One wouldn't necessarily assume all "heavy music" shares a common thread - in fact, sometimes it seems unfair to align the challenges of improvised music with brutal grindcore, shrill no wave gesticulation, and avant-garde prog theatrics. Each form of music certainly has its own rules and normative structure, and its own independent value. However, uncompromising art of whatever stripe should inspire respect, and the work that Weasel Walter puts into every one of his projects is plainly visible, whatever the subcategory. more ›

Brace yourselves, because we don't want anyone getting the vapors before we install the fainting couch: In addition to bringing you coverage up to and through this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest, we'll be throwing a big bash on November 4th to usher in the festival weekend. Also, it's free! more ›

Over seven years and four full-length albums, Austin’s Weird Weeds have settled comfortably into an aesthetic of cultivated artiness. The style could be described as invitingly strange or vague to the point of alienation, depending on one’s appreciation of droning guitar instrumentals and lyrics about feeding your lover garbage. more ›

For the past several years, Austin's Weird Weeds have been a sort of "bridesmaid" band. That's chiefly because they defied easy categorization - too twee to fit into the "freak folk" arena, too noisy and/or toothy to fit in with the psychedelic drones of fellow Texans Charlambides and Shawn David McMillen, and too much song craft to run with the "experimental" crowd (though drummer-songwriter Nick Hennies is a noted contemporary classical percussionist). more ›

Even in a hotbed of art making and difficult music such as western Massachusetts, home to the Ecstatic Peace! label headquarters and bands like Sunburned Hand of the Man and Northampton Wools, there has to be at least one untouchably strange audio-visual cohesion that puts all others to shame. more ›

Local label Autobus Records is teaming up with a few local blogs and businesses to put together a musical showcase of many of the artists associated with the label. It's all happening at Stubb's BBQ (inside) Saturday evening. more ›

It has been quite some time since we've heard from spazz-rockers Reverse X-Rays, who dip into some sort of odd combination of Devo and surf and noisy rock. The band have been hard at work writing new material, and this show at 1808 will be the first live performance of the band in some time. more ›

The Church of the Friendly Ghost is planning a special performance at The Compound this Wednesday, featuring eclectic performer Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu performing solo. more ›

Weird Weeds are continuing their month-long residency at Progress Coffee with a change-up for their second to last performance. more ›

As you might already know, Zilker Park's Dinoland opened last weekend. What you might not have known is that Ghostland Observatory is a "Hadrosaurus Sponsor," meaning they contributed at least $10,000 to the exhibit. more ›

It’s a weird weird weird weird weird weird world, and The Weird Weeds are emblematic of our times. Our favorite avant-garde local pop band gets quite a few mentions on this site, and here’s why: the band are simultaneously challenging and odd while remaining irrepressibly goofy and even a little cute and cuddle-able. The same can be said for very few experimental rock bands out there, save for Weird Weeds stage-sharers Xiu Xiu – and even they traipse on the “creepy” side a little too often for many of us. more ›

Whoa, that Church of the Friendly Ghost is getting crazy ambitious for April. They've booked four shows already, and have two more in the works. Sure, that’s nothing for your average nu-metal dive, but the Church is different, you know, with each show they put on infused with some odd, unique flavor. And speaking of flavor, their performances are now extra-delicious. Yes - these performances at the Salvage Vanguard Theater will all be catered by Ararat, who serve up some pretty damn delectable Mediterranean food. Call it added incentive to hear some new music. To top it all off, Miss Lori 16MM will compliment the food, drinks, and sound with visuals including slides and film projections. more ›

Disturbing psycho-sexual lyricism, multifaceted percussion skills, quivering vocals, all combined with curious extroversion and a skewed appreciation for cuteness? This can be none other than the damaged experimental rock outfit Xiu Xiu, who will play The Mohawk’s outside stage this Saturday. Xiu Xiu’s has a knack for combining whimsy and pain, and we recently called them out as “one of the most excellent and fascinating bands of the decade” in our review of their last record, Women as Lovers. more ›

Austin's own Weird Weeds spent seven months in the studio working on their latest full-length, I Miss This, and by their own admission, the effort asserted towards this record is by far the most intense in their history. One listen demonstrates their devout attention to detail in regards to both production and songwriting amply. "Red" oozes thick guitar dirges, sweetly tempered percussion and odes to Indian sitar harmonies (and carefully executed dissonance) with equal precision. more ›

Austin's Balmorhea released River's Arms last week, and kicked off their tour here in town. Their tour to support the record will follow the east coast, and land them back here in time for some SXSW gigs. Sample some of the instrumental band's lulling, hypnotic tunes c/o Western Vinyl, and check back here for a full-length review very soon. more ›

This Thursday through Sunday, improvised music is going to grab a foothold in both Austin and San Antonio. Featuring thirteen artists from all over the world – from the close confines of Houston and Austin to the far-off reaches of Tokyo and Boston – the No Idea Festival is poised to showcase a diverse array of acts you likely won’t see anywhere else, anytime soon. more ›

Because we're all hoping they'll finally find their audience (aside from our moms) and land a record deal, The Black Crowes have announced their 2008 tour, which includes a stop at SXSW 2008. They will headline at Stubb's, no less. Keep your fingers crossed for them, folks. In other news, we've received word on a handful of local bands that have been accepted by SXSW, including (but not limited to) The Lemurs, Peel, Weird Weeds, Car Stereo (Wars) and almost local rapper Bun B of UGK (Houston). We'll be updating with local additions as often as we can, so stay tuned! more ›

While every performance the Church of the Friendly Ghost puts on is assuredly special, this Wednesday evening they will host three diverse acts at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre sure to satisfy your every experimental, avant-garde whim. more ›

While working as the label manager for Misra records, Phil Waldorf released albums by many notable local acts like Centro-matic and Shearwater, not to mention records by Athens mainstays Marshmallow Coast and The Mendoza Line. When Waldorf decided to leave the Misra label to start his own Dead Oceans imprint, he took a few bands with him, including Phosphorescent, another Athens project with a big, country-psychedelic bent. Matthew Houck is the main man behind... more ›

Thursday, June 28 artOpening Reception for Whitney Lee: Power Craft at Women and Their Work, 1710 Lavaca Street (6-8pm) artOpen House Work Viewing at Atelier 3-D, 2209 Pasadena Drive (4-10pm) artArtistic License: Josefina Guilisasti at The Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress Ave (Free, 6-8pm) booksAmanda Eyre Ward presents Forgive Me at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedyPat Dixon with Brendon Walsh at Cap City Comedy Club comedyParallelogramophonograph with special guests Look Cookie at ColdTowne Theater (8pm)... more ›

Bill Callahan Woke on a Whaleheart (Drag City) "Well, I could tell you about the river, or we could just get in" seems to typify Bill Callahan's mood throughout his official solo debut, Woke on a Whaleheart. The album's first track, "From the Rivers to the Ocean", introduces us to Callahan's new take on an old vibe by showcasing little pieces of everything he'll bring to full bloom as the album unfolds. As Callahan croons,... more ›

FRIDAY [20] benefit/music • Ashera-Blare-A IV with All In the Golden Afternoon, The Heirs, The Minderchucks, and The Otters at Club DeVille beer/party • Black Star Co-op's Craft Beer Celebration with Pong, Opposite Day, The Second Line Social, and fine craft beer from around the country at Fiesta Gardens (8pm-Midnight, $10) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Room, part of Refraction Arts' Fuse Box Festival at The... more ›

THURSDAY [19] benefit/music • Do512 and Direct Events co-host a benefit for Groundwork Music with Tammany Hall, The Boxing Lesson at La Zona Rosa (RSVP for Free Entry, $5 Cover Otherwise) books • "The Art of Travel and Travel Writing" with Lonely Planet writer Alex Hershey and Stephanie Elizondo Griest at Intellectual Property (5:00pm) books • The Texas Monthly Author Series presents Ian Rankin at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Movies in the Park: "Talladega... more ›

MONDAY [16] film • "The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico" at Alamo Downtown books • Teen Sci-Fi writers Scott Westerfield and Justine Larbalestier at BookPeople (7:00pm) books • The Harlem Renaissance, a panel discussion with Cary D. Wintz, Martha Jane Nadell, and Shirley Thompson at The Harry Ransom Center (7:00pm) film • "A Clockwork Orange" at Alamo Downtown film • Jim Jarmusch's "Down By Law" at Alamo Village food • Central Market... more ›

THURSDAY [22] music •Third Coast Festival Listening Room, hosted by David Brown (KUT) at Cactus Café (7pm) books •Melissa Kirsch presents The Girl's Guide to Absolutely Everything at BookPeople (7:00pm) music •The Charms, Gentlemen's Social Club, The Deadly Companions at Emo's music •Jack Rabid and the Slims, American Business Machines (Mass), Abby Birds, The Steed at Trophy's music •Weird Weeds, The Dead Science, The Parenthetical Science, Hello Lovers at The Mohawk film •Alejandro Jodorowsky's... more ›

MONDAY [19] film • Alejandro Jodorowsky's "El Topo" at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown music • Melissa Ferrick, Coles Whalen at Stubb's film • "8-Bit": A film about art & video games at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown TUESDAY [20] books • O. Henry Prize Winning Short Story Adaptations at Harry Ransom Center (7:00pm) food • Central Market Cooking Class: Chef Justin Raiford - Flavors of Spring at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($50, 6:30-9pm) music... more ›

FRIDAY [19] film • AFS presents a new 35mm print of The Rules of the Game at Dobie Theatre film • Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival 2007 at Alamo Downtown (7pm, 9:30pm, 11:58pm) Most events are probably back on schedule, but call ahead just to be sure. music • The Weird Weeds, W-S Burn, Brian Sookram, Jonathan Horne at The Peacock ($3, 9pm) art • Two Mongolian Artists From Two Generations: D.... more ›

We've just received word that Emo's has decided to cancel tonight's shows because of the unwavering ice storm. After two days of closure, we'd hoped to sled downtown and catch The Politics, She, Sir and Haunting Oboe inside the club proper and double-back to the lounge to attempt a glimpse of A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Weird Weeds and Ralph White, but alas. We're crossing our fingers that things start getting back to normal... more ›

This show has been canceled due to the on-going ice storm. -ed. Emo's Lounge, in its relative infancy, has already come into its own as a indie-rock venue unafraid of breaking the mold to host more diverse acts. We've seen some great shows, drank our share of reasonably priced drinks, and used the rather odd restrooms, thus far being more than satisfied with the place. Tonight will be no different, with a great lineup... more ›

MONDAY [15] books • The Xenogia Spoken Word Collective, Uprise Productions, and the Vortex present Genevieve Van Cleve and Sharon Bridgeforth with host Zell Miller III at The Vortex (6:45pm, $3) film • 24 Season Premiere party, night two at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film • James Brown, Boston Garden 1968 at Alamo Downtown (9:45pm) Photo of Bull Creek by mr3wan on flickr... more ›