Links we love

The week's top links: Digital Skee-Ball, Mad Men and murder and more

Here are just a few of the stories, lists and videos we loved this week:

Say hello to The Sweethome, the newest member of The Awl network and your one-stop site for excellent home goods recommendations.

Refinery29 curates an essential playlist of the best summer rap songs.

Browse through a few of poet Allen Ginsberg's personal portraits.

NPR is streaming Camera Obscura's latest album, Desire Lines.

Finally, a Chrome extension that lets you play Skee-Ball right in your browser.

PBS' new promos totally snark on reality TV (and they're pretty great).

Let's take a tour of a melting ice hotel!

Then let's learn all about what's in Silicon Valley's Weird Stuff Warehouse!

This Redditor's intriguing Mad Men theory links legendary actress Sharon Tate with budding actress Megan Draper.

Sarah Silverman's new music video describes her "Perfect Night":

FOMO, the movie:

Macklemore, covered by a bunch of slamming doors:

A supercut of dance scenes from movies, because, yes please:

We've been waiting for this Will Smith/DJ Jazzy Jeff/Alfonso Ribiero reunion for so long:

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Music Notes

Golden Dawn Arkestra plays NYE show at Radio East, plus more Austin picks

Photo courtesy of Golden Dawn Arkestra

Golden Dawn Arkestra to play NYE show at Radio East.

Whether you’re looking for an extra dose of Christmas cheer or a plan for New Year’s Eve, Austin’s ever-busy music scene has you covered. See here for recommendations that stretch across the remainder of 2024.

Keep Austin Cheer’d at Continental Club – December 20 & 21
The Continental Club will host Keep Austin Cheer’d, the annual “retro holiday extravaganza” put on and headlined by rockers Me Nd Adam, on December 20 and 21. The show this Friday will also feature Foxtales and Blossom Aloe, and Saturday’s lineup will have support from Caroline Hale and LeTrainiump. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 the day of, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Casa Marianella.

Bidi Bidi Banda at The Mohawk – Saturday, December 21
After a nice 10-year run, the excellent Selena tribute act Bid Bid Banda is set to bid fans farewell. Swing into the Mohawk this Saturday, December 21, to see them before they go an indefinite hiatus. Llamativa will open up the show. Tickets are $20.

Dale Watson at Continental Club – Wednesday, December 25
Get out of the house and spend your Christmas evening at the Continental Club two-stepping and singing along with country music maverick Dale Watson. It’ll be $15 at the door to see this member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame.

RestFest at C-Boy’s Heart & Soul – December 27 & 28
Head to C-Boy’s Heart & Soul on December 27 and 28 for RestFest. The Americana act Restos will headline both nights, and they’ll be joined by S.L. Houser and Billy King And The Bad Bad Bad for the first evening, and Ricky Stein, Dossey, and Slomo Drags for the second. Tickets for each show are $20.

Interstellar New Year’s Eve at Radio East – Tuesday, December 31
Touch the stars via Radio East’s Interstellar New Year’s Eve party. The event features three fantastic local acts – Golden Dawn Arkestra, Grandmaster, and Andrew Cashen & The Disciples of Creation – and promises to be an “evening full of magic, ritual, and wonder.” Tickets are $29.99 in advance, $39.99 the day of.

1990s New Year’s Eve at Hotel Vegas – Tuesday, December 31
Ring in 2025 by revisiting the 1990s at Hotel Vegas, whose NYE party will have members of Austin bands like Farmer’s Wife, Gentlemen Rogues, Magic Rockers of Texas, Holy Wave, and others performing the music of Oasis, Nirvana, Green Day, Liz Phair, Pavement, and plenty more. Tickets are $40.14.

live music concerts