At the pop-punkier end of the pool (but still SXSW-y), this year saw the third successive appearance by piano-blasting emosters Jack’s Mannequin. Why the blogworthy hub-bub? Because the odds against it happening were long, for near-fatal reasons. The side-project of erstwhile Something Corporate front man Andrew McMahon made its debut during SXSW in 2005. Then McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia, and only survived after a bone marrow transplant from his sister. Last year’s sets at La Zona Rosa were pretty special, as a still weak but enthusiastic McMahon re-connected with an audience glad to see him still alive. Now it’s year 3, and yesterday’s barnstorming, and teen-girl-swoon-inducing, set at Emo’s was straight-forward rock-out fun.

This article appears in March 16 • 2007.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.