OTHER TECH

You've just heard two stories. There are hundreds more. That's the beauty of SXSW. And we need to hear as many stories as possible if the music industry is to keep its focus squarely on the music. Granted, I did check out a couple of known quantities.

Norah Jones, for example, was effortlessly radiant, delivering on the promise of her beyond-jazz Blue Note debut, Come Away with Me. But mostly, I went out each night into the great unknown. I just had to hear an Austin band with a name like Robots, Please! Their not-so-new-wave rock & roll was bright and catchy; try taking a Left Hand Turn (mp3.com/robotsplease).

Then there was the Polyphonic Spree, a "choral symphonic pop band" from Dallas that sounded like Brian Wilson and the Amazing Technicolor Sandbox; track down The Beginning Stages on the Good Records label (thepolyphonicspree.com).

And how could I resist Tokyo's two-ukulele act Petty Booka, who sang home-on-the-Hawaiian-range covers of everyone from Patsy Cline to Blondie? On their recent Benten CD, they're Singin' in the Rain (sister.co.jp).