SXSW Picks & Sleepers

Saturday Picks

RED DYE #4, THE DISOWNED, THE SNOBS, FORTY SECOND SCANDAL: Over the next few years, look for the teenagers in these local bands to start grabbing headline slots and press attention. Way too young to drink, their hearts pound with Ramones-like lust and they reference Austin legends like the Big Boys and Butthole Surfers. Red Dye #4 and the Snobs are already veterans on the scene, the latter having opened this year's Austin Music Awards. Like the spray paint graffiti used to say: the Future is now. (Steamboat, noon-4pm) -- Margaret Moser

TOWN LAKE THROWDOWN: Now this is more like it. Sure, SXSW wishes they had Patti Smith out here, but the bluegrass stomp of Split Lip Rayfield, stately chamber rock of Alejandro Escovedo, raucous zydeco throwdown of Geno Delafose, wildman roots hoedown of Austin's Gourds, and Bandera country roots badass Charlie Robison is what a Saturday sunset at Town Lake should be. It ain't the Fab T-Birds' Riverfest from the Eighties, but this kinda bill is the Riverfest of the future. (Town Lake Stage, 5-8pm) -- Raoul Hernandez

EELS: You may have missed 2000's Oh What a Beautiful Morning, a gatherall of live material from the Eels' Daisies of the Galaxy tour, plus cuts from frontman E's solo tour with Fiona Apple. Two years later, these college faves are back in Beckian mode with the slacker-soul of the brand new Souljacker (DreamWorks), chock-full of guest performances from folks like Koool G Murder and John Parish. (La Zona Rosa, 7pm) -- Melanie Haupt

CHUCK PROPHET: Revered by many as a guitar player and songwriter, Chuck Prophet's New West debut, No Other Love, is due in April. With his sixth solo album, Prophet continues to melt the singer-songwriter mold, delivering an 11-track song cycle that he says is "about dancing monkeys, failed criminals, and the storms that come between seasons." (Mercury, 8pm) -- Jim Caligiuri

THE CRACK PIPES: The right Rev. Ray Pride and his mighty Crack Pipes expanded their chicken-scratch garage-punk ministry with 2001's Every Night Saturday Night (Sympathy for the Record Industry). The Austin-based quartet has honed their evangelical essence considerably since their humble mid-Nineties founding to become one of the town's premier purveyors of sneering skronk. (Beerland, 8pm) -- Greg Beets

THE HARD FEELINGS: The whole blues/punk thing can get sloppy at times, especially when the whiskey's flowing. Not so with Austin's Hard Feelings. Their self-titled debut on Sympathy for the Record Industry features lots of stinging slide guitar, a rhythm section that drives like a determined cabbie, and a whole passel of blues shoutin'. (Beerland, 9pm) -- Jerry Renshaw

FANTASY'S CORE: Nagasaki's Fantasy's Core are a zany troupe that flip-flops between punk, blues, metal, and soul. The quintet's 2001 SXSW set blew several minds with the antics of Mao Karisu, a rabidly charismatic vocalist who feigned hara-kiri with a toy light saber, did Jack Palance-style one-armed push-ups, and sang an ode to Pachinko. (Elysium, 8pm) -- Greg Beets

THE SPIDERS: Out of San Marcos, the Spiders purvey balls-out punk metal licks and glam attitude like it never went out of style. The quartet once covered side one of Mötley Crüe's Too Fast for Love in its entirety, which should give you a good idea of their intent. The Spiders are currently working on the follow-up to their hard-hitting 2000 debut, Sex Is Thicker Than Water (Unscene) for Acetate Records. (The Red Room, 8pm) -- Greg Beets

SXSW SOUND & VISION: Rykodisc and David Bowie got nothing on Austin's institution of silent films scored and accompanied live by local bands. Alt.classical indie rock jazz band Golden Arm Trio pioneered the form along with series starters ST 37, and this special SXSW double-feature features the former's mournfully jagged original soundtrack to F.W. Murnau's 1926 masterpiece Faust, and the latter's nuclear-powered blast on Fritz Lang's Metropolis, also from '26. David Byrne's ladies of string, Austin's Tosca String Quartet, close out the evening. This is Austin at its best and most original. (Scottish Rite Theatre, 8pm-midnight) -- Raoul Hernandez

BRUCE ROBISON: With Tim McGraw's chart-topping version of his "Angry All the Time" and cuts in the works from Lee Ann Womack, Allison Moorer, and the Dixie Chicks, Bruce Robison represents a 6-foot-7-inch stretch of Music Row right here in Austin. He also makes fine albums of his own, last year's Country Sunshine being a collection of crisp melodies and vivid narratives. (Austin Music Hall, 9pm) -- Andy Langer

CORNELL HURD BAND: One of the best honky-tonk/Western swing ensembles in Texas, the Cornell Hurd Band just released another sprawling, 23-songer titled Song of South Austin on their own Behemoth label. Featuring guest turns from Johnny Bush and Marti Brom, it also highlights the work of steel master Herb Steiner and the vocals of bassist Justin Trevino. (Broken Spoke, 9pm) -- Jim Caligiuri

JANNE HAAVISTO & THE FARANGS: Producers often have bigger ears than talent. Not so with Finnish studio wizard Janne Haavisto, founding member of instrumental stalwarts Laika & the Cosmonauts. Haavisto's detailed aural world draws from Bollywood soundtracks, electronic instrumentals, garage pop, international folk, and dub, as heard on his two Texicalli albums. (The Drink on 6th, 9pm) -- David Lynch

MARY LOU LORD: Lord is not your mother's folksinger. Following her 1998 major-label debut, Got No Shadow (Sony), she took a break to focus on her family. Last year, she covered Daniel Johnston's "Speeding Motorcycle" for a Target ad, which was included on this winter's set of covers, Live City Sounds on Rubric. (Empanada Parlour, 9pm) -- Dan Oko

NATHAN HAMILTON: A native of Abilene who now calls Austin home, Nathan Hamilton has just released one of the best albums out of Texas this year, All for Love and Wages. The Austin Chronicle raved that it "burns with a rare fire and is highly recommended to those looking for a healthy helping of new American roots rock." (Hard Rock Cafe, 9pm) -- Jim Caligiuri

WEARY BOYS: Cowboy hats, beards, vests, a Telecaster, and an upright bass. That could spell a band that's got a too-keen sense of irony, but not Austin's Weary Boys. Theirs is an electric-bluegrass brand of authentic country that could go over in a punk club, honky-tonk, or state penitentiary (and has, at all). Their indie debut lives up to the hype. (Continental Club, 9pm) -- Jerry Renshaw

THE MEAT PURVEYORS: Kicking over whatever hurtle splintered like a barstool over your head, Austin's Meat Purveyors are back with their second Bloodshot barnyard mosher, All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail, complete with hoedown covers of ABBA and Ratt. Their agitated bluegrass has no real successor, 'cause who could match the adrenaline 'n' attitude this foursome spat onstage? (Mother Egan's, 9pm) -- Christopher Hess

THE GRASSY KNOLL: Bob Green is a S.F.-dweller, but it's the conspiracy-theory heebie-jeebies of his native Dallas/Ft. Worth that give him his inspiration. Dropped by Verve/Antilles after 1998's claustrophobic electro-fusion masterpiece III, SXSW trumpets the return of Green's jazz 'n' paste wonderland of funky .007 basslines and sampled white-noise loops. (Le Privilege, 9pm) -- Michael Chamy

RADIO 4: The Primal Scream elements are tough to miss here, but maybe the NYC fivepiece is merely playing Gang of Four to the Strokes' Television. It's a mad mixture of some kind of proto-New Wave with the more dissonant moments of early post punk-like Joe Jackson's "I'm the Man" sped up and turned inside out. (Rehab Lounge, 9pm) -- Michael Bertin

HARVEY SID FISHER: The uncontested king of zodiac music returns to SXSW backed by Austin's Hidden Persuaders. Fisher, an actor from L.A. who did bit parts on Seventies TV shows like Emergency and Kojak, became a musical cult figure with a 1989 public-access video of his astrology songs. (Empanada Parlour, 9pm) -- Greg Beets

SOUTH: Bigger than toast and twice as tasty, this UK trio plays like Stone Roses redux, a guitar 'n' vocals trio with soul to burn and a lazy groove that infrequently ramps up into heartache guitarwork. Signed to UK indie Mo'Wax, their new From Here on In is the first essential UK disc of the year. (Element, 9pm) -- Marc Savlov

PREFUSE 73: Scott Herren's retort to the path hip-hop has taken is the creation of "clip-hop." MCs are used as just another layer of music by shattering lyrics into cut rhymes without vowel or syllabic support, and the rest is beats composed largely of snips from Herren's pre-fusion jazz records circa 1973. "You wonder where the chorus is, but I don't do that shit." (La Zona Rosa, 10pm) -- Christopher Coletti

HALOU: SF-based husband/wife duo Ryan and Rebecca Coseboon have managed to capture the sound of 4am eros better than anyone we've ever heard. Languid, liquid beats burble in the background like a warm, inviting rainshower while Rebecca's velvety-smooth, honeyed vocals ooze between fluffy synth lines, smoky cellos, and a soothing, ambient groove that hollers "Sex, please!" (Element, 10pm) -- Marc Savlov

KELLY HOGAN: If Kelly Hogan's singing didn't sound so elegantly effortless, she'd still be an alt.country diva simply for having the good sense to work with the Jody Grind and the Rock*A*Teens. Recently, she's been kinda Bloodshot, her second LP on the Chicago indie, Because It Feels Good, upgrading folks like Randy Newman and the Statler Brothers. (Momo's, 10pm) -- Michael Bertin

STEPHEN BRUTON: A renown sideman (Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson) turned singer-songwriter, guitarist Stephen Bruton recently released his latest CD, Spirit World, on New West, but is just as comfortable as musical director for Tony-winning actress Betty Buckley in her cabaret show. Live, he's the best of both. (Mercury, 10pm) -- Margaret Moser

KELLY WILLIS: One of the most anticipated/attended shows of SXSW O1, Austin's country darling Kelly Willis has won the hearts of fans from all genres. Her voice will melt your frigid music industry heart, and she's developed a battery of songs that stand against the best of 'em. She'll be adding to it sometime this year with a new album. (Austin Music Hall, 10pm) -- Christopher Hess

OWEN TEMPLE: The Texas singer-songwriter field has become a little crowded in the past few post-Robert Earl Keen years, but Owen Temple manages to stand out from the rest of the pack. His latest disc, Passing Through, on Scenework Records, shows no signs of sophomore slump. (Broken Spoke, 10pm) -- Jerry Renshaw

BOB LOG III: Out in the desert villa of Tucson, Arizona dwells a strange creature named Bob Log. No longer one half of Doo Rag, he's now a one-man band, playing bass drums with his feet while damaging his fretboard with primitive, hyperactive grooves that are more fetid swamp muck than dirty Delta silt. (Emo's Jr., 10pm) -- Michael Chamy

PAUL JONES: This Delta bluesman recently told a reporter, "I believe in God, but the Devil, he's got power, too." Listening to Jones' 1999 release, Pucker Up Buttercup (Fat Possum), it's clear this welder wasn't just philosophizing. The raw sound of Jones' guitar and voice, propelled by a drummer named Pickle, sets you ringside in the eternal fight between Good and Evil. (Antone's, 10pm) -- Dan Oko

THE HELIO SEQUENCE: This Portland, Ore., duo, vocalist/guitarist Brandon Summers and beat keyboardist Benjamin Weikel documented their message on their self-released 1999 EP Accelerated Slow-Motion Cinema, a 2000 Cavity Search debut, Com Plex, and recent CS outing, Young Effectuals. That message: Get noisy, get bent, get poppy. (District Bar & Grill, 10pm) -- David Lynch

ACTIONSLACKS: Oakland's Actionslacks count among their faves everything from Wilco to Hüsker Dü, and it all comes together in their sound. The Scene's Out of Sight, their 200l release, finds them doing what they do best: slashing guitars, smart lyrics, tight harmonies, and live-wire energy. (Ritz Lounge, 10pm) -- Jerry Renshaw

WINSLOW: A key cog in the corps of Austin cosmonaut rockers, Winslow's patient melodies reveal a gentle, moody, dream pop fare like the Autumns and Dallas' fondly remembered Comet. There's no Mogwai this year, so Winslow might be among the sky's brightest stars in this early spring season. (Red Eyed Fly, 10pm) -- Michael Chamy

I AM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER: After world politics messed things up, IATWTC toyed with the abbreviated name I Am the World, but have now restored their moniker in full. With little more than a laptop, the electronic pop duo of Amy Dykes and Dan Gellar have made synths truly palatable even for those with a natural aversion to such. Track=Song, their latest and follow up to their debut Out of the Loop, is a collection of covers and remixes. (Buffalo Billiards, 10pm) -- Michael Bertin

ORIGINAL SINNERS: We hope that Exene Cervenka needs no introduction here, but hell, most of you guys are half our age, so: Founding member and guiding force behind L.A. roots-punk legends X, poet, author, and everything else that you indie hipsters hold dear. Exene's mark on DIY can't be overstated. (Red Room, 10pm) -- Marc Savlov

1001 NIGHTS ORCHESTRA: Founded more than a decade ago by Persian lutist Kamran Hooshmand, this Austin acoustic ensemble performs classic and original Middle Eastern pieces of Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Afghan, Armenian, Greek, and Sephardic origin. Their Chocolate Records debut, Salaam, is still their only release, in part because an expanded version of the group was busy creating an excellent live accompaniment to silent film classic The Thief of Baghdad. (Clay Pit, 11pm) -- David Lynch

OJALA: These two seasoned Austin world musicians -- Javier Palacios and Kamran Hooshmand -- blend their respective Latin and Persian socialscapes into a seamless and graceful whole. Drawing inspiration from the cultural exchange between North Africa and Old Spain, their eponymous self-released debut was one of last year's local best. Listen for guitar, oud, hand drums, Persian finger snapping, whistling ,and syncopated hand claps. (Clay Pit, 11pm) -- David Lynch

ST 37: Amid all the bands searching for the perfect three-minute formula, this veteran Austin space rock group is a revelation. Hawkwind-style cosmic pop gives way to delicate Spacemen 3 minimalism and all forms of textural mayhem in between. No wonder they've been invited to Terrastock 2002 in Boston. (Red Eyed Fly, 11pm) -- Michael Chamy

ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY: Richmond, Va.'s Alabama Thunderpussy marry drop-tuning uber-riffs with melodic song progressions. In limbo when Man's Ruin folded, ATP release their fourth LP, Staring at the Divine, on Relapse Records. The post-punk love child of Skynyrd and Entombed, ATP play some of the most delicious moonshine metal around. (Emo's, 11pm) -- David Lynch

SIANSPHERIC: More gentle than the Bardo Pond, this Ontario quartet shares their knack for abrasive distortion, yet uses it to build an enveloping sea of tranquility. Warm, strummy waves of sonic bliss, as well as sublime Sigur Ròs-like textures abound on their latest Sonic Unyon CD, The Sound of the Colour of the Sun. (Red Eyed Fly, 11pm) -- Michael Chamy

ASH: Northern Ireland's finest, this punk- and rock-influenced trio somehow got lost in the Britpop shuffle circa 1994 when their debut single "Jack Names the Planets" arrived. Since then, they've honed their crunch-pop skills into a piledriving wall of sound methodology, found on their newest, Free All Angels, which recently entered the UK charts at No. 1 and should the States', as well. (Element, 11pm) -- Marc Savlov

THE BRIEFS: If you didn't know better, you'd think you'd stumbled on a pre-wuss Gen X record, what with the first-wave punk sound and Billy Idol lookalike Chris Brief, who drums and sings. The Seattle quartet released their debut EP on Interscope last year after their SXSW performance landed them a deal. (Red Room, 11pm) -- Michael Chamy

THE DRAGONS: San Diego's Mario Escovedo-led Dragons blast out four-chord rock à la the New York Dolls or punch-drunk Stones. With four LPs under their belt -- the latest being Rock & Roll Kamikaze on Junk -- they codify what the genre ought to sound like -- easy on the finesse and plenty of passion. (Emo's Jr., 11pm) -- Jerry Renshaw

YAYHOOS: After five years of false starts, this alt.country supergroup -- Dan Baird, Eric Ambel, Keith Christopher, and Terry Anderson -- finally united last year to record Fear Not the Obvious. The results deliver exactly the type of swagger you'd expect. Baird's "Get Right With Jesus" is clearly the LP's centerpiece, but their cover of ABBA's "Dancin' Queen" oughtta be a show-stopper live. (Mother Egan's, 11pm) -- Andy Langer

THE DERAILERS: Funny, but as time passes, "Bakersfield"/"Buck Owens" get mentioned less and less in association with Austin's Derailers. If imitation is flattery, then Owens gets a perpetual butt-kissing here, but that doesn't mitigate the fact that the Derailers deliver sure-fire honky tonk, even if it does more backbeat with each successive outing. (Austin Music Hall, 11pm) -- Michael Bertin

JON DEE GRAHAM: "Jon Dee Graham - songwriter of large repute." Rarely does a bio say so much. Since '97's exceptional Escape From Monster Island, Austin's former Skunk and True Believer has been the subject of lustrous word-of-mouth. His brand new Hooray for the Moon on New West may be his most confident and thoroughly accessible work yet. (Mercury, 11pm) -- Andy Langer

DARDEN SMITH: Long one of Austin's favorite singer-songwriters, Darden Smith is cherished for his winning way with a melody and his unwavering lyrical honesty. In April comes the full bloom of Sunflower, his first LP of new songs in nearly six years, featuring Patty Griffin, Kim Richey, and a definite glow. (Gingerman, 11pm) -- Jim Caligiuri

THE SILOS: Walter Salas-Humara & Co. just ended a tour of Europe and Spain, having released Laser Beam Next Door (Checkered Past) last year, which is more of the roots-cum-college-rock that put them on the map. They're already hunkering down to write the next album. (Momo's, 11pm) -- Melanie Haupt

IAN MOORE ACTION COMPANY: Born in Berkeley, raised in Austin, and now living near Seattle, Ian Moore's self-titled 1994 debut manifest fret board chops. His sixth and most recent LP, Via Satellite holds kernels of string wizardry, but since his professional start as Joe Ely's guitarist, Moore's music has become more nuanced. (Hard Rock Cafe, 11pm) -- David Lynch

T-MODEL FORD: Fat Possum specializes in raw, juke-joint blues played by elderly black men, and Mississippi native T-Model is no exception. He was 75 when his debut for the label, Pee Wee Get My Gun, came out, and 2000 saw the release of She Ain't None of Your'n. Even by Fat Possum's standards, T is pretty primitive, with a lineup that consists of a drummer and himself banging out blues yarns with buzzy, dirty-sounding chords. (Antone's, 11pm) -- Jerry Renshaw

MR. SCRUFF: Andy McCarthy, Manchester native and Ninja Tune label-mate, strives to create "music he couldn't hear out anywhere else," leading this DJ pioneer to explore a plethora of genres in sets that last as long as five hours. His refusal to accept short slots has landed him an entire night at Plush. (Plush, 11pm) -- Christopher Coletti ANALOGUE II: Before all this IDM business, Tortoise set a precedent for instrumental indie rock. That was back when it was all warm, inviting, compellingly groovy basslines. Analogue, a group from the North Carolina Research Triangle area, took that cue and released their lost jewel of a debut AAD in the summer of 1996. They re-emerged as Analogue II at CMJ 2000 and SXSW 2001, offering up moments of analog bliss. (Empanada Parlour, midnight) -- Michael Chamy

VUE: These five Bay Area scruffs glammed it up good with their self-titled Sub Pop debut, but with last year's Find Your Home, they shed the velvet pants and stepped up the Stooges post-soul quotient. (Red Room, midnight) -- Raoul Hernandez

SUBSET: This Austin-based pop trio wins both hearts and minds with their ability to explore defeat without succumbing to the defeatism of their emo-logged peers. Subset's 2000 debut, Overpass (Post-Parlo) was a deft combo of the heartfelt pop of Badfinger and the stop-start angularity of Mission of Burma. (Ritz Lounge, midnight) -- Greg Beets

IMPERIAL TEEN: Imperial Teen specializes in a unique brand of bubblegrunge that few can replicate. After '96's Seasick and '99's What Is Not to Love, the Teens went on hiatus, with the boys (singer/guitarists Roddy Bottum and Will Schwartz) decamping to L.A. and the girls (drummer Lynn Perko and bassist Jone Stebbings) staying in San Francisco. Due later this spring, Merge debut On, produced by newlyweds Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) and Anna Waronker (That Dog) is rife with the irresistible dark undercurrent that marks IT's exhilarating pop. (District Bar & Grill, midnight) -- Melanie Haupt

THE DEARS: A phenomenon in their hometown of Montreal, the Dears brand of pop recalls Brit bands like Blur and at times, the Smiths -- with lead singer Murray Lightburn being dubbed the Black Morrissey. Their second effort, the appropriately titled Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique, will be made available by Universal Music this Spring. (BD Riley's, midnight) -- Jim Caligiuri

ABRA MOORE: After following Clive Davis from Arista to his J Records, Abra Moore's No Fear is due in late May. Recorded in NYC, L.A., London, Nashville, and Austin, it's reportedly more ambient than '97's Grammy-nominated Strangest Places. Be the first on the block to hear what she's delivered to the biz's hottest label. (Steamboat, midnight) -- Andy Langer

LI'L CAP'N TRAVIS: It's not enough that Austin's Li'l Cap'n Travis has mastered the near-impossible of being both funny and earnest, but between their self-titled debut and the new Lonesome and Losin', they became a damn fine band. Unassuming, self-deprecating, and genuine almost to a fault, the Cap'n makes rock & roll safe for being a little silly and kinda country. They might just be the best thing going in Austin. (Continental Club, midnight) -- Michael Bertin

FLATLANDERS: Reached out at Joe Ely's ranch studio last month, Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Butch Hancock sounded like they were doing more eating, drinking, and reminiscing than recording, and yet their New West debut in May is one of the most anticipated albums of the Austin New Year. More a legend than a band, this trio's overtaking their mythology. (Mercury, midnight) -- Raoul Hernandez

BEAVER NELSON: Nelson's marvelous third album, Undisturbed, isn't exactly unTexan-- something the Houston native and long-time Austin resident probably can't shrug -- but it sounds more like an LP from the catalog of Marshall Crenshaw or Graham Parker rather than from the Texas troubadour tradition. More importantly, it's a darn fine songcraft. (Hard Rock Cafe, midnight) -- Michael Bertin

WILL SEXTON: His New Folk Underground collaboration with David Baerwald should take up much of 2002, but Will Sexton's solo SXSW showcase serves as a strong reminder that his Scenes From Nowhere may have been last year's most criminally overlooked local LP. Its fatalistic narratives were both stirring and flawlessly transferred on stage. (Ruta Maya, midnight) -- Andy Langer

RECKLESS KELLY: Since 1997, Reckless Kelly has delighted audiences here in hometown Austin and nationwide with their driving brand of rockin' country. Their music is full of sleek harmonies, ringing electric guitars, and lyrics that reflect life beyond the band members' relatively young age. (Austin Music Hall, midnight) -- Jim Caligiuri

BOTTLE ROCKETS: The Bottle Rockets did it. The pride of Festus, Mo., plays tribute to the late patron saint of Cosmic Cowboys, Sir Doug Sahm, with their brand spankin' new Songs of Sahm (Bloodshot). It's a little like the Bottle Rockets --sloppy, spirited, and joyous from start to finish -- and a lot like Sahm. In other words, it's damn near perfect. (Mother Egan's, midnight) -- Michael Bertin

BASTARD SONS OF JOHNNY CASH: It's been a busy year for these neo-honky-tonkers: They (re)released their debut CD, Walk Alone, and in addition to having just wrapped their winter tour, there's talk of a new album in the fall. Until then, we're all just waiting for the Man in Black to claim his musical spawn. (Broken Spoke, midnight) -- Melanie Haupt

HIGH ON FIRE: Though Monster Magnet, Fu Manchu, and QOTSA get all the press, it was Sleep who kicked off the stoner rock stampede. Sleep axeman Matt Pike keeps the bong proudly in tow with SF's High on Fire, whose upcoming Relapse Records disc comes on the heels of 2000's The Art of Self-Defense, which crossed Sabbath with the Melvins to create a hash-encrusted apocalypse. (Emo's, midnight) -- Michael Chamy

JERRY CANTRELL: Jerry Cantrell's second solo album, Degradation Trip, suggests you can take the guitarist out of Alice in Chains, but not Alice in Chains out of the guitarist. AIC's influence on nü-metallurgists makes that paradox a welcome return. Equally impressive are bassist Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies) and drummer Mike Bordin (Faith No More). (Stubb's, midnight) -- Andy Langer

ANTI POP CONSORTIUM: Handling hip-hop with aggressive discontent has lent APC a unique sound that's sometimes dark, usually rough, and always different. Based mainly on prose and literary content, Beans, Priest, and M. Sayyid, form a bizarre musical statement that rebels against the stale state of pop. In 2001, they opened for Radiohead in Europe and were hailed as a group that's "grandly poetic, perversely abstract, and straight-up-street," by Time magazine. (La Zona Rosa, midnight) -- Christopher Coletti

JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY: Having completed the crossover from Austin's jazz rooms to its hippie-jam-band-dives and back again, Tulsa's Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey are always welcome guests in any venue in Austin. Having sharpened their chops for a recent tour with Charlie Hunter, this trio will no doubt be in high form for this showcase. (Vibe, 12:30am) -- Christopher Hess

TEYE & VIVA EL FLAMENCO: Born in the Netherlands, and coming to Austin via London and Paris, guitarist extraordinaire Teye has flamencoed with Bruce Springsteen, Dwight Yoakam, Rosie Flores, David Lindley, Rick Trevino, Roseanne Cash, and Lyle Lovett. In their fourth consecutive SXSW appearance, Viva El Flamenco plays songs from their 1999 debut Viva el Flamenco! (Clay Pit, 1am) -- David Lynch

SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER: These young CenTexans emerged from the contemporary Christian scene to open for 10,000 Maniacs in 1994, paving their way to stardom with the sweet imperative "Kiss Me" and an ever-so-poignant cover of the La's "There She Goes." In 2001, songbird Leigh Nash could be heard on Delerium's single "Innocente (Falling in Love)," but the promised Sixpence LP has failed to materialize. (Steamboat, 1am) -- Melanie Haupt

THE SADIES: Fronted by brothers Travis and Dallas Good, Canada's answer to Austin's Death Valley are equally adept at pulling off Ennio Morricone as they are Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, because, well, it's about the same thing. With three Bloodshot discs under their belts, they take the surf out of surf punk and replace it with tumbleweeds. (BD Riley's, 1am) -- Michael Bertin

SLOBBERBONE: You've reached the pinnacle of success when Stephen King lauds your work in his latest magnum opus of horror. The book in question is Black House, and the song in question is "Gimme Back My Dog," off of the 'bone's 2000 release, Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today (New West). When you're a small-time alt.country band from Denton, Texas, this is praise worthy of a press release. (Mercury, 1am) -- Melanie Haupt

DASH: It's just Dash now -- you can leave the "Rip Rock" part with the Nineties. The new, improved Dash is still an explosive trio with plenty of history behind them and more to come (watch for their upcoming album Sonic Boom). Whatever you used to expect from the New Orleans-based band, they've still got it and it's better than ever. (Hard Rock Cafe, 1am) -- Margaret Moser

JEFF HUGHES & CHAPARRAL: It'll be hard for Jeff Hughes to top last year's Head for Cover, a collection of countrified classic rock songs like AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and Roxy Music's "More Than This." Since Hughes is clocking in at one album every three years, be prepared to hear some real country-rawk. (Broken Spoke, 1am) -- Melanie Haupt

JIM LAUDERDALE: One of Nashville's best songwriters and a charismatic performer, Jim Lauderdale is releasing two discs on Dualtone in May. One, Lost in the Lonesome Pines, will be his second collaboration of mountain music with Ralph Stanley. The other, Hummingbird, is an album that was rejected by RCA a couple of years back and has never been released. (Gingerman, 1am) -- Jim Caligiuri

SUPERSUCKERS: Whether opening for the Ramones or backing Willie Nelson on The Tonight Show, the Supersuckers' twang and punk fusion has resulted in 14 years of stellar shows. After a long run on Sub Pop and a short stop on Koch, the Seattle quartet formed its own Mid-Fi Recordings in 2001, and recently released Must've Been Live, a guest-studded compendium recorded live in Austin, Dallas, and San Diego. (Metro, 1am) -- Greg Beets

WACO BROTHERS: One great reason to attend SXSW, Chicago's Waco Brothers put on an ass-kicking set with their branded style of Celtic Clash-fueled twang rock in venues ranging from stages to alleys. Mandatory stop for first timers. (Mother Egan's, 1am) -- David Lynch

SONS OF HERCULES: The Alamo City's garage punk kings push all the right buttons -- MC5, Stooges, and Radio Birdman -- with their stellar performances. Towering over the crowd like a punk version of Spurs great Billy Paultz, vocalist Frank Pugliese is a stage veteran whose band the Vamps opened for the Sex Pistols in 1978. (Red Room, 1am) -- Greg Beets

TITO & TARANTULA: When he's not paying his Actor's Guild dues, ex-Cruzado/Plugz frontman Tito Larriva and monster slide guitarist Peter Atanasoff are throwing down big-bottom border rock to make Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk 'Til Dawn look like a comedy. Their third LP, Andalucia, remains import-only. (Continental Club, 1am) -- Raoul Hernandez

PONG: Concurrently retro and futuristic, and blessed with four vocalists, Pong is one of Austin's best outfits, proof found on last year's Woodeye debut, Killer Lifestyle. They live on a planet populated by Mouse on Mars, Kool Keith, Kraftwerk, Black Sabbath, Beach Boys, Brian Eno, Can, and the Minutemen. Wacky and dangerous. (District Bar & Grill, 1am) -- David Lynch