Now this is what we call a Texas winter! You arrive at work bundled up in scarf and pea coat, yet leave squinting at the sun in a wife-beater. Today we've been tramping about in the wonderfully miserable weather looking forward to a cozy bill this evening at the Mohawk that is sure to warm up even the most obstinate Austin cold weather flip-flop wearer. ...

The Austin/San Francisco-based thoughtful, ambient rock group Monahans (previously Milton Mapes) is, according to The Parish calendar, having its CD release show there Thursday night. However, the album was released over a month ago, so make of it what you will. Either way, their soothing sounds of longing are sure to put you in a trancelike state, not unlike the effect of mixing old R.E.M. and hallucinogenics on a long, solemn sea voyage. Monahans’......

FRIDAY [1] music • Tacks, The Boy Disaster w. The Channel, Golden Bear at The Parish Room ® books • Jacqueline Winspear presents Messenger of Truth at BookPeople (7pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Sidekicks at Alamo Downtown (6pm, $10) film • Lawrence of Arabia at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Code of Silence at......

MONDAY [28] books • Jeff Abbott presents Fear at Barnes & Noble Westlake (7pm) ® film • The Ultimate Garlic Experience at Alamo Downtown (7pm, $25) ® film • This is Spinal Tap at Austin Java (8pm, Free) ® film • Bunny Lake is Missing at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) fashion • Huge 75% off sale at FactoryPeople TUESDAY [29] music • Plastic Constellations, Fatal Flying Guilloteens, The Boxing Lesson, We'll Go Machete at......

FRIDAY [16] [music] The Streets with Lady Sovereign at La Zona Rosa (link) [film] Raiders of the Lost Ark at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) (link) [film] Sinus Show: Showgirls at Alamo Downtown (7pm & 10pm, $12.50) (link) [film] Rolling Roadshow: Curious George at Bushy Creek (8pm, Free) (link) [books] Kinky Friedman presents Cowboy Logic: The Wit and Wisdom of Kinky Friedman (and Some of His Friends) at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Yuppie Pricks Beach Party with......

MONDAY [12] [sports] World Cup Games at Alamo Village (Through 16th, 11am & 2pm) (link) [film] Labrynth at Alamo South (Through 16th, 1pm, Free) (link) [film] Baby Doll at Paramount Theatre (7pm) (link) [film] Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel at Alamo Downtown (7pm, $10) (link) [film] Blue Velvet at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) (link) [film] GoodFellas at Austin Java (8pm, Free) (link) [film] Rolling Roadshow: Nanny McPhee at San Marcos (8pm, Free) (link) [film] Stunt Rock......

AngryRobot was kind enough to point out that the SXSW Music roster has now grown to over 1,200 bands. We're no longer able to keep track of who's new and who's already been listed, but festival organizers will have notified all qualifying bands by sometime tomorrow. Check out our list after the expandotron, or for much prettier versions we invite you to surf over to AngryRobot's: SXSW 2006 Band List, Parsed v4.0 Meanwhile, stay......

South By Southwest released another round of additions to the roster of bands scheduled to perform at this year's music festival (March 15th-19th), bringing the current total to nearly 1150. Notable bands recently added as of January 29th include Morrissey, Camera Obscura, Captain, Boy Hits Car, Billy Bragg, Bedtime for Toys, Division of Laura Lee, and SF's Hudson Bell. The full roster appears after the jump, or you check out much prettier versions at......

F R I D A Y [ 2 7 ] [music] Explosions in the Sky, Octopus Project and A Hawk and a Hacksaw at Emo's (Sold Out!) [music] Brandi Carlile at Cactus Cafe (9pm) [music] Zilla featuring Michael Travis (String Cheese Incident) at Stubb's [music] Shake Your Ass Record Release Party with Chili Cold Blood, This Damn Town, Possessed By Paul James, Black Joe Lewis & Cool Breeze at Beerland [music] Chant, Exit, and......

W E D N E S D A Y [ 2 5 ] [music] St. James Inc, Hurts to Purr and Mike Blackhurst at Stubb's (8pm) [music] Akron/Family, Mi and L'au, Shearwater at Emo's [music] "Old Man Night," with skate videos, DJ Vomitnoise, free pizza from Slices and Ices, and special raffles and giveaways at Beerland [film] Screening of Fearless Freaks director Bradley Beesley's "Hill Stomp Holler," plus a set by John Schooley at......

The roster of bands scheduled to perform at this year's South by Southwest Music Festival has grown to over one thousand, with several hundred still unannounced. If you're not on this, don't fret -- just yet. SXSW coordinators are promising to contact all selected bands by February 7. Meanwhile: The housing market during the festival is looking rather healthy. SXSW is still looking for volunteers Registration rates are at their penultimate price points before......

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)......

Ty Chandler is a man with a mission, and this mission is to get his favorite bands (many of them Austin bands) listened to and appreciated. Because it seems like every other person in Austin is in a band (or writing a screenplay, but that's another story) and because the booking in town is so competitive (largely due to the questionable amibtion of one powerful booking agent), his mission has been a difficult one.......