Thursday Music Lineup

It's Thursday, and that means for many Austinites, tonight is night one of "weekend party nights." Here's a preview of what's happening at my favorite (cheap!) venues tonight.

The Mohawk: This is one of my favorite "Dunno what's up tonight, lemme try here" locations. The Mohawk consistently features great indie bands for cheap. Tonight, they've got a free Rock Band tournament happening on the outside stage, and inside, you can hear San Francisco's Railcars (think a more experimental and electronic Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), Hello Lovers who kind of sound like they're doing a poor Bill Cosby impersonation over beautiful string arrangements, and Arrington De Dionyso, a (very) experimental freestyle artist. It's like what would happen if David Byrne of the Talking Heads went COMPLETELY nuts. So, if you're looking for something a little weird, looks like the Mohawk is your place.

The Elephant Room: This is the location for all of you jazz lovers. The Elephant Room is located underneath fancy sushi joint Kyoto, and it's got a great laid-back environment and consistently incredible jazz icons showing up on the stage. Weekdays are usually free of charge. Tonight, the Austin Jazz Workshop will perform in support of their latest CD. According to their website, the workshop

is a unique project that brings professional jazz musicians directly into the public school classroom to work with young people. Since incorporation as a nonprofit in 1994, the group has received rave reviews from educators, administrators, and kids across central Texas.

Antone's: Tonight Austin's famous blues venue is hosting the Bridging the Divide UT Award, honoring Clifford Antone, Cyril Neville and Harold McMillian with "special music guests." Doors are at 6:30pm. Later, at 10:00pm and for $10, you can hear the March Fourth Marching Band.

Beauty Bar: This hipster hangout features a smorgasbord of indie bands and danceable DJs. Tonight, the ambient and epic-sounding Transfer headline, with electro-moody ISHI and Always Already, who remind me of We Are Scientists.

Cedar Street Courtyard: This unique venue hosts myriad cover bands and is a really great place if you just want a fun show. Tonight, Austin's own Li'l Cap'n Travis play during Happy Hour, and then 70's cover band Skyrocket! take the stage. The crowd tends to skew a little older at this spot.

I know this is a blog about Austin's music scene, but I'd be remiss if I did not note my insane excitement about the release of Where the Wild Things Are at midnight tonight. I'll be weeping like a willow and reliving my childhood at the 9pm showing tomorrow night at the IMAX. See you wild things there.