It’s a classic Austin story. Every night, unsuspecting tourists stumble onto the Saxon Pub on North Lamar in the “Live Music Capitol of the World.” Some have heard about the venue’s reputation for showcasing the best local talent for almost three decades. Some are just thirsty. But any that come on a Monday night, maybe for the big weekly Bob Schneider show, will find themselves treated to one of the best up and coming singer-songwriters in town, Brian Pounds. “This is my favorite song I’ve ever written,” Brian says ruefully, leaning into the mic.

As the night progresses, you’ll hear that phrase several more times. It’s an inside joke. The truth is that any one of Brian’s songs could be his favorite, and yours too. Those outside the world of Austin songwriters may know of Brian from his appearance on Season 5 of NBC’s “The Voice,” where the young artist was handpicked by Blake Shelton. Brian’s voice is unmistakably strong; landing somewhere between the stylings of James Taylor and Chris Stapleton. It’s the kind of voice that gets strangers to perk up from behind their drinks at the bar. But his secret weapon is his songwriting. After the initial impact of hearing that

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]