6 SXSW bands with buzz: Grimes and more

The first few rounds of bands have confirmed for this year's South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival, which is March 13-18. Here are six acts, including two from Austin, worth checking out. Joe Gross

1. Grimes (Montreal) — Claire Boucher's skittering, oddball electronic music is perfect for staring straight into the night sky while waiting for the bus after a night of serious mischief.

2. Screaming Females (New Brunswick, N.J.) — Outstanding and chronically underknown indie rock trio, with guitarist Marissa Pasternoster in the role of shredder-in-chief; their fifth album, recorded by Steve Albini for maximum whump, is due in stores in April.

3. The Young (Austin) — This raucous quartet's second album and debut for Matador Records is due this spring.

4. The Men (New York City) — Noise rockers who produced "Leave Home" (Sacred Bones), one of the best buzz-and-howl albums of last year.

5. Dikes of Holland (Austin) — One of the cornerstones of contemporary Red River rock, these guys resemble such kitchen sink indie rockers as Thinking Feller's Union Local 242.

6. The War On Drugs (Philadelphia) — Compatriots and one-time bandmates of Kurt Vile, last year's excellent "Salve Ambient" is one part Dylan warble to two parts gauzy, guitar effects-a-thon.