For years, the Austinist staff has fielded queries from friends and acquaintances about SXSW goings-on. "Can I walk to The Salt Lick?" "Does it really take 90 minutes for a Casino El Camino burger?" But most of all: "What showcase do you recommend to see some good new bands I don't know about?" This year, we've made the answer official. Austinist is presenting an official nighttime showcase featuring six different American acts at Spiro's on Thursday, March 13. We've done a lot of listening to different bands and entire showcases, and believe that this one has great potential to impress you. The roster:...

This show has been canceled due to the on-going ice storm. -ed. Emo's Lounge, in its relative infancy, has already come into its own as a indie-rock venue unafraid of breaking the mold to host more diverse acts. We've seen some great shows, drank our share of reasonably priced drinks, and used the rather odd restrooms, thus far being more than satisfied with the place. Tonight will be no different, with a great lineup......

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.......

It looks like we were hornswoggled by the fake announcement earlier this week from Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel, Elephant Six Collective), announcing an upcoming album and tour dates. In an E6 message board posting, Fakey McMotherFaker claimed that new material might be on the way, and went on to ramble about giant eggs and Michael Bolton and other crazy things. Hell, even Pitchfork was all conflicted 'n shit, first saying that Kelly Ruberto from......

It's mostly unrelated to Austin, but while we're on the subject of Neutral Milk Hotel, Jeff Mangum reportedly posted this on an Elephant 6 message board yesterday: hello again. for the past few months ive been putting together the pieces of everything ive written in the past three years and its been a revelation. whenever i had the time ive been writing melodies and keeping them in my head for later, and songs just accumulate,......

Lo-fi indie psych-pop clan Elf Power are currently on tour supporting their eighth album, Back to the Web (Rykodisc). Hailing from Athens, Georgia, the bunch were part of the Elephant Six Collective, alongside such indie greats as Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo and Of Montreal. Check 'em out at Emo's tonight, where they'll be playing with The Instruments, The Paper South, and Peel. In just a few days they'll be heading across the Atlantic......