SXSW 2010: Hot Panda, Jamie’s, Austin

Across the street from a packed She And Him show, Canadian quartet Hot Panda are busy tearing a hole in the relative calm of Jaime’s. Turning a blind eye to their audience the group, half female half male, carried themselves masterfully across the stage to the delight of the small but enthusiastic crowd that has gathered to sip Molson Export in their honor.

Seeing a chick rock out on the bass guitar is, to be fair, an unusual sight – even at such a cosmopolitan event as SXSW. Earning their hot namesake both drummer and bassist carry the show, answering each shout from the audience with one of their own, as lead guitar and keyboard hold down the rest.

Canadians have been enjoying a fairly heavy presence here this year, and once again our favorite friendly foreigners turn out a welcoming presence and solid set in a humble counterpoint to the craziness outside.