David Wax Museum, Sat 16 March 2013, Victoria Room at Driscoll's, SXSW2013

David Wax Museum featured our first sighting of the donkey jaw onstage at SXSW, a percussion treat that is too often overlooked. 

They played some great rousing tunes, with snatches of Spanish and Mexican rhythms and melodies, and made a big sound for the four of them. The band got some very tired feet dancing at close to 2am on the last night of SXSW, which is no mean feat, and really rocked at points, finishing with an brilliant Born With A Broken Heart.

Ron Sexsmith, Sat 16 March 2013, Victoria Room at the Driscoll, SXSW2013

Ron played a handful of songs off his new album, including a lovely version of If Only Avenue, and some older songs. He seemed to enjoy playing in the intimate setting to an attentive crowd who were holding up well after dozens and dozens of sets, and he said he'd played a difficult showcase yesterday. It was a lovely set and a good penultimate show of the SXSW.

Haim, Sat 16 March 2013, Stubbs, SXSW 2013

Dressed in black leathers and with sisterly harmonies, Haim rocked out like a modern Thin Lizzy. They brought to mind great girl rock groups, from the Blackhearts to the Go-Gos and wouldn't have sounded out of place on a John Hughes soundtrack.

During the set they threw out a good mix of sounds and dynamics and had great audience interaction, proving particularly popular with the girls in the audience. They closed with a Stomp-style drumming barrage which was pretty awesome.

Small Black, Sat 16 March 2013, Stubbs, SXSW 2013

The band looked very relieved after repeated technical difficulties during the sound check were resolved and they launched straight into their set. They played fun, upbeat, late-night electropop, like a New York New Order with more breathy vocals.

Delicate Steve, Stages on Sixth, Austin Tx, March 16 2013

Research as much as you like, some of the real gems of SXSW are the unexpected discoveries. This set was jaw dropping. Like a twisted New Power Generation playing the solos in Paranoid Android or Steve Vai, this band played a largely instrumental set. The rock-jazz-funk had chemical elements and left us wondering how a band like this had developed its sound, or even met like minded fellow musicians.

Leagues, 16 March 2013, Paste Party 2013

Leagues channeled funk and the spirit of disco, saying 'It's music to make you feel good, so let's feel good together.'

With a nod towards Scissor Sisters or the Red Hot Chilli Peppers more melodic moments, Leagues played early-80s style disco funk and the singer was a great everyman frontman. The made the kind of sounds Freddie Mercury might have headed towards with Queen after Another One Bites the Dust or the Pet Shop Boys with more passionate vocals.

The band do not look like they sound, or like they've ever been to Nashville, let alone that they come from there. But they were great, like Elbow mixing with The Gossip. They even played with two basses at point (literally double bass playing), which was brilliant.

Field Report, 16 March 2013, Paste Party 2013

The set opened by 'taking it to church' with a re-written version of one of their own songs, which they had tweaked for a gospel group. The band sounded like a Wisconsin Elbow, with swooping vocals, atmospheric country guitars and cinematic key boards. The drummer was an accomplished musician, doubling up on violin and banjo. The slower songs carried the DNA of Don Henley's Age of Innocence. The lyrics brought Springsteen-esque tales of kitchen sink love, loss and hard times, delivered with the passion of Glen Hansard.

Eric Burdon, 16 March 2013, Paste Party 2013

Eric Burdon, 16 March 2013, Paste Party, Stages on Sixth, SXSW 2013

It isn't often you get to see an artist and performer of this quality and musical importance on the tiny corner stage of a bar in broad daylight. Eric Burdon and his band packed out the venue to an excitable crowd who were even applauding the sound check.

Still a lively, energetic performer backed by a high caliber band, this set mixed material from the new album with classics. The songs were tight, as was the 30 minute slot. Eric and band closed with roof raising versions of Black Dog and House of the Rising Sun which left the audience shouting out for more. Before House..., the bassist had begun We Gotta Get Out..., but Eric signalled for him to stop and switched the band to a rip-roaring version of 'the shortest song I've recorded', beginning with a changed melody and ending like a possessed preacher.

Social Studies, 16 March 2013, Paste Party 2013

A lively, enjoyable set. This bouncey act was keyboard led and featured Eagles-esque guitar and echoey female vocals. The funky drumline added a good up tempo atmosphere.

Generationals, 16 March 2013, Paste Party 2013

Bouncy power pop from New Orleans leaning towards Teenage Fanclub, Nick Lowe and Velvet Crush, with funky, bouncy keyboards. The band were friendly, polite and cheery.

They had really well developed texture and style, and their tunes sounded different from one another. They played a number of new songs as they have a album coming out. These sounded good, well rehearsed and the band went down well with the crowd which included a fair few fans and also some new converts.