It ain’t the first time, nor will it be the last - it’s just the latest. Southern Culture On the Skids hits town for its semi-regular residency at the Continental Club, hogging up five nights of the club’s calendar with what the All Music Guide calls “retro-hillbilly white trash.” If you want to be square about it, Austin is a good market for the North Carolina trio’s good-natured pisstake on Southern stereotypes - thus when guitarist Rick Miller, bassist Mary Huff and drummer Dave Hartman hit town, they put up their feet and stay a while. The line between clever and stupid is notoriously thin, of course, but whether you find the group’s shtick wacky or wearying, you have to admire their easy mastery of the convergence point of rockabilly, C&W, surf and R&B - SCOTS have roots that run deeper than Hee Haw. You’ve got several chances for stage-cooked fried chicken, but it’s best to come early in the week - once you take a hit of this backwoods ‘shine, you’ll keep coming back for more. more ›

Jonathan Richman is taking residency in Austin for the next few days playing tonight and tomorrow at Hole in The Wall, then moving over to South Congress for early shows at The Continental Club Friday and Saturday. This gives you plenty of opportunities to catch the eclectic singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. For those of you who don’t know, Richman has been crafting music since the mid-1960’s, when he was couch surfing at The Velvet Underground’s manager’s NYC digs and trying to break into the music biz. more ›

2010 has been a year to remember for local favorites YellowFever: they removed the space in their name; band member Jennifer Moore was arrested in the Houston airport after forgetting about a kitchen knife in her bag; they dropped an EP; they went on tour; and oh yeah, three-plus years' worth of material was finally gathered onto their self-titled debut LP and released on Wild World, an imprint operated by the Vivian Girls. more ›

Tonight at the Continental Club Gallery, BookPeople hosts an event featuring crime writing, booze, and live music—a nice change of pace if you’re burnt out on those brightly-lit, alcohol-free readings. more ›

The legendary singer/songwriter and founder of the Modern Lovers will play the Cactus Cafe on January 25 and 26, then head to the Continental for a two-night stand on January 27 and 28. These nights kick off a full year of touring with new drummer Tommy Larkins. He'll be supporting his 2008 release Because Her Beauty Is Raw And Wild and putting finishing touches on an as-yet-unnamed 2010 full length. more ›

Lee Barber is not some new-to-the-scene hipster. He doesn’t have a schtick or a gimmick. And though he was once in the band The Barbers, which released two CDs, Thief and Rescue marks his debut as a solo artist. more ›

There's something about Moonlight Towers that begs kneejerk comparison to the OK Gos, Dexter Freebishes, and-dare we say-Ryan Adamses of this world, but there's something else, something much deeper and more subtle that turns side stage and winks in our direction, reminding us that there's a either Gram Parsons or Sugar playing on the phono back home. more ›

Daily heat indices are hitting 110+, the Austin electric grid is strained to its limits, and major cultural icons are dropping like flies. It must be time for Almost There Records to drop the newest edition of their annual local-focused Turn compilation series! It’s difficult to believe that it’s been five years since Ty Chandler founded Almost There, a local label that’s best known for the aforementioned compilation series, as well as tribute albums and hoot nights that feature local artists paying homage to legends like Paul McCartney, The Who, and Big Star. more ›

Photos courtesy Steve Hopson. more ›

The Lonesome Heroes have long been a champion of alt-country music in our city. The local band initiated the appropriately titled Alt Country Showcase a few years ago -- the series conveyed the timeless sounds of country and folk to Headhunters and Hole in the Wall patrons on a regular basis in the past. This Thursday, the Continental Club hosts the latest installment, featuring the music of Leo Rondeau and Clay Nightingale, along with a set by The Lonesome Heroes. more ›

L'il Cap'n Travis is one of those rare bands whose music transcends the trappings of abstractions such as "alt-country", "indie", or "Austin", eschewing any hint of pretension. We challenge you to bring to mind another band as effortlessly and legitimately rock as LCT, so quietly invincible against the corrosive influence of the scene beneath a down comforter of fundamentally kickass material, singing into the stale-beer smell through a sheepish grin. more ›

Emo’s, as always, powers our evenings with a good amount of solid shows this weekend. Zookeeper and Zykos bring heartfelt indie-rock to the outside stage on Friday while Ume and Haunting Oboe Music take on the inside crowd with belligerent, experimental rock n’ roll. more ›

Besides the wonderful events highlighted by the flyers above, there are a few other shows on New Year's Eve in Austin worth noting: more ›

The holiday season can slow things down in town but it cannot keep you from yearning for some good, live music and busting out your new, Santa provided wardrobe. If you have not had your mistletoe and Kringle fix, Emo’s steps in with a Christmas special (literally) on Friday. Christmas Special (featuring members of Voxtrot) provide Holiday cheer and Christmas carols with support from The Black and Red Leaves. more ›

Image provided by Soundcheck MagazineWhile attending the University of Texas at Austin, one faces a constant barrage of “the weekend starts on Thursday” type advertisements. Although largely for exposure of Thursday night drink specials at bars on 6th Street, the intrinsic appeal of that statement bleeds through on days like these. Kick off your weekend early (and gently) with Swedish singer-songwriter José González at The Parish or dance away at the Electric Six show at... more ›

Nearly a year after the release of Drive-By Truckers’ magnificent A Blessing And A Curse, Jason Isbell departed (in friendly fashion) from the band in April of this year. In July, he emerged with his first solo effort, Sirens Of The Ditch on New West Records. Recorded at the Fame Studios (graced in the past by the likes of Little Richard and Aretha Franklin) in Alabama, the album is chock-full of bluesy alt-country balanced... more ›

If you don't already know about Nick Lowe, it's time you found out. The quick and dirty: He's been around since the mid-'60s, playing a mixture of country, rock, blues, and pop. His first band Brinsley Schwarz is constantly noted as a major influence on '70s punk. He wrote "Cruel to Be Kind" and "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding," a song destined to become an Elvis Costello hit in 1979; in... more ›

If your Saturday night is still up in the air, may we direct your attention to the Continental Club where Li'l Cap'n Travis will be unveiling their new album, Twilight on Sometimes Island, out on Seattle's Glurp Records. Unlike the Waterloo in-store the band is doing tonight at 5 p.m., the Saturday show will also feature Brothers and Sisters and Gary Newcomb. Li'l Cap'n Travis will be serving up their homebrewed Americana starting at... more ›

It must be the week of a major holiday, because there won't be a lot of new beautiful stuff on the walls at Waterloo or End of an Ear this week. If you're anxious for Kelly Rowlands' latest (Ms. Kelly), you're breathing a big sigh of relief right now, but H-town is about as close to home as it gets July 3 (please correct us if we're wrong). The new Madlib effort, Yesterday's New... more ›

Thursday, June 21 comedy Christian Finnegan at Cap City Comedy Club music Emo’s 15th Anniversary Week with De La Soul, Word Association, Just Born, DJ Notion at Emo’s music Buddy Guy, The Greyhounds at Stubb’s music US Air Guitar Championships at The Parish Room music The Score at Beerland music Discovery School Fundraiser w/Gary Clark Jr., Johnny Moeller, Mike Barfield, Ephraim Owens & more at Continental Club music Doc Watson, Jack Lawrence, Richard Watson... more ›

The video for Spoon's "The Ghost of You Lingers" is floating around (even if it's probably unofficial) now, have a look: It's a blue, bleeding piano, y'all. Incidentally, we found it amusing to watch this guy read his poetry in one tab while the Spoon song plays in another ... be sure to start them at the same time, it's a sort of Wizard of Oz / The Wall accident that worked out smashingly well.... more ›

Though The Jungle Rockers hail from Ohio, they've managed to carve out a definitive spot in the Austin music scene somewhere between the familiar blue notes and twelve bar structures of Diddley-blues and the three chord thrash of bands like The Clash and The Ramones. Filling dance halls, garages, and The Continental Club with anxious fans ready to shimmy, shake and strut isn't tough for these guys -- and their devotion to rock 'n... more ›

THURSDAY [10] music • Learning Secrets with Ramesh (Voxtrot), Ben Craven + Co at Whisky Bar music • Rock of Ages Cover Show with Preserve the Sound (50s), Consider the Source (60s), Seaflea (70s), Promisebreakers (80s), Say Hello to the Angels (90s) at Emo's music • The Postmarks, Shuttle Debris, Raleign at Stubb's music • Future Clouds & Radar at Waterloo Records (5pm, Free) music • Moonhangers, Love Gone Cold, Salvia Family Band, Shot Gun... more ›

WEDNESDAY [9] books • Amy Guth presents Three Fallen Women at BookWoman (7:00pm) comedy • Jimmie Roulette at Cap City Comedy Club film • Texas Doc Tour: "Ten Under Ten 2007" at Alamo Downtown film • "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Golden Ticket Giveaway at Alamo Downtown film • Weird Wednesdays: "Cop Killers" at Alamo Downtown food • Angel Valley Organic Farm Farmstand at Asian American Cultural Center, 11713 Jollyville Road (10am-2pm) food... more ›

THURSDAY [3] film • Austin Film Festival screens "The Ballad of A.J Weberman" at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (7:30pm Free/$4 Members/General) art • West End Gallery Night at Participating Galleries (Until 8pm) art • Blanton Museum of Art Public Tour: An Introduction to Prints at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress (7-8pm) books • Book Release Party: Collecting the Imagination: The First Fifty Years of the Ransom Center at The Harry Ransom Center (7:00pm)... more ›

THURSDAY [19] benefit/music • Do512 and Direct Events co-host a benefit for Groundwork Music with Tammany Hall, The Boxing Lesson at La Zona Rosa (RSVP for Free Entry, $5 Cover Otherwise) books • "The Art of Travel and Travel Writing" with Lonely Planet writer Alex Hershey and Stephanie Elizondo Griest at Intellectual Property (5:00pm) books • The Texas Monthly Author Series presents Ian Rankin at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Movies in the Park: "Talladega... more ›

FRIDAY [13] fashion • RARE Magazine Spring Fling Fashion Show at The Belmont Hi-Lo (Moved due to rain) art/music • Take That!, a show of new images by Lance McMahan, plus music by Amanda Jones, Connie Ball, & Teddy and Marge at The Opera House (7-10pm) art • Hot and Cold: The Best of Canadian Contemporary Art at Art on 5th, 1501 W 5th (10am-6pm) art • Opening Reception for abstract paintings and encaustics... more ›

TUESDAY [3] awards •Texas Medal of Arts Awards Ceremony at The Paramount Theatre books •Martha Egan presents Clearing Customs at BookWoman (7:00pm) books •The Utter Reading Series with Darin Ciccotelli and Dominic Smith at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy •Paul Varghese at Cap City Comedy Club debates/booze •Dionysium at Alamo South Lamar film •AFS Essential Series screens "The Seventh Continent" at Alamo Downtown film •2007 Austin Air Guitar Championships at Alamo Downtown food •Central Market Cooking Class:... more ›

MONDAY [2] books •Peggy Collins presents Help Is Not a Four-Letter Word at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy •22nd Annual Funniest Person in Austin Contest at Cap City Comedy Club (Check site for lineup) film •Serge Gainsbourg Birthday Feast at Alamo Downtown film •"El Duce Vita" with The Mentors at Alamo Downtown food •Central Market Cooking Class: Midnight in the Garden of Food and Evil at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($40, 6:30-9pm) music... more ›

FRIDAY [30] music • The Skeletons at South Austin Speedshop (7pm) fashion/music • Couture de Amore with fashions by Loves, Mariessa; Stiletto Gold; Sea and Enemies; Amy Kline (Jewelry), and Clap!Clap!, Golden Bear, Haunting Oboe Music, The Valentines at The Parish Room ($10) music • Video/CD release for "The Projeckt" at Latitude 30 music • Bluebonnet Blues Festival, benefitting Historic Main Street Association of Marble Falls, at Marble Falls music • 3rd Annual Global... more ›