SXSW 2010 do's and don'ts

Who do you like/not like at SXSW this year? Here are my thoughts...

Must see
These bands aren't a secret anymore, but they're still rising stars. They've paid their dues and are no longer "up-and-coming," so don't be discouraged if there's a long line to get in.

Neon Indian
Miike Snow
She & Him
The xx
Broken Bells (Danger Mouse and James Mercer)
Sharon Jones & the Dapkings
Broken Social Scene
Midlake
Surfer Blood
Major Lazer
Jakob Dylan with Neko Case
Frightened Rabbit
Matt Braunger (comedian)

Too old for SXSW
There are always a few old-timers mixed in at SXSW (some are there as keynote speakers), but don't waste too much time seeing your favorite band. There are too many new bands to see! If you're looking for headliners, you'd be better off going to Coachella.

Hole
Stone Temple Pilots
Smokey Robinson
Motörhead
GZA
DJ Quik
Ozomatli

Sleeper shows
Here are a few diamonds picked out of the rough. They're lesser-known groups that you might not know about yet. Don't sleep on these shows!

The Ruby Suns
We Were Promised Jetpacks
XV
Das Racist
Sleepy Sun
The Wooden Birds
Seabear
Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore
Fanfarlo
Letting Up Despite Great Faults
Joshua James
Free Energy
The Spring Standards
Matt Pond PA
El Ten Eleven
Zeus
Obi Best

Best/worst band names
Ever since "...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead" raised the bar, it takes a pretty ridiculous name these days to catch our attention. I'm not even sure if all of these groups are good, but their names stand out.

Follow That Bird!
Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger!
dd/mm/yyyy
Happy Birthday
Shout Out Out Out Out
CHLLNGR
Holy Fuck
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Everthing Everything
Casxio
Holy Ghost!
Murder By Death