Once again, Beerland is delivering the goods this week with a four bands worth of impressive up and comers. For hyperactive guitar-led jams that feature whip smart drums and a keyboard backbone, look no further than Shapes Have Fangs. Also harnessing the kinetic energy of garage jams are Diagonals, whose frontman Steve Garcia also rocks in Peek-A-Boo records signees Black Lipstick. more ›

California’s Novice headlines a cracking pop bill this Wednesday at Room 710. Future Warped Tour candidates, the band expertly combines catchy melodies, energetic power pop, and mall-punk production. Novice’s discography includes A Day Out In The Sun EP (2003), Interrupting The Scenery (2004), and Forgive The Silence (2006), along with this year’s self titled EP. On the road, they have played with the likes of Less Than Jake and Shiny Toy Guns. The Most,... more ›

MONDAY [2] books •Peggy Collins presents Help Is Not a Four-Letter Word at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy •22nd Annual Funniest Person in Austin Contest at Cap City Comedy Club (Check site for lineup) film •Serge Gainsbourg Birthday Feast at Alamo Downtown film •"El Duce Vita" with The Mentors at Alamo Downtown food •Central Market Cooking Class: Midnight in the Garden of Food and Evil at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($40, 6:30-9pm) music... more ›

Fútbol in the United States has had its share of peaks and valleys. From the heyday of the North American Soccer League (NASL) to the quarter final run of the national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup , there have been quite a few success stories in a country that is supposedly averse to the sport. Austin, too, has had its share of hits and misses. The Austin Lone Stars, Austin Lightning, and the... more ›

*This post comes from contributor Matt Smith.* Standing at the bar last Monday, about halfway through Black Heart Procession's set at The Parish, we chanced to overhear the following: "Man, these guys are a downer. You wanna jet?" Given that the statement was uttered between two rather frattish types, our first instinct was to scoff, "No shit! This is Black Heart Procession, you clueless plebeians!" Then, it suddenly occurred to us that this show was a downer. We've never desired to be the yes-men surrounding a naked Emperor, and forcing ourselves to take an objective view of a performance by a band we'd otherwise fiercely defend was difficult. Unfortunately, we were forced to agree with our polo-shirted comrades. more ›

MONDAY [24] [film] The Pop Films of Peter Whitehead Series at Alamo Downtown (7pm) LINK [film] The Pink Panther at Paramount Theatre (7pm) LINK [film] Nightwatch at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) LINK [film] Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind at Austin Java (8pm, Free) LINK [film] KOOP Monthly Benefit Screening: Granito de Arena at Monkeywrench Books (8pm, $5) LINK [film] The Big Lebowski at Café Mundi (8:30pm, Free) LINK [film] The Party at Paramount Theatre... more ›

MONDAY [17] [books] Michael Putegnat presents Laguna at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Riverboat Gamblers, Only Crime, Complete Control, Los Dryheavers at Emo's (link) [music] English Beat at Stubb's (link) [music] The return of Dale Watson & his Lone Stars at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [music] Porter Davis at Cactus Cafe (link) [travel] Austin Travel Circle Meeting at Austin International Youth Hostel (Free, 7pm) (link) [film] Peter Whitehead's Daddy at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Hail,... more ›

The throngs descended upon Flamingo Cantina last Saturday night to celebrate “The Comeback Issue,” the first release in the second volume of Misprint Magazine, and to imbibe free Lone Star tallboys. The beer-fueled mirth was supplemented by DJ Sex Machine's ample spinning and spirited performances from Pink Nasty, Golden Bear, The Channel, and Acadia. For those of you who are unaware, Misprint Magazine “is a bi-monthly cultural publication from Austin” and a trove of... more ›

FRIDAY [14] [music] The Arm CD Release, with Single Frame, Faceless Werewolves and Lomita at Emo's (link) [music] Sound Tribe Sector Nine with Govinda at Stubb's Austin (link) [music] Matt Nathanson at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm) (link) [music] Til We're Blue or Destroy at Beerland (link) [music] The Weary Boys Release Show at Continental Club (12:15am) (link) [party] Car Stereo (Wars) at Plush (10pm-2am, $2 Lone Stars) (link) [music] Loxsly and The Lemurs at Blue... more ›

Perennial Continental Club staple Dale Watson is calling it quits after this month. According to an interview with the Chronicle's Darcie Stevens, he'll be moving in January to Baltimore (which is almost as exciting at Austin, if you have a particularly vivid imagination) to be with his daughters. We're sure he'll be back eventually, but here are his remaining show dates for the year: Tonight, December 23rd: Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke Sunday,... more ›