I just got back from SXSW. I went to a Colombian showcase. Very good, all in all. i saw a band from Cali. Herencia de Timbiqui, marimba, tambor, sax, trumpet, guitar, drums, keyboard two vocalists. They played a driving, beat intense music. Colombian ryhthms, with Andean and Pacific influence. Bambuco, jazz, funk, timba, covered by relentless hipness. Great music brought to a much larger audience by SXSW.
Another band in the showcase was the group Skampida. A Ska- Rock band with rap. Everything hard and fast. Great. Enjoyable.
Third band was De Juepuchas. Electronica, and really the first time I have seen this live, I am 52 and this was impressed. The crowd loved it and and it was a great act. The 4th was Estados Alterados, they had the look of a hard, punky, thrash band but played more like latin pop rock. I didn't like them so much, but the crowd ate them up.
SXSW is a super experience, tons of people, more bands every year, lots of free and open concerts, music from all over the world. Austin has become this music mecca, I have lived here for 25 years and tend to take music for granted.
Come to Austin and take it in. There is Burning Man, all kinds of other music festivals. I want to go to the vallenata festival in Valledupar, Colombia. What kind of music do you like? Where would your music scene be? Let us know. Your're always invited to austin. If you are in Austin for SXSW, drop me a line. I will be seeing Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Fitz and the Tantrums, and the Black Angels. What are your favorite bands and why? I like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cibbo Matto, James Cotton, Tehlonious Monk, Binomio de Oro, and a lot more. Tell me what you like.