This is what SXSW free day parties are all about. Twelve bands, two venues, and short sets so that you can see as much as you can stomach. Forcefield and Terrorbird are having their blow-out at Emo’s and Emo’s Jr. on the first day of SXSW, kicking things off with quite a bang. more ›

What’s the Deal: There’s one main, overwhelming reason why The Blow made it into this week’s Le Diamant, and that’s because of their song “Parenthesis.” It’s the kind of cute and quirky pop tune that made the songs off the Juno soundtrack so viral. The Blow is the devious and rascally spawn from the mind of musician, visual artist and performer Khaela Maricich. The other half of the creative team that is The Blow is (or was) Jona Bechtolt. According to the group’s MySpace, Bechtolt has left the band, most likely to further his singing and programming in his solo project, YACHT. The Blow have this whole middle school crush ‘Do you like me? Check yes, no or maybe’ thing going on that sinks its teeth in all the way to the gums with a swirling mixture of video game-style electronics and poppy folk. more ›

There's really no way to talk about just one of the bands that's playing tonight at Emo's. Though not widely praised in Austin's rock-loving community, we think they're wonderful, each with its own fanciful and individual personality. Come early. Be loud. Stay late. Avoid the bathroom. Headlining the show are locals The Boxing Lesson, whose lo-fi and indie sounds "deserve more of a following" says The Chron. Also, you'll get another chance to see Tussle,... more ›

Bellingham, WA's The Trucks carry on the loud-and-proud post-riot grrl tradition of acts like Peaches, Le Tigre, and The Gossip, playing guitarless, keyboard-driven pop-punk that'd be perfect for your little sister's sleepover if their hit single wasn't called "Titties." Maybe it is anyway. Depends on your sister. Anyhow we got to chat with singer/visual artist Marissa Moore, who also doesn't get why the SXSW schedule isn't up yet. Share a story about a visit... more ›

Jona Bechtolt is no more a normal human being than a toaster is a Ferrari. His eye and ear-boggling work with his pet project YACHT testifies to the hamster on acid that is constantly running in the wheel full speed in his head. As part of the duo that is The Blow, he is at least partly responsible for last year's awesome Paper Television. We e-cornered him to share a bit about himself and... more ›

Come 12:01am on Monday morning, downtown Austin will be a madhouse of drunken revelers and even drunker artsy types. You could opt to shell out plenty of dough to get into the swanky parties, but why bother? You probably won't remember it the next day. Below are our top choices for fun things to do this New Year's Eve, all with reasonably-priced cover charges and, more importantly, within stumbling distance of one another. Get there... more ›

Here's what's new this week: The Walkmen Pussy Cats Starring the Walkmen (Record Collection) When John Lennon and Yoko Ono took a break in 1974, the former jumped into the studio with pals Ringo Star, Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson (among others) to produce Pussy Cats, a fascinating mix of classic tunes and originals arranged primarily by Nilsson and Lennon. Misunderstood and bizarre, Pussy Cats is the ultimate buddy album for music geeks with... more ›

While Jenny Lewis still has her day job in the form of Rilo Kiley, the singer/songwriter/crush magnet also released the solo disc Rabbit Fur Coat in early 2006. Rabbit is a low-key, gospel and soul influnced late-night record with ruminations on parents, God, and of course love, and features cameos from M. Ward and Conor Oberst. The album is a departure from Lewis' traditional indie-pop, and features bluegrass duo The Watson Twins to set a southern and haunting tone to the proceedings. Most of the record's attention was (perhaps unfairly) directed to the cover of the Traveling Wilburys "Handle With Care" featuring Ward, Oberst, and Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie, but that track doesn't really reflect the pretty but somber mood of the album. more ›

MONDAY [23] music • Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins with Will Sheff & The Blow at Stubb's music • Planes Mistaken For Stars, The North Atlantic, Mustangs and Madras, Tomorrow's Too Late at Emo's music • Howard Tate at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm) music • Farewell Party for Tina R., from Jo's Hot Coffee, with Tina & The Jo's House Band plus special guests at Continental Club (10pm) music • Cue, Bullet Train... more ›

Melbourne, Australia indie poppers Architecture in Helsinki return to Austin tonight for a show at Emo's. Their sophomore album, In Case We Die, was one of our favorite records of 2005 -- their live show is every bit as fun as their recordings, though it's sometimes difficult to keep up with the octet's onstage histrionics. Wanna go for free? You know the drill: Update: Congrats, Amy B! Architecture in Helsinki versus Busta Rhymes (DJ Paul... more ›

TUESDAY [19] film • Waiting for Guffman at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) ® film • AFS Essential: These are the Damned at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film • Butterfly at The Space (8pm, Free) film • Pieces at Spiderhouse (9pm, Free) film • Yacht Rock with Captain Smoothie live! at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $10) film • Ravenous at Spiderhouse (11pm, Free) music • Architecture in Helsinki, The Blow, Prom Nite (outside), Daughters, Russian Circles, The... more ›

You may want to sleep in today, because the rest of the week is packed with plenty of sights and sounds to keep you exhausted and bleary-eyed! MONDAY [music/swing-dancing] Paris 49 weekly set at the Continental Club, 6:30-8:30. No Cover! [music?] Karaoke! at Beerland, 9pm TUESDAY [music] British singer-songwriter Matt Hales, AKA Aqualung, at The Parish [in-store] Aqualung at Waterloo Records, 5pm [film] Austin Film Society screens Andrei Tarkovsky's "Solyaris" at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm... more ›