We're OK when television networks choose to curb the amount of gratuitous "adult" content in prime-time programming, but we've always figured that such stuff, within reason, was fair game on cable networks. After all, Comedy Central has a sketch comedy show starring a naked trucker, FX's Nip/Tuck once had one of its stars engaging in gross raunchy sex with a mother-daughter duo, and Fox News regularly gets away with putting Bill O'Reilly on the......

Mundane societies often pave the way for artistic innovations and highly creative individuals. Not to imply anything about various areas in England, but one frequently hears murmurs about its bleaker areas, be it Sheffield or Nottingham. And it was the latter’s working class culture that gave rise to IV Thieves. Originally named Nic Armstrong and the Thieves, it didn't take very long for the band to change its name, implying more of a fair......

Once upon a time in Nottingham, England's "Capital of Crime," four young working-class lads met and started a band. The brill quartet was spearheaded by Nic Armstrong, but it's no secret that Johnny Aitken, Shane Lawlor and Glenn Wedgewood are all incredibly talented and undoubtedly the dog's bollocks. If you weren't as arsholed as the rest of us at Austinist's recent Local Music Is Sexy do, you probably remember the cracking quartet's impressive live......

Austinist is having a big bash at Mohawk on Thursday. You know this much. But perhaps you don't know anything about IV Thieves (who were formerly named Nic Armstrong and the Thieves before getting all democratic). That's OK - we'll help you. Let's start with this tidbit: Oasis love them. And much like Mikey from the Life cereal ads, Oasis hate everything. But Noel Gallagher thinks that "they're pretty special" and that "they'll be......

If you're not heading over to the Parish tomorrow night after our party at Birds Barbershop, here are two excellent alternatives: The IV Thieves -- that's "4," mind you -- formerly known as Nic Armstrong and the Thieves, returned to Austin a mere week ago after a whirlwind stateside tour supporting The Pretenders. Originally hailing from the tiny village in England of Nottingham, this lovable foursome now (mostly) call Central Texas their home. They'll be......

WEDNESDAY [19] [film] Save our Springs presents: Wildnerness River Trail and 70s Environmental Shorts at Alamo Downtown (7pm, Free) (link) [books] Larry Dierker presents My Team: Choosing My Dream Team from My Forty Years in Baseball at Barnes & Noble, La Frontera Village in Round Rock (7pm) (link) [music] IV Thieves (formerly Nic Armstrong and the Thieves), Faceless Werewolves at Stubb's (link) [music] Chip Taylor at Cactus Cafe (link) [music] Joe McDermott at Symphony Square......

Like we mentioned last week, Z-Trip is coming back to Austin this Friday as part of the Breakthrough Emerging Artists Tour (B.E.A.T.). He'll be spinning with Austin's DJ Nick Nack, as well as Tats and Thantos, over at Elysium from 9pm-2am. [Presale Tickets - $10] We're giving away a few spots on the guestlist for the show. Enter below: First Name: Last Name: Email Address: This week's AV Bits (not all artists below are......

MONDAY [17] [books] Michael Putegnat presents Laguna at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Riverboat Gamblers, Only Crime, Complete Control, Los Dryheavers at Emo's (link) [music] English Beat at Stubb's (link) [music] The return of Dale Watson & his Lone Stars at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [music] Porter Davis at Cactus Cafe (link) [travel] Austin Travel Circle Meeting at Austin International Youth Hostel (Free, 7pm) (link) [film] Peter Whitehead's Daddy at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Hail,......

[festival/music/art] First Night at Congress Avenue (All Ages, 2pm, Free/$10) [info] [tickets] [music] Nic Armstrong and the Thieves, Moonlight Towers and DJ Polecat at Club de Ville (21+, $5, Call 512-457-0900) [fabulous] Studio 54 Par-tay! at Rain (21+, Call 512-494-1150) [info] [music] White Ghost Shivers and The Small Stars at Blue Genie Art Industries (21+, 9pm, $37) [info] [tickets] [music] Flametrick Subs with Satan's Cheerleaders, Slick 57 and Basin Street at Emo's (All Ages,......

Tonight, on Thanksgiving Eve, Casino el Camino's celebrating its 11th Anniversary by throwing a gigantic party. And you're all invited. The evening's festivities look something like this [from their press release]: NIC ARMSTRONG & THE THIEVES (10pm) Austin's newest import, straight from the UK! This young Brit band's impressive songwriting and stellar musicianship are killers combined with Nic Armstrong's uncanny vocal take on 60s rock/pop/rhythm, and most of all, blues! They took ACL by......

M O N D A Y [ 2 1 ] music · Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Robards at Threadgill's music · MC Chris (Adult Swim), Snmnmn, The Ergs, America is Waiting, Bring Back the Guns and Karaoke Underground at Emo's music · Redrum and Music Lab put on Battle of the Bands 3! holidays · Marble Falls' Walkway of Lights kicked off last weekend, but you can see it through December 2nd - "meander through......

: : FRIDAY : : [music] Early Man, Atomic Bitchwax, Lions and Black Earth @ Emo's [art] "A Pairing:Exhibition of Works by Women of Wine & The Men Who Adore Them," 5:30pm-8:30pm @ Gallery Lombardi [music] St. James, Andy Davis and Matt Wertz @ Stubb's [music] The Ugly Beats and American History Project @ Beerland [music] Beta Valentine CD Release with Super Sonic Soul Squad and DJ Bigface, 8pm @ End of an Ear......

Dios (malos) Feels Good Being Somebody Asshole All Said and Done Nic Armstrong and the Thieves If We Can't Escape, My Pretty The Samples Walking Through The Snow Don't Let It Bring You Down Empty Angels The Oranges Band All the Ghosts in Your House Around the Track NextStopExJock Stars Are Ours Stuck Surf Song Cerberus Shoal Wyrm Pie for the President New One Jr. My Morning Jacket Heartbreakin Man The Dark St. James......

M O N D A Y [ 1 4 ] music · Dios (Malos), Pilotdrift and Steeltrain at Stubb's music · The Lemurs and Tarantula A.D. at the Parish Room film · Spiderhouse Cafe screens "Walmart: The High Cost of Low Price" (RSVP, Free, 10pm) (Thanks, Kate!) shopping · Austin Museum of Art's Tax-Free Day music · Piebald, Hot Rod Circuit, Hit the Light and Valient Thorr at Emo's music · Nic Armstrong and the......

: : FRIDAY : : [music] Veruca Salt, The Lovemakers and Porcelain @ La Zona Rosa [birthdayparty] Austin Metrobloggers turn one, 5:30pm @ Casino El Camino [music] South San Gabriel, The Glass Family and My Education @ Emo's [film/comedy] The Sinus Show presents "The Lost Boys," 7pm & 9:45pm @ the Drafthouse Downtown also Saturday [music] Blue October w/ Wideawake and iSOLA @ Stubb's [booksigning] Michael Corcoran signs "All Over the Map", with a......

We're absolutely, undeniably terrified of this week. See you next Monday -- if we can still remember who we are. M O N D A Y [19] film · End of an Ear and Plexifilm bring you "Saint Etienne Presents Finisterre", a film about London by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans, at the Drafthouse South Lamar. (Free! 9:45pm) music/party · Nic Armstrong & The Thieves take over Club DeVille all night long - and they're......

: : FRIDAY : : [music] The Zippo Hot Tour Semi-Finals featuring Fractious, 9pm @ The Backroom - FREE! [film] A Bunch of New Movies Open! @ your local theater [film] QT6, 7pm & 9:30pm @ Drafthouse Downtown: Grindhouse Triple Feature also Saturday [music] Mike Graff, 8pm @ End of an Ear [dance] Refraction Arts presents "Shish-ka-bob! An Inventory of Works by Amy Cone," 8pm @ The Blue Theatre [music] Palaxy Tracks, The Glass......

Because we love them, and we always support the people we love, we wanted to tell you that Nic Armstrong and his band of Thieves open for Steamroller tomorrow night at Momo’s. We don’t know much about Steamroller – maybe someone can enlighten us? Our favorite British blokes have been recording their new album for the past couple of weeks here in Austin, and they’re ready to show off all their new stuff. If......

: : FRIDAY : : [music] Nic Armstrong and the Thieves & Ian Moore @ The Parish, 9:30pm [in-store] Happy Families @ End of an Ear, 6pm [comedy] The Sinus Show's "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park" @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm & 9:45 also Saturday [theatre] The Vortex Repertory presents "La Femme: The BareBones New Works Festival," 8pm [comedy] The Austin Improv Co-op presents "The Womb of the Pagan" and "Hoover's Blanket"......

Starting this week, we're running a new feature that we're tentatively naming "Reader Reviews". Because we can't possibly all attend every single weekend concert/gig/show in town, we thought we'd open things up for everyone to comment on the bands they saw. Like so: Elizabeth McShahazmabat writes: "We showed up fashionably late to the Nic Armstrong / Thieves and World Leader Pretend show at Stubb's on Friday, but they started right when the doors opened! Was......

Because self-referentiality is our calling-card, here's what happened in Austinist this week: C U L T U R E (pop or otherwise) · American Idol auditions are next week, perfect timing for the evil undead to rise? · We got pretty hammered with Nic Armstrong and the Thieves - and forgot how to use our microphone. We also had an email chat with local rockstars AM Syndicate. · Both "The Grind" and "La Putain"......

F R I D A Y · World Leader Pretend are back in town, kicking the night off with an in-store appearance at Waterloo Records (3pm5pm) and following that with a show at Stubb's (9pm). Opening for them are none other than our new favorite English lads, Nic Armstrong and the Thieves, who'll be trying out all-new material for their forthcoming album. Those of you who were at the Parish this week know why we......

It’s no secret that Austin is a kind of haven for musicians. After all, we ARE the Live Music Capital of the World, right? All sorts of artists, bands, producers, and record labels call Austin home, or at least Second Home. And with world-renowned music fests like SXSW and ACL, our little Central Texas oasis has even more opportunities to make musicians fall in love with it. Well, add a few more to the......

We know this comes terribly late, but we had to let you know about tonight's fantastic show at The Parish, with Nic Armstrong and the Thieves opening for Scout Niblett. Nic Armstrong and the Thieves' debut LP, The Greatest White Liar, immediately calls to mind 1960s British rock bands - think Beatles, Small Faces, and the Yardbirds. Armstrong himself possesses the same sort of haunted, raspy voice much like Dylan, Elliott Smith, or early-Rolling......

This week is perhaps best summed up by the words of the English poet William Blake, who remarked: "The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom." As much as we'd like to claim that we've actually read Blake, we stole that from 24-Hour Party People. Did we forget anything? Let us know. M O N D A Y film · The Austin Film Society presents the Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund screening of "The......

You may want to sleep in today, because the rest of the week is packed with plenty of sights and sounds to keep you exhausted and bleary-eyed! MONDAY [music/swing-dancing] Paris 49 weekly set at the Continental Club, 6:30-8:30. No Cover! [music?] Karaoke! at Beerland, 9pm TUESDAY [music] British singer-songwriter Matt Hales, AKA Aqualung, at The Parish [in-store] Aqualung at Waterloo Records, 5pm [film] Austin Film Society screens Andrei Tarkovsky's "Solyaris" at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm......