While they may not have the same immediate recognition as their punk-rock contemporaries The Ramones, The Sex Pistols and The Buzzcocks, Northern Ireland's Stiff Little Fingers were similarly influential in the hook-filled, politically conscious punk movement simultaneously blooming in the U.S. and the U.K. in the mid 1970s. The band was formed by guitarist and vocalist Jake Burns in 1977, legend has it, after seeing a Clash show in his hometown of Belfast. A couple of singles quickly followed, and after one of them garnered repeated radio play by influential DJ John Peel, the band penned a distribution deal with Rough Trade Records. One of the label's first-ever releases was "Alternative Ulster", which became a huge hit for Stiff Little Fingers, and an instant punk rock classic; it remains possibly their most well known song. Its catchy guitar melody and Burns's scratchy voice and lyrics about societal control are emblematic of Stiff Little Fingers' sound. more ›

Local Austin acts are not slouching this week, but our attention can't help but be captured by some major touring acts coming into town this week - the Belfast punks Stiff Little Fingers play Emo's on Friday, Dead Prez does Red 7 the same night, and on Saturday the latter venue celebrates its 5th anniversary with a show featuring doom pioneers St. Vitus. more ›

Photo by Ray Soto $2 Music Mondays: Punk’s Not DeadMonday, November 5thAlamo Drafthouse Downtown [map]9:45pm, $2[info] | [tickets]After a painful four month hiatus, the Music Mondays film series has finally returned to the Alamo Drafthouse! Huzzah! The series will no longer be curated/hosted by Kier-La Janisse (who has left Austin to return to the wilds of Canada), but the first batch of programming looks strong, beginning tonight with Susan Dynner's Punk's Not Dead, a documentary... more ›