MGMT, for those who've somehow missed the boat, has experienced quite the rocket to notoriety. On the shoulders of a very solid debut album, Oracular Spectacular, the creative duo of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser has gone from the dormitories of Wesleyan University to opening up for the likes of Beck and Of Montreal, appearing on Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, and winning a legion of partisan fans for their unique brand of updated 70s psych-rock. In light of MGMT's upcoming ACL performance Saturday (AT&T Blue Room Stage at 5:30), we got lead singer and taco-connoisseur Andrew VanWyngarden on the horn for a few questions....

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. ...

WaMu's seven-band Friday lineup is one to be reckoned with, or, if you prefer, it certainly is one with which to reckon. So it is with the fantastic three-headed monster of headliners the stage offers on Day One of Austin City Limits, as tearing up the evening is the widely-acclaimed M. Ward, the widely-eyed Jenny Lewis, and the widely-awesome Antibalas. Of those three, it's difficult to tell which would be the primo attraction, but Antibalas draws the night-ending time slot, and with good reason. The New York ensemble incorporates African rhythms into their horn-driven attack, and their most recent album, last year's Security, is a solid wonder, with track "Beaten Metal" sure to be a much sought-after sound to hear as dusk turns to night. Without a doubt, the energy they are sure to fuel is the ideal way to close off the stage, and at a thoroughly reasonable time of 8:15, thus leaving plenty of time either to wander over to Friday's big-name headliners, or to get the heck out before the Zilker Park exodus becomes too utterly ridiculous. ...

September is a big month for locals The Black and White Years, starting with the much-anticipated release of their self-titled debut and continuing with their noon set at ACL on Saturday. The group’s funk-addled rock and roll makes for energetic sets and possibly dancing, so come prepared. ...

Welcome to our ACL Stage Preview posts, where we give you a taste and idea of what to expect and what to look for when you attend Austin City Limits this year from September 26th to the 28th. First up, we have the WaMU stage on Sunday. Starting at 11:30 on this stage will kick off a day of music with some gospel followed by sets of country, funk, and eclectic Americana....

Weekend passes for the Austin City Limits Music Festival are sold out, but they're offering students a special chance to buy a pair of 'em at the discounted price of $135. The Austin City Limits Music Festival Student Day Sale takes place Wednesday, September 10 (that's tomorrow) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until they run out. They'll be available only at two WaMu Financial Centers: the one on 24th St and Guadalupe, and......

This year, ACL Fest is hosting quite a few official after parties and shows, featuring the talents of Gnarls Barkley, Manu Chao, the Butthole Surfers, Conor Oberst, Bill Callahan and Jose Gonzalez just to name a few....

In an effort to improve their online video content, KLRU would appreciate your feedback. They've put together a quick 15-question that takes just a few minutes to complete—as a thank you for your time, anyone who submits his or her email address at the end of the survey will be entered for a chance to win two guaranteed-admission tickets to a future Austin City Limits taping. [survey]......

Update: Ticket drop #3 has now closed. Congratulations to all of our winners, who'll be contacted later today. Here's your third and final chance to score two space-available tickets to tomorrow evening's Thievery Corporation taping at KLRU's Austin City Limits Studios. In order to enter this last round, click on over to our IST List page, where you'll find the contest form on the left column. Best of luck! Austinist's Weekly IST List: austinist.com/istlist Disclaimer:......

Be one of the first twenty five folks to fill out the form below and you'll score two space-available tickets to tomorrow evening's Thievery Corporation taping at KLRU's Austin City Limits Studios: Update: Ticket drop #2 has now closed. If you missed this chance, check back with us later today. If you missed this chance, check back with us later today. Austinist's Thievery Corporation ACL Taping Giveaways on Tuesday, June 24 Between 9 a.m. to......

Be one of the first twenty five folks to fill out the form below and you'll score two space-available tickets to tomorrow evening's Thievery Corporation taping at KLRU's Austin City Limits Studios: Update: Ticket drop #1 has now closed. If you missed this chance, check back with us later today. Austinist's Thievery Corporation ACL Taping Giveaways on Tuesday, June 24 Between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Between 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Between 3 p.m.......

Washington, D.C. electronic duo Thievery Corporation are in town this week. Their Tuesday night show at Stubb's with Ocote Soul Sounds is already sold out, but they're sticking around another night to record an episode of KLRU's Austin City Limits. ...

It's official: Foo Fighters, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and John Fogerty take top billing along with Beck, Manu Chao, David Byrne, The Raconteurs, The Mars Volta, Gnarls Barkley, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, N.E.R.D., Erykah Badu, Robert Earl Keen, and Parry Griffin rounding out tier one. ...

The first time I ate dinner with REM’s Michael Stipe—okay so it was also the last time I ate dinner with him—was September 28, 1984. The boys were in Tampa to play at the University of South Florida (my alma mater, a place of such prestige that the dorms had pools behind them and no one took classes during prime tanning hours). Stipe didn’t invite me, I invited myself. I’d lucked into a phone interview with Pete Buck and Mike Mills a few days prior and I was still high from this unbelievable score—me a twenty year-old fledgling music writer getting to talk to them, some of my biggest musical heroes. They weren’t superstars yet, but they were heading in that direction. It was an outdoor gig and when they pulled up, I watched from a little ways away as Pete and Mike scrutinized my words in The Oracle, our college daily. Stipe was a vegetarian—probably still is—and vegetarian wasn’t something the caterer had provided, so it fell to my friend Ed, to ferry the singer to a place where he could find something that suited his palate. I like to think Ed invited me along. Or maybe I just shoved my way into his sports car. Either way, there we sat, gathered around healthy food before healthy food was a trend, at the NK Café. ...

More Wristbands Available Wednesday: At least a few of the coveted SXSW wristbands will be sold via the conventional route this year. The Austin Chronicle reports that 400+ wristbands priced at $165 will be on sale from 9:30am on Wednesday 3/12 at Waterloo Records. These wristbands do not require an local ID, so out-of-towners can finally get their show at wristbands not obtained through nefarious means. They also report that a second batch may be made available next week, so stay tuned for more information....

Austinist is pleased to bring you the chance to win a pair of tickets to Saturday evening’s sold out Rodrigo y Gabriela show at La Zona Rosa. Astute guitarists both, Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero spent some time plying their trade in a metal band (Tierra Acida) in Mexico before striking the right chords under their current moniker. The duo’s discography consists of Foc (2001), re-Foc (2003), Live: Manchester and Dublin (2004), and 2006’s self-titled effort; their instrumental takes on Metallica’s “Orion” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven” are already semi-cult classics....

Looks like ACL Fest organizers have chosen Groundhog Day to release their mildly discounted multi-passes. 3-day passes priced at $150 including service charges are on sale now at ACLFest.com. ...

Local outfit Color & Light returns to saturate Stubb’s on Saturday with a ready supply of the soaring melodies and sizzling guitars that pace their inspirational crescendos....

Editor's note: My Ex-Boyfriend's Band is a reoccurring column that features the opinions and insight of the author, not necessarily reflective of the Ist network as a whole. Thank you for reading! For the times they are a-changin'. And the music festivals are a-changin' with them. Even Dylan, who declined to take the stage at Woodstock in 1969, evolved into the 2007 Austin City Limits headliner. With SXSW, Fun Fun Fun and the C3......

Photo courtesy My Guerrilla on Flickr[another wristband for the collection] Austin’s C3 Presents now has three major festivals to go along with their trio of Charlies. The producers of Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits Festival will put on the Vineland Music Festival in rural New Jersey Aug. 8 to 10, 2008. Vineland is a joint venture with Melvin Benn’s Festival Republic. The U.K. event producer’s portfolio includes the Reading, Leeds and Glastonbury festivals. Set......

Image from Tom Brosseau’s MySpace Nickel Creek & Tom BrosseauSaturday, November 17Stubbs (801 Red River)$25 Advance; Doors 7 p.m.[info] | [tickets] Singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau brings heartfelt lyricism and mellow melodies to Stubb’s on Saturday. Hailing from Grand Forks, North Dakota, Brosseau’s high pitched voice and gentle guitar complement his sincere storytelling perfectly, and has found him at least one fan in a certain Natalie Portman. Portman picked Brosseau’s “Plaid Lined Jacket” (along with tracks by......

Poster by Jagmo Roky Erickson ACL TapingMonday, November 12Austin City Limits Studios (26th and Guadalupe St)8pm, General Admission and Space-Available Tickets Only[info]Austin psych-rock legend Roky Erickson will be featured on the next taping of KLRU's Austin City Limits show. Enter below for your chance to win a pair of guaranteed admission tickets—first 20 entrants get 'em! Update: thanks, folks! If you'd like space-available tickets, tune in to to KGSR on Friday evening for the giveaway......

Photo from myspace Roky Erickson ACL TapingMonday, November 12Austin City Limits Studios (26th and Guadalupe St)8pm, General Admission and Space-Available Tickets Only[info]Austin psych-rock legend Roky Erickson will be featured on the next taping of KLRU's Austin City Limits show. If you'd like space-available tickets, tune in to to KGSR on Friday for the giveaway announcement—we're not sure exactly what time they'll announce the details. On the other hand, if you'd like a chance to score......

Image courtesy of Tegan and Sara’s MySpace Tegan and SaraWednesday, November 7Stubbs (801 Red River)$18 (Advance) / $20 (Day Of Show), 7 p.m.[info] | [tickets]It’s not the middle of SxSW, it’s not the weekend of Austin City Limits Music Festival, heck it’s not even Fun Fun Fun Fest anymore, but November 7th might just be one of those evenings where the stars align to bring our city a number of ridiculously appealing concerts. Symphonic rock......

unattributed press photo Regina Spektor at Stubb’sTuesday, November 6thStubbs [map]$22.50 SOLD OUT, doors at 7[venue info][Regina Spektor Website][MySpace]Tonight, Russian import and all-around cutie Regina Spektor will deliver her charming sense of humor and attitudinous tunes to Stubb’s. And if it feels like she was just here, it’s because she pretty much was, with an evening position at the Austin City Limits Festival followed up by an intimate performance for her ACL show taping—both of these......

In 1997, Carl Newman started a side project called The New Pornographers in Vancouver for fun. The cast of characters included the ridiculous gifts of both Neko Case and Destroyer's Dan Bejar, and an indie-pop collective for the ages was born. Now touring behind their fourth album Challengers, Newman and the other New Pornographers have somehow managed to continue the project in addition to each pursuing their solo aims. The band seems to grow in......

As we promised earlier this week, here's your chance to score those coveted space-available tickets* to the John Mayer Austin City Limits taping at KLRU-TV studios. Instead of the previously-announced 25, we're actually giving away 50 pairs of tickets to the first folks who enter. KLRU-TV will be taping an episode of Austin City Limits this Thursday with singer-songwriter (and guitarist extraordinaire) John Mayer. These days, the Grammy Award-winning artist routinely plays to packed amphitheaters......

KLRU-TV will be taping an episode of Austin City Limits this Thursday with singer-songwriter (and guitarist extraordinaire) John Mayer. These days, the Grammy Award-winning artist routinely plays to packed amphitheaters and festival audiences. For die-hard Mayer fans, seeing him at the intimate ACL studios with its capacity of a few hundred and incredible acoustics is an opportunity not to be missed. That being said, your only chance to win a pair of space-available tickets* is......

As our friend The M.O. reported, Ghostland Observatory are set to perform on Late Night with Conan O'Brien tomorrow evening. It will be their first nationally televised performance, and they're expected to play a tune from delete.delete.i.eat.meat.... GLO recently recorded a set for Austin City Limits, and we can expect that episode to air on KLRU sometime in December. Known for their energy-packed live sets, GLO are wrapping up a very exciting year that saw......

If you can't view the Flash slideshow above, an alternate version appears after the jump. Less than a week after the Austin City Limits Music Festival packed up its gear for another year, La Grave Field in Fort Worth hosted the 2007 Wall Of Sound Festival. Presented by Spune and co-sponsored by Coors Light, the Fort Worth Weekly, and yours truly (among others), the event kicked off bright n' early on the 22nd of......