SXSW Must See List

Today marks the official kick-off of the music portion of the industry-wide schmooze fest of booze, BBQ and bands otherwise known as SXSW. Between officially sanctioned events, the plethora of day parties and a list of bands that rivals the thickness of the phone book of Rhode Island, trying to make heads or tails of your time in Austin is a daunting task. While there are plenty of lists floating around the interwebs when it comes to SXSW, I'm here to give you ten bands that have been given the Hidden Track stamp of approval to go check out, and this one goes to 11.... (Guest post comes courtesy of Jeffrey Greenblatt, Managing Editor of the indie and jam infused music blog Hidden Track - a favorite site of 10 Links a Day)

Today's 10 Links a Day: Hidden Track takes over 10 Links a Day

1. The Hold Steady
   The best bar band in the world, playing probably the biggest block party around.
   
   
2. The Felice Brothers
   I'm so infatuated with The Felice Brothers that I caught five times in '08, if that doesn't convince you to go check them out I don't know what will.
   
   
3. M. Ward
   Last year Matt (that's what the M stands for) was the buzz of the town with She & Him, but he's back this year on his own and is must see.
   
   
4. King Khan & The Shrines
   I've only been told that these garage rock-revivalists are a must see live - with shows often involving nudity.
   
   
5. Blind Pilot
   Probably the act I'm the most excited about checking out, these guys are proving that the Pacific Northwest is the epicenter of music cool again.
   
   
6. J. Tillman
   This drummer from the Fleet Foxes will hopefully start to gain the buzz that his full time band got around this time last year.
   
   
7. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
   Feel good indie-folk-pop from California via DC.
   
   
8. Vetiver
   For a label that was once known as the home of grunge, Sub Pop is pumping out some of the best Americana and folk-infuse acts out there including these guys.
   
   
9. Okkervil River
   What kind of list would this be without a band or two from Austin - Will Sheff & Co. have put out back to back albums that made my best album lists over the last two year.
   
   
10. White Denim
    Another Austin-based act, this band of youngsters are fusing hard rock and psychedelia with angular punk and blues.
    
    
11. The Black Lips
    These guys crank out their take on 1960s pyschedelic garage rock from that they've dubbed Flower Punk.