Story: Finding the Good Stuff at South by Southwest

AUSTIN, Texas -- The South by Southwest conference is such a fire hose of amazing bands it's impossible to see everyone on your list. That's why sometimes it's better to just give in to the push and pull of humanity weaving down 6th street and duck into the bar offering $1 shots and $2 beers.

We had already fought crowds to see some amazing bands including Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket, and The English Beat. So it was refreshing to wander into Touche and find Chris Jamison playing his heart out on an acoustic guitar with no one listening. He was a bit Jack Johnson-esque but more interesting. Still, even with his boyish good looks thrown in, he was too mellow to keep the attention of a crowd more interested in downing flaming shots of booze.

Next up was Jacob Thomas who did a few solo acoustic songs before bringing his eponymous band on stage. (No, he's not Japanese or otherwise Asian. He said his dad is Mexican and his mom is "Cajun"). He told the audience he met his band while hitchhiking on the way to Austin. I was the only person in the room who believed that -- I blame the tequila shots. That's when people at the little Touche bar started paying attention. Their southern rock was loud and soulful, and Thomas' voice was lovely and deeper than his 28 years would suggest.

The drummer, Guy Lemon, was extremely smiley. "I love to play drums, what can I say," he said after the set. Jacob, who writes all the songs, said they actually met in Nashville in the Christian rock world, a genre he said still influences the band. But let's keep that between me and you. It just sounded like some damn good music.