March 14th during South by Southwest delivered pure adrenaline. From Panic Shack’s high-voltage punk to Famous Friend’s iconic Radio Day Stage set, we’re breaking down the festival’s best.
Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus with Rhea Seehorn, Vince Gilligan, and Key Creatives
The South by Southwest Featured Session “Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus” brought Vince Gilligan, Rhea Seehorn, Dave Porter, Jennifer Bryan and Trina Siopy together to reflect on their creative evolution and deep ties to Albuquerque. The discussion included how New Mexico has influenced telling stories in the ‘Gilli-verse’ (Vince Gilligan Universe in media) – the Albuquerque culture helped develop and produce Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. This continued with Pluribus, the successful Apple TV+ show starring Rhea Seehorn.
Additionally, the group also discussed the artistic partnerships everyone involved shared with one another and with others in relation to their work in writing, music, and design. Ultimately, they concluded the session by answering fan questions, where a really great point was made in the case of character-driven form of storytelling versus building stories around antiheroes. Pluribus is viewed as a bold experiment in storytelling without the use of antiheroes (which is a concept known through Walter White in Breaking Bad), all while still having a firm tie to the same community in New Mexico. – Keylee Paz
You can view the session here.
101x Showcase: Chancla Fight Club
The gorgeous rooftop venue Inn Cahoots set the perfect backdrop for the 101X showcase. With the Austin skyline and warm weather, the band Chancla Fight Club played an energizing set that pulled the audience out of the shade and right up to the front of the stage. They included fan favorite songs such as “Monster” which is accompanied by what many fans deem “the rock flute” and “Questions Unanswered” which is a song 101X has kept in rotation over the radio.
After the show, the lead singer, Ashley Dawson reflected on the opportunity and stated, “What 101X is doing for the local community is truly incredible. Not every city has a radio station that actively gives local artists a platform, and we are so grateful to have their support”. 101X has done a fantastic job of making local artists feel seen, heard and celebrated as they continue to uplift and give awareness to new emerging music. – Lauren Grover
Radio Day Stage: Famous Friend
Out on the Radio Day Stage, Famous Friend gave an upbeat, dancey performance that was perfect for a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Songs such as, “Tanlines” and “Nora” had the crowd beaming with energy. Since Famous Friend is a solo act, singer — was accompanied by members of THE CITY backing him up on instrumentals. – Amarylis Rodriguez
Howdyfest Night Rodeo
Howdyfest 2026 was accompanied by some really great showcases this SXSW. On the third day, HowdyGals hosted the Night Rodeo featuring great alternative rock acts at Hole in the Wall. Going back and forth between two stages, there were performances from TV Buddha, The Sophs, Of Grace, and more. TV Buddha, a rock band from Chicago, had a standout performance. With many people packed on stage, including a flutist, it was chaotic in the best way possible. The minute the band started playing, they drew people in and were eventually playing to a jam-packed room. They are definitely a band on the rise. – Amarylis Rodriguez
Additional Photos: Panic Shack @ Swan Dive
Photos by Lauren Grover
I am an Austin, TX based concert photographer with roots in Houston, TX. I graduated from Texas Tech University with both my BA and MBA. In my spare time, I photograph shows in the local Austin scene, buy way too many plants, and go bouldering. Some of my favorite local artists are NSFWho?, Chancla Fight Club, and Nolo.
I am from Houston, Texas and currently attending the University of Houston as a marketing major! From attending concerts, playing guitar, and collecting vinyl, I love anything that has to do with music. Some of my favorite artists include The Strokes, Omar Apollo, and boygenius. Besides that, I really like shopping, watching Pitch Perfect, and discovering new places in Houston!
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
