Last night, after recommending a friend check out Black Books’ set in Austin, I received the following text message: Sorry, Foo Fighters beat out new band for tonight. Foos just played whole new record. Now for the hits! You can read more on the band’s surprise gig at Stubb’s, including the complete setlist, here. Pre-order [...]

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One of my favorite things about South By Southwest each year is discovering bands I previously knew nothing about. I recently was introduced to the music of Austin-based band Black Books, which you can see tonight (Tuesday, 3.15.11) at 9pm in Austin at Skinny’s Ballroom as part of the Knerd.com launch party. The band also [...]

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Musician Alex Dezen releases his new album under The Damnwells moniker today (Tuesday, 3.15.11). After label deals with Epic and Rounder, the band opted for a less traditional route for its new album: No One Listens To The Band Anymore was funded completely by the band’s fans via PledgeMusic. No One Listens To The Band [...]

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Houston’s Two Star Symphony returns to South By Southwest this week for its second showcase. The band recently played a part in the film Honky Tonk Blood, which you can find more about here. I interviewed the band for last year’s Houston Calling SXSW preview. Read it here. Two Star Symphony plays in Austin during [...]

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British singer-songwriter Lee MacDougall honed his skills in open-mike nights in London and has steadily grown his fan base by opening for the likes of Starsailor, Bob Dylan, and Van Morrison. The musician brings his music to the U.S. this month, performing at South By Southwest and also in Houston at the Hideaway on Dunvale [...]

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The annual South By Due East festival starts today (Friday, 3.11.11) at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar in the Heights, and features a slew of local and regional acts. The fun starts at 5pm today and on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. More info at www.southbydueeast.com.

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The HoustonTXSW showcase is this Tuesday (3.14.11) at Republic Live in Austin. Schedule below: 4-6pm Houston Film Showcase 6-8pm Houston Interactive Showcase 8-12pm Houston Music Showcase The music line-up includes: 8pm Hilary Sloan 9pm Roky Moon and Bolt! 10pm Winter Wallace 11pm Co-Pilot More information at www.houstontxsw.us.

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I have been a fan of Houston punk rock trio Something Fierce for years, and have especially enjoyed watching the band’s continued success on its own terms. As I posted recently, Something Fierce has a new album coming out on Dirtnap Records in April (Don’t Be So Cruel), and returns to Austin next week for [...]

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Buxton is one of Houston’s most respected bands, and one that in 2011 will undoubtedly see its fan base expanding far outside Texas. It’s music is both down-home and modern–I’ve likened the band to Wilco in the past–and the group’s recent signing to New West Records can only help to spread the word about the [...]

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Parts & Labor‘s new album, Constant Future, hits stores today (3.8.11), and the band plays at Fitzgerald’s in Houston this Monday, 3.14.11, on its way to Austin for South By Southwest 2011. Reportedly recorded in a former boxing ring in Milwaukee, the album pushes the boundaries of the band’s music, and its anthemic–yet catchy–electronic soundscapes [...]

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