Friday, Jan. 7

What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Lemurs, Ovenbirds, The Authors, Salesman 

Emo’s (Outside) @ 9 p.m

Soundcheck Magazine hosts this solid lineup of local staples including the ear-friendly tunes of What Made Milwaukee Famous (RIYL: Spoon, The Format, Margot and the Nuclear So And Sos) and The Lemurs (RIYL: The Killers, OK Go). Openers include Ovenbirds, The Authors, and Salesman.

  LISTEN: What Made Milwaukee Famous on Hype Machine
  LISTEN: The Lemurs on Hype Machine

Indian Jewelry, The Laughing, Astronaut Suit

Mohawk (Outside) @ 9 p.m.

Indian Jewelry (RIYL: Liars, Lightning Bolt, Fuck Buttons), the hard-to-Google Houston-based noise rock weirdos with an explosive strobing light show, round out another solid lineup at the Mohawk during Free Week, with Austin’s The Laughing and Astronaut Suit.

  LISTEN: Indian Jewelry on Hype Machine

  LISTEN: The Laughing on Hype Machine

Saturday, Jan. 8

Mother Falcon, Royal Forest, My Golden Calf

Mohawk (Outside @ 9 p.m.)

With as many as 20 members crowded on stage, Mother Falcon (RIYL: Sufjan Stevens, Owen Pallett, Arcade Fire) is not only one of Austin’s largest bands but one of the most unique—with string-driven, sweet songs that swell like mini symphonies. They’re paired perfectly with pop from My Golden Calf and Royal Forest, (RIYL: Pavement, Enon, Menomena) an indie rock band with a slight psych edge.

  LISTEN: Mother Falcon on Hype Machine

  LISTEN: Royal Forest on Bandcamp

T Bird and The Breaks, East Cameron Folklore, Guns of Navarone

Mohawk (Outside) @ 7 p.m.

Soul band T Bird and The Breaks (recommended if you like: James Brown, Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, The Black Crowes) headline this launch party for Revival Fund, a fund designed to provide temporary financial assistance to Austin-area musicians and their families in times of crisis. As if T Bird and his bad-ass brass section wasn’t enough to ensure a good time, food from Frank, drinks from Sailor Jerry, Thunderbird coffee and giveaways throughout the night should seal the deal.

 LISTEN: T Bird and The Breaks on Daytrotter

Ringo Deathstarr, The Carrots, The Ugly Beats, The Hi-Tones

Emo’s (Outside) @ 9 p.m

The Ugly Beats (RIYL: sunny vintage pop-rock a la The Kinks) play earlier in the night sandwiched between The Hi-Tones and ’60s girl group The Carrots. The evening comes to a loud and fuzzy head with the droning guitar of shoegazers Ringo Deathstarr (RIYL: My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain).

 LISTEN: Ringo Deathstarr on Hype Machine 

 LISTEN: The Carrots on Hype Machine 

 WATCH: The Ugly Beats on Vimeo