Welcome to the Calendar of Fun! Music, movies, shows, books and events going on in Austin, TX. The calendar only contains events that I think are fun, so if we have similar tastes, then you won't have to look through a bunch of stuff you don't care about just to find a few gems. It isn't an exhaustive list of fun things going on in Austin, so if you have something to add, email it to me at emily@thecalendaroffun.com.

For once I have some movie, music, and book recommendations all in the same week.  Yay!  On Wednesday, go check out Ghostbusters at Central Market N. Lamar.  The show, part of the 101x Summer Cinema, is free and starts at sundown.  Also on Wednesday, Rob Sheffield will be at Book People to discuss his new book Talking to Girls About Duran Duran. You may know Rob from his work in Rolling Stone, appearances on VH1’s I Love the (fill in the decade here), and his bad ass book, Love is a Mix Tape.   The event starts at 7, so you don’t have to miss Ghostbusters!

Local musician Danny Malone will be playing Stubb’s inside on Thursday night.  It sounds like there are three openers, so it will probably be late, yet totally worth it.  And last but not least, Monahans and Telegraph Canyon are playing at Club Deville on Friday night.  I haven’t seen Monahans play, but Telegraph Canyon is awesome live, and that’s a fact.

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I’m really excited about seeing Everclear on Friday at the Marchesa Hall & Theatre.  I mean, really excited!  This show is just the next stop for the ever-growing 90’s summer concert train (see post below*).

I think Everclear is underrated, like so many other 90’s bands that I like.  You know, the bands that prompt questions like “Oh yeah, what was their hit?”.  The problem is, they probably had about 7 big hits and I can never figure out why no one remembers that.  Anyway, their songs are catchy and awesome.  I’m also curious to see what the Marchesa Hall & Theatre is like.  I think it used to be the Monarch Events Center.

* Since I wrote the post below, 90’s band news is just pouring in.  For example, the Pixies will be playing at Austin Music Hall on September 22.  Also, one of my personal favorites, Bush, is reuniting.  Oh, Gavin!  Hole is also touring, but they aren’t coming to Austin.   Finally, the Alamo Drafthouse is making my dreams come true by bringing back the 90’s alternative sing along on August 19 and 26.  Best.  Sing along.  Ever.

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Get in your time machine and turn the dial to “1990s”.  This summer, the 90s are back!  It all started when Toad the Wet Sprocket played at Antone’s on May 16th.  I unfortunately did not attend.  However, I will be attending the Goo Goo Dolls on June 9th at Austin Music Hall…with my mom.  Don’t worry,  I won’t tell ‘em your name.  The next night, June 10th, you can see Cracker at Stubb’s.   Wait, there’s more!

On June 19th,  Concrete Blonde will be performing Bloodletting at Emo’s. Exciting, yes?  You can catch Everclear at Marchesa Hall & Theater on July 2nd.  Everclear!  Next comes Marcy Playground on August 5th at the Red Eyed Fly.  I hear that place smells like sex and candy.   Finally, Lilith Fair is back and will be in Austin on August 14th.  The location has not been announced yet, but the lineup is pretty good (except for Colbie Caillat, of course).

In related 90s news, Pavement and Soundgarden are back together and I saw the Gin Blossoms for free last weekend in Dallas.  Jealous?

*Click the links to hear some sweet 90s tunes.

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It’s hard for me to contain my excitement for tonight’s Slobberbone show at the Continental Club.  I’ve loved Slobberbone since I saw them open for the Old 97’s (many times) circa 1996.  The band, out of Denton, played shows and recorded albums from 1994 until around 2004 when they broke up and some of the members went on to form the Drams.  They reunited last year for some shows and plan to record an album this year.

Go to this show.  If you like alt country, you will love them.  They sound like early Wilco, the Drive-By Truckers, the Replacements, and awesomeness mixed up in a blender.   Definitely one of my all-time favorites.  Here’s a taste: Front Porch.

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Have you ever rocked out in a dentist’s office or grocery store, because I certainly have.  I remember being at HEB recently and thinking “Wow, this music is really good.  More Bruce Hornsby, please!”.

That’s where Thursday’s No Shame Soft Rock Sing-Along at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz comes in.  You can sing along to your favorite soft rock videos with a bunch of other people who like dentist office music.  My wish list includes Sting, Steve Winwood, Kenny Loggins, and the Dream Academy.  Don’t disappoint me, Alamo!  I know you won’t.

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I bet you thought I was going to highlight the Phoenix/Two Door Cinema Club show at Stubb’s tonight, didn’t you?  Nope, too easy.  I’m sure it will be awesome, though.

I am going to recommend you go see Danny Malone with Rebecca Loebe, the Blue Hit, and Green Mountain Grass on Friday at Momo’s.  I wrote about Danny Malone several months ago and still haven’t seen him live.   I’m going to keep trying, though, and one day I will catch a show.

As far as I can tell, Danny Malone is a damn talented song writer and his new album is one you’ll play on repeat.  I’m not familiar with the other artists on the bill, but I bet they aren’t too bad either.  Check it.

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It’s Rex Manning Day!  Just kidding, it’s Record Store Day.  The following Austin record stores are participating: Out of the Past Collectibles, Antone’s, Cheapo Records, Trailer Space Records, Waterloo, End of an Ear, Musicmania, BackSpin Records, Snake Eyes Vinyl, and Immortal Performances.  Check this website for more details.

Don’t forget to show your favorite record store some love on Saturday…and don’t you dare buy anything from iTunes this weekend!

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we’re back!  Sorry, the Calendar of Fun has been on a post-SXSW hiatus.  Anyway, the Big Pink is playing at the Parish on Thursday.  A Place to Bury Strangers is opening.  Have you heard the Big Pink’s “Dominos” from their 2009 release “A Brief History of Love”?  No?  Well, here it is.  I listened to this on repeat for the whole month of December.

These Brits probably won’t come around often, but I’d guess that the next time they do, it will be at some large, nightmare festival like ACL.  They’ll be the next big thing, but you’ll be sweating and covered in dust or manure, seeing them from 1,0000 feet away, and wondering why you didn’t go to their show at the Parish when you had the chance.   Let’s avoid that situation, shall we?

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What can I say?  It’s SXSW.  Check the SXSW tab for select free shows.  Check www.showlistaustin.com for more free shows.  Check www.sxsw.com for official shows.  And don’t forget to rock!!!!

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I saw Mortified last Wednesday at the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz and I highly recommend that you go this week.  Mortified is a series of live performances of adolescent journal entries, poems, and other terrifying memorabilia by the original authors.  Don’t be scared - it’s actually more hilarious than anything.  I thought I would be so embarrassed for these people that I would have to leave, but instead I laughed so hard that I cried and couldn’t even eat my black bean burger.

Don’t miss this chance to see eight now-adult Austinites bare their teenage souls on stage.  Oh, and there’s a great band called the After-School Special that plays interesting covers of teen angsty songs in between performances.

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