Whether it’s the popular local destination Stubb’s, the Austin Convention Center or smaller dive venues, South by Southwest is sure to send someone with musical ADD into hyperdrive. Most showcases start around 8 P.M., with the last set finishing around 2 A.M. each night.

So instead of printing out a whole list of bands, we are going to pick out some highlight shows for the four major days of the conferences. You’ll know some names and others may just be bands you’ll hear about in six months (but we won't say we told you so later).

Here is the listing of shows worth mentioning for South By Southwest:

Wednesday, March 12^th:

-One of the one appealing showcases for that evening will be at the main room at Emo’s with the Akron, Ohio indie sensations The Black Keys headlining. Also on that bill is Be Your Own Pet from Nashville and the underheralded Autolux from Los Angeles.

-One of our MCB’s editors’ favorite new band from London, Lightspeed Champion, will be at Antoine’s with White Williams headlining.

-Also, Tom Morello will be taking a break from the touring Rage Against the Machine has been doing to do a set at Esther’s Follies around 11 p.m. that night.

-For Detroiters, hometown heroes the Hard Lessons will be playing at the Soho Lounge, with fellow Michiganders Great Lakes Myth Society and Child Bite.

Thursday, March 13^th:

-Before things really get going, local alt-rockers turned big time Spoon will be playing a free show at 8 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center. Expect this one to be busy.

-My Morning Jacket and the Whigs are part of a showcase at Austin Music Hall, running from 8-midnight that night.

-Hard rock fans are gonna have an issue with two competing showcases vying for your attention. The first showcase at Emo’s features a lot of up and coming bands in the metal world, with Genghis Tron and Coliseum raging out before stoner metal titans High On Fire headline the show. One band to catch in this showcase is the thrash throwback Muncipal Waste, who will ensure it sounds like 1987 in there.

-The other hard rock showcase takes place at La Zona Rosa, with Serj Tankian from System of A Down headlining. Teenage rockers Black Tide play the show along with English band Enter Shikari, whose entertaining blend of hard rock and electronic makes for one of the more diverse showcases of the evening.

-English hip-hop critical favorite Dizzee Rascal headlines a showcase over at Scoot’s Inn.

-And the band that stole Art’s favorite band name of all time, Holy Fuck, headlines a showcase at the rooftop at Wave.

Friday, March 14^th:

-This year’s buzzed out band, New York’s Vampire Weekend is part of a showcase at Antoine’s. Cant wait to see the blogosphere rave about this one.

-At the Habana Annex Backyard, a unusual showcase of established alt-rock and punk bands hits the venue, as Story of the Year and MXPX co-headline the showcase.

-Before Luther Dickinson heads out on the road with the Black Crowes, his North Mississippi All Stars headline a showcase at Opal Divine’s Freehouse.

-And just in case you want truly the most bizarre bill on the lineup, Austrailan garage rockers The Vines play before Swedish 90s pop sensation Robyn (Yeah, remember “Show Me Love”, yep, didn’t think so.) at Pangaea. Well, Hanson is playing somewhere in town that same night. Perhaps the Backstreet Boys and O-Town can show up too.

Saturday, March 15^th: 

-Hip-Hop takes over the Convention Center and the Music Hall as Talib Kweli and Strong Arm Steady play at the Convention Center, which is headlined by Ice Cube. Ice Cube? Seriously, everyone’s favorite gangsta turned kids-movie actor? We’d guess we would still go see it…. Anyways, David Banner heads up the showcase over at the Music Hall.

-Emo invades the Habana Annex asAll Time Low and Scary Kids Scaring Kids is part of a showcase there as well.

-Old school punks X headline a show at the main room at Emo’s as The Donnas support them, as well as The Ravonettes.

If you are going to tackle the insanity that is South by Southwest, we hope this is a good guide to at least get started. The actual trade conference is in the Convention Center during the day, but everyone knows SXSW is all about the music at night. So, make sure to get some rest and try and hit as many bands as possible. You’re gonna need a vacation from the conference just to rest from the good time that is sure to be had.