Arts & Entertainment

The four impeccably coiffed lads that comprise local quartet The Steps have been playing around Austin for a couple of years now, and while they’ve already been exposed to the international music press and toured extensively, they seem to fly under the radar of music fans in their home town. Comparisons to The Strokes and The Stones are frequently lobbed at the band (and not without merit), and the members don’t necessarily discourage said comparisons, which are at least tacitly supported by their new EP and first official stateside release Take It All In. The EP sees the group further establishing their Strokes homage in style as well as sound, but you listen closely, The Steps appear to have more chutzpah than your garden-variety black-clad rock combo. more ›

As we all know, girls freaking rock. And girls who strap on a guitar—perhaps decked out in blue hair and studded arm bracelets—and perform on stage, rock even more. Girls Rock Camp of Austin is dedicated to empowering girls and women of all backgrounds and abilities through music education and performance. The organization hosts week-long camps throughout the year where girls aged 10 to 17 learn how to write songs, work together and eventually perform a live showcase in front of 400 people in an Austin venue. Campers also explore the history of women in rock and meet professionals in journalism, public relations, talent management and audio engineering. The current camp session ends this weekend, with the fun culminating in a showcase Saturday afternoon at The Parish Room. The feeling of accomplishment and empowerment is sure to color the air. more ›

In a city geographically and culturally close to Mexico, Austin sees a fair amount of influence from our south of the border neighbors reflected in the art exhibits around town. Pump Project recently displayed a Lucha Libre mask collection, and the Mexic-Arte Museum is wrapping up their twenty-fifth anniversary show featuring an impressive exhibit of art, masks, and artifacts from their permanent collection. What we are shown often reflects the elite of Mexican culture - the professionally lit and theatrically staged Lucha that gets international TV coverage, or the well studied works of Diego Rivera and Arturo Garcia Bustos. The new exhibit Libres y Lokas opening this Saturday at Domy Books provides us with a glimpse of the polar opposite. The gritty documentary is the result of a collaboration between OTIS IKE and Ivete Lucas, both photographers and filmmakers who have landed in Austin to study their craft. more ›

There is no shortage of musical talent in Austin and Oak is Keeping is the latest local outfit to grab our attention. This past April, the band dropped Animal Style, an impressive collection of pummeling rock songs, chock-full of irresistible melodies, layered vocals, and standout guitar wizardry. Per founding member Shay Isdale, “We have a very unique writing dynamic. I generate riff and melody ideas and present them to the band. At that time we literally pick apart the whole song idea and analyze it until everyone agrees on the finished product and puts their own touch on their respective part. It’s amazing how democratic we are, and we somehow never get into any arguments about writing. I think that sets us apart from most bands. We truly enjoy the whole process, even as collaborative as it is.” Comparisons to Queens of the Stone Age are inevitable, for even Isdale’s vocals harbor a hint of Josh Homme. Oak is Keeping nurtures a similar bludgeoning sound powered by ingenious licks. Sizzling six-strings mark “Tempt” and “Tell Me These Things” while our favorite “Burn It All Down” chugs along at a steady pace before blazing into a memorable chorus. Even gentler fare like “Book Of Matches” and “So Sweet” are not sans moments of eruption. Recommended for fans of modern day hard-rock, the album ends with the thunderous “What We Live.” more ›

It's a useful reminder that creating powerful, memorable art and revering the canonical figures can be a pair of clashing objectives. It's also a lesson that Will Hollis Snider of Cambiare Productions, whose new interpretation of the story of Orestes, opens at the Off-Center this weekend, has taken to heart. Rather than simply stage a modernization of Euripedes' classic, Snider gutted the script, ripped out the boring parts, replaced the scenes in which the messenger runs on to tell the audience what's happened with new scenes that show exactly what that was, and placed it all in a post-apocalyptic setting. With that accomplished, and the show set to open, he sat down with Austinist to tell us about improving on the Greeks, the movement in Austin theater back toward the classics, and what Orestes has in common with the brave men and women of the Battlestar Galactica. more ›

In nearly ten years of existence, Room 710 hosted a wide variety of local and touring artists, tirelessly supplying the city of Austin with a multitude of live shows. Last week, owner Asher Garber shared his thoughts on the Room 710’s history, his own background, the good (and not so good times), and the challenges he faced as he toiled to keep the club afloat. During the interview, Garber was resolute in his belief that the venue did not only cater to the punk and metal fans. And as we approach the end of an era on 710 Red River St., his words could not ring truer -- Room 710’s Final Weekend features a veritable sampling of distinct genres, offering patrons a final opportunity to enjoy a stellar collection of shows at the club. more ›

There's a Greezy Wheels-sponsored meeting to discuss returning KUT vets Paul Ray and Larry Monroe to full-time status. Meanwhile, Joe Gross gets to know their replacement, Matt Reilly. more ›

For all of us who like to run with scissors, the impending arrival of The WonderCraft is exciting enough to make us put down our glue guns and celebrate. The WonderCraft will host craft classes through out Austin at various locations including cafes, stores, and community centers. On Friday, The WonderCraft is celebrating their launch with The All Austin All Handmade Bash at the Beauty Bar. Proceeds from the $2 cover go to Austin Dog Rescue and the first 100 guests will get a tote filled with goodies from Sublime Stitching, The WonderCraft, Funky Finds, Aldea, and others. more ›

Austin's The Sword have been busy. In 2008, after the release of Gods of the Earth (Kemado) the band toured extensively with bands like Machine Head, Lamb of God and Clutch. They also did dozens of dates with Metallica, supported them on the 2008 European Vacation Tour. more ›

The Community Art Makers crew responsible for creating (then burning) the fabulous Resolution Clock at the 2009 First Night Austin are at it again. This time, they've been picked to build the temple for this year's Burning Man. During the festival, event participants will cover the wooden surfaces of the structure with writing, remembrances, wishes, and resolutions. Until now, the temple has always been made by California artists, so the Austin based Community Art Makers are going to have to bring it big - Texas style. The massive, modular structure is being constructed by hand and by ShopBot in Austin and will soon be trucked out to the desert where it will be assembled. There will be to be a benefit show at the Parish tomorrow night to help fund this major community art effort. Gypsy cabaret rockers WinoVino will headline the show, with sideshow oddities That Damned Band supporting. Barebones Orchestra, with their rock and roll horn section, will open. Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $10 for general admission and $7 for those who come in costume - think your best Gadjo Disko gear. more ›

Even if your brother isn't in this band, rest assured that someone's brother is. Nathan and Aaron Campbell, twins and rock cohorts, along with Dalton Chamblee and Garrett Ross are Fatback Circus. Still spitting fire from winning a spot on the Vans Warped Tour, the group is achingly close to being picked up by a major record label. The four-piece menagerie of rock, jazz, funk and spunk was born in the sleepy town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, but Austin is now their dwelling of choice. more ›

This year, volunteers at ACL will need to pay a fee to participate. The fee ($10) will go toward enhancements to the volunteer program. more ›

James Hannaham’s God Says No is narrated by the book’s primary character: Gary Gray, a sweet overweight black Christian who loves God, Disney Land, and sweets. He has one big problem, though: a nagging sexual attraction to men. Convinced that his deeply buried homosexuality will condemn him to eternal hellfire, Gary embarks on a quest to convince himself and everyone around him that he is indeed a normal guy, 100% straight.

Coming soon to a newsstand near you, Austin Monthly's annual "Bachelor" edition. The glossy features ten of Austin's finest man meat after what the magazine called an agonizing decision process. The year's list includes a Survivor contestant, an FBI agent and Austinist friend, James Moody - legendary rambler, owner of Mohawk and proprietor of the upcoming Fun Fun Fun Fest. more ›

Look out sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigots! Tonight and tomorrow night the ladies of the 80s are climbing the corporate ladder and aren't afraid to kick you down a rung if you don't recognize their keen intellect and undeniable business acumen, not matter if you are one of their kind or not. In a stroke of pure brilliance The Paramount has programmed a double feature that will give any other activity tonight or tomorrow night a real run for its money shoulder pads, pairing the Dolly Parton/Lily Tomlin/Jane Fonda triple threat of 9 to 5 with the bony-assed-boss berating, Aqua Net-enhanced prowess of Melanie Griffith in Working Girl. more ›

This weekend Austin will play host to the first ever film festival for non-profit and cause-driven organizations. Lights. Camera. Help. received submissions from over 140 groups and selected nineteen finalist to be screened this Friday and Saturday. Of these films, one will win the Lights. Camera. Help. Judge's Prize which comprises all the proceeds from ticket sales and donations collected during the festival. Lights. Camera. Help. co-founder Aaron Bramely answered some questions for us about non-profit organizations, new technology, and this weekend's festival. more ›

Emo’s inside has a veritable intrastate indie pop summit on their hands tonight, as Houston’s Young Mammals and Austin’s International Waters head up a four-band bill. Young Mammals (formerly the Dimes) are bringing their fun, upbeat, and occasionally hyperactive guitar pop back to town for the first time since they opened for the French Kicks back in April. International Waters should offset the exuberance of Young Mammals nicely with their comparably measured, sophisticated jangle that brings to mind Unrest, Comet Gain, and other bands that could be described as twee-with-an-edge. The Sour Notes and Way No Way open. more ›

Austin's Peek-A-Boo records is prepping Octopus Project's upcoming Golden Beds release, due this week. Peel is getting ready for a hiatus due to Josh Permenter's move to San Fransisco, so July 31 will be your last chance to see them for a spell. Supported by {{{Sunset}}} and Little Stolen Moments, they'll perform at Baby Blue studios around 9 p.m. more ›

"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public" said H.L. Mencken, and The Onion is betting on it. With their first Fame Whores competition tonight at The Mohawk, they are inviting participants to display their talents, "dubious or otherwise" in front of a crowd and a panel of judges. more ›

The one and only Snoop Dogg coasts into Austin on Tuesday along with reggae stalwart Stephen Marley as a part of the Blazed & Confused 2009 Summer Tour. Based on their fairly distinct musical styles, this might seem to be an odd bill but really, the cheeky tour title is all you need to read to comprehend the reasoning behind this pairing. Snoop also appeared on the Marley number “Traffic Main Answer” in 2007. The song was a remix of “The Traffic Jam,” from Marley’s debut Mind Control which took home the “Best Reggae Album” award at the 2007 Grammys. more ›

We're proud to present his next Austin show, Friday, August 7 at Emo's. He'll be playing alongside Learning Secrets, Markus w/ a K and DJ Richard Gear. Learning Secrets provides an electro-funk disco mix, which should be a gentle intro for the maniacal presentation of Franki Chan. more ›

The Castanets have been a fixture in weird folk for years, with Ray Raposa lately dipping further into country music. His latest is entitled Texas Rose, the Beasts, and the Thaw, out on Asthmatic Kitty records, and he's playing The Mohawk tonight. more ›

Tori Amos is playing Saturday night at the Long Center, part of a tour to promote her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. It's a concept album following Amos' life-long subjects: women, religion, power and sin. It harps on that desire in all of us (or at least most of us here in Austin) to want what's bad or different or obviously wrong for us. A trait so trite, yet so innate in us all. more ›

Don't miss the great art events taking place around town this weekend. Here are just a few of the highlights: On Sunday from 6-9pm, BiRDHOUSE Gallery will be exhibiting new work by Graham Franciose with the exhibit There's a story in there somewhere. The nostalgic illustrations will be paired with the musical stylings of Elisa Ferrari. more ›

sEvery once in a while an Important Movie comes along - a movie with the potential to revolutionize the way we see other parts of the world. The Stoning of Soraya M., opening July 24, is one of these movies. This story is excellent and the performances are flawless, but more important is the way it opens up another world—a world we don’t often bother to notice or even try to understand. This is what makes it pecial. more ›

This year's Blue Genie Art Bazaar is months away, but the event's organizers are accepting applications through Friday, September 4th. Prospective vendors can fill out an application packet online and selected artists will be notified on October 2nd. The bazaar will again be held at the Monarch Events Center and will run from December 2nd through Christmas eve. more ›

Peanut Butter and Jelly. Soda and Ice Cream. Rice and Curry. Sure there are plenty of things that work incredibly well in unison. Transmission Entertainment and Gatti’s Pizza? Why not! Transmission has teamed up with Gattisjingle.com (yes, that’s right) to organize quite an event for today’s youth, tomorrow’s rock stars, and old fogies like you and I -- this Sunday, Red 7 hosts the Under 21 Party featuring sets by Orion Belts, Mucho Gusto and Mother Falcon. Besides live music from three talented local bands boasting members in the U-21 demographic, there will be a screening of Empire Records, giveaways from the likes of Frank and Domy Books, Gatti’s pizza of course, and plenty of pool and arcade games to further enhance the good times. There will also be a raffle to win a pair of tickets to November’s Fun Fun Fun Fest at Waterloo Park, featuring Jesus Lizard and many more. more ›

The tools of Molina’s choosing, including dobro and lapsteel guitars, are especially evocative of an aching loss, so its natural that Josephine be his most country influenced album yet. It’s also comparatively stripped-down, so the listener seems confronted with an empty horizon, at every turn expressing something missing. This would all be belabored and depressing- that is, if it weren’t so simply beautiful. more ›

Brooklyn's Pterodactyl play frenetic, razor-sharp fuzz rock, sounding something like Unwound or maybe even Feels-era Animal Collective played at 45 instead of 33. Their latest record, Worldwild is out now on Jagjaguwar, and features Joe and Matt, Zach (Ex Models, Knyfe Hyts, the Seconds), and Jesse (Twin Powers, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth). more ›

For now, stick to the beloved celebrations of the 80's, with a truly enticing one scheduled for this Saturday at Scoot Inn. Foot Patrol has previously dazzled us with many a Prince cover. This evening, the local funk outfit takes a stab at hits from the 80's. We’ve been promised renditions of 20 songs from the decade, including “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” But that’s not all, not even close to it. There is a costume contest. And should you go all out and bust out the Molly Ringwald or Andrew McCarthy in you, there is a John Hughes themed photo-booth courtesy of Jounetsu Photography. Wow! Plus DJ Mahealani will be on hand to spin many, many more songs we love. The $10 price of admission might be considered a tad steep but it’s all for the noble cause of aiding a talented local band put its best foot forward -- the cover charge will go towards helping Foot Patrol fund its first N.Y.C. tour. more ›

Austin Bat Cave, a non-profit writing and tutoring center for kids, is hosting two free summer camps during these last few precious weeks of summer vacation. The organization focuses on connecting a diverse population of young writers and learners with a vibrant community of adult volunteers in Austin. more ›

Stellastarr*’s brand of 21st century new-wave contains plenty of ingenious riffs, catchy melodies, and passionately delivered chorus’ but the Brooklyn band continues to fly somewhat under the radar, never quite attaining the widespread acclaim their talent merits. The band’s self-titled debut dropped in 2003 with memorable ditties such as “In The Walls,” “Jenny,” and and “My Coco; 2005’s Harmonies For The Haunted was an equally stellar record and included gems like “Sweet Troubled Soul” and “Lost In Time.” Stellastarr*’s latest effort Civilized (released on July 7th) arrived nearly four years after Harmonies but the band stays true to form, delivering instant gratifiers (“Freak Out”), distressed pleas (“Warchild”), and wistful odes (“Sonja Cries”) via another impressive collection of pulsating rock songs. more ›

What’s the Deal: At Herm’s helm is Dubliner Kevin Connolly, and while he tends to steer his musical craft a little erratically through the chop bouncing between feelings and sounds on his debut album, Monsters, released this year, the independent- minded tunes can all stand tall and strong on their own. They might even prefer it. Connolly and his Hermanos, a backing band he sometimes records and plays shows with, create a wide range of dark blues, melodic and jangled rock, and touching indie folk. more ›

Cass McCombs has mastered the spell of casting spare, hazy instrumentation that creates a space just tangible enough for the listener to become lost in. But “Dreams Come True Girl” simply sets the bar outlandishly high, even by the time Karen Black’s guest vocals make an entrance late in the song, sun-drenched and conjuring Lolita. more ›

It’s interesting that White Denim, a band that’s already joined the vanguard of recent Austin attention-grabbers (Shearwater, Harlem, Black Joe Lewis, et al.), has yet to see a physical release of their music supported with even a modicum of distribution in their home state. That’s set to change on October 20th, when Downtown Music will finally release Fits, the band’s second (third if you count their UK debut Workout Holiday) and most adventurous LP domestically. Actually, adventurous is an understatement: it’s head-spinning how much they pack into the record’s economical 37 minutes. Fits is a short but dense blast of moody, psychedelic soul that careens from hard-edged funk and breezy soul, to straight up psych rock with flourishes of jazz and dub. It manages to be in nine places at once without feeling directionless or schizophrenic. The trio is incredibly tight, and the song structures and time changes are so fascinating that you have to occasionally stop and ask yourself, how the hell are they doing this? However they conjured it up, Fits is an excellent, occasionally face-melting rock album that deserves to be played loudly and often by many more people than are currently familiar with it. more ›

Austin-based artist and musician Amy Cook is the subject of a new documentary called Amy Cook: The Spaces In Between, which will be released and aired July 22nd through August 21 on the Documentary Channel. The film features the songwriter's last tour, her upcoming album (produced by Alejandro Escovedo) and her relationship with hotelier Liz Lambert. more ›

Photos courtesy Steve Hopson. more ›

When one writer critically examines another respected author, readers should be skeptical. In Notes on Sontag, Phillip Lopate reflects on Susan Sontag’s essays, book-length nonfiction and fiction. He works from his strength as a personal essayist: intimate, balanced, and a generalist. Lopate’s appreciation of literature keeps the focus on her writing and not her personality. In fact, he cautions this is not, “Thank God,” a biography. He does, however, interweave some personal encounters with this fellow New Yorker. More significantly, he digs deeply into her writing. He quotes widely and at length from her body of work. And he chooses wisely. Look at this Sontag gem from an essay on Nazi symbols: “The color is black, the material is leather, the seduction is beauty, the justification is honesty, the aim is ecstasy, the fantasy is death.” Throughout, Lopate writes honestly, as readers should expect from an essayist, on her strengths and weaknesses as a writer. more ›

Meet The Harlequins. They're indie and they're Austin, but there's something else. Representing the epitome of raw sound and hearty emotion, their folky beats seep into the pores of everything present during a live performance. Setting up their tunes on a creative territory amid American electric rock and indie rock's mellowest tunes, the Harlequins formed in 2007. The group — vocalist/keyboardist Hunter Bates, guitarist Joe Mader and drummer Tyler Wiethorn - touch on influences as varied as 80s jangle pop to the sonic experimentation of Wilco, the Wrens, and My Morning Jacket. more ›

he Top Ten from this summer's season of So You Think You Can Dance will be making a stop in Austin this fall. The judges on the show insist that this fifth season's dancers are the best they've had on the show, and come October 27, you can be the judge as to how well they perform live. more ›

It’s normally not a huge surprise when a dance club or watering hole on Sixth Street proper switches names, ownership, or even format. Aces Lounge on Sixth and San Jacinto Blvd. is just one such example, having been through a number of changes over the years. From Icon to Inferno to Austin’s own Hard Rock Cafe, the bar has run the gamut in terms of modifications. Transformations on Red River St. (from Sixth to Tenth) tend to be less frequent. Sure, the location that is currently The Mohawk, now firmly entrenched as a key player on the street, once played its fair share of musical chairs (Caucus Club, Le Privelege, Velvet Spade). But of late, the Red River District, which is home to the most prolific stretch of live music venues in town, has been sustained by quite a few resilient clubs (Beerland, Red Eyed Fly, Headhunters, Club de Ville, Elysium) and consolidated by emerging venues (Red 7, Creekside Live, Beauty Bar). And with enhancements of their own, Emo’s and Stubb’s continue to march on as well. If you noticed one prominent bar missing in that who’s who of Austin venues, it’s Room 710. The home of Tia Carrera Happy Hours and the place to catch shows from a slew of tireless local acts like Pong, Foot Patrol, and Golden Hornet Project, to name a few, is shutting its doors on August 2nd. more ›

There's plenty of speculation about who C3 will book to replace Beastie Boys, who canceled their remaining 2009 tour dates yesterday morning. The Beasties were also scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza, and have been replace there by Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Since Lolla and ACL are both C3 Presents productions, it seems likely that ACL will also get YYYs in the open headliner slot. more ›

The Beastie Boys have announced some news that preempts their performance at this year's ACL Festival. The good news, it seems, is that Yauch's doctors have caught it early, and are referring to the situation as "treatable." The release of their upcoming record, The Hot Sauce Committee Pt 1 has also been postponed. more ›

In case you were wondering how the eBay sale of the Hamburger Bed turned out, we received news from Kayla Kromer, the bed's creator, that it sold for over $3,000 to an out of town buyer. Comedian Neil Hamburger, who had a show at Emo's on Friday, put in a huge last minute push for the giant sandwich's sale by taking promo pictures and posting about it online. As for what the future holds for Kromer? She is working on a new bed, and she promises to let us know about its forthcoming "big reveal". In the meantime, she gave us three clues - it's round, from a movie, and not food. "So everyone's dreams of a Hot Dog bed are going to have to be self-realized," Kromer encourages. more ›

There's a Save Austin Music meeting tonight at 7 p.m. If you can't attend physically at 3708 Woodbury Dr. (behind Ruta Maya & Penn Field, S. Congress & Ben White), join them online here. more ›

Neiliyo is pretty hard to ignore when rapping along to hyper electronic dance beats while rockin' some Ray Bans, fratty attire and boat shoes sans socks. His popularity, charm and mastery of the mix table have landed him in the semi-finals for the Last Band Standing Contest. He's just an arm's reach away from the grand prize, a slot at Lollapalooza in August. Voting ends today for the semi-finals and the top two bands compete at the final event in Chicago. more ›

Maggie Gallant knows that there are two kinds of people in the world - those who understand their favorite band as a spiritual force that communicate important things about life to those listeners who are truly prepared to hear them, and those who don't know anything about anything. more ›

Don't miss the great art related events taking place this weekend! Here's a rundown of some of the highlights: On Sunday, BiRDHOUSE Gallery is throwing a BBQ with food, beer, and art. The party will kick off around 2pm. Five dollar raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win art by Joshua Saunders, Clayton Robert Kalman, Jasmine Whitus, and many others. more ›

Neil Hamburger has been derided and applauded, for several years at this point, for being the world’s best worst comedian - his is a conceptual brand of deliberately antagonistic anti-humor that relies more on performance and delivery than the quality of his jokes. And while Hamburger does set an incredibly low standard for a good portion of his material, it’s the occasional line that unexpectedly earns an honest laugh that keeps things interesting, and the audience either scratching their heads or screaming for blood. He employs devices ranging from intentionally poor timing and awful puns to a maddening, near constant clearing of his throat, which makes a typical Hamburger gig excruciating to sit through if you’re not in on the joke (and some would argue, even if you are). more ›

As part of a rare stateside tour that hits the Salvage Vanguard on Sunday, Olausson will be playing solo as well as in Sus & Jakob, the girl-boy duo that's more Brother Ah/Sun Ra's Strange Strings than She & Him. Sus & Jakob will release their debut LP out on De Stijl later in the summer, and it promises to have no small impact on the international freaky mess that we call "modern music." That said it's hard to imagine Olausson's various projects being blueprints, so original and well-executed they are. The whole thing kicks off at 9:30, so it won't likely impinge on your Monday morning blues. more ›

This Saturday evening the Church of the Friendly Ghost is presenting three experimental musicians performing solo sets and then working in tandem. Brent Fariss, Nick Hennies and Rick Reed have long histories working within an alternative musical framework here in Austin, but this concert will be the rare opportunity to see the three working together under the name Knob Jobs. more ›

Austin Fashion Week wraps up this weekend, but there are plenty of stylish happenings taking place all around town through Sunday. For full event listings, visit the Austin Fashion Week Calendar. In the mean time, here are a few highlights: From 2pm to 4pm, Maximum FX Salon (1007 S. Congress) is hosting a millinery demonstration. The hat making class will be led by Laura Del Villaggio who carefully crafts beautiful hats and facinators for Milli Starr. Del Villaggio will demonstrate straw and felt blocking and discuss finishing techniques. The salon will be staging an iced tea party with treats from Sugar Tooth Bakery. more ›

It’s natural to settle in for a cozy evening at home on Sunday and disregard any notion of the impending gloom that beckons. The thought of Monday morning’s alarm clock can grind away the memories of even the most buoyant of weekends. However, we do live in Austin and the well of inspirational live music never runs dry. Chug down a 5-Hour Energy drink or revitalize with a strong cup a’ tea. Then head down to The Mohawk with a keen ear to delay your case of the Mondays. The Veils, spearheaded by the redoubtable Andrew Finn, craft shimmering pop songs containing the sort of poignant lyricism that should have you reflecting on all the things in your life, good and bad, that make you tick. Finn’s astute songwriting only just overshadows his versatile voice which soars upon backdrops of pulsating rock and gentle folk alike and is regulary complemented by vibrant keys. It all adds up to the perfect antidote to your lingering feelings of doom and gloom. We’re so eager to get you out of the house we’re sending you to the show for free. Enter your details in the form below for a chance to win two tickets. more ›

Project Runway alum and designer Johnathan Kayne Gillaspie will be presenting new pieces from his eveningwear collection at the Austin Fashion Awards this Sunday, July 19th at the Long Center. Johnathan Kayne dares to take high design where there’s a major style void in the industry - the heavily embellished pageant and prom scene. Gillaspie won a Project Runway challenge by designing a gown for then Miss America, the infamous Tara Conner, which she then donned at the Miss Universe pageant. In preparation for the Austin Fashion Awards, we were able to pick the pageant prince’s brain, and we got fashion philosophical about his background and bling. more ›

Comprised of former members of 88 Fingers Louie and Baxter, Chicago’s Rise Against came into existence in 1999 as Transistor Revolt. By 2001, the punk-hardcore band had changed their name to Rise Against, signed with Fat Wreck Chords, and released The Unraveling. Their most recent (and fifth) full-length, Appeal To Reason dropped last year on current label DGC/Interscope. The band members frequently communicate their opinions on a number of subjects -- they were staunch supporters of Barack Obama during the 2008 Presidential Election and their blistering anthems often address political and social issues. They are also firm believers in protecting the environment as evidenced by the “Ready To Fall” video and their vegan VANS. Rise Against stops in at Stubb’s tonight with Rancid supporting during this North American jaunt. more ›

Contributing to a worthy cause can be fun when there's a drink special and a party soundtrack. That's why Project Transitions brings their summer party Red Hot XVIII to Oilcan Harry's this Friday night. The 18th annual party benefits people living with HIV/AIDS through the foundation's various programs. more ›

What’s the Deal: There are bands you need to hear, and then there are bands you need to hear. Sin Fang Bous is definitely in the latter camp. The outfit is the handy work of Icelandic 20-something music man Sindri Mar Sigfusson, who you could recall as a founding father of Reykjavik’s folk-pop pride, Seabear. Sin Fang Bous is Sigfusson’s solo project, and he just released the debut full-length, Clangour, this year to nowhere near enough praise. The music is full of imagery, thanks in part to Sigfusson’s choice of singing in English over his native tongue, samples, and sound effects abound giving the project a densely layered yet well constructed sound. more ›

We hear quite of a bit of Doves influencing their sound, pared down just enough to firmly place the Mercers within the camp of sarcastic pop bands currently flashing chord progressions as juicy as their lyrics’ wit is dry. Austin seems to be an incubator for this "Wit Pop" (can we trademark that?) sound, hatching such masters of the style as Spoon and Okkervil River. more ›

Visioneers will be released on DVD July 21, but the guys at the Alamo love the movie so much that they’re hosting a screening on Sunday night. No matter how you go about it, we highly recommend that you check out this darkly funny and refreshingly unconventional film. more ›

We’ve been checking the official Fun Fest website everyday for updates but having not seen any new announcements for a while, we gathered our technical experts last night. After a few hours of brainstorming, our team conjured up a moment of brilliance and hacked into the Fun Fest mainframe. We are pleased to announce that Wu-Tang Clan founding member GZA, legendary Japanese noise-brokers Melt-Banana, eclectic Californian outfit WHY?, and comedian Todd Barry have all been added to this year Fun Fest line-up. more ›

WOXY, the popular internet radio station currently based in Ohio, will be setting up shop in Austin in September. WOXY started using its current alternative/modern rock format in 1983, began an internet stream in 1998, and went internet-only in 2004. The current DJs are making the move to our town, with Austinist's own Paige Maguire joining the staff as Director of Marketing and Development. The station will be operating out of the Austin Theater building on South Congress; the plan is to have HD video of their Lounge Act sessions up by the first of October. [woxy.com: Austin FAQ] more ›

Photos courtesy Chad Wadsworth. more ›

Austin Fashion Week continues with the most events yet! Check out the full calendar for many other stylish celebrations, in the mean time, here are a few of today's highlights: Austin Handmade (2009 South First St.) is celebrating its grand re-opening with a fashion show and music by Lost Werks and DJ Beef Eigler. Designer Robbie Kaye Dodson of Parsimony will be showing her collection of chic and classic women's fashions. Sugar Mamma's Bakeshop will provide sweet treats and Sweet Leaf Tea and Treaty Oak Platinum Rum will provide libations. Guests are invited to test out their craft skills with a few DIY projects and the Wondercraft crew will be on hand to teach make and take projects. Austin Handmade is offering discounts and giveaways from local designers and the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls. more ›

The Austin Museum of Art downtown is showing The Lining of Forgetting: Internal & External Memory in Art. The museum has hosted a series of related film screenings and public tours. In the exhibit, the artists get creative with their interpretation of memory: some of the subjects explored include family photo albums, Road Runner cartoons, and the works of Shakespeare. The Lining of Forgetting examines the ways we remember, and highlights how we often forget, rewrite, and even fabricate memory. “I had a flashback of something that never existed,” artist Louise Bourgeois writes on fabric. more ›

Some back story, if you really need it. Roky Erickson was what Syd Barrett could have been if he moved out of his Mum's basement and onto a faithful regiment of anti-psychotics. He's a monument to the redemptive qualities of music, having built this fair city on psychedelic rock and roll, wandered off the reservation with bombastic panache, and returned decades later to conquer the world: a man shattered and reassembled to his own soundtrack. more ›

Dirty Projectors' new album, Bitte Orca, is a multi-faceted dream of a work: sometimes it feels like a rock album ripped straight from 1974, sometimes it’s an elegant string-supported beauty, sometimes it’s a pop album practically ready for the sweetness of radio, and still even other times it’s an oblique dash through counterintuitive song structures and harmonization. Often, it’s all of those things at once, as for the first time the wizard vision of lead man Dave Longstreth has graduated from mere experimental chops and into full-fledged songs. Put all that together and it gains Dirty Projectors entry into what's been a recent hit parade through Austin, joining such 2009 über-luminaries as Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, and Bill Callahan at our local venues. While the instrumentation, led by Longstreth’s singular guitar work, is flawless and captivating in its execution, the big draw that makes the Dirty Projectors stand out is the astounding vocal interplay between Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian, whose tangling of voices in shocking yet artful ways will be on full display tonight at Red 7. more ›

Chipotle Is Ready For Their Close Up, Sponsoring Film Events All Over the Place It's lunch time, so if you are hungry then perhaps you should pop into the closest Chipotle, because today the chances are good that along with your burrito, or burrito "bol" if you're like us, you will also score a free film pass to The Paramount Summer Film Series. Now, this is of course a limited offer, so perhaps you should step away from all that hard work (or Facebooking....) you've been doing and make yourself one of the first 100 lunchers at any of the 14 Austin area locations, because there are still a ton of brilliant movie experiences to be had at the grand dame of Austin picture houses this summer, including The Godfather this weekend and the 9 to 5/Working Girl Double feature in two weeks, and you might as well get in for free. We can hear that lunch bell ringin'! more ›

Everyone’s favorite Donnie Darko shout-out author, Graham Greene, has apparently had a hidden work unearthed by a Greene scholar named Francois Gallix, who was doing time here at the Harry Ransom Center. Right here in Austin. Over a year ago, but whatever. To some of us, this is still big news. more ›

Austin Fashion Week continues, here's a rundown of today's events... including a little something for the men! Keepers (515 N. Congress) is hosting a fashion lunch hour wherein models with be showcasing stylish men's looks by Keepers clothing and Mint Owl Accessories. The store will also hold a trunk show and be serving snacks and beverages. The fashion lunch starts at 11am and runs until 1pm. more ›

Photos courtesy Tyler Nutter. more ›

The genre-defying instrumental band Tortoise arrives in Austin on the 15th in support of their seventh proper full-length LP, the aptly-titled Beacons of Ancestorship (Thrill Jockey). It's their first new disc in five years, though its cast of five has been quite busy in other projects. They formed in 1992, a Chicago/Louisville conglomeration of rhythm players/sections brought from Bastro, Eleventh Dream Day, Precious Wax Drippings and Tar Babies. Their arsenal of instruments was always impressive - vibraphones and analog synthesizers weren't exactly on the radar of most indie bands in 1994. The fact that really, nobody has ever known what to do with Tortoise (the infamous "post-rock" tag still follows them wherever they go) has probably in part contributed to the band's longevity. more ›

Monofonus Press is doing it again. Their cup runneth over with creative juices, and they’re giving us another chance to sample the sap. They’ve got the market cornered in this town when it comes to the cross-media, artistic explosion. They began the auspicious endeavor of mixing three different art forms like music, writing and illustration into one release with IF 01 often bringing together three different artists who would normally not collaborate. more ›

Austin Fashion Week continues, here's a rundown of today's events. Avant Salon, winner of Rarest of them All 2009, "Best Salon", (9901 Capital of TX Highway) is offering hour long $60 facials and massages from 9am to 7pm, beginning Tuesday and running throughout the week to celebrate Austin Fashion Week. more ›

Vampire Weekend keyboardist/producer Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot singer Wes Miles collaborate on this gorgeous electro-pop album; referencing Tom Tom Club, Postal Service and the Specials. There’s nothing deep here: it’s two white kids working out their R&B and pop aspirations with Auto-Tune, a lot of synths and some simple lyrics about dance floors and girls that drive us insane. more ›

That's right, the Hamburger Bed is for sale on eBay. Inspired by the 1986 movie, Hamburger: The Motion Picture, in which dorm room beds were hamburgers, Austinite Kayla Kromer cooked one up for herself. More accurately a Cheeseburger Bed, the handcrafted original quickly became an internet sensation and has appeared in seven magazines. After months of warding off would be buyers, Kromer sites a series of personal setbacks requiring her to make sacrifices as the reason she is finally willing to sell her masterpiece. Since the burger is large (8 feet in diameter!), Kromer is nor arranging for shipping, which puts Austin area residents at a great advantage should they want to sleep between a slice of memory foam American Cheese and a sesame seed bun. more ›

Today marks the start of Austin's very first Fashion Week. Many events will be taking place around town and we'll bring you daily preview information here. The week of style officially starts tonight with the Austin Fashion Week Kick Off Party from 6-8pm at the Spa at the Lake (900 RR 620 S, #A104). The happy hour under the spa's veranda will feature appetizers from Hosteria Verde Supper Club and feature tunes by John Selector (of Thievery Corporation and Poi Dog Pondering). The party will feature hair and makeup design by Nate Gordon and Paige McAlvey, respectively and jewelry by Limbo Jewelry Designs. more ›

Despite the unbearable heat, Spoon's mini-fest was a huge success over the weekend at Stubb's. Austinist contributing photographer Aasim Syed was there to capture everything. more ›

In a blitz of blood spatter and body counts, the Alamo Drafthouse and Ain't It Cool News today released a portion of the sure-to-be incredible program for the 5th annual Fantastic Fest, which will burn down the South Lamar location in a cinematic firestorm September 24 - October 1, 2009. more ›

AC/DC will come to the Erwin Center on their "Black Ice" tour November 6. Tickets will go on sale August 1 via Texas Box Office (including HEB). Austin 360 reports that tickets will be $89.50 plus service charge. more ›

If you couldn't make it to Spoon Saturday night, you can catch their openers, The Strange Boys at Waterloo Records today, 5 p.m. more ›

One of Austin’s best country-folk hardasses is playing a set this Friday before embarking on a big tour of the U.S and Canada. Scott H. Biram made waves as a super-loud one-man band, but an injury put him out of commission for some time. He’s been making a comeback as of late, doing a session with KAOS radio, a few scattered sets, and now this show at Room 710 before hitting the road. Biram is supporting his May Bloodshot records release, Something’s Wrong/Lost Forever. He’ll be performing with Pure Luck, Woodsboss, and Supersonic Uke. more ›

Now this, this is going to be some kind of unhinged, goofy, and indubitably fun time. Atlanta’s the Coathangers are in town again, and this time around they’re supporting their new record and first for Seattle’s Suicide Squeeze label, the aptly titled Scramble. For a band that essentially began as a one-off joke at a house party, the Coathangers have gotten a lot of mileage out of a crass abortion reference and a sound that's somewhere between vintage Athens new wave and a ramshackle Kathleen Hanna tribute/novelty act. more ›

For the month of July, a nation is contained in the Off Center where Robert Faires delivers his one-man adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V directed by Catherine Weidner. In less than two hours’ traffic on the stage, Faires simply and elegantly creates not only these great characters, kings and yeomen alike, but also the entire world in which we view them. more ›

Is it blasphemy that an actor who once co-starred in "A Walk To Remember" alongside Mandy Moore is now fronting the recently reformed, legendary late 70s LA punk band the Germs? Some fans and punk rock figures think so. Although the practice of reviving a legendary band and replacing important members of the group after they’ve either died or moved on isn’t a new thing, this is perhaps an extreme example. Some of the criticisms of this current incarnation question the intensity and authenticity of an actor doing his best to mimic one of the more severe figures in American punk, Darby Crash. After actor Shane West, who you might also remember as a doctor on "ER", played the deceased Germs frontman in the band’s biopic "What We Do Is Secret" (2007), West and the surviving Germs - Pat Smear, Lorna Doom and Don Bolles - decided to reunite and tour on a semi-regular basis. more ›

More than 25 years later, there's an arrest made for the murder of local musician Johnny Goudie's mother, Natalie Antonetti. more ›

The openers for this festival are a strange mix indeed, but all the better for breaking musical genre barriers. Be sure to check out at least one night; these are supposedly the last of Spoon's Austin shows for awhile. Don't get too distracted with the openers, though. There's also some amazing after shows, including The Low Lows, Nakia & His Southern Cousins, and The Black. more ›

Spoon’s music is all about propulsion, while the Low Lows focus on creating inescapable drag forces behind their melodies. But both bands seem thematically engaged on distilling the complexity of their musical ideas down into almost impossibly simplistic statements. In Spoon’s case, it’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga- pre-symbolic infant babble or chord structure? And on the other hand, with The Low Lows it’s a penchant for psychic denials so thinly veiled as to call attention to their transparency, which has vocalist Parker noon crooning heartbreakers like "There is no such thing as Sara Jane." more ›

Kids are endlessly creative and/or insane, and anyone who has hung out with a 10-year-old for more than a minute knows that the stories they craft are sometimes more bizarre than anything a seasoned wordsmith could ever come up with. The Austin Film Festival's Summer Film Camp allows budding filmmakers to express those words through moving pictures and specifically in this case, through moving clay. The video is only 5 minutes and 52 seconds long, and the four short films contained therein are totally worth a watch. Our favorite happens to be the incredibly wacky Sacred Cupcake, by no-doubt-future-auteurs Colin, Connor and Sam, although all of the participants are to be commended for their super cool work. more ›

Do you know and like Providence roots-rockers Deertick? If you answered yes, you're as cool as Brian Williams and you're definitely going to want to see the band when they hit Emo's tonight. If not, you're actually less cool than Brian Williams and you'd better get on board with the 'Tick before Greta Van Susteren beats you to it. more ›

Part legal thriller, part true-life human drama, Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s The Garden has received a cascade of accolades since its release last year and now Austinites have a chance to see it. This Academy Award nominated documentary follows the plight of a few Los Angeles citizens as they fight to save their 14-acre public garden from the bulldozers of wealthy land developers, and judging from the trailer, a compelling struggle most definitely ensues. more ›

If you were young and impressionable in the late ‘90s, you might have been convinced into believing that rock and roll was petering out. Its replacement? The intersecting realms of IDM, electronica, or one of its many synonyms. more ›

What’s the Deal: They are a young duo - Kyle Wyss and Orha Chettri - making some elemental electronically inclined music fattened up with sounds and effects and landing somewhere in the vicinity of Animal Collective jacked up with psychedelic experimentalism. These two St. Petersburg, FL college students have received shimmering endorsements from a few blogs recently including Kanye West’s. They’ve released self-produced recordings in the past, but their new CD/LP, Season Dreaming, is due out August 18th on Kanine Records. more ›

Anyone that’s ever driven around Texas knows one thing for sure -- it’s friggin’ HUGE. Seriously. We’ve been all over this damn state at one time or another, and we feel like we have a pretty good idea of the geography. But we’ve never seen any place like Virgil, Texas. Now’s your chance to see this incredibly interestingly oddball (and totally fictional) town in David Byrne’s musical feature film, True Stories. The Austin Film Festival screens this 1986 cult classic as part of their Made in Texas Film series. The film screens at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum’s Texas Spirit Theater tonight at 7:30. more ›

Beasts With Hearts Of Gold is a beautiful little gem of a record. Jammed pack with twenty (yes, twenty) songs, it travels the distance between the beginnings of Guided by Voices and early Spoon with unpretentious ease. "Heart Poppers" is particularly Spoon-esque, David Jones' voice sounding so much like young Brit Daniel it's eerie. more ›

After this mid-week show, Electric Touch will hit the road for a lengthy tour of the U.S. -- if you miss this show, catch them at the Granada in Dallas on Thursday -- and we're stepping up to give away a pair of tickets. more ›

What do you make of the fact that this quartet of Los Angeles dudes decided to name themselves after the venerable actor, Mr. Vigoda? Is it an honest tribute to the man who put his talents to work in The Godfather, or is it an ironic nod to this co-star of Good Burger and Cannonball Run II? You'll have the chance to ask the band yourself, as they visit Emo's inside for a performance this evening. more ›

Mikhail Bulgakov, whose Black Snow is currently in the midst of a run by Tutto Theatre Company at the Salvage Vanguard Theater, is one of those figures it's hard to criticize on his work's merits, which is unfortunate. It's much safer to insist that the work's author is fully deserving of his exalted status, and that the flaws in the production belong to Tutto and director Dustin Wills. But the fact is that it's hard to imagine a better interpretation of Bulgakov's cranky, cartoony piece about what a bummer working in the theater was for him. more ›

You might have already caught the Drive By Truckers September 26, 2008 performance on Austin City Limits, but today you'll be able to purchase your own copy. The release includes a DVD of the show as well as a CD; featuring the Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Shonna Tucker, John Neff, Brad Morgan and Jay Gonzalez lineup from the Brighter Than Creation’s Dark tour. Lots of hits here from that album and previous works, including “Let There Be Rock”, “18 Wheels Of Love”, “Marry Me” and more. Currently the band is touring with Booker T. Jones, and will perform at the Jazz Aspen fest in September. more ›

Here’s your chance to catch a couple of future mainstream pop stars on us, as Greg Laswell headlines a double bill of burgeoning singer/songwriters tonight at Stubbs indoors. On his 2008 LP Three Flights from Alto Nido, the San Diego-based Laswell manages a significant tip of his cap to Coldplay and John Mayer without sacrificing his identity entirely in the process. To date however, he’s best known for his maudlin cover of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and for having his ballad “Off I Go” featured on this year’s season finale of Grey’s Anatomy.

Opening the show are Brooklyn up-and-comers Elizabeth & the Catapult, whose debut album Taller Children has them poised to expand their adoring fan base beyond New York’s biggest borough, and propel them into the hearts of the NPR set. The trio is fronted by singer/songwriter/pianist Elizabeth Ziman, a student of the soul and jazz traditions, and whose songs are reminiscent of contemporaries The Bird and the Bee and Regina Spektor. E & the C seem to have their phasers terminally set to “cute,” so expect a healthy dose of whimsy along with their set of self-described baroque pop. Enter for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show after the jump! more ›

There are few bands currently performing that can't shake Austin the way Spoon can't. Even though most of the band lives elsewhere, their presence lingers on the streets, in the record stores and in the bars. more ›

Though the man behind Silent Land Time Machine keeps the project slightly mysterious, the music he produces lands squarely in the familiar. Eerie synths, weeping viola, violin, guitar, accordion, piano (and dozens of other instruments) fit neatly together creating tightly wound but ethereal compositions. &Hop Still earns references to A Silver Mt. Zion and Do Make Say Think -- fairly -- but for us its most reminiscent of Scenic's Aquatica. more ›

For those of us interested in literal explosions in the sky augmented by live music modeled after the experience, Saturday night at Stubb's was a treat. Local post-rock heroes Explosions in the Sky rocked the sold-out crowd as fireworks exploded over Lady Bird Lake. more ›

Objectified, a feature documentary about the relationship between people and things, will revisit Austin movie screens this week following an appearance at SXSW 2009. Produced by Gary Hustwit, who also brought us 2007’s font-tribute Helvetica, this engaging film exudes a vibrant energy despite the fact that it primarily focuses on inanimate objects and how they came to be. more ›

We've got a big bill tonight at the Mohawk full of bands with nada in the way of a cover charge. Hot dog! more ›

With each passing day it becomes ever more doubtful that Rolling Stone magazine will pay anyone - let alone me - to fly around the country to tag along with and write about a mediocre rock band while they traverse house parties willy-nilly and take acid. But that's okay. It means less paying gigs, but also fewer glossy, in-depth profiles of hacks like Lenny Kravitz or accounts of visiting the needle exchange with Staind. What you'll get here is a more down to earth account of five bands en route to Denton and Dallas. Hopefully the quality of these groups will offset the lack of rock and roll excess contained in the following account. more ›

• Built to Spill is coming to Stubb's in October
• Riverboat Gamblers have a new music video for "Victory Lap".
more ›

The Second Annual Super Hero show features a smorgasbord of acclaimed local musicians: Alejandro Escovedo, James McMurtry, and Ian McLagan & The Bump Band. But the superheroes of its title may be the dedicated men and women of the multidisciplinary medical team at Austin Child Guidance Center; they provide mental health services for children and their families as well as community education. more ›

You, the budget-conscious local music fan considering how to while away the first evening of this most patriotic of holiday weekends, could do much worse than to spend it with the four bands who will take the stage tonight at Trophy’s. We recommend getting there early to catch the promising and dreamy sounding new band St. Cloud, who were recently and unfortunately added to the ever-growing roll of musicians who’ve had instruments pilfered from their vehicles. (Here’s a list of the hot gear.)

After St. Cloud’s set erases any lingering anxiety caused by the cornucopia of national crises currently dogging the nation, Frantic Clam will offer up their inspired update on glam rock, followed by the jangling tones of Jim & the Toms. The garage-pop combo The Little Gentlemen, who recently celebrated the release of their debut album I Quit Nothing, close out the night. more ›

Recently, during a performance by an anonymous Austin band, someone spotted Bill Callahan in the crowd, walked straight up to him and looked into his face: "Your new album," the audience member said, pausing for emphasis, "is perfect." And so it is in regards to Callahan's second release under his own name, Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle, which is so damn good it's receiving dark horse consideration for album of the year. Writing songs about the songs he wrote while sleeping, and imploring his listener, and maybe himself, to put God away, Eagle is a testament to an adult musical vision: the album is 100% free of excess, and every subtlety seems to be the product of careful consideration, or at least the spontaneous intuition of someone who's been building beautiful songs for more than a decade. more ›

April 20th, 2005 is the date on the tape Erik Wofford pulls out from his archives. The head honcho at Cacophony Recorders is eager to start from the very beginning as we sit down on the comfortable green couches to discuss what went on in the four plus years since Will Rhodes, also seated beside us, first came into the spacious studio in East Austin. The tape in question contains "Graffiti The Night," a song done by Rhodes four years ago and one that can now finally be enjoyed by everyone. The ever-evolving local indie-rock outfit 'Til We're Blue Or Destroy has finally released their very long awaited self-titled debut and will celebrate by performing at Club de Ville on Friday. more ›

It’s been quite a tragic ten days or so and we’re all still coming to terms with the losses we experienced both last and this week. This Sunday, Scoot Inn is hosting a memorial for Sky Sunlight Saxon, a.k.a. Richard Marsh at 6 p.m. Sky passed away last Thursday morning at St. David’s South Austin Hospital. The cause has been identified as heart and kidney failure from an undiagnosed infection of his internal organs. Sky fronted and played bass for the garage-rock outfit The Seeds; the band had a legitimate hit with “Pushin’ Too Hard” in the 60’s. The song was named as one of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.” Sky performed at Psych Fest 2 this past March and at Antone’s as recently as Saturday, June 20th. He was rushed to the hospital on Monday the 22nd and remained in an ICU until his passing on the 25th. more ›

The Second Annual Super Hero show features a smorgasbord of acclaimed local musicians: Alejandro Escovedo, James McMurtry, Ian McLagan & The Bump Band, and Right Or Happy (formerly The Reivers). But the superheroes of its title may be the dedicated men and women of the multidisciplinary medical team at Austin Child Guidance Center; they provide mental health services for children and their families as well as community education. more ›

For any Shakespeare geek residing in Central Texas, we can imagine no greater treat than to watch one of his plays performed on the “wooden O” that is The Curtain Theatre. Richard Garriott’s Elizabethan replica space is nestled on his property on the shores of Lake Austin and provided the backdrop for Austin Shakespeare’s inaugural Young Shakespeare production of The Comedy of Errors this past weekend. The all-teen cast delivered a solid performance that was pleasantly surprising in many ways. more ›

England’s most storied and inspirational warrior king is revealed in a new, one-man adaptation of the Shakespeare history starring B. Iden Payne Award-winning actor/director and Austin Chronicle Arts Editor Robert Faires. more ›

There's something about Moonlight Towers that begs kneejerk comparison to the OK Gos, Dexter Freebishes, and-dare we say-Ryan Adamses of this world, but there's something else, something much deeper and more subtle that turns side stage and winks in our direction, reminding us that there's a either Gram Parsons or Sugar playing on the phono back home. more ›

Nylon Magazine supports a show by British performer Patrick Wolf at Antone's, July 1, 2009. During Patrick Wolf's show, audience members gave him clothing as birthday presents which he wore. Photos by Steve Hopson, www.stevehopson.com. more ›

Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band at Blues on the Green at Waterloo Park, Austin Texas, July 1, 2009. Photos by Steve Hopson, www.stevehopson.com. more ›

At the Carver Library and Cultural Center, Austin held its other book festival on Saturday, June 27th: The Third Annual African American Book Festival. Less well-known than that book gathering held in the Capitol each fall, it still attracted some prominent authors. One, Annette Gordon-Reed, spoke of her obsession with the story of Sally Hemings, the now famous slave and mistress of Thomas Jefferson. She described a journey that began with reading Jefferson's biography as a third grader to research on his life as a college history student and the eventual publication of two books. Jefferson scholars dismissed the relationship as just "negro news," she said. In 1997, her first book, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, examined the entire historical record. Soon after, DNA evidence confirmed the liaison. Then, using Jefferson's obsessive record keeping, the oral history, and his letters, she reconstructed the Hemings family story in, The Hemingses of Monticello, for which she received the 2008 National Book Award and 2009 Pulitzer Prize. She expressed regret at not listening more carefully as a child to her grandmother’s family stories. "Slavery was a part of my life," she said; her grandmother's mother was a slave. Gordon-Reed, now a law professor, wanted to individualize Sally, describe her family context, and allow her to be known as more than just a "slave girl." It was a short hour listening to the story behind the story. more ›

By now you've heard about the three-night-stand Spoon has at Stubb's in July. We're excited about it too; and we're presenting night three along with KVRX (that's July 11). The (somewhat) local heroes will be playing tunes from their rich catalog as well as songs from their forthcoming full-length and new EP Got Nuffin. more ›

The Swedish garage-pop duo Poppets are playing their first American show this evening at Club 1808. more ›

in the war-torn country of Afghanistan, there’s a TV show much like our own inexplicably popular American Idol, where anyone can compete regardless of race, age, religion, or any other factor. And people all over the country use their cell phones to vote for their favorite performer. This remarkable film (winner of Directing and Audience Awards at this year’s Sundance Film Festival) follows four finalists as they compete to become the next Afghan Star.It's sure to inform, inspire, enlighten, and entertain you. And that’s a lot more than Simon Cowell could ever do for you. more ›

Somewhat of a childhood prodigy, Patrick Wolf was proficient in a number of instruments at a very early age and his versatility shines through on The Bachelor, his fourth full-length. His knack for skillfully arranging varying sounds into both soothing and exhilarating songs is showcased throughout this record; his theatrical persona and penchant for the melodramatic can be witnessed in the video for single “Hard Times.” Wolf envisioned this current crop of material as a double album titled Battles but eventually decided to release them individually. The Conqueror is expected next year. more ›