No one whips up a tear-jerking, emotionally-stirring acoustic song quite like Rocky Votolato. Whether he’s grieving in a melodic whisper or belting out a gruff, Americana chorus, Votolato always shoots his arrows swift and straight, landing with a ‘thud’ just to the left of your sternum. So, make sure and wear your armor to Stubb's Saturday night. more ›

Maria Taylor is one half of Azure Ray, has supported acts like the Faint and Connor Oberst, and has made her home on Saddle Creek records since 2005. Her latest release, . They're supported by local acts Brazos and The Alice Rose. We're super excited to see this show tonight, and we hope you'll come join us. Here, we'll make it easy: more ›

Austin Sound, if you haven't checked it out already, is a great site featuring information about local music. This Saturday, they're pulling out all the stops to celebrate their one year anniversary, and throwing a mini-ACL that's much, much cheaper. With 13 bands playing, there's bound to be someone to rock your picky ass. Also: free food and FREE BEER for five bucks! We know, it doesn't make sense to us either, but it... more ›

This one has been prominent on our radar for awhile: a great show at Emo's featuring some hot, talented girls from Brooklyn, and two of the most solid bands in our scene. Tonight at Emo's don't miss Corto Maltese and their driving, moody rock opening for local pop sensation breakouts Oh No! Oh My!, and headliners Au Revoir Simone with their gleeful casio-rchestrations. A perfect Thursday show if we do say so ourselves. more ›

If you spend your Sundays reading French surrealist poetry, or if you’re just a fan of beautifully-breathy, sometimes-sanguine pop songs; then, tickets to The Clientele show are probably already being used as a bookmark in your copy of Fantomas (the book, not the band). Touring off their latest album, God Save The Clientele, this UK art-pop foursome will be will be playing a host of new tracks much sunnier than their last three releases.... more ›

Austin may be the "Live Music Capital of The World", but there is a relatively dry season. Once UT lets out for the fall semester and this city shuts up for the holidays, what's an audiophile to do? Suggestion: like bears that build up fat deposits to live off of once they retire to their relatives' caves to hibernate, you should catch a few great shows to delay the onset of withdrawals. Tonight, Emo's... more ›

This has been a banner year for Headlights, the three piece indie-poppers responsible for last August's Kill Them With Kindness, an album that still resides in several Austinist CD players (not to mention Itunes playlists). In a year when we've heard a freakish amount of great albums, theirs has still managed to stand out, filling our ears with beautiful, driving gems. Coming off of a wickedly grueling 72-date tour, they're gonna be in town... more ›

You've grown tired of the standard Austin buzz bands (Brothers and Sisters, Tacks the Boy Disaster, What Made Milwaukee Famous, etc.). They're great and all, but you've seen them already and its Thursday night goddammit, you want a cold beer and some fresh sounds. Never fear, intrepid music fan, Emo's is hosting a sprawling, awesome show where you can hear some of your local comrades demonstrate their ability to rock your silly face off.... more ›

Emo’s as three of Texas’ most promising indie-pop acts take the stage along with Oklahoma’s Colourmusic. Headliners the Glass Family have garnered solid reviews for their compositions: stirring melodies, attractive soundscapes, all with plenty of keys and hooks mark their debut record, Sleep Inside This Wheel. San Antonio’s Buttercup’s new release, Hot Love, in similar vein, conjures up sweet melodies with regular bah bah bahs and doo doo doos. The band wears its influences on its sleeve: the Kinks and the Beatles, to name just a couple of their intrinsic inspirations, while gems like “Anti-Antarctica” and “Unlevel” would slide into most radio station rotations. more ›

Thunderbirds Are Now! are kinda like your kid brother if he started a band with a herd of rabid hipster buffalo. On the weekends, they rock out in your parents' wood-paneled basement, listen to Hot Hot Heat LPs, and make a big mess. Sure, you're worried about the whole nose candy thing, but they sound damn good, so you decide to let the little peckerwood have his fun. (TAN! are actually from Detroit, most... more ›

In less than a year, Austin's Brothers and Sisters have established themselves as true thoroughbreds among the new stable of American indie/country bands. Their show tonight at Emo's marks the kick off of a national tour with fellow Texas luminaries Trail Of Dead and post-hardcore champs The Blood Brothers. Described by some as a "soft, warm family quilt," Bros & Sis' music is a patchwork of musical genres spanning the hard, bluesy psych-rock of... more ›

Emo's is the place to be tonight as California experimental post-punkers Xiu Xiu bring their darkly gorgeous new album to life. If you caught Xiu Xiu at Emo's Annex during South By Southwest this year, you know that Jamie Stewart's noise-and-melody symphonies are even better live than they are on wax. Stewart and live partner Caralee McElroy make the absolute most out of their collection of drums, guitars, shakers, keys and noisemakers - all complimented by Stewart's alternately beautiful and unhinged vocals. more ›

* This post comes from Austinist guest contributor Chad Beck Emo’s generally has a healthy dose of heavy bands for those who like abrasive, eardrum-shattering, live music. It isn’t everyday, however, that Emo’s plays host to groups that intend on actually punishing the audience. Some Girls, who take Emo’s indoor stage around Midnight, Tuesday the 24th, are out to do just that. Their latest record, Heaven’s Pregnant Teens (out Tuesday on Epitaph), is about... more ›