There are few figures in music as beloved and mocked as Sufjan Stevens---if he's not enchanting the ears of millions with his incomparably ornate sense of composition, he's retroactively trying to account for the wayward ambitions of his youth. But despite his once-an-angel-now-a-mystery exterior, his music itself (we know, who'd think of that?) has continued to be an entirely unique construct, still all alone amidst a sea of potential imitators: there's no way you can hear a Sufjan Stevens song and not know it's Sufjan Stevens. more ›

David Bazan, of Pedro the Lion, has built his musical persona largely on autobiographical songs narrating his fretful longing for belief. His is the uneasy province of agnosticism without the benefits of hindsight or the comforts of detachment. This translates musically into straightforward guitar melodies functioning mainly as the conduits for non-sequiturs and one-liners that we can’t quite call zingers but that nonetheless carry that beloved hallmark of indie lyrics- irony. more ›

But really, The Castanets can't be a country band, can they? What with the quirky little indie and freak folk tendencies creeping up from the edges, those occasional dashes of electronics, and all that distortion squall they toss at their listeners...that can't really be considered country, right? Well, I hate to break it to you, but The Castanets' waterlogged new album, In the Vines, has just a hint too much pedal steel to get away... more ›

St. Vincent is Annie Clark, who has recorded with the Polyphonic Spree and been part of Sufjan Stevens's touring act. In July, the 24-year-old struck out on her own with an album, Marry Me, of slightly spooky pop songs full of oddball instrumental layers. Don't let the deer-in-headlights photo on her album cover fool you — Clark is engaged and thoroughly charming. She's the sort of person who, mid-interview, starts asking about you —... more ›

As Austin emerges from the thorough soaking we've received over the past few weeks, it becomes time to dry off in the warm breeze of some talented female singer-songwriters. Saturday night at The Parish, you can do just that. St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) headlines, supporting her first proper LP Marry Me, an album that will mercilessly wallop your preexisting notions of not just female artists, but any artist writing compelling music out there.... more ›

Rocky Votolato The Brag and Cuss (Barsuk) Since his auspicious beginnings as frontman for the indie/post-punk group Waxwing, Rocky Votolato has become quite the everlasting song writer. He’s a pro at crafting emotion-evoking indie rock tunes that carefully toe the line between matured folk rock and angst-inspired acoustic balladry. It’s important to note, however, that Votolato generally steers clear of cliched, woe-is-me, hear-on-sleeve lyrics. He keeps his out of plain view, in bits and phrases... more ›

Brr! Good thing you're not at work today, there are some marginally interesting new releases this week for you purchase via the heavenly lady herself, The Internet. She won't freeze over on you, she won't keep you from your girlfriend's house tonight, and she won't cause you to wake up from a strange and unexpected four day weekend in an un-showered and groggy haze. Wait a second, yes she will! Crowded House Farewell to... more ›

Tonight, Alamo Music Mondays presents Danielson: a Family Movie, JL Aronson’s odd, adorable, utterly engrossing documentary look at the popular Christian indie band The Danielson Famile. Shot over the course of five years, the film follows the Danielson project from its inauspicious art school beginnings through to bona fide indie-rock stardom. Weaving interviews, live performances, animated sequences and candid footage, the film examines the band from myriad angles, exploring the personal and creative lives of... more ›

If you survived the Deliverance-esque Ikea parking lot this weekend, and didn't get shot trying to get yourself a PS3, you deserve to spend even more of your hard-earned cash on records. Here's what you can find on the shelves at fine local establishments like End of an Ear or Waterloo today. Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas (Asthmatic Kitty) Featuring five discs worth of holiday music spanning the course of five years, tinsel used... more ›

We all know that "Austin City Limits" is one of the finest television shows in the country. The intimate venue provides an enchanting atmosphere in which musicians can feel at home. Ever since we started watching it as wee ones in the 70s, we've been in love. It seems others share our passion. Paste Magazine's The Best 24 Hours on Television issue has named "Austin City Limits" the best place for music on television. "Austin... more ›

A beautiful and excited crowd politely stormed the gates of The Paramount theater Friday night to catch one of indie-rock's most unlikely superheroes, Sufjan Stevens. Arguably the most anticipated and talked-about show of the year this side of The Stones, Sufjan and his prodigious backing band provided a salivating audience of Austinites a glimpse into their corn pone mystique, and we weren't disappointed. If anything, as many questions were raised as were answered about one of recent music's most curious and potent success stories. more ›

FRIDAY [15] music • Ghostland Observatory and Thee Emergency at The Mohawk (912 Red River) ® party • Earthdance at NiaSpace (7:30pm-10pm, $15) party • Eastside City Limits party with Pink Nasty, Tnlons Fort, I Kill Cars, Missing Tapes, Brothesr and Sisters, Til We're Blue or Destroy, The Black at Red Scoot Inn and Old Austin Daze Compound (9pm-4am, FREE) ® party • Teleport Door presents the Pop Yo Colla' party with DJs Daniel... more ›

It's entirely possible that you aren't at all interested in wandering around Zilker dehydrated and lost all weekend, but there's no reason to worry: there are plenty of things to do and shows to see this weekend that have nothing to do with wristbands or sunscreen. Most notable is the Filter Party at Beauty Bar featuring The Presets, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness and The Secret Machines. In addition to the MSTRKRFT... more ›

Maybe you’ve heard, but there is a festival going on this weekend. Well, what would an Austin City Limits Festival be without some excellent Austin City Limits television show tapings? The scheduled tapings are as follows: Calexico- Wednesday at 8 p.m. Van Morrison – Thursday at 8 p.m. Sufjan Stevens followed by the Raconteurs - Sunday at 8 p.m. Cat Power – Monday the 18th at 8 p.m. Damian Marley – Tuesday the19th at 9... more ›

Maybe you’ve heard, but there is a festival going on this weekend. Well, what would an Austin City Limits Festival be without some excellent Austin City Limits television show tapings? The scheduled tapings are as follows: Calexico- Wednesday at 8 p.m. Van Morrison – Thursday at 8 p.m. Sufjan Stevens followed by the Raconteurs - Sunday at 8 p.m. Cat Power – Monday the 18th at 8 p.m. Damian Marley – Tuesday the19th at 9... more ›

Maybe you’ve heard, but there is a festival going on this weekend. Well, what would an Austin City Limits Festival be without some excellent Austin City Limits television show tapings? The scheduled tapings are as follows: Calexico- Wednesday at 8 p.m. Van Morrison – Thursday at 8 p.m. Sufjan Stevens followed by the Raconteurs - Sunday at 8 p.m. Cat Power – Monday the 18th at 8 p.m. Damian Marley – Tuesday the19th at 9... more ›

As Elvis Costello might say, we just don't know where to begin. Even if you are skipping ACL, the fall is turning into a music wonderland. Acts of every genre and size are booking Austin's clubs up like there's no tomorrow, leaving music lovers with many questions on how to spend both time and cash this fall. Trust us, you can't see it all, so pick your favorites and buy tickets in advance to... more ›

- Despite some rumors that Wilco would headline Shiner's annual Bocktoberfest, the event's main act is...Godsmack. Well, yeah, that's pretty much the same as Wilco. We just feel sorry for the Old 97's, who seem to be the only good act on the bill. Ask for a keg in your rider, guys. By the way, the 97's will warm up for Shiner with a 10/13 gig at Stubb's. - Speaking of drinking, Kinky Friedman... more ›

While August continues to look farily quiet for roadshows, September and October are just blowing up. Many indie stalwarts have recently scheduled appearances for fall semester, so start saving up some coin. Among the highlights: Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, M. Ward, Jose Gonzales, and Ladytron. Unless you've been under a rock this week, you already know that loud dinosaurs The Rolling Stones are also planning a visit; that said, no ticket info has become... more ›

There is much to report this week surrounding the Zilker Park-sized dust oven that is ACL Fest. The big news is that a ridiculous number of 'official' ACL aftershow concerts has been announced. Many of the fest's acts will take over all of our club venues immediately after the big show ends each night. All tickets go onsale tomorrow at 10am, except for Sufjan Stevens, which is already onsale. This means that either (a)... more ›

MONDAY [10] [music] Rancid, Street Dogs, Complete Control at Emo's (link) [music/party] End of an Ear and XL Recordings presents a special midnight sale and listening party for Thom Yorke’s The Eraser, with loads of giveaways! Plus, hear new albums from Peaches, Sufjan Stevens and others at Emo's Lounge (Free, 10pm-1am) (link) [music] Girls' Tribute to Clifford Antone with Marcia Ball, Angela Strehil, Lou Ann Barton, Toni Price, Carolyn Wonderland, and Eve Monsee at Antone's... more ›

Danielson (formerly the Danielson Famile) is an indie pop/Christian gospel troupe band of brothers and sisters from suburban New Jersey. Formed as a result of elder Smith and frontman Daniel's senior thesis at Rutgers, entitled A Prayer for Every Hour, the band released a steady stream of albums starting the late 90s. Back in 2001 they signed to Secretly Canadian -- home to beloved indie acts like Antony and the Johnsons, Jens Lekman, Damien Jurado, and Magnolia Electric Co -- on which they've recently come out with the amazing Ships. more ›

Although the Austin City Limits Festival lineup page does not reflect it, a search on Gettix.net reveals that Sufjan Stevens is scheduled to perform on September 15 at 9 pm. more ›

A few years ago, Snow Patrol were broke guys in Scotland with a knack for writing jangly rock songs. These days, their latest album debuted in the Billboard Top 40 and at #1 in the UK, they spent last year opening for U2, and their last CD went triple platinum in Europe. While Snow Patrol have already played Austin twice this year (at Stubb's in March and May), they'll be back in the States... more ›

After SXSW trashes our fair town, Coachella layers the California desert with dusty beer cans, and Wall of Sound leaves Fort Worth a city ... well, much the same, we're probably heading over to Sasquatch, the annual Pacific Northwest festival at Washingon State's scenic Gorge Amphitheatre. Scheduled to perform during the three-day Memorial Weekend blitz are Austinites Trail of Dead and Iron & Wine, plus a salivatory stew of sweet, sweet bands: FRIDAY, MAY 26... more ›

The Austin Center for FEMA Disaster Relief closed yesterday The New Pantheon shortlist nominees have been announced, and they are: Animal Collective, Antony and the Johnsons, Fiona Apple, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Kings of Leon, M.I.A., and Sufjan Stevens So there's evidently a species of rare African clawed frogs that, when injected with urine from a pregnant woman, will ovulate. There's also a story about how they're dying... more ›

Waterloo Records, one of our finest independently-owned, nationally-renowned music stores, has been nominated for a prestigious PLUG Independent Music Award, along with Austin festivals SXSW and ACL. Sponsored by URB, Spin, Insound and Evolvs Media, the annual nominees are selected by a group of "writers, DJs, webmasters, bloggers, artists, filmmakers, managers, indie retailers, and most importantly, fans." Now that the lists have been narrowed down to a lucky few in categories such as the... more ›

We won’t argue that August has been pretty slow when it comes to new music, but there are plenty of great releases that came out today that you need to get your hands on. John Vanderslice - http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/vanderslicejohn/pixelrevolt">Pixel Revolt Not as catchy as his last release, but this one will grow on you. JV keeps putting out quality albums. [mp3: JV – Exodus Damage / upcoming show: 10/27 at the parish] Black Rebel Motorcycle... more ›

The groovy eclectic tunes on local college radio station KVRX have helped us slog through many a tepid workday. When they're not broadcasting on FM 91.7 (the frequency space is shared with Austin community station KOOP), you can always hear them over the internet - or at your leisure now, thanks to their podcasting feature. Where else during the day can you turn to hear songs from Wolf Parade, Sufjan Stevens and !!! back... more ›