FRIDAY [5] film • Sinus Show: Die Hard at Alamo Downtown (7pm & 10pm, $12.50) music • Amplified Heat, Lions, Full Stride, The Flood at Emo's (Inside) music • Grand Champeen, Quien Es Boom, The Fall Collection, The Alice Rose at Emo's (Lounge) music • Lemurs, The Lord Henry, Clap!Clap!, Lomita at Emo's (Outside) music • The Black & White Years, AUX, The Paper South, Aster Years at Stubb's music • Summer of Blood,......

Whether you think of it as a test run for SXSW, a belated Christmas present to local music fans, or an excuse to drink for seven days straight, Emo's Free Week kicks off today with a schedule of acts that reads like a who's-who of local punk, indie, and rock. As the showcases are all without cover, we'd recommend getting there early. Emo's Free Week January 2-8 603 Red River Tuesday, January 2 Inside:......

When most people think of lemurs, cuddly ring-tailed animals usually come to mind, and not, say, an enterprising Austin band as equally fitting on a bill with The Smiths as with Bloc Party. The word lemur actually means "spirit of the night," and like a spirit in the night, local favs The Lemurs are going to sneak their infectious melodies into your brain this Saturday at Emo's to celebrate their CD release. Drawing on......

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......

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......

FRIDAY [18] music • Benefit party for Loaded Gun Theory's new zombie rock opera with Midori Umi, The Lord Henry, Golden Bear, and the Zombie Rock Orchestra (The Unbearables, members of Tammany Hall Machine, a choir and horn section) -- snacks provided, too -- at Red's Scoot Inn (8pm-2am, $5 or $3 with zombie costume) ® film • Sinus Show: Point Break at Alamo Downtown (7 & 10pm, $10) ® theatre • The Sweetest......

The following downloads are by artists playing various shows around town this week -- check the IST List for details. [mp3] The Lemurs - Breaking You Down [mp3] The Chapters - Disconnected [mp3] The Chapters - Absence of Decency [mp3] The Chapters - Denial [mp3] The Lord Henry - Like You Like Me [mp3] The Lord Henry - Fire on 42nd St [mp3] The Lord Henry - Birthday [mp3] Faceless Werewolves - My Weakness......

TUESDAY [30] [music] "German with a laptop" Jan Jelinek does a solo show at Flamingo Cantina -- check out what Tiny Mix Tapes has to say! (Thanks, Margaret!) (link) [music] Scion returns to Austin with Tony Touch, DJ Hier, DJ Kwestion and DJ Mel at The Parish Room (Free, RSVP required) (link) [music] Youngmond Grand and Solace Bros at Club DeVille (link) [books] Mark Falkin presents Days of Grace at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [film] Out......

Our ears are still ringing and our calves are still aching, but it has been a few weeks since the binge fest that was SXSW left our fine city. That means it’s about time for another music festival. Wall of Sound, an indie rock extravaganza with a pleasantly heavy emphasis on Texas bands, is taking place Saturday and Sunday in Ft. Worth. Yeah, it’s a bit of a hike, and they take the Lone......

MONDAY [27] [ music ] Jay Moeller's Birthday Blues Bash, with Ephraim Owens, Mike Barfield, Scott Nelson, Damien Llanes, James Bullard, and loads more at The Continental Club (9:30pm) (link) [ music ] KOOP Radio Monday Benefit with Guy Forsyth, Wammo and Sick, and Southpaw Jones. Hosted by Owen Egerton (of Sinus) at Ruta Maya ($5, 8:30pm) (link) [ art ] "Art is Imagination": Paintings of the American West at Blanton Museum of Art (Free,......

The SXSW flood begins tomorrow with Interactive and Film, but Music is still a few more days away. But this is not the time to sit by idly in silence. Get those ear drums and dance moves up to par with some great shows this weekend. Friday night it is time for noise, glorious noise, at Emo’s. The Lord Henry’s raucous dance rock opens up the bill for The Real Heroes and Cruiserweight. Work......

We’ve sacrificed our money, blood, sweat, relationships, and jobs, all in the name of their amazing live music. Most bars wouldn’t give a shit. But Emo’s cares. They really do. And, like any good dealer offering us a tantalizing taste to keep us hooked, they are rewarding us with Free Week. From Tuesday, Jan. 3, to Wednesday, Jan. 11, you can get your indie rock on gratis. An eight-day music marathon might seem a......

The Lord Henry is one of Austin’s best yet severely under-appreciated bands. Austinist has been in the enthusiastic - albeit, small - audience at three of their most recent shows. An intense Saturday night performance at Stubb’s solidified their standing as one of our city’s most promising young bands. Allow us to rewind slightly, for it would be unfair to continue without praising the first band on the bill, Black Tie Dynasty. Prominent fixtures......