Sadie Smythe, co-producer of monthly sex-talk extravaganza Bedpost Confessions, screams the word “climax” to a crowd of 300 individuals, comfortably seated in East Side venue ND.
Smythe is...
As Subito Bones co-creator Alex Glen begins to set up his trombone, his eyes become fixated on the instrument. He carefully attaches the horn to its slide. The mouthpiece is the final part of this musical...
Saying goodbye to friends and family is always a hard thing, especially when you’re about to attend a university far from home. “It’s sad to see them go, but you have to move on,”...
“Hi, how are you? Do you want to walk around SoCo, or hike Mount Bonnell? Actually, I’m hungry. Let’s go to Home Slice Pizza.” If you recognized some of these Austin terms, kudos...
Lazy days and memorable nights — summertime is almost here. Whether you’re a lo-fi aficionado or an instrumental rock lover, this summer has plenty to offer for fans of all genres. These are...
Bubblegum rapper B.o.B has managed to pop his way into mainstream superstardom since his 2010 debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. It’s not surprising — a genre-blender...
On the album cover for Santigold’s long-awaited return, Master of My Make-Believe, the artist acts as many things. A Mafia boss, a 18th century officer and a bludgeon-wielding bodyguard — artist...
Having been quiet since 2009’s The High End of Low, alternative metal’s prince of darkness Marilyn Manson returns with Born Villain.
Like Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, there is a...
Jazz songstress Norah Jones has got a broken heart and wants everybody to know it. Her latest album, Little Broken Hearts, showcases the singer-songwriter’s departure from heart-on-her-sleeve hopeless...
Alternative rock band Say Anything will do whatever they want. If they want to make a song about over-the-phone sexcapades (2004’s “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too”), cover an Ol’ Dirty...
Psychedelic rock duo Prince Rama’s unconventional sound derives from the group’s upbringing on a Hare Krishna commune, an isolated environment that focuses devotedly on Eastern Indian practices....
Praised by local and national fans alike, the Austin Psych Fest caters to those who like their music strange, transcendent and synesthesia-friendly. Just one look at the festival’s website and you...
Dubstep artist Borgore is filthy, but in a good way. With his combination of heavy, head-throbbing bass and explicit lyrical content that would even leave controversial hip-hop group 2 Live Crew squirming,...
Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series examining the different strategies and resources that various local musicians use to keep afloat in Austin’s legendary live music scene.
All...
Alternative hip-hop trio Death Grips sound like they belong on the soundtracks to movies like “Kids” or “Requiem for a Dream.” Doomsday cacophony crashes in all directions, spreading...
From former upholsterer to blues-rock virtuoso, the one and only Jack White has paved a successful road for himself. Having originally made history with two-piece rock group the White Stripes, White has...
Skateboarders have Go Skateboarding Day, comic book aficionados have Free Comic Book Day and record connoisseurs have Record Store Day. Record Store Day, an internationally celebrated event that occurs...
Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series examining the different strategies and resources that various local musicians use to keep afloat in Austin’s legendary live music scene....
Hailing from Provo, Utah, alternative rock group Neon Trees’ upbeat, pop-savvy vibe, is complimented by a strong, new-wave rock backbone. It works — their debut album, Habits, peaked at No....
Since 2002, lover-boy Jason Mraz has become a part of an acoustic beach-rock scene shared by artists like Jack Johnson and, more recently, Eddie Vedder. Mraz relies on simplicity in his music, using straight-to-the-point...
“We have been listening to a lot of Prince over the years, so it’s definitely an influence on this record,” said Maps and Atlases guitarist Erin Elders of the group’s latest album,...
What do ‘70s TV show “B.J. and the Bear” and experimental rock group Minus the Bear have in common? The band’s name derives from a joke a friend of the band made about a date (“You...
Melbourne, Australia’s The Twerps are all about pop — their jangling, soak-on-the-beach guitars reminiscent of ’60s surf rock. Accompanied by luscious harmonies from frontman Marty Frawley...
It’s been a while since singer-songwriter M. Ward had some alone time. His last solo effort, Hold Time, was back in 2009. Now, having devoted most of his time to side projects She & Him and Monsters...
Fear not Monica fans. The ‘90s contemporary R&B diva still has the singing chops to compete with her fellow songstresses. Two years since her 2010 release, Still Standing, Monica returns with...
Imagine if childhood superheroes the Power Rangers gave up fighting crime and instead turned to a life of creating upbeat, pop punk music. Self-proclaimed “Japanese Action Comic Punk” band...
Local group Soul Track Mind have no qualms about bringing the funk. From their melodic, powerful horn section to frontman Donovan Keith’s pleasing falsetto reminiscent of soul crooner Al Green’s,...
Hip-hop heads rejoice: Thursday will feature two shows sure to appeal to both hardcore rap fans and music-savvy hipsters.
Comedian and witty wordsmith Donald Glover, commonly known as Childish Gambino,...
German Grammy Award-winning DJ Paul van Dyk has been a crucial component of electronic dance music’s rise to the mainstream. Whether it be collaborating with Talking Heads frontman David Byrne or...
Editor's Note: This article contains explicit content.
Did anyone think pop-rap songstress Nicki Minaj would fully turn away from her erratic persona? As soon as we all witnessed her baffling performance...
Justin Bieber. Say the name in a crowded room and you’re bound to get an assortment of responses: “He looks like a girl.” “He flips his hair too much.” “I love him.”...
Unlike those who have claimed to have paid their dues in hip-hop, Timothy Parker, more commonly known as rapper Gift of Gab, has done so since his days in hip-hop duo Blackalicious. His impenetrable rhyming...
The cover art for R&B/soul songstress Macy Gray’s latest album, Covered, says it all. Naked, but veiled in darkness and hidden under wild hair, the singer-songwriter has a sullen look on her...
There is no group that has taken up the progressive rock torch quite like The Mars Volta. In their 11-year career, the band has gone from prog-rock toddlers to masters of the genre, channeling the spirit...
After a day filled with multiple java stops and shots, where do you go to unwind and rid yourself of liquid anxiety? A new bar in Austin has got the answer, and it’s called kava.
SquareRüt...
Being compared to experimental rock group Portishead would be a challenge for most; that is, unless you’re Nedry. The English three-piece courageously flourishes with a minimalist electronic atmosphere...
“Once upon a time, there was this group of dusty ass mothafuckas that created a little group for themselves. They called themselves Odd Future.” This is the introductory line to “Hi,”...
Local band Electric Touch stays true to their name. Influenced by the punk rock sounds of The Clash and The Ramones, the group’s upbeat and energetic sound electrifies listeners with a musical shock....
Everything seems to come to a breaking point during the fifth, and basically last, day of SXSW. The festival's events coincided with St. Patrick's Day, resulting in a Saturday that was catastrophic,...
For those still fighting the good fight that is SXSW, Friday graciously offered some of the best events and shows so far.
Early during the day, Antone's had attendees rocking out to the sounds of...
It's not uncommon to find the third day of SXSW overwhelming. Where Tuesday and Wednesday saw an array of acts getting acquainted with the Texas vibe, by Thursday those groups are all ready to go,...
Wednesday showed a significant pick-up from the festivities offered on Tuesday. With a light breeze and free drinks galore, music fans and artists took to the streets of downtown in search of a good time.
Thrasher...
Eric Mikulak, better known as rapper Click-Clack, could very well be the face of Austin's ever-growing hip hop scene. The local artist finds inspiration from an assortment of groups, his do-it-yourself...
Unless you were fortunate enough to catch Jay-Z's exclusive performance at the ACL Moody Theater on Monday, most music patrons did not really get a taste of what SXSW had to offer until Tuesday. Opening...
Indie rock group Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. glide gracefully to the finish line like the race-car driver they take their name from. In their melodies you can hear the jubilant atmosphere of The Beach Boys,...
South By Southwest's music portion is always filled with an eclectic offering of music's biggest and up-and-coming acts. This year's SXSW is special in that it features singer-songwriter Fiona...
When it comes to South By Southwest, Twitter can become one of your greatest friends. From famous actors and actresses to big-shot rappers and rockstars, everyone who will be at SXSW will be talking about...
Although South By Southwest has often been described as an adult’s playground, it could also very well be considered a test of one’s endurance. The restaurants listed below will solve your...
Part of the reason Austin has become the “Live Music Capital of the World” is because of the talent it creates. From up-and-coming blues rocker Gary Clark Jr. to disco funksters The Bright...
If there is anything South By Southwest is not friendly to, it’s cars. Once the festivities begin, the streets of downtown Austin are congested with people from all over the world, and the last thing...
These must-have South By Southwest items will help make your experience that much more enjoyable.
Cash
While there are plenty of ATMs scattered across downtown, you can avoid their steep service charges...
Outside of Kanye West and Jay-Z, rap can be a foreign genre to even the most diehard indie fanatics at South By Southwest. The genre has managed to become one of the most multifaceted and diverse in music,...
Last year’s secret music shows gave us performances from the then newly-reunited Death From Above 1979 and hip-hop dynamic duo Kanye West and Jay-Z, but what about this year? Who will surprise us...
Along with offering an assortment of performances from local, national and international talent, SXSW hosts many great events, including the annual mtvU Woodie Awards. Originally debuting back in 2004,...
It would not be an overstatement to say that band names that begin with the word “deer” have their own special place in the rock music spectrum. Avant-garde, anything-goes rock band Deerhoof...
Following their 2007 debut, Sumthin 2 Hate, G-Side, a duo consisting of members Stephen “ST 2 Lettaz” Harris and Yung “David Williams” Clova, are hoping to bring something new and...
It seems that Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen has redefined his sound to capture the ears of a new generation. For his 17th album, Wrecking Ball, the artist opts for arena-rock grandeur to remain...
A self-proclaimed mix between a “Buffalo Bills tailgate party and a high school kegger,” metalcore ensemble Every Time I Die embodies the chaos that is bound to ensue if said high school kegger...
Good Old War are the new kids on the indie-folk block. There’s a pop backbone to their folk-driven songs, combining the sweet harmonies of Fleet Foxes with the down-by-the-beach vibes of Jack Johnson....
When Estelle rose to fame in 2008 with “American Boy,” featuring Kanye West, listeners met a sophisticated artist whose interests included traveling around the world and the aforementioned...
Through their own breed of backpack rap, rap duo Chiddy Bang comes prepared with the tools necessary to graduate at the top of the hipster class. The subgenre backpack rap is known for its relatable lyrical...
“It ain’t even a question how my dough flows,” stated Ja Rule on Jay-Z’s 1998 hit single, “Can I Get A...” During the late ’90s and early 2000s, it seemed foolish...
Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson, better known as Tyga, had an ill-received debut when listeners first heard him on collaborative studio album, We Are Young Money. The rapper’s verse on the hit “BedRock”...
Electronic dance music, or EDM, has emerged as the next big thing for American mainstream music. Key components include Las Vegas' Electric Daisy Carnival, a festival that has become notorious for...
Indie rock group Islands has risen to prominence since it released its debut, Return to the Sea, in 2006. The group’s soft, melancholic sound compliments its name: wavy, reverberated guitars rock...
When documentary filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev first announced his latest endeavor, “Re:Generation,” in October of last year, questions arose as to how well the acclaimed director would be able to...
The longtime collaboration between The Mars Volta’s Juan Alderete and singer-songwriter Lisa Papineau (well known for contributing vocals to M83), Big Sir’s minimal setup harbors a complex...
No band truly embodies the sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll mentality quite like Van Halen. The gods of rock, who first made their performance debut in 1974 on Hollywood’s infamous Sunset...
When power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé announced the birth of daughter Blue Ivy Carter on Jan. 7, the Carters became the definitive example of what a hip-hop family should be. Soon after Blues birth,...
“He’s a lazy bastard living in a suit,” begins Leonard Cohen’s “Going Home,” the opener for his latest release, Old Ideas. Talking to a fictionalized self, Cohen battles...
This weekend, OH SNAP! a music, food and variety festival, will be celebrating its third year, featuring local acts Les RAV, Ume, Mother Falcon, Freshmillions and many others.
The festival debuted in...
Defining themselves as “the Michael Jordan of rock ‘n’ roll,” six-piece rabble-rousing rockers Foxy Shazam are distinct and distinguishable like their basketball counterpart. “We...
Cloud Nothings would have fit in perfectly during the 1990s alternative rock scene. With their aggressive yet melodic guitar riffs and angry, half-sung, half-spoken vocals that are, at times, indecipherable,...
