Fun Fun Fun Fest has quietly added a handful of huge draws to the lineup. Spoon, Cannibal Corpse and Black Lips have all signed on to perform. Cannibal Corpse is going to be out promoting their new record, Evisceration Plague, Black Lips might inspire another streaker (remember that?), and Spoon will be performing a sort of homecoming show. You might remember they played the very first Fun Fest 6 years ago (along with Peaches, Circle Jerks, Black Angels and others). There's no other upcoming gigs on the Spoon calendar, and their first gig of 2011, so if you're a completest, it's time to buy your tickets. There are still daily passes ($55), student discounts ($110) and regular three day passes available ($135).

Photo of the Black Lips by our own Pooneh Ghana. more ›

A healthy dose of attitude is rolling through town, as a pair of onetime blog darlings crawl out of their respective garages to take the stage. Tonight at Emo’s, the Black Lips and the Vivian Girls bring the sneers, albeit in highly different ways. more ›

Listing psych rock greats like Los Saicos and The 13th Floor Elevators among their major influences, the Black Lips’ sound is steeped in plenty of classic styles; they aren’t afraid to let their love of old-school country and doo-wop shine through on tracks like “How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Has Died?” Their lyrics bounce between everything from spring break hijinks to race relations, tying things together with an overarching love of mythology and mind-altering substances. Their 2005 album Let It Bloom was a college radio staple, and 2007’s Good Bad Not Evil cemented their spot as leaders of the mid-00’s garage rock revival. Their latest, Arabia Mountain, will be released this June on Vice Records. Black Lips will be at Emo’s this Thursday, April 28, with Vivian Girls and John Wesley Coleman. We spoke with Black Lips guitar player Cole Alexander about human skulls, fan tattoos and album title inspiration. more ›

It's slightly surprising that Ezra Furman and the Harpoons haven't yet gained more popularity in a musical world that digs indie folk rock more each day. Furman and the Harpoons found each other at Tufts University and began playing together in 2006. They have been evolving their sound ever since, managing to alternate between the influences of the Violent Femmes and Bob Dylan while adding their own unique spin. Playing at Paste's party early on Wednesday afternoon at The Stage, the group garnered a good sized audience for the quartet's easy going tunes. Undeterred by the strangely timed fire alarm check required by the police/building management just prior to the start, Furman led the Harpoons through a set full of classics such as "Take Off Your Sunglasses" complete with harmonica solos. The group's new album Mysterious Power come out in early April. more ›

What’s the Deal: Bostich and Fussible are just two of the members of Tijuana’s Nortec Collective (Nortec is a style of music that comes from the fusion of norteño and techno). The foursome that makes up Nortec Collective (Bostich, Fussible, Hiperboreal and Clorofila) performs live and releases albums only in the configurations of Bostich + Fussible and Hiperboreal + Clorofila, while still maintaining themselves under the banner of the Collective. Just in time for their ACL performance, Bostich + Fussible have released their brand new album, Bulevar 200, on Nacional Records. more ›

Photos courtesy Pooneh Ghana. more ›

We’ll admit it. We’re still not fully recovered from the mud-a-thon that was this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival. And the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, which has us licking our chops in anticipation, is still a few weeks away. Just when we thought it was safe to stay home for the weekend, a look at the line-up in store for us at The Mohawk has done away with any such feeble notions. Yes, the redoubtable Red River St. venue is home to three amazingly appealing nights of raucous rock ‘n’ roll all weekend. more ›

"Every year, over 500 acts from around the world perform for 70,000 music fans and industry delegates at 40 clubs and outdoor stages during the four-day, four-night festival." No, it's not a SXSW marketing blurb from the early days, it's a legitimate summation of NXNE, Canada's own little festival that could. Now in its fifteenth year and much like its older counterpart in Austin, NXNE offers live performances by a fair share of underground and established musicians, tons of educational opportunities via panels, and a healthy dose of film, albeit largely music related. more ›

Giving generally good music a label is no fun. It’s usually inaccurate, and it’s always limiting. When you encounter groups like Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir, the best thing to do is just say it’s an amalgamation of so many of the good aspects of several genres like rock, indie, blues even jazz. But, if you want the best description, you have got to check out the Austin group during South by. more ›

The ol’ Compound next to Scoot Inn on the east side is throwing a party, and you’re invited! How about that! Also invited: three awesome bands for your listening pleasure. There’s a cover of just three measly bucks, and it’s B.Y.O.B. If you’re looking to kick-start your weekend with good tunes, look no further, but make sure to save some of your hearing for Saturday night’s Black Lips/White Denim show, for sure. more ›

Monochrome is having a big night this Saturday, with the rebellious flower-punk of Atlanta’s Black Lips coming together with our own freewheelin’ sons of garage rock, White Denim. more ›

“Ever wanted to be a space ship pilot in an 8-bit Nintendo game?” With that subject title, the latest press release from local synth-pop outfit Built By Snow grabbed our attention well before we even ventured into deep space. The “rad dudes” rescue a princess in the brilliant video for “Underneath”, the first song on their debut EP Noise, eventually scoring cheeseburgers for their troubles. The video incorporates plenty of eye catching imagery and retro animation and the result is a hilarious conglomeration of pop culture influences. more ›

Same thing, another week. As you move on to the next line on the calendar, you're still out there trying to make a connection. Sadly you let most of them slip by without saying a word. We understand, no one wants to be overzealous and get shot down. If only you had some place to find a second chance. Oh yes, Missed Connections. If only you had someone to sort through and find the... more ›

The Black Lips impressed us immensely during their various SxSW performances this year. Their fusion of garage, punk, blues, and pyschedelia packaged in an extremely energetic live show was one of the more memorable moments of the festival. The Atlanta based act returns to Austin this Friday for multiple performances yet again. The Black Lips released their fifth album (and their first studio full-length for Vice Records), Good Bad Not Evil in 2007. The... more ›

We'd heard rumors of a big blogger bonanza taking place during SXSW Music, and today finally got a glimpse of their awesome setup: two days, three stages, and 32 bands divided between Club Deville and The Mohawk. But then again, what else would you expect from music bloggers like Chromewaves, Gorilla vs Bear, Largehearted Boy, My Old Kentucky Blog, rock insider, and You Ain't No Picasso? Friday Catfish Haven, Thunderbirds Are Now!, Apostle of... more ›