TCB

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Fool for Your Stockings

If you're like TCB, the idea of holiday shopping more than a few days in advance is as laughable as Will Ferrell in Elf. That said, whatever your winter observance of choice, you're basically out of time as of today (Thursday). Some local music-related gift ideas for all you fellow procrastinators ...

DISC THE HALLS: Tired of "The Night Before Christmas"? Try the new reading of Dylan Thomas' 1952 poem "A Child's Christmas in Wales," performed by local jazz lights Suzi Stern (who also sings three original songs), Rich Harney, Alex Coke, and Chris Maresh. Rockers will enjoy turning up ex-Sixteen Deluxe crew Hit Space's excellent new EP, (Verb), or contemplating Zookeeper's pensive new EP. The soundtrack to Richard Linklater's Fast Food Nation, meanwhile, has something for everyone: songs from Spoon, Dr. Dog, and the Capitol Years, as well eerie soundtrack instrumentals courtesy of Friends of Dean Martinez.

PRETTY PAPER: Readers might enjoy Tall Tales and Other Big Lies: Stories of Ray Wylie Hubbard, the Hill Country troubador's life wisdom as illustrated by Jose Luis Gonzalez and published by Austin singer-songwriter Troy Campbell's Collection Agency Films. And never forget what day it is for very long with a pair of locally published calendars: Still Naked is more local musical figures (Jeff Pinkus, Kacy Crowley, Ain't Misbehavin') artfully arranged in the buff, while Ricardo Acevedo's She Rocks 2007 edition features members of the Addictions, Quick & the Dead, Adrian & the Sickness, and more wearing clothes, albeit seductively so.

LIVE WITH ME: This is Austin, you know. Why not give passes to tonight's Parish Christmas Show, with members of Okkervil River, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Voxtrot, Zykos, Alpha Rev, and Loxsly interpreting their seasonal favorites? Or try Unlock Austin's Red River Pass, which for a measly $20 buys you as many shows as you can handle at Beerland, Emo's Lounge, and the Mohawk, plus drink specials at Club de Ville, all January long.