Well, not exactly. You've heard of Kickstarter, right, a way to finance creative projects by asking for money directly from the fans? It's a swell idea that not only bypasses some of the music industry nonsense we've had to deal with in the past, but it's also fun for the listener - you know that you're directly helping a band make their album, and said bands usually offer crazy incentives if you pledge enough money (like private performances, songs written about you, etc.). And if the project doesn't reach its mark, the money goes back to you. more ›

How about a little recap of Austin pop history this Wednesday? Back in the early '90s, Ethan Azarian led local band The Orange Mothers through four albums of sweetly reminiscent pop before folding; Austin label i eat records did us a favor a few years back by releasing a greatest hits, and then released Azarian's solo effort Cross'n Over. more ›

What’s the Deal: Leatherbag is the brainchild of super-busy Austin singer/songwriter Randy ‘Bag’ Reynolds. He’s released a few Eps and his debut full-length for Superpop Records, Nowhere Left to Run. Throughout the releases Reynolds has proven that he’s a powerful songwriting force whether he’s playing organic alt. country or garagey, folky rock, or whether he’s alone with his guitar or with a band behind him. Sometimes Reynolds has a strong Dylan-esque sound, but we won’t hold that against him, mainly because the music that accompanies it is enhancing and completely complementary. more ›

Pitchfork reports that Okkervil River have settled on Stage Names for their upcoming release (slated for August 7), featuring artwork by William Schaff (featured left). The album was recorded here in Austin with Brian Beattie and Jim Eno. Follow the cut below for the track listing and tour dates for the summer (hint: there's only three). The Chronicle has taken note of the Tonewheel Collective's recent Beerland extravaganza / farewell show. The news here, incidentally,... more ›

FRIDAY [9] art • Grand Opening Party for DRAW, 150 artists strong at Gallery Lombardi (7pm - 10pm) comedy • Todd Barry, Matt Bearden at Emo's Lounge music • Deerhoof, Macromantics, Experimental Dental School at Emo's music • Primordial Undermind at End of an Ear (6pm, Free) music • The Everyday People CD Release Show with The Hero Factor, Live Oak Decline at The Parish Room music • Lucinda Williams, Heartless Bastards at Stubb's... more ›

THURSDAY [8] film • Super Happy fun Monkey Bash 5 at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Now That's What I Call a Singalong: Pop Royalty at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Terror Thursday: The Beast Must Die at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown art • Opening Reception for "In My Stairwell" by Mark Seliger at Fielding Lecht Gallery (6-9pm) art • Artistic License: Matthew Day Jackson at The Blanton (6-7pm) art • Public Tour: The Geometry... more ›

MONDAY [5] art • Opening Reception for Sarah Canright and Melissa W. Miller: Measured Strokes at The Sarofim School of Fine Arts, Fine Arts Gallery (6-7:30pm) benefit/music • Heather Love Fest Benefit with Dan Dyer & Friends, John Pointer, Govinda, DJ Chicken George, BIGFACE, DJ Mahealani, DJ Chris, DJ Trey Lopez,DJ Orian, Performance by the Super Sonic Soul Squad, Complimentary Appetizers and TONS of Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes at Saba, Cedar Street, and... more ›

ME Television and the Austin Music Foundation have been doing their fair share in our city to promote local talent and improve artist networks. The former has brought in the likes of Pink Nasty and Sparrow House for their weekly Almost Late Show, while the latter has recently initiated a twice-a-month mixer at the Belmont. Tonight, they combine to bring us the Emerging Artists Series. A $5 cover (with partial proceeds going to AMF)... more ›

Say what you will about the Austin music scene, if there's one thing we've got in spades, it's heart. And breakfast tacos. But that's another story altogether. Our bands can take any other city's bands on when it comes to sheer per capita productivity and playing out, never leaving their respective constituencies on the sidelines. And albums? Lordy, just walk into Waterloo Records and check out the local music section: 2006 was a banner... more ›

FRIDAY [8] music • Centro-Matic, Those Peabodys, Pink Nasty at Emo's (Inside) music • Anagen, Two Guy Trio at Stubb's music • The Midgetmen, The Boxing Lesson, Sounds Under Radio, Label Me This at Red Eyed Fly music • Fireside Creative Showcase with Shrapnel, Lone Star Porn Star, Nooner, Hundred Year Storm, Bayta Darell, and a chance to win a Gibson guitar autographed by (huh?) Chuck Norris at The Parish Room music • Rescue... more ›

Label-mates (and band-mates) The Channel and Golden Bear have been making the rounds at Austin venues for the past few months, hot on the heels of their respective CD releases. However, this Saturday the Channel will mix things up at the Parish with a re-do of Harry Nilsson’s The Point. A tale revolving around the only round-headed boy in the Land of Point, the story has been reinterpreted in various media, including an animated... more ›

MONDAY [4] film •The Royal Tenenbaums at Austin Java (9pm, Free) film •Fuck: A Documentary at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film •The Conformist at Texas Union (7:30pm) film •Blue at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film •The Da Vinci Code at Café Mundi (8pm, Free) film •Sound Unbound 2: Modern American Composers at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) music •Bound Stems, Rahim, The Shells, Quiet Company, Bello Ragazzo at Emo's music •Moonlight Towers, The Alice Rose at... more ›

Austin Sound is teaming up with KVRX 91.7 to throw a joint fund raiser in support of local independent music here in Austin tonight at Emo's. The bill is full of some of our favorite locals, including Operator, The Channel and the undeniably dance-able Golden Bear. In addition, Car Stereo (Wars) will be spinning all night long to keep everyone's booty in motion. Would you like to go? Yes, we thought so: Congratulations John... more ›

FRIDAY [6] agliff/party • here! presents the aGLIFF member mingle at Rain (9pm) theatre • "Psycho Beach Party" at Arts on Real (8pm, $30) theatre • "At Home With Dick 2" at Dick's Apartment (3309 Grooms) (8pm, $10-$25) ® theatre • "Stillborn" at Hyde Park Theatre (8pm, $15) theatre • Zell Miller III: "Mix Tape, Theatre Style" at Off Center (8pm, $10) theatre • "Bitten: A Zombie Rock Odyssey" at Dougherty Arts Center (8pm,... more ›

C-Side Records' psychedelic folk-rock heroes, The Channel, are playing tonight at The Mohawk, and they'll be joined by The Eames Era, Black Before Red and Go Nova. You might remember what we had to say about The Channel's double CD, Tales From the Two Hill Heart / Sibylline Machine earlier this year: Their double-CD, Tales From the Two Hill Heart / Sibylline Machine is one of those rare double CDs that contains music which... more ›

MONDAY [2] music • Nina Nastasia, Cue, Jonathan Mieburg (Shearwater) at Emo's music • HAAM Benefit with Marcia Ball at Antone's lecture • Zeina Halabi presents "Summer at School: Dispatches from the War on Lebanon" at Monkeywrench Books (8pm) film • Francophone Film Festival: Monsieur Ibrahim at Texas Union Theatre (7:30pm) film • True Romance at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • I Know I'm Not Alone at The Space (8pm, Free) film •... more ›

It's the last Saturday of the month, which means it's time again for Austin's Rock N Romp to fill our afternoon with great local music. In case you're unaware, Rock N Romp is a kid-friendly concert series dedicated to exposing children to live music and the community of musicians and artists in the Austin, all while giving their parents a chance to take in live bands in a non-bar, non-2am setting. Romps are held... more ›

The following is a weekly column by guest contributor Laurie Gallardo. Hear her on KUT 90.5FM, Friday nights from 11pm-3am! -- The Editors Far too much going on in the weeks ahead, but technically, staying busy keeps me out of trouble. Right?  Well…it’s a good theory.  Hello again, music peeps! I’m compelled to begin this column with self-promotional frivolousness, but what the heck. Keep in mind that next Friday, I won’t be on the air... more ›

FRIDAY [1] music • Tacks, The Boy Disaster w. The Channel, Golden Bear at The Parish Room ® books • Jacqueline Winspear presents Messenger of Truth at BookPeople (7pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Sidekicks at Alamo Downtown (6pm, $10) film • Lawrence of Arabia at Paramount Theatre (7:30pm) film • Chuck Norris Martial Arts Movie Mania with Chuck Norris in Person: Code of Silence at... more ›

Austin's C-Side Records has been busy the last few months, releasing albums by two bands to watch back to back. Golden Bear's self-titled debut is a near perfect collection of songs with influences as diverse as Spacehog, early Built to Spill and My Morning Jacket. Austin music scene bright lights such as Pink Nasty, Voxtrot’s Jared Van Fleet, The Black Angels’ Kyle Hunt, and Jason Morales of Tia Carrera help out on the album,... more ›

Thanks to the good folks at local indie label C-Side Records, we've got a pair of guestlist spots to giveaway for tonight's show at The Parish Room, featuring Tacks the Boy Disaster, The Channel, and Golden Bear. Check out the mp3 downloads, and enter the contest below! Downloads: Golden Bear - Santa Rosa Golden Bear - A Reason To Be Proud The Channel - The Deserter The Channel - Sibylline Machine Tacks, the Boy... more ›

MONDAY [28] books • Jeff Abbott presents Fear at Barnes & Noble Westlake (7pm) ® film • The Ultimate Garlic Experience at Alamo Downtown (7pm, $25) ® film • This is Spinal Tap at Austin Java (8pm, Free) ® film • Bunny Lake is Missing at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) fashion • Huge 75% off sale at FactoryPeople TUESDAY [29] music • Plastic Constellations, Fatal Flying Guilloteens, The Boxing Lesson, We'll Go Machete at... more ›

New music by Cursive, Kelis, Amy Millan, and more more ›

MONDAY [14] film • Excellent Cadavers, the story of the Italian Mafia, at Alamo Downtown (7pm) ® film • Touches Pas Au Grusbi at Paramount Theatre (7:15pm) film • Brick at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels at Austin Java (8pm, Free) film • Bukowski: Born into This at Café Mundi (8:30pm, FREE) film • Classe Tous Risques at Paramount Theatre (9:15pm) ® music • Horns of Happiness,... more ›

FRIDAY [11] [music] Sage Francis, Buddy Wakefield, Jared Paul, Grand Buffet, DJ Jester the Filipino Fist (outside), Those Peabodys, Horse+Donkey, The Carrots (inside) at Emo's [art/party] As Naked As You Wanna Be: Art Show and Celebration with Celesta Danger and Tamara Hoover at Pedernales Lofts Suite 2028 ($10 Suggested Donation, 6-11pm) ® [art/party] After-party for As Naked As You Wanna Be at The Peacock (11pm-2am) ® [film] The Sinus Show: Point Break at Alamo Downtown... more ›

MONDAY [7] [film] Anthony Kaun Hai - Special Bollywood Screenings at Tinseltown South (6:30pm & 9:45pm) [film] Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia at Alamo Downtown (7pm) ® [film] Magnolia at Austin Java (8pm, Free) ® [film] V for Vendetta at Café Mundi (8:30pm, Free) [film] Urgh! - A Music War at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm, $2) [film] War of the Words at Alamo South (10:10pm) TUESDAY [8] [film] By the People at Dobie (5pm)... more ›

FRIDAY [4] [music] Just Guns, Peel, Boxing Lesson at Emo's LINK [music] Masonic CD Release with Crash Gallery, Shane Bartell at The Parish Room LINK [music] The Black, Aux, Black Before Red at Hole in the Wall (10pm) LINK [music] Leatherbag and the Cows at End of an Ear (6pm) LINK [music] Scott Biram CD Release at The Continental Club (10pm) LINK [music] Golden Bear, The Channel, Driftin' Luke & His Personalities at Flamingo... more ›

Golden Bear's CD release show is this Friday at the Flamingo Cantina, and if you're like us, you've been waiting to get your hands on some sweet Bear rock for far too long. The Channel and Driftin’ Luke & His Many Personalities will round out the bill. Golden Bear's sound is a mix of familiar pasts in your parents' record collection fused with some of your favorite sounds of today, drawing influences from My... more ›

WEDNESDAY [2] [music] Ghost of the Russian Empire, Lomita, Fire v. Extinguisher, Moth Fight at Beerland LINK [music] "Wax Wednesdays" at Ruta Maya (8pm) LINK [music] Rhett Butler at Cactus Café ($7, 8:30pm) LINK [music] Free Nugs & the Kickbaxx, The Hudsons at Threadgill's LINK [music] Abba Yo Yo's, End of the Year at Snake Eyes Vinyl (7pm) LINK [music] Teenage Symphony, The Shells, Economy at The Chain Drive (9pm) LINK [music] Band of Heathens... more ›

THURSDAY [27] [music] Diplo, CSS, Blonde de Role at The Parish Room LINK [fashion] Summer party with cocktails and music for Austin designer Mark Joiner, maker of some decidedly fabulous belt buckles and mod housewares at Eliza Page (7-10pm) LINK [theatre] "Petra's Cuento" at Dougherty Arts Center (8pm) LINK [theatre] "In On It" at Off Center (8pm, $17) LINK [theatre] Edward Albee's "The Play About the Baby" at play! Theatre (8pm, $10) LINK [theatre] "Radio:... more ›