Mr. Gnome

The Cleveland duo packed onto the tiny stage at the front of the bar, one of the more makeshift venue spaces at SXSW. Mr. Gnome consists of Sam Meister on drums and Nicole Barille on fuzz guitar and vocals. Despite having what is probably the worst band name in the history of music, by the time they started their set, the skinny bar was packed in anticipation for the group's showcase. Using different microphones for a variety of tones, including one with incredibly long delay effects and some vocal loops, Mr. Gnome were resourceful as a duo and created a sound much bigger than just that of two. Sharing something in common with Widowspeak and Liz Phair, Mr. Gnome's sound is quite unique. With machinegun fire snare, sparse arrangements and great delivery, this duo are definitely one to watch, if you can just get past the name.