Having been disappointed with The Walkmen's last few efforts including the spotty Hundred Miles Off and the truly bizarre recreation of Harry Nilson's Pussy Cats, we really didn't know what to expect from a band that had been a true standby in the early aughts....

When The Walkmen arrived on the scene with their debut, Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone, they amassed an indie following in relatively no time at all....

There's always been something undeniable about a quality West Coast power-pop record. From the mainstream success of Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever to the more obscure gems of The Posies and Jellyfish, the records in this oeuvre feel instantly memorable, lighter than air, and modestly perfect. Such sounds are likely what inspires The Broken West, a Los Angeles-based band that channels these sounds and those of Big Star and early Wilco on their debut......

It's August already, and if you haven't sweated it out to some great rock outside at Emo's yet, you can't claim to be an actual citizen of this 'burg, let alone a real human in the world. It can be a trying, vaguely sensual experience testing your physical, mental, and spiritual stamina amongst so many different flavors of scenester/hipster/regular Joe, all with their own fragrance and fashion aesthetic - or lack thereof. Also, due......

Last March, Birmingham, England's Editors made quite an impression on those who attended their packed SXSW showcases. An airtight quartet, the band blazed through their sets with energy and precision. A measured mix of post-punk and UK arena rock, Editors project intensity and a dark mood throughout their recorded output. Their debut album The Back Room went gold and produced four Top 40 singles in the UK, and American hipster mag The Fader liked......

Sure, Harry Nilsson's birthday isn't actually until Friday. And some of you probably don't even know who he is. But neither of those things should stop you from partying at the Alamo tonight in honor of the late great songwriter, Grammy Award winner and all-around brilliant guy. If you're familiar with Nilsson, we obviously don't need to sell you on his wonderfully diverse and inventive pop music. But if you're not sure who he is,......

Seems like all the -ist sites are here for SXSW this week, and we've all hacked our way in to Austinist! Gothamist arts & entertainment editor Jen here, live from somewhere off I-35 and still recovering from our Austinist, Gothamist, Gorilla vs Bear show yesterday. There are of course plenty of great shows to catch today and tonight, and thanks to this map and directory - you should be able to find the right one......

Michigan's Quack!Media is your entity’s one-stop shop for music, video, print, and web needs. Meanwhile, Quack! affiliate Found Magazine is an intriguing collection of interesting stuff found in random places. As their website states, “We collect found stuff: love letters, birthday cards, kids' homework, to-do lists, ticket stubs, poetry on napkins, doodles- anything that gives a glimpse into someone else's life. Anything goes”. Oh, and there’s also a pervy version, Dirty Found Magazine. Together, they......

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......

Another week has passed, and somehow there's a full Coachella lineup available but still no official word from SXSW. The Austin Chronicle did report that the powers that be intend to issue an official list sometime next week, so in the interim, we bring you round three of our unofficial but quite accurate SXSW 2007 band list. Interesting additions this week include Sloan, The Pipettes, Apples In Stereo, The Rosebuds, Beach House, Robyn Hitchcock,......

As you sit in the snow, bored to tears with your second snow day, you may again wonder if the folks at SXSW have released their huge band list so that all good indie-yuppies have something to do later this week at work besides listening to that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah leak. Well, not so much. But thanks to the good people at Done Waiting and BrooklynVegan, some MySpace confirmations, a big stack......

Last week, the Austin Chronicle reported that officials at SXSW are delaying the release of their huge band list. The rationale is that a late release will cut down on the rampant day party scene from last year since party planners won't know who is playing until late in the game. Given the unbridled love we have for day parties, we have our doubts about the effectiveness of these tactics, but that still doesn't......

You probably know actor Curtis Armstrong best as the vulgar, grubby, utterly lovable anti-frat boy character Booger from the 1980s teen comedy series Revenge of the Nerds. So you may be surprised to find out that in real life, Armstrong is articulate, cultured and polite - and that he’s one of the world’s foremost experts on pop songwriter Harry Nilsson. This Saturday, Armstrong will be visiting Austin to host a screening of Nilsson’s 1971 film......

Here's what's new this week: The Walkmen Pussy Cats Starring the Walkmen (Record Collection) When John Lennon and Yoko Ono took a break in 1974, the former jumped into the studio with pals Ringo Star, Keith Moon and Harry Nilsson (among others) to produce Pussy Cats, a fascinating mix of classic tunes and originals arranged primarily by Nilsson and Lennon. Misunderstood and bizarre, Pussy Cats is the ultimate buddy album for music geeks with......

MONDAY [19] [film] Tickets on Sale Now for Superman Returns, opening June 27th @ Alamo at Alamo South (Multiple Shows, $8) (more) [sports] World Cup Matches at Alamo Village (Daily, Various) (more) [film] State vs. Reed (funds from screening benefit Rodney Reed's family) at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (more) [film] Casino at Austin Java (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] The Fearless Freaks at Café Mundi (8pm, FREE) (more) [film] Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon at Alamo......

New York City indie rockers The Walkmen made it big with 2004's Bows and Arrows, an aggressive, exuberant, and borderline-theatrical production that ended up on tons of year-end "best of" lists. Over the past two years, the guys have gone through some big changes: the Harlem building housing their personal recording studio, dubbed Marcata (where B&A was born), was bought out by Columbia University, in the school's ever-accelerating expansion north of Morningside Heights. After......

There's something for everyone this week in the Austinist concert update. Hip-hop and DJ culture from Cut Chemist and Jurassic 5, 80's college rock from The English Beat and The Church, and, well, 90's college rock from Rollins Band and Eels. There's also a healthy dose of sleaze with the Peaches and Eagles of Death Metal Bill, and some classic punk from X. On with the shows: Newly announced: 7/08 Cut Chemist @ Waterloo......

You can throw a rock this month and hit a good touring show in Austin. After our usual post-SXSW doldrums, everyone seems to be scheduling Austin as an early summer stop. Check out new additions like Pete Yorn, M. Ward, Reverend Horton Heat, and indie-blogger favorite Human Television in the listings below: June: 6/02 The Roots + Blackalicious (Stubb’s) 6/03 Film School + Margot & The Nuclear So-And-Sos (Emo’s) 6/07 Arctic Monkeys + We......

With new shows on sale from Sonic Youth, INXS, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Rancid, it seems to be college radio nostalgia week for the concert update. There are also a nice batch of new indie shows, including Tapes 'n' Tapes for Pitchfork fans, Dios Malos for the mellow types, The Futureheads for the edgy punky stuff, and even Tilly and the Wall for you tap dancers. On with the shows: May: 5/10 -......

After 18 bands in a weekend, Austinist is exhausted. Coachella 2006 was everything we thought it would be, only hotter, and with less alcohol (due to the scorching heat) and more drugs (since nobody could drink near the stages). We went in with no set agenda in terms of seeing particular bands - it seemed smarter to just hit whatever struck us right at the time. This strategy worked pretty well, and here's how......

Last week, we posted a major concert update for May and June. If you missed it, just click the Expand-O-Tron for the recap. You're welcome. This week has already brought a flurry of updates including two new shows at The Backyard. Here they are (Austinist looks out): 5/28 - Eagles Of Death Metal @ The Parish Room 6/03 - Film School + Margot & The Nuclear So-And-Sos @ Emo's 6/10 - Radio 4 +......

Summer is coming, and the post-SX lull appears to be ending for Austin gigs. Many SX bands are scheduling return appearances, and our outdoor venues are beginning to release May and June schedules. The following list offers some highlights (for comprehensive listings, check Pollstar or Showlist Austin): 4/15 - Calexico (free early show) @ Emo's 4/15 - Deathray Davies + The M's @ Emo's 4/24 - TV on the Radio + Celebration @ Emo's......

Download not working? Let us know! [mp3] Antony and the Johnsons - "Cripple and the Starfish" [mp3] Arctic Monkeys - "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" [mp3] Chin Up Chin Up - "We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers" [mp3] Chin Up Chin Up - "Virginia Don't Drown" [mp3] Controller Controller - "Poison/Safe" [mp3] Controller Controller - "PF" [mp3] Controller Controller - "The Raw No" [mp3] Controller Controller - "Magnetic Strip"......

We're absolutely, undeniably terrified of this week. See you next Monday -- if we can still remember who we are. M O N D A Y [19] film · End of an Ear and Plexifilm bring you "Saint Etienne Presents Finisterre", a film about London by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans, at the Drafthouse South Lamar. (Free! 9:45pm) music/party · Nic Armstrong & The Thieves take over Club DeVille all night long - and they're......

The 2005 ACL Festival Schedule was posted online yesterday, and for the most part it looks like they spaced the acts out pretty well. Though we'll still probably spend the next two months at work dreaming up dozens of band-hopping strategies, thus far we're pretty stoked to be able to see awesome acts like the Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, and The Decemberists without having to forego another great band at the same......

It's the night before Austinist embarks on our Spring Road Trip to the Coachella Music Festival in the California desert, and we've all but finalized our itinerary and list of distractions to keep our eyes off the road. Here's what we're taking along for the ride out and back: All those recent copies of New Yorker, The Nation, The Believer, Harper's, Saveur, Paste, and maybe even the piles of SXSW schwag that have been......