On Wednesday night, Austin was treated to show #2 of Har Mar Superstar's February residency at Mohawk. Our photographer Pooneh Ghana was there to capture the fun. more ›

Since 2000, King Khan has been spreading his love like peanut butter with the Shrines, a variously seven-, eight- and nine-member psychedelic soul band, with all the trappings (baritone sax, bad haircuts) to go with it. more ›

The molten garage howl of King Kahn and the Shrines touches down at the Mohawk tonight. After a contentious, internet-induced break up with longtime collaborator, BBQ Show (aka Mark Sultan), Kahn tours again with a new Scion A/V EP. Somewhere at the intersection where The Sonics meet Stax Records, Kahn and the Shrines a reputation for a cage match live show without the cage. Rock and roll super exes, Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed once asked them to "put back the danger into the devil's music”. Here’s your chance to witness a reverse exorcism. more ›

On Sunday night, two fresh New York exports brought a genre-bending showcase to Mohawk, courtesy of Gorilla vs. Bear. A sold out crowd packed in to the inside stage for Brooklyn-based newcomers Ava Luna, who combine doo-wop, gospel, rhythm and blues, and electro-pop with their melting pot sound. Think Dirty Projectors’ girl/guy harmonies and falsetto mixed with soul that stylistically fluctuates from '70s deep grooves to '90s diva - the sixtet’s eclectic compositions create a truly unique experience. more ›

Victor Villarreal has had a long and storied career. As the guitarist for the hugely influential Cap'n Jazz, he developed a distinctive style that carried over to his work with Cap'n Jazz projects Owls, Ghosts & Vodka, and Joan of Arc. As a solo artist, he has explored many different variations on guitar music and has continued to uphold his reputation as one of indie's most influential and important six stringers. However, it was only last week that Villarreal released his first album's worth of solo material, Invisible Cinema. One can only assume that his set will consist heavily of songs from the album. Joining Villarreal are The Eastern Sea, Meryll, and My Empty Phantom. more ›

Scarface was over an hour late, more than that if you count the time it took him to set up. It was to the point that people were leaving to move their cars out of the dwindling times on their parking meters. It’s not a good look if you’re a touring musician, especially in the notoriously-solipsistic rap-game. When he did finally emerge into the murky lights of the Mohawk, he made a half-hearted bristle about it being cold outside and slipped off his vest. “I thought it was gonna be an indoor joint” as his ridiculously-extended crew filled their spots around the stage. Scarface was the only one with a microphone, and ostensibly the only one on payroll besides the miniature DJ behind him. The most prominent member of his posse was a giant dude decked in all black - he had iPod earbuds poking out of his shirt and filling the side of his head, adding a deeper wrinkle to the never-ending mystery of what it’s like to be that guy. It didn’t phase anyone - why should it? This was teeth-gritted professional rap music from a guy who’s been in the business long enough to get by on prestige alone. Nothing less, but precious little more. more ›

The Sea and Cake have been playing together since 1994, which translates to a solid seventeen years of jazzy indie-pop creation spanning nine full-length albums. That longevity was on display Thursday night at The Mohawk, as the quartet threw down a solid set on the outdoor stage. more ›

JC Brooks live at the Mohawk last week wasn’t exactly anti-climactic, but the dismal attendance, pushed-back start time and multiple “warm up” acts did have the unfortunate effect of depleting the crowd and the energy in the room. more ›

Comparing Talib Kweli to Mos Def is criminally unfair, but then again, we are living in a time of swollen nostalgia for the pop of the last twenty years, and it’s not like Black Star haven’t cashed in. more ›

Even if lead singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston hadn't said "I don't think we've had this much fun on stage all tour," towards the end of their set, it was obvious that Braids were enjoying themselves immensely throughout their gorgeous performance at the Mohawk. Few young bands possess the kind of chemistry that the Montreal quartet do, and their immense talents played off of each other to make for a performance that felt well deserving of Standell Preston's sentiments. more ›

The last time Austin saw 400 Blows, this unabashedly brutal and deceptively sophisticated big beat punk trio challenged a rapt audience at the Emo's East Grand Opening to put on their Sunday best and take brazen, off-kilter stroll through the tough side of town. It hardly would have been appropriate for these gents to wreck a brand new multimillion dollar venue before their tour mates Butthole Surfers took the stage, but tonight the tables are turned. It’s 400 Blows’ party as they headline at the Mohawk, hot on the heels of the release of their highly addictive album Sickness and Health. 400 Blows are not for the faint of heart or weak of mind. Best advice is to take it all in, let them slam you against the wall, and laugh about it after the fact. more ›

2008's "First Communion" - is this not the killer apocalyptic worldbeat single for which all the world was waiting? Simultaneously shaking the scene by its limbs while handing M.I.A. her ass, Gang Gang Dance have infiltrated real rhythm into the self-conscious New York rock scene (and how). Their call to arms was the misleadingly-titled Revival of the Shittest in 2004, and their latest for 4AD is called Eye Contact. The album includes a guest spot from Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor, and it pleasingly stretches the web between political art rock and club bangers. more ›

Photos of NYC outfit Les Savy Fav's headlining set last night at Mohawk, as they kicked off the first of Mohawk's four-day long birthday celebration. Photos by Pooneh Ghana. more ›

You know what? Junior Boys are a very geeky entity. Dampened, city-slicker Canadian electro-soul from a city called Hamilton, mostly about being bummed out or the jarring complexities of adulthood relationships? It could be a side-gag in a Rogan flick - the Ontarian duo was so directly not-joking in their synth-flavored ballads, that they forced the world to regard them as a concern, not pastiche. Especially considering 2002’s Last Exit came when there was still a major schism between dance nerds and indie-rock dorks. It remains one of the most unlikely of rises in the modern era. more ›

The Monday after ACL isn't exactly the best time to gather a crowd for yet another show, but Two Gallants defied the odds with a crowd of dedicated super-fans gathering for a sold-out show (inside) the Mohawk. Having taken an exaggerated hiatus from their two-man band, this was the first time Two Gallants have performed together in town since SXSW 2008. That, along with the promise and prompt delivery of a new batch of songs from the boys, made for an exciting reunion for the duo and fans alike. more ›

Following a two year hiatus, Adam Stephens and Tyson Vogel have reformed as Two Gallants to take their dueling guitar-drum act back to the road for a summer tour that stops in Austin tonight. The San Francisco-based boys are childhood friends that had been playing music together for years before officially forming their folk-punk two man show in 2002. more ›

We’re used to hearing stories of musicians moving to our city limits to ply their trade, but Austin can lose a few, too. Such is the case of Monarchs, the soul-pop band led by Celeste Griffin. She’s packing up and moving the outfit to the bright lights of New York City. But before she leaves, you can say goodbye tonight at the Mohawk where Monarchs will be saying “au revoir, Austin” and hello to a fall mini-tour. more ›

Combined with their frenetic playing and unbridled enthusiasm, drummer David Prowse and guitarist/lead singer Brian King led an all out frenzy on the tiny Mohawk stage that ably proved why Japandroids are one of the premier indie rock bands to emerge over the last few years. 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 ›

Friday night the Handsome Furs played for a jam-packed, sweaty crowd at Mohawk. Throughout the show the Montreal-based husband/wife duo of Dan Boeckner (formerly of Wolf Parade) and Alexei Perry could not have demonstrated more enthusiasm for their fans and the livelihood they afford them. At their first non-SXSW performance, they blasted through new tracks showcasing their newest release, Sound Kapital, while pausing between songs to catch their breath, engage with the crowd, and steal kisses from one another. more ›

Dan Boeckner (formerly of Wolf Parade) and Alexei Perry have been hard at work, touring feverishly in support of their newest release and their third album, Sound Kapital. Tonight the sexy Canadian indie-pop husband/wife duo known as Handsome Furs return to Austin. With guitar and electronics, the duo's sound is driven by Perry's drum machine manipulations and Boeckner's edgy, urgent vocals--a winning combination that gives their sound an equal measure of punk-punch and dance-ability. While their content often reflects current cultural themes that drift to dystopian depictions in songs like "Confused" and "What About Us", their aggressive energy consistently shifts to positive reaffirmations for an overall powerful and infectious live experience that we highly recommend. more ›

Don't you think it's about time you debut that rendition of 'Red Red Wine' you've been practicing in the shower for the past week? Well you're in luck. Austinist knows how to karaoke and tonight we challenge you and your pals to step to the stage to join us for another round of Austinist Indieroke. more ›

The team behind Austin Psych Fest has built a reputation for their selective showcases and epic parties and tonight is no different - they’ve prepared an all-star line up with members of The Dum Dum Girls and King Kahn’s BBQ Show as they celebrate the UFO Club/Night Beats split album release. Also on the bill is the premier performance of the UFO Club, the collaboration/side project of Lee Blackwell from Night Beats with Christian Bland from The Black Angels. more ›

Tonight, Mohawk will host an Austin band-sandwich around visiting Vancouver band World Club. All three groups delve into the dreamy depths of experimental pop, each with their own interesting take on the sound. more ›

Over the past five years, Brooklyn’s Woods have crafted an immense musical world to dive into. Each year has seen multiple releases spread across full-length albums, tapes, 7”-singles, and collaborations with other acts, all released on the band’s thriving record label Woodsist. The music itself is analog-recorded psychedelic folk, full of tape hiss, sound collages, guitar freak-outs, and Jeremy Earl’s distinctive falsetto warble. Despite the recorded-in-a-broom-closet sound, the group tours relentlessly. On the heels of the third annual Woodsist festival held in Big Sur, California, Woods rolled into the Mohawk on Friday night. more ›

Earlier this summer, the experimental, folky, four-piece known as Woods dropped Sun & Shade--their fourth full length album since their debut in 2007 (not to mention EPs, singles, and albums produced by Woodsist). The album further demonstrates an explorative nature that continues to expand and evolve. In addition to their unique cassette effects, Woods varies their basic song structure with riffs that range from quick, Beach Boys-esque surf pop, to acoustic-driven folk songs with whimsical lyrics, to a wandering 10-minute acid trip void of any lyrics at all ("Sol y Sombra"). The result is pleasantly catchy and enchanting. They take risks and pull it off swimmingly with a refreshing balance of curiosity and assurance. See for yourself Friday night when Jeremy Earl (singer/guitartist), G. Lucas Crane (tape-effects technician), Kevin Morby (bassist), and Jarvis Taveniere (multi-instrumentalist) hit the stage at Mohawk. Before they took to the road, Austinist caught up with Jarvis Taveniere to discuss what it's like living with your bandmates, the lure of Big Sur, the novelty of cassette, and what it means to be in a band labeled "psych-folk." more ›

The career arc of Mission of Burma reads like a music critic’s failed screenplay: A group of Boston music vets—with a noted affinity for experimental composers like John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen—form a punk band that toils in relative obscurity, releasing a few singles, an EP, and a hell of a debut album before breaking up due to the guitarist’s painful tinnitus. This could have been the band’s epitaph, but thanks to reunion tours, a cult following, and the internet, Mission of Burma have now been elevated to Important Band Status—and rightly so. Now a new generation gets to rub elbows with those original fans and that original sound tonight at the Mohawk. more ›

The Wooden Birds consists of a growing group of creative musicians who, in parts, have worked together on various projects - namely American Analog Set and Matt Pond PA. Currently touring as a quartet, Andrew Kenny (lead singer), Leslie Sisson (lead guitar/vocals), Sean Haskins (drums) and Matt Pond (guitar) reflect their previous projects in The Wooden Birds' sound, but continue to grow into something truly their own. Last month they released Two Matchsticks, the follow-up to their 2009 debut Magnolia. Pulling from their touring experience (over 100 shows in a year!), Two Matchsticks’ is fuller then their previous album, with a calming and rustic vibe that reflects the laid back setting in which it was was recorded - a converted bedroom studio at Kenny’s home right here in Austin. more ›

Sunday night The Coathangers take the stage inside Mohawk to rock out with tunes from their newly released third album, Larceny & Old Lace. The Atlanta-based quartet (Julia Kugel on guitar/vocals, Stephanie Luke on drums/vocals, Candice Jones on keyboard/vocals, and Meredith Franco on bass/vocals) began as a band of girlfriends learning as they go, and matured into a feisty female foursome delivering hook-driven songs on what’s been recognized as their strongest effort to date. more ›

Wayne Kramer is no stranger to causes. As guitarist for the highly influential MC5, the veteran songwriter/six-string slasher played many a benefit and stumped (musically) for many a position, and he’s continued his charitable work in his solo career. Nearest and dearest to Kramer’s heart is Jail Guitar Doors, the organization he formed with British folk rocker Billy Bragg that donates musical instruments and organizes outreach programs to folks behind bars, encouraging rehabilitation, reducing prison violence and supporting prison reform. The duo launched the org at SXSW 2010 in Austin, and now Kramer is blasting back for "Howling at the Moon," a benefit show whose proceeds go to JGD’s work with the Travis County Correctional Facility. Kramer still burns with the spirit that powered the MC5, and his solo material rocks just as righteously as his work with the Five. Want to hear “Kick Out the Jams” performed by the man who wrote it? Now’s your chance, and in support of a worthy cause as well. more ›