• Harp Magazine went to South by Southwest in Austin, caught a couple of Pittsburgh bands and then died.

The rock magazine designed for mature readers called it quits on Monday with a Web post that said the 7-year-old publication "struggled to become profitable." The final issue has Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters on the cover. Apparently, they didn't get the Blender memo that you need to have a hot female on the cover.

Before bowing out, Harp published an SXSW report that included two Pittsburgh bands among the highlights.

It called the Modey Lemon set at Room 710 on Saturday "Pedal-to-the-metal power trio in full skronkadelic overdrive mode, like early Flaming Lips crossed with early Led Zep."

It referred to The Cynics as the "Eveready Bunny," adding, "with Gregg Kostelich spitting out classic garage licks with the dark-shaded determination of a Mob hitman, and Michael Kastelic commanding the stage like some bastard child of Jagger and Johansen, they had the entire crowd eating out of their hands and howling for more."

• There were fewer Pittsburgh acts at SXSW this year. Also attending were Wiz Khalifa, Black Moth Super Rainbow and Power Pill Fist (of BMSR).

Speaking of Black Moth, while the band works on a new album, it is releasing a new 7-inch single in May called "Zodiac Girls" and promises "some really strange collaboration work later in the year." The band sold out the first pressing 1,000 double LP versions of "Dandelion Gum" with pink vinyl and an extra track.

• The Cocktail Shakers will be your hosts Friday for another Rockabilly Riot Night at Howler's Coyote Cafe in Bloomfield.

On the card with the Shakers will be Homeward Bound (from Toledo), The Star Devils (from Kentucky) and Pittsburgh's own Memphis Mike & the Legendary Tremblers. DJ Junior will spin his vintage '50s vinyl with special appearances from the Notorious Lucky, The Painproof Man. Watch out for the possibility of roller derby gals serving drinks. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Cover is between $3 and $5.

-- Scott Mervis