EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY@ AUDITORIUM SHORES 2009: Explosions In The Sky are Austin hometown heroes, and their spare and twinkly post-rock dives and wails famously soundtracked some of the biggest moments on Friday Night Lights, one of the Austin area's greatest contributions to the general cultural landscapes. (The fictional town of Dillon was filmed nearby.) But it was still a surprise when thousands upon thousands of locals descended upon the free outdoor stage to watch their instrumental slow-burns, raising plastic cups to every ascending rumble. It was a rare rock-star moment for a band who have never carried themselves like stars, and it ended with a breathtaking 15-minute fireworks display -- literal explosions in the sky.

KANYE WEST @ VEVO POWERSTATION, 2011: In one sense, the self-aggrandizing Kanye West superhero moment that closed out last year's SXSW was the antithesis of what SXSW is supposed to be about. But in another, it fit nicely with the highlight-new-acts mission, as Kanye gave the first half of his set over to his G.O.O.D. Music comrades (Mos Def, Pusha T, Mr. Hudson, Big Sean, CyHi Da Prince, Kid Cudi), whose perfectly designed mini-sets rocketed by. Taking the stage in front of a supremely amped crowd around 3 a.m., Kanye finally gave a sweaty and emotive performance, then brought out his Watch the Throne collaborator Jay-Z, the biggest possible surprise guest, to general bedlam. So yes, a superstar moment in the end, but one done right.

ODD FUTURE @ SCOOT INN, 2011: Since Odd Future thwacked Austin with a number of memorable shows (Fader Fort) as well as a memorable meltdown (Mess With Texas), nothing quite showcased the hysteria like the all-ages show at the Scoot Inn, where those left outside the venue simple broke down the fence in order to witness the insane energy (and no-joke dangerous stage-dives) that the group injected into 2011’s festival.

TRASH TALK @ RED 7, 2010: I saw these Sacramento hardcore warriors mostly blind, merely going on a friend's recommendation when I had a few slow minutes. In the crowd just before they started, Fucked Up's Damian Abraham told me that Trash Talk were the most violent band he'd ever seen, and those are big words from that guy. Trash Talk lived up. It's not easy to start a mosh pit at SXSW, but Trash Talk's 15-minute set (if that) turned into immediate bedlam -- bodies flying over, speaker stacks threatening to collapse, minute-long blenderpunk tantrums issuing forth. Magical stuff.