Staff Picks

Thursday

'Fantastic Planet’ with live score by Neil Hagerty
The Alamo Drafthouse
Hagerty, the guitar genius from Pussy Galore and Royal Trux, will perform a live soundtrack to Fantastic Planet, a politically charged animated feature that won the grand prize at Cannes in 1973. Hagerty’s inspired, drug-addled and overdriven guitar sound has won him more Grateful Dead comparisons than any other artist, and his work should mesh well with the spaced-out film.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The film will play at 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.

Friday

Art by Jad Fair
Yard Dog Folk Art
Yard Dog will be showing drawings by Washington D.C. avant-garde guitar artist Jad Fair. The eccentric punk-rock musician will perform at the opening reception. Fair is known for his work with Half Japanese, his solo recordings and his collaborations with Austin singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston.
The reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. The exhibit will run until Dec. 31. The art is also available online at www.yarddog.com. The gallery is on S. Congress Ave.

Saturday

House of Torment
A Creepsville Christmas
After its month break from the Halloween season, the House of Torment reopens at 7 p.m. with Mr. Creep and his band of fellow gouls. The Nightmare Before Christmas and Dr. Seuss are the headlining horrors.

Thirteen dollars gets one trip through the house, at I-35 at 523 Highland Mall Blvd.

Phosphorescent, Castanets, Peter & the Wolf, Jana Hunter Emo’s (late show)
Saturday is folk night at Emo’s. Castanets are touring with Phosphorescent. Both bands shift between sparse, guitar-only arrangements and lush songs complete with electric instruments, horns and percussion. Castanets won significant critical acclaim for 2004’s “Cathedral” and is currnetly touring on the followup, “First Light’s Freeze.” Local stars Peter and the Wolf and Jana Hunter open. Expect many acoustic guitars and pleasant sounds.

Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 10 p.m.

UT football
The Longhorns face the Colorado Buffaloes for the Big 12 championship. The game starts at at noon on ABC, and Alamo Drafthouse downtown will offer free admission to watch the game on its screen.

Jaap Blonk
West Campus
Legendary Dutch avant-vocalist Jaap Blonk, performer of Dada-influenced sound poetry, will perform solo and with Austin percussionist Chris Cogburn and guitarist Kurt Newman. Show starts at 8 p.m. $8-$15 admission. House concert. 709 Rio Grande St.

Sunday

Powerman 5000
The Backroom
Rap metal’s most over-the-top act transcended the genre’s typcial cliches on its 1999 release, “Tonight the Stars Revolt.” Comparisons to Rob Zombie are more than accurate, since the band’s frontman, Spider, is Zombie’s younger brother.

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