Felice Brothers, J Mascis, Bobby Long and Caitlin Rose, Radio Day Stage, Convention Centre, Friday 18th March, Austin, TX (SXSW)

Alternative folk rock and lively performers, though the sound mix was a bit clattering. The third song morphed into slightly Elton-John-esque driving piano rock. The songs after that were a bit more brooding and melancholic, until they ended with a foot-tapping hoe-down of a tune.

J Mascis mainly played songs from his new album. As is his wont recently, he played an acoustic with a pickup, linked up to pdeals, giving distortion, delay, loops etc.  He played two straight off from the new album, opening with 'Listen to Me'. He was, for him, pretty chatty. He talked about the tapes the band used to play on the tour bus, with Morph having the Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. He said initially he couldn't stand it, then realised it was OK and eventually began to like it. He then played a cover of Brickell's 'Circle', which was excellent, if much rawer than the original.

Bobby Long wasn't  ground-breaking, but good nonetheless, and the set was enjoyably soothing in the middle of a hectic SXSW day.

Caitlin Rose showed one of hazards of SXSW: 'I just dropped my pick in my beer. And I was so thirsty', which was sweet, and showed she was very personable, even if her chat was hardly extensive. She played alt-ish country, reminiscent of Whiskeytown or AM-era Wilco. She had a lovely voice, backed by sympathetic playing and was really appreciated by the small-ish audience.