Before Joanna Newsom took to the stage with a five-piece band for her debut Austin City Limits Live performance on Monday night, producer Terry Lickona strolled out to quickly introduce the songstress. In his opening remarks, he told the audience that the number one quality for booking talent to play for the iconic show, now in its 37th season and first in its new digs at the Moody Theater, is "originality." Newsom plays the harp and has a squeaky voice that sounds like it's been stepped on. She carries herself with the wide-eyed, spiritually-attuned folksiness of a faerie. Her songs routinely top ten minutes in length and are knotty, meandering, obtuse constructions that rely on arcane instrumentation and are so lyrically dense and allusive that you'll need a lyric sheet to understand what's going on; they might better be described as "yarns." In 2011, she's an original, and she's also, for our money, one of the most rewarding musicians of the 21st century. Her performance on Monday was an exquisite demonstration of musicianship and narrative songwriting that few working musicians can match. more ›

Last night, Joanna Newsom played the Paramount Theater. Our photographer Chad Wadsworth was there to catch and document the show. more ›

By now, you're probably either with Joanna Newsom or you're against her, but one thing can be said for sure: there's no one else quite like her. The super-skilled fashion aficionada, music video star, world-class pop harpist, and crush for boys and girls around the world is touring in support of her maniacally ambitious triple-LP Have One On Me, which is such a complex work people are still trying to entangle its many threads nearly nine months after its release. Good news is that she'll be putting on a display of its sounds, and surely some of her earlier (and still delightful) work, in Austin this very evening at downtown's most perfect match for her music, The Paramount. more ›

By now, you're probably either with Joanna Newsom or you're against her, but one thing can be said for sure: there's no one else quite like her. The super-skilled fashion aficionada, music video star, world-class pop harpist, and crush for boys and girls around the world is touring in support of her maniacally ambitious triple-LP Have One On Me, which is such a complex work people are still trying to entangle its many threads nearly seven months after its release. more ›

Listeners who have found her a difficult case in the past might just find something to connect with on Have On One Me, we certainly did. more ›

In Austin we oft find ourselves spoiled with an array of music on any given night. With all the big-name bands coming to town it's hard not to get overwhelmed and lured in by the indie rock scene. (See: Cake, Death Cab, Ra Ra Riot and Mates of State all playing just this week) But, those washed out tired of crowded shows can find solace at Cactus Cafe tonight with some down to earth down-tempo folk rock. more ›

At the regal Riverbend Centre on Saturday night, Joanna Newsom proved why she’s one of today’s most iconoclastic and oddly appealing musicians: not only did she mesh shockingly well with the ultra-classy Austin Symphony Orchestra, but she also managed to get in trouble for hauling a bottle of Maker’s Mark onto stage. And it’s in this almost-accidental appeal to both sides of the concert-going spectrum—as well as an almost embarrassing wealth of talent—that she... more ›

Five years ago you never would have believed it, but it’s true: the harp is so in. And evidence of that is most acute in that elfin goddess of harpsterism, Joanna Newsom, who will be toting her really big harp—and the lilting wordplay that comes along with it—right on down to Austin this Saturday night. And no, it won’t just be her alone lighting up the stage and the eyes of adoring boys at Riverbend Centre, but also our own internationally acclaimed Austin Symphony Orchestra. more ›

To prove this isn’t an exaggeration, see a few of the song titles: “Fake Yer Death,” “A Faceless Death,” “Suicide Kiss (Because Dead),” and, ending the album on an unsurprising note, “Drink Yourself (To Death).” The parentheses are hardly necessary at this point, as one has to be completely obtuse not to get Orion’s gist. more ›

UPDATE: We called Frontgate this morning, and were informed that the tickets will indeed be general seated admission. Tickets will be $35 with a $5.50 service fee. more ›

We've just confirmed that Joanna Newsom will be giving a special performance at the Riverbend Centre in October. This will be the first time all of us regular folks stateside will have a chance to experience the whole shebang that audiences in the UK had last year, as she toured Europe in support of . The performance will feature the orchestral arrangements of Van Dyke Parks, who assisted Newsom on the album, and previous performances have garnered praise worldwide -- this isn't one you want to miss. more ›

As Austin emerges from the thorough soaking we've received over the past few weeks, it becomes time to dry off in the warm breeze of some talented female singer-songwriters. Saturday night at The Parish, you can do just that. St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) headlines, supporting her first proper LP Marry Me, an album that will mercilessly wallop your preexisting notions of not just female artists, but any artist writing compelling music out there.... more ›

Bill Callahan Woke on a Whaleheart (Drag City) "Well, I could tell you about the river, or we could just get in" seems to typify Bill Callahan's mood throughout his official solo debut, Woke on a Whaleheart. The album's first track, "From the Rivers to the Ocean", introduces us to Callahan's new take on an old vibe by showcasing little pieces of everything he'll bring to full bloom as the album unfolds. As Callahan croons,... more ›

Tapes 'n Tapes are quite possibly the best thing to come out Minneapolis' music scene since Prince and Hüsker Dü. Since forming in 2003, the band has trekked across vast and distant lands with a who's who of indie rock luminaries such as The Shins, Joanna Newsom, The Wrens and Spoon. After a few adjustments in the lineup, the band recorded its debut album, The Loon, in summer 2005 to glowing reviews and a... more ›

Bill Callahan Woke on a Whaleheart (Drag City) "Well, I could tell you about the river, or we could just get in" seems to typify Bill Callahan's mood throughout his official solo debut, Woke on a Whaleheart. The album's first track, "From the Rivers to the Ocean", introduces us to Callahan's new take on an old vibe by showcasing little pieces of everything he'll bring to full bloom as the album unfolds. As Callahan... more ›

WEDNESDAY [13] party • 3rd Annual Food Drive & Holiday Party at The Side Bar music • The Transgressors, Hello Lovers, The Dresses at Emo's music • Joanna Newsom & Her Orchestra, Bill Callahan at The Parish Room music • The Onlys, J Dimenna, Dolly Partners, Daughter at Beerland music • Pete Yorn, Sound Team, Starsailor at Antone's music • Tia Carrera, Flower to Hide, Damage Pants at Red's Scoot Inn film • Dinner... more ›

Well, it certainly feels like winter. This marks a usually slow time on the roadshow scene, as bands head home for the holidays and clubs close up shop. Not so fast, though: December is still unusually active this year on the Austin music calendar, so have a look below and see which acts you should bundle up and head out to. December: 12/01 FunFunFun: Spoon, Peaches, Prefuse 73 + more (Waterloo Park) 12/01 Dressy... more ›

Two quick concessions: Firstly, we’d never seen Smog live until his recent show at Cactus Café. Secondly, we missed the beginning of his set thanks to a goofy UT freshman who gave us bum directions to the venue, causing us to wander the halls of the student union building basement for what felt like an hour (if we ever see that guy again, he is so dead frowned at). more ›

We missed the last-minute Joanna Newsom/Smog show at the Parish last night, but a friend driving past the venue later remarked on the enormous line trailing down the street. Above is a clip from the show, taken by Erik Horn of Super!Alright!. more ›

Just minutes ago, we found out that Drag City heroes Joanna Newsom and Smog were booked for a last-minute show at The Parish Room on Monday night. The up-and-coming music bloggers over at Both Sides of the Mouth (also based in our fair city) conveniently dished about the enigmatic Newsom last Thursday. Avail yourself of their lovely writeup plus these downloads below, then get yourself over to the Parish, post haste. Joanna Newsom -... more ›

MONDAY [18] film • La Brune et Moi with Cry Blood Apache live at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) ® music • Darling New Neighbors, Coach & Four at Hole in the Wall (10pm) music • David Garza at Cactus Café ® food • Dining for Life at Participating restaurants all over town More than 50 of Austin's best restaurants donate 15% of their dinner proceeds to Aids Services of Austin ® books • Greg... more ›

Folk music has become a term used fairly loosely in the independent music scene, partially because there are incredible artists making music that reflects the genre's origins, and partially because there's really no other way to describe the sound. Psychedelic folk ("freak folk", if you're nasty), however, sounds like something you make up when you've perhaps tied a few too many on and find yourself toying with the idea of cross-genre experimentation with instruments like a cigarette machine, or a vacuum. Yet, artists like Devendra Banhart, Animal Collective, Joanna Newsom, Espers, and DeVotchKa create music that beckons the memory of Donovan and T.Rex, giving shape to the term as we use it today. more ›

Indie/hippie hobos nomads Brightblack Morning Light released their self-titled sophomore album just weeks ago, and while we didn't particularly care for it, others seem to generally dig 'em. The duo -- "Nabob" (Nathan Shineywater) and "Rabob" (Rachael Hughes) -- started back in 2002 with a split 7" shared with Bonnie Prince Billy (aka Will Oldham, among others). Since then, they've signed to Matador Records, toured with the likes of Joanna Newsom, Vetiver, and Gojogo, and... more ›