One band's tales of Austin, Texas: Buzz act Boy Kill Boy write an exclusive SXSW diary.(Talent)

Wednesday

So, after a 20-hour journey, we are finally here, SXSW, Austin, Texas ... We potter down the strip, which is thriving with activity, a sea of people everywhere you look. It's the best vibe ever, a festival in a town. A perfect spring evening and all the bands you could ever wish to see, is this paradise? All will be revealed over the next few days, but it is certainly wavering that way ... Neon lights flashing, it reads "The Flamingo Cantina", as I stumble in, passport at the ready and bleary eyed. Shaz informs me it's a UK showcase and that our mates are on the bill. Towers of London have just played, but up next are Brighton's psychobilly noise stars the 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster ... Guy McKnight and his psychotic warriors put on the most explosive display that has even the cowboys running to cover, frighteningly genius and again underlining the fact that this band are one of the only truly original bands around ... After a 15-minute changeover, some flaming sambuccas, a bit of back patting and a bit of flirting, it is everyone's favourite Londoners, featuring the Jarvis Cocker of our generation, The Rakes. They get the girls grooving and the boys shaking, to set up a delightful finale of Echo And The Bunnymen ... Ending the night with Killing Moon, possibly one of the greatest songs ever written, and gazing at the smiling faces, the vibe is amazing ... Sitting here typing this I'm still inspired/buzzing/made up to be here, and looking forward to playing with Dirty Pretty Things and The Flaming Lips tomorrow. The Flaming Lips. Frightening stuff. But I wouldn't want it any other way.

Thursday

Today is show day, our first of three at SXSW. Tonight we play the Eternal club, which is right in the mix of where it all happens on 6th Avenue ... At our show, Guillemots and Spinto Band put the pressure on with two resounding sets. The crowd consists of The Strokes, 80s Matchbox, Battle and Be Your Own Pet, to name a few. To make the pressure even bigger, Flaming Lips make the biggest entrance of the fest so far, five minutes before we are due on, in 10 feet inflatable bubbles followed by suited aliens. This is going to be hard to top, I tell you, and with so many peers in the crowds we admire, I am petrified. Cue Zane Lowe to big us up and--that's when we realise that the show is live for Radio One ... We fly through the set, which also included new tracks Ballad Of Ivy Parker, Six Minutes and On My Own, ending with Civil Sin. We get a great response and a few pats on the back as ...