Weekly Music Roundup: SXSW Edition
While normally we spotlight the newest and latest in music that dropped this past week, we are switching things up today. Your intrepid musical anthropologists will brave Austin's annual industry feeding frenzy, SXSW, to bring you the acts actually worth your precious time and inevitable hangover. While our internal list is long (stay tuned next week for thorough recaps bordering on pathological documentation), we've narrowed down what's at the top of our list, no matter what tough scheduling conflicts may come our way.
The aural carnage we're hunting:
TEAR DUNGEON — Local Austin purveyors of gimp-masked pandemonium and theatrical hemoglobin. Expect performative retching, sensory overload, and possibly questionable life choices. Utterly essential.
Mothland x Exclaim x M for Montreal showcase @ Swan Dive — Our northern neighbors continue their export of Montreal’s finest: Truck Violence (exactly what it sounds like), Gloin (not a Lord of the Rings reference, we checked), TVOD (analog synth devotees), CDSM (post-punk with actual ideas), Grim Streaker (Brooklyn transplants, we'll allow it), PYPY (psych-punk maximalists), and La Sécurité (francophone minimalists).
Photo: SCUM
Italians Do It Better showcase @ Elysium — Temporary goth paradise manifestation featuring Montreal synth sorceress Annie-Claude Deschênes (of acclaimed group Duchess Says) will summon digital ghosts while label manager Desire will curate a DJ set, ensuring you'll dance despite any feelings of disaffection from a long week.
Photo: Yannick Grandmont
Fragile Rock — Yes, it's emo puppets. Yes, it's absolutely a play on Fraggle Rock (we think). Yes, we're going to watch felt creatures process their trauma through power chords. Don't judge us, we’re very excited. If you’re not convinced yet, check out their NPR Tiny Desk down below.
Her New Knife — Shoegaze revival that actually justifies its existence from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Catch them at the Smartpunk Records showcase, where skateboarding activations and vinyl pop-ups will inspire us to empty our pockets and take home some of the best in punk and hardcore.
The REVERIE team will be stumbling between these shows next week, recognizable by our collective thousand-yard stares and superior band t-shirts. Tips welcome. Hydration mandatory.
For more information on how you can attend SXSW 2025, visit sxsw.com/attend for passes.
If you’d like to hear more of our SXSW picks - check out our playlist down below.