Thousands of bands and their supporters, promoters and admirers have descended on Austin, Texas. It’s a welcome sensory overload and there’s no way to keep track of everything—it would be like knowing what’s on all 180 channels of cable at the same time. You pick your spots, do your research and keep an open mind.

Here are a few bands that made a great impression, we expect you’ll be hearing from them again soon:

Austra. This synthpop band from Toronto keeps getting more assured. Terrific vocals and 80s dance beats make them irresistible.

Feathers. A young Austin band with driving beats and a infectious vocals. As they mature they’ll get even more polished, and we expect, more widely known.

Gliss. An LA band with his and her vocals, driving bass lines. Unabashed glam pop that moves. 

Camper Van Beethoven. It’s a time for new discoveries but we just have to say a word about these old favorites. If they were once slackers they now come across as resident wise men and, most importantly, they still sound great.

Listen to these bands and more from SXSW 2013
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