The Decemberists' Colin Meloy / Photo by Matt Kiser

THE REST

Least Likely to Become a Stand-Up Comedian: Human Highway’s Nick Thorburn
Indie label Suicide Squeeze’s showcase at Red Eyed Fly was packed with booze-fueled folks insistent on buoyant chit-chat, making it tough for the delicate ‘50s-inspired pop of Montreal’s Human Highway to carve out any breathing room. In an attempt to engage the throng, co-frontman Nick Thorburn lobbed a few poorly-executed one-liners that didn’t do much to help his cause. “Why are you wearing a suit?” Thorburn asked a sharply-dressed fellow up front. “Didn’t you just get fired?”  Later on, he tried this tired line: “We are going to play a few more songs, and then we’re going to pass around a petition to get Billy Bob Thornton to stop playing South by Southwest.”  -- PG

Most Hipsterrific Band: Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
Lanky dudes in ironic muscle tank tops and skinny pastel-colored jeans. A willowy blonde in a vintage, prom-style dress. Such is the stage attire of Seattle electro-pop young’uns Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, whose sweetly conceived, tongue-in-cheek jams about dating and ponytails pleased the SXSW crowd. Great to see that their day-glo infused, all-smiles live show is beginning to outshine their attention-grabbing name. -- PG

Holy Roller Award: M. Ward
Praise the lord! At SXSW, M. Ward transformed himself into a hip church camp counselor. Standing at the altar of a Presbyterian church turned rock venue, with a huge wooden crucifix behind him, Ward sang about innocent summer love (a piano rendition of “Hold Time”) and the power of faith (“You Still Believe in Me”). The hipsters seated in the pews applauded, while in the back a 50-something woman who belonged to the congregation who helped run the show, stood solemnly, hands clasped over her mouth, mesmerized. -- WG

Heroic Lifesaver: Jeremy Jay
Just when the Morrissey-meets-Carrot-Top vocals of Parenthetical Girls’ androgynous singer Zac Pennington had lost the crowd's interest, Jeremy Jay resuscitated the K Records/Asthmatic Kitty showcase. With his mop top, neatly tucked-in plaid shirt, and dorky lyrics about riding moonbeams and walking the beach, Jay seemed right out of the ‘70s. It was almost as good as Lou Reed making a guest appearance on The Brady Bunch. -- WG

READ THE BEST AND THE WORST FROM SXSW WEDNESDAY.