Pitchfork

Future of the Left [Emo's Jr.; 9:15 p.m.]

It was overcast when we arrived in Austin yesterday, but a little drizzle didn't stop South by Southwest from running like a well-oiled machine, full of parties, pork loin, and so much music my ears are full and probably leaking. And since Pitchfork has yet to institute a Best New Barbecue section, let's get right to that music.

Two thirds of Mclusky (R.I.P.) took the stage as two thirds of Future of the Left as the second band at the Beggars Banquet showcase, and after a short checking of the levels, they promptly made the transition from genial dudes to screaming maniacs. Armed with mean riffs and Andrew Falkous' barely contained rage, they played off-kilter, dissonant punk pop not unlike Mclusky. The distorted bass was deafening, the drums were furious and precise (which I chalk up to the fact that drummer Jack Egglestone was chugging Red Bull), and Falkous' lyrics were wry and violent. In between songs, he made sure to explain that going around punching cats is no way to spend an evening. "It's more of an afternoon pursuit."

Beirut [Emo's Main Room; 10 p.m.]

Next was Beirut, aka Zach Condon and his merry band of under-age minstrels, who looked like they had pilfered instruments from a high school band. Condon said he just turned 21 "and it's everything I hoped it would be." Most of the members of his army didn't look much older.

Despite significant sound problems, the crowd lurved Condon's every move, whether he was singing or playing either ukulele or trumpet (or maybe it was a cornet). He sang in French and in vibrato-filled English, covering Gulag Orkestar and Lon Gisland material. Seeing Condon live and hearing him speak, it became clear that his odd, almost operatic voice was the main draw. He used it like a puppet he could wear or discard at any moment. But "It's Not Easy Being Green" aside, Kermit never had Condon's ear for an enthralling melody.

Kidz in the Hall [Visions; 11 p.m.]

Since South by Southwest is generally dominated by indie rock, it wasn't a complete surprise to see the rap venue, Visions, only about half-full. But New Jersey DJ Double-0 and Chicago MC Naledge made the most of it with a set full of songs from their promising 2006 debut, School Was My Hustle.

After delivering a Rawkus history lesson to start the show, Double-0 double-tasked as Naledge's hype man from behind the turntables. Naledge played preacher and prophet, exhorting the crowd to express their love for hip hop and reciting lyrics about how rappers wear grills to hide the pain in their smiles. It was a wholesome experience that stood in contrast to the "pussy ain't nothing but a game to me" style of most of the other Visions acts. But then again, I have a soft spot for these guys because I live in Naledge's childhood neighborhood, so I get an extra kick out of references to Hyde Park as opposed to Compton or Queensbridge.

Devin the Dude [Visions; 1 a.m.]

The final nail in the coffin for the sex-and-weed-obsessed MCs at Visions was Devin the Dude's 1 a.m. set (uh...make that 1:30), which put the others to shame by doing what they did twenty times better. Devin covered only a few topics: smoking, driving, masturbation, prostitution, and taking dumps, but he covered all of them constantly and with a plainspoken cleverness that showed on his face. He had two facial expressions: kid-caught-stealing-from-the-cookie-jar and eye-roll, which, combined with his groin-pulling Gumby moves, made him the most expressive body in the room.

From his standard-heavy set, you wouldn't know Devin has a new album coming out on Tuesday, Waitin' to Inhale (yeah right), if it weren't for the posters everywhere. I have yet to hear the album, but the song with Snoop Dogg and Andre 3000, "What a Job", is a winning meditation on what good fortune it is to be able to work creatively for a living. "What a Job" wasn't in his set last night, but Devin ended on a similarly inspirational note with "Anythang", after which he offered a heartfelt "thank you" to the crowd for their support. If I had to guess what he did afterward, I'd say he very gratefully smoked a joint, masturbated, and took a dump.