SXSW Preview: So Many Bands, So Little Time!

We're looking forward to so many events this year- now that CES has kicked off our events season, we've got coverage of many more to come. One of the biggest and best is SXSW, or South by Southwest, running this year from March 11th to the 20th of 2011. We hope to be bringing you plenty of updates from the show itself, which features names like Felicia Day and the founder of 4chan as speakers, along with hundreds of films, interesting panels and lectures on topics like how games are replacing textbooks and manners in the age of social media.

One of the areas we're most looking forward to is the music though- over 350 bands have so far been announced, covering every genre of music. We don't stand a chance of making it to every show or listening to every band- unlike the folks at Operation Every Band who are slowly but surely doing their best. But here are a few highlights that we can't wait to check out, in no particular order. And yes, we're fans of plenty of bands from the 80's and 90's who will be putting in appearances, but this list is for newer and more obscure bands to get some publicity. Sorry The Refreshments, The Bangles, Bran Van 3000, and, er, Hanson.

The Antlers - Yes, their album "Hospice" was great- so good that NPR listed it as their favorite of early 2010. But we hear great things about these Brookyln guys live.

Beats Antique - Local band we love to hear. Little radio love, but they are starting to get some commercial attention. Classically trained, this is world electronica at it's best.

Casiokids - Norwegian electro-pop. Yeah, their names are unpronounceable, and the comparisons to Rokysopp are a little misleading. But this band puts out some amazing music, including one of our favorite dance tracks of last year.

Dessa - Midwest / Minneapolis represents. Spoken word from this member of the Doomtree Collective, who caught our attention early last year with the album "A Badly Broken Code". Check out this video from her single "Matches to Paper Dolls" if you need convincing.

Foster the People - Listen to their single "Pumped Up Kicks", available on the linked page, and tell us you don't think they'll put on a great show. New, upcoming, you'll hear them soon if you haven't already.