Big Boi: This may be his ACL debut, but Big Boi has practically made Austin a second home over the past year, playing a half-dozen gigs everywhere from Seaholm to the East Side Drive-In. When we last caught him, he was solely accompanied by one rapper and a DJ, so it was a pleasant surprise to see that the festival show had a huge 10-piece band. Clad in white shirts and black trousers, Big Boi's large crew featured percussion, horns, and background vocals - which really allowed his creativity and catalog to shine. more ›

Editor's Note: This fantastic interview was contributed by guest writer and aspiring music journalist Ruth Griffin. From fork-lifter to critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, Kurt Vile seems to be the role model of every kid working a day job, just hoping to make it big someday. After jumping from label to label, Vile finally found sanctuary in Matador Records. With his latest, and most cohesive album, Smoke Ring for My Halo, this guy has built a masterpiece from the ground up, destined for greatness from the beginning. His entrancing swoons of sincerity coupled with his harmonious yet melancholy aesthetic have put him at the forefront of the indie music scene, and has earned him a much anticipated Friday afternoon ACL performance. Seemingly unfazed by such a glowing reputation, the lovely Kurt Vile got a chance to give the Austinist some updates on his venture into the spotlight, enlightening us on his counterparts, the Violators, his admiration for Matador, and, naturally, some good old 90210. more ›

The Austin City Limits festival has confirmed their second Sunday headliner: Manu Chao. Chao will perform in his La Ventura trio format, which is a more acoustic-based show than some of his past Austin and ACL appearances. Chao fills the void in the top tier of the schedule for early Sunday evening; the French artist who sings in roughly a half dozen language is a stadium rock act in many parts of the world, so he'll likely have no trouble entertaining Zilker Park opposite the more mellow sounds of Fleet Foxes across the park. Friday's schedule also had a late addition in Philadelphia's Kurt Vile, an indie rock artist who has received raves in Pitchfork and The Onion for his latest Matador release Smoke Ring For My Halo. Sunday passes are still available at aclfestival.com; Friday tickets are now sold out. more ›

Thanks to Kurt Vile, you don’t have to be ashamed to dust off that Bob Seger record that’s hidden away in your collection. That’s because the Philly native is taking those golden memories of classic rock and giving them a 21st century rescrubbing. With his band the Violators in tow, Vile gets his guitar hero on twice tonight: a free in-store at Waterloo Records at 7:30 and a headlining slot at Emo’s. more ›

Ok, ok, it’s been said before, and it will all be said again, but something happens to a society on edge and at war, and that something is happening now, an subconscious shiver that plays out tangibly, and literally, not just on cable and the and radiowaves but in music venues across the U.S. Will 2009 ultimately be dubbed Year of the Freakout? There’s a case to be made there, as we all the meantime follow “Mad Men,” transfixed by characters grappling with identity issues, about to be caught in a riptide of racial politics and a national disgrace of a war. Hmm. Well, it’s a good year for Halloween, as citizens all over the political spectrum slog, wade, or tip-toe through suspenseful pauses. And the Black Angels, homecomers fresh off a tour with The Raveonettes, know this. That’s why they’re hosting a freakout, complete with an event poster featuring an ambivalent, Voltron-eyed Obama in a Jean Genet-esque pose. (We guess.) more ›