South By Southwest: otherwise known as ten nights of sheer insanity. 

Between the film festival, tech conference, and music shows on any spare corner of 6th Street, SXSW is a nonstop frenzy of excitement and stimulation.

My focus, of course, was on the music. Some favorites included Raye Zaragoza; an award-winning Native American singer-songwriter with powerful protest songs.

Then there was The Dearly Beloved who played a kick-ass garage rock set before Andrew W.K.

Cut Worms (a.k.a Max Clarke) swooned the crowd with his compelling vulnerability, not unlike Harry Nilsson or Buddy Holly.

Partner, arguably the most fun band I saw (twice), is a duo of goofball stoners from Ontario with contagiously energetic pop-rock bangers.

And finally, White Mystery, the sibling duo hailing from Chicago, were pure, unbridled DIY rock’n’roll. Amidst the chaos and commotion of SXSW, it never fails to crack open a Lone Star and get lost in a show.