Kevin Bronson on March 15th, 2013

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[File under Gettin’ an Ass-Whuppin’ in Austin …]

The 2013 South by Southwest Music Festival is proving increasingly difficult for those who like to engage in show-hopping – long lines, even for badge-holders, mean time spent waiting instead of exploring. For instance, if you wanted to see Frightened Rabbit (10:05 p.m.) or Alt-J (11:10) on Thursday night, you would have needed to be at the Belmont by 8 because the venue was already full of fans eager to see the Flaming Lips (12:15). So Thursday turned out to be a day to discover some newbies, with some home cookin’ at the end.

An explosive, soulful set from L.A.’s PAPA [left] led into an even more bruising outing from London’s Palma Violets at the Mohawk, with the quartet’s frontmen Chilli Jesson and Sam Fryer trading shout-sung vocals and wicked licks over wonky organ and furious drumming to forge a sound that recalls a lot of our U.K. favorites. (We thought the Cribs-meets-Clinic, but Arctic Monkeys, the Libertines and the Clash have all been mentioned in comparisons.) Whatever, it’s bass-in-your-face garage-rock, indie for dank clubs where things randomly fly through the air. Signed to Rough Trade Records, their album “180” hits the U.S. next week. Mark us down for one, please.

More from the U.K. …

After a seizure-inducing set from Brooklyn four-piece Hunters at Cedar Street Courtyard, London quintet TOY followed with a propulsive set of psych-rock. Where are we, on the eighth wave of shoegazers now? No matter, TOY’s wonderfully harmonized guitars, countered by synth that is sometimes melodic and sometimes off-kilter, made for the kind of gloriously atmospheric noise that might appeal to fans who find the Horrors a bit inscrutable. Between frontman Tom Dougall, guitarist Dominic O’Dair and bassist Panda Barron and keyboardist Aljandra Diez, there was a lot of hair flying around onstage; TOY’s galloping beats had a lot to do with that.

Also notable …

Always have Plans B and C at South by Southwest. After being turned away at a couple other venues with oppressive lines, I found myself at the Iron Bear for Sizaar (say “see-czar”), a trio from Landau, Germany. They go by Deaf Sty, P-Money and Gora Sou, and their brand of indie eclecticism was arresting – Sty’s boozy vocals doing straight-up R&B one minute, and wailing over intricate rhythms and synths the next, all with detached cool. Impossible to pigeonhole but almost equally hard to ignore.

Locals only …

After dodging heavy-metal riffs from outdoor stages and inhaling the sweet scent of hip-hop on the sidewalk outside of the also-impenetrable Rusty’s, I opted to close the night with some familiar voices, even if it meant negotiating the line at the Mohawk. Cold War Kids [above] and Local Natives closed out the big stage at the Paradigm showcase, the new songs from each L.A. quintet sounding great from the seats in the upper tiers of the venue. The Kids’ songs from the forthcoming “Dear Miss Lonelyhearts” (due April 2) got a strong reception.

Austin, strings attached

Up and down 6th Street, street performers of all stripes give impromptu performances. Amid makeshift metal bands with their portable P.A.’s, jugglers, dancers and roaming marching bands, there was Charly and Margaux.

Random images

Did we mention lines?

They seem to be everywhere this week in Austin (including at our Buzz Bands LA party): Cayucas, playing the Radio Day stage on an afternoon presented by KCSN-FM.