SXSW: Green Day and 17 More Acts Playing Southern California Before Hitting Austin

Felisha Tolentino

Can't make it to the music portion of South By Southwest next week? Fear not -- many of the hundreds of bands headed to Austin are passing through Southern California first. Here's where you can catch 18 of them.

Tuesday, March 5

Carrie Rodriguez – Largo – 366 N La Cienega, Los Angeles

Creative royalty runs in Carrie Rodriguez's blood: she's the daughter of Texan singer-songwriter David Rodriguez and his painter wife Katy Nail. However, the Berklee College of Music grad stands on her own thanks to a warm, hearty voice and classic fiddle stylings.

Maserati – The Satellite – 1717 Silver Lake Blvd, Los Angeles

These instrumental psych-rockers from Athens, Georgia gained notoriety when their drummer tragically fell down an elevator shaft to his death while on tour. Thankfully, their music is more uplifting than morose.

The Stone Foxes – Slidebar – 122 E Commonwealth, Fullerton

This San Francisco group has opened for the Black Keys, and no wonder -- they mine the same bluesy, drawling classic rock licks, upended with horns and a wailer of a singer.

Wednesday, March 6

Frank Turner – The Roxy – 9009 W Sunset, West Hollywood

In his home turf of England, Frank Turner is a superstar who recently sold out Wembley Arena. Anglophiles in LA will no doubt turn out for this much more intimate gig, where the punk influenced folkster will be playing songs from his new album, Tape Deck Heart.

Hey Marseilles – The Satellite – 1717 Silver Lake Blvd, Silver Lake

These seven Seattle-ites have no problem with hand claps, trumpet breakdowns, and good old fashioned singalongs. The sum of all these parts have gotten them noticed by NPR, who invited the group for one of their exclusive Tiny Desk concerts.

Beware of Darkness – Central SAPC – 1348 14th St., Santa Monica

This alt-rock three-piece from LA has spent the last year opening for the likes of Stone Temple Pilots and Social Distortion.

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Thursday, March 7

Caspa – The Yost Theater – 307 N Spurgeon, Santa Ana

A notable force in 2012's big breakthrough electronic genre dubstep, this British producer regularly plays massive music festivals like the U.K.'s Glastonbury.

Broncho – The Echo – 1822 W Sunset, Echo Park

Oklahoma's loudest sons are this grit-armed, punky four-piece, whose single, “Blown Fuse,” sounds like it was recorded while one was sputtering.

Youngblood Hawke – The Troubadour – 9081 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood

KROQ helped break this local LA band with the song “We Come Running,” a co-ed shout-worthy indie-pop jam that has put them in the running for the title of SXSW breakout act.

Friday, March 8

Boy – The Troubadour – The Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood

The impossible-to-google KCRW favorites are actually two sprightly girls whose piano-jaunty “Little Numbers” has spawned a series of YouTube imitators.

Flight Facilities – Lure – 1439 Ivar, Hollywood

This Australian electro DJ duo makes keyboard music that's equal parts dance party frenetic and chill out hangover mellow.

The Memorials – Molly Malone's – 575 S Fairfax, Los Angeles

Thanks in large part to former Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgeon, this NorCal trio play odd-time-signature metal for thinking people.

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Saturday, March 9

Andy Clockwise – The Satellite – 1717 Silver Lake Blvd, Silver Lake

Born in Australia and based in LA, this high-energy, eclectic performer counts Strokes singer Julian Casablancas and the music supervisors at CSI among his fans.

The Blank Tapes – Detroit Bar – 843 W 19th, Costa Mesa

With a slacker sound that matches their low-fi name, The Blank Tapes graduated from coffeeshop gigs to buzz band status, especially now that they've just signed with a new label (Antenna Farm).

Trails and Ways – The Bootleg – 2220 Beverly, Los Angeles

Slinky guitars and a laid-back beat mark this unsigned NorCal trio's breakthrough track, a remake of R&B star Miguel's “Sure Thing.”

Sunday, March 10

Green Day – The Fox Theater – 301 S Garey, Pomona

A rare, intimate theater show for the arena-worthy punk rockers, this gig marks one of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong's first public appearances since checking into rehab following the iHeartRadio festival in September 2012.

Nik Turner – The Echoplex – 1154 Glendale, Echo Park

The jazzy veteran Brit-rocker founded seminal band Hawkwind but now tours on his own and with a variety of combos, each more unpredictably freeform than the last.

Six60 – Los Globos  – 3040 W Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake

Bona fide rock stars in their home country of New Zealand, the electronica-inspired Six60 saw their self-titled, jam-friendly album go to No. 1.

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