Kevin Bronson on March 14th, 2011

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[Third of a 5-part series previewing Los Angeles acts headed to Austin to play SXSW:]

HANDS

If you like: Tough-to-Google band names, nifty use of samples, drama.
What’s up with them: It’s no accident Hands have scored some prime gigs opening for big acts – the latest being Saturday night with DeVotchKa. Their sweeping, beat-addled mix of rock and electro has captured plenty of attention, and in recent weeks they’ve been recording tracks for an as-yet-untitled album. Bring it on.
Catch them: 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Black & Tan (and 5 other shows).

HANNI EL KHATIB

If you like: The ’50s, the ’60s, shredders, two-piece bands, sock hops in speakeasies.
What’s up with him: Something of a one-man tornado (except live, when he’s joined by drummer Nicky Flemming), El Khatib metes out old-school blues and soul with both ferocity and reverence. We’re rather fond of this interview L.A. Record did with him, and when he played a subterranean space in Venice a few weeks ago, it was like we were time-traveling.
Catch them: 9 p.m. Friday at the Habana Bar (and elsewhere, including 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Buzz Bands LA showcase at Cedar Street Courtyard).

KID INFINITY

If you like: Entering another dimension, entering a dimension electro is played really loud.
What’s up with them: The electro duo of Ryan Pardeiro and Nathan Huber augment their live show with 3D visuals (from Visitech, a research and development firm that was working on the technology for the late Michael Jackson’s last tour) that have to be seen to be believed. We’re bringing our 3D glasses from the last L.A. show.
Catch them: 10 p.m. Thursday at the Gypsy Lounge.

LETTING UP DESPITE GREAT FAULTS

If you like: C86, C86 even if you’re not quite sure what it is, daydreams, waking dreams, dreaming.
What’s up with them: Their self-titled 2009 debut augured nice things for Michael Lee and bandmates, who have new music in the works. A recent live show in L.A. testified that they already have risen above the lo-fi twaddlers.
Catch them: 7:45 p.m. Thursday at the Karma Lounge (and elsewhere, including 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Buzz Bands LA showcase at Cedar Street Courtyard).

LORD HURON

If you like: Any of the -gaze or -wave suffixes floating around these days, Michigan, the tropics, bands whose members look as if they just met for the first time and then stun you with their proficiency.
What’s up with them: Lord Huron is the nom de tune of Ben Schneider, who’s wowed the hipster masses with his islands-meets-the-forest aesthetic and impressed the musical cognoscenti (we don’t count ourselves, but we’ve talked to some) with his compositional prowess. His EPs on Bandcamp give you an idea; if Lord Huron plays in a room where the echo is just so, it can be magical.
Catch him: 11 p.m. Thursday at the Bat Bar.