• Editorial from the Austin American-Statesman urges leaving Town Lake open as an adoption facility, to help Austin meet the goal of becoming a “no kill” city.
• Yes, the Texas quasi-holiday following Martin Luther King Jr. Day day…is Confederate Heroes' Day. You can’t make this stuff up.
• One of the advantages of living in the grooviest state-capital in the country is the old training films made by state agencies back in the day. One of the films spotlighted here has beautiful 1950’s cars, while another has a performance from an actor who would go on to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Over seven years and four full-length albums, Austin’s Weird Weeds have settled comfortably into an aesthetic of cultivated artiness. The style could be described as invitingly strange or vague to the point of alienation, depending on one’s appreciation of droning guitar instrumentals and lyrics about feeding your lover garbage. more ›

Nerds, geeks, dweebs. You can call them whatever you want Texas Monthly, but the fact of the matter is that the denziens of Fantastic Fest devotees are not only determining what hits the mutilplexes across the nation, but they are also having more fun than you are, and today the already simmering anticipation for this year's fest has been given an extra shot of heat as the first slate of programming was released. more ›

You just want My Morning Jacket to rock forever. Assuming you've been lucky enough to catch their live show, you know it seems like they almost do. If any group has the raw, sculpted tenacity that hints at a longevity, it's them. Marathon performers hawking an inscrutable brand of Bonnaroo-blessed prog-psych-pop with the indie world's tacit nod, they seem poised for success long after we all stop wearing Chuck Taylors. more ›

Austin's own Weird Weeds spent seven months in the studio working on their latest full-length, I Miss This, and by their own admission, the effort asserted towards this record is by far the most intense in their history. One listen demonstrates their devout attention to detail in regards to both production and songwriting amply. "Red" oozes thick guitar dirges, sweetly tempered percussion and odes to Indian sitar harmonies (and carefully executed dissonance) with equal precision. more ›

If you're not familiar with the industrious Balmorhea-ns, you're doing yourself a grave disservice, and, frankly, need to get in touch with the scene. The music is vast, yet meticulously restrained: melancholy, determined pianos slowly upended by cellos, soft-spoken conversations between two acoustic guitars, and distant, inscrutable audio samples that elaborate on what each piece seems to urgently chronicle. 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 ›

AUSTIN BANDS more ›

The 6th annual Indie Music Video Festival rolls into town tonight at the downtown Alamo Drafthouse. more ›

Image from Scion's websiteSo you’re all set for an afternoon with the family and/or friends, tons of food on the horizon, be it Turkey or Tofurkey. Still, you need to scratch that live music itch before heading home. Well, fear not oh lovely residents of Austin, the city has a solid night of gigs on the 21st in store for the common layperson. If you’re not already planning on hitting up the Benko and The... more ›

Image from Benko’s MySpace Benko, The Boxing Lesson, & The Story OfWednesday, November 21Stubbs (801 Red River)9 p.m. | $8[info] | [Benko MySpace] | [The Boxing Lesson MySpace] | [The Story Of MySpace]Thanksgiving is just around the corner but before you get stuffed and sleepy, get your long weekend started right on Wednesday evening. There is a mouth watering set of shows on the Austin schedule for the 21st. Extended details to follow in our... more ›

Learning Secrets, the eclectic electro-family responsible for Thursday nights at Whisky Bar, will be tearing up the Beauty Bar tonight with Philly's dave p and Brooklyn's JDH, along with Austin's own Ian Orth. Indie remixes, 75 degree October nights, and open-minded dancefloor antics for only $3 at the door? That only happens in Austin, people. For real. [Learning Secrets Myspace] [JDH Myspace] [dave p Myspace] Death to Disco...This is Disco! Saturday, October 6th Beauty Bar... more ›

Editors’ note: The opinions and ideas expressed in this opinion piece are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the outlook and belief of anyone else in the Ist network. I hadn't initially planned to attend The Flaming Lips show at La Zona Rosa this past Tuesday, opting to avoid possible run-ins with any "Furries", but a last-minute ticket to a Lips show is not something to turn one's nose up... more ›

Peyton’s Place is celebrating its grand opening tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be complimentary drinks, in-store makeovers (courtesy of Sage Salon), and a trunk show by jewelry designer Joani White. Peyton’s Place is on 215 Lavaca. Re- is going out of business! Voted Best Recycled Goods by Austin Chronicle, this little South Austin vintage store is calling it quits after over two years. Owner Chris Walker said he and his wife... more ›

Indie record shop End of an Ear is expanding to include the store next door, with renovations schedule for completion by mid-June. Stay tuned for details about their 2nd anniversary party on June 23rd, with DJ Coolhands (Friends of Sound), DJ Hobo D, and Ralph White. Meanwhile, Happiness has moved into the house once occupied by Bella Blue Boutique.... more ›

We liked what we heard on Blonde Redhead's latest release, 23, although it came out perilously close to Jim Carrey's recent flop with a similar title. Unfortunate coincidences aside, BR has been molding their alluring art-pop over the span of their 14 (!) years together, becoming more comfortable balancing accessibility with experimentalism. For a band that has few rather salient qualities in common with experimental rock legends Can, their newest album appears to be their Future Days, resigned to its thoughtfully layered ambience. Tonight, they become the newest in a long chain of great recent shows at Stubb's, and are sure to knock out a set for Austin Indie-history books. Special added bonus: Annuals open, a band we unreservedly adore, and whose appearance tonight may threaten to even upstage BR's seasoned crew. more ›

For 15 years, Yokohama's Luminous Orange have been crafting a sound of equal parts gentle Kim Deal-style female vocals, noisy guitar feedback, and rhythms that owe debts to both shoegaze and Sonic Youth. The resolutely indie-rock Japanese outfit makes a return visit to SXSW next month after a successful trip in 2006. Austinist spoke with Luminous Orange founder and vocalist/guitarist Rie Takeuchi about the band's SXSW experiences, along with their general distaste for Texas'... more ›

Of Montreal, unlike what seems to be the case with most great bands recently, is not a group from Montreal. They're from Athens, Georgia, home of the now legendary Elephant Six collective. Along with that distinction comes the obligatory psychedelic noodling and Beatles-in-the-wood-chopper homages, yet they have remained a singular and most impressive voice in the realm of Indie-dom. On their most recent release, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? lead singer Kevin Barnes... more ›

Tomorrow's your last chance to vote in the PLUG Independent Music Awards, the annual audience-juried awards event that recognizes the most promising artists and members of the independent music community. Beyond traditional music categories like Album of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and genre-specific awards, PLUG also celebrates everything from live venues and music festivals to internet radio stations and music blogs. This year, several Austin or Texas-based bands, stores, and organizations... more ›

One of the biggest issues when it comes to going to see a performer we really love and admire is always the fear of disappointment. In some way not dissimilar to the lightly-treaded road to love, music lovers tip-toe softly against the hope of sheer joy in the wake of certain performances. Don't expect much, don't get disappointed. Don't assume it will be as incredible as you want it to be, and chances are... more ›

Say what you will about the Austin music scene, if there's one thing we've got in spades, it's heart. And breakfast tacos. But that's another story altogether. Our bands can take any other city's bands on when it comes to sheer per capita productivity and playing out, never leaving their respective constituencies on the sidelines. And albums? Lordy, just walk into Waterloo Records and check out the local music section: 2006 was a banner... more ›

Yet another emerging indie act from Canada, Shapes and Sizes’ self-titled debut blends earnest pop-rock with somewhat abnormal meter. Out now on Asthmatic Kitty, the record kicks off with “Island’s Gone Band”, a peculiar two songs in one introduction to the band. “I Am Cold” builds from a sparse arrangement into a multi-instrumental crescendo while “Wilderness” features the band’s trait of melding melody with noise. Caila Thompson-Hannant’s vocal chops rank up there with the... more ›

The following is a weekly column by guest contributor Laurie Gallardo. Hear her Friday evenings on KUT 90.5FM -- The Editors Greetings, chilly willies. I will now quote something I heard this morning from the esteemed producer of In Black America on KUT, John L. Hanson, Jr.  Mr. Hanson is someone I hold in very high regard. Everyone should. To put it as succinctly as possible, he is a bad ass. This morning in... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Octopus Project perform on the Indie stage at 3:30pm. -- The Editors What's your favorite thing about playing festivals? (Or do you prefer not to play them?) Festivals are rad! We very... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Dead Meadow perform on the Indie stage at 4:30pm. -- The Editors Any new recordings that we can expect soon in the form of a new full length? Steve Kille: We are... more ›

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"... more ›

Note: Today's the last day of our two week long ticket giveaway, and the festival's nearly a week away! This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts... more ›

This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts like Peaches, Spoon, Prefuse 73 and Circle Jerks. From November 8 to November 22, we're giving away a pair... more ›

This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts like Peaches, Spoon, Prefuse 73 and Circle Jerks. From November 8 to November 22, we're giving away a pair... more ›

This winter, Alamo Drafthouse and some of the folks at Emo's are teaming up to throw an enormous single-day music festival at Waterloo Park. Sponsored by yours truly, METV, 101x, The Onion, AT&T, Mickey's, and Waterloo Records, the FunFunFun Fest features three stages of nonstop indie rock, punk, and electronic bands, including several bigger acts like Peaches, Spoon, Prefuse 73 and Circle Jerks. From November 8 to November 22, we're giving away a pair... more ›