This weekend Ballet Austin will re-stage one of its most powerful and memorable pieces -- Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project. Originally premiering in 2005, this 75-minute contemporary ballet was inspired by the affecting story of a Holocaust survivor and addresses discrimination and the importance of the preservation of human rights. more ›

If you've yet to see the painstakingly gorgeous backgrounds of Austin's newest game developer's God of Blades, then you owe yourself a gander. more ›

This preview contributed by new writer Michelle Nail. As if seeing St. Vincent weren’t awesome enough, the added bonus of deep-voiced, Welsh darling Cate Le Bon as opener is enough to move this event from amazing to double plus amazing. Le Bon’s childhood on her parent’s farm in Penboyr, West Wales was spent listening to her Dad’s vinyl collection and burying an apparently startling number of family pets. This mix of the musical and the macabre helped create the stew of fuzzy guitar riffs, psychedelic sounds, haunting voice, and equally haunting lyrics that have been creating quite a stir since the release of her first album Me Oh My in 2009. Le Bon caught the attention of that other famous Welsh band, Super Furry Animals, and in addition to singing with them she worked on front man Gruff Rhys’ other project Neon Neon where, she lent her talents to their debut single “I Lust You.” Fans and critics alike are anticipating further awesomeness with her upcoming album CYRK, set to drop in early 2012. more ›

The finishing touches to the 2011 Austin Film Festival lineup have been revealed, and Butter, Jeff Who Lives at Home and Union Square will be the Opening Night, Centerpiece and Closing Night films. In one quick breath, this means we'll be seeing Jennifer Garner as an ambitious butter sculptor, the new Duplass Brothers comedy starring Jason Segal and Ed Helms, and Mira Sorvino in an intense family drama (and she'll be appearing live at the screening, as well!). more ›

Tonight, at 7pm, BookWoman will host local Austinite, animal rescuer, and author Cindy Marabito as she reads from her new book Pit Bull Nation, a candid look at what goes on behind the scenes at animal shelters that take in these often mistreated and misunderstood dogs. more ›

This documentary explores the gang culture of the late 60’s and early 70’s. Using incredible “you are there” footage and present day interviews with some of the gangs’ leaders, director Shan Nicholson digs deep into this world. They struggled to survive, then to conquer, and later, to make peace, eventually finding comfort in a new type of music that would come to be called “hip hop.” more ›

Deliberately complex arrangements? Off-kilter time signatures? Afro-pop and jazz inspired guitar playing? Dirty Projectors' music takes just about every musical motif that one would associate with the term “pretentious” and combines them to form their dense, challenging albums. One of their music's side effects is that it turns even the harshest critics into gleeful schoolgirls who seemingly shriek at the mere mention of their name. While it would be easy for one to write them off as a critic's band, their ability to weave actual pop songs out of their hodgepodge of an approach is something that sets Dirty Projectors apart from many of their art rock contemporaries. more ›

As the SXSW Film Festival comes across the midway point and enters the home stretch, you’ve been offered a special gift: an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day! How nice to be able to walk out after a marathon movie session and still catch a little much-needed vitamin D. Sure, we know that’s not what you’re here for, but it’s nice to get a little fresh hour. Enjoy it! Breathe deep. Then…get right back in there! You don’t want to miss the Swiss sci-fi flick Cargo, playing at the Paramount Wednesday night. We’re sure you know where we’re going with this, but here are the magic two words: Remember Alien? more ›

It's sometimes difficult to quiet high hopes and unrealistic expectations of what a favorite band will bring to the stage during a live performance. Metric fans may be facing this quandary as they await the Canadian indie rock outfit's performance tonight at La Zona Rosa. They're touring to promote their fourth full-length album, Fantasies. Assuredely, some set time will be devoted to the these songs that we've only had under our belts since April. But will they play all the best hits from the delightfully dark collections Live it Out and and Grow Up and Blow Away? Because we'll just die if they don't play "Poster of a Girl." more ›

Pornographically peppy Canadian indie fronstman Joel Gibb has describes his Hidden Cameras sound as "gay church folk music." (This is a congregation we would definitely join.) He has also called for a ban on marriage, and suggested "let's do it like we're underage.” While he cheerfully scampers through lyrics we don’t need his degree in semiotics to interpret (and blush at), audiences at Hidden Cameras shows have in the past been treated to not-so-hidden go-go dancers, cheerleaders, video, glockenspiels, very irreverent choirs, and other things perhaps best described as etc. Just think of an agitprop Polyphonic Spree cabaret show peppered with Foucault references. You may also be asked onstage to play tambourine. more ›

Sound is in love with Regina Spektor. There’s nothing it won’t let her do. She’s made her mouth into a synthesizer, morphed her lips into a kazoo-trumpet hybrid, made heartbeats and drumsticks their own instruments, rocked hard with an unamped electric guitar, and put a piano bridge in the middle of a punk song. At first, you might not recognize that adventurous spirit on Spektor’s most recent album, Far. Listen again. more ›

An Austin band by way of Brooklyn, Neon Indian is the elusive new project of Alan Palamo (also behind the one-man electro project Vega). The name Neon Indian itself gives due justice to the type of music Palamo produces—mystical synth noise, kooky hooks, and sensual vocals. The project started as a bunch of lo-fi recordings before the No Way Down EP was made in 2008. Full of reverb and distortion, song titles like "Should Have Taken Acid With You," add to the mystique of the project. more ›

With Gossip, you're going to get a seasoned group of creative minds who are truly talented. They've got ten years under their belt in which time they've pumped out four full-length albums, a bunch of EPs and a live album. They've toured with Cindy Lauper, Le Tigre and CSS and have been remixed by MSTRKRFT, among others. Self-proclaimed feminists, Gossip must have thought it'd be cute to call their latest album "Music for Men." more ›

Nostalgia can pervade in a number of ways. There’s the undeniable scent of objects from the past that can take us down memory lane in a flash, and of course, straightforward outlets such as a photograph or a home video can easily transport us back to a romanticized time and place. Music works pretty well too. Listening to a record you enjoyed repeatedly as a child can help you reminisce endlessly. And then there are bands that just bleed a certain era. Prescott Curlywolf would fall into this final category -- you barely get through a handful of PC’s gritty powerpop ditties before you pine for Austin in the mid to late 90’s. more ›

Bat For Lashes is the craftsmanship of British singer/songwriter Natasha Khan, who stretches far away from musicians who just pick up an instrument and decide to roll with it. Khan is devoted to her work, completely emerging herself into a visual wonderland when its time to write songs. For her latest album, For Suns, she went so far as to adopt the role of her desert-born (and very blonde) alter ego, Pearl, in order to gain a better understanding of the character. The experiment served as a great excuse to wear garish feminine makeup, and the result was a more complete album full of lush tribal sounds. more ›

Tori Amos is playing Saturday night at the Long Center, part of a tour to promote her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. It's a concept album following Amos' life-long subjects: women, religion, power and sin. It harps on that desire in all of us (or at least most of us here in Austin) to want what's bad or different or obviously wrong for us. A trait so trite, yet so innate in us all. more ›

The Invincible Czars, from catchy name to daunting stage presence, are a rare breed. They bring bizarre, but methodical math-rock heavily influenced by classical music, polka, and even some country and jazz. Self-described as "a rock soundtrack to a sci-fi film with interruptions by a myriad of genres," we couldn't agree more. more ›

Information about the members of Dopplereffekt is scarce; active since 1995, the group has never been interviewed. They rarely play live. And what we do know, we can break down for you fairly quickly: the founding, and initially sole member of Dopplereffekt (they’ve been a duo since 2003) is generally thought to be Gerald Donald, AKA Rudolf Klorzeiger, once half of the pioneering electro group Drexciya. Sundry Germanic references populate many of the group’s early recordings, and as such it may not surprise you to learn that the music, most of which was collected on 1999’s Gesamtkunstwerk, is essentially a minimal electro homage to Kraftwerk. more ›

Fusebox Festival continues with a rundown of today's events. Festival passes and individual event tickets are available online. more ›

As usual, there’s a fortitude of great music to catch this weekend. But tonight’s lineup at the Parish has got us itching for the work week to end. Three promising acts — Ume, Corto Maltese and White Denim — are teaming up to bring some local flavor to music overloaded souls. more ›

Coming back from a holiday weekend is never fun - just as you've begun to relax, reality chimes in with it's nasty Monday morning alarm. Fortunately, this is Austin and that means Monday evening will be a-bumpin' with a great music, giving you reason enough to keep the party going. And we don't want any pathetic excuses like, "it's a school/work night." How often do you get the chance to hear ear drum annihilating electronic mix up music? Okay, maybe pretty often, but Crystal Castles is a little different from the rest and worth checking out. more ›

hough they just graced us with their presence in September, Ratatat is coming back to Stubb's tonight and sure to deliver a sweet mix of blissful lyric-less love. Famous for shows seething with billowing smoke and intriguing aesthetics, the members of Ratatat are surprisingly unassuming on stage. Quiet and bleak, they waste no time with chatter between tracks. more ›

Like most of their lyrics, the band name Fujiya & Miyagi was chosen by its non-Japanese members simply because they thought it sounded pretty. The British electronic group focuses on piecing pleasant phrases together rather than complex musical insignias, but we're okay with that. more ›

The versatile and prolific Rob Crow has been a part of quite a few acclaimed projects (Pinback, Heavy Vegetable, etc.) over the course of his esteemed career. He goes by Lord Phallus when delivering thunderous sludge-metal via the hilariously named San Diego five-piece Goblin Cock. Scorching riffs, humorous lyrics, and Crow’s distinct vocals constitute the heart of band’s tongue-in-cheek (?) product but one best incorporate the imagery in tow, such as the thematically appropriate fantasy art by Mike Sutfin that adorns Goblin Cock CD sleeves as well as the mysterious allure generated by the five cloaked members, to fully grasp the band’s vision. Check out the album cover for Come With Me If You Want To Live on Sutfin’s blog and the video for “We’ve Got A Bleeder” on Vimeo. more ›

There's always something special about a band releasing it's first EP. Finally, tangible proof of countless hours practicing and remixing. And the EP release show? That's just icing on the cake. Tonight is sure to be a sweet one for The Last Gasp, an Austin sextet glittering with strokes of violin and acoustic guitar. more ›

As we reflect on the fortune of free shows Transmission delivered to our doorstep this week, it’s with bittersweet symphony (bum bum bum, bum bum bum) that we part ways with Free Week. We are eternally grateful for the massive supply of great music and an excuse to party for seven days straight while never once worrying about having the cash for cover. But alas, there’s still a bit more to see! Saturday night includes many promising acts, but we especially recommend the lineup at Emo’s: DJ Remy Mac, The Black, International Waters and The Minotaurs. more ›

With hangovers subdued and normal routines back in place, it’s time to take on the New Year and explore the multitude of talented band’s you might have missed in 2008. One such under appreciated band is Killing Industry, a reggae themed indie rock outfit taking 2009 (and mediocre music) by storm with city-eating babies and soothing charm. more ›

Immerse yourself in a fog of psychedelia this Friday at Beerland courtesy of The Strange Attractors’ intricately textured soundscapes. Doses of drone and distortion serve to accentuate dark, ringing backdrops that imply impending doom but lure you in for the ride nevertheless with resounding guitars and chugging rhythms. The tunes pack plenty of punch and are executed with much aplomb; if you’re a fan of The Black Angels, you best check this band out. more ›

With December 25th fast approaching, two of Austin’s most unique bands pile on the Christmas cheer at The Mohawk on December 19th with the Golden Arm Trio & Invincible Czars Holiday Show. We caught up with Golden Arm Trio’s ringleader Graham Reynolds shortly before Fun Fest 2008 -- read our interview here. During Fun Fest itself, we coaxed in Laurie Gallardo from KUT 90.5 FM to have a brief chat with Reynolds -- watch the interview clip after the jump. more ›

There’s a special event going on tonight that’s got us all geared up and giddy. Here’s a hint: Independent. Local. Alternative. Music. (Ping!) If you’ve turned on a radio in the past two months, you probably know what we’re talking about. It’s the 4th Annual 101X Independent Workforce X-Mas at Emo’s, featuring a stellar lineup of The Ting Tings, Black Kids, Eagles of Death Metal, Airborne Toxic Event and Black and White Years. The radio station is teaming up with Vans shoes to raise money for Habitat for Humanity—a perfect way to make precious dollars count whilst bearing a sour economy. more ›