VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Who are they? Buoyed by bloggers, "SNL" and Spin magazine ("best new band of the year"), the ska-lite indie-rock quartet from Columbia University has seen almost as much hype as Barack Obama.
How were they at SXSW? Given the mega-buzz, they fell relatively flat at Spin's afternoon party, coming off as one-note and repetitive. "A-Punk" had the crowd singing, but for such a dance-oriented band, there was little movement. Or maybe it was just the stiff SXSW crowd.
When's their local gig? 9 p.m. Thu., Triple Rock, sold out weeks ago.
TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
Who are they? Young, classic-styled, T-shirt-wearing punk quartet from Cheney territory (Wyoming).
How were they at SXSW? Their straight-ahead, earnest, blue-collar punk was a refreshing break from all the hipster buzz bands. They took the Ramones' rapid 1-2-3-4 approach so seriously, they may have been the first SXSW act ever to finish the standard 45-minute set early.
When's their gig? 5 and 9 p.m. today, Triple Rock. $8.
YEASAYER
Who are they? Experimental, David Byrne-copping worldbeat-gone-digi-punk band from Brooklyn's trend-setting scene. They opened for MGMT on its first tour this winter.
How were they at SXSW? The quintet's whirring instrumentation and jumbled rhythms sounded like a lot of noise for noise's sake, and the songs' hooks never showed themselves (even Byrne's most tribal stuff still had hooks).
