Not only will former Syracuse-University-band-turned-indie-rockers Ra Ra Riot perform at SXSW next week, they are also featured on BuzzFeed’s “30 Under 30” list of bands to see at this year’s festival.

The list, compiled by the social website, BuzzFeed, and one of its partners, Taco Bell, consists of 30 bands with members under the age of 30 that staff members think are worth seeing this year at the South by Southwest festival.

Other well-known artists on the list include Alt-J, Passion Pit and Kendrick Lamar.

Ra Ra Riot, known for its mix of rock and orchestral arrangements, made a name for itself by touring with the likes of Jack’s Mannequin and Tokyo Police Club in the early stages of its career.

Now, the band has released three full-length albums. Departing from its original sound, the band received mixed reviews for its third release, “Beta Love.” Instead of a baroque-pop sound, the new album — the first since cellist Alexandra Lawn left the band — features a more contemporary synth-pop sound.

SXSW, a platform for small bands to jumpstart their careers, is held every spring in Austin, Texas. This year, the music festival runs March 12-17.

Distinctive to SXSW, performances are everywhere, from bars to stages and hotels to Whole Foods Markets. The annual event attempts to cater to all music tastes, including electronic, hip-hop and bluegrass.

The entire SXSW event is separated into three parts: interactive, film and music. The film and music portions feature independent projects, while the interactive festival consists of panels and presentations from up-and-coming minds in the technology industry.

Taco Bell and its “Feed The Beat” program are inviting fans to contribute to a fan-made “rockumentary” featuring Passion Pit and Wildcat! Wildcat! Those who aren’t traveling to Austin can watch the filming, followed by a live-streaming concert, on the program’s website March 11.

Published on March 3, 2013 at 11:31 pm

Contact Joe: jtinfant@syr.edu | @joeinfantino