Though the foundation forge of heavy metal music may seem an unlikely source of such order, the story told by Anvil! The Story of Anvil is one of nearly perfect symmetry. The documentary (by many accounts one of the best documentaries of 2008 but, if you ask us, a contender for best film that year, period) opens with a young, explosive band on the verge of stardom taking the stage in Japan in 1984. It closes with a weathered, explosive band on the verge of stardom taking the stage in Japan in 2008. Leading that band--Anvil--for the past 28 years is one of the founders of thrash metal, Steve “Lips” Kudlow. His pact with lifelong friend and blood brother Robb Reiner--made at age 14--to rock together forever, merges with the music so perfectly that audiences are unable to tell where the brotherhood ends and the songs begin. And this is, Lips confirms, the entire fucking point. Anvil’s commercial success after nearly three decades was propelled by the film, fittingly directed by a former roadie, Sascha Gervasi. What he managed to capture in documentary form is not the “real life ‘Spinal Tap’” that Anvil! has been labeled, however fun it is to watch. Anvil! may contain some great footage of Stonehenge, but it’s closer in scope to Aronofsky’s The Wrestler: both deal primarily with questions of retaining humanity in the struggle to stay a commodity. We were lucky enough to speak with Lips himself about how the documentary changed Anvil and how metal is changing the way we listen to music: more ›

SXSW Music kicks off on Wednesday the 12th, as always with the Annual Austin Music Awards at Austin Music Hall, but it has become clear over the last few years that the music really starts the night before. Just thinking back to last year, we remember walking up and down Red River, watching bands like Golden Bear, White Denim and Broken Teeth at venues such as Beauty Bar, Emo’s and Red 7, and congratulating ourselves for getting started early. more ›

Image courtesy of Nacional RecordsThe first annual Ground Zero Texas fest kicks off their weekend schedule of events on Thursday, with the opening ceremony at Sound On Sound Records at 6 p.m. (featuring a performance by the official GZT mascot NOBUNNY), followed by opening night action at Beerland with music from The Spits, The Wax Museums, and The Hibachi Stranglers. Denton’s The Reds will also re-unite and rock this special evening. The plethora of local... more ›

The UTTER Reading Series presents two young, local writers who are finding national success and recognition. Poet D. Antwan Stewart will present selections from his two books, The Terribly Beautiful (2006) and Sotto Voce (forthcoming) . Fiction writer Brian Hart, the winner of the first-ever Keene Prize for Literature, may read from his forthcoming and already-awarded novel, The Dog With the Broken Teeth, the One That Fetches Rocks. Stewart has an MFA from the Michener... more ›

FRIDAY [15] juneteenth/parade • Alvin Patterson Battle of the Bands and Drumline Competition at Congress Avenue (2pm) books • Lama Surya Das presents Buddha is as Buddha Does at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Billy D Washington with Doug Mellard at Cap City Comedy Club comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Constellation, a site-specific dance work from Sally Jacques at Pickle & Thornberry Federal Courthouses (9pm) dance... more ›

Emo’s has built a reputation as one of the city’s most identifiable and prolific venues over the last decade or so. In fact, it has been fifteen years since the infamous live music spot opened its doors. This weekend, the club kicks off a celebration with events spanning eight hot and sweaty summer evenings. In between opening night festivities featuring The Riverboat Gamblers and 2nd weekend reunions like Glorium comes a Saturday night line-up fit... more ›

THURSDAY [14] dance • Constellation, a site-specific dance work from Sally Jacques at Pickle & Thornberry Federal Courthouses (9pm) art • Guest Tour with Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress (Thursdays are always free at the Blanton,12:30-1:30pm) art • Opening reception for "Just Been Fired," the mostly at Gallery Lombardi (7-10pm) art and books • Blanton Book Club at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress 6-7:30pm) books • Reginald... more ›

MONDAY [11] film • Patton Oswalt live with "Ratatouille" sneak preview at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "Harry Nilsson's Birthday Party" at Alamo Downtown food • Central Market Cooking School Class: Sushi 101 with Chef Timothy Thomas at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($70, 6:30-9:30pm) music • Maserati, My Education, Lazar Wolf at Emo's music • Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Cheer Accident, Oh, Beast at Emo's music • Manu Chao at Stubb's... more ›

It's entirely possible that you aren't at all interested in wandering around Zilker dehydrated and lost all weekend, but there's no reason to worry: there are plenty of things to do and shows to see this weekend that have nothing to do with wristbands or sunscreen. Most notable is the Filter Party at Beauty Bar featuring The Presets, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness and The Secret Machines. In addition to the MSTRKRFT... more ›