Once upon a time there was but an act named Songs: Ohia, and it was good. Led by midwest mystic and comforting debbie-downer Jason Molina, Songs: Ohia built a legion of dedicated fans on a foundation of archetypal imagery (think factories, trees, seas, night, birds, the color blue, etc.) and painstakingly heartfelt performance. Really, it's hard not to miss the earnest approach of the act, but a few years back Molina—an older and wiser Molina, perhaps worn out on so often being a solo musician, and worn out from writing music on the spare, sorrowful side—decided to retire the Songs: Ohia moniker and embrace a full band of country-ish bohemians under the Magnolia Electric Company nameplate. The result has been an often-rocking, often-joyful, often-classic-rock-y approach to songcraft. All that plus a bunch more awaits the eager beaver this Thursday night at the Mohawk, as Magnolia Electric Company headline a stellar three-deep lineup. more ›

Patterson Hood is best-known for his work with the Drive-By Truckers, but the Alabama native, whose father was a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, has a musical career stretching nearly 20 years. He's been through near-hits and near-misses aplenty. In one particularly tumultuous season, he put together an album of solo material, Killers and Stars, which became an unofficial release passed out at shows and circulated amongst fans. Now, as he's wrapping... more ›

Nearly a year after the release of Drive-By Truckers’ magnificent A Blessing And A Curse, Jason Isbell departed (in friendly fashion) from the band in April of this year. In July, he emerged with his first solo effort, Sirens Of The Ditch on New West Records. Recorded at the Fame Studios (graced in the past by the likes of Little Richard and Aretha Franklin) in Alabama, the album is chock-full of bluesy alt-country balanced... more ›

Peter & The Wolf is/are preparing for a spring tour which will feature not only the soothing sounds of the Austin-based singer/songwriter Red Hunter, but a tour-only CD. Though this 6 week jaunt around the country will feature the same reliable Toyota as previous trips, one notable difference is the permanence of Hunter's accompanying band, which will remain solid throughout the tour. Some lucky locals around hosting towns will be featured as choir members... more ›

Austin may be the "Live Music Capital of The World", but there is a relatively dry season. Once UT lets out for the fall semester and this city shuts up for the holidays, what's an audiophile to do? Suggestion: like bears that build up fat deposits to live off of once they retire to their relatives' caves to hibernate, you should catch a few great shows to delay the onset of withdrawals. Tonight, Emo's... more ›

M O N D A Y [20] [art] Sex Workers' Art Show comes to UT-Austin at Texas Union Showroom (RM. 2.208) at UT-Austin (Free, 7pm) (link) [music] Tammany Hall Machine, Impossible Shapes, and Red Hunter at Stubb's (link) [film] "The Outdoorsmen: Blood, Sweat and Beers" at Alamo South (Monday-Thursday, 10:05pm) (link) [film] "Penitentiary" at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] "930 F" (a documentary about DC's 9:30 Club) at Alamo Downtown ($1, 9:45pm) (link) [film] "The... more ›

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome. Here's to your livers and wallets making it through this week. MONDAY [books] Will Clarke talks crazy with his latest novel, Lord Vishnu's Love Handles @ Bookpeople, 7pm [film] Starchaser in 3-D! @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm, $1 + $1 Glasses Rental [music] 54 Seconds @ Lucky Lounge [music] Paris 49 @ Continental Club TUESDAY [music] Cafe Tacvba with Grupo Fantasmo @ Stubb's BBQ, Doors at 7 pm [music] Alkaline Trio with... more ›