Hometown Pride: The Photo Atlas

If you haven't made plans to go to SXSW, it's probably too late to start. The cheap plane tickets and hotel rooms around the Austin music festival are likely already gone. But don't fret—you can still attend a pre-SXSW concert featuring several bands from Denver en route to Austin.

The Photo Atlas, The Rouge and The Still City will play at the Marquis Theater on March 11 before all three bands head off to expand their fan bases. The Photo Atlas will headline the event with its energetic post-punk—and with good reason.

The group is no stranger to playing to large crowds. The band has played Warped Tour, Mile High Music Festival, and Monolith Festival, among others. Sounding like a less dramatic, more positive version of The Used with a little Modest Mouse mixed in, the band easily pulls in new listeners.

Said lead singer Alan Andrews Jr., "We've got two shows at SXSW so far this year. I'm sure we'll end up adding more and doing six shows in four days like we usually do."

And the band won't be hitting the road alone. "We'll be going out on tour with our friends from Denver, The Rouge," said Andrews. "We always like to take new music out from Denver to let our friends and fans know what's going on in our city. So we'll be heading out with them to SXSW and then out to the West Coast."

The Still City will open the kick-off concert, and is also heading to SXSW. The indie rock band transitions between progressive, upbeat songs and slow, acoustic songs that have been known to captivate audiences. The Still City evokes the gentle but powerful melodies of Band Of Horses.

So if you're lacking the planning and funds to travel to Texas, a drive to the Marquis Theater for the SXSW kickoff just might satisfy your craving for a music festival.

SXSW Kickoff Party
8 p.m., March 11, Marquis
www.thephotoatlas.com