Last Saturday, actor Will Ferrell made a quick stop in Austin during a press tour for his new film Semi-Pro. He also attended a sneak preview of the film and did a Q&A session at the Alamo Drafthouse, where attendees were required to dress in 70's basketball attire for admission - you can see the Drafthouse "team photo" here. Austinist's Tom Thornton and Gordon And The Whale's Chase Whale spoke briefly to Ferrell during the media day. more ›

Alexis Taylor & Co. were almost laughably adorable when they warned us, "Hot Chip will break your legs, snap off your head," but with Made in the Dark they've lived up to their promise. The album begins with an ode to the low end, a sonic challenge to the listener, and the intensity doesn't let up: "Shake a Fist" asserts the band as much more than a smooth electronic dance outfit. As Todd Rundgren's goofy voice (how fitting) interjects midway through the track, we're asked to grab a set of headphones... more ›

It's hard to explain in 2007 what it feels like for music to be both uniting and important. Having spent nearly three years of the '90s living in London, it's with honest nostalgia and wonder that we examine Rhino's The Brit Box. The set's mission is rather broad: it attempts to examine the whole of UK indie rock from 1985-1999 and devotes a disc each to '80s indie, shoegaze, Britpop, and the late '90s. One... more ›

Every fall, Austin looks forward to ACL Fest, and each year, there's always a point where two of your favorite bands are playing on different sides of the park at the exact same time. ACL Band Clash is a weekly series in which Austinist scribes Paige Maguire and Tom Thornton examine the worst ACL scheduling clashes, and try to provide good advice on finding a resolution. Well, good advice might be a stretch, but... more ›

Every fall, Austin looks forward to ACL Fest, and each year, there's always a point where two of your favorite bands are playing on different sides of the park at the exact same time. ACL Band Clash is a weekly series in which Austinist scribes Paige Maguire and Tom Thornton examine the worst ACL scheduling clashes, and try to provide good advice on finding a resolution. Well, good advice might be a stretch, but... more ›

We knew it would happen. After an unseasonably cool June and July, August is here, and it's hot. It's clearly time to eat a ginormous salad. This is what we're having: Jo's Cobb is surprisingly delicious. You could douse Grandma Winslow's hand in the tamari dressing at Mother's and I'd nibble on it. Hence, the side salad there is to die for by default. (Editor's note: While Mother's recovers from a little incident they... more ›

Every fall, Austin looks forward to ACL Fest, and each year, there's always a point where two of your favorite bands are playing on different sides of the park at the exact same time. ACL Band Clash is a weekly series in which Austinist scribes Paige Maguire and Tom Thornton examine the worst ACL scheduling clashes, and try to provide good advice on finding a resolution. Well, good advice might be a stretch, but... more ›

Every fall, Austin looks forward to ACL Fest, and each year, there's always a point where two of your favorite bands are playing on different sides of the park at the exact same time. ACL Band Clash is a new, theoretically weekly series in which Austinist scribes Paige Maguire and Tom Thornton examine the worst ACL scheduling clashes, and try to provide good advice on finding a resolution. Well, good advice might be a... more ›

The Cribs Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever (Warner Bros) Yorkshire's Cribs are a three-piece outfit made up of three brothers, each equal parts befuddling and beguiling. On their major-label debut, the brothers Jarman find themselves channeling everyone from Malkmus to Johnson (that's Calvin), combining sharp-tongued irony with trademark British snarl, shining most when their catchy, sharp hooks let their claws out. The Cribs aren't necessarily doing anything new, but the finely polished pinnacle of... more ›

Taylor Mills Lullagoodbye (Aquapulse) There’s a new safe word being grunted out of S&M dungeons everywhere, and it is Lullagoodbye. It means slow down, ease up and take fewer risks. Although the album mostly lies within the boundaries of uninspired adult contemporary, at times her voice is filled with smooth, sometimes-sultry melody and a graceful piano whispers like a bedtime story. Then, there’s the added bonus of looking at her staggeringly attractive mug on every... more ›

We don't remember much of SXSW but of what we can remember, we think we had a pretty kickass time. During the week of March 13th to the 17th, we were out surviving on what little we had time to consume (usually free, alcoholic or "containing artificial flavors"), catching every bit of sanctioned and unsanctioned SXSW goodness. While we were out on the streets and bars of Austin, we began to realize a lot... more ›

Let's be honest: everyone loves SXSW week, but when it ends, you are secretly very ready to move on. Before we do, let's take a look at some of the isolated, crazy, and wonderful moments that make SXSW such an over-the-top sensory experience. – The dude at Girl Talk dancing with a broken pinata on his head. Then passing said pinata to someone else to dance with. – Isaac Hayes talking in his famous... more ›

Update: Our band listings are now sortable by band name and origin. SXSW unveiled the official lineup around midnight on Wednesday. You can find the roster in table format here -- we'll be adding more functionality to this list in the coming days. A quick glance down the initial list, which currently numbers just over 1,300, indicates that we were pretty close with our initial predictions. Short of a small handful of nice surprises,... more ›

Our recent SXSW coverage has been generating a lot of buzz. So much buzz, in fact, that MTV News recently tracked down Austinist writer Tom Thornton to discuss it. They even went so far as to call our unofficial SXSW lineup "a certifiably punk-rock way of sticking it to the man"! And though we would like to officially deny that our intent was to stick anything to anybody, we think Tom summed things up pretty... more ›

15. Mogwai - Mr. Beast (Matador) As ever, Mogwai manage to blend unadulterated post-rock weight to their shoegazer tendencies with tracks like "Glasgow Mega Snake" and "Folk Death 95," showcasing their ability to create anthems with no words. This is where Mr. Beast really shines, in between blistering chord progressions and gradual swings into corybantic climaxes. In some ways a throwback to earlier (and heavier) Mogwai material, Mr. Beast isn't merely a rock album.... more ›

Death From Above 1979 Heads Up This reissue of the late, great dance-metal duo's first EP represents what little "rare" material there is to be had in the wake of the band's abrupt break-up earlier this year. Everything that made the 2004 triumph You're A Woman, I'm A Machine so massive is here: squalid distorted bass, caveman drumming, soulful shouted vocals, and just a touch of vocoder for old time's sake. DFA79 had the... more ›

Things we learned at the 2006 Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Tour de Vin at Whole Foods Market: more ›

"At the end of touring on a record, you're just so sick of all your songs, and you don't have any prospects for new ones, so it feels like you're in limbo. Even though that's when all your success comes, for us it's like ... old news, and we just wanted to move on and get started on something else..." more ›

A quick plug for cold beers at shady picnic tables: tomorrow night, the upstart Austin Newbies group (comprised of recent transplants from San Francisco, New York, Boston, and elsewhere) hold their third drinks night of 2006. The unimaginatively (but accurately) titled Austin Newbies aims to introduce new Austinites to each other so that many beers can be had, concerts and Drafthouses can be attended, and Casino El Camino burgers can be consumed by said... more ›

After a hastily organized but well received Volume 1, Austin Newcomers returns tonight to fulfill their mission of introducing Austin's new residents to each other over a pint or two. Volume 2 takes place tonight at Little Woodrow's over on the grown-up part of West 6th. If you are 25-35 and you've moved to Austin recently, come and meet your new neighbors. Even if you're not new to Austin, come and tell us where... more ›

On sale this weekend: [3/29] Death Cab For Cutie and Franz Ferdinand - Tomorrow at 11am (The Backyard) (tickets) [4/18] Neko Case - Tomorrow at 11am (La Zona Rosa) (tickets) [4/18] Lily Tomlin (The Paramount Theatre) (tickets) Tickets to see The Strokes and Eagles of Death Metal are totally sold out Did we miss something? Let us know! Upcoming shows include: [2/14] Voxtrot (Emo's) (tickets) [2/15] The Hold Steady and Swearing At Motorists (Emo's)... more ›

Austin is Taradise! And Lance and Sheryl split Congrats to Adlai McMahon, winner of our giveaway contest for Bloc Party's documentary/concert DVD, God Bless Bloc Party! The SXSW Music Festival roster expanded to over 1,100 this week, including such esteemed acts as Morrissey and The Flaming Lips Austinist photographer Matt Wright captures yet another amazing night shot in Austin, as well as some sexy shots of last week's Box Magazine issue release party. The... more ›

Tickets to see The Strokes and Eagles of Death Metal go on sale tomorrow morning at 10am (link), while pre-sale tickets for Dinosaur Jr's late March show are available now (link) Upcoming shows include: [2/09] Of Montreal (Emo's) (tickets) [2/14] Voxtrot (Emo's) (tickets) [2/15] The Hold Steady and Swearing At Motorists (Emo's) (tickets) [2/16] Dalek and Meat Beat Manifesto (The Parish Room) (tickets) [2/16-17] Cowboy Junkies (One World Theatre) [2/18] Nada Surf and Rogue... more ›