While Dale Watson's The Truckin' Sessions Vol. 2 most immediately follows last year's Help Your Lord, the album comes more significantly as a follow up to an album over a decade old 1998's critically acclaimed The Truckin' Sessions. Like that earlier release, The Truckin' Sessions Vol. 2 spins tales of truck driving men to music so two-step ready that the album might as well come with a six-pack of longnecks. Watson's brand of Americana is further progeny of the swing-inspired regional music most readily identified with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, but which also gave us the redneck rockers of Austin's cosmic cowboy past. Watson has placed himself clearly in that tradition, and this most recent release owes a direct debt to the late Waylon Jennings. more ›

Scottish (and mawkish) pop outfit Camera Obscura have released their fourth full-length on 4AD, and singer/songwriter Tracyanne Campbell is as love-struck and befuddled as ever. After three years of silence, My Maudlin Career revives the band's tortured but idyllic approach, carrying on the tradition most notably perfected by The Smiths, Galaxy 500 and of course Belle & Sebastien. Flourished with (yep) maudlin scenes (heartthrob French sailors on a moonlit sea anyone?), baroque reveries and Shakespearean plot lines, it's a wonder bands like the Decemberists can still get a room in the Antiquarian Hotel. more ›

Each year, The Junior League of Austin, Jack Brown Cleaners, KASE 101, and KVUE partner to bring the community together to ensure that the children of Central Texas stay warm. This year's Butter Ball to benefit Coats for Kids will happen at the Belmont, and will feature a performance by Dale Watson and his Lone Stars. 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 ›

In an unusual turn of events, Denton's Midlake were heralded as the next big thing in the UK before anyone had really ever heard of them here in Texas. Signed to The Cocteau Twins' label Bella Union (which is also home to Explosions In The Sky), Midlake toured Europe behind lo-fi debut album Bamnan and Slivercork before returning home to create a defining work. They finally received some domestic notice with the release of... 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 ›

TUESDAY [27] film •AFS Essential Series "Climates" at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar books •Laura Van Prooyen presents Inblot and Altar at BookWoman (7:00pm) books •Robert Utley presents Lone Star Lawmen at BookPeople (7:00pm) film •"8-Bit": a film about art & video games at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film •"Where's the Beef?" best commercials of the 80s at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown music •Yellow Fever, Basic, Popup at Emo's music •O'2L at Stubb's music •Dale Watson at... more ›

MONDAY [26] film • "The Grand Duel" Spaghetti Western Feast at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • "The Cool Ones" at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown food • Merry Edwards Wine Dinner at Hudson's on the Bend, 3500 RM 620 N ($160, 7:30pm) music • Alpha Rev at Waterloo Records (5pm, Free) music • A&D=Rock Night at Beauty Bar... more ›

Cortney Tidwell may be from Nashville, but her music seems to be the product of an entirely different world. Her debut album, Don't Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up, makes you struggle to keep up with comparisons and references to other bands you might admire (our list included Hope Sandoval, Mogwai, St. Etienne, and Bjork.) This is all quite wonderful, because the parts all meld into a style that is dreamy, catchy, and quietly... more ›

MONDAY [8] film • Celebrate Elvis' Birthday with Viva Las Vegas at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film • Holy Mountain at Austin Java (9pm, Free) film • Music Monday: Lost Vegas: The Lounge Era at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) music • The Onlys, Ghost of the Russian Empire, Midgetmen at Emo's music • Elvis Birthday Tribute with Dale Watson, Ray Benson, Wayne Hancock, Derailers, Carolyn Wonderland, and lots more at Continental Club... more ›

[music] Asleep at the Wheel at Antone’s (8pm, $10) link [music] Paris ‘49 at Continental Club (6:30pm) link [music] Dale Watson at Continental Club (10pm, $6) link [music] Michael Mordecai’s Jazz Jam at Elephant Room (9:30pm, Free) link [music] The Silence Kills, Here Comes Trouble, Iron Age and Righteous Jams at Emo’s (10:00pm) link [music] Brilliant Red Lights, Cocker Spaniels and The Dimes at Flamingo Cantina (9:00pm, $7) link [music] Cheryl Bliss at Flipnotics (10:00pm)... more ›

MONDAY [24] [film] The Pop Films of Peter Whitehead Series at Alamo Downtown (7pm) LINK [film] The Pink Panther at Paramount Theatre (7pm) LINK [film] Nightwatch at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) LINK [film] Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind at Austin Java (8pm, Free) LINK [film] KOOP Monthly Benefit Screening: Granito de Arena at Monkeywrench Books (8pm, $5) LINK [film] The Big Lebowski at Café Mundi (8:30pm, Free) LINK [film] The Party at Paramount Theatre... more ›

MONDAY [17] [books] Michael Putegnat presents Laguna at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Riverboat Gamblers, Only Crime, Complete Control, Los Dryheavers at Emo's (link) [music] English Beat at Stubb's (link) [music] The return of Dale Watson & his Lone Stars at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [music] Porter Davis at Cactus Cafe (link) [travel] Austin Travel Circle Meeting at Austin International Youth Hostel (Free, 7pm) (link) [film] Peter Whitehead's Daddy at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Hail,... more ›

Perennial Continental Club staple Dale Watson is calling it quits after this month. According to an interview with the Chronicle's Darcie Stevens, he'll be moving in January to Baltimore (which is almost as exciting at Austin, if you have a particularly vivid imagination) to be with his daughters. We're sure he'll be back eventually, but here are his remaining show dates for the year: Tonight, December 23rd: Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke Sunday,... more ›

M O N D A Y [ 7 ] TV · Screenings of episodes from Twin Peaks and Carnivale, with free popcorn! At Beerland (Free, 7pm) music · Pre-Election Day Party at Stubb's, with the Blues Crawlers, Daniel Kang, Booher/Davis, Pompeii and Roma 79 (10pm) music · Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Roberts at Threadgills (Free, 8pm) film · "The T.A.M.I. Show", documenting the 1964 Teenage Awards Music International - footage includes The Rolling Stones, The... more ›

Tonight, the Sierra Club is holding a fundraiser at Antone's to "save the seashore." That would be the Padre Island seashore. Folks, PI isn't just for Spring Breakers!: Padre Island National Seashore off the Texas coast is the world's longest undeveloped barrier island, a home to several endangered species, and a popular destination for millions of beach lovers. Unfortunately, BNP Petroleum is threatening this paradise with an aggressive gas-drilling operation. Sierra Club is hosting... more ›

The always-funky Grupo Fantasma join in the fun at Threadgill’s Beer Garden series this Sunday afternoon. The boys will start jamming at 4pm. But doors open at 1:30PM, as The Flying Club will open at 2PM. If you really want to get in a full day of listening at the former Armadillo World Headquarters, get there at 11AM for Sunday Gospel Brunch and music by Gospelaries and Dale Watson. Tickets for Grupo are $10... more ›