You know how sometimes when you are out on the town for a nice dinner, you wish that you could order tiny versions of everything on the menu because all of the dishes sound so delicious? Well, that's how we feel about film sometimes - if only we could watch 20 minutes of splatteriffic gore, 20 minutes of absurdist comedy and round it out with a piquant documentary or two, we would have all of......

It’s a free show Wednesday night at the Mohawk outside for those over 21. And, unlike most of the bars on and around 6th street, they shouldn’t need a barker to shout, “Live music! No cover! $2 shots!” (We can’t vouch for the third one). It’s going to be a free night of electro-freak indie fun. First up, The Laughing. A great name for a band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously. Bringing the......

The Electric Soft Parade No Need To Be Downhearted Like an indie pop amnesiac, we find The Electric Soft Parade wandering somewhere in the woods on No Need To Be Downhearted. The group is unable to choose between three possible identities; one of Smiths-inspired Brit pop, another caught in experimental, lo-fi doldrums and a third all about the dance-able angular guitars that made so many fall in love with the first Bloc Party record. However,......

As Fun Fun Fun Fest is but a day away, we'd like to share a few downloads from some of the artists playing tomorrow's first-ever winter music festival (in Austin). Check back later today, as we'll be giving away one last pair of tickets! Indie Stage Spoon (8:50-10:00) [myspace] [mp3] "I Turn My Camera On" Peaches (7:30-8:30) [myspace] [mp3] "I Don't Give a Fuck" The Black Angels (6:30-7:15) [myspace] [mp3] "The First Vietnamese War"......

Gone are the sweet acoustic strum and the subtle country twang… Pink Nasty has graduated from Mule School. It took about a year and a half, but the pants-wettingly anticipated Mold the Gold has finally arrived. When the revving guitars of the opening track “I Don’t Know” give way to a lush, thoughtfully-produced sound, it’s plainly evident why fans had to wait so long for the sophomore release. Mold the Gold was an epic......

Heading to End of an Ear or Waterloo? Here's what you can look for this week on the new release wall. Adem: Love & Other Planets (Domino) Adem's work with Fridge doesn't give any indication of his capabilities as a folk / pop singer-songwriter, but the distinction between the styles is indicative of his talent. The album's subtle yet sonic layers combined with Adem's fragile, persistant voice create a soundscape to match the themes......

The South by Southwest Film Festival recently released their complete lineup of this year's short films. All told, 130 - ranging from documentary and experimental to narrative shorts - are to be shown from March 10-18. We've gone through and selected a few that caught our attention (based solely on their descriptions): ANIMATED SHORTS A Painful Glimpse into my Writing Process (In Less than 60 Seconds) Dir: Chel White A darkly satirical tour de......

Saturday night we checked out the first Best of Week bill at Hyde Park's 13th Annual Frontera Fest. You might have read a thing or two about Frontera here on Austinist. Well, it has finally arrived in all its fringe-y glory. And before we forget, we'll tell you this now; if you want to start your very own blog about Frontera or pretty much anything artsy in Austin, you're welcome to check out the......

It’s rare to find a musician that has performed for thousands at the Austin City Limits Festival, is a classically trained cellist, and still gets on stage at open mic night with his best friends for a touching rendition of “Man Beers,” the holiday classic they composed moments early during a MGD shortage. Austin Hartley-Leonard, front man for local rockers St. James, is one such artist. It should be obvious that their upcoming Momo’s......

M O N D A Y [ 2 4 ] Happy United Nations Day! music · Coheed & Cambria, Dredg, mewithoutYou and Blood Brothers at Stubb's music · Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Roberts - of Asleep at the Wheel - hold court at Threadgill's (8pm) film · The Austin Film Festival at various venues around town (Through Thursday) books · Tram Nguyen discusses We Are All Suspects Now, her investigation into the "human cost of......

That’s right bitches, Dave "I’m Not Crazy and I Don’t Have a Drug Problem" Chappelle is coming to the Frank Erwin Center on Sunday, November 13th. Chappelle has only a handful of dates scheduled for his comedy tour, including only one other stop in Texas. Tickets for the show are priced at $40-$50 and they will quickly sell out when they go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. Chappelle made news earlier this......

See any good shows this weekend? Don't forget to send us your Reader Weekend Reviews! Send 'em here. M O N D A Y music · Green Potato Ventures presents Chicago's The City on Film, Stories from the Frontier and Sad Accordians at Emo's. Inside, 10pm [myspace stream: Stories From the Frontier] [mp3: The City On Film - For Holly] music · "Puyo Punk Music for All": Gadjo Bango at The Parlor [mp3: Gadjo Bango......

Think you have to leave town to to get your fix of High Culture? Think again. Our little hamlet is one of a select number of US cities that boasts an Art Museum, a Ballet, a Symphony Orchestra, as well as an Opera! Starting today and running through this Monday, May 2, Austin Lyric Opera is putting on a production of The Marriage of Figaro at the Bass Concert Hall. Your choice of showtime and......