Ahhhh the second week of March! A time marked in iCalenders all over the country by fans and artist alike. A time of the year when most of the continent is seeking refuge from Old Man Winter, a time when baking and getting baked in the sun to see your favorite band is totally acceptable (tacos for breakfast is also acceptable). This rad time of the year is SXSW, or for the n00bs “South by Southwest”. The Austin, Texas based festival has been luring people out of hibernation for nearly 3 decades. The loud-packed event provides a platform for massive talents like Action Bronson and Currency to market their new work, and also provides a stage for emerging artist like Aaron Cohen, Metal Mother, Remy Banks to be seen and heard by new fans. Sometime during this last week, I overheard an attendee liken the stage setups to a Doritos vending machine. While I do agree that the corporate shenanigans have totally taken over the festival, it’s a giveand- take for the opportunity to get closer to the music we love and have every industry ear in one location. Click through these live shots to get a feel for the energy of the SXSW festivities without the exhaustion of the pace.