These days, it’s not quite as odd to have early hip-hop, scuzzy psychedelia, and B-movie soundtracks all loaded up in your iTunes. One of the great things about our new online lives is the ability to be exposed to such varying strains, and this fact is seeping into a lot of great music. Case in point: San Francisco’s Al Lover has taken those aforementioned genres and created something wholly his own. You can see it for yourself tonight as Lover takes the Club DeVille stage with his band the Haters in tow—it’s a preview of this weekend’s highly-anticipated Psych Fest. more ›

Beerland tends to have a polarizing effect on music fans. You’re either a frequenter, preferring the dungeon of ruffled rock vibe sweating with and bouncing off of your peers, or you rarely go. The club has a similar effect on bands, and one of those who’s logged their fair share of Beerland hours is Austin’s Dikes of Holland. 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 ›

FRIDAY [10] music • Tilly and the Wall, The Tyde, Pony Up at Emo's music • The Places, 4 Hungry Tummies, Ralph White, Ryan Anderson at Emo's Lounge music • Jolie Holland w. Sonny Smith at The Parish Room music • The Alice Rose at Waterloo Records music • CREEPOUT Fest: Chumps, Bulemics, The Ends,The Wolves at Beerland music • Regina Spektor with Only Son at Antone's (Sold Out) music • The Black, Horse... more ›

THURSDAY [7] music • Shoot For the Stars and Kill Them VS. Cry Blood Apache, and Coma in Algiers at The Parlor food • Austin Farmers Market at Plaza Saltillo, 5th and Comal (4-7pm) film • TerrorStorm with Alex Jones Live at Alamo South (7pm) film • The Wire Season 4 Sneak Preview at Alamo Downtown (7:30pm, $10 food voucher to reserve) film • Raiders of the Lost Ark at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) film... more ›

Hey you! Put down that GameBoy and keep your eyes on the road! You're gonna KILL somebody. Ahem. For those of us dangerously, illegally addicted to such handheld trivialities, but wish the sound card was a little punchier, look no further than tonight's featured entertainment at Emo's: a cover band 100% dedicated to 8-bit Nintendo soundtracks. Trade in those bloopy MIDI tunes for full-blooded rock action as The Advantage faithfully recreate the themes from such... 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 [27] [film] Soul Cinema Monday: "The Spook Who Sat By the Door" at Alamo Downtown ($1, 7pm) (link) [film] "Candy: Terry Southern Psychedelic Mindwarp" at Alamo Downtown ($1, 9:45pm) (link) [film] Spike & Mike? Twisted Animation Fest at Alamo South Lamar and Alamo Village (Through Thursday, 10:15 SL, 9:45 Vill) (link) [film] "Tank Girl" at Cafe Mundi (8pm) (link) [TV] Twin Peaks & Carnivale at Beerland (Free, 7pm) (link) [books] Karenna Gore Schiff, the... more ›