Things are just getting started down here in Austintown. Here are some highlights from Day 1.

The Polyphonic Spree: They're back with a new record under their belt and some KILLER jams. Seriously, haven't seen them with this much energy in years. 

Local Natives: Champions of SXSW 2009, the bros from California are back with a fantastic sophomore effort, Hummingbird. It's full of catchy, indie folk for the thinking man. Whatever that means. 

Oh, and if you're on Vine, go ahead and download that now and follow me (themark23). I'll be Vine-ing the hell out of SXSW. Here's Atlas Genius at the I Heart Radio party.

I'm about to head out again. I'll have more pics and vids to share with you on Twitter @themark23. Also, listen to Jessie this week for my call-ins from the road.

That magical time is upon us once again, hipsters. Our favorite time of the year: festival season. It all starts Thursday with the Best Ever Fest Ever (or Best Fest No Pants), 35 Denton. 150+ national and local bands in sweet, clean Denton, America. There are a lot of bands on this lineup that you've probably never heard of, but that's ok. You like to be adventurous. Basically, just get out there and see all of the bands and #FestSoHard.

Watch this quick 35 Denton preview from Nightcap News on The CW33.

Here are a few suggestions to write down in your Moleskine.

*LocalEdgeWave bands in bold.

Andy's

Tony Ferraro & The Satans of Soft Rock (9:30p), Quaker City Night Hawks (10:30p), RTB2 (11:30p), John Wesley Coleman (12:30a)

This lineup is so strong, you'd be just fine posting up at Andy's all night long. But don't do that. It's not fair to the rest of the festival.

Dan's Silverleaf

Spooky Folk (10:30p)

Fans of The Local Edge are already well aware of how great these dudes are. Indie folk pop at its finest. Here's a video of that one time I threw a SXSW day party on a trailer.

The Hive

Track Meet (9:30p)

Denton's newest and biggest venue will play host to a huge pants party on night one of the fest. Track Meet are the dudes responsible for the Slime Rave I attended last year after helping drink an entire bottle of whiskey out of a trunk. I'm hoping this showcase is just one big Slime Rave.

The Labb

Jamaican Queens (11:30p)

Electro pop from Detroit.

Sinkane (12:30a)

Indie funk soul sideproject from the drummer of such bands as Of Montreal, Born Ruffians and Caribou. Real solid jams.

Mellow Mushroom

Sealion (10:30p)

The Dallas surf punks are set to release some new material this year that I'm sure they'll be previewing at this show.

The Blurries (11:30p)

These dudes have melodies for days, and they don't play very often. What the world needs now is more jangle-core.

Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios

Mind Spiders (11:30p)

These Denton punks released one of my favorite albums of last year. Don't miss their set.

Sweetwater Grill

Senor Fin (11:30p)

If you like Built to Spill, you'll like Senor Fin.

Savage and the Big Beat (12:30a)

Theatrical indie rock is the perfect way to end most evenings.

The funniest video you'll see all week. Look at all the trouble Jimmy Tamborello had to go through to find the right voice for The Postal Service!

Can't wait to meet up with these dudes at SXSW. Check out Adventure Club band Gold Fields performing "Moves" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

It's not much, but it's a very tasty preview of what's to come from the greatness of Daft Punk!

Check it out here. And if you want to go insane, play it in reverse.

Yes, a 60s era Batman delivered a suspected robber to British authorities.

No word yet on if the grappling hook was deployed.

Read more at The Associated Press.

Anything with Morgan Freeman in it is awesome.

Win a four pack of tix to an advanced screening of Olympus Has Fallen all week on The Edge of Night!

Former Record Hop lead singer, Ashley Cromeens, has kept herself busy with a new project lately. They're called Def Rain, and they're about to be your new favorite band.

Denton, America stand up.