I tried to catch buzz band Broken Bells doing an impromptu 1:00 PM set in the Red River Street garage that was hosted by AOL Music, but the line was too damn long. I wandered up the street to see what was happening at the Mohawk, one of Austin’s finest smaller clubs. This was where I made my first surprise discovery, in the form of Yukon Blonde. The Vancouver-based quartet were rocking a vibrant sound on the outdoor stage that recalled My Morning Jacket and Neil Young & Crazy Horse. Three-part harmonies elevated the tunes further and it was clear this band had both excellent musicianship and strong songwriting skills. A powerful jam at the end of their set brought things to a rousing conclusion before the appreciative audience.
