Lots of stuff going on this weekend, as if to give you plenty to remember before you brace yourselves for the ONSLAUGHT of Christmas cheer and/or enjoy the waning days of Hanukkah's oil-based miracle. Perhaps the most impressive show going down this weekend happens tonight, at the Octopus Project's show at the East Side Drive-In. Supporting their new record Hexadecagon, the Project have a unique plan for this performance. From the press release: "The band plays in the round, surrounded by the audience, who are in turn surrounded by an eight-channel surround sound system while a four-projector, eight-image video system erupts overhead." Got it? more ›

As we mentioned earlier this week, Neil Young will be performing at Bass Concert Hall on Saturday, June 5. Tickets are now on sale, and you can get them at Texas Performing Arts.org. more ›

Legendary folk singer Neil Young is hitting the road in 2008 on the Twisted Road tour. A few dates had been released prior to this posting, but today we're happy to announce that Young will indeed be performing in Austin, at Bass Concert Hall, on Saturday, June 5. These dates mark his first in this region in over a decade. British-by-Scotland folk legend Bert Jansch (Pentangle) will open the shows. more ›

Neil Young sang that "the same thing that makes you live can kill you in the end." It’s a sentiment I return to again and again—most often when reflecting on failed romances, but also regarding stuff like work. Lately, Neil’s quote has been cropping up when I try to wrap my pretty little very popular head around the concept of the big, bad, beautiful, beastly thing we call the Internet, which has brought so many good things but also led to all sorts of fucked-up-edness. more ›

Liam Finn has seen a lot of the world lately, albeit from the stages of pubs, clubs, and arenas. The 24-year-old New Zealander has 126,000 frequent flyer miles at the moment, thanks to a year spent touring both as a guitarist for Crowded House and promoting his new Yep Roc album I'll Be Lightning. The self-produced and performed record finds Finn in a reflective mood, and alternates between indie chamber-pop and much more rocking material. Currently on tour with Pela, Finn will drop in for a handful of SXSW gigs before heading back on the road to open on Eddie Vedder's solo tour. We spoke to Liam Finn this week about Neil Young, loop pedals, and London. We encourage you to attend the Austinist-Gothamist day show on March 12th to see him! more ›

Think male/female indie harmonies, and what comes to mind? Mates of State? Well, try letting your lips get comfortable with Arthur & Yu. They are the childhood nicknames of Seattle multi-instrumentalists Grant Olsen (Arthur) and Sonya Westcott (Yu), and their debut, In Camera, is an organic, acoustic folk delight. Flute sounds, wood blocks, glockenspiel and plenty of tambourine along with conventional rock elements create a sound that’s minimal yet layered. In Camera is not only... more ›

It did not take long for us to fall in love with Brothers And Sisters’ sunny side up folk-rock as heard on their eponymous full-length debut. The band specializes in pop tinged alt-country with melodies reminiscent of '60s era California and harmonies fit for any decade and state. They recently finished recording a new EP in L.A. -- a five song effort including three new songs, an alternate version of “Sunday Living”, as well... more ›

Every fall, Austin looks forward to ACL Fest, and each year, there's always a point where two of your favorite bands are playing on different sides of the park at the exact same time. ACL Band Clash is a weekly series in which Austinist scribes Paige Maguire and Tom Thornton examine the worst ACL scheduling clashes, and try to provide good advice on finding a resolution. Well, good advice might be a stretch, but... more ›

Fionn Regan The End of History (Lost Highway)The End of History signals the auspicious beginnings of this Irish singer/songwriter who strikes up comparisons to Ryan Adams, Neil Young and at times, Conor Oberst. The occasional female backing vocal, banjo and violin are spun around herculean, plucked acoustic numbers and personal tales beaming with imagery and intelligent melody. “Be Good Or Be Gone” and especially “Put a Penny in the Slot” showcase the authenticity of... more ›

In the first bit of Las Manitas news this year that has nothing to do with small business displacement or forgivable loans, Academy Award winning director Jonathan Demme has announced plans to shoot a new film at the embattled downtown eatery. The film (mentioned at the tail end of this Washington Post article) will apparently be a concert documentary featuring Austin roots rocker Alejandro Escovedo. No word yet on a timeframe for the shoot, but... more ›

After a month of guesswork, the ACL Fest lineup is here. And it's quite a good one. While the wild speculation of headliners like Neil Young and Stevie Wonder once again proved false, the key items one sees this year are depth and balance. Having spent yesterday looking over the roster, we have the following observations on the 2007 edition of ACL. The Good: A Great Top 10. Had you told us that we'd... more ›

Another special night of local music beckons Friday at the baby Emo’s (Lounge). Headlining will be fast rising favorites Golden Bear, featured recently as the Artist Of The Day by Spin Magazine, while fellow Austinites Peel celebrate the release of their self-titled debut out now on Peek-A-Boo Records. Sandwiched between the two are the Midgetmen who specialize in beer infused punk n’ roll fit to kick off any weekend, or week-day for that matter.... more ›

Seattle's Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter drew raves in alt.country circles for their 2004 album Oh, My Girl. They opened gigs for similar artists like Neko Case and Richard Buckner and seemed to have found a niche. That made listening to Sykes' newest Barsuk album Life, Love, Lust & The Open Halls Of The Soul awfully surprising. The twang is mostly gone, replaced by grittier singing, a dark but loose vibe reminiscent of... more ›

Eric Woodruff, formerly of Delay, a space-rock outfit out of Washington, has been churning out material for his new project, Prosser. The final product is a pleasant miasma that's rather hard to classify simply as another offering from a singer-songwriter. He's Matthew Ryan without the gravel and Pinetop Seven without the pathos. Is it alt-country? Is it psych-something? No matter, it doesn't take abbreviated slang music terminology to enjoy the multi-instrumentalist's eponymous debut album.... more ›

If you're a fan of dreamy indie-pop and you haven't spent time with a Sparklehorse album, watch out. The North Carolina-based Mark Linkous and his band play hazy, epic music that is worth getting to know. All of the proper credits are here: production from Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev mainstay Dave Fridmann, a guest spot from Danger Mouse, and even some added credibility via a collaboration with Tom Waits. Add this to prior work... more ›

Despite mammoth popularity in the UK, Europe, and Japan, Paul Weller remains largely unknown in America. Since forming The Jam in the late 70's, Weller has been the UK's answer to Neil Young, the "Modfather", perpetually moving forward while always showing his fandom for bands like The Who, The Small Faces, and the English 'Northern Soul' music so popular in Weller's youth. At once a member of the same musical spaces as 'London Calling'-era... more ›

Raggedy Canadian quartet Ladyhawk dropped their self-titled debut last year on Jagjaguwar. On the heels of their accomplishment (it's a fantastic record, probably sorely over-looked in 2006) comes SXSW 2007, and you know what that means: a trip to Austin. We caught up with them somewhere in the wilds of Vancouver to talk about how awesome Austin is... Is SXSW fun or business? If it's business it's probably not fun, and if it's not... more ›

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.... more ›

Nas Hip Hop Is Dead (Def Jam) Nas' 8th studio album (and first with Def Jam) marks the end of the Jay-Z feud and the beginning of post-hip hop recording, should we believe his figurative burial scene. As one of rap's more prominent figures, the imagery begs the question: What exactly is Nas doing with this album if hip hop is dead? Are we listening to the birth of something new, or the funeral... more ›

Here's the skinny on what's new at End of an Ear and Waterloo today: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead So Divided (Interscope) So Divided might sound divided to your tender and oh-so-spoiled by Austin scene-drenched ears, but the third major-label release from the hometown favorites doesn't appear to be divided enough to disrupt. Epics interspersed with New Pornographers-ish pop treats, multi-influential backdrops and lots and lots of atmosphere make... more ›

Because we feel like you don’t have enough Canadian music in your life, we’d like to propose to you yet another opportunity to get your Canuck on . This Sunday night at Emo’s, Vancouver denizens Ladyhawk will bring some genuine, riff-heavy Canadian goods and prove, once again, that Neil Young’s influence knows no limits. Ladyhawk play the kind of guitar rock that Canada would be famous for, if only the border extended far enough south... more ›

Ben Kweller - Ben Kweller (ATO): Mr. ACL nosebleed's new disc is a strong rebound from 2004's sub-par On My Way. Despite Kweller's jangly, simple writing style, there is evidence of real maturity here, from the crisp Gil Norton production to the consistency of the material. There's nothing quite as catchy as "Wasted And Ready," but the album is a hook-filled, enjoyable indie-pop listen all the way through, and that's pretty rare these days.... more ›

Decades ago, the eucalyptus-lined, coyote-infested network of bungalows and winding roads known as Laurel Canyon, perched high above Los Angeles in the Hollywood Hills, served as the mise en scène for a countercultural revolution of herculean proportions that uprooted the music industry and launched the careers of dozens of hippie folksingers. This mythic locale is the subject of pop culture journalist and Laurel Canyon resident Michael Walker's book, Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock... more ›

Can't wait till Thursday to get your basketball fix? The NIT not getting your juices flowing? Women's tournament a little too boring for you (despite the first-ever dunk - two, no less - by a woman in a tournament game)? Then why not head over to the Convention Center tonight for a little NBDL action. Tonight you can get two Austin Toros tickets for the price of one. And you may just be watching... more ›

Just a quick one today, kids. Hang in there, SXSW is almost over. *V for Vendetta Yes, it screened at SXSW two whole days ago, and now it’s out in theatres for all the little people to see. Despite her uncanny resemblance to a 12-year-old boy, Nat Portman is the shit. (link may be NSFW) *Neil Young: Heart of Gold Jonathan Demme’s documentaryish thing chronicling two days of Neil Young’s concerts at the famous... more ›

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... more ›

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.... more ›

Before their show at the Parish Room last week, Austinist sat down for a brief chat with the boys of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - one of the hottest bands out of the East Coast this year. Over drinks at the Jazz Kitchen downstairs, the guys - Alec Ounsworth, Lee Sargent, Robbie Guertin, Tyler Sargent, and Sean Greenhalgh - were more than happy to answer the questions that you, our readers, suggested beforehand.... more ›

Much like our friends who live in New York City, we rarely go above 14th Street. Only on truly special occasions do we venture into that hub of dive bars, bad food and overpriced clothing stores known as “campus.” Tonight, however, is one of those special occasions as three rocking bands hit the stage (er, platform in the corner) at the venerable Hole in the Wall. We know it’s smoky and loud there (yes,... more ›