As I took on my second SXSW week of music mania in Austin, Texas, this past week, I couldn’t help but think that the behemoth of a festival seemed bigger than ever. Lines were longer, shows were more packed, and getting into shows was nearly impossible, even for those with so-called “press/photo passes.” Anyway, my 6 days of running around SXSW left me feeling one overriding emotion in particular: humbleness. Waiting in lines with other fans, getting denied at the door despite having “credentials,” etc, etc. It was hardly like the previous SXSW I’d attended (27 bands this year, versus 57 the year prior), but after a day or so of frustration, I decided to take SXSW for what it was originally intended for: enjoying music and discovering new bands. And discover I did! Some new (to me) bands that are now stuck on repeat on my Spotify playlists include: Palma Violets, Savages, Haim, Parquet Courts, NO, Feathers, Atlas Genius, and CHVRCHES. Other bands I’d known of but particularly enjoyed their live sets at SXSW this year were Bass Drum of Death, Solange, Tegan and Sara, and The Black Lips. Anyway, til next time, SX!

Check out complete photo coverage of SXSW 2013 on Prefix Magazine; photos by myself and Andy Pareti.

SXSW Monday (Portugal. The Man, Marmalakes, Passion Pit)

SXSW Tuesday (Macklemore, Atlas Genius, Tegan and Sara, Divine Fits)

SXSW Wednesday (Earl Sweatshirt, Wavves, Besnard Lakes)

SXSW Thursday (Sharon Jones, Toro y Moi, !!!)

SXSW Friday (Kendrick Lamar, Palma Violets, Alt-J, Usher)

SXSW Saturday (Vampire Weekend, Black Lips, Trinidad James)