Once upon a time – when SXSW was a regional-upstart event and Austin, Texas, was smaller and weirder – this was the place and season for the unknown to be seen and signed. Vans pulled into town, and parking was still plentiful. Reputations were made in 35-minute sets, and major labels started doing the math. Albums and even careers, however fleet and frustrating, followed.
This is
This article originally appeared on www.rollingstone.com: Fricke’s Picks: New Albums From the Best of SXSW 2017