Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women: L.A. roots-rocker and all-star band honored his late best friend Chris Gaffney with roadhouse fire, Cajun zeal and honky-tonk sensitivity.
Austin Music Awards: The Dicks, Alejandro Escovedo, the Fireants, Roky Erickson and the Black Angels bridged past and present at the Austin music scene's annual pat on the back.
Echo & the Bunnymen: Ageless Liverpudlians' shimmering post-punk psychedelia melted SXSW fatigue into the warm March air.
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears: Texas' new king of R&B broke out in a big way with gospel grunts, a Stax-steeped sound and a badass band.
Finally, as seen here and here, the carnival of humanity crowding the streets of Austin during SXSW can be as entertaining as any showcase.
See ya next year, SXSW...
