The Wheeler Brothers know that you like to kick back under an old oak tree after a long day of toil and trouble and have a beer--and they're making music to capture just that feeling. This five-piece sometimes country, sometimes indie-rock band is composed of three brothers (Nolan, Tyler, and Patrick Wheeler) and a couple of their friends (Danny Matthews and A.J. Molyneaux)--all Austin natives. They released their first album, Portraits (a mix of alt-country, Americana, and the good old American love song perfect for that aforementioned beer and oak tree combo) in June of this year. For five guys riding around together in the backwoods of Tennessee in a van they're very polite and almost chipper. Their genuine interest in talking to people has earned them a diverse and devoted fan base (among them local legends Ray Benson and Bob Schneider). Write something on their Facebook page--they'll write you back. Want to meet them? Just go to one of their shows and they'll probably say "Hi!" before you do. more ›

SXSW audiences have gotten so fashion conscious that its sometimes difficult to tell the performers from the fans. Austinist's investigative photographer Steve Hopson documented musicians including Sean Lennon, Charlotte Kemp Muhl, Carolyn Wonderland, Morning Teleportation, and well-groomed fans. As his assignment was to shoot the bands, Steve promises a Part 2 post with actual stage shots of musicians by press time tomorrow. Stay tuned. more ›

This Must Be the Place - People in their homes more ›