You have many options this New Year's eve, and we'd be thrilled if you wanted to come celebrate with us, The Chronicle, Austin Town Hall, etc. at Cheer Up Charlies to roll in 2012. At a scant $5, your admission gets you into the venue and free champagne, along with eight bands and a DJ. Kicking off around eight, bands including Marmalakes and TV Torso will take turns on stage before Ringo Deathstarr starts the new year off right with blazing cuts from their latest album Colour Trip, etc. The schedule for all three stages after the jump. more ›

For years now, public school funding for the arts has been on the decline, even before the dramatically reduced budget for public education in Texas was implemented on September 1. Thousands of teachers are losing their jobs, and hey, creationism isn't going to teach itself. With Texas schools already lagging academically, students are asked to indulge their creativity in schools less than ever in lieu of a ballooning focus on measurable (read: standardized testable) subjects. Math and reading are obviously very important, but the students who want to express themselves through writing or music find precious little opportunity to do so within the bounds of public education. more ›

White Rabbits played a show at Emo's outside with local openers The Sour Notes and TV Torso. John Pesina? He was there. So there. more ›

Although White Rabbits' last album dropped almost two years ago, they are stopping by Emo's tonight in the midst of a mini-Texas tour. more ›

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 ›

One night a month, a rumbling freight train of rock'n'roll steams into Beerland, delivering unto willing listeners earfuls of rock, punk and pop goodness. That night is tonight. The Rumble is a monthly showcase of local bands brought to you by a bunch of cool participants, including Future Sounds and yrstruly, the Austinist. And it's FREE. Totally, gloriously free. more ›

On tour supporting last year's Is and Always Was album alongside producer Jason Falkner, Daniel Johnston is only playing one Austin show the entire year, and the Mohawk's got it. more ›

For a band as prolific as the Sour Notes (an EP, 7-inch, and now two full-lengths since 2008), the quartet has not only proven remarkably excellent in their quality of output, but also continue to impressively push themselves in new directions. Each release, beginning with the 2008 EP The Meat of the Fruit, has taken their instinctive pop-rock pulse and expanded their sound in arrangements and sensibilities. To some extent, It’s Not Gonna to Be Pretty is an appropriate title for the quartet’s sophomore LP - not because it’s not an excellent album, but rather because compared to their earlier pop leanings, the Sour Notes here seem to consciously be moving at times into more rock textures, unafraid to break up the melodies with more jagged edges. It’s the album’s balance of the quartet’s new harder inclinations with those more familiar pop elements that gives it a fully formed and rewardingly diverse feel, however. more ›

It's Not Gonna Be Pretty (due in Jan 2010) is the fourth release from Austin's Sour Notes. In January, the band will tour in support of it, heading out January 1 and returning after a show in Dallas at The Lounge on January 12. Sample the songs here, particularly "Doers & Sayers" -- a brash and catchy indie pop tune that stands out as a particular favorite of ours. The Sour Notes sound something like We Are Scientists with a bit of Death Cab for Cutie added for softness. We're really looking forward to seeing their growth in 2010. Check them out live December 18 at the Hole In the Wall. more ›

After some hullabaloo last summer regarding permits, noise, and all sort of innuendo, the U.S. Art Authority at 29th and Fruth closed its doors—only to later reopen and continue showcasing art and live music. Huh. Who'da thunk it? more ›

After leaving The Laughing to pursue his own project, Abram Shook took his music in a different direction but kept his original intentions while switching focus. more ›

The Sour Notes are getting ready to release their second album, Received in Bitterness, in January of 2009. They've been kind enough to share a new video with us, for the single, "Is It Happening?" as well as a bonus download that should get your '90s punk hearts racing -- a cover of Jawbreaker's "Accident Prone." Follow the jump for their tour dates and mark your calendars: they'll be at the Mohawk on Dec. 11th w/The Great Nostalgic, One Hundred Flowers & Bear Claw. more ›

The Mohawk stacked their bill last night, giving attendees much more than their money’s worth for six bands on both stages. more ›

Mary Pearson and Rob Barber formed High Places in 2006. The Brooklyn-based duo employs a multitude of beats in varying rhythms along with ample reverb and plentiful studio trickery to create soundscapes that chirp, throb, squeak, and echo. more ›

Before viral marketing, writing songs for toothpaste commercials or hassling people via MySpace to check out your songs was commonplace, the best way to get the music out there was to either hand out LPs on the street or start gigging. Sometimes the old-fashioned way is still the best, and for three promising but slightly under-the-radar bands, this Thursday night could be the perfect way to get the word out. more ›

Well, there isn’t really much that’s sour about this Austin pop group. They’re pretty much all sugar, although sometimes it can be a little bittersweet. The group – Jared Boulanger, Chris Page, Brandi Dipietro and Travis Hackett – formed just this year and has recently released The Meat of the Fruit, their first 7-song album. more ›