Austin (Texas)

Bácaro has a new chef, a new menu and new hours: It's now open for lunch

The menu isn't the only thing changing at Bácaro Venetian Taverna. The restaurant recently hired a new executive chef, Patrick Halloran, and is now open for lunch. Having recently relocated from Austin, where he was a chef at Texas Coffee Traders and Vespaio Inoteca, Halloran says he'll draw fro ... More >>

The ten dumbest things overheard at SXSW

For every insightful conversation I have heard or had at SXSW over the years, whether it was talking to Matt Pinfield while walking the streets of Austin talking about David Bowie, or telling The Clash's Mick Jones that he was in fact, in The Clash, I have overheard a thousand awful ones. Years of e ... More >>

The five biggest sellouts at SXSW

SXSW is not a music festival so much as it is an experiment in excess. If Coachella is a glass of water that keeps getting bigger until it more resembles a kiddie pool, then SXSW is a flood with a neglected cup somewhere in the middle. The natural result is rampant crowds and ever more rampant lame ... More >>

Morrissey's new Denver date is April 26

It's all Morrissey all the time on Backbeat apparently. In what can only be explained as the universe being charter member of the Cult of Moz (or just seriously coincidental timing), we've just received word that the one and only Steven Patrick Morrissey has rescheduled his upcoming Denver date. Pos ... More >>

Moontower Tacos will soon be serving tacos morning, noon and night

Construction is going quickly on the project to transform the former home of Thai Mango at 609 Grant Street into Moontower Tacos. Owner Brent Thrash, a native of Austin who went to the University of Colorado, is predicting his place will open in a couple of weeks. See also: - Tacos Junior deserves ... More >>

What's in your bag? Texas IDs, journals and more!

Colorado is known as a creative capitol, and that shows in the street style that crops up all over Denver. For an adventurous wardrobe, look no further than Chelsea Brashford, an artist who's a native of Austin. See also: - What's in your bag? Skirts, candy and more! -What's in your bag? Jackalope ... More >>

Obama haters signing Colorado-must-secede petition should be deported, says new petition

On Monday, we reported that after only two days on WhiteHouse.gov, a Colorado petition to secede from the United States already had more than 3,000 signatures -- part of an odd post-election craze that now includes all fifty states. But Obama-haters aren't the only ones speaking out. WhiteHouse.gov ... More >>

La Playa dries up in Centennial

Ever since he left Colorado in 2000 and returned to Texas to finish up college in his home state, it was Israel Trevino's dream to get back here. In the meantime, though, he opened two outposts of La Playa Mexican Cafe in Harlingen and Austin, Texas -- which did well enough that he explored the poss ... More >>

The Melvins counting on Denver to help them earn a spot in the Guinness World Records book

On Wednesday, September 12, you'll have a chance to become part of history and help the Melvins weasel their way into the Guinness World Records book, which they hope to do by playing shows in all fifty states plus one in the District of Columbia in just 51 days. One can only imagine what sparked th ... More >>

PechaKucha Night is back, bringing artists of all types together for creative conversation

Artists talking to each other about their work is nothing new, but PechaKucha Night's aim is to get artists from all different mediums in the same room to discuss their creative processes. Founded in Tokyo in 2003, the event has a rigid format that chapters all over the world follow: Presenters comp ... More >>

Cubs Opening Day: Bill Murray and Big Head Todd sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

Holy Jesus! The bizarro-but-awesome Big Head Todd and Bill Murray saga just took an interesting turn. Last week, as you might remember, we posted a short item about Big Bad Bill being spotted all over Austin recently at SXSW rocking Big Head Todd T-shirts. The actor and La Cabeza Grande had apparent ... More >>

Photos: Big Bad Bill Murray is apparently a big fan of Big Head Todd and the Monsters

So, speaking of Big Head Todd and the Monsters, whose namesake frontman, as we told you about yesterday, is selling his Washington Park bungalow, do you know who's all sorts of sweet on the band? Bill Murray. Yes, that Bill Murray. Well, that's what we've deduced anyway. Either that, or the actor di ... More >>

The Worst Moments from SXSW 2012

The last few days, Village Voice Media's indefatigable music staff has been regaling you with stories of the best from SXSW 2012. In the midst of these discoveries, we've been culling another list: the worst shit. The acts that ranged from huge bore-fests to downright lame. Below, you'll find our cr ... More >>

The Best of SXSW Music: Thursday 3/15/2012

If you're familiar with chaos theory, which in its basic form is the attempt to find patterns in the random acts of shit on Earth, then you may understand the difficulty that comes with describing a full day at SXSW. To break down the bright, scintillating chaos, Village Voice Media's roving music e ... More >>

SXSW: Bringing the Mile High life to Texas

South By Southwest is the place where you can run into damn near every artist under the sun doing their thing across these here United States all within a week. There are tons of performances, copious amounts of booze and good vibes aplenty. Austin has everything you can imagine to ensure the grande ... More >>

Lauren Larson of Ume: "I want to help lead a whole new generation of female musicians."

See Also: Q&A with Ted Stevens of Cursive, sharing the bill this Sunday. At this point, much has been mythologized about the badassery of Ume (due at the Larimer Lounge this Sunday, February 12). The heavy-rocking Texas trio is fronted by an almost precociously petite blonde, but Lauren Larson has ... More >>

Black Keys at 1STBANK Center on April 30

Danny Clinch​We've just received word that the Black Keys, on the heels of its highly enjoyable new record, El Camino (we seriously can't pry it from our playlist), are coming to the 1STBANK Center on Monday, April 30, with the Arctic Monkeys. Tickets ($55.00 - $59.50, plus service fees) for t ... More >>

Odell head brewer Joe Mohrfeld is leaving Colorado for Texas

Odell BrewingJoe Mohrfeld​Joe Mohrfeld, who's been wrangling hops, malt and yeast for Odell Brewing in Fort Collins for the past three years, is headed to a new gig with Pinthouse Pizza, a brewery in formation in Austin, Texas, where the craft beer scene is getting ready to explode. It will b ... More >>

Led by the Ogden Theatre, six Denver/Boulder clubs ranked in Pollstar's Top 100 by ticket sales

Eric GruneisenThe Ogden Theatre has the sixth most ticket sales of any club in the world so far this year​In third quarter, year-to-date figures compiled and reported by Pollstar, the industry trade that tracks various clubs and venues across the globe, Denver and Boulder made a very strong sh ... More >>

Tonight: Follow That Bird! at the hi-dive

John Anderson​In its relatively short life, Austin's Follow That Bird! (due at the hi-dive tonight with the Marrow, Married in Berdichev, Port Au Prince and Jess Williamson) has moved from an instrumental duo to a fierce and vocally-led trio, all while continuing on its path of smart, straight ... More >>

Win a ticket to see the Sword at Westword Music Showcase

Mike Mezeul for the Dallas ObserverThe Sword in February in Dallas.​If you haven't read the news today, Austin metal band the Sword is playing this year's Westword Music Showcase. You can win a ticket to see them -- plus all the other acts on this year's line-up -- by entering in our ticket-of ... More >>

The 1Up Arcade and Bar plans to score big

SXSW Travelogues: The Photo Atlas electrifies the crowd at Peckerheads

​ Saturday, March 18 Over the last six years playing SXSW, I've watched the "Denver parties" grow more and more every year. Last night, as the Illegal Pete's Starving Artist Showcase pushed the walls of Peckerheads to the limits with a one in, one out line around the corner, Denver has made ... More >>

SXSW Travelogue: Take to the Oars checks in from Austin on their second day of the madness

Ryan Gombeski, Chris Weaver and JP Manza of Take to the Oars at Congress Bridge​ Friday, March 18 SHIT! I swore last night that I would not be sitting here tonight at 3:00 a.m. in front of the computer working on the blog -- there are after parties to be had people! -- but alas, here we are ... More >>

SXSW Travelogue: Ballin' on a budget with Backbeat's own Brian Frederick

Brian Frederick​ Thursday, March 17 From the outside looking in, South By Southwest -- at least to those who haven't experienced it yet -- might seem like an event that only those who can afford to flip for the nearly $800 badges get to enjoy. Not so much. There's a ton of unofficial shows a ... More >>

The five weirdest products at the SXSW Interactive trade show

Somehow, this guy will pay you to eat at restaurants.​Tight jeans and awesome hair have replaced the cargo shorts (and jorts) of Austin's 6th Street by now, as SXSW Interactive 2011 is in the books and SXSW Music gets rolling. The SXSW Trade Show -- which didn't open its doors until Monday, th ... More >>

SXSW Tip Sheet: Colorado bands

Strange Powers on Armageddon and what he's been up to since returning to the Mile High City

​ Known to early local hip-hop heads as Shag One and, more recently, as Strange Powers, Josh Powers doesn't fit into the mold of a typical hip-hop cat. He embraces his individuality and honors his own unique global view of music and ideology through his creative endeavors - from more traditio ... More >>

Ask the bartender!

​Sean Kenyon is a third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar. He is a student of cocktail history and a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional; he's a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program and has achieved his introduc ... More >>

Mile High Music Festival: Keller Williams on his dream collaborations and never playing the same set twice

​ The name Keller Williams is instantly recognizable to just about every music fan, whether they are jamband aficionado or not. Combining a complex variety of guitar effects and looping pedals, Keller Williams more or less reinvented the whole modern one-man band movement of the last fifteen ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase headliners: Meet Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights

Texas isn't big enough to contain Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. After signing with Atlantic records in 2008, the Dallas-based quintet quickly started making a name for itself across the country, touring with high-caliber acts like ZZ Top and the Black Crowes before releasing Pardon Me, i ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, Pictureplane and Holley 750 get some nice SXSW press

Nathaniel Rateliff ​Looks like a number of Denver acts caught more than just our attention this past week at South By Southwest. Nathaniel Rateliff, who played an exceptional set at Shakespeare's Ale House last week, impressed Michael Hogan from Vanity Fair (which also previewed a song from ... More >>

Cybercrime in Denver: We're number eight

"I have a feeling there's something phishy in Denver."​In the not exactly thrilling 1995 cyber-thriller The Net, Sandra Bullock's character, Angela Bennett, reveals that she was raised in La Junta -- a community whose name she pronounces as if she were Hugo Chavez. Little did Bennett know, how ... More >>

Harmony and Me

Starlight Mints top seller at Wax Trax

​Starlight Mints, who play tonight at the hi-dive, moved up to the top slot at Wax Trax from last week's third slot with their latest Barsuk release, Change Remains. The Dead Weather's Horehound, Magnolia Electric Company's Josephine Bardo Pond's Peri also grabbed spots in the top five. See the fu ... More >>

Slaid Back

Austin’s Slaid Cleaves rests a while at Swallow Hill.

Carpool the Obama way

Heading to D.C. for the inauguration? The last thing you'll want to do is help usher in the Obama presidency with your supersized, Bush-era carbon footprint. The solution, according to TripVerde, an Austin, Texas (ironically)-based company with offices in Denver and Palo Alto, is ride-sharing, and ... More >>

Q&A with Rise Against's Brandon Barnes

Kathy McCarty Talks About Daniel Johnston

Bar Back

The latest nightlife news.

One for the Home Team

The Denver Slam Team goes to Austin and emerges victorious.

Best Sculpture Show -- Group

Three Dimensions

The Beatdown

We built this city on rock and roll.

Cattle Drive

Saddle up, and head south for a taste of the West at Texas Land & Cattle Steak House.

The Making of a Pirate

A radio buccaneer blames politics for turning him into a fugitive from the FCC.

Stage Fright

...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead makes impeccable recordings in the studio -- and a mess of the bars and clubs where it performs.

Mud Pie

Do yourself a favor and stay home during this Road Trip.

Poster Boys

What are these punk kids doing, turning Denver into a hot art town?

Truth or D.A.R.E.

The anti-drug program definitely works--in trying to promote its own survival.

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