Austin (Texas)

Power Trip and Wiccans Joined Hardcore Legends at Fun Fun Fun Fest Saturday Night

Fun Fun Fun Fest With Forward, Long Knife, World to Burn, Power Trip and Wiccans The North Door, Austin Saturday, November 8, 2014 On Saturday night's edition of the Fun Fun Fun Fest Nites shows, two of Texas' best hardcore acts took the stage. Wiccans of Denton and Power Trip of Dallas played at t ... More >>

Fun Fun Fun Fest Is The Best Festival in Texas, and Here's Why

The ninth incarnation of Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest starts tomorrow, and the growth of the festival shows no signs of slowing. It's a festival that feels loved, that feels like an awful amount of care and attention has gone into it and that is booked by some sort of all-knowing being. (Well okay, it' ... More >>

Dallas Pays More for Electricity than Austin or San Antonio. Thanks, Deregulation.

There exist, floating around the Internet and stuffed into the filing cabinets of public-interest watchdogs, an trove of eminently credible reports and white papers explaining in painstaking detail why and how Texas' decade-old experiment with electricity deregulation has failed. But there's an easi ... More >>

Austin's the Ugly Beats Celebrate Brand New Day at Doublewide Friday

Hailing out of Austin, the Ugly Beats have been making their garage rock-inspired racket for a little over a decade. In that time, they've released four killer albums, the most recent being Brand New Day. The band's unwavering dedication to '60s rock and '70s power pop is both commendable and convin ... More >>

Young People Still Hate Dallas

You may have seen some of the breathless headlines. "In the heat of summer, Forbes says Dallas is cool." "No surprise that Texas has some of the coolest cities in America." "Dallas Among Top 10 'Coolest Cities in America'." But here's the deal, Dallas: Houston and Austin have both outcooled us. ... More >>

Houndstooth Coffee Finally Arrives in Dallas This Week

For most of 2014, Houndstooth has slowly been taking shape on Henderson Avenue, its veneer of finished cedar tiles and planks cover the walls and planter boxes out front. Inside chairs of blond wood and blue steel wait to cradle caffeinated bums and more cedar lines the counters and walls. The Aust ... More >>

Judas Priest to Headline Fun Fun Fun Fest This November

Betcha didn't see this one coming: Austin's annual late-year concert extravaganza, Fun Fun Fun Fest, just revealed the lineup for this year's edition, and the headliners will be none other than everyone's favorite metalhead leatherboys, Judas Priest. That's right, of "Breaking the Law" fame. The sam ... More >>

Austin City Limits and Homegrown Festivals Announce Full 2014 Line-Ups

Nostalgia is making a real comeback -- in the music festival world, at any rate. Based on the announcements that were made yesterday, two of our local (or local-ish) flagships aren't looking to buck that trend in 2014. In the case of Deep Ellum's budding springtime star, Homegrown, now in its fifth ... More >>

When Community and Deep Ellum Win Awards at the World Beer Cup, We All Win

Because winning at beer is best, last week local breweries put their best foot forward at the World Beer Cup and three of them have been awarded for thier respective feet. The WBC is an international beer competition founded by the Association of Brewers' President Charlie Papazian, who is a nuclear ... More >>

Charlie Brand of Miniature Tigers: "We Want to Unify Fans and Not Fuck With Anybody."

Although raised in Arizona, Charlie Brand, leader of the indie pop band, Miniature Tigers, is a wondering spirit. Brand moved the band to Brooklyn, got tired of that scene and moved to Fort Worth. Last month, Brand ended up in Austin to be close to his girlfriend. Brand's music reflects his restless ... More >>

What I Learned at My First, and the Darkest, South by Southwest Music Festival

Thousands of people are on Austin's famed Sixth Street, punks and hipsters and bros, et. al. We're standing in the jarring sunlight of daytime, the afternoon after an alleged drunken driver plowed into a crowd at South by Southwest. People walk gingerly past each other, as people do when they don't ... More >>

Jimmy Buffett is Coming to Texas, And We're Excited

Listen, we know all your best pals who are cooler and funnier and have way more interesting lives than you do are going down to SxSW in a month. They're going to have the most amazing time getting hammered, getting hopped up on the Molly and probably making out with strangers who smell like they've ... More >>

Going STAG!

Fun Fun Fun Fest 8: The Complete Wrap-Up

There was a pretty good party in Austin this weekend. Much of what you need to know about Fun Fun Fun Fest this weekend can be found in the look on this dude's face, as he crowd surfers at Slayer. But we have plenty more, if you're into specifics:

25 Ways Fun Fun Fun Fest is Better than SXSW

Fun Fun Fun Fest is this weekend in Austin. Now in its seventh year, the thing has grown at a remarkable pace: From Spoon to Slayer at the top of the bill in just a few years. Through that expansion, however, FFF has lost none of its charm. If there is one festival in the country that seems to make ... More >>

Here's What Austin Bands Think of ACL

In Austin, where a "local" act's following often extends nationally, what does it mean for a band to play inside City Limits? We spoke with members of two Austin-based bands--Jeff Klein of My Jerusalem, and Mario and Cayce Matteoli of The Preservation--to find out what it means to be both insiders a ... More >>

Ron Kirk's Mother Has Died. She Reminded Me of Something I Knew About Liberal Mothers.

If you spend a lot of years as a reporter, you get to know a lot of people, none of them well. It's all about popping in and out of lives quickly when something makes them newsworthy. Maybe later you wish you knew more. I had that regret this morning when I read of the death of Willie Mae Kirk, 92, ... More >>

Dallas, Meet Austin Comedy. Now, Let’s Do Shots.

Drink Great Beer and Eat Great Food Tomorrow at Community Beer Co., All for a Great Cause

1400 Miles is a campaign created by Texas brewers who are cycling from Austin to Denver to raise money and awareness for the Pints for Prostrate organization. The ride started in Austin on Wednesday and will stop at Community Beer Co. on Thursday for a little music, beer and dinner. Chef Danyele McP ... More >>

Maybe Dallas Won't Face a Lawsuit if It Passes Its Plastic Bag Ban After All

The Texas Retailers Associations and its allies in the fight against Dallas' proposed ban on plastic and other single-use bags have succeeded in stalling any action for the foreseeable future. So, even though Councilman Dwaine Caraway swears to us that the measure will ultimately pass, they've won a ... More >>

Sadly, No Harlem Globetrotter Cameos

ACL Late Night Shows: Full Schedule, Including 16 in Dallas

Austin City Limits is just a couple flips on the calendar away. This year's inaugural two-weekend run on October 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 also features a series of late-night shows in Austin. And a run of bands from somewhere on the lineup in other Texas cities, including Houston and Dallas. Most of th ... More >>

The Sword's John Cronise: Metal Fans Deserve Better Than the New Black Sabbath Album

Formed in Austin nearly a decade ago, The Sword is one of the heaviest bands to emerge from that scene. Full of monstrous guitar riffs and typically bombastic sci-fi themes, the four Sword albums are intense, thought-provoking and filled with good humor. The band's most recent effort, Apocryphon, is ... More >>

Marcia Ball Knows the Blues, Loves the Blues and Lives the Blues

Marcia Ball At 64, Marcia Ball could well be considered the queen of Texas blues. No other female performer has captured the transcendent mixture of swampy, New Orleans style piano blues and the more acoustic form exemplified by the likes of Lightnin' Hopkins better than Ball. Over a career that h ... More >>

Everyone Quit. Alamo Drafthouse is Hiring.

Alamo Drafthouse DFW NOW HIRING from Alamo Drafthouse DFW on Vimeo. Good news on the movie front. It appears Alamo Drafthouse is getting closer to opening, as they are now hiring. Founded in Austin in 1997, Alamo Drafthouse offers dinner, drinks and movie all under one roof, but in a quirky culture ... More >>

Casey McPherson of Alpha Rev Found Love and Stopped Getting Arrested

For nearly a decade, Alpha Rev has been one of Austin's most dependable alternative rock outfits. Surprisingly, in that time, the band has only released four albums, culminating in the recently released Bloom. However, the dedication to song writing and presentation of epic themes does suggest a ban ... More >>

10 Food Tips to Sustain Protesters Heading to Austin for the New Session

Monday is the start of another special legislative session at the Capitol in Austin. There are a few items on the agenda: transportation, capital murder sentencing guidelines and that whole restricting access to abortions (and women's health care) thing. Perhaps that last one has upset you a little. ... More >>

How to Fail at Franklin Barbecue

This week, Scott and his harem of hungries braved the line at Dallas' famed meat mecca, Pecan Lodge. While they were taking months off their lives, I was attempting a similar feat in Austin. Upon arriving in Longhorn Land with my dude and our dog, we resolved to do two things: eat tacos and spend a ... More >>

Uchi, the Austin-Based Sushi Joint, is Opening a Spot in Dallas

Official word just came down from the raw fish heavens: Uchi, the Austin-based sushi joint that's garnered pages of great press and excitement, has secured and is opening a location at 2817 Maple Ave. in Dallas. Before you trident-spear a blue whale from happiness: We're looking at an opening someti ... More >>

Crazy Ants, Discovered in Houston a Decade Ago, Are Swarming Toward Dallas

First, the good news: Crazy ants don't sting. They do sometimes bite, but the pain is mild, and it fades quickly. Even better, they drive out their stinging cousins, fire ants, which have been tormenting Texans for decades. Now, the bad news: When entomologists say "crazy," they mean it. "When you ... More >>

The Ten Greatest Texas Punk Bands

With D.R.I. coming to Trees last night, we at DC9 thought it might be opportune to look at some of the legendary punk bands that have claimed Texas as their home. These days, D.R.I. is better known as a metal act, but when they began life way back in 1982, Kurt Brecht and crew were a classic hardcor ... More >>

Use Your Left-Wing And Right-Wing To Hold Wine

Haystack Burgers & Barley Will Be Alamo Drafthouse Neighbor in Richardson

Haystack Burgers & Barely is moving into the Richardson Heights Shopping Center, just a couple doors down from the Alamo Drafthouse that is currently under construction. Owned and operated by Richardson locals Kevin and Jenny Glavan, along with Rob and Christine Wondoloski, Haystack will open in mid ... More >>

What You're Missing at SXSW: Missed Connections and Crappy Free Crap

Awwwww, I know it is a shame you aren't here with us at SXSW in Austin. I can only imagine the aching and longing in your heart for walking aimlessly and standing in long lines for no reason, and sweating through your cardigan to see a band you heard on one of the Twilight soundtracks. You don't w ... More >>

If Dallas Wants to Ban Plastic Bags, It Should Be Prepared to Get Sued by Retailers

The city of Dallas is "maybe a year or two" away from considering a plastic bag ban, assistant city manager Jill Jordan told City Council members on Monday. First there will be a study to figure out its potential impact and exactly how many bags plastic bags there are in the city. It might also be ... More >>

Dallas Unite! Throw off the Chains of Redneck Legislators, Payday Lenders, Etc.

Maybe Dallas has a shot at stepping out from under the redneck yoke of Austin after all. In today's news we see that a Dallas judge, Eric Moye, has tossed out a lawsuit by the usury industry in which payday lenders claimed the city had no right to protect its citizens if Austin didn't want them pro ... More >>

Grupo Fantasma

Friday, February 1, at Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge

Matthew Hines of The Eastern Sea: Dallas Has a Better Sense of Music Community Than Austin

Speaking from his home in Austin, Matthew Hines, comes across as one of those likeable nerds everyone knew in high school. As leader of the indie rock outfit The Eastern Sea, Hines has turned that nerdy charm into three compelling albums, especially 2012's Plague. In anticipation of Friday night's ... More >>

Love Inks

Thursday, January 3, at Lola's Saloon, Fort Worth

Payday Lenders Have Found a Big Loophole in State and Local Regulation

A few weeks ago, the Texas Observer's Forrest Wilder went on a journalistic mission to a Cash Store outlet near his home in Austin. His aim, as he describes it, was to see what it was like to take out a payday loan in Texas, particularly in the wake of stronger regulations that Austin recently put i ... More >>

Boan, Assacre, Thug Decay, Betdat

Saturday, November 24, at Elm Street Bar

Burger Smackdown: North Dallas Class, Liberty Burger Vs. Hopdoddy

Of all the smackdowns I've ever done, none has been so crystal clear. I stopped by Liberty Burger first and ordered their namesake topped with cheese and bacon. Each cost me an extra buck, and the cheese I received was American. As I paid, I watched the cooks behind the counter squish the burger p ... More >>

Stop Texting and Help That Guy Crowd Surf: The Overserved's Guide to Concert Etiquette

It's my favorite three-hour tour, no matter which direction I am heading. Leaving Austin late on a Sunday night, I-35 winding behind me as I speed towards bed, always has the same tone. You spend that ride trying to piece together the disparate parts of the weekend, the three hours spent rememberi ... More >>

Hopdoddy Burger Bar Opens Wednesday in Preston Center

Hopdoddy is an upscale, yet casual, burger restaurant and bar that originated in Austin just a couple years ago. Founders Larry Perdido and Chuck Smith are old hats in the restaurant business. According to Austin Culture Map, they sold their Eddie V's Prime Seafood and Wildfish Seafood Grille to the ... More >>

Christeene Vale is Your New Piece of Celebrity Meat

Christeene Vale is Your New Piece of Celebrity Meat

"I lost my old hair in Denver, girl, so I had to get new hair today," Christeene Vale says over the phone. "But, ya know, I have to fuck it up, wash it in the sink." Vale, who has been labeled a "drag terrorist," a nightmarish gutter of filth, bruise and overflowing sexuality, is telling me about t ... More >>

This Beard’s a Home To Endangered Owls

John Cornyn Seeks to Fend Off Latest Threat to Texas Economy: Salamanders

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Texas politicians, still on a high from their glorious victory over the evil, job-killing dunes sagebrush lizard, turned their attention to similarly insidious threats to our economic well-being. This time, the threat comes from four species of salamand ... More >>

Pecan Lodge Is Joining Baker's Ribs To Represent Dallas In Texas Monthly's BBQ Festival

Tickets for the third annual Texas Monthly BBQ Festival went on sale today. Twenty-one barbecue joints will gather just south of Lady Bird Lake to show off their take on brisket, sausage, ribs and anything else with enough fat content to stand up to an hours-long stint in a smoker. If you need an ex ... More >>

Food & Wine's Best BBQ City List Includes A Few Spot in "East Texas: Dallas"

Food and Wine took some time this week to evaluate our great nation's best barbeque cities in a feature titled "Best BBQ Cities." First noticeable local on the list is Tim Love. Standing next to a grill, right? No, in a Hellman's mayo commercial. What the heck is the deal with the mayo? No mention ... More >>