When winter hits and national acts slow their roll, Austin locals tend to become more vibrant than ever. With Free Week just around the corner and so many great local releases prepping for their street dates, we thought we'd take a moment and catch you up. ...

We kicked off Fun Fun Fun Fest weekend with our annual Local Music Is Sexy party at the Mohawk. Thank you so much to Brothers & Sisters, Foot Patrol, the Lovely Sparrows, Leatherbag and the Eastern Sea for providing the local lineup, and to Dengue Fever for ending the night with a bang. ...

We're proud of this community, and we can't think of a better time to celebrate it than on the eve of Fun Fun Fun Festival. Join on us November 7 promptly at 8 p.m. for Local Music Is Sexy VI at the Mohawk Bar on Red River. ...

T.J. Wade and Hung Nguyen are double-teaming Saturday night at Room 710. Their acclaimed feet and funk loving (and funky feet loving?) act Foot Patrol are planning one of their insane dance parties, but it’s their gangsta rap side project MC Terroristic whose cd release is really the focus of the evening. The latter’s tracks are brittle, confrontational, bumpin’, and contain the requisite amount of profanities. ...

This month's B scene art party at the Blanton is celebrating the art of the human body. Austin's Foot Patrol will be performing live in the museum, followed by DJ George Michael Jackson. Admission to Friday's festivities also includes the opportunity to receive henna tattoos inspired by art from the Blanton's collection. Gallery staff will be on hand offering tours of the museum's exhibitions that focus on the use of the human figure in art. As always, patrons can enjoy free appetizers and refreshing drinks from the cash bar. ...

With four albums under its belt, veteran Austin outfit Grand Champeen continues to chug away, churning out accessible melodies and catchy hooks aplenty via their Texas tinted powerpop tunes. Rolling Stone gave the band’s third record, The One That Brought You, three stars and Grand Champeen’s fourth full-length was released last year on In Music We Trust Records. The band formed in the late 90’s and the current line-up was consolidated in March of 2000....

Have you noticed that The Tiniest Bar in Texas keeps getting larger? Once upon a time it was a few outdoor tables and a window where you could order your drinks, and the place has now swelled to include a glass-covered patio, another tiny bar outside, and even a stage. Sure, the main bar is still tiny, but that’s about it. And you know they realize they’re how big they are now when they decided to book Foot Patrol for a Friday show, a band who positively shook the United States Art Authority during a performance last month. In addition to Foot Patrol’s funked-up, danceable and fetish-baiting set, patrons also have The Jazzus Lizard’s Ornette Coleman/David Yow mash-up to enjoy. The Jesus Lizard gone jazz? Just try and find something weirder to do with your Friday night. ...

Weird War’s Alex Minoff and Golden’s Ian Eagleson traveled to Kenya in 2004 to join musician Otieno Jagwasito form the band Extra Golden and record the seminal Ok-Oyot System in 2006. The trip and subsequent recording process was a once in a lifetime event – the album was put to tape in a Nairobi nightclub in three hours using a dilapidated drum set, and it turned out to be Jagwasi’s last recording with the band, as he passed away from AIDS soon thereafter. ...

We hadn't ever been to a Foot Patrol show before, but we can't resist after someone says, "It's fantastic, the piano player is blind, and not only is he a fantastic performer, the entire focus is centered around his foot fetish. Oh, and the dancers wear hot cop costumes and the drummer plays with gavels." ...

Photo of Moth! Fight! by Aubrey Edwards courtesy of MySpaceIn 2007, Le Diamant Brut sifted through MySpace, show listings and press releases, bringing you a weekly dose of information and advice on all the bands you might have missed. If you missed a week, or want more information on the bands listed here, check out the archives. Happy New Year! AUSTIN BANDS 12/18 - Ringo Deathstarr: Fuzzy, super-loud shoegaze with guitar noise and warm vocals.......

OURS TO ALIBI What’s the Deal: They’re a five-man mostly-instrumental indie rock group from Atlanta. Their atmospheric sounds and tri-force of guitar experimentalism is at times reminiscent to Texas favorite Explosions in the Sky, only with a little Sigur Rós-style guitar bowing. With no label support yet, they just released their second full-length, Beacons. Sometimes on the record, the group needs more than a few minutes to get across what they’re trying to say,......

WEDNESDAY [30] booze • "Sir Chris" and "Lord Gates" from Car Stereo Wars and Learning Secrets guest bartend at The Mohawk (5-8pm) music • Locals @ La Zona Showcase Two wih AM Syndicate, The Drawing Board, Jets Under Fire at La Zona Rosa music • Hawnay Troof, Best Fwends, The Carrots at Emo's music • Pompeii, Ryan Lindsey, Gazelles, The Heirs at Emo's music • Tribute to Sublime with Badfish, Indofin, Under the Gun at......

MONDAY [28] film • "King of Beggars" at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "Zachariah: The Electric Western" at Alamo Downtown music • Sol-Illaquists of Sound, DJ J.Storm, Grey Matter, Maestro & Tee Double at Emo's music • Pretty Girls Make Graves (Final Tour!), Moonrats, Moros Eros at Emo's music • Moxie, Euphoria, Villains in Convertibles, Ricky Stein at Stubb's music • "Beat Street" at Beauty Bar......

FRIDAY [20] benefit/music • Ashera-Blare-A IV with All In the Golden Afternoon, The Heirs, The Minderchucks, and The Otters at Club DeVille beer/party • Black Star Co-op's Craft Beer Celebration with Pong, Opposite Day, The Second Line Social, and fine craft beer from around the country at Fiesta Gardens (8pm-Midnight, $10) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Room, part of Refraction Arts' Fuse Box Festival at The......

The Fuse Box Festival, that is. We've already mentioned a play or two we think you'd like, but there's even more happening at this funky little fest that warrants your attention. Among many things, Fuse Box is a multimedia event, and to that end there's music this weekend. Quite a lot of music. Check the following shows...and note that all of 'em are one performance only. San Antonio pop band Buttercup plays the Blue tonight......

THURSDAY [19] benefit/music • Do512 and Direct Events co-host a benefit for Groundwork Music with Tammany Hall, The Boxing Lesson at La Zona Rosa (RSVP for Free Entry, $5 Cover Otherwise) books • "The Art of Travel and Travel Writing" with Lonely Planet writer Alex Hershey and Stephanie Elizondo Griest at Intellectual Property (5:00pm) books • The Texas Monthly Author Series presents Ian Rankin at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Movies in the Park: "Talladega......

MONDAY [16] film • "The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico" at Alamo Downtown books • Teen Sci-Fi writers Scott Westerfield and Justine Larbalestier at BookPeople (7:00pm) books • The Harlem Renaissance, a panel discussion with Cary D. Wintz, Martha Jane Nadell, and Shirley Thompson at The Harry Ransom Center (7:00pm) film • "A Clockwork Orange" at Alamo Downtown film • Jim Jarmusch's "Down By Law" at Alamo Village food • Central Market......