The Theater Fire struggles with the challenge they've faced themselves with: playing slow, droning folk-rock without being boring and forgettable. When you're writing music in the same rough genre as Palace, Kozelek, and Iron & Wine, you need to be memorable. Unfortunately for Theater Fire, they succeed as musicians and fail as songwriters: the songs are well-executed and crisp, but they shuffle standing still, and leave you feeling confused and bored. more ›

FRIDAY [28] [books] Mike Henry presents a 24-hour Nonstop Slam at Progress Café, 500 San Marcos (8pm) LINK(Postponed) [dance] Improvisational Movement Project at Blue Theater (8pm, $8-$20) LINK [theatre] "Petra's Cuento" at Dougherty Arts Center (8pm) LINK [theatre] Edward Albee's "The Play About the Baby" at play! Theatre (8pm, $10) LINK [theatre] "Radio: 30" at Hyde Park Theatre (8pm, $13-$15) LINK [theatre] "In On It" at Off Center (8pm, $17) LINK [theatre] "American Fiesta" at... more ›

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)... more ›

M O N D A Y 12 film · QT6 at the Drafthouse Downtown: Documentary Night (7pm and 9:45pm) music · David Garza at Cactus Cafe [Austinist Review] music · Black Angels, Modey Lemon, Rubble and Skullening at Emo's [Austinist Review] outdoors · Park Day at Zilker! Making Austin Home is putting on a huge day of "rest, relaxation and distraction" for Katrina survivors. (10am-6pm) [More Info] T U E S D A Y 13theatre... more ›