(This is the third installment in a series of daily accounts of South by Southwest written by several Metromix editors and contributors. Check back for regular updates.)

12:45 p.m.
Rolled out of bed and walked one whole block to Tequila Mockingbird Studios, where KCRW broadcasts their Morning Becomes Eclectic show during SXSW. Got to meet DJ Nic Harcourt and watch an in-studio performance by Duffy, a sweet little blonde kid from Wales who’s being groomed to be, improbably, the next Amy Winehouse—minus the crippling addiction problems. – AH

2:10 p.m.
At Republic Tigers, who have a melodic yet big, percussive sound, with every band member banging on something occasionally. In other words, they rock and I’m buying their CD. – MO

3:00 p.m.
Our intrepid videographer Sean and I hop a cab across the river to Austin’s “SoCo” neighborhood (short for “South Congress” after the main drag…also, our cab driver informs us, a big hit with Southern Comfort advertisers). We have our first genuine Texas brisket and carne asada tacos, then head to the Yard Dog art gallery for the Bloodshot Records party. – AH

3:30 p.m.
Rob (our photographer) took a mic to the head at the Vines show, but he's OK. On the way now to get some barbeque. – MO

3:40 p.m.
Die! Die! Die! end their set by jumping through the crowd, scream-spelling out the chorus to their last song. Thanks to their thick New Zealand accents, it sounds like they’re saying “H-E-G-Y-E-U-T!” Maybe it’s Maori? – KM

4:00 p.m.
At Yard Dog, away from the heart of downtown, the vibe is refreshingly laid-back and the crowd is heavy on locals. We wind up chatting with three middle-aged Texas ladies, one of whom tells us repeatedly that she’s “staying the same trailer park as Matthew McConaughey.” Who knew he was even here, let alone sleeping in a trailer park? – AH

4:15 p.m.
I have the seen the future of rock ‘n’ roll…and it isn’t Vampire Weekend. But they’re pleasant enough. Something about them makes me think a Matisyahu collaboration is in their future. – KM

5:00 p.m.
OK, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, despite their terrible name, might be the best band I’ve seen at SXSW yet. Very high energy roots-rock from Chicago, with loads of Johnny Marr guitar riffs and the occasional ska-tinged trumpet solo. Apparently they had one song featured on “The O.C.”; the lead singer introduces it as “the song that paid my rent for three months.” Only three months? Chicago is more expensive than I thought. – AH

5:40 p.m.
British Sea Power create waves of noise. They’re a bit too dissonant to be playing a pleasant outdoor stage. – KM

5:45 p.m.
For 30 glorious minutes, the back lot of the Yard Dog art gallery is the most rockin’ place in all of Austin, thanks to the amazing honky-tonk juggernaut that is the Waco Brothers. It’s a bunch of middle-aged British dudes playing hard-rockin’ country songs with a Stonesy swagger, and it’s fan-freaking-tastic. The kids could learn a thing or two from these guys. – AH

7:00 p.m.
Ah, the late afternoon disco nap: the older I get, the more satisfying it becomes. – AH

9:30 p.m.
I’ve been hearing about Santogold as the Next Big Thing for awhile now, and she does have some fun songs. But live, she really comes across as a lame M.I.A. knockoff. And seriously, can’t her “backup singers” at least pretend to be using their microphones? – AH

10:15 p.m.
I want to put Phantom Planet in my pocket and take them home. I didn’t realize they were so good—very passionate, with a strong stage presence. Throwing CDs into the crowd and playing “Lonely Day” to appease the more adamant fans. And apparently, playing from atop drum kits is very fashionable these days. Who knew? The venue, La Zona Rosa, has the best lighting I’ve seen at SXSW. – MO

10:30 p.m.
Grand Archives are just pure pop goodness—lots of strummy guitars and Beach Boys harmonies. Getting a good breeze from the open windows at Bourbon Rocks and loving the vibe. – AH

10:45 p.m.
Not to pat ourselves on the back, but Metromix puts on a good party. Junkie XL is the rockin’ the crowd at our co-sponsored showcase and the sound is great. – AH

12:15 a.m.
A Place to Bury Strangers is exactly as advertised—walls of shoegaze guitar distortion and not much else to recommend them. Cool sound, forgettable band. – AH

12:25 a.m.
Florida hard rockers Black Tide are trying to play their own song on Rock Band at La Zona Rosa…and failing at it. – KM

12:45 a.m.
Moby is now manning the decks at the Metromix party at Vice. He gets the crowd pretty amped up for a little skinny bald guy. Plays some vintage Basement Jaxx and Underworld—it’s like 1999 all over again! – AH

12:55 a.m.
Where is Scott? Two feet away from Ice CUBE! Yes! – STS

1:15 a.m.
Nada Surf are playing in top hats. – MO

1:30 a.m.
Atlas Sound, the side project from Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox, is almost as noisy as A Place to Bury Strangers, but prettier. And Cox is hilarious. He develops a fixation on a chandelier some kids at a table near the stage keep knocking around: “Cease that chandelier from swinging!” he yells between songs. – AH

1:45 a.m.
Manage to catch exactly one song from Lyrics Born before he ends his set. Much is made of LB’s Japanese heritage, but he’s also one-half Italian, and seeing him live for the first time, it occurs to me that he has a little of Louis Prima’s loopy charisma. – AH

2:10 a.m.
Share a shuttle back to the hotel with Spanish band We Are Standard and about six other people sardined into the van. The wiseass next to me starts trying out his Spanish on We Are Standard. "I know how to 'yo tengo un caballo,'" he offers. "What else can you teach me?" "Yo tengo dos caballos," the drummer replies. – AH

Metromix's SXSW day two recap. —»

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