So the time is ripe for the 2008 SXSW Music Festival and what better way to lead into that madness than with a host of quality bands at Emo’s to kick off this weekend. Friday marks the CD Release show for local outfit What Made Milwaukee Famous. Officially released on March 4th, What Doesn’t Kill Us will be available for purchase during the show; the album finds the band maturing into a polished rock act while maintaining their keen ear for pop melodies, their expert arrangements of well-crafted tracks, and their penchant for catchy guitar hooks. Check out the video for “Sultan” off the new album via YouTube here. more ›

If you crave constant flux, if you can’t stand it when a musician or band sticks with a formula for more than just one album, if you’re only happy when bands are being adventurous, exploratory, breaking new ground and taking risks; then Lucky might not be for you. But, if you’re content to be overcome by buckets and buckets of blinding harmonies and several wide smiles worth of hooky indie rock, then look no further. If too much pop sugar makes you gag and songs with repetitive choruses give you the shakes, then you're looking in the wrong place. But if this is you, what are you doing listening to Nada Surf anyway? Don’t say that you heard “Popular” and thought, “How innovative. I wonder what they’re going to come up with next.” more ›

Last week, before his show at the Parish Room, Austinist sat down for a chat with SF indie musician John Vanderslice. Famous for his attention to the finest of details and his indelible charm, John was characteristically engaging during the half hour we spoke to him. In addition to his prolific solo career, John also runs a recording studio in San Francisco called tiny telephone, which last year was voted by SF Bay Guardian... more ›