photo by Nathaniel Shannon

When I queried my metal pals about who to check out at this year's fest one name showed up on everyone's list. And that name was Goatwhore.

Hailing from New Orleans, the band's legacy, spawned from the ashes of Acid Bath, Crowbar, and Soilent Green, is rich, and the music dark and gritty. With song titles like "Reckoning of the Soul Made Godless" and albums called Funeral Dirge for the Rotting Sun it seems pretty clear these guys are no pretty boy pop-metal act (though a couple of them, I have to admit, appear to be purty cute).

Did you know that James Carbonetti of Caveman makes the most beautiful guitars? He cuts the wood, winds the pickups, and does everything by hand.

Caveman's mellow good sounds are like meditation... listen along and all the noise drains away leaving you lost in the notes and soft sounds that reverberate with a hint of the 70s... cinnamon and smoke.

SXSW Lifer Mark Kates runs Fenway Recordings, is a bitchin' DJ and all around great guy.

He'll be moderating the Music Curation in 2013 panel on Thursday, March 14 at 12.30pm, which looks to be quite an interesting discussion, no?

Black Violin, a hip hop classical duo from Florida, met at the Dillard High School for Performing Arts. They've won the Showtime at the Apollo 2005 Legend title and have performed with Alicia Keys.

Sisters Jennifer and Jessie Clavin hail from the San Fernando Valley and form the band Bleached. Crunchy guitars and a driving beat hearken back to grittier days in the 818... lollipops and hints of darkness and fun. Their debut album Ride Your Heart drops on April 2.

photo by Emelia Hiltner

Spirit Family Reunion evoke memories of slower days, rocking chairs on porches, lemonade, the smell of grass, and the feel of the sun. As we ramp up to SXSW it feels so great to have been able to take a break and listen to their sweet sounds while I write this post.

Bassist/Vocalist Ken Woodward is a terrible juggler and organizer, but a terrific eater and sleeper. He's slept in streets in the middle of the day stone cold sober. Why, just two days ago he took an hour nap on a concrete floor with no pillow.

Aquarium Drunkard's Jason Gage is a renaissance man. Wait, what's that? His name is Justin, you say? Right then…

Aquarium Drunkard's Justin Gage is a renaissance man. He has a brilliant music blog, a beautiful tumblr, and a weekly show on Sirius XMU. He wrote a book, owns a label and he podcasts… and does music supervision… and freaks a funky beat like the shit was in a blender.

The Georgia ex-pat, and current Angeleno, is presenting a show on Wednesday, March 13 at Hype Hotel with many groovy artists, some of whom mysteriously appear in his very fine Pick Three… which you can… read now.