Kevin Bronson on March 7th, 2019

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The 1,000th annual South by Southwest Music Festival, which features 1 million bands at 10,000 venues attracting 10 million people who will take about 10 trillion steps, descends on Austin next week. About three-quarters of the 5 million musicians in Los Angeles will be there. We exaggerate, of course. But we’ve been there, and that’s what it seems like.

If you’re not from Los Angeles, you probably are familiar with a lot of marquee names playing SXSW. Below, I’ve picked 10 artists who make L.A. their home base whom you may not know, or who are starting next chapters in their careers. But first, here’s Buzz Bands LA’s 50-song SXSW x LA Spotify playlist:

Here are 10 artists playing official SXSW showcases next week:

ROSS GOLAN (performing “The Wrong Man”)

Ross Golan by Matty Vogel

Ross Golan, the Chicago native who fronted his own bands in the 2000s and went on to become a multi-platinum songwriter, host of the podcast “And The Writer Is …” and an advocate who helped get the Music Modernization Act passed, has a passion project. It’s an underground musical/concept album titled “The Wrong Man,” a song cycle telling the story of a man framed for murder (in Reno, no less). We first saw it when he was workshopping the songs at living room shows, and five years ago it was produced onstage at the Skylight Theatre. It will be released by Interscope as an album this year. While Golan’s credits include writing songs for the likes of Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Lady Antebellum, Michael Bublé, Keith Urban, Ariana Grande, One Direction, Nelly, Meghan Trainor, Cee Lo Green, Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat, James Blunt and a host of others, “The Wrong Man” is on another level. And aside from being a featured speaker and doing a podcast episode at SXSW, he’ll be performing “The Wrong Man” … in a church. There’s no music to be streamed yet, and Golan might punch us if we shared the living room bootleg we have, but suffice to say: Not to be missed.
■ 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Central Presbyterian Church.

SEGO

Sego by Marcello Ambriz

Art-punk disruptors Sego release their second album “Sego Sucks” on April 5, and if “Neon Me Out” doesn’t run contrary to the tsunami of sameness that washes over Austin every March, then nothing does. 
■ Pick one of their five dates in Austin here.

SASAMI

SASAMI by Alice Baxley

Sasami Ashworth’s capitalized debut “SASAMI” is one of no fewer than 25 rock albums from L.A. artists released in the first quarter of 2019, most of which range from good to great (and most of which, it’s been pointed out to us, comes from female or female-fronted bands). Ashworth’s is groovy mopery, starkly honest and brimming with the charisma of an artist who cut her teeth as a music teacher and as the keyboardist in Cherry Glazerr.
■ Pick one of her two scheduled Austin dates here.

MARA CONNOR

Mara Connor by Schuyler Howie

Mara Connor’s irresistible “No Fun” was Buzz Bands LA’s 2018 song of the year, a strings-swept throwback to girl-group pop that’s just modern (and coy) enough to belong in current times. There’s more where that came from — her in-the-works album features guest turns from Langhorne Slim and Joseph Arthur, for instance.
■ 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at 18th Over Austin.

FINNEAS

Finneas by Jessica Hanley

Billie Eilish’s big brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell has all the makings of a pop star in his own right — he’s already released about an album’s worth of singles. He’s talked of an album coming later this year (but first there is his sister’s “When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” coming March 29). Catch him melting some Austin hearts, the same way he did recently at the Troubadour.
■ 9 p.m. Saturday, march 16, at Uber Eats House (right before his sister’s set).

POTTY MOUTH

Potty Mouth by Nazrin Massaro

Potty Mouth may not be new, but “SNAFU,” the just-released album from the L.A.-via-Massachusettes trio makes them sound that way. It’s given us “Starry Eyes.” If you witnessed Potty Mouth tearing Austin to pieces in, say, 2014, you might want to look in on them again.
■ Select from two shows, March 13 and March 15.   

CRIMINAL HYGIENE

Criminal Hygiene by Cara Robbins

Ditto for these guys. Criminal Hygiene first lugged their gear down 6th Street in Austin in 2013, but their new album “Run It Again” finds them at a new level conceptually and musically. Rockists longing for the smart (and smart-assed) indie of the 1980s and ’90s (especially the Replacements and their Minneapolis brethren) will have some young heroes to watch shred. They’ll still carry their own gear, of course.
■ 11:45 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Barracuda Backyard.

ROSIE TUCKER

Rosie Tucker by Shabnam Ferdowsi

Rosie Tucker (Gypsum) steps into the limelight this week with the release of their solo album, “Never Not Never Not Never Not.” It’s truly unfussy indie-rock — playful and witty at times and starkly frank at others. And frankly, it’s as endearing as hell.
■ 11 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at Cheer Up Charlies.

DONNA MISSAL

Donna Missal by Samuel C. Ware

Of the 1,700 official showcasing artists at SXSW, we’re pretty sure 1,600 of them are pop singers. Donna Missal, who released her album “This Time” last fall and wowed everybody during an opening slot in November at the Fonda, is one we’d detour for. File under the rare occasions in producer-driven pop where the sonic assault and effects don’t completely obliterate an artist’s grasp of nuance.
■ Catch her at one of two dates, Wednesday, March 13, or Thursday, March 14.

PABLO DYLAN

Pablo Dylan by Tyson Lindo

Yes, he’s Bob’s grandson and, yes, for a time when Pablo Dylan was in his teens he rapped, produced and worked with the likes of Erykah Badu, ASAP Rocky, OG Maco, D.R.A.M. and Brent Faiyaz. His just-released EP “The Finest Somersault” sounds like none of that; he’s started over and, guitar in hand, found his identity in shambling, quick-witted folk-rock. 
■ 8 p.m. Saturday, Mrch 16, at Esther’s Follies.

And here’s a list of all SoCal artists with official SXSW showcases, culled from the festival’s website. (Others will be in Austin to perform, of course, at unofficial day parties and such.) Have fun:

6Blocc (Los Angeles, CA)
Adam Melchor (Los Angeles, CA)
Adrian Jean (Los Angeles, CA)
Alih Jey & Cuñao (Los Angeles, CA)
AzSwaye (Los Angeles, CA)
Balto (Los Angeles, CA)
Bane’s World (Long Beach, CA)
Bedouine (Los Angeles, CA)
Beshken (Los Angeles, CA)
Big $wift (Downey, CA)
Biggie Babylon (San Diego, CA)
Billie Eilish (Los Angeles, CA)
Bizkit w/ Butta On the Keytar (Los Angeles, CA)
Bizou (Los Angeles, CA)
Black Needle Noise (Los Angeles, CA)
BLANG (Orange County, CA)
The Blank Tapes (Los Angeles, CA)
Blushh (Los Angeles, CA)
BOGL (Los Angeles, CA)
Castle (Joshua Tree, CA)
Catastrophie (Los Angeles, CA)
Cayucas (Los Angeles, CA)
Ceci G (Los Angeles, CA)
Chelsea Williams (Los Angeles, CA)
Cherry Glazerr (Los Angeles, CA)
Chief Boima (Los Angeles, CA)
Claire George (Los Angeles, CA)
Cones (Los Angeles, CA)
Cosmic Botanica (Los Angeles, CA)
Criminal Hygiene (Los Angeles, CA)
Cuco (Hawthorne, CA)
Cypress Moreno (Los Angeles, CA)
D Savage (Gardena, CA)
Danni Cassette (Los Angeles, CA)
Darko (Los Angeles, CA)
Dear Boy (Los Angeles, CA)
DEATHCHANT (Los Angeles, CA)
DEVMO (Santa Monica, CA)
Die Group (Los Angeles, CA)
DJ Kay Cali (Los Angeles, CA)
DJ Osh Kosh (Los Angeles, CA)
Donna Missal (Los Angeles, CA)
Drab Majesty (Los Angeles, CA)
Drinker (Los Angeles, CA)
Ella Vos (Los Angeles, CA)
El Mañana (Los Angeles, CA)
Esbie Fonte (Los Angeles, CA)
Feefa (Los Angeles, CA)
Field Trip (Los Angeles, CA)
Finneas (Los Angeles, CA)
Flavia (Los Angeles, CA)
Flinch (Los Angeles, CA)
Frankie and the Witch Fingers (Los Angeles, CA)
French Vanilla (Los Angeles, CA)
Fooly Faime (Los Angeles, CA)
General Smiley & Lakandon (Los Angeles, CA)
Geno Cochino (Los Angeles, CA)
Ginger Root (Los Angeles, CA)
Gold Cage (Los Angeles, CA)
H2the (Los Angeles, CA)
Holy Boy / Helene Alexandra Jæger (Los Angeles, CA)
House of Wolves (Los Angeles, CA)
Illuminati Hotties (Los Angeles, CA)
I’m Glad It’s You (Redlands, CA)
Izaak Opatz (Los Angeles, CA)
Jackie Cohen (Los Angeles CA)
Jackie Mendoza (San Diego, CA)
JAG (Los Angeles, CA)
Jamie Drake (Los Angeles, CA)
Jason Hawk Harris (Los Angeles, CA)
Jerry Paper (Los Angeles, CA)
Jess Williamson (Los Angeles, CA)
June’s Diary (Los Angeles, CA)
Kalan.frfr (Los Angeles, CA)
Katzù Oso (Los Angeles, CA)
KeKe Nova (Los Angeles, CA)
Kelly Dean (Los Angeles, CA)
Kemst (Los Angeles, CA)
KOLARS (Los Angeles, CA)
Kxng Crooked (Long Beach, CA)
Late Night Laggers (Los Angeles, CA)
Laura Jean Anderson (Los Angeles, CA)
Liily (Los Angeles, CA)
Lingua Ignota (San Diego, CA)
LIZZO (Los Angeles, CA)
Lola Kirke (Los Angeles, CA)
Lomelda (Los Angeles, CA)
MAAD (Los Angeles, CA)
Madge (Los Angeles, CA)
Madison Cunningham (Orange County, CA)
Mamalarky (Los Angeles, CA)
Mara Connor (Los Angeles, CA)
Mary Lattimore (Los Angeles, CA)
Mexico City Blondes (Santa Barbara, CA)
Mike Krol (Los Angeles, CA)
Miki Ratsula (Santa Ana, CA)
MIKNNA (Los Angeles, CA)
Missions (Los Angeles, CA)
Miya Folick (Los Angeles, CA)
Mom and the Mailman (Long Beach, CA)
Morgxn (Los Angeles, CA)
Naomi Wild (Los Angeles, CA)
Natia (North Inglewood, CA)
Nick Leng (Los Angeles, CA)
The Night Thief (Los Angeles, CA)
NO WIN (Los Angeles, CA)
Noa James (San Bernardino, CA)
Nsimbi (Los Angeles, CA)
Numb.er (Los Angeles, CA)
Oh Sees (Los Angeles, CA)
Ohtis (Los Angeles, CA)
Olmeca (Los Angeles, CA)
Open Mike Eagle (Los Angeles, CA)
Pablo Dylan (Los Angeles, CA)
The Pantones (Los Angeles, CA)
Pedro (Los Angeles, CA)
Photo Ops (Los Angeles, CA)
Pinky Pinky (Los Angeles, CA)
Pioneer 11 (Los Angeles, CA)
Piper Madison (Los Angeles, CA)
Polyplastic (Los Angeles, CA)
Potty Mouth (Los Angeles, CA)
Private Island (Los Angeles, CA)
Profligate (Los Angeles, CA)
Rainstorm Brother (Los Angeles, CA)
Ratchetón (Los Angeles, CA)
The Red Pears (El Monte, CA)
The Rembrandts (Los Angeles, CA)
Reyna Tropical (Los Angeles, CA)
Rhys Langston (Los Angeles, CA)
Robot Koch (Los Angeles, CA)
Robot Nature (Los Angeles, CA)
Rosie Tucker (Los Angeles, CA)
Ross Golan’s The Wrong Man (Los Angeles, CA)
Rucci (Inglewood, CA)
Run River North (Los Angeles, CA)
Sam Morrow (Los Angeles, CA)
SASAMI (Los Angeles, CA)
Saviii 3rd (Long Beach, CA)
Sego (Los Angeles, CA)
Shelita Burke (Los Angeles CA)
Sir Sly (Los Angeles, CA)
Soft Streak (Los Angeles, CA)
Spendtime Palace (Costa Mesa, CA)
Steady Holiday (Los Angeles, CA)
The Stitches (Los Angeles, CA)
$tupid Young (Long Beach, CA)
TarantisT (Los Angeles, CA)
Tennis System (Los Angeles, CA)
Terminal A (Los Angeles, CA)
Thee Idylls (Los Angeles, CA)
Thumpasaurus (Los Angeles, CA)
Tiana Kocher (Los Angeles, CA)
Tim Atlas (Los Angeles, CA)
U5 (Unknown Five) & DJ Akio (Los Angeles, CA)
Virgin Pool (Los Angeles, CA)
VOILÀ (Los Angeles, CA)
Voz De Mando (Anaheim, CA)
Wand (Los Angeles, CA)
Warm Drag (Los Angeles, CA)
Worn-Tin (Los Angeles, CA)
Yoshi Flower (Los Angeles, CA)
Your Smith (Los Angeles, CA)