Music Schedule, which means the Operation Every Band crew is hard at work digging through numbers to figure out the best showcases night by night.

While searching and typing, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the overall quality of artists this year is the best I’ve seen since starting this project informally four years ago.  Even last year, there would be review runs with little to nothing drawing any real interest for bands on end, but that truly isn’t the case this year.  ”Lo Fi” has taken a backseat this year to make way for clean and accessible production, a result both on changing tides in the indie music landscape and the increasing ability to record solid tracks with little more than a laptop, a microphone and a mind for inventiveness.

This communal discovery going on to incorporate hooky pop tones into all sorts of genres, from electronic experimentations to Americana roots rock, is a wellspring of sonic opportunity.  Creativity without creating distance between band and audience, this trend should make for an exciting 2013.  The great thing about accessible pop/rock music is that it translates wonderfully to the stage, so look for an overflow of highlights pouring out of SXSW come March.

Speaking of highlights, I’ve queued up some tops of the pops recommendations for the SXSW Baby readers, ranging all across the sonic spectrum.  Be on the lookout for waves of day show announcements and more showcases throughout the next couple weeks, so now is the perfect time to get your artist research in.

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