Somehow I overlooked the first couple of years of Fx3 as a transplant to Austin still elated and overwhelmed by the plethora of accessible live music available on the regular. But in 2009, I scored a cozy introduction manning a booth at the fest for a few hours one day in exchange for a weekend wristband. Why not, right? I had no idea what to expect and found myself pleasantly surprised by the laid back scene - not too crowded, manageable lines for beer/food, and a good mix of fans. I have since happily resigned any interest I once had in attending ACL for a yearly fling with Fun Fun Fun. And while I adore the excitement and unparalleled buzz SXSW generates, the intimacy of Fx3 has made it my favorite of Austin’s fests. more ›

It has been five whole years since The Mohawk opened, and to celebrate their reign on Red River, they're holding court for four nights, each with different headliners who have also played FFFest - Les Savy Fav, Lucero, Groupo Fantasma, and a night dedicated to just local bands (that night has free admission). more ›

As the Memphis six piece took the stage Tuesday night for a sold out show at Emo’s, frontman Ben Nichols’ first words were, “We are drunk, already,” an honest disclaimer that long-time fans come to anticipate and encourage as part of the live Lucero experience. The rowdy rockers kicked things off with “Darken My Door” off their 2009 release 1372 Overton Park, followed by “Watch it Burn” an old favorite from Nobody’s Darlings, and their famous cover of Jawbreaker’s “Kiss The Bottle.” more ›

There once was a time when melding punk rock with country twang was hardly revelatory, and on any given night at Beerland you can see the leftovers of the flash-in-the-pan alt-country genre. But it’s hard to deny how fun country-punk is compared to the stuffy Nashville pop that wins Grammys in droves. Memphis’s Lucero understands the simple joy in flaunting genre conventions. They’ve been doing it for ten years, and you can applaud them for their unflagging convictions tonight at Emo’s. more ›

Before we get into things this week, we have a few pieces of music news. First, our photographer Steve Hopson is showcasing some of his favorite shots at the Hyde Park Grill from February 23rd to April 3rd. The exhibit is called "Where Music Meets the Eye," and the opening is this Wednesday from 5-7. Spencer Perskin of Shiva's Headband Experience will perform, and you can read more here. more ›

Fun Fun Fun Fest has confirmed four more bands to this year's lineup, including Yeasayer, Kid Sister, DRI and Vega. This is in addition to already-confirmed performers Atlas Sound, Death, Red Sparowes, WHY?, Broadcast, Lucero, Les Savy Fav, GZA (performing Liquid Swords), HEALTH, Jesus Lizard, Melt Banana, 7 Seconds, King Khan & BBQ Show, Shearwater and Todd Barry. More leaks expected very soon. more ›

This Friday evening, Emo’s hosts one of our favorite Tennessee bands, Lucero. Increasingly popular locals Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears open -- check our interview with Lewis and Zach Ernst at last year’s Fun Fest via Roxwel’s site. more ›

Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears have quickly become a favorite, dynamite-packed act in Austin. Their bluesy instrumentals and funky lyrics typically attract a wide crowd of far-reaching musical tastes which we expect to be no different at their show this Friday at Emo’s. more ›

Filling the dead-space between indiedom and the first major label outing for his band Lucero, Ben Nichols’s solo debut is as quiet and mannered a record as he’ll ever sing on. The sound - a bed of rambling guitar, pedal steel, piano and accordion more ›

This is a star-studded tour if you’re into gritty, gravely punk. It’s Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music, Tim Barry of Avail and Ben Nichols of Lucero all playing solo sets, but it usually ends up with the guys all playing on the stage backing one another. more ›

Sit at the bar with a Lucero fan and you’ll hear a lot about Ben Nichols, and rightly so. In the quiet war of big personalities under the alt-country big-tent, Nichols holds his own; as the Memphis band’s creative hub and lead singer, he’s more brash and less deliberately poetic than Tweedy, and he’s held closer to his punk rock roots than Ryan Adams. If any other big name comes close to Nichols, it’s Patterson Hood careening off the edge. Regardless, he plays in that league. But for a guy to garner such constant comparisons to The Boss, The Replacements, and all of the above – and to stick out from every other singer who mythologizes Darkness On The Edge of Town – he needs a band. Nichols’s crew pulls all sorts of weight, but their sound isn’t gussied up or overly technical or bursting with embellishments. Even more than Nichols’s grating growl, this is where the punk starts to show – the band just puts in work, shoulder-to-wheel, fast and loose, and the songs (and Nichols) benefit as a result. more ›

Call ‘em Cowpunk. Call ‘em alt. country. Call ‘em country-ish indie rock. But, whatever tag you affix on Memphis rockers Lucero know that there will come a time at least once in your life when their gritty, twangy, whiskey-soaked tunes of hard livin’ fit snugly like a wooden peg. And maybe, that time is during South by week. more ›