*The views expressed in The Laurie Show are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -ed. note

I have returned, music lover! Yes, my on-air escapades on KUT 90.5 FM have been scattered about, but I'm actually working my regular shift tonight, 11 p.m. to 3 in the morning, when the peeps are still stumbling out of the cantinas.

And once again, my inspiration for tonight's chaos comes from a myriad of gigs all over town. My thanks to the bands who've gone out of their way to provide CDs for me. You have no idea how much I appreciate it!

Moving right along: Congratulations are in order for a band celebrating its 5-year anniversary - and frankly, if your band is still together for even one year, I think you deserve accolades for not killing each other. The members of The Midgetmen are alive and well, thank you, and ready to not behave at their special performance tonight at Emo's Lounge. It's going to be a big party indeed, with Golden Bear headlining, and Peel and Mice & Rifles on the bill as well. The super fabulous fashion duo Team Fabrication will spin tunes between live performances. Get your drink on and say mazel tov to The Midgetmen for carrying on their insanity. Cheers, guys.

If you wander to the main stage at Emo's this evening, you might be able to catch Cassette and Crash Gallery playing early on a bill that includes Rory and the Artificial Heart, Driver F, and Cruiserweight.

The sweet sounds of Karrie Hopper can be heard tonight at the Scoot Inn on East 4th St. Also on the bill are Julian Decided and Pines of Rome. Cartwright has a show tonight with Crawling With Kings at the Mohawk, featuring DJ Markus With A K between sets. And if you happen to be on the drag this evening, drop into Hole In the Wall for some raaawwwk with A Few Nice Things, Black Panda, and The Tokyo Nites.

Then...they were scurrying and trying to get the word out last minute, so I thought I'd help: The Theater Fire has a show tonight at Lambert's, 401 West 2nd St., sharing the stage with Athens band Hope For A Golden Summer.

Saturday's also full of goodies: Thanks to the ever-resourceful John Gross of Party Ends for the heads-up about a special reunion show for Quiet, Lovely at the Mohawk tomorrow night, with headliners Secret Sideshow, and Sad Accordions. Further down Red River, you'll find my favorite hokum posse the White Ghost Shivers at Beerland tomorrow, sharing the bill with the Invincible Czars and Combo Mahala.

Centro-matic will be featured on Emo’s inside stage Saturday night, with Micah P. Hinson and Mandible starting the evening out. And Buttercup is having its EP release show at the Cactus Café. Check it.

I'd also like to mention a few gigs happening next week: Don't forget that Peel has a show Tuesday night that's part of Seattle station KEXP's residency at the Mohawk. Early Wednesday evening, at 6 p.m., Manikin will have an in-store performance at End of An Ear on South 1st St., and later that night, you can make plans to catch La Zona Rosa's Stage-One Showcase, featuring Zookeeper, The Laughing, and A Pocketful of Deng. On Thursday, Learning Secrets presents its dance extravaganza at the Whiskey Bar, featuring live music by Operator.

The time is quickly slipping by, and I need to organize the music for tonight. Take notes and pay attention: 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., KUT 90.5. Thanks go out to Jeff McCord for letting me fill in on his show, Left of the Dial, and to the mega-superstar Chris Hillen for sitting in for me during my absence. Join me tonight, kids. And, as our pal RoboCop always says, thank you for your cooperation.