Billing themselves as an "indie-vaudeville-conceptual-art-rock-slideshow" band, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players are a quirky -- if not downright hilarious -- mom, pop, and daughter trio who create and perform songs about random slides found at garage sales, vintage shops, estate sales, and other places where vintage archival flotsam might be procured. Frontman, guitarist, pianist, and father Jason Trachtenburg leads mother Tina Piña (slide projectionist, backup singer) and 12-year-old daughter Rachel (drums, vocals) through intricate......

So, SXSW Film begins tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. Austinist realizes that we just freaked you out by saying so. Don't worry, though: we watched about 50 previews for the film festival so that you wouldn't have to. Having emerged a little bleary-eyed, we suggest the following less-heralded films as picks worthy of your time and attention: A/K/A Tommy Chong: Who's in it? Tommy Chong, Cheech Marin, Bill Maher, Jay Leno What's it about? Tommy Chong......

It's just been announced that one of our favorite people is coming to SXSW Film next month. No, not you, Charlize Theron, but we do lurve you quite a bit, as well. We're talking about David Cross. On March 12, Cross will do a book signing and participate in a Q&A with other members of the documentary "Fired!" The aforementioned Theron will also be in attendance, participating as part of the panel "The Documentary Beat"......

As you are probably aware, Longhorn football great and friend of Austinist Major Applewhite recently moved back to Texas to take over as the Offensive Coordinator for the Rice University Owls. He has been busting his tail recruiting and helping to put in place a new offense that coaches hope will make Rice a very competitive team in the upcoming years. With national signing day behind him, Major was able to take some time out......

UPDATE: Tim Goodman, at the San Francisco Chronicle says,"The funniest show on television is all but dead." Come on. How could a show with a character named "Bob Loblaw" (played by the irrepressible Scott Baio) die? ! We were walking on clouds a few months ago, when Fox announced it was renewing "Arrested Development," the funniest show since...ever. Last season, AD was scheduled on Sundays, hoping to net some of the Simpsons audience, but......

For those of you who have been waiting with bated breath to see if Arrested Development has been re-newed, wait no longer. Not only has the brilliant show been re-newed but the word is that it has been picked up for TWO, yes TWO more seasons! Earlier this year, fans of the show were given a jolt when Fox announced that they were cutting the second season of AD down to just 18 episodes......