2001: THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

EW called the New Pornographers' performance at La Zona Rosa (featuring that year's conference keynote speaker Ray Davies on a Kinks cover), ''muy bueno.'' The Canadian power-pop band formed in '97 but had only put out one album, Mass Romantic, by the time they played SXSW in '01. That same year Romantic scored them a Juno award (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys) for Best Alternative Album. The band has since released three more discs, along with multiple side projects from its members. They've had their songs featured on many TV shows, including Heroes, Weeds, and The Office.