In an unprecedented programming feat of nostalgia and star power, the Alamo Drafthouse has announced it will screen The Wizard--the awesome/corny paean to all things Nintendo--with cast members Fred Savage, Luke Edwards (the titular wizard) and director Todd Holland live in the theatre on December 7th! Sure, The Wizard was really just a 100-minute commercial for Super Mario Brothers 3. But oh what a commercial it was. Starring a just-barely-into-The Wonder Years Fred Savage, a......

If you go to Rilo Kiley’s MySpace page and scroll down, you’ll run into a pillar of adolescent female faces beside comments professing their love for the band and expressing intense jubilation over finally being able to see the group at their local rock club after years of adoration from afar. This is the result of having a gorgeous, strong, sexually candid leading lady - Jenny Lewis - who is very capable of helming......

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, Lynn Teeter Flower, offers more of her beautiful music, featuring softly layered vocals, warming electronics and her multi-instrumentation via piano, keys, guitar and more. To support the album, Taylor is touring with the Watson Twins, who we all know and love thanks to......

Rilo Kiley Under the Blacklight (Warner) Whereas their last few releases were more Omaha or Seattle and Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis’ solo record last year, Rabbit Fur Coat, was pretty Nashville, this latest effort is totally L.A. With its ensnaring pop choruses, undeniable disco feel and lyrical nods to the porn industry, it is perfectly suited for the extravagant metropolis where people go to give up everything to become a star. With Under The......

Opposite Day Safety First (Eat A Finger Peach Look Music): Austinites Opposite Day have been cranking out weirdo punk music for six years now, and Safety First is the band's third album, which makes them "official." Like most punk bands, the majority of songs last around two to three minutes. And while Opposite Day is definitely punk, the album's 17 tracks explore motley styles, ranging from hardcore to acoustic to experimental to Incubus-esque, all with......

Saturday night at Stubb's will likely be awfully warm (the forecast shows around 90 degrees), but it's worth braving the August heat for this strong of a bill. For reasons unknown to us, Rufus Wainwright and Neko Case are both playing at Stubb's, a venue that either performer could likely play on their own. Rufus Wainwright is the moody, theatrical brother in the musical Wainwright clan, which includes father Loudon Wainwright III, sister Martha,......

In one of the most anticipated shows of the year, two of this generation's most beloved singer-songwriters and one young up-and-comer are gonna be strumming the night away this evening at Emo's. Ben Gibbard, the bespectacled teddy bear that fronts Death Cab for Cutie has teamed up with David Bazan (aka Pedro the Lion, going by his own name) and mussy-haired crooner Johnathan Rice (Jenny Lewis' beau, lucky stiff...) There's a reason this show......

Conor Oberst’s Team Love fosters a number of indie-pop stalwarts like Jenny Lewis and Tilly and the Wall. The latter is derived from Oberst’s initial project, Park Ave., as bandmembers Jamie Williams and Neely Jenkins eventually formed Tilly and the Wall with Nick White, Kianna Alarid and Derek Pressnall upon Park Ave.’s demise. The band recently released their follow-up to 2004’s acclaimed Wild Like Children. Bottoms of Barrels picks up where its predecessor left......

Here's what's new this week: The Walkmen Pussy Cats Starring the Walkmen (Record Collection) When John Lennon and Yoko Ono took a break in 1974, the former jumped into the studio with pals Ringo Star, Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson (among others) to produce Pussy Cats, a fascinating mix of classic tunes and originals arranged primarily by Nilsson and Lennon. Misunderstood and bizarre, Pussy Cats is the ultimate buddy album for music geeks with......

While Jenny Lewis still has her day job in the form of Rilo Kiley, the singer/songwriter/crush magnet also released the solo disc Rabbit Fur Coat in early 2006. Rabbit is a low-key, gospel and soul influnced late-night record with ruminations on parents, God, and of course love, and features cameos from M. Ward and Conor Oberst. The album is a departure from Lewis' traditional indie-pop, and features bluegrass duo The Watson Twins to set......

MONDAY [23] music • Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins with Will Sheff & The Blow at Stubb's music • Planes Mistaken For Stars, The North Atlantic, Mustangs and Madras, Tomorrow's Too Late at Emo's music • Howard Tate at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm) music • Farewell Party for Tina R., from Jo's Hot Coffee, with Tina & The Jo's House Band plus special guests at Continental Club (10pm) music • Cue, Bullet Train......

Today's big news is the FunFunFun festival, but there are also several new shows in this edition of the concert update. Kasabian, Ben Folds, Mates Of State, and others have all announced Austin shows, and there are tons more on tap for late fall. Have a look: October: 10/21 Pet Shop Boys (The Backyard) 10/21 Ladytron (Stubb's) 10/22 Rolling Stones (Zilker Park) 10/22 Method Man (Emo's) 10/23 Jenny Lewis + Watson Twins (Stubb's) 10/24......

Fans of the indie-rock will find much to like in the latest concert update. Flying V lovers My Morning Jacket, the willfully obtuse Fiery Furnaces, and alt.country godfather Jay Farrar have each been added to Austin's fall music schedule. As we've mentioned, the sheer volume of shows is unprecedented, so get out and enjoy the fact that every band you like is coming to town in the next two months. Thanks as always to......

As Elvis Costello might say, we just don't know where to begin. Even if you are skipping ACL, the fall is turning into a music wonderland. Acts of every genre and size are booking Austin's clubs up like there's no tomorrow, leaving music lovers with many questions on how to spend both time and cash this fall. Trust us, you can't see it all, so pick your favorites and buy tickets in advance to......

In case you were not one of the lucky folks to get in to see Jenny Lewis last night at The Parish, fret not. We have your alt-folk/country singer-songwriter fix. Eclectone Records is having a showcase tonight at Room 710, featuring Big Ditch Road, Charlie Parr, Mike Nicolai and Martin Devaney. The night is sure to provide a great setting for sipping some Lone Star and conjuring the perfect mental landscape for all of......

MONDAY [27] [ music ] Jay Moeller's Birthday Blues Bash, with Ephraim Owens, Mike Barfield, Scott Nelson, Damien Llanes, James Bullard, and loads more at The Continental Club (9:30pm) (link) [ music ] KOOP Radio Monday Benefit with Guy Forsyth, Wammo and Sick, and Southpaw Jones. Hosted by Owen Egerton (of Sinus) at Ruta Maya ($5, 8:30pm) (link) [ art ] "Art is Imagination": Paintings of the American West at Blanton Museum of Art (Free,......

*Warning: Post may contain sarcasm.* Why do people always feel the need to label and categorize everything and everyone? She’s a hipster; that guy’s a douche bag; those kids are square. We assume, with our rudimentary understanding of psychology and sociology, that it has something to do with fear and insecurity. We’re not real sure, but sometimes it can be a lot of fun. And we hate it when people don’t live up to......

Trailer from the Bloc Party Documentary/Concert DVD, "God Bless Bloc Party" [mov] Be Your Own PET - "Let's Get Sandy" [ram] Richard Ashcroft - "Break The Night With Colour" [stream] Shelby - "The Golden Boy," created by Austin's Super!Alright! [view] Downloads [mp3] Cat Power - "The Greatest" [mp3] Clearlake - "I Hate That I Got What I Wanted [mp3] Clearlake - "No Kind Of Life [mp3] Film School - "Pitfalls" [mp3] Pansy Division -......

The new year started off pretty slowly for music, with a few lackluster albums (The Strokes' third LP, Morningwood's bubblegum rock rehash) failing to excite, really, anyone. Not today. Cat Power's eagerly awaited follow-up to 2003's You Are Free comes out alongside the new Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service) side project, Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins and Richard Ashcroft's Keys to the World. Other notable bands include the unfortunately-named Test Icicles,......

When we first heard Southern California-based Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous last fall, we were hooked almost immediately. Lead singer Jenny Lewis, also part of synthpop group The Postal Service, pens melancholic tales of heartache, betrayal, loss, and even the occasional social commentary, with the rest of the band supplying a sound that alternates between folk pop and surf rock.In our opinion, the lyrics are the driving force behind Rilo Kiley's success. The songs have......

Imagine you are a 14-year-old musician living in Australia, accustomed to recording songs for your punk rock band in your bedroom. All of a sudden, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth is singing your praises, and you sign to Grand Royal (the Beastie Boys’ now defunct label). Over the next 11 years, you release five solo indie-pop albums, start your own record label, and collaborate with artists such as Ben Kweller, Ben Folds, Petra Haden,......