From Solange's pink suit and Batillus' crushing doom metal to the gloomy pop of Diamond Rings, here's what we saw on Friday at SXSW. Oh, did we mention that Usher got on stage with The Afghan Whigs for a cover of "Climax"?

With swirling guitar solos over motorik rhythms, Toy plays the The Main for The Brooklyn Vegan Party.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Parquet Courts' penchant for Television and other '80s post-punk bands that you discover in college or at the record store is endearing, but ultimately, the four young chaps' set at Stubb's makes you want to pick up your own guitar.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Sporting a studded leather jacket and a rainbow guitar strap, Diamond Rings' John O'Regan (center) glams and glums out The Main.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Rapper Kendrick Lamar is rather ubiquitous at SXSW this year, and here performs at Stubb's for the Spin Magazine Party.

Adam Kissick for NPR

She prefers brains, but accepts breakfast burritos.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Batillus' concrete-slab-heavy doom metal levels The Junior for the Brooklyn Vegan Party.

Adam Kissick for NPR

The light, sparkling pop music of No Ceremony/// is like a dance party for one in your bedroom... or at least solo dance parties at the Red 7.

Adam Kissick for NPR

We're pretty sure that Papa loves The Band and that's fine by us. Here, they play Red Eyed Fly for the After the Goldrush Party.

Adam Kissick for NPR

From the land down under, gleeful dance-pop sextet Alpine plays Red 7.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Queen stance: Solange at Stubb's Spin Magazine party.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Another shot of Solange at Stubb's because, hey, that's a statue in the making.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Reach out and touch someone.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Atlanta's Trinidad James shows us his vertical leap at Stubb's.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Submissive Unicorn is your new band name.

Adam Kissick for NPR

Immortal Guardian brings ridiculous power metal — dungeons, dragons, and all — to the streets — 6th Street, to be specific.

Adam Kissick for NPR

The Screaming Eagle of Soul, Charles Bradley, performs at the Public Radio Rocks showcase at the Austin Convention Center.

Gary Miller / FilmMagic

Erykah Badu (left) joins Robert Glasper of the Robert Glasper Experiment for some R&B-drenched jazz at Sonos Studio.

Andy Sheppard / Redferns via Getty Images

So this is awesome: Usher joins The Afghan Whigs at The Fader Fort for a cover his steamy slow jam, "Climax."

Roger Kisby / Getty Images

Turn it up! Experimental psych-rock band Suuns plays the KEXP showcase at Mellow Johnny's.

Dave Lichterman for KEXP

Now including Wild Flag keyboardist Rebecca Cole, Telekinesis fleshes out its drum-driven pop at the KEXP showcase at Mellow Johnny's.

Dave Lichterman for KEXP

It's easy to bliss out to the moody pop music of Gliss at Mellow Johnny's for the KEXP showcase.

Dave Lichterman for KEXP

Noise-rock band KEN mode pummeling Red 7 at SXSW 2013.

Mike Katzif / WNYC

Noisy post-punk trio Metz is never not playing SXSW.

Mike Katzif / WNYC

Solange performs at Stubb's.

Adam Kissick for NPR

You can depend on Solange to be the best dressed anywhere — that pink suit! — but her commanding live presence at SXSW is a thing of wonder, even if her funky R&B can be quiet and unassuming. We also took in the crushing doom metal of Batillus, spazzed out to Metz, and got gloomy with Diamond Rings. And file this under Unexpected Guests: Usher got onstage with The Afghan Whigs during a of cover of "Climax." Really. See a gallery of photos here and follow us on Flickr for much, much more.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Filed in:

• Music