Deer Tick, or John McCauley, has fast made name for himself with a series of self-released records as well as 2007’s War Elephant on Jana Hunter’s Feow! Records. McCauley was raised in Providence, Rhode Island where he decided on a career in music at an early age, recording and even touring by the time he was in high school. McCauley’s voice demands attention, his songwriting shines through, and his work falls somewhere between Bright Eyes and Wilco. And he turned 21 last year. We caught up with McCauley recently to understand what exactly makes Deer Tick tick. more ›

Jerry Naylor would have been famous. He could have been and probably should have been. Jerry Naylor was there when rock 'n roll was born, sweating out those devil rhythms in Texas honky-tonks and rubbing shoulders with boys like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly — all who would become men of legend. He saw a musical revolution fueled by youth and a fusion of country, blues,... more ›

This "velvet-voiced" Latin crooner guy Raul Malo is undeniably talented. Conjuring some of the most beloved singers of our centuries, you'll hear a little Buck Owens, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra and lots of Roy Orbison in his finely trained pipes. Please email us if you make out with that new someone to any of these songs. We'll buy you a beer next time we see you out, 'cause that's awesome. Raul Malo Latest Release:... more ›

Lick Lick and The Invincible Czars head up an evening of eccentric rock n’ roll tonight at Room 710. Self classified as “prunk”, the former concentrates on post-punk assembled with catchy guitar riffs and per their MySpace page, “Lick Lick are sure to make prunk a household term in 2007.” The band is set to join the likes of Tia Carrera, Gorch Fock, and Attack Formation on the local Australian Cattle God Records for... more ›

Ace Fu buzz crew Annuals have come on strong in 2006, thanks to their luminous debut Be He Me and tours with The Dears and Calexico; besides that, they got a song on "Veronica Mars," and is there no surer indie taste-maker these days? Bassist/engineer Mike Robinson kindly spoke to us about, well, SXSW and everything: more ›

Montreal's Besnard Lakes are not your typical Canadian outfit. When you think of an outfit fronted by a husband and wife duo, you probably think of sugary slop soaked with trite lyrics and knowing glances, but don't make that mistake when it comes to The Besnard Lakes Are the Dark Horse, the band's latest effort. Roy Orbison and Brian Wilson spring to mind as masters of falsetto harmony, and that comparison is legit, but... more ›

* This post by future contributor Miguel Hinojosa This Saturday, The Longbranch Inn opens its doors to three Austin bands whose styles are so distinctively varied that it's sure to become one of the years most remembered performances: The Crackpipes evoke spirits of jukejoints, jazz clubs, and punk rock dive bars in music that explodes in an adrenal-mental joyous noise. Theirs is a live act that combines The Stooges' Raw Power with Ornette Colemans'... more ›