RIP, JESUS ACEDO

Shortly before deadline for this week's column, I received some extremely sad and unexpected news: Jesus Acedo, troubled-genius guitarist of Black Sun Ensemble since the 1980s, has passed away.

Not much is known at this time, but we'll keep you posted. His family was making service arrangements as we went to press.

In the meantime, at the request of his family, a Facebook page called Jesus Acedo Memorial has been set up for his friends and loved ones to leave their thoughts and memories about Jesus. Please do so, as his family can use the support right now.

We'd like to offer our sincerest condolences to his family and friends at this time.

Jesus, we all know you're hearing those bells ringing in heaven and we hope you have found peace at last.

GAS MONEY EXTRAVAGANZAS

We warned you in last week's column that the onslaught of acts on their way to and from South by Southwest, in Austin, and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was on its way, and this week the madness truly begins.

South by Southwest begins next week, and there's a boatload of related events around town this week as acts make their way to Austin.

A record number of local acts – eight, at least – will be performing official showcases in Austin this year, and several events have been set up to help them raise funds to get there. One of those, a showcase set up by Marianne Dissard, is discussed in our City Week pick this week, but here are a couple others worth checking out.

The night before Dissard's showcase at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., the venue will host a SXSW benefit for cumbia mavens Gabriel Sullivan and Taraf de Tucson and Joe Novelli, both of whom are headed to the festival. Alt-country act Horse Black will open the show, which begins at 9 p.m. on Friday, March 8. Admission is a $7 donation.

On the following night, Saturday, March 9 – the same night as Dissard's showcase at Congress – another of Sullivan's bands, Chicha Dust, will perform another SXSW benefit at Che's Lounge, 350 N. Fourth Ave., starting around 10 p.m. Since shows at Che's are always free, we're guessing it'll be a pass-the-hat setup in order to raise travel funds. If you have any questions, ring up the fine folks at 623-2088.

Finally, though it's not a benefit, Seashell Radio will headline a show at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St., on Sunday, March 10. That band's Fen Ikner will be stopping in town before making his way to SXSW, enabling the band to perform a rare local show. Also on the bill are Brooklyn's Lips and Kiven, from Los Angeles, who start the night off at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $7, and you can get more info at plushtucson.com or by calling 798-1298.

AUSTIN OVERFLOW

On top of those shows, three separate mini-festivals have been organized to give touring acts shows to play on their way to Austin.

West by Southwest, which in the past has been set up as a multi-venue festival taking place on several nights both before and after South by Southwest, has this year been streamlined into a one-night event taking place at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., and Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., on Sunday, March 10.

The lineup at the Rialto will feature performances by the indie hip-hop-and-more act WHY?, electro-pop artist Baths, and PAPA, Sir Sly, and In the Valley Below.

Meanwhile, over at Club Congress, that venue's portion of the fest will feature sets by El Vez (aka "the Mexican Elvis"), San Diego-based psych-blues-rock outfit The Schitzophonics, Vancouver indie-rockers Said the Whale, and Trails and Ways.

The Rialto portion of WXSW is all-ages, while the Congress portion is 21-and-over. Doors at both venues open at 6 p.m. A single $15 ticket grants you entry to both venues. For more info head to rialtotheatre.com or hotelcongress.com/club, or call the Rialto at 740-1000, or Congress at 622-8848.

Just as WXSW has been in the past, Meow by Meow Meow 2013 is a festival that will take place over three nights, though non-consecutive ones, featuring both touring acts on their way to SXSW and local acts. In case you couldn't tell by its name, the event was set up by Monster Pussy's Mullarkey, who never met a cat reference he didn't like. All MXMM shows will be held at the all-ages Tucson Live Music Space, located at 125 W. Ventura St.

Meow by Meow Meow kicks off on Friday, March 8, with a lineup featuring Los Angeles-based indie-folk artist Emperor X, sunny indie-pop duo You Me & Us, Family Thief, the Sadie Hawks, and Ex-Cowboy, whose performance will double as an all-ages release party for the band's new, self-titled album (see our review in this week's Rhythm & Views).

Two nights later, on Sunday, March 10, the festival continues with a show headlined by Kelso, Washington-based indie-poppers Seacats that also includes sets by San Diego's Shining Through, Cypress Estrada, and The O.V.'s ...And We Will All Become Astronauts.

And, on Tuesday, March 12, MXMM winds up with another great lineup of acts headlined by the Cali guitar-pop of Burger Records' Peach Kelli Pop and featuring retro-leaning dark/light pop act Maston, The Resonars, and Monster Pussy, who you should catch while you can, as Mullarkey will be moving to Phoenix soon.

All Meow by Meow Meow shows begin at 7:30 p.m., and admission to each one is a minimum donation of $5. All ages are welcome.

Similarly, the all-ages arts space Topaz, located at 657 W. St. Mary's Road, No. C1A, will also be hosting a three-night event – though the nights are also non-consecutive at this one – called the Two Lane Blacktop Festival featuring local acts as well as touring acts that are playing at SXSW, plus a whole lot more multimedia stuff. The second and third nights (or, as the venue is calling it, Parts 2 and 3) take place on March 16 and March 20, respectively, so we'll cover those in next week's issue.

Part 1 of Two Lane Blacktop will take place on Tuesday, March 12, and will include performances by Womb Tomb, Stickers and Pony Time, both from Seattle, Sleep Like Trees, and Mind Slums, who will also be presenting video installations.

Speaking of video, the night will also feature music video premieres from directors Nadine Roselle, Rory O'Rear, Ryan Glenn, and Jess Holzworth. The event also serves as the opening of the Malleable Earth art show featuring works by Claire Mirocha, Jeff Lownsbury, Sharon Moon, Alex Lombard, Adam Rodriguez, and Krysta Jabczenski.

This all-ages event begins at 8 p.m. sharp. Admission is a donation to the arts space, and beverages will be available by donation as well. For more information check out topaz-tundra.com or look for the Two Lane Blacktop event page on Facebook.

ON THE BANDWAGON

There are so many more shows this week I'd hoped to tell you about in detail, but, alas, I have run out of space. Be sure to check out our listings sections for tons more great stuff. In the meantime, here are but a few highlights:

Surf Off! featuring Shrimp Chaperone (who will be releasing a new CD at the show), The Furys, Al Perry, and Big Galoot at Plush next Thursday, March 14; The Pharmacy, Bradford Trojan, and Shit Ton (a new instrumental band featuring three former members of Mr. Free and the Satellite Freakout) at Plush on Saturday, March 9; Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis at UA Centennial Hall on Saturday, March 9; Reverend Horton Heat and Guttermouth at Club Congress on Wednesday, March 13; SambaDá and Batucaxé Carnival Extravaganza at the Rialto Theatre on Friday, March 8; D.R.I.'s "Last Leg of a 30 Year Tour" with Hillbilly Bo, Knuckle Junction and more at The Rock on Monday, March 11; The Pork Torta, Guantanamo Baywatch, Wooden Indian Burial Ground, and Shit Ton at The District Tavern on Monday, March 11; Bruce Cockburn at the Rialto Theatre on Wednesday, March 13; The Shivas, Acorn Bcorn, and Liila at La Cocina on Sunday, March 10; Pierce the Veil with Memphis May Fire and more at the Rialto Theatre next Thursday, March 14; Matt Costa and Carly Ritter at Club Congress next Thursday, March 14; Joshua James and Isaac Russell at Plush on Sunday, March 10; Mothership, Thorncaster, and Lizard Goiter at Surly Wench Pub tonight, Thursday, March 7; YG at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday, March 9; Arvel Bird at Abounding Grace Sanctuary on Saturday, March 9; Classic Albums Live: Abbey Road at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sunday, March 10; The Monitors, Jasper Drive, The Goodnight, Religious Girls, and Secret Meetings at Tucson Live Music Space on Saturday, March 9.