Yes, there are just two members, and yes, they have a color-based name, but Chicago’s White Mystery split the difference between the White Stripes and the Black Keys for a guttural sound that skips past the blues and aims straight for primal rock and roll. They headline a like-minded bill tonight at Beerland. more ›

Tonight at the Mohawk, retro rock with nods to '60s mod and grungy soul is the word. Four bands with undeniable onstage spunk and dance-inducing grooves will perform, with local quintet The Hi-Tones acting as headliners. Fronted by charismatic lead singer Johnny Flores, the Hi-Tones blend the grimy yet irresistibly hooky sensibilities of British Invasion paragons the Kinks, the sonic oomph of the Stones and a pinch of bubblegum pop with the same backwards-gazing aplomb that a modern band like Dr. Dog employs so well. Their 2011 EP, TransAudioStasis, does their live performance credit, but make no mistake: the Hi-Tones have made their reputation on Austin's stages, where their rambunctious energy, rock 'n roll catchiness and Flores's contagious dancing have inspired bops and twists a plenty. more ›

Last year, Matador Records co-chief Gerard Cosloy curated the Austin rock and punk compilation Casual Victim Pile, bringing to vinyl and digital formats music that, for the most part, you could only experience on booze-filled nights on Red River (OK, at Beerland). Though he stated at the time that the document was "very arbitrary" and in no way a definitive portrait of any "scene," it did bring heightened local exposure to a strain of blistering, D.I.Y.-style rock. Some of the bands on the first comp (Follow That Bird, Harlem, Woven Bones) now seem like indispensable parts of the Austin music scene writ large; other bands have broken up, and still more are punching holes in the walls of Beerland to replace the patched-over ones they punched in last year. Most of all, the first CVP is just fun to listen to. It's good to know these bands. more ›

Though Beerland is frequently the go-to joint for straight outta the garage pop/punk, this evening Emo's is hosting a bunch of local and touring bands who prefer the gritty and gummy. Ty Segall is in town from San Francisco, and are currently on a big tour through the States and Canada. more ›

Sunday evenings in the summer time can be a tad melancholy. You’ve had a couple of days away from the rat race, enjoyed a swim at Barton Springs, and had a quality brunch with your friends. But the inevitable Monday morning blues are set to envelope your very being. Just the notion of eight hours in a cold cube as opposed to an afternoon of leisure in the warm sunshine is bringing you down. Instead of resigning yourself to your fate, head down to Emo’s this Sunday night for a dose of dreamy psych-folk ditties courtesy of Georgia’s Futurebirds. more ›

Back in 2006, Rolling Stone said The Whigs “may well be the best unsigned band in America,” a statement that, these days, doesn’t have nearly the impact it once could have. But, that’s not to say that assignment wasn’t deserved. The 3-piece garage southern rock group from Athens, Georgia has made several decisions that have helped them to rise somewhat quickly since their 2005 independently released debut, Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip, which was rereleased shortly thereafter on Dave Matthews’ record label ATO Records. They’ve toured with groups like Kings of Leon, Dead Confederate, Tokyo Police Club and The Kooks, and now they’re scheduled to play Emo’s Tuesday with The Features and A Giant Dog. Along with tracks off their previous two releases, The Whigs will no doubt bring songs from their forthcoming album, In the Dark, to be released in March of 2010, such as the downloadable tracks “In the Dark” and “Hundred/Million”. more ›

You might be thinking that Electric Tickle Machine - kind of a misnomer at first - is another in a seemingly long line of garage pop / psychedelic rock groups making danceable rock and roll and going the extra mile to make their live show kinetic and engaging but failing to transition that energy into their recordings. But, such is not the case. It’s clear on Blew it Again, released earlier this year, the group didn’t simply enter the studio and bang out tracks, then hop in the van and head to the next show. They gave a damn, and it translates in recordings which toe the line between the produced and lo-fi, allowing for a fair amount of grit and fuzz to enter and join the brightness and clarity among the chorus and keys. It makes for an album with a different look and feel from their live show while channeling some of that raw, live energy, which has been known to include the occasional naked audience member dancing and jiggling their parts uncovered up on stage. more ›