All roads seem to lead to Psychic TV—at least all of the musical ones here in Austin. If there was any band that has an influence on the art rock scene here in the ATX it is no doubt PTV. While the musical similarities might not necessarily be apparent, the ideas and ethos of PTV can be heard from the exploratory programming of Church of the Friendly Ghost to the fuck you punk of Beerland. Their footprint is subtle, but ubiquitous. more ›

Last year, Matador Records co-chief Gerard Cosloy curated the Austin rock and punk compilation Casual Victim Pile, bringing to vinyl and digital formats music that, for the most part, you could only experience on booze-filled nights on Red River (OK, at Beerland). Though he stated at the time that the document was "very arbitrary" and in no way a definitive portrait of any "scene," it did bring heightened local exposure to a strain of blistering, D.I.Y.-style rock. Some of the bands on the first comp (Follow That Bird, Harlem, Woven Bones) now seem like indispensable parts of the Austin music scene writ large; other bands have broken up, and still more are punching holes in the walls of Beerland to replace the patched-over ones they punched in last year. Most of all, the first CVP is just fun to listen to. It's good to know these bands. more ›

At 18, Wimberley native Sarah Jarosz is already a veteran of the modern bluegrass and Americana scenes. She’s been riding the festival circuit since the age of 12, and listening to her debut album Song Up In Her Head, you get the sense that Jarosz is well on her way to developing into a serious force as a songwriter and performer. A testament to this is that, while somewhat uncommon for such a young artist, the record is comprised of 11 strong original songs that sit comfortably beside impeccably performed covers of tunes by Tom Waits and Colin Meloy. more ›

No matter how you celebrate the Winter season, artistic inspiration helps enliven the holiday spirit. If last month’s East Austin Studio Tour stirred your hunger for local art, Gallery Lombardi’s Xmas Expo will make your palette sing. Not only will the show feature over 50 local artists, including EAST visionaries Annie Simpson and Morgan Sorne, but live music will accompany your visuals, promising a full multisensory experience. more ›

This quintet of old-school Austin reprobates have been churning out grungy skronk for three years now. Given the trashy, just-on-the-cusp-of-disintegrating volatility of their recorded output, they deserve credit just for staying together for as long as they have, but like any quality band these boys have some good chemistry and a great name, and they apparently love to drink. more ›