In a perfect world, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah would be just another talented and interesting indie band making a go of this whole music thing. But in this world, they, and their lead singer Alec Ounsworth, may be the official poster children for 1.) self releasing records in the internet era to massive success, and 2.) the hype and backlash cycle that can crush a band’s mojo just as surely as it built it up. Now, three records into their career and all-the-wiser, CYHSY are quite likely better than ever, and their new album Hysterical is a testament to surviving the internet shitstorm, and to being smarter for it. With all this in mind, we decided to chat up Alec at Fun Fun Fun Fest to talk about hats, the Pitchfork thing, and making the art you’ve got to make. more ›

Somehow I overlooked the first couple of years of Fx3 as a transplant to Austin still elated and overwhelmed by the plethora of accessible live music available on the regular. But in 2009, I scored a cozy introduction manning a booth at the fest for a few hours one day in exchange for a weekend wristband. Why not, right? I had no idea what to expect and found myself pleasantly surprised by the laid back scene - not too crowded, manageable lines for beer/food, and a good mix of fans. I have since happily resigned any interest I once had in attending ACL for a yearly fling with Fun Fun Fun. And while I adore the excitement and unparalleled buzz SXSW generates, the intimacy of Fx3 has made it my favorite of Austin’s fests. more ›

Austinist is happy to announce this year's line-up for the Fun Fun Fun Festival happening at Waterloo Park on November 8 & 9. Once again, we're proud media sponsors, and will be bringing you all the news and coverage you'll need to be prepared for two incredibly packed days of music. more ›

Andrew Bird (5:30pm): After this set, one Austinist staffer remarked: "This guy just beamed in from planet music." And with a stage full of spinning gramophones, violins, finger cymbals, and glockenspiels, it was hard to dispute that quip. Bird took the stage slightly late due to a tardy finish by Blue October, which had the crowd snarling over their shoulders at the lengthy drum and guitar codas coming off the main stage. But when... more ›

California's Cold War Kids have been the object of both adulation and derision since their inception in 2004. The band's songs traffic in third-person tales of downhearted and desperate characters, and their music frames the stories rather than overpowering them. After playing SXSW in March, Cold War Kids return to town for both a spot on the ACL Festival bill this Saturday and an aftershow at Stubb's on Sunday evening. Austinist traded emails with... more ›

Followers of the indie-rock scene may be a little shocked to find out that it has only been two years since Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's debut demos stormed across the blogosphere. The decidedly scruffy demos were a revelation, full of Talking Heads-like vocals, soaring minimal guitar lines, and (perhaps most importantly) a very danceable rhythm section that sounded quite different to the many Interpol-derivatives of the day. Having seen the then-unknown CHYSY win... more ›

The second album curse has felled bands both big (The Killers) and small (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) in recent months. The short attention span and indie band hype created by the music blogger community only add to the pressure of the big follow-up. It is a relief, then, to report that Bloc Party emerge relatively unscathed on A Weekend In The City, their follow-up to 2005's wonderful Silent Alarm. A wider (and louder) sonic palate and reach has emerged from the band, as they attempt to grow yet retain what we enjoyed about them to begin with. more ›

Please excuse the abbreviated NRT this week: we'll see you next week with a biggie size. Naturally, the indie world is buzzing with talk about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!'s latest, Some Loud Thunder, and all we can think of is how those poor kids have a lose-lose situation on their hands. They enjoyed a couple years worth of undeniable popularity and interest surrounding an album that, as it was sold by the thousands... more ›

As you sit in the snow, bored to tears with your second snow day, you may again wonder if the folks at SXSW have released their huge band list so that all good indie-yuppies have something to do later this week at work besides listening to that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah leak. Well, not so much. But thanks to the good people at Done Waiting and BrooklynVegan, some MySpace confirmations, a big stack... more ›

Ohio's The Black Keys have been practicing their minimalist-blues ethos for over five years now, and have carved their own niche in indie rock. The band combines the two-man band approach of The White Stripes, riffage worthy of Jimmy Page, and blues stomps patterned after Howlin' Wolf and vintage Chess artists. The trick here is that it comes off in a way that somehow appeals to fans of both Pavement and Stevie Ray Vaughan,... more ›

Hey, did you hear that Google bought YouTube? No? Well, then go buy some records. Damien Jurado And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (Secretly Canadian) October's releases seem to be in touch with the temperature drop (however small) and shift of mood. Damien Jurado's latest offering is the perfect example: dark, sparing treatments on the decline of romance in the Midwest, a disagreement between friends in the back of a pickup truck, and... 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 ›

We'll get the bad news out of the way first: Junior Boys, Hot Chip, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have all slighted Austin on their fall tour schedules. So if you were hoping for one of these shows, start saving for a JetBlue flight. Thankfully, almost every other indie-Pitchfork-college rock band known to man will touch down in our town between now and Thanksgiving. There were a flurry of new show announcements over... more ›

Austinist is recruiting! We're looking for 5 or 6 proficient, dedicated writers. If you're interested in covering: Music Art Film Local News Politics Fashion Food Interviews with Austinites Then we'd like to talk to you. To get a sense of what joining our staff would entail, we've lifted this from our IST brothers and sisters over at Shanghaiist: Ask yourself What would I like to write about? If you're a good writer with style and... more ›

After SXSW trashes our fair town, Coachella layers the California desert with dusty beer cans, and Wall of Sound leaves Fort Worth a city ... well, much the same, we're probably heading over to Sasquatch, the annual Pacific Northwest festival at Washingon State's scenic Gorge Amphitheatre. Scheduled to perform during the three-day Memorial Weekend blitz are Austinites Trail of Dead and Iron & Wine, plus a salivatory stew of sweet, sweet bands: FRIDAY, MAY 26... more ›

Austin City Limits is pretty nifty, we'll admit. But let's face it: the lineup for Coachella, ACL's glammed-up West Coast sibling in the desiccated wastelands near Joshua Tree, has all but reigned supreme these last few years. And this year, they're at it again; earlier this week they announced the full roster for the two-day festival, to be headlined this year by Depeche Mode (huzzah!) and ... Tool (huh?). The entire lineup: Saturday, April... more ›

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)... more ›

Pitchfork today posted the initial lineup of confirmed SXSW XX artists, and the roster is ... well, see for yourself: The Adored, Annie, Arctic Monkeys, Belle and Sebastian, The BellRays, Be Your Own Pet, Blockhead, The Boy Least Likely To, The Brokedown, Calexico, Neko Case, Cat Power, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clor, Jason Collett, The Cribs, Cuff the Duke, Jamie Cullum, Dashboard Confessional, Death In Vegas, Death Vessel, Dengue Fever, Destroyer, Die! Die!... more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [art] Coy Poage and William K. Stidham Art Exhibit benefiting the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Austin, 7pm-10pm @ Barocca Studios - $15 donation [music] Mae Shi @ Elysium [film] New Films! @ Your Local Theaters [music] Andy Rourke of The Smiths @ The Parish [music] Loxsly, 8pm @ Red Fez [music] AM Syndicate with Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Cue and Dear Nora, 8pm @ Beerland [books] Douglas... more ›

Before their show at the Parish Room last week, Austinist sat down for a brief chat with the boys of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - one of the hottest bands out of the East Coast this year. Over drinks at the Jazz Kitchen downstairs, the guys - Alec Ounsworth, Lee Sargent, Robbie Guertin, Tyler Sargent, and Sean Greenhalgh - were more than happy to answer the questions that you, our readers, suggested beforehand.... more ›

Judging from the rate at which tonight's show at Parish - featuring The National and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - sold out, we're pretty sure at least some of you guys dig these bands. We'll be interviewing CYHSY later this afternoon, and we'd like for you, our dear readers, to ask the guys whatever you want! more ›

A quick tip for those of you looking to get tickets for tomorrow night's sold out show at the Parish Room, featuring The National and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: End of an Ear has a few left! They're open until 9pm tonight, and from 11-9 tomorrow. more ›

M O N D A Y [ 1 0 ] music · Devendra Banhart & Hairy Fairy with Bunny Brains at Emo's music · Audio Inversions Inaugural Concert at the AMoA Downtown ($7/$10, 8pm) music · The Monday Night Music Project happens on the second Monday of each month at Hyde Park Theatre. Tonight, David Hamburger and Bret Boyer perform. ($10, 7:30pm) books · The Texas Month Book Club, hosted by columnist Mike Shea, talks... more ›