The Do Over (or the do over, if you like stylings of the lower case variety) is coming to Austin this Saturday! The thing about this particular party is that it’s an 8 hour event. AN EVENT. It will probably start out like a backyard barbeque with food and whatnot, hosted and DJ’d by various dudes and bros from Austin, L.A., and beyond, and then it morphs into a dance party as the stars emerge from the blues skies above. This roving party has hit Miami, Hawaii, Palm Springs, Portland (whaaaa?), and of course L.A., since it started back in 2005. more ›

Mel's throwing in an MJ birthday tribute block to boot! That's right, The King of Pop would have turned like, a hundred years old or whatever* at midnight this Saturday, so Mel will put on nothing but MJ tracks from the moment his birthday begins until the booze stops being legally sold! Chumohn! And as usual, 80s attire is encouraged! And that's not just Teen Wolf. Go eclectic! Like... Cylons (close enough to 80s, but only the original series). Snow Job. Howard the goddamn duck. Manimal. Snarf. Or the "Motown era" MJ. Rarities indeed! more ›

It is safe to say that Mel's many-years-running RTC has been the lighthouse for those who crave the I Want My MTV songs to sing along with, to sweat all over, and to go dancing like rabid apes on for a few hours. Congrats on #38 Mel! more ›

President Obama's been in office for exactly 100 days today, and his approval rating remains as high as ever at upwards of sixty percent. And, while he's still a ways off from solving that pesky economic crisis, bringing about world peace, or cloning unicorns, most folks find this a milestone worth celebrating. more ›

This past October, DJ Melodic suffered a cardiac arrest and was in a coma for 3 days. This tragedy has spurred many Austin DJs to come together and hold a benefit on Friday, January 23rd at Lambert's, for Melodic, who many hold as one of their most treasured influences (both in life, and in creativity). more ›

The Warlocks’ bring their psychedelic rock variety to Emo’s (Lounge) on Friday night in support of last year’s Heavy Deavy Skull Lover. (Buy it here.) Singer and guitarist Bobby Hecksher’s brainchild, the California act’s music has morphed within the (broad) confines of psychedelia throughout the course of its career, with inherent melody, plentiful reverb, and Hecksher’s distinct vocal contributions tying it all together expertly. The Warlocks’ line-up has adjusted over time as well and the band is no longer the eight-piece creature it once massacred live audiences as. Instead, the band currently pillages on with fewer members and has just recently wrapped up a tour with Austin’s The Black Angels. Tonight, New York outfit The Vandelles and local space-rockers The Boxing Lesson get things rolling at Emo’s Lounge as a part of 101X FM's Next Big Thing series. The rest of Emo’s stays busy this evening as well, with RX Bandits and Portugal The Man on the outside main stage and Marked Men and The Hex Dispensers inside. more ›

Though DJ Mel is primarily known for his legendary Rock the Casbah parties at the Parish, he's been bringing a little debauchery to the Beauty Bar with his SWOLL parties. SWOLL sets are focused on the higher end of the BPM range, mixing Miami Bass, Baltimore club and "anything fast". Last weekend's event including DJ Klever, Cosmo Baker looks like it was a really good time. more ›

Have there seriously been thirty of these things? You’re goddamned right there have been. From the days of way-back in smaller venues when Mel and his 80s jams held court with smaller, more intimate crowds, where the records made people say “Careless Whisper? Man, that’s my song right there. Totally got that twelve inch back at the crib. Let’s go to Hoek’s for some pizza and fear.” Nowadays the party’s (past dozen or so) all grow’d up and far drunker. Just like us! more ›

The tour, which launched in 2003, is a roving exhibit featuring work from a variety of contemporary artists from around the world. For four years the tour has evolved, and each year the mediums showcased in the exhibit have changed. For Installation 4, the theme, It's a Beautiful World, was interpreted by each artist and includes paintings, photography, sculpture and collage. more ›

The Beauty Bar hosts the fascinating Gil Mantera’s Party Dream this Saturday. Hailing from Ohio originally, the duo consists of Gil Mantera and Ultimate Donny, two brothers who combine thumping dance beats and traditional rock music to create an electric smorgasbord of synth-pop that will keep you on the dance floor all night long. The hodgepodge of beats and sounds is as exhilarating as it is intriguing; always entertaining, sometimes cheesy. The duo’s live show seems to be quite a spectacle and a DVD (Live Video Archive [Vol. 01]) showcasing all the glory is also available. Gil Mantera’s Party Dream self-released two records before 2005’s bloodsongs on Audio Eagle Records. more ›

Image by The Young Adorable, Daetron Vargas DJ Mel Guests In For Radio On, TonightThursday, November 15PLUSH (617 Red River St.)10pm-2am, 21+ only, Free[info] Sure, Mel’s best known for his longstanding hip hop gig at Nasty’s every Monday, and then there are his quarterly Rock Tha Casbah parties which we here at the Ist like to get whiskey bent and sweat buckets. But he’s got more tricks up his sleeves than that. And tonight he’ll... more ›

It’s almost Halloween weekend, and you’re getting the final details of your costume all worked out. It’s going to be face-slapping rad this year because your best friend said they were going to be decked out as Osama Bin Laden, which forced your hand in the Mummy vs Statue Of Liberty debate. Time to make your parents proud. You need somewhere to sport yourselves as a happy couple. You need an environment where profiling such... more ›

If you ask us, "bling obsession" has long been commercial hip-hop's most shameful component (though we're totally down with the Bling! barbershop quartet). At one time, conspicuous consumption by a historically poor culture might have seemed like powerful social commentary--but now that hip hop is the music industry's cash cow, doesn't a $100,000 necklace just seem completely ridiculous? And is obnoxious ornamentation really worth the cost--not only monetarily, but socially and politically? Next week, as... more ›

Hey, thanks Austin! We're thrilled that you chose us as your 2007 Best of Austin pick for Local "Fun" Web Site. Needless to say, it's a tremendous honor to be recognized two years in a row (last year, we tied with the Chronicle itself for Best Local Entertainment Web Site). We solemnly swear that we'll continue to entertain and, on those lucky occasions, enlighten you with the best in Austin culture and news. And, to... more ›

The Funniest Filmmaker in Austin contest returns to Cap City Comedy Club, with semifinals emceed by Bryan Gutmann, winner of the 2007 Funniest Person in Austin contest NYC's uber-scenesters The Misshapes hold court at Beauty Bar with Riot in Belgium and KidIndie Zilker Park hosts the very last installment of KGSR's Blues on the Green, featuring Marcia Ball & Band DJ Mel spins the killer 80s jams at the quarterly Rock the Casbah dance... 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 ›

Last week's Chronicle has an excellent article by Marc Savlov about a handful of local DJs that we've long adored: the kids of Car Stereo (Wars) and Learning Secrets, plus Prince Klassen, DJ Mel, and KidIndie. What's going on with the Austin DJ and club scene that, seemingly overnight, it's transformed into something akin to the Please Kill Me-era East Village NYC art-punk scene of three decades past? Reinvention, that's what. ["Planet Funk Meets Planet... more ›

DJ Mel packed the house at the Parish on New Year's Eve. more ›

Come 12:01am on Monday morning, downtown Austin will be a madhouse of drunken revelers and even drunker artsy types. You could opt to shell out plenty of dough to get into the swanky parties, but why bother? You probably won't remember it the next day. Below are our top choices for fun things to do this New Year's Eve, all with reasonably-priced cover charges and, more importantly, within stumbling distance of one another. Get there... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are now $25, and can be purchased at the gate. Learning Secrets perform in the Dance Party Tent at 4:30pm. -- The Editors Bonus: Download Ian's new winter mix, featuring Sebastian, The Rapture, Jurgen Paape, James Figurine and more. [mp3]... more ›

FRIDAY [1] music festival • The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest! With Spoon, Circle Jerks, Prefuse 73, Peaches, Black Angels, Lucero, Riverboat Gamblers, DJ Mel, Whitey, DJ Thomas Turner, Octopus Project, The Oranges Band, Dead Meadow, DJ Ceeplus and the House of Bad Knives, and more at Waterloo Park ($20, 1pm-10pm) afterparty • Fun Fun Fun Fest afterparty with Whitey, Ceeplus and the House of Bad Knives, Prince Klassen, and Ian Orth at Beauty... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Quintron and Miss Pussycat perform on the Austin Fuzion Stage/Tent at 6:50 p.m. -- The Editors How is the tour going for you so far? Great... even though we have broken our... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Octopus Project perform on the Indie stage at 3:30pm. -- The Editors What's your favorite thing about playing festivals? (Or do you prefer not to play them?) Festivals are rad! We very... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Dead Meadow perform on the Indie stage at 4:30pm. -- The Editors Any new recordings that we can expect soon in the form of a new full length? Steve Kille: We are... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Gamblers perform on the punk stage at 6:55. --The Editors How's Volcom treating you? Any Riverboat Gamblers skate decks in your future? Volcom has been great! They give us lots of socks,... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Circle Jerks perform on the Punk stage at 8:55pm. -- The Editors We’re excited to have you coming to Austin. You were here in March attending South By Southwest, right? I’ve been... more ›

Note: Today's the last day of our two week long ticket giveaway, and the festival's nearly a week away! This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts... more ›

This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts like Peaches, Spoon, Prefuse 73 and Circle Jerks. From November 8 to November 22, we're giving away a pair... more ›

This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts like Peaches, Spoon, Prefuse 73 and Circle Jerks. From November 8 to November 22, we're giving away a pair... more ›

This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts like Peaches, Spoon, Prefuse 73 and Circle Jerks. From November 8 to November 22, we're giving away a pair... more ›