Pitchfork

Imperial Teen [Antone's 9 p.m.]

Although we've been planning our SXSW itineraries for weeks, plotting the most efficient routes from day party to showcase to afterparty, one of the greatest pleasures of the festival is its element of surprise. Who knows who will show up at this thing?

Case in point: Last night's Imperial Teen performance at the Merge showcase at Antone's was attended by none other than Kim Deal. The alt-rock icon brought Imperial Teen along as the opening act on the last Breeders tour, and she sported her trademark infectious grin as the band played its first show since July.

Kim's giddiness was shared by the rest of the packed crowd, who lapped up new songs from Imperial Teen's long-awaited forthcoming album The Hand, The TV, The Baby, and The Band. (I think that's what they said it was called. It might be The Ham rather than The Hand? I kind of hope it's The Ham. That would be sweeeet.) UPDATE: APPARENTLY IT'S THE HAIR, THE TV, THE BABY, AND THE BAND. NOT HAND OR HAM. HAIR.

Fresh tracks like "Do It Better" and "The Room With a View" displayed Imperial Teen's knack for sugar-sharp indie pop, blending with old favorites like "You're One", "Lipstick", and "Yoo Hoo" (why was that last one not a huge hit?!) into a sticky-sweet confection that ended way too early.

The coolest thing about Imperial Teen's set was drummer/bassist Lynn Perko, six months pregnant and rocking away. That baby is going to rule.

The Twilight Sad: Mohawk Patio [10:45 p.m.]

The Twilight Sad's set at the Mohawk Patio lacked the explosiveness of their excellent debut album, Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters (due April 18 on Fat Cat), for several reasons: Shitty sound, broken bass strings, and an extremely drunk singer. Or at least James Graham seemed extremely drunk-- maybe spending most of the set with his eyes closed and/or with his back to the audience, intermittently shouting into the air rather than the microphone, is just his thing.

Nonetheless, there was no denying that the Twilight Sad are a powerful band, melding emo vocals/lyrics with post-rock noise in a way that scratches an itch I didn't know existed. And when Graham dropped to his knees to pound a cymbal, as the music crashed all around him, that power came through loud and clear.

I also caught Chicago faves Flosstradamus and Kid Sister at the Super!Alright! space, but the place was so crowded and dripping with "cool" that I couldn't stay very long. And over at Stubb's, Leeds' Sunshine Underground opened the NME/Zune showcase with tunes from their solid City Rockers debut Raise the Alarm (What? No ringing?). Their best song, "Borders", is the kind of soaring anthem that will sound amazing echoing out over Glastonbury or whatever as the sun sets and thousands of drunk British people sing along, but in front of a bunch of bored industry folks waiting for Lily Allen to come on, it kind of sank.