Friday is the one weekday of SXSW when normal people -- who read indie music blogs, naturally -- get off of work and make their way down to Red River St. get a piece of the action. So it’s no surprise that many of those schedule-packed shows will be presented by said blog machines, including Stereogum and the Hot Freaks (a super-hip blog collaboration). ... [continue]

Spiderhouse (probably one of Austin's most representative coffee shop-bar-patios) is hosting a full evening of music and fashion this Saturday, dubbed Fashion Freakout. ... [continue]

It's no surprise that Sex, Death, Cassette was released on Asthmatic Kitty. Multi-faceted and experimental yet easily accessible, Rafter matches its label-mates in quirky, humble pop. ... [continue]

We understood that Cleveland, Ohio was known for rock music, but for subtly bouncy electronic art pop? We we dubious until we discovered that the midwestern mecca is the origin of Joe Williams, whose project White Williams will be stopping through our fair city tonight at Emo's for a show opened by Rings (New York) and Cry Blood Apache (Austin).... [continue]

A healthy dose of semi-abrasive indie rock on a cold weekend night -- what more could you want? Milk and cookies, you say? Sorry, Emo's doesn't serve that. Saturday night, our beloved and hallowed Emo's plays host to Les Savy Fav, supported by Fatal Flying Guillotines and Attack Formation.... [continue]

We told you last time, and, thank god, you listened. We told you Dan Deacon was coming, and you were ready. Well, we're telling you again.... [continue]

Steaming on through the weekend, Free Week at Emo's continues Monday night with a mostly local smattering of acts at the lounge and inside stages.... [continue]

After being threatened with a lawsuit by "Handsome Dick" Manitoba in 2004, Toronto native, London resident, and Ph.D. mathematician Daniel Snaith was forced to change his recording alias. What was once called Manitoba (not Handsome Dick) is now Caribou, and tonight, this electronic psychadelic dreamy pop outfit (a full band plays live) will be at Club Deville. Snaith's latest album Andorra is maybe his best yet. Streams of orchestral pop closely rivaling that of... [continue]

Snake Eyes Vinyl is not a record store front for a dirty gambling outfit. Snake Eyes, in fact, is just another of those death metal illusions, like Whore of Babylon, Self Induced Pain, or Suicidal Failure. In fact, Snake Eyes Vinyl does specialize in the metal genre, specifically zeroing in on the black metal, death metal, thrash metal, doom, stoner rock, southern rock, crust, grind, power violence, fast core, hardcore, punk, classic punk rock, progressive,...... [continue]

What's that, you say? DJs don't release albums? Uh, have you ever heard of Girl Talk? The DJ Kicks series? The prolific DJ Shadow? It happens. A lot. And tomorrow night, it's happening at Beauty Bar: Austin's Car Stereo (Wars) will release its first ever LP, The Bandit, to the accompanying sounds of cacophonous rockers White Denim, found-sounds rockers Single Frame, and guest DJ sets by Team Fabrication, Josh Mills (of Clap! Clap!), and Terry...... [continue]

Opposite Day Safety First (Eat A Finger Peach Look Music): Austinites Opposite Day have been cranking out weirdo punk music for six years now, and Safety First is the band's third album, which makes them "official." Like most punk bands, the majority of songs last around two to three minutes. And while Opposite Day is definitely punk, the album's 17 tracks explore motley styles, ranging from hardcore to acoustic to experimental to Incubus-esque, all with...... [continue]

If the closest you come to contemporary hip hop is dodging the Spiro's crowd on your way to Emo's, then we have news for you: there IS more out there. No, you need not subject yourself to the abrasive and, dare we say, bastardized sounds of Dirty South hip hop, nor need you dig up your old De La albums (though you should anyway) because tonight Talib Kweli is at Emo's to show you...... [continue]

Teenagers from the Isle of Man, Back Door Slam are a blues-rock three-piece drawing influences from all corners of the blues genre, even some outside of it. In fact, although most of Roll Away is littered with embellished guitar solos and high notes (the kind you can picture way down on the base of the guitar neck), some of the tracks are more folk-centered, even acoustic, and sound akin to contemporary country and western. Yet,... [continue]

We know you've heard the name, and we know you know they're not Japanese. Or police. They're actually just some kids from Canada who met in fourth grade and are living the dream: playing in an awesome, fun, and increasingly popular band. Elementary friends David Monks (vocals, bass), Graham Wright (keyboard), and Josh Hook (guitar) met Greg Alsop (drummer) in high school and formed Tokyo Police Club. Shortly thereafter, and totally out of the...... [continue]

We like trying to coerce you into going to shows. We're fans of music, you know. We're fans of live music, especially, and since you never know when a show will knock your socks off, we say it's totally worth the few skrilla you'll drop on getting inside. Especially for bands like The Format, a few guys who won't be stuck into any, er, formatted music style. Tonight they're playing at Antone's with Mike... [continue]

Everyone knows that Thursday night is the beginning of the weekend, a night to be spent with a hearty dose of fresh energy stored up from a week of working just hard enough to not get fired. This fresh energy should, as always, be spent dancing. Tonight is just your Thursday night for dancing, in fact, since The Black and White Years and DJs KidIndie and Eric will be at Beauty Bar. KidIndie, as...... [continue]

If you don't already know about Nick Lowe, it's time you found out. The quick and dirty: He's been around since the mid-'60s, playing a mixture of country, rock, blues, and pop. His first band Brinsley Schwarz is constantly noted as a major influence on '70s punk. He wrote "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a song destined to become an Elvis Costello hit in 1979; in...... [continue]

Hello Lovers -- Vanity Fair (Inchworm): If it is possible to musically capture a lovesick, misunderstood poet wailing and moping about drunkenly in a scummy apartment overlooking a dark and lonely city, Austin’s Hello Lovers have done it. In fact, they have positioned their sound around the voice that embodies said misunderstood poet: that of J.C. King. If you can’t latch on to King’s Antony-esque vibrato, Colin Meloy-esque (of The Decemberists) nasality, or off-melody,... [continue]

It's here it's the end it's almost over. These are the final days of Emo's 15th Anniversary Weekend, an eight-day extravaganza (of sorts) celebrating the 6th and Red River venue that is so near and dear to our hearts. We tantalizingly talked it up, and you responded. In fact, rumors circulated that even those on the guest list for the sold-out Ghostland Observatory show couldn't get in. Whatevs, man -- there is still a...... [continue]

This is not a joke. This is serious. Dan Deacon is coming to Emo's tonight, and you must put on your dancing shoes. If you are the kind that doesn’t wear a costume for Halloween or doesn’t show up to a Longbranch Inn Sock Hop dressed in 1950s attire, take caution: tonight, such nonsense will not be allowed. The kind of nonsense that will be allowed: bright colors, loss of inhibitions, the embrace of...... [continue]