Tis almost the time for SXSW, a festival in Austin that brings together luminaries from music, art, film, and culture for a days-long descent into a fantasy world filled with record swap meets and awesome bands playing in every single corner of the city. It seems sometimes as if all of L.A.'s music makers descend upon the city at once begging the question 'why did we drive all the way out here to see a band we could see at the Satellite?' Because it's more fun in Texas, duh! And also, when else can you take days off to go see amazing music and know that you will not be disappointed. Anyway, should you be so blessed as to attend, these are some of the L.A. bands you should strive to see. You can find the schedule here.

AM & Shawn Lee

AM lives in Echo Park so even though Shawn Lee lives in London, we're calling this an L.A-based band that you should definitely see. AM is an indie-popster, Shawn Lee is a groovemaster. Put them together and you have something called “electro soul” and an amazing 12″ that will be out soon on Ubiquity. Whatever you call it, it sounds good. Anything with guitars, Casio synths, vocals, and glockenspiels is something we're into!

Army Navy

Indie-pop purveyors Army Navy have drawn such vocal and high profile cheerleaders as Adam Lasus (producer of Yo La Tengo and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) and drummer Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Attractions), and Paul Scheer (the League). You may have heard them on the soundtrack to Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, or seen them around town. If you haven't, check them out in Austin.

Daedelus

Speaking of Daedelus, he's playing as well. The always-well-dressed beatmaker got his start by learning classical and jazz instruments as a kid, later graduating to electronic music after hearing some sick beats on a U.K. radio station. Something of a pioneering figure in L.A.-based beatmaking, Daedelus has has remixed or been remixed by and produced with all of his LA scene peers including Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing, The Gaslamp Killer, Baths, and countless others. Go check him out.

Dibia$e

Enter the world of Dibia$e, where sick beats are woven throughout with 8-bit and lurching melodies that twist and turn in unexpected ways. Dibia$e probably doesn't get the credit he's due, given that he made the beat for U.N.I's smash hit Beautiful Day and has been a beatmaker since the early days of Sketchbook. Check him out.

Dum Dum Girls

Indie-pop makers Dum Dum Girls churn out music that they describe as reminiscent of a “blissed out buzz-saw” . Their 2009 album featured guest appearances from members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Crocodiles, and was massaged into its final form by Richard Gottehrer, who wrote the songs “My Boyfriend's Back,” and “I Want Candy” in addition to producing for Blondie and the Raveonettes. How's that for a resume? They're only playing one official show case so don't miss out!

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