Before SXSW Music kicks into full-gear tomorrow, Austin’s own garage-rock, rhythm and soul, seven-piece, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears, start the party tonight at our fair city’s iconic Continental Club in celebration of their sophomore album's official release. Scandalous is a consistently soulful sequel to their 2009 debut, Tell ‘Em What Your Name Is! Black Joe and the ’bears may be up to their old tricks with soul-revival songs about skirt chasing and misadventure (“Mustang Ranch” tells the tale of the band’s night at an infamous Nevada brothel), but their second effort showcases more variety--gritty garage punk, country blues and roadhouse rock and roll with throwback flare rooted in retro-funk. more ›

They clucked their tongues and said it couldn't be done, but Haunting Oboe Music is doing it. 2008 has these Austin indie-experimental stalwarts release an EP every single month of the damned year, but before you roll your eyes and dismiss them as overambitious twats, read this: they're knocking it out of the park. The production is fantastic, the ideas are as fresh as a tipsy Italian exchange student, and the songs - while maddeningly diverse - keep you guessing. more ›

Skateboarding, BMX, and punk rock have gone hand in hand for quite a few decades now. The most interesting project that is Iglomat isn’t exactly the rock we normally associate with ramps and the like but the act’s down-tempo instrumentals and moments of post-rock bliss have inspired, and in turn found home in quite a few projects in that culture. The brainchild of David Jack (from Portabello, Scotland), Iglomat the record had been in the works for many moons from what we gather. Scott MacDonald (also in Portabello) and Austin-based Sandy Carson complete the Iglomat line-up, and this cross-Atlantic trio worked together for a good amount of time, assembling songs “via satellite till the tune is finished” per Carson. Carson and MacDonald contribute the guitar tracks while Jack is the mastermind behind the beats and bass, and also handles the mixing responsibilities. more ›

Xiu Xiu are what many would call a success story. After all, they’ve evolved from an experimental freakshow of a duo who appealed only to the outer edge of musical snobs and depressed hipsters, to a full-on, four member, MySpace friendly, blog-writing, book-producing, ceaselessly collaborating, networking whirlwind with legions of fans and the respect of critics. Not only that, but unlike some rise-to-glory stories, Xiu Xiu’s transformation has been nice to see, mostly because founding members Jamie Stewart and Caralee McElroy always seem to be having a lot of fun, connecting well with their fans and managing to maintain their sense of humor and their honesty. more ›

Say you’re drunk. Or, better yet, you just woke up after one of those Mexican Martini nights, so it's one of those mornings where the sun, you’re sure, is already blazing its blaze just beyond your bedroom window, yet you can only spot a squeak of it through the blinds, and that little bit of light is really all you handle. Anything more would send you into full-on fury, but that special kind of fury where you can’t really do anything, because, truly, you feel like shit. more ›

Born to a rickety plastic world that has since dissolved in a smooth digital sea, the mix tape has outlived its own name. For there is something about the basic structure, the essential production process, which cannot be changed. You must begin at the end and move backwards. This becomes an analog loop, unreeling and flipping back upon itself, transformed into an infinite self-portrait. Yet it always leads to the inspiration, away from the composer and back to the audience. Okkervil River’s latest creation is officially labeled a mix tape. Golden Opportunities is a collection of nine live songs performed in 2006 and 2007. The resulting album is a collection of old postcards and snapshots refashioned as a unique found object. more ›

Between now and January, New Release Tuesday will focus on 2007 reflections and music news related to both this year's releases, the holidays and 2008's potential. The standard NRT posts will resume in 2008. It will also feature the opinions of the author, who does not represent the Ist network as a whole. What a damn shame. The holiday season is tough for music lovers shopping for other music lovers. This is mostly because... more ›

Album Cover, Go With What You Know Zappa Plays ZappaTuesday, November 13Hogg Memorial Auditorium (24th at Whitis)8pm[info] | [tickets]Post by Mark H. Being the spawn of an international superstar can be a tough weight to carry. Some try to sluff off comparisons, others try to appropriate their parents' legacy while striving to maintain their own sense of artistic creativity, and others still go unseen or heard until ending up in rehab. Dweezil Zappa seems to... more ›

Album cover of McLemore Avenue, Booker T. & The MG’s The hilarious kids of ColdTowne bring their audience-driven film/music/improv spectacle, 3, 2, 1 Kill!, to the new downtown Drafthouse digs Austin Music Commission hosts a very important town hall meeting tonight at Momo's on the resurrected sound ordinance proposal, which could dramatically transform our city's live music landscape -- and not in a good way Stitch, Austin's ultimate gathering of D-I-Y fashion and design, takes... more ›

Here's your chance! In conjunction with Maker Faire, HEYA (Toyota's collaborative youth program) is hosting an interactive art car build with Harrod Blank, art-car artist extraordinaire. Blank is the dude behind the Camera Van, which will be cruising through central Austin tomorrow—so get out your, uh, cameras. The build will run throughout the weekend, and anyone attending Maker Faire can participate. The goal is to transform a Toyota Matrix into a "music-themed piece of art... more ›

The Good Life Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek) The Good Life’s Tim Kasher, also of Cursive, is one of the most prolific and consistent romantic anti-heroes of modern indie rock. He’s released many albums under both titles as well as contributing to his peers’ projects like Rilo Kiley and Bright Eyes (the singer of which got his start playing with Kasher in Commander Venus), and while much of his music is built on heart aching... more ›

Dandi Wind - Concrete Igloo (Summer Lovers Unlimited Music) Ok, we are fond of electronic duos. Even more so when they hail from Canada. Dandi Wind (comprised of Dandelion Wind Opaine and Szam Findlay) tests our undying affection with their hit or miss debut, Concrete Igloo. The duo combines a variety of genres to conjure up an adrenaline fueled, almost destructive sound that clicks wonderfully on songs like “Slumlord” and “Apotemnophilia.” The insistent “Hitch-Hiker” could... more ›

FRIDAY [4] party/bikes • Yellow Bike Project's Second Annual Bike Art Show with music by DJ Orion, DJ Katherine at Gallery 1906 (Free, 7pm-Midnight) art • Opening Reception: memoria/memoir: Carol Flax at Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress Ave., Ste 100 (6-9pm) art • B Scene at the Blanton Museum of Art 1st Anniversary Celebration at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress ($5 members, $10 non-members, 6-11pm) art • Opening Reception: Tunnel Vision: Parading Down the... more ›

James LaValle is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist who has been circling the globe and projecting songs into the void as The Album Leaf since the late 90's, when his former project, Tristeza, disbanded. His songs are warm, earthy, and simultaneously intricate, ambient and modern. His albums are private moments of yearning, loss, hope, and simple pleasures translated for public intimacy. Simply put ... LaValle is one of the most original and confident songwriters of... more ›

Tomorrow's your last chance to vote in the PLUG Independent Music Awards, the annual audience-juried awards event that recognizes the most promising artists and members of the independent music community. Beyond traditional music categories like Album of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and genre-specific awards, PLUG also celebrates everything from live venues and music festivals to internet radio stations and music blogs. This year, several Austin or Texas-based bands, stores, and organizations... more ›

Over the years, Staten Island NY's Ghostface Killah has proven himself, at least for now, the last of the Wu-Tang Clan left standing in the public eye. Unless you count Method Man's devolved mainstream pap, Ghost is the only one still putting out records at all, let alone making vital, relevant music. Ghost rebounded from 2004's lackluster Pretty Toney Album with FishScale, a weird, raw, and very funny record that wound up being one... more ›

Here's what's new this week: The Walkmen Pussy Cats Starring the Walkmen (Record Collection) When John Lennon and Yoko Ono took a break in 1974, the former jumped into the studio with pals Ringo Star, Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson (among others) to produce Pussy Cats, a fascinating mix of classic tunes and originals arranged primarily by Nilsson and Lennon. Misunderstood and bizarre, Pussy Cats is the ultimate buddy album for music geeks with... more ›

FRIDAY [20] dance • Requiem at Intel Shell (8pm, $20-$30) party/gay • Q Monthly Magazine release party at Oilcan Harry's (5-9pm) art • Chris Campbell: Surface/Depth Reception at Gallery 3 at the Co-Op (5-7pm) art • "The Stones": Art of Ronnie Wood Reception at ART on 5th (6-8pm) drag/party/various • International Drag King Extravaganza 8 at Venues Around Austin music • Oakley Hall, Brothers & Sisters, Li'l Cap'n Travis, Pink Nasty at Emo's music... more ›

GoogTube! GoogTube! GoogTube! Here's what's new at the record store: Annuals Be He Me (Ace Fu) Because of (or in despite of) their popularity with the blogging set, Annuals' highly anticipated album, Be He Me, is sure to be a hit this week. For fans of Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, and yes, even Animal Collective, Annuals add a bit of punch to the whole "we're pretending to be lo-fi but really we spent... more ›

Heading to End of an Ear or Waterloo? Here's what you can look for this week on the new release wall. Adem: Love & Other Planets (Domino) Adem's work with Fridge doesn't give any indication of his capabilities as a folk / pop singer-songwriter, but the distinction between the styles is indicative of his talent. The album's subtle yet sonic layers combined with Adem's fragile, persistant voice create a soundscape to match the themes... more ›

Whether you go down to the local record store or shop through the Tubes, today is new release Tuesday. Birdmonster No Midnight (SpinART) Despite the rock n roll media's underwhelmed response, No Midnight is going to be the biggest indie seller this week, quite easily. Considering the fact that they gained their audience primarily through the web, and were unsigned at the start of the year, it's a pleasant surprise to see such a... more ›

New albums by Guillemots, Hot Snakes, and the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack more ›

Like the wandering ghosts of some long-lost pirate ship, San Diego’s Black Heart Procession will invade The Parish tonight with their moaning, clanking brand of spooky country. Though the BHP lineup is constantly shifting (and has included members of RFTC, Hot Snakes and Blonde Redhead) the current band includes Pall Jenkins and Tobias Nathaniel (both of Three Mile Pilot), Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse, Magic Magicians), Jimmy LaValle (The Album Leaf), Scot Mercado (Manuok/Via Satellite)... more ›

The fabulous music bloggers at DepravedFangirls have merged with The Rich Girls Are Weeping to start a joint project, Four Inches from the Cuff. To kick off the launch of this new music feature+interview site, they're sponsoring tonight's show at Emo's, featuring The Ebb & Flow, The Hourly Radio, Protokoll, and A Featherweight Burden. Consider what DFG Shannon had to say about The Hourly Radio, a foursome from Dallas whose new record, History Will Never... more ›

Irish indie rockers Snow Patrol released their second US album, Eyes Open, earlier this month, following up on the tremendous success of their debut stateside LP, Final Straw. "Run" reached the top 5 in the UK singles chart; its eminently singable chorus and mainstream accessibility ensured their status as one of the most popular British bands here in the states (according to wiki, "Run" was played roughly twenty eight thousand times on US radio stations... more ›

John Lennon still gives Jesus a run for his money. According to a volunteer at the University Baptist Church last Friday, only one or two religious services have similarly packed the pews. By the time Austinist arrived, music worshippers were lined up around the block to catch a live performance of the Beatles' White Album of 1968, whose songs around 30 local vocalists and musicians had been invited to cover. The seating was shoulder-to-shoulder, with... more ›

MONDAY [8] [music] Art Brut, Birdmonster, The Robocop Kraus at Emo's (link) [music] She Wants Revenge and OKGO at Stubb's (link) [music] The Lashes at Waterloo (Free, 5pm) (link) [film] Amelie (with FREE crème brulee) at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] L.A. Confidential at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (link) [film] Anime Monday at Ventana del Sol (7:30pm, FREE) (link) [film] Wet Hot American Summer at Rounders Pizzeria (6pm, FREE) (link) [film] School of Rock at... more ›

Idiosyncratic American ex-pat Scott Walker's musical career spans over half a century long, from his early years as a pop star in LA's The Walker Brothers to his extensive solo recordings (albums one through four named Scott (1967), Scott 2 (1968), Scott 3 (1969), and Scott 4 (1969)). Having signed to Beggars Banquet-funded British indie label 4AD (Blonde Redhead, TVoR, Mountain Goats, The Birthday Party) in 2004, the cult figure has enjoyed a resurgence... more ›

[mp3] The Hold Steady - "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" [mp3] The Hold Steady - "The Swish" [link] The Plastic Constellations - "Iron City Jungles" [mp3] Baby Dee - "Endless Night" [mp3] Baby Dee - "Love's Small Song" [mp3] Baby Dee - "Lilacs" [mp3] Shearwater - "I Can't Wait" [mp3] Shearwater - "Whipping Boy" [full EP] Weird Weeds - "This Is Not What You Want (EP)" [mov] Nina Simone - "I Want A Little Sugar In... more ›

It could have been a lot worse. Mariah Carey could have walked away with Song, Record, or even Album of the Year; at that point, we would've completely given up on the music industry. Not that we have an extreme degree of faith in the corporate arts as is, but giving the big one to an album titled The Emancipation of Mimi would have all-but confirmed that those people are insane, evil, and totally... more ›