass. What do you do with a song called “Bondallica”? You slay your adoring crowd with it, of course. With a set full of covers and songs off their singles and album “With Lasers” the band lit the floor on fire with low-fi drum machine samples and booty bass beats. more ›

Tonight, Leatherbag will celebrate the debut of Love & Harm at Emo's, along with the Black and Lomita on the inside stage. more ›

It seems like just yesterday we were honoring The Midgetmen’s five year anniversary. Well, turns out it has been a year already and this weekend at Emo’s Lounge, the local pop-punk act is celebrating its sixth birthday which conveniently coincides with the release of their third full-length album. The band’s new record Show Pony (Buy it here) is as eco-friendly as it gets -- per bassist / vocalist Marc Perlman, “100% post-consumer cardboard with environmentally friendly inks with no plastic shrink wrap. And, we just signed an agreement with our friends at MoveNeutral.com to carbon offset the CD release show as well as the entire tour!” Nice! more ›

The crowd waited eagerly even if impatiently, a mother requested us to move so her child could get a better look at the royalty, and finally after having made the audience wait for nearly half hour past the scheduled time, Prince took the stage at Coachella on Saturday evening. Backed up by an extensive band featuring the horns section of Austin’s own Grupo Fantasma as well as long time associates such as Sheila E. and Morris Day, Prince readied the masses with a touch of caution -- “I will come to party..but I get to choose the music. Is that alright?” We didn’t care, even if it meant that our optimistic dreams of hearing something off the Batman soundtrack were quashed instantly. Early set highlights included “Jungle Love” (with Day taking over lead vocals) and Sheila E.’s Prince penned, Grammy nominated (in 1985 that is) “Glamorous Life.” Prince, meanwhile was clearly up for it, prancing around stage all evening long and his genius on guitar was evident throughout. Drummer CC Dunham was impeccable and caught our eye very early on, and the ensemble’s exhilarating combination of funk and soul invigorated the hordes for a good hour and a half. more ›

Austin's SIMS Foundation has been providing low cost counseling and mental health services to Austin musicians and their families since 1995. The foundation was formed after local musician Sims Ellison took his own life after a profound battle with depression. Sadly, there are many musicians in the live music capitol of the world in need of help battling depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol dependency and other mental / neurological disorders, sometimes present before the big jump into the world of music, sometimes exacerbated by the pressure of living in a town saturated with hundreds of other people trying to make it as well. Financial pressure, relationship woes and general stress can all contribute to an artist's mental stability (or lack thereof), and oftentimes extends to the rest of the family as well. SIMS understands, and SIMS exists to help. more ›