Last night we braved the blustery elements (man, do we miss that 70 degree weather!) to see our old friend from Austin Jeff Klein open for The Honorary Title, Koufax and Limbeck at Bottom of the Hill. Even though Jeff went on at 8pm sharp, which seemed awfully early to us, the venue was already packed with supportive kids decked out in their hoodies, bangs covering half their faces, Chuck Taylors planted firmly with the intention of watching every last band on the bill. Young rock fans, we salute you, singing along even though THT singer Jarrod's normally soaring voice was shot from fatigue and overuse.

The Austin bands keep bringing it this week. Whether you wear your Black Sabbath t-shirt with irony or sincerity, you'd do well to raise your fingers in devil horns to The Sword. It's hair-swinging metal with double bass, harmonizing lead guitars and lyrics about wolves, goddesses and warriors. Hear The Sword here and see them live this Tuesday at 12 Galaxies. We're giving away a copy of their album Age of Winters.

The giveaways don't stop there. Your neighbor and mine, singer/songwriter Kelley Stoltz, is celebrating a record release with a party Friday at 12 Galaxies. Sub Pop wants you to win a copy of his new CD Below the Branches. Listen to some tracks here, download "Memory Collector," and enter to win.

Check out this week's concert picks after the jump.

Thursday 2/16
Popscene presents Monsters Are Waiting @ 330 Ritch
Performer Magazine presents Loquat, The Heavenly States, Space Mtn. @ The Independent
Archer Prewitt, The M's, The Ebb And Flow @ Bottom of the Hill
FREE! Pretty Girls Make Graves @ UC Berkeley's Bear's Lair

Friday 2/17
Kelley Stoltz CD Release with The Moore Brothers and Whysp @ 12 Galaxies
Bob Mould Band with Shiny Toy Guns @ The Fillmore
Thriving Ivory, Augustana, Keith Varon @ Slim's
Saint Etienne with Every Move A Picture @ The Fillmore
Some Girls, Das Oath @ Bottom of the Hill

Saturday 2/18
High Sierra Music Presents: 12 Galaxies 2 Year Anniversary Show featuring Perpetual Groove @ 12 Galaxies
The Matches, Kill Radio, Audrye Sessions @ Slim's

Sunday 2/19
FREE: Twang Sunday with Real Sippin' Whiskeys @ Thee Parkside

Monday 2/20
Jonah Matranga, Liz Ross @ Cafe du Nord

Tuesday 2/21
Priestess, Early Man, The Sword @ 12 Galaxies

Wednesday 2/22
Greg Ashley, Amy Blaustein, Brian Glaze, Paula Frazer @ Hemlock Tavern
Mice Parade, Tom Brosseau, The Life On Earth @ Bottom of the Hill
Jackpine Social Club at The Argus Lounge

(Contests end 2/22.)