Imaginative, fun and often rowdy, singer/songwriter Bob Schneider is Austin's musical golden boy, and his opening set at the free SXSW showcase along the banks of Lady Bird Lake Friday night (3/20) proved it.

By the 6pm start time--early for an official SXSW gig-- thousands had filled the park, most laid out on blankets or awaiting the show's start up front. Once formally introduced by a local radio deejay, Schneider and his usual talented crew--guitarist Bill Cassis, bassist Harmoni Kelly, drummer Conrad Choucroun and multi-instrumentalist/backup dancer Oliver Steck--kicked off the 45-minute performance with "Captain Kirk," a well-known, easy-going track from his 2004 release, "I'm Good Now."

Known for his genre-bending creations and out-of-the-box rock, Schneider delivered on the audience's expectations with a sampling of styles that ranged from the bass-heavy funk of "Bullets" to the electronic-accented chant of "Cheaper." String extraordinaire and frequent guest musician Danny Levin joined in on fiddle and cello at various points, adding yet another layer of sound to Schneider's sonic concoctions. When he wasn't playing harmonica or trumpet--and sometimes even when he was--Steck kept the crowd entertained with his silly, though charming dance moves.

The air of the show was light and frivolous, perfect for a Friday afternoon concert that most cut out of work early to catch. Schneider capped off the gig with "40 Dogs," a new radio-worthy number, and the spicy "Tarantula," the obvious crowd favorite, both from his upcoming album, "Tarantula."