So many punk bands have gotten embarrassing over time. The Dead Milkmen are not such a band. Their posture was always more smirk than snarl, and their records have aged gracefully, still fun to shout along to, and imminently listenable without being overly slick. The band officially broke up over a decade ago, playing just one gig since -- a memorial show for the band's former bassist Dave Blood who committed suicide in 2004. ... [continue]

Brooklyn-based Parts and Labor do the kind of clangy tracks that get categorized as experimental, but it's experimental in a way that places it at intersection of rock and noise, listenable even when the blasts of sound are nearly overwhelming. B.J. Warshaw, the band's vocalist, bassist, and electronics expert forked over a few minutes of his time to talk to us about the band's new record, the festival circuit, and what exactly "experimental" means anyway. ... [continue]

Seattle-based Minus the Bear have developed a solid following among indie rock fans. The band is notable for their often sophisticated use of non-standard time signatures. Alex Rose, who joined the band after working as sound engineer on their critically acclaimed album Menos el Oso, talked to us about the way the band has evolved over the past few years, and what's up next for the band.... [continue]

If you've got some juice left in you after the Hallow's Eve wackiness tonight -- and really, you should, it's not like you're going to run around all night TPing houses or something -- get your get up and go going to Antone's for the Mountain Goats and Kaki King show. ... [continue]

Catch the Wedding Present tonight at the Mohawk. The band, formed in 1985, are practically classics in the indie rock genre, and they're out touring in support of their latest full-length, El Rey. ... [continue]

AT&T's Sunday lineup is a mixed bag that starts out with a blue grass act and winds up with the Foo Fighters. The buffet-style set of performers continues the stage's trend -- acts mashed together with little regard for genre, like college radio on 'roids. ... [continue]

Oklahoma City-based singer-songwriter Graham Colton will be swinging through Austin this Saturday for a show at Stubb's. The fresh-faced guy with a guitar has toured with Kelly Clarkson, Guster, John Mayer, the Dave Matthews Band and a whole host of other folks.... [continue]

If you wake up Sunday morning having survived your Saturday night unscathed and successfully avoided hangover hell, might we recommend brunch at Waterloo Ice House? The Austin staple will be hosting the Jeff Lofton Quartet this coming Sunday, so you can take in some jazz while you're stuffing your face with migas. ... [continue]

Austin locals the Invincible Czars must bid adieu to their drummer of four years, Tommy Holton. Holton gives it one last go this Saturday for the band's show at Jovita's. Although he's making his official exit, recording for the band's forthcoming album, Fortissimo, had already been completed, meaning he'll live on at least in that.... [continue]

Florida ska-punk posterkids Less Than Jake will be kicking out the jams Saturday night at La Zona Rosa. The show is part of the "Shout it Loud" tour. They'll be pushing their latest release, GNV FLA, which is the band's first new album to come out through their independent label, Sleep it Off Records. (Previously, the label had been primarily re-releasing the band's older material.)... [continue]

Austin-based outfit the Unfortunate Heads (not to be confused with unfortunate pants, which should, in fact, be returned for a full refund before the window of opportunity closes and you're stuck with that particular plaid monstrosity hanging in your closet like a bad memory) are apparently on the verge of wrapping up their next album, which, while exciting, means that they'll be out of the limelight for a bit. Catch them before they get their noses to the grindstone and disappear from the public eye for the next month while they get that record all sorted out. ... [continue]

Bury the Cynics the first full-length from Austin-based the Lovely Sparrows is either indie pop music for people who'd rather listen to a country album, or alt country for people who'd rather listen to a pop album. The record is at turns haunting and hopeful, managing to make refrains like "You be the bayonet, I'll be the rope" sound less menacing than they should -- hints more of John Darnielle than Nick Cave. ... [continue]

Ethan, Master of the Hawaiian Ukelele's So Real rests at the intersection of Kimya Dawson (before she was tainted by her intimate association with Juno and John Prine. The full length is stuffed to the gills with the kind of stripped down songs about flawed people and everyday life that make singer-songwriters of a certain breed worth following.... [continue]

El Rey is the second record out from the Wedding Present after they broke a lengthy hiatus with 2005's Take Fountain. Frontman David Gedge's penchant for bittersweet love songs and catchy hooks remains intact, but the album strikes a hair dark.... [continue]

If you love booze and cinema, well, have we got a deal for you. Cine Las Americas, Austin's own multicultural, non-profit media arts center, will be holding Chicha 56, a combo happy hour and after party fundraiser to benefit this year's programming. The event comes a mere 56 days before the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival kicks off.... [continue]

Free Week is still kicking -- hard. There's a veritable horde of bands to catch tonight and tomorrow. ... [continue]

Photo by Aubrey Edwards The Octopus Project with Horse+Donkey and Cue at Emo’sFriday, November 16Emos (603 Red River St)Outside, Doors at 8 p.m., Show at 10 p.m., [info]The Octopus Project have recently been galloping across the country, showing off the material from their new album, Hello, Avalance, out on Peek-a-Boo records. Tonight, however, the gang's back in Austin to wrap up the tour with a hometown show at Emo's. The new album sounds a bit...... [continue]

Image from the Pipettes MySpace. the Pipettes with Nicole Atkins and the SeaWednesday, November 7The Parish Room (214 East Sixth Street)$12 in advance, All Ages, Door at 8 p.m.[info] | [tickets]Get your 1960s retro fix with the Pipettes, headlining tonight at the Parish Room. The self-aware manufactured 1960s girl group vibe is somehow much more fun than it sounds, and the Pipettes won our hearts when they put out that deadpan Beyond the Valley of...... [continue]

For those of you with a hankering for some nostalgic punk rock, we recommend getting a double shot and checking out the Avengers and Pansy Division tonight. The recently reunited Avengers are on their first ever national tour. One of the key components of the San Francisco punk scene, the Avengers were influential despite being relatively short lived. The line-up for this tour includes two of the original members: the hot as hell frontwoman, Penelope...... [continue]

Aqueduct aka David Terry, purveyor of fine laptop pop, will be taking the stage this evening at Mohawk. Things one might expect from an Aqueduct show could include hip hop and Journey covers, both of which we're pretty up for. And, though the act is sort of a postmodern one-man band, Terry's usually got a boatload of talented folks rounding out his stage act, so you're not going to get stuck watching some guy operating...... [continue]