Phosphorescent returned to Austin after the recent theft of their tour van and gear. All the stolen goods were returned and Austinist photographer Trent Lesikar was there to capture Matthew Houck and company's sweaty, deep-fried, crowd-pleasing romp at The ND. more ›

After years of successfully crafting the kind of spare, smoky folk best set in the introspective blear of a middle-of-nowhere spirit journey, Matthew Houck has turned his mind and his musical output toward the exuberance of the full-blown country spectacular. That means pedal steel. And the Alabama-born musician's embrace of a bigger, more rollicking sound has been a hit so far: his newest album, Here’s to Taking It Easy, is a wonderland of seventies-style country embellished with indie production techniques and, as always, his pained, searching voice. Click MORE> for a chance at a pair of tix to the big show at ND—if Houck's shows of the past are any indication, it’ll be a good one. more ›

Phosphorescent, the woodsy and brutally honest project of Brooklyn-by-way-of-Athens-and-Alabama musician Matthew Houck, used the strength of last year's Pride to firmly establish itself as an act to be reckoned with. Combining haunting natural effects and skillful understatement, the album presents an intentionally rough-around-the-edges sound that has drawn complimentary comparisons to everyone from Dylan to Oldham. In advance of Phosphorescent's three SXSW shows, including the Austinist/Gothamist get together on Wednesday, Matthew Houck spoke to us while snowed-in in New York. more ›