On Friday night, in an effort to warm up the crowd from the main event this weekend, the Austinist (sometimes home of Big Diction's Rob "Don't Call Me Gay" Stiller hosts their sixth "Local Music Is Sexy" at the Mohawk and, if I may say so, I think this one may be the sexiest yet. How do I know? Let's count the reasons:

1. Brothers and Sisters

photo by Courtney Chavanell

With the release of their second album Fortunately earlier this year, this Austin super-group headed by "Brother Will" built on the wild alt-country successes of their '06 eponymous debut with stunning efficiency. The new album stands on the same folk foundations that drew them comparisons to bands like the Jayhawks, but it also sees the band expanding their horizons, incorporating its fair-share of guitars that are more prone to crunch than they are to twang. Brothers and Sisters put on one helluva show, and you'd be hard pressed to find a better representative of sexy local music than "Brother Will" (a strictly platonic observation I might add).

Brothers and Sisters - You're Gone"

Brothers and Sisters - The Air Is Getting Thicker"

2. Foot Patrol

The sometimes-comical Hung Nguyen and TJ Wade comprise this foot-fetish driven hip-hop group who fill the number 2 spot on the lineup. With album titles like Smellabration and Toetry In Motion, this band speaks for themselves, and I dare not try to match their wits.

Trample Me Intro

Trample Me

3. The Lovely Sparrows

It's safe to say Bury The Cynics was one of Austin's best releases this year. Finally with the opportunity to expand on the short but stunning EP Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) Paint, Sparrows' leader Shawn Jones has outdone himself lyrically and musically - even if it did take him nearly two years to do it. Though the band is essentially Jones, they come to us Friday as a six-piece, which may be one of a few occasions you'll have to hear the album performed live as it was written.

The Lovely Sparrows - Department Of Foreseeable Outcomes

4. Leatherbag

Photo by: Dena De La Paz

Whether Leatherbag's fantastic new album Love and Harm is the sleeper-hit of the year or the century, I doubt Leatherbag (aka Randy Reynolds) could care less. The man has, over the course of multiple albums, been refining and redefining his sound, mixing and matching between bands as famous as Richard Buckner and The Velvet Underground and, more recently, bands from Austin's mid-80's "New Sincerity" movement. We caught Leatherbag with his new backing band (which consists mainly of players from Jude Ross's band) last week and, needless to say, we're itchin' for more.

Tennessee

5. The Eastern Sea

The Eastern Sea were recently featured on Austin Sound's Sound Off. Here's what they had to say:

"Though the Eastern Sea has gone through several variations in the past few years, both in lineup and sound, Matthew Hines has finally developed a quartet that gorgeously explores the contours of his songwriting. Their recently released self-titled debut EP is beautifully subtle but rich in harmonies and delicate unwinding textures, with touches of Iron and Wine or Seven Swans-era Sufjan Stevens. Yet there is also a mesmerizing force underlying the songs, hypnotic in Hines' deft guitar work as he rolls through oblique personal narratives that suggest the Microphones and Mountain Goats."

The Menu

Sexy enough? Thought so. Progress Coffee will be on site serving up drinks and rumor has it there will be food on hand as well. The show starts Friday at 8pm and is 21 and up, so get them ID's ready.