The Panic Manual

SXSW Song of the Day: Grrrl Gang – O, My Love

Posted on

22 Jan 2026

Paul

Indonesian indie rock trio Grrrl Gang first caught our attention back in 2021 during that year’s fully online edition of SXSW. While the virtual format that year was necessary as we were still in the midst of COVID restrictions, it was far from the ideal way to experience SouthBy. Even so, Grrrl Gang stood out, grabbing me with their fun, power poppy sound and I’m looking forward to finally catching the band IRL as they make their way to Austin this year for SXSW 2026.

Check out the video below for Grrrl Gang’s latest single “O, My Love.”

SXSW Song of the Day: Hot Garbage – Wewu

Posted on

20 Jan 2026

Paul

Today, in advance of their appearance at this year’s SXSW, Toronto post-punks Hot Garbage release their new single “Wewu” – their first new music since their 2024 album Precious Dream, released almost exactly 2 years ago. Produced by Holy Fuck’s Graham Walsh and mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate/OLD), the track is a bracing bit of noise rock and just what’s needed to get you through the mid-January blahs. Check it out.

SXSW Song of the Day: Whitelands – Songbird (Forever)

Posted on

15 Jan 2026

Paul

Originally started as the solo project of Etienne Quartey-Papafio, London-based shoegaze band Whitelands eventually grew into a quartet and, like many up and coming bands have done before them, they’ll be heading to Austin this March for SXSW in support of their new album Sunlight Echoes. Check out the video for “Songbird (Forever)” below.

Sunlight Echoes is out January 30 via Sonic Cathedral.

SXSW Song of the Day: Boutique Feelings – 0 Goes

Posted on

13 Jan 2026

Paul

It’s a new year, and with it comes yet another edition of SXSW. This year will be a little different (and, for longtime attendees, probably a little weird) as the long running festival and conference switches things up for its 40th edition. This year, SXSW has been pared down to seven days from the traditional nine and has decentralized its conference programming due to the closure of the Austin Convention Center. That said, the Panic Manual crew will still be there to take it all in and see how this new era of SouthBy plays out. And maybe to grumble like old cranks about how things aren’t the same as they used to be.

Today brings the latest announcement of artists set to play the festival, with over 300 new names added to the list. Most are unknown to me, but there’s a few familiar names that stand out, such as Gogol Bordello, CDSM, Gwenno, and Montreal’s Boutique Feelings. Today we shine the spotlight on Boutique Feelings, whose debut album Shwaya, Shwaya came out back in November via Mothland Records. Check out the video below for Boutique Feelings’ most recent single “0 Goes.”

Song of the Day: Fuzz – Rich Man, Poor Man

Posted on

12 Dec 2025

Paul

“Rich Man, Poor Man” is the latest single from California trio Fuzz, taken off Fuzz’s Fourth Dream, a collection of demos, singles and rarities out now via In The Red Records. Check it out.

Song of the Day: Fat White Family – Whitest Boy On The Beach (Live at Konk Studios)

Posted on

10 Dec 2025

Paul

“Whitest Boy On The Beach” is the latest Single from Fat White Family, taken from the forthcoming Konk If You’re Lonely: Fat White Family live at Konk Studios, an album recorded live in studio in a single day. Check it out.