Following what we're calling the opening acts of Dinosaur Jr. and Built to Spill (they both show potential), Austin's own Midgetmen will take the stage at Stubb's this Saturday the 24th. You get in free with your ticket to Dino Jr./BTS. Some may call this an 'afterparty', but then again, some say "sofa" when they mean "couch". Some are just plain crazy.

Taking a cue from the old school Butthole Surfers' titling playbook (Independent Worm Saloon, Locust Abortion Technician), our recent poll winners Sad Accordions have released unto the masses their new track, Sacrificial Chumpsucker Diatribe. If you've been paying attention, you know where they'll be tonight. If you've been napping, well, scroll down.

In case you hadn't noticed that large crowd of multi-instrumentalists occupying our top banner, allow me to call your attention to our most recent poll winner The Tiny Tin Hearts. Huzzah, kudos, and all manner of seriously outdated congratulatory terms to them. Tiny Tin Hearts will be at Lambert's fine fancy BBQ this Saturday the 24th.

And, as usually tends to happen after a poll victory, we got us a new poll: Death Is Not a Joyride, Single Frame, The Boxing Lesson, The Lovely Sparrows, and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth have all been nominated for your consideration.

In other developments, Luck, our CD of the month from Wiretree, drops today, and is joined by Fits, the new one from White Denim.

Peoplefood, Sad Accordions, Red Leaves will be up at 10, 11, and midnight, respectively, at the Mohawk this Wednesday. A trio of acclaimed Austin bands and Deli darlins.

So there. M. Ward never bought us a drink in Portland, so that's a drink he owes us. If he feels that either the fact that A) we don't know him or B) we never actually asked him for a drink is a legitimate excuse for this oversight, he obviously doesn't understand our system of ethics. Which I would be happy to explain to him. Over a drink. 

Luck by Wiretree officially debuts on the 20th, but they're ready to celebrate with you this Saturday at - where else? - Lucky Lounge. Luck also happens to be our CD of the Month (review at lower right), so we, obviously, recommend that you check that one out.

In other local Saturday night goings on, New Roman Times & Stereo Is A Lie will occupy the newly reborn Ghost Room, which was the Ginger Man until the Ginger Man moved elsewhere.

The entire Deli Austin editorial staff will be off in Portland, and expecting M. Ward to stand for drinks.

Photo: Melanie Martinez

Reaching the end of our early October poll, and it's definitely too close to call at this point. The Tiny Tin Hearts are making a late run at Quiet Company, and The Laughing (above, and also to be found tonight at Red 7) lurk not too far back (rope-a-dope strategy). They're also one of two poll bands dropping an album today: the Red 7 gig is a release party for The Laughing's LP Fever, and Rocket, from the Darling New Neighbors, goes national today. (Hand-crafted versions, the work of Adam Young and Jaime Cervantes, have been in the hippest hands in Austin since September.) You've got until midnight tonight (Thurs.) to get your vote in...