Deer Tick, or John McCauley, has fast made name for himself with a series of self-released records as well as 2007’s War Elephant on Jana Hunter’s Feow! Records. McCauley was raised in Providence, Rhode Island where he decided on a career in music at an early age, recording and even touring by the time he was in high school. McCauley’s voice demands attention, his songwriting shines through, and his work falls somewhere between Bright Eyes and Wilco. And he turned 21 last year. We caught up with McCauley recently to understand what exactly makes Deer Tick tick....

The Broken West play the sort of power pop you'll want as background for a trip to the beach, especially if you're into the Kinks and enjoy wearing vintage Adidas short shorts. The L.A.-based band released their first album earlier this year, and the sound is bright and dense, filled up with guitar and piano draped with harmonized vocals that seem to be looking toward George Harrison's work. The Broken West Los Angeles, CA......

Stay tuned this week for full-length review of the latest New Pornographers and Rilo Kiley albums. Caribou Andorra (Merge) Dan Snaith's project formerly known as Manitoba is the realization of a degree in mathematics, numerous electronic gadgets and a nothing if not agile companionship between the past and the present. Though Andorra is the product of Snaith's deft handling of quite modern equipment, the feeling of listening is more nostalgic than expectant. "Melody Day,"......

Wiretree Bouldin Austin's Kevin Peroni has been writing songs under the moniker of Wiretree since 2005, when he released his first EP. The latest album, Bouldin, is a nine song testament to American chords, everything that was good about real folk music, bridging the gap between The La's and late '70s George Harrison with ease. Peroni's vocals are at times extremely Elliott Smith-ish, but that's not a bad thing. The songs are reminiscent of......

Looking for the perfect person to share your Texas summer with? Share a knowing glance with that person on the greenbelt this weekend? Wave at a cute guy in another boat on the lake? Stare longingly at a super cute emo chick at the Mohawk? If only there was a way to track that person down after you chickened out and never said hello. Oh yeah, there's the interweb. Or just check it out......

Bill Callahan Woke on a Whaleheart (Drag City) "Well, I could tell you about the river, or we could just get in" seems to typify Bill Callahan's mood throughout his official solo debut, Woke on a Whaleheart. The album's first track, "From the Rivers to the Ocean", introduces us to Callahan's new take on an old vibe by showcasing little pieces of everything he'll bring to full bloom as the album unfolds. As Callahan......

Tonight, in celebration of what would have been George Harrison's 64th birthday, Alamo Music Mondays presents Wonderwall, a trippy 1968 drama whose soundtrack became Harrison's first "solo" album and the first album ever to be released on Apple Records. The film, which stars Jack MacGowran, Irene Handl, Richard Wattis, Iain Quarrier and Jane Birkin (whose suggestive moaning in an infamous 1968 duet with Serge Gainsbourg got the song banned in several European countries), tells the......

FIRST THURSDAY [1] music • Tre Orsi (members of Shearwater, South San Gabriel, Little Grizzly), The Paper Chase, Red X Red M, at Emo's music/benefit • ME! Live presents the Emerging Artist Series Debut with Meagan Tubb band, Tacks, the Boy Disaster and the Channel at Antone’s (7pm, $5) music • Yonder Mountain String Band at La Zona Rosa music • Onion Creek Crawdaddies at Waterloo Records (5pm, Free) music • Horse + Donkey,......

Welcome back kiddos, the year is kicking off with a shotgun bang. Head over to Waterloo or End of an Ear and ask for these albums: as far as we can tell, it's hard to go wrong this week. The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop) Well, they're definitely stretching, and they're definitely getting more and more familiar with the studio, as "Phantom Limb" demonstrates: James Mercer is still having trouble falling asleep,......

TUESDAY [16] Call ahead as any of these events may be canceled later today. books • Jason Dorsey presents My Reality Check Bounced at BookPeople (7:00pm) Postponed film • Abduction: the Megumi Yokota Story at Alamo Downtown film • The Glamorous Life of Sachiko Hanai at Alamo Downtown film • AFS Essential's Buffalo Boy at Alamo South Lamar music • Doug Stanhope at Antone's music • Third Annual George Harrison Tribute at Cactus Café......

The real IST List will return later this week -- we promise! In the meantime, tonight: [art] Women and Their Work (1710 Lavaca St) presents "Show & Tell: A Digital Slide Jam" from 7-9pm. Six artists discuss their various works. [music] Riverboat Gamblers, The Arm and Crash Gallery at Emo's [film] Werner Herzog's "Wheel of Time" at the Drafthouse Downtown (9:45 pm) [film] "The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart" at the Drafthouse Downtown (7pm)......