Editor's Note: This fantastic interview was contributed by guest writer and aspiring music journalist Ruth Griffin. From fork-lifter to critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, Kurt Vile seems to be the role model of every kid working a day job, just hoping to make it big someday. After jumping from label to label, Vile finally found sanctuary in Matador Records. With his latest, and most cohesive album, Smoke Ring for My Halo, this guy has built a masterpiece from the ground up, destined for greatness from the beginning. His entrancing swoons of sincerity coupled with his harmonious yet melancholy aesthetic have put him at the forefront of the indie music scene, and has earned him a much anticipated Friday afternoon ACL performance. Seemingly unfazed by such a glowing reputation, the lovely Kurt Vile got a chance to give the Austinist some updates on his venture into the spotlight, enlightening us on his counterparts, the Violators, his admiration for Matador, and, naturally, some good old 90210. more ›

If you couldn't make it to Spoon Saturday night, you can catch their openers, The Strange Boys at Waterloo Records today, 5 p.m. more ›

Vanity Fair is calling El Paso the next Brooklyn, citing Tony Rancich's Sonic Ranch (recently used by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Conor Oberst) as ground zero for the new movement. Al Jourgensen agrees. more ›

Son of Steve Earle, named for Van Zandt, Justin Townes Earle is one of the most prominent faces in the world of genre-bending Americana. Effortlessly building from influences like Jimmy Reed, Kurt Cobain, The Replacements, Ray Charles and The Pogues, Justin is coolly redefining what it means to be a roots-man in Nashville. more ›

Austin dweller Margaret Brown brings her new documentary, The Order of Myths, to SXSW after a successful showing at Sundance. Brown was born in Mobile, Alabama, where Myths takes place. The film follows Mobilians through one cycle of their Mardi Gras celebrations—a festival which the city is proud to have begun celebrating before New Orleans. Unlike the Big Easy’s do, however, the Mobile Mardi Gras is, effectively, segregated. more ›

Image from MySpaceMICE AND RIFLES What’s the Deal: It’s impossible to hear a band name like this one from this Austin sextet and not be curious enough to give it a listen. If you do, you’ll find an alt. country group making the most of pedal steel, acoustic guitar and a singer with a unique and brawny voice. The group may have a classic country sound found in between the twang and Great Depression subject... more ›

WEDNESDAY [7] music • The Shins, Viva Voce at The Backyard music • Love and Dancing, with Daetron Vargas, Disco Nihilist, Majora Y Minora, and John Gomi at The Peacock music • Spinto Band, Dios, The Changes at Emo's music • Invincible Czars, Bee vs Moth, Golden Arm Trio at Emo's Lounge music • Woodgrain Wednesday with Bavu Blakes, DJ Rapid Ric, D-Madness at The Parish Room music • Patty Griffin at Waterloo Records... more ›

Several weeks ago we told you about SXSWclick, the annual competition held by the SXSW-offshoot organization that seeks to showcase "short-form storytelling" on the web and on mobile devices. Entrants were invited to submit short films running under 10 minutes long in one of five different categories: "Old School Shorts" (narrative), "Really Real Shorts" (documentary), "Animate-It" (animation), "Sound Checks" (music video), and "What the F*#!?" (experimental/machinima). SXSWclick trimmed the hundreds of entries received down to three finalists for each category; a separate jury will convene later this month to decide which of each three deserves to be crowned king. This year's judging committee includes Margaret Brown (Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt), Danny Leiner (Dude Where's My Car?), Karina Longworth (Cinematical), Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking), and the fellow from Super Size Me. More interesting than what these critics ultimately decide, though, is what you, the internet public, collectively deem to be the best! Vote up to once daily until midnight on July 26th at the link below; the Popularity Contest Award winner will be announced with the others on July 28th. All winning shorts will be screened at next year's SXSW Film Festival. [Vote!] more ›

You remember how when you were younger your older siblings (if you were lucky) told you about the cool new bands you hadn't heard of before? Or, if you grew up sibling-less, how your best friend's cool older brother would do the same? They'd turn you on to a tape or record, and you'd run out to the store, hoping to be the first of your friends to have it for yourself, then play... more ›

For those of you that enjoy more traditional, arguably more melodic, music, Austin is hosting the 18th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference Friday through Tuesday. Over 200 showcase artists will perform, including Arlo Gutherie and our ever-popular Kinky Freidman. So head on over to the Hilton to take in exhibits on Texas music and pay homage to Townes Van Zandt, the inspiration for this year’s theme, “For the Sake of Song.” Or check out the deluge of in-stores at Waterloo. And tell us what its like. We are saving up our patience regarding massive music-loving crowds for You Know What. more ›

Some interesting cinematic offerings for you today, movie lovers. Much better than the dismal choices of last week (we read a review somewhere on the internerd in which the writer compared watching Aeon Flux to receiving an anal probe. Harsh). So cozy up in a theatre this weekend with one or more of this week’s new movie releases. *The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Forget the Christian undertones (or... more ›

M O N D A Y [5] music · MF Doom, Count Bass D, John Robinson at La Zona Rosa music · Saves the Day, Senses Fall, Emmanuel, Early November at Emo's film · "Shaun Of The Dead" spinoffs at The Drafthouse Downtown (7pm) [link] T U E S D A Y [6] music · Red Leaves at CRL Art Gallery film · AFS screens "The Singing Blacksmith" at The Drafthouse Downtown (7pm) [link]... more ›

The Peels are a rock band out of San Francisco, now under indie DIY darlings Dim Mak Records. Their debut LP "S/T", produced by the legendary John Goodmanson, was released back in February this year. Now on tour with The Raveonettes and Autolux, The Peels took time after their show last week at the Parish Room to sit down for a chat with Austinist. We spoke with lead singer Robyn Miller and bassist Joshua... more ›