The daily rock itinerary was jam-packed, from an a.m. wakeup call of a jalapeno pancake breakfast with the Allen Oldies Band to BBQ stops, an abundance of beer and a feisty Waco Brothers set playing into the wee hours. 

There was a whole lotta love -and a few Robert Plant sightings in between. This year, 9,000 people (a record number) signed up for four days of margaritas, breakfast tacos and 1,350 artists worth of music. 

Everyone's looking for the next big thing at the conference, but sometimes the next big thing is hard to find - or impossible to get into. Persistence, however, pays off. Here are some Texas treats we caught at SXSW: They're a mix of new and old bands, but all are must-sees when they venture up North. 

Death from Above 1979 at Emo's Annex 

With the mohawked Sebastian Grainger on screech-vocals, and the shaggy-haired Jesse F. Keeler shredding a bass (as well as executing keyboards and contributing vocals), DFA '79 is a thrashing force to behold. 

Somewhere between the freak show of Suicide and the hair-raising metal of Judas Priest (with Grainger's voice resembling a bizarre mix of Polly Jean Harvey and the aforementioned Plant), this pulse-heightening duo is not to be missed. Keeler's one-man-band performance alone will turn your world upside down. No guitars allowed - or necessary. 

The duo, which comprises two Canadians who met in prison and now live in a Toronto funeral parlor, released its debut, "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine," last fall. They'll perform at the Bowery Ballroom on April 30 and the Mercury Lounge on May 1. Check out tour diaries at deathfromabove1979.com. 

DaKAH at Stubb's 

This hip-hop orchestra is not an easy-traveling band. Principle composer, baritone sax player and daKonductor Double-G (Geoff Gallegos) leads this 60-some-piece spectacle, replete with strings, electric guitars, horns and turntables. It's fronted by several male and female rappers - one of them is only 16 years old - and a handful of R&B singers. 

The MCs leave the posturing behind as they deliver old-school, rock-the-mike hip-hop in front of this truly modern big band. Its many influences include the Sun Ra Arkestra, '70s soul, classic and more-contemporary jazz - and, of course, the riffs of the golden age of hip-hop. 

Sixty-members-strong might be overkill at times, but it sure is groovy fun. 

The Woggles at the Victory Grill 

The Atlanta garage rockers, who also performed at Little Steven's Underground Garage fests aren't new; they opened for Johnny Cash at SXSW 10 years ago. 

They still rock, though. And with a seemingly endless supply of '60s riffs, beat-happening drums and catchy, dance-igniting tunes, even the most exhausted SXSW partier has no choice but to join in the twist on the floor. That's because the Professor, the lead singer, madly jumps off the stage, cajoles audiences into shaking their tail feathers, and wiggles his butt off as he sings his heart out. It's no wonder the Stripes' Meg and Jack White are fans. The Woggles will perform at Maxwell's in Hoboken on April 22. Bring your dancing shoes - or else. 

The Sights at Flamingo Cantina 

Lead singer Eddie Baranek is no longer a schoolkid - he formed this Motor City rock trio when he was in high school. Now he's about to unleash the Sights' third disc. A child of Detroit's recent garage-rock resurgence, Motown soul and '60s pop, Baranek, on vocals/guitars, is the third rail live. On stage, he scowls and howls, recalling everyone from the Stones to the Zombies. The group will perform at the Bowery Ballroom on May 18 with Mando Diao. 

High Dials at the Soho Lounge 

Fronted by Trevor Anderson, this Canadian quartet does a sweet job of resurrecting the Byrds era with cotton-candy harmonies and jangly electric guitars. But what differentiates the High Dials from every other '60s throwback is bassist Rishi Dhir's rockin' sitar. 

The High Dials will release their new album, "War of the Wakening Phantoms" this summer. Samples available at thehighdials.com.