SXSW Bands from A-Z: I - L

As SXSW gets ever closer, we figured we'd continue being servicey and give you a guide to some of the highlights of the official showcases, alphabet style. Yesterday we gave you E - H, today it's I - L. So here we go: five more awesome bands to see in SXSW's official lineup.

INDIAN JEWELRY

Houston-via-L.A. band Indian Jewelry is comprised of a married couple named Erica and Tex. Tinymixtapes describes their music as existing at this nexus of primitive rock 'n' roll and more high-minded experimentalism; Dusted as a "heady pagan sound forged out of unrelenting drum machines, wilting melodies and psych guitar that makes all the right mistakes." These are both assessments with which we cannot take issue and agree mightily. You can read more about them here in this awesome interview.

When: Wednesday March 16 at 1 am
Where: Soho Lounge
Info: 21+

J MASCIS

J Mascis (who is listed under "J" and not "M" in the official SXSW lineup, as a preemptive FYI) is probably best known as the frontman for the influential 90s rock band Dinosaur Jr. His first solo release on Subpop, Several Shades of Why (due March 15) includes guest performances by such heavyweights as Kurt Vile, Sophie Trudeau (A Silver Mount Zion), Kurt Fedora (long-time collusionist), Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Paulo Zappoli (Black Heart Procession), Matt Valentine (The Golden Road), and Suzanne Thorpe (Wounded Knees); fans of Dinosaur Jr should note that this album and his most recent performances leans towards the acoustic, but will delight in his familiar rangy, ragged, crackling, moving quavery voice.

When: Friday March 18 at 12:10 am
Where: the Red 7 Patio
Info: All Ages

JULIANNA BARWICK

Yes. Her name is Julianna Barwick but she is under "J" in the SXSW schedule so she appears herewith. We've written about Juliana Barwick before and never fail to find peace in her music. Layers of ethereal vocals and sequenced synthesizers overlap and wind around eachother over a smooth aural landscape. It sounds like cotton candy. Or sunlight. Or something equally as magical and pleasant.

When: Thursday March 17 at 8pm
Where: Central Presbyterian Church
Info: All Ages

KENDRICK LAMAR

Kendrick Lamar is an incredible technical rapper who uses poetic aesthetics to convey some pretty brutally raw emotions. His lyrics tend towards the positive and he's a world-class freestyler who can spit bar upon bar upon bar for hours. Read more about him here.

When: Saturday March 19 at 1am
Where: Venue 222
Info: 21+

LA SERA

La Sera is a project of Vivian Girls' Katy Goodman and blends Phil Spector fuzziness with Primitives-style sensibilities for a sound that Pitchfork refers to as lovelorn twee pop. The songs definitely have an airy fragility, but there's oomph and purpose in their foundations. You can read our interview with her here.

When: Friday March 18 at 1:15 am
Where: Red 7
Info: all ages