Mess With Texas during SXSW last year was a huge hit in the cozy confines of Red 7 and MWT2 promises to be an even bigger bash with a wide variety of musical acts and comedians on tap. Waterloo Park is the host this year and this year’s free, all ages show kicks off at noon on Saturday the 15th. But of course there are so many other day shows, parties, and what not going on in the town that the sponsors (including Forcefield PR, Record Store Day, JetBlue Entertainment, Fuel TV, SuperDeluxe.com, and Garnier Fructis) want to give you V.I.P. treatment if you can write a witty piece of prose. As has been the case with other stellar Waterloo Park shows, local entity Transmission Entertainment has helped organize this brouhaha....

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Austinist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Obama for America, remember the Texas primary on Tuesday. Return of the Stardust Cowgirl, available now in paperback. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Elsewares, where you can get a 10% off your order with the discount code "ist". Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Austinist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Elsewares, where you can get a 10% off your order with the discount code "ist". Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. If you're interested in advertising on Austinist or any other site in our network, check out......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Austinist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. UT's Harry Ransom Center, finding out if you're a Beatnik. Elsewares, where you can get a 10% off your order with the discount code "ist". Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. If you're interested in advertising on......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Austinist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. UT's Harry Ransom Center, finding out if you're a Beatnik. Elsewares, where you can get a 10% off your order with the discount code "ist". Busted Tees, selling a special shirt to honor the New England Patriots. If you're interested......

Once the camera crews, exuberant (and nostalgia seeking) fans, and Illuminati-crying conspiracy theorists had retreated to their respective rocks last week, former President Clinton decided to do some shopping at BookPeople. In town to raise money for Hillary's campaign at the home of long time Clinton family friend Roy Spence of GSD&M, Bill made a stop at BookPeople where he signed over a thousand copies of his new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can......

We saw Janeane Garofalo a few years ago in Houston -- she was wearing sweats and debating whether or not the Charlie's Angels was cinematically brilliant or the biggest piece of crap she'd ever seen. For the record, she was doing this on stage, and ultimately decided, based on Drew Barrymore's awkward dancing, that the movie was brilliant. Garofalo makes the sort of oddball diatribes that your snarky best friend makes, but somehow, they're......

Austin Pets Alive!, a local organization working to hinder pet overpopulation, is hosting a fundraiser tonight. Their Pet Friend of the Year, Tom Spencer from KLRU, will be feted, and State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and City Councilmember Lee Leffingwell will make appearances. The money raised tonight will benefit a group that promotes spaying/neutering services to the Austin community. Austin resolved to become a "no kill" city in the 90s, but in 2005, over half......

The following is a column by staff writer Carly Kocurek, compiled with the help of Elizabeth S., Sam Armstrong, and Shannon Roberts -- Ed Note So, you've waited until the last minute to address the whole "Valentine's Day" situation. Trust me, I've been there. In fact, I'm there right now -- my grandmother will be getting a card from us sometime next week. (I'll put extra stickers on the envelope to make up for......

We missed that whole “Black Friday” thing (post-traumatic stress symptoms related to a former life working retail), and the holidays are creeping up faster than a cheer-stealing Grinch in a dogsled. We’re sure that some of you, dear readers, find yourselves in a similar boat. But, before you start snapping up pre-packaged bath sets at Target, check out Austinist’s very special recommendations. We’ve sorted through some of the sparkliest surprises available locally and on the......

We try not to be fanatics about stuff, but John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats totally does it for us. He's smart, he's nice, and he's lo-fi (well, decreasingly so, but the sentiment is there). Also, the first time we saw him in concert, he performed solo with an acoustic guitar and burst into a rousing chorus of "Hail, Satan!" As for street cred, the Mountain Goats have released roughly a billion albums, many......

I’m on caffeine, ladies and gentlemen. Strictly caffeine. It’s been a hectic week, but it’s also been an exciting one with the unveiling of KUT’s new website look. I’ll be posting quite a few new Before the Break episodes to coincide with the new vibe. www.kut.org The new website style will also allow me to keep a regular playlist online, so you know what I’m playing. Here’s a sneaky peak at what to expect......

KUT's Laurie Gallardo dishes about local bands...

Peaches will be kicking out the jams this Saturday at Emo’s, but don’t expect the electroclash queen to play nice. She’ll be serving up the sound all hot and raunchy with funky beats and lots of swears. We’re down with that, though. We like swears — and dancing. Peaches is on tour in support of her latest album, Impeach My Bush, which came out in July. For a little taste of the action, check......

There's a whole wide world out there, and here's the proof: DCist revels in The University of Maryland's basketball triumphs, marvels at Metro's security strategy, and applauds DC local Katie Couric's new gig. Bostonist has the best local papers! While The Globe reports on a baby shower gone bad, the 'Herald coins a gruesome new term. They put down the paper long enough to comment on an election that has gone to the dogs, and,......

So, I’m off a week. I apologize, I’ve been slammed with deadlines alternating between drunk and hungover. But, you know how it goes, SXSW starts and every web site, record label, and film producer you’ve never heard of starts plying every nobody writer with booze — not that I’m one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I’ll take a Crown and Coke or three. Monday night at the Consumating.com booze-a-thon, I took......

Dear lovely readers, please note that the Neighbors in Need Katrina Relief Concert scheduled for this Wedmesday will now be starting at 6:30PM. There will be performances by Willie Nelson, the Neville Brothers, Ray Price, Jimmie Vaughan, The Flatlanders, Patty Griffin, Bob Schneider and Eric Johnson. Additionally: In response to the demand for VIP tickets and Special Commemorative Packages for the Neighbors in Need benefit concert, the Frank Erwin Center is pleased to announce......