Tom Thornton

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

• Posted Wine: Austin Cellar Classic Is Tomorrow to Austinist
  With October's Tour De Vin at Whole Foods and November's Big Reds and Bubblies at The Driskill, fall is already the favored season for swanky wine and food pairing events in Austin. A new entrant to the mix this year is the Austin Cellar Classic, a 2-day event hosted by Max's Wine Dive combining a pairing dinner on Friday with the main event of a grand wine tasting on Saturday. For this post, we're solely focused on the big wine tasting.

• Posted Fun Fun Fun Fest Previews: Street Dogs and Betaplayer to Austinist
  Street Dogs hail from Boston's Dorchester neigorborhood, and are damn proud of it. The band features original Dropkick Murphys vocalist Mike McColgan (who left the Murphys for several years work as a fireman before returning to music) and features a mixture of punk and folk stylings in their songs, many of which have a definite political bent. While the 2006 album Fading American Dream addressed the Bush administration's failings and working-class problems with hearts firmly on sleeve, the band's latest, 2008's State Of Grace, feels more positive in its tonality. With heroes like Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer, it would be difficult for anyone not to enjoy spending 45 minutes with Street Dogs this weekend - because they really mean what they're doing, and you'll know it.

• Commented on Food (Recession) News: Grapevine Market Closing In December
  @wattage: From what was reported in the Statesman and (I believe) on Chowhound, business at Castle Hill had slipped significantly before the closure, which was why they installed the wine bar, etc. There was also a partial change of ownership...
• Posted Food (Recession) News: Grapevine Market Closing In December to Austinist
  As the economic slump continues, Austin continues to see casualties in the food and wine business. Having seen the likes of likable upscale concepts like Taste Select, Starlite, and Castle Hill Cafe disappear in the past year, it's not hugely surprising to see the recession hit the retail end of the wine business. Which brings us to Grapevine Market, the one-time king of Austin's wine and beer selection. A store employee confirmed by phone that the Anderson Lane location intends to shutter by December 15, with some in-store discounts beginning as early as next week to close out their inventory.