Nostalgia can pervade in a number of ways. There’s the undeniable scent of objects from the past that can take us down memory lane in a flash, and of course, straightforward outlets such as a photograph or a home video can easily transport us back to a romanticized time and place. Music works pretty well too. Listening to a record you enjoyed repeatedly as a child can help you reminisce endlessly. And then there are bands that just bleed a certain era. Prescott Curlywolf would fall into this final category -- you barely get through a handful of PC’s gritty powerpop ditties before you pine for Austin in the mid to late 90’s. more ›

With four albums under its belt, veteran Austin outfit Grand Champeen continues to chug away, churning out accessible melodies and catchy hooks aplenty via their Texas tinted powerpop tunes. Rolling Stone gave the band’s third record, The One That Brought You, three stars and Grand Champeen’s fourth full-length was released last year on In Music We Trust Records. The band formed in the late 90’s and the current line-up was consolidated in March of 2000. more ›

The iconic Grant Hart, of well-earned Hüsker Dü fame, headlines for Grand Champeen and The Service Industry tonight inside the Mohawk. Hüsker Dü, for those of you who don't remember, or are merely too young to have been a part of their revolution, were one of the most influential hardcore punk bands in history. Not only were they one of the first underground successes to sign to a major label, but they were the first group to truly weave melody into the greater punkrock mentality. Basically, without their influence, we wouldn't have had bands like the Pixies, Green Day, and some little garage outfit called Nirvana. And Grant Hart, my friends, was Hüsker Dü's drummer and part-time songwriter. more ›

San Diego’s Grand Ole Party joins a quality bill of local acts this Saturday at Emo’s Lounge. The band is fresh off a jaunt with Vampire Weekend, having toured with Rilo Kiley prior to that. Produced by Rilo Kiley’s Blake Sennett, the trio’s debut record Humanimals (no connection to Manimal) showcases singer/drummer Kristin Gundrer’s powerful vocal chops that pace Grand Ole Party’s raw garage rock. The album has been available through iTunes this year and a more traditional release on DH Records is expected in early 2008. more ›

Image from MySpace Dinosaur Jr, Awesome Color, Grand ChampeenFriday December 7Emos (603 Red River St)Doors at 9, programme at 10[info] | [tickets]There are three kinds of Dinosaur Jr fan: the 80s scenesters with a Deep Wound cassette and fond memories of J Mascis & Co doing sloppy Peter Frampton covers at the Elks Lodge; children of the '90s who thought "Feel The Pain" was probably a Foo Fighters song; and kids who read Pitchfork often... more ›

Image courtesy of Nacional RecordsThe first annual Ground Zero Texas fest kicks off their weekend schedule of events on Thursday, with the opening ceremony at Sound On Sound Records at 6 p.m. (featuring a performance by the official GZT mascot NOBUNNY), followed by opening night action at Beerland with music from The Spits, The Wax Museums, and The Hibachi Stranglers. Denton’s The Reds will also re-unite and rock this special evening. The plethora of local... more ›

Best known as the frontman of alt-country group Richmond Fontaine, Willy Vlautin is now also an author. His debut novel, The Motel Life, takes the same bleak, resigned-to-fate look on life that fuels his music. The story centers around the relationship of brothers Frank and Jerry Lee, who flee town after one of them accidentally kills a boy in a drunken hit-and-run accident. They find a strange kind of freedom in their ensuing travels; it's... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note It's often said that radio people don't really get a vacation. It's true, peeps. While I'm wrapping up as much as I can in the hopes of actually enjoying some the extended Labor Day weekend, the music doesn't stop on The Laurie Show on KUT. No sir, no ma'm. There are many... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note Hello again, music lover! The Laurie Show on KUT 90.5 will be in full swing tonight, featuring great music by local (and formally local) artists whose CDs I now have in my grimy paws. Glee! Plus, I can guarantee you that once again, your live music calendar is going to be rather... more ›

My name is Tony Pierce, I'm the Editor of LAist, here in your fine town for SXSW. This is my third year doing the 9-day marathon of Interactive, Film, and Rock and I've gotta say that this is the best week-and-a-half that I get to spend each year. Although no one argues that Austin is the live music capital of the world, LA has been known to be home of some pretty decent bands,... more ›

FRIDAY [2] music • A Fist Full of Duckets, featuring The Interest Kills, Finally Punk, and The Fucking Transmissions at The Mohawk (10pm, 18+, $6) ® music • Dave Barnes at Stubb's music • Black Before Red at End of an Ear (6pm, Free) ® music • Sparklehorse, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Bill Baird (member of Sound Team) at Antone's ® music • For Her & The Snow, The Unfortunate Heads at... more ›

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,... more ›

MONDAY [29] opera • Philip Glass' Waiting for the Barbarians at Bass Concert Hall music • Unwed Sailor, Bayta Darell, The Twilight Lieutenants at Emo's Lounge music • Hidden Hand, Kylesa, The Roller, Ironclad at Emo's music • The Fray, Mute Math at Frank Erwin Center music • Hill Country Outdoors' New Member Meeting at Opal Divine's Penn Field film • Darkon: The Movie at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Melody at Alamo Drafthouse... more ›

THURSDAY [18] Beware of possible cancellations today and tomorrow -- call ahead! film • Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival 2007 at Alamo Downtown (7pm, 9:30pm) film • Terror Thursdays: Revenge from Planet Ape at Alamo Downtown music • Carrots, Darling New Neighbors, The Sleepwalkers at Emo's music • Spaceinvader Orchestra, Supercontinent, Kosmodrome at Emo's Lounge music • Shuttle Debris, Matson Belle, Ear of Anon at Stubb's music • "Smash" video release, Chingo... more ›

MONDAY [15] books • The Xenogia Spoken Word Collective, Uprise Productions, and the Vortex present Genevieve Van Cleve and Sharon Bridgeforth with host Zell Miller III at The Vortex (6:45pm, $3) film • 24 Season Premiere party, night two at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film • James Brown, Boston Garden 1968 at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm) Photo of Bull Creek by mr3wan on flickr... more ›

FRIDAY [5] film • Sinus Show: Die Hard at Alamo Downtown (7pm & 10pm, $12.50) music • Amplified Heat, Lions, Full Stride, The Flood at Emo's (Inside) music • Grand Champeen, Quien Es Boom, The Fall Collection, The Alice Rose at Emo's (Lounge) music • Lemurs, The Lord Henry, Clap!Clap!, Lomita at Emo's (Outside) music • The Black & White Years, AUX, The Paper South, Aster Years at Stubb's music • Summer of Blood,... more ›

Whether you think of it as a test run for SXSW, a belated Christmas present to local music fans, or an excuse to drink for seven days straight, Emo's Free Week kicks off today with a schedule of acts that reads like a who's-who of local punk, indie, and rock. As the showcases are all without cover, we'd recommend getting there early. Emo's Free Week January 2-8 603 Red River Tuesday, January 2 Inside:... more ›

THURSDAY [5] music • Ghostland Observatory, Mellowdrone, Pompeii at Emo's ® music • Bobby Bare Jr, Grand Champeen, Chalk Outlines at Emo's music • Ozomatli, Ghandaia at Stubb's music • Voodoo Organist, The Devil Drums, Ralph White at Beerland music • She, Sir, Bello Ragazzo, Cartright at The Mohawk music • Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo at The Backyard music • Proteus, Starcastic Pheromone, TBA at Trophy's benefit/music • Rock 'n Roll Garage Sale for... more ›

MONDAY [2] music • Nina Nastasia, Cue, Jonathan Mieburg (Shearwater) at Emo's music • HAAM Benefit with Marcia Ball at Antone's lecture • Zeina Halabi presents "Summer at School: Dispatches from the War on Lebanon" at Monkeywrench Books (8pm) film • Francophone Film Festival: Monsieur Ibrahim at Texas Union Theatre (7:30pm) film • True Romance at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • I Know I'm Not Alone at The Space (8pm, Free) film •... more ›

FRIDAY [29] film/aGLIFF • Puccini For Beginners at Regal Cinemas at Arbor (7pm) film/aGLIFF • Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds at Regal Cinemas at Arbor (7:30pm) film/aGLIFF • The Truth or Consequences of Delmas Howe at Regal Cinemas at Arbor (9:15pm) film/aGLIFF • The Sex Movie at Regal Cinemas at Arbor (9:45pm) party/aGLIFF • Opening Night Gala at Austin City Hall (9pm) film • Sinus Show: Terminator at Alamo Drafthouse (7pm & 10pm, $12.50)... more ›

MONDAY [25] music • Art Brut, We Are Scientists, Spinto Band at Emo's ® music • The Audrey Hepburn Heroine at Hole in the Wall (10pm) music • Tony Joe White at Waterloo Records music • Open Stage Hosted by Abi Tapia & Graham Weber at Cactus Café (7:30pm Signup) music • The Doug Moreland Show at Continental Club art • Show & Tell Part III, A Digital Slide Jam at Women & Their... more ›

FRIDAY [1] music • Tacks, The Boy Disaster w. The Channel, Golden Bear at The Parish Room ® books • Jacqueline Winspear presents Messenger of Truth at BookPeople (7pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Sidekicks at Alamo Downtown (6pm, $10) film • Lawrence of Arabia at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Code of Silence at... more ›

MONDAY [28] books • Jeff Abbott presents Fear at Barnes & Noble Westlake (7pm) ® film • The Ultimate Garlic Experience at Alamo Downtown (7pm, $25) ® film • This is Spinal Tap at Austin Java (8pm, Free) ® film • Bunny Lake is Missing at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) fashion • Huge 75% off sale at FactoryPeople TUESDAY [29] music • Plastic Constellations, Fatal Flying Guilloteens, The Boxing Lesson, We'll Go Machete at... more ›

FRIDAY [21] [music] Sons of Hercules and The Bad Rackets at Woody's South (link) [music] Those Peabodys, Grand Champeen, Birds of Avalon (ex-Cherry Valence), Man Eaters of Tsavo at Emo's (link) [music] The Radiators at The Parish (link) [music] Blue October w/ People In Planes and Bril at Stubb's (link) [music] The Shells CD Release at End of an Ear (Free, 6pm) (link) [lecture] The Texas Observer presents David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover: How... more ›

MONDAY [17][music] The High Flyers at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [lecture] Josh Rushing, future host of a show on Al Jazeera International and "accidental media star" in "Control Room," speaks at UT LBJ Auditorium (7pm) (link) [art] Opening Reception for Michael Schliefke's newest works, "What If We Could Get It All Back?" at bolm Studios (6pm-11pm) (link) [film] Oscar-Nominated Documentary shorts at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Anime Movie Monday at Ventana del Sol (7:30pm)... more ›

F R I D A Y [ 2 7 ] [music] Explosions in the Sky, Octopus Project and A Hawk and a Hacksaw at Emo's (Sold Out!) [music] Brandi Carlile at Cactus Cafe (9pm) [music] Zilla featuring Michael Travis (String Cheese Incident) at Stubb's [music] Shake Your Ass Record Release Party with Chili Cold Blood, This Damn Town, Possessed By Paul James, Black Joe Lewis & Cool Breeze at Beerland [music] Chant, Exit, and... more ›

W E D N E S D A Y [ 2 5 ] [music] St. James Inc, Hurts to Purr and Mike Blackhurst at Stubb's (8pm) [music] Akron/Family, Mi and L'au, Shearwater at Emo's [music] "Old Man Night," with skate videos, DJ Vomitnoise, free pizza from Slices and Ices, and special raffles and giveaways at Beerland [film] Screening of Fearless Freaks director Bradley Beesley's "Hill Stomp Holler," plus a set by John Schooley at... more ›

We're absolutely, undeniably terrified of this week. See you next Monday -- if we can still remember who we are. M O N D A Y [19] film · End of an Ear and Plexifilm bring you "Saint Etienne Presents Finisterre", a film about London by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans, at the Drafthouse South Lamar. (Free! 9:45pm) music/party · Nic Armstrong & The Thieves take over Club DeVille all night long - and they're... more ›

We thank Beaty Wilson for putting up with many weeks worth of email tag. Finally, one lovely Sunday afternoon, we were able to meet up for lunch at Opal Divines's on West 6th. Along for the ride was his lovely wife, Susan. Austinist tried to get them to play darts, but they weren't having it - even after throwing back Bloody Marys (Susan and us) and a pint of Guinness (Beaty). Perhaps they were... more ›

* new! and improved! * : : FRIDAY : : [music] Book of Shadows & Devil Bat, 6pm @ End of an Ear - Free! [charity/music] Benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina with Attic Ted, The Vivian Girls, 8pm @ Monkeywrench Books [music] Zykos, Phosphorescent, Canoe, 9pm @ Emo's OUTSIDE - Free! [music] Voxtrot, Loxsly, Belaire, 9pm @ Emo's INSIDE - Free [charity/music] Crescent City Soul and R&B 45's by Waxploitation! DJs, 6-8pm... more ›