Portland – The Wonder Ballroom’s floor was covered with empty, trampled cups, discarded white t-shirts and plenty of sweat Friday night when Joey Bada$$ arrived to a sold-out Portland crowd. The 19-year-old has made his affinity for classic hip-hop artists very clear, both in his music and outside of it, but his presence solidifies it.
Austin – SXSW officially ended Sunday, but that’s a mostly ceremonial date: Saturday night hosts the last of the big showcases. Whether SXSW was structured this way or we accidentally put together a theme, Best New Bands’ Saturday schedule was made up of loud, energetic, party-all-night sets from Joey Bada$$, Sweater Beats, and Earl