When one thinks of Austin's recent culinary evolution, you can't help but point to Lou Lambert as the perfect symbol of symbiosis. Lambert is both a seventh-generation Texan and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America - a Texas chef who loves barbecue but has also cooked alongside Wolfgang Puck. Lambert's mix of classic Texas ingredients with forward-thinking techniques has endeared him to diners in Austin and Fort Worth for years - and now he's finally put all his best recipes and stories in one place. Co-authored with friend and author June Naylor, Lambert's Big Ranch, Big City was recently released to great acclaim. We caught up with Lambert as he drove on I-35 from his Fort Worth restaurant to his Austin one, and discussed everything from the outdated perceptions of Texan chefs to the evolution of South Congress Avenue. more ›

Rival Sons play classic rock. There’s really no other term for what this L.A. quartet does. Fronted by Scott Holiday, a blues rocking guitar hero, and Jay Buchanan, a charismatic longhair with a huge voice that mixes Paul Rodgers with Robert Plant, the band makes the kind of noise that toured arenas back in the '70s - whether the records sold or not. But the Sons’ rock & roll revivalism is probably more effective in the confines of an intimate space like Lambert’s, where their big sound has an almost overwhelming impact. more ›

Hard ‘n’ heavy blues rock has been a staple of rock & roll since Blue Cheer first cornholed Eddie Cochran and Cream cranked Robert Johnson past 11. But every once in a while a band comes along that makes the stale classic rock form(ula) seem fresh again. L.A.’s Rival Sons slap a new coat of paint on a familiar chassis, making the tires hum and the motor purr like it just rolled off the factory belt. more ›

The Fiery Furnaces are sure to dominate the cozy second floor of Lamberts both tonight and Saturday night. Fortunately, Eleanor and Matt Friedberger chose to include Austin amongst a very few stops on this tour that showcases The Fiery Furnaces in what may be their purest form: an acoustic duo. Eleanor will sing as Matt accompanies her on piano; Matt will sing a bit, too, and there are rumors of possible karaoke interludes. more ›

Chef Larry McGuire, of Lamberts Downtown Barbecue shows Texas Monthly how they make their ribeye (and why it's 25% of their sales). more ›

Adam Ahrens begins his “Wednesdays in August” residency at Lamberts tonight at 10 p.m. Ahrens first showcased his astute songwriting, finger-style guitar technique, and deep, textured vocals on 2008’s Fond du Lac. The record was released on his own label Trampa Records and garnered inclusion in the Austin Chronicle’s Texas Top 10s for the same year. more ›

As mentioned earlier this week, Hotel San Jose, Perla's, Lambert's, and a host of others have organized a huge benefit Friday evening in the Jo's and Hotel San Jose spaces on South Congress Avenue. The benefit features performances from Louisiana native and Austin resident Papa Mali and Cajun revivalists and Grammy nominees the Lost Bayou Ramblers. There's also an optional $10/plate shrimp and crawfish boil to celebrate Louisiana's coastal cooking, with all proceeds going to the Greater New Orleans Foundation's Gulf Oil Spill Fund. Speakers at the event include Texas State Representative Mark Strama and Brandi Clark of EcoAustin. While the event is free to attend, a voluntary $10 (or more) donation will be collected at the door from those willing to help toward the event goal of raising $30,000 for Gulf cleanup efforts. Austinist is a sponsor of tonight's benefit, and we highly encourage you to join us for a great night out starting at 6pm. more ›

While the past week's news on the oil spill has finally indicated some positive progress, the fact remains that the Gulf Of Mexico's ecosystem has been permanently altered. With millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf, the Louisiana coastline and coastal wetlands area has suffered a tremendous shock. With one-third of the US production of seafood coming from the Louisiana area, the fishing, tourism, and oil-related jobs in the region have been dramatically impacted.

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Riggs is living in Austin at the moment, and every Thursday this month, he’ll bestow gritty rock ‘n’ roll of the finest caliber upon us with his current band at Lamberts on 2nd and Guadalupe St. He is releasing a new record, Say Goodnight To The World in July, so expect to hear plenty of new material. Get there early and enjoy some delicious items off Lamberts’ mouth-watering menu to boot. more ›

The soulful, cosmically chilled-out and lightly funky music of Austin’s Ocote Soul Sounds has been a valued addition to the local music scene for years now. Explaining their sound as “psychedelic Latin folktronic funklore,” the project is led by Adrian Quesada (Grupo Fantasma) and Martin Perna (Antibalas) with a little help from their friends adding a colorful quilt of sounds and rounding out their retro, Afro-Latin beat vibe. more ›

The members of local collective Grupo Fantasma are a hard working bunch. When not churning out Grammy nominated records or taking a break from supporting Prince, the team of versatile musicians dazzles as Latin-funk outfit Brownout! (Le Diamant Brut). The band is currently working on a follow-up to Homenaje, Austin Chronicle's #1 Texas Album of 2007. Although Brownout!'s second album is not expected till this summer, they do plan on releasing new material in the spring via a couple of vinyl releases. Check out our interview with Johnny Lopez and Adrian Quesada from Fun Fest 2008 above and head down to Lambert's tonight for a taste of Brownout!'s sizzling concoctions. Get there early and enjoy some mighty tasty BBQ to boot. more ›

Here's a match made in heaven: Pompeii and Lamberts. Not necessarily for the "fancy bar-be-que" part, but for the upstairs venue which seems specifically built to feature the adorable music of the group. They should easily fill out the small venue and have no problem impressing the audience with their bright, many-hued pop palette. There's all kinds of pleasing elements to be tittered about. Strings? Check. Travis-y tinkling guitars? Yes, please! Good enunciation on the vocals a la Death Cab? But of course. Adding Lambert's refined stage sound, it's like you're getting to see all six Star Wars films at the IMAX for free. In 3D. On codeine. Get our drift? more ›

This past October, DJ Melodic suffered a cardiac arrest and was in a coma for 3 days. This tragedy has spurred many Austin DJs to come together and hold a benefit on Friday, January 23rd at Lambert's, for Melodic, who many hold as one of their most treasured influences (both in life, and in creativity). more ›

If you’re not familiar with Gabe Hascall’s contributions to Austin’s music history, then you best head to The Mohawk on Sunday evening when he performs a combination of new solo material as well as classics from his storied past. Hascall was a core member of The Impossibles. The band’s early ska output was a mainstay of the college and live music scene in town in the 90’s. After dealing with some internal issues, the band bounced back with 2000’s Return, boasting a new powerpop sound and a plethora of anthemic sing-alongs like “Enter/Return,” “(Never) Say Goodbye,” “Connecticut,” “This Is Fuckin Tragic,” “Oh Angelina,” and “Hey, You Kids!” The 4 Song Brick Bomb EP followed in 2001. more ›

If Friday night is date night, let us make a suggestion. How about fancy barbecue, killer bloody marys, and a pair of late night sets from two of Austin's best kept secrets? more ›

Beyond the collection of songs is an entire world of Buckley appreciation that flourishes all over the globe: his listeners are devotees, celebrating his life and work each year on his birthday. more ›

Austin-based outfit the Unfortunate Heads (not to be confused with unfortunate pants, which should, in fact, be returned for a full refund before the window of opportunity closes and you're stuck with that particular plaid monstrosity hanging in your closet like a bad memory) are apparently on the verge of wrapping up their next album, which, while exciting, means that they'll be out of the limelight for a bit. Catch them before they get their noses to the grindstone and disappear from the public eye for the next month while they get that record all sorted out. more ›

We here at Austinist jump at the chance to catch shows upstairs at Lamberts, home of fancy bar-b-que. What really sets this restaurant apart is they've developed into a terrifically diverse musical venue, showcasing Austin's best acts in an intimate setting with great sound, to boot. more ›

Sometimes you hear bands that are just meant, like, by the sheer nature of their music, for the soundtrack of a badass film--a preferably artsy film, and quite possible violent. Surely, when that movie is indomitably un-Hollywood, it's makes for all the better listening, as the somewhat problematically named Horse + Donkey headline a nice little set tonight at Lamberts Downtown Barbeque, a fine dining establishment and music house in the heart of the 2nd Street district. Sounding not terribly unlike a European-influenced and pop-suppressant version of recent indie hypesters Tapes N Tapes, Horse + Donkey mushes a churningly forward-moving bass rhythm, jangling surfer guitars, steady percussion, and confident vocals into music it'd be no shock hearing as the credits roll. more ›

There is absolutely no reason to stay in on Friday evening. Whether it's DJ Shadow at La Zona Rosa or Future Clouds and Radar at The Parish, downtown offers you a wide variety of music to kick off your weekend. more ›

With all due respect, It's easy to get lost in the scuffed gloss of Austin's rather self-aware indie-rock scene. Take it from us, and we honestly love the damned thing, in all of its shabby hipster glory. We just sometimes need a change of pace to keep a healthy perspective on all the different pockets of music in this crazy burg. This evening, we encourage you, if you're so inclined, to join us for an evening of solid, unconventional artistry in a scene that is thriving and gaining Austin national recognition for something other than our hallowed go-to bands. more ›