Thursday Night SXSW Showcases

Don Giovanni Records

New Jersey continues its reign as America's most underrated state while simultaneously blessing us all with the musical treasure of Don Giovanni Records. Toting an affinity for Tri-state noise, this year's showcase glimpses into the underground scene of the Northeast. Katie Crutchfield's beloved Philly-based solo project, Waxahatchee, returns following last year's ACL Fest, anchoring the lineup with her intimate, lo-fi bedroom recordings-turned-full band catalog. Brooklyn foursome Worriers creates loud, electrified pop-punk throwbacks, while fellow New York quartet Izzy True offers sleepy, summery indie rock. Painted Zeros, also Brooklyn-based, churns out dreamy fuzz-rock, merging haunting pop hooks with anxious guitars; the trio's truly excellent debut Floriography dropped in October 2015, and they've somehow managed to fly under most people's radars since. Anti-folk sensibilities and tongue-in-cheek humor, New York songwriter Mal Blum spins simple, personal narratives as Philly punk duo Pinkwash crushes with abrasive, murky noise.