Straight up punk rock may be all the rage at Beerland on most nights but pop melodies are in vogue this Saturday when The Strange Boys and Shapes Have Fangs headline with sugary sweet potions that will keep your heads bobbing in unison throughout. The sound of the '60s is unavoidable in both bands’ lo-fi garage-rock and we decided to catch up with each of them for a quick rundown on the state of affairs in their respective circles....

Beerland, known for music, old school video games, and, um, beer, will host a kind and compact cluster of five bands this Friday night, with all five bands making names for themselves within the confines of our fine city. Headlining will be The Diagonals, a subtle and scratchy outfit that, despite their somewhat workmanlike stylings while on stage, carries an innate danceability. Beyond that, Diagonals vocalist Steve Garcia, in some of his more speed-speak moments, has been compared to a young Michael Stipe...you know, before Michael Stipe had that whole fifteen years of boredom thing. ...

“Ever wanted to be a space ship pilot in an 8-bit Nintendo game?” With that subject title, the latest press release from local synth-pop outfit Built By Snow grabbed our attention well before we even ventured into deep space. The “rad dudes” rescue a princess in the brilliant video for “Underneath”, the first song on their debut EP Noise, eventually scoring cheeseburgers for their troubles. The video incorporates plenty of eye catching imagery and retro animation and the result is a hilarious conglomeration of pop culture influences....

Spiderhouse (probably one of Austin's most representative coffee shop-bar-patios) is hosting a full evening of music and fashion this Saturday, dubbed Fashion Freakout. ...

Photos of some of the items to be shown at Fashion Freakout at The United States Art Authority (next to Spiderhouse) on Saturday, February 16th. Featuring fashion from Buffalo Exchange, New Bohemia Boutique, Prototype Vintage Design and Pink Hair Salon. DJ Scandalizer, Brian Tweedy, Jason McNeely, and Mike Wiebe start the night off. Toko-Ri Get High and Shapes Have Fangs will play the after the show. $5 cover/ 21+ Photos courtesy of Briana Purser.......

Once again, Beerland is delivering the goods this week with a four bands worth of impressive up and comers. For hyperactive guitar-led jams that feature whip smart drums and a keyboard backbone, look no further than Shapes Have Fangs. Also harnessing the kinetic energy of garage jams are Diagonals, whose frontman Steve Garcia also rocks in Peek-A-Boo records signees Black Lipstick....

Tonight's KEXP sponsored Hot Freaks + Gorilla vs. Bear blow-out features Dallas' Ghosthustler and Cry Blood Apache. We have a feeling there will be a lot of sweaty dance-a-holics leaning on each other They Shoot Horses, Don't They?-style on Red River Tuesday night. As always, the shows happen each Tuesday night, with the headliners taking turns. Shapes Have Fangs will lead the way next week, but for tonight, grab $2 and head downtown. Doors will......

Don't forget about Low Line Caller's Residency show at the Mohawk this evening. The Mohawk Residency series continues to bring fantastic local bands together on alternating Tuesdays for your almost mid-week pleasure, and tonight is a good one, considering Shapes Have Fangswill open with their Shins-ish arrangements, and Marc Ferrino of Black Before Red will add his vocal prowess to their usually instrumental set. While we're pondering the ramifications of mathematical entities having the ability......

Following up on the tremendous success of last month's inaugural showcases (featuring White Denim and Peel), the Mohawk Residency Series returns in June to feature two more exciting local indie acts. Low Line Caller (with Marc Ferrino) and Tree Wave will each headline alternating Tuesday nights. The Residency Series is presented by Hot Freaks andGorilla vs. Bear, and sponsored by KEXP, The Onion, And/Or Gallery (Dallas), and yours truly. June 5 Low Line Caller with......

FRIDAY [18] festival • Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations at Palmer Events Center (11:30am-1pm) party • Nightster Launch Party with Riverboat Gamblers at Scoot Inn (Free Bud 8-9pm, Show at 10pm, 21+) art • Closing Reception: The Puppet Show - Puppets and portraits of Mexican artists by fourth-grade students at Sanchez Elementary at Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, 211 Congress (4:30-6pm) books • Milton Burton presents The Sweet and the Dead at BookPeople (7:00pm)......

THURSDAY [25] music • Meryll, The Lovely Sparrows at The Parish Room music • Many Birthdays, Skiesfalling, The Ron Titter Band at Emo's music • The Laughing, Bello Ragazzo, Shapes Have Fangs, DJ Brian Tweedy at Stubb's ® music • Cartright, Pataphysics, Cavedweller, Smoke Detector at Beerland music • Ottmar Leibert at The Paramount Theatre music • The Missing Tapes, Student Film, Pompeii, The Onlys at Continental Club music • Lindsey Buckingham at Hogg......

Of all the cafés in Austin, Progress Coffee has to be one of the most ambitious. Ambitious may even be an understatement considering what owners Joshua and Sarah Bingaman have done to establish their little eastside gem as a casual, cultural environment that’s equally welcoming to day and night crowds. In addition to serving deconstructed delicacies, traditional café fare, coffee, and booze, Progress Coffee also regularly hosts literary events, art exhibitions, and live music. They......