Once in a while, we like to take some time to introduce you to bands -- both local otherwise -- that we think you'd enjoy. Le Diamont Brut aims to showcase those MySpace gems we hope to see shine. Recommend your local suggestions by emailing music@austinist.com. MiKenPike What’s the Deal: Don’t let the name discourage you - it’s a mash-up of the members’ names. Their story is one of the more miraculous musical 180s in......

California’s Novice headlines a cracking pop bill this Wednesday at Room 710. Future Warped Tour candidates, the band expertly combines catchy melodies, energetic power pop, and mall-punk production. Novice’s discography includes A Day Out In The Sun EP (2003), Interrupting The Scenery (2004), and Forgive The Silence (2006), along with this year’s self titled EP. On the road, they have played with the likes of Less Than Jake and Shiny Toy Guns. The Most,......

Here's just a small sampling of the artists playing our day party next Wednesday at Red 7: [mp3] Ghostland Observatory - "Candy Rider" [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me " [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "Sooner" [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "Walk On the Moon" [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "Let Them Wait" [mp3] The Ark - "Rock City Wankers" (From Aurgasm) [mp3] Levy - "On the Dance Floor" [mp3] Levy - "Rotten......

Please let us know if we are missing your favorite blogs. We try to find new blogs each week, but we are going to have to go with our tried-and-true favorites also. Our favorite posts for the week: Lone Star Democracy Association reviews Bob Gammage (if you don’t know already, he's running for Governor). Rachel at A Day in the Life is planning her trip to Canada. The Sound of Crickets Chirping has two major......

Our favorite posts for the week: Jonathon’s never seen The Nutcracker . . . until now. The Daily Texican (who recently moved to Seattle from Austin, but we still read him) on why we should ride the bus at least once. Matt at ausblog rants on why not to go to the Trail of Lights. A Day in the Life ponders how to give holiday greetings (we have the same problem). Raquel from Home Girl......