When the band Frank Smith collectively pulled up their Boston stakes and landed in Austin back in 2007, the group fit right in. Their first local release, Heavy Handed Peace And Love, boasted a number of Texas sensibilities: loping rhythms, pedal steel guitar, and the twangy voice of lead singer Aaron Sinclair—in other words, not bad for Northeastern transplants. But since then, the group has looked to break out of that easy fit, and each subsequent record has remade the Frank Smith formula. They’ve hit a sweet spot with the upcoming release of their eighth album, Before You Were Born, which gets its own party tonight at the Mohawk. more ›

We’re used to hearing stories of musicians moving to our city limits to ply their trade, but Austin can lose a few, too. Such is the case of Monarchs, the soul-pop band led by Celeste Griffin. She’s packing up and moving the outfit to the bright lights of New York City. But before she leaves, you can say goodbye tonight at the Mohawk where Monarchs will be saying “au revoir, Austin” and hello to a fall mini-tour. more ›

Now that the ACL Fest fervor has subsided and The Eagles have come and gone, all eyes (and ears) turn to next month’s Fun Fun Fun Fest at Waterloo Park. Devo, Bad Religion, Slick Rick, MGMT, and Mastodon are just a few of the many, many esteemed acts you’ll be able to catch at the fifth installment of this burgeoning gathering. Check out the complete schedule on the Fun Fest site and learn more about mouth-watering lineup via our artist profiles. more ›

Frank Smith may not be a revolution to the established Austin alt. country scene, but they certainly remain a welcome addition. Their twangy, upbeat quality has the ability to dominate dancehalls, but the distinctive sound would perhaps be better undeterred by outbursts of their former style. more ›

Ready to roots-rock out? If so, please head down to the Continental Club tonight for a trio of folk and blues-based rock bands all based here in Austin. more ›

Free Week at the Mohawk is featuring both the outside and inside stages will be packed with an army of bands. From psychedelic rock to turntabalism, the Mohawk should have you covered, and less money at the door means more for booze! more ›

Ordinary in name but definitely not in game, Frank Smith could easily beat out the Joe Sixpacks of the world in any election if the agenda was bittersweet Americana ditties. Spearheaded by Aaron Sinclair, the Austin based outfit expertly assimilates introspective lyricism with pedal steel malaise, harmonica accents, and strains of the banjo to arrive at its brand of gritty alt-country. They might be fairly new to our town (having moved from Boston last year) but a look at their resume brings to light the fact that they have already released four albums, recorded a Daytrotter Session earlier this year, and received acclaims in the past from the Boston Phoenix and Boston’s Weekly Dig. Catch them early at Fun Fun Fun Fest -- they perform on Stage Two at 1:35 p.m. on Saturday, November 8th. Frank Smith will also open for The Redwalls at Club de Ville on October 31st. We caught up with Sinclair this weekend to quiz him on the band’s name, Juliana Hatfield, and the general awesomeness of Frank Smith. more ›

What’s the Deal: Frank Smith isn’t the name of a man, but the name of an alt. country/Indie band of six with some of the most compelling songwriting in Austin. Their recent move from Boston has brought the group to an ideal state for their layered Americana full of gruff and gravely vocals, pluck and twang. They were even nominated for “Outstanding Americana Act” for the 2007 Boston Music Awards. Most of the time their music is a slow-moving, meandering drive in the country or on the winding roads of Appalachia letting the banjo and steel guitar radiate outward in waves to bounce back and forth between the birch trees and pines. more ›

Zookeeper is the perfect nom d’arte for Chris Simpson. Technically Zookeeper is a band, a group effort, but Simpson is the one constant. He acts as frontman and ringleader for a pack of ragamuffin rockers associated with projects like Bishop Allen, Zykos, The Glass Family, 1986 and Sad Accordions. And Simpson knows how to write songs that capitalize on this unique amalgamation of talent. Zookeeper is more into performing than practicing, which makes each show a distinct and fantastic musical circus. more ›

The Secret Show is a collective of Austin musicians who are dedicated to bringing music to the most out-of-the-way and beautifully unusual corners of Austin. Their 4th performance in the series took place on Tuesday night, in a drainage ditch behind Ricky Guerrero park, with a wall covered in graffiti as a backdrop and a few dozen fans and friends in attendance. The shows are always performed with short notice, announced on the group's... more ›

Highlights from this week's IST List: Folk-pop crooner Page France brings the sparkling jingle-jangle of Page France and the Family Telephone to Emo's, alongside Bishop Allen, The Teeth, and Frank Smith Sidebar's turning three, and they're buying you a drink on the house to celebrate. Join them for Ruby's BBQ, DJ Supafly, and giveaways Alas, one of our favorite social butterflies is flying away to--where else?--New York City. Before he leaves, join Dave "KidIndie"... more ›