In a few weeks we join the herd and migrate south by southwest to Austin, where the bands are second in number only to the brands. And we’re throwing our own branded show (what’s up, Taco Bell and Rdio) rife with great bands and free tacos. It’s called Range Life, as we like to call these parties because Texas. It’s a free day show at noon on Friday, March 15th, at the Hype Hotel (3rd St. and San Jacinto). This year we’re opening things up with the melodic Ride-in-the-garage Philly outfit Bleeding Rainbow, and following them with the cinematic prog prettiness of Hundred Waters the blistery hardcore of METZ, FL mixtape emissary Kitty (aka the rapper no longer going as Pryde), the squishy E6 psychedelics of Youth Lagoon, and the owner of one of last year’s best singles/this year’s best video cameos, Sky Ferreira. Woven between those performances will be interstitial rap sets by our Master Of Ceremonies, Lakutis. It’s the sort of lineup that allows you to wander in at any point, look up at the stage, and experience some “band to watch” during SXSW 2013. Servicey! And proper.

This show is entirely free to all — no festival badge or wristband necessary — provided you are 21+ and you RSVP for the Hype Hotel. You can skip the line by using the Rdio app — more info on that below. That poster by Ho-Mui Wong has the relevant show info, but if you want the timetable, it’s here, along with the Rdio-sponsored-expedited-entry details:

12:15 Bleeding Rainbow
1:00 Hundred Waters
2:00 METZ
3:00 Kitty
4:00 Youth Lagoon
5:00 Sky Ferreira
Master Of Ceremonies: Lakutis

RSVP here. If you also sign up for The Rdio List you get priority access via a separate, dedicated Rdio line. To get on the list, sign up for a free Rdio account at rdio.com, then go to TheList.Rdio.com and reserve a pass for the band performances you want to attend. Entry is subject to venue capacity.

See you there.