Our fair town's Grammy blitz proved that Chicago rules the charts, but this year's South By Southwest line-up shows our underground chops--Chicago bands are setting out for Texas in droves. Almost three-dozen local acts are included in this year's official SXSW Music showcases, with even more heading down for Austin's covert rock circuit. The gargantuan festival takes place March 12-18 and will feature the following Chicago-based artists:

Anathallo, The Audition, Bible of the Devil, Bound Stems, Nick Butcher, Cap D, The Chandeliers, CoCoComa, The Cool Kids, Dreamend, Flosstradamus, The Hood Internet, The Hush Sound,
 Icy Demons, Joan of Arc, Le Concorde, Mahjongg, Make Believe, Mannequin Men, Maps & Atlases, Walter Meego, Trevor Menear, Mittens on Strings, Naked Raygun, The 1900s, Office, Pit er Pat, The Redwalls, Russian Circles, Sybris, Tub Ring, Waco Brothers, Andre Williams, Yakuza