On the Scene at SXSW: The Birthday Massacre and more

The first in our series of reports from the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas:

THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Like many industrial goths before them, these eyeliner-friendly Canadians (pictured) embrace crunching power chords, sneering expressions, and track titles like "Horror Show." But these 'Birthday' boys (and girl) will not be typecast so easily. Breaking from their genre's strict codes, the Massacre showed off broad smiles, jump-around exuberance, and a contagious playfulness live. As her male bandmates thrashed and wailed (all while wearing spiffy goth-mobster duds), inky-haired singer Chibi added sly vulnerability to the devastating thunder with her versatile vocals. Tying it all together were instantly memorable songs and melodies rarely found amidst such heavy tones. The walloping synth-fest "Video Kid" justly summaries this unique brood's pulverizing pop appeal. Download the track for free at SXSW's site.

RUMBLE STRIPS As a rule, rock groups featuring saxophones and trumpets have a hard time being cool. Clarence Clemons and the E Street Band notwithstanding, most horn-laden gangs make music that's inexcusably cheesy, unbearably kitschy, or just plain ska-wful. But Brit quartet Rumble Strips defy the odds with catchy tunes that often feature both marching band staples in full blare. Led by heartthrob lead singer-guitarist Charlie Waller, the band impressed with an unerring set of taught tracks reminiscent of the Jam and Elvis Costello. A natural frontman with a tender-yet-robust voice, Waller sometimes recalled another Elvis with his aching delivery, rolled-up sleeves, and upturned collar. Take a wonderfully bumpy ride with these charming English gentlemen on their "Motorcycle."  Download the track for free at SXSW's site.

SERENA MANEESH Jumbling the Jimi Hendrix Experience's psychedelic freak-outs with My Bloody Valentine's blurry guitar symphonies, Oslo's Serena Maneesh know their way around six-string bluster in concert. And, based on leader Emil Nikolaisen's interesting attire (a shawl/cape that looked at once like a rug and a doily tethered to a ridiculously ruffled shirt), Serena Maneesh aren't interested in conforming to, well, just about anything. Within their wild set, the group squeezed, rung, and slammed notes out of their guitars, offering tribute to their forebears while attempting to break out with a distinct style of their own. Whether they succeeded in that quest is debatable, but the dreamy grace of their track "Un-Deux" is not. Download the track for free at SXSW's site.