Pop & Hiss will covering the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas, from March 18-22. Most of our time there will be spent chasing down bands that don't live in our own backyard, so in the days leading up to the industry event, we'll be looking at some noteworthy locals heading to Texas.

Who: Afternoons

What to listen to: "Saturday Morning (After the Funeral)" and "Say Yes," which you can stream below, are fine places to start. Playfully operatic, the seven-piece Afternoons bring a rock 'n' roll drive to a marching band lushness. A smashingly bright electronic hook adds a bit of a twinkle to the taut vocals of "Saturday Morning," a song that builds to a stomping shout-along chorus. Featuring four of the five members of Irving, the Afternoons boast a more rambunctious sound than the indie rock of the former. There's something that's a bit parade-like about "Say Yes," but there's also plenty of weirdness underneath the expansive melody, with suddenly shifting rhythms and a delightfully odd psychedelic breakdown in the song's final seconds.

They're playing Austin: On March 21 at 8 p.m. at Antones.

Added bonus: They're still unsigned.

Follow us on Twitter to get updates from Austin.

-- Todd Martens

Related: L.A.@SXSW: Great Northern

Photo credit: Sterling Andrews