The next best thing to not being at SXSW (there is none, really) is being friends with an amazing photographer who happens to BE DOWN THERE. Vancouver photog and occasional BSR snapper Kris Krüg has been snappin’ in Austin for what seems like a year, over SXSWi and the music festival, and has been sorta pwning all other photogs with his amazing alley, off-stage, at-showcase, up-close n’ lickable portraits and live shots. Here are some of my faves. Enjoy.

Sleater-Kinney and Helium forged together in one ball of FTW!: this is Mary Timony! Rebecca Cole! Carrie Brownstein! Janet Weiss! Otherwise known as Portland superhotgroup Wild Flag.

Wild Flag tear it up in front of a fair amount of dudes. And plaid.

The incomparable Carrie Brownstein. Being amazing. ‘Cos, like, that’s how she rolls. When she’s not being amazing in Portlandia.

The Nicest Beard in Rock! It’s Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters! Wanna see more? Check out KK’s stunning Foos pics from the SXSWi closing bash by Media Temple.

Aww, the joys of yoof. This is PDX’s Morning Teleportation. They got a leg up from Issac Brock from Modest Mouse and record on his label, Glacial Pace Recordings. They also like to make with the goofing off. So I dig them for that.

Jack White. You may have heard of him. Umm, is this not an awesome picture or what?

Jack White’s pals The Greenhornes. They sort of rock like motherfuckers in a 60s/70s way.

The Naked and Famous from New Zealand. That hottie out front? That’s Alisa. Yum.

Ahhhh, Ron Sexsmith, who was down south to promote his new documentary Love Shines. The BackstageRider has spent many a night hangin’ with Ron and his band (my best friend Tim Bovaconti is his guitarist) in Toronto, Vancouver, London. We’ve played soccer at backyard BBQs, had beers on Boxing Day and I even helped him sing the Canadian National Anthem on stage with 20 others at Trafalgar Square. He’s a mensch. With an awsomeful shirt.

Here’s Kiyomi M. from hot hot hot hot hot Toronto rock threesome Hunter Valentine. And when I say hot, I mean, would you fucking look at her? Argh. She even made it onto AfterEllen.com’s top hot women list. Here’s an interview with ’em.

Toronto rocks out! Kiyomi and Ron. One of them is substantially prettier than the other.

Seattle hip-hopster Astronautalis shows us the light and the way.

The suave, the debonaire, the stylin’ Fitz & The Tantrums from LA: Noelle and Michael.

Have you got change? Here’s Buck 65 and supercutie Halifaxian Jenn Grant hangin’ out and hangin’ together at the Canadian Blast BBQ.

My young, pretty boyfriend Diamond Rings. Yes, yes, yes, you all know I adore him, blah blah blah. And aside from the fact that he’s fantastic live, he takes a mean photo, don’t he? Mama was filled with pride when she learned that KK and JohnO – who first met last October for our BSR photoshoot – were reunited down in Austin. BRINGING BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE TOGETHER SINCE THE PAST YEAR, I am the BACKSTAGERIDER!

Diamond Rings doffs his cap to SXSW. As do I. And to Kris Krüg for the awesome shots. Next year, Texas, YOU’RE MINE.