Transistor Six is a local company with an old-school aesthetic but new-school aspirations. Inspired by the famous BBC Peel Sessions, the company is hosting its first session tonight at Frank where they'll 1.) record bands on an analog board 2.) film bands using Super 8 and 3.) photograph bands using a 35 mm Lomo. more ›

Heartless Bastards probably have one of the most peculiar, yet serendipitous, tales of formation. Going from bartending to buddying up with members of the Black Keys on Fat Possum Records, the possibilities would seem (and continue to be) endless for this Cincinnati-based group. Reviving the crass-band-name trend, these guys have been trekking the globe since their genesis in 2004, astounding crowds with raw garage rock songs, lead by the fierce, but earnest vocals of Erika Wennerstrom. Sporting a tamer demeanor, however, the charming frontwoman took a few minutes to talk with the Austinist about exciting upcoming plans for the band, including a tentative name and release date for their upcoming album, as well as an interesting tale of an encounter with a fan-made Morrissey figurine. more ›

The Fifth Annual Trans-Pecos Festival is just around the corner. Head out west for a mystical weekend celebration underneath the Marfa skies at rustic campsite and eco-lodge El Cosmico. The two-day celebration of music and love is organized by Liz Lambert’s family of creatives at Bunkhouse, and you can expect a weekend chock-full of Marfa’s unique blend music, art, and camping with a side of daytime recreation. more ›

Photos courtesy Eric Uhlir. If you can't view the Flash slideshow above, an alternate version appears after the jump. more ›

An aching mix of dewy and caustic, Lewis is at her best when confessional, and will certainly never suffer a shortage of idolatrous confessors. 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 ›

Austin label End Sounds has put together a big party to kick off SX music. On Tuesday, 3/17, Red 7 will host Madball, Death In The Park, Reign Supreme, Mike Herrera's Tumbledown, Call To Preserve, True Widow, Bitter End, The Escape Frame, and an ad hoc Minor Threat cover band featuring Zach Blair, Luke Abbey, Frank Carter, and Sam Ghanbar. The show is open to the public and cover is $10. more ›

Erika Wennerstrom and her Bastards have come into their own locally thanks to Austin's admiration for bluesy classic rock filtered through more traditional Southern compliments like misery and slide guitar. more ›

Produced by the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure, and KLRU-TV, Lonestar Emmy award-winning show DOWNTOWN offers insightful glimpses into urban life here in Austin. Focusing on the inevitable vignettes that make up our experience here in this special community, Downtown has become one of the most-watched programs here in Austin and beyond. more ›

Like fellow Ohioans The Black Keys and Texas up-and-comers White Denim, Heartless Bastards, the garage all-stars from Cincinnati, are at the center of a return to rough rock, and provide an alternative to the unfuzzy rock of bands such as Vampire Weekend and Fleet Foxes. Sunday evening on the oft-underrated Austin Ventures Stage, megaphone-voiced singer Erika Wennerstrom led the set, with able assistance from the big bass rhythms of Jesse Ebaugh and the steady but hard-hitting drums of Dave Colvin. more ›

Okay, okay, so everyone loves White Denim. Or, if you don't love White Denim, you probably haven't heard of them or are in denial. But let's put off talk of them for a moment, because they're just one of the seven oft-awesome acts taking turns, swapping out, roughing up, breaking down, moving through, and bashing in the Austin Ventures Stage this wonderful Sunday. As usual, the Austin Ventures Stage can be counted on for a fabulous variety of acts, and this lineup is no exception, as acts as excellent as Scott H. Biram, Heartless Bastards, Kevin Fowler, and Priscilla Ahn make it a stage worth a sit or a stand. more ›