With this relentless heat on these dog days of summer, it’s nice to know you can go to a show where a sloppy, swaggering shrug, if done right, could definitely pass as a dance move. That’s exactly the sort of comforting indifference you can expect from Austin’s own The Strange Boys, playing tonight at Emo’s. more ›

Another talented Austin band The Strange Boys gets things going on the outside stage and San Francisco’s The Fresh & Only follow with still more infectious fuzz-pop nuggets. But it is Arish Khan a.k.a. King Khan who will surely reign supreme at Emo’s this evening. A genuine international man of mystery, Khan was born in Canada to Indian parents and lives in Germany now. And boy, does he have the Midas touch at the moment. Besides being an integral member of The King Khan & BBQ Show and The Almighty Defenders, both compelling in their own right, and squeezing in an enticing collaboration with GZA, the prolific Khan leads the irresistible nine-piece known as King Khan & The Shrines. Arguably the most enjoyable of all of his projects, The Shrines’ psychedelic-garage-soul stylings allow Khan to parade around stage in his trademark novel outfits and bestow his considerable persona upon the adoring masses. The music itself is nothing short of inspirational either, a stirring conglomeration of a whole slew of genres that we all love. more ›

It’s hard to resist the blend of grit and glitter that is Girls. Lord knows people tried; the suddenness with which they busted into the spotlight can be a real white elephant for young bands. But Girls’ appeal proved genuine, their debut album as beckoning as their adopted hometown of San Francisco. Hell, we spent a good deal of 2009 with that album--yes, Album--and it landed on our list of Top 15 Albums of the Year. In a blog post leading up to its release, Girls described Album as “honest, loose, ethereal, obnoxious and perfect.” And if that sounds a lot like a femme fatale from 60s cinema to you, you're not far off from the spirit of it. more ›

The Strange Boys have added a few new dates to their upcoming U.S. jaunt. The local band will support Spoon and Deerhunter starting mid-March, which can only mean they won’t be doing the rounds in town during SXSW. However, Austinites can attend their tour kick-off show at Emo’s on February 19th for a measly $8 (Tickets). The band’s debut full-length clocked in at #10 on our Top 15 Albums of 2009 list and we’re licking our chops in anticipation of the follow-up Be Brave, due in February. A 7" single is set for release on the 25th of this month in the U.K. and the following day here in the U.S. Preview the new material on the Boys’ MySpace page in the interim. more ›

In the Red / Rough Trade recording artists and local boys done good The Strange Boys have just announced a series of tour dates with Ian Svenonius' Chain & the Gang. more ›

We’ll admit it. We’re still not fully recovered from the mud-a-thon that was this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival. And the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, which has us licking our chops in anticipation, is still a few weeks away. Just when we thought it was safe to stay home for the weekend, a look at the line-up in store for us at The Mohawk has done away with any such feeble notions. Yes, the redoubtable Red River St. venue is home to three amazingly appealing nights of raucous rock ‘n’ roll all weekend. more ›

Despite the unbearable heat, Spoon's mini-fest was a huge success over the weekend at Stubb's. Austinist contributing photographer Aasim Syed was there to capture everything. more ›

The openers for this festival are a strange mix indeed, but all the better for breaking musical genre barriers. Be sure to check out at least one night; these are supposedly the last of Spoon's Austin shows for awhile. Don't get too distracted with the openers, though. There's also some amazing after shows, including The Low Lows, Nakia & His Southern Cousins, and The Black. more ›

There are few bands currently performing that can't shake Austin the way Spoon can't. Even though most of the band lives elsewhere, their presence lingers on the streets, in the record stores and in the bars. more ›

Used to be the word “garage” was the template and the starting point for most if not all of rock and roll. Whether the garage was literal was irrelevant - the term could apply to a basement, empty room or vacant storage space/warehouse, or really anyplace a band could put their roots down, plug in equipment and then plug away at songs without disturbing the peace. Back then, rough demos were cut onto cassette tape (putting a pillow over the built-in microphone helped stifle cymbal noise), and “in the garage” recordings were the first and easiest way to get the word out about a project. more ›

The last time you were in town was just this October, and the verdict was whoa. To quote hardworking Austinist photographer Nash Cook: "It was a blur. Not just a blur of moments and drinks ordered between songs, but a blur of who was holding you up against the mass of dancing, shouting, screaming bodies who threw beer as if dollars had lost no cents, as if we weren’t in a financial crisis." more ›

As the early bands battled it out for immediate attention during the hectic opening hours of the 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival, local four piece The Strange Boys calmly transported us to decades past with a flurry of garage-pop ditties. Bringing back memories aplenty of bands we've witnessed via the historical catalog of footage from The Ed Sullivan Show, the band's demeanor, attitude, and style all tied in perfectly with their sugary sweet melodies. more ›

If there's a vibe running through Friday's Austin Venture stage roster, it's simply that there is no vibe. Like ACL Fest, the stage is sporting everything from twee boy/girl indie-pop to grizzled country and sleaze rock. If you'd like some variety, this is the place. more ›

Los Angeles, for all its immensity, is one of the few American cities which can truly be said to have its own, isolated identity. And we'll be able to get a nice taste of that tonight, as The City of Angels attacks Austin with a couple of the best bands that freakishly large city has to offer. Headlining is No Age, whose recently released sophomore LP, Nouns, has been lauded far and wide as one of the year's top albums. No Age is the brainchild of dynamic duo Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt, who use their exceptional names to craft churning lo-fidelity punk music that inspires critical analysis rather than mere dancefloor spasmosis—consider this the thinking person's punk rock. more ›

Straight up punk rock may be all the rage at Beerland on most nights but pop melodies are in vogue this Saturday when The Strange Boys and Shapes Have Fangs headline with sugary sweet potions that will keep your heads bobbing in unison throughout. The sound of the '60s is unavoidable in both bands’ lo-fi garage-rock and we decided to catch up with each of them for a quick rundown on the state of affairs in their respective circles. more ›

Monochrome is having a big night this Saturday, with the rebellious flower-punk of Atlanta’s Black Lips coming together with our own freewheelin’ sons of garage rock, White Denim. more ›

Free Week hits its stride on Saturday with three separate shows at Emo’s Lounge, Emo’s inside stage, and the outside stage as well. more ›

Image from Scion's websiteSo you’re all set for an afternoon with the family and/or friends, tons of food on the horizon, be it Turkey or Tofurkey. Still, you need to scratch that live music itch before heading home. Well, fear not oh lovely residents of Austin, the city has a solid night of gigs on the 21st in store for the common layperson. If you’re not already planning on hitting up the Benko and The... more ›

The Black Lips impressed us immensely during their various SxSW performances this year. Their fusion of garage, punk, blues, and pyschedelia packaged in an extremely energetic live show was one of the more memorable moments of the festival. The Atlanta based act returns to Austin this Friday for multiple performances yet again. The Black Lips released their fifth album (and their first studio full-length for Vice Records), Good Bad Not Evil in 2007. The... more ›

Emo's is packing in approximately half of the bands in Austin this evening for a Bacchanalian orgy of rock and roll, Lone Star, and - with all due respect - poorly conceptualized tattoos. Silly tats aside, tonight is guaranteed to be a blowout, and whether you're looking to get familiar with some of the best indie that this town has to offer, or a long-time fan, you'll be sonically satiated come this evening. Here's... more ›

*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note Friday the 13th is good for you, kids. Don't let folks tell you differently! Hope your Friday is going fabulously for you, peeps! I'm preparing quite a feast for the ears for tonight's Laurie Show on KUT 90.5. Special thanks are in order for Kevin Adickes of Moth!Fight! and Nic Saldana of... more ›

FRIDAY [27] music • While You Were Out, presented by Bueno Music Bureau, with The Unbearables, She Sir, The Scripts, Friday After Dark at Club de Ville ($5) books • Anita Gonzalez, Ph.D., presents Dancing Between Myth and Reality at CAAAS (UT - Jester A232) (3:00pm) comedy • Tig Notaro and Steve Burr at Cap City Comedy Club comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Fetish and Other... more ›

MONDAY [23] books • David Sedaris at The Paramount Theatre books • Bill Bradley presents The New American Story at BookPeople (7:30pm) art • Artistic License: WorkSpace Artist Jedediah Caesar at the Blanton Museum of Art at The Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress (Included with Museum Admission, 6-7pm) comedy • "Funniest Person in Austin" Contest, Hosted By Mario DiGiorgio (Winner 1999)" at Cap City Comedy Club dance • The Whirling Dervishes at... more ›

FRIDAY [2] theatre • Improv rap group Aww Shit (Chris Trew, Cody Dearing, Eric Seufert) compose freestyle rap songs and improvise scenes based off of them at this week's Cage Match at Coldtowne Theater (11:30pm) art • Opening Reception for The Llamerret Show at Darkroom Gallery (7pm) art • Texas Biennial Opening Reception at Okay Mountain & Site 1808 (7-10pm, 301 Chicon Unit E at Third and Chicon) art • B Scene: A Night... more ›

THURSDAY [1] party • Learning Secrets hosts Optimo's JD Twitch (Glasgow, UK) at Whisky Bar (10pm-2am, $5) art • Public Tour: The Geometry of Hope: Montevideo in the 1930s at The Blanton (7:00 - 8:00 PM) art • Curator's Tour: The Geometry of Hope at The Blanton (12:30-1pm) art • Texas Biennial Opening Reception at Dougherty Arts Center (7-10pm) art • Art Fix: Enjoy an introduction to Latin American wines with Seth Pollard, Central... more ›

MONDAY [26] film • Squeegee Your Third Eye: Remembering Bill Hicks at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown books • New and Noteworthy Book Club discusses Snow by Orhan Pamuk at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Wonderwall at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown meeting • Austin Music Foundation's Music Industry Boot Camp at Gibson Guitar Showroom (3601 South Congress G400) music • Aloha, Pompeii, The Politics, Low Line Caller at Emo's Lounge music • Shoot for the Stars, iKiLLcaRs, Bones... more ›

WEDNESDAY [14] music • White Ghost Shivers Valetine's Day Party at Scoot Inn music • Bigwood, Street Light Suzie, Sedium, The Ivory Class at Emo's Lounge music • The Stags, Future Clouds and Radar, Radar Radar, The Strange Boys at Emo's music • Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Valentine's Day Party at Stubb's music • Anti-Valentines Day Second Halloween Party at Beerland music • Jimmie Dale Gilmore at Cactus Café (8:30pm) music • People Skills,... more ›

MONDAY [12] benefit • Everychild House Party 2007 at Stubb's ($25/$10 Adults/Children) books • Quincy Troupe presents The Architecture of Language at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Texas Music Museum presents "JAZZ," a six-part film/discussion series with Dr James Polk at Austin Public Library, Carver Branch (7pm) film • Darkon: The Movie at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Half-Cocked at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown food • Central Market Cooking Class with Chef Vance Ely: Gentlemen Entertain:... more ›

After taking last week off because we were sure SXSW would release their master plan, we now return as there seems to be no end in sight to the band list embargo. Many indie labels and some marquee acts have simply announced their appearances, as bands attempt to book routing shows in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, or elsewhere to make their long drives worthwhile. The lack of info has started to get the press... more ›

The only downside of Emo's Free Week is that you have to decide which shows to attend. Some ambitious folks will move between the three venues and check out bits of several shows, but that requires, well, moving, and we're not into that. We'd rather grab five drinks from the bar, stake out a spot in front of the stage and spend all our available energy hollering "raaawwwkkk and roollllll" until we either pass out... more ›