TV on the Radio, Sleigh Bells, Flying Lotus Kick Off SXSW With Warehouse Gig

Kicking off a week filled with performances all over town, TV on the Radio chose to play their first show of SXSW last night in what essentially amounts to a warehouse. With low-ceilings and a small stage, the intimate venue is not where you expect to find huge acts like TVOTR, Sleigh Bells and Flying Lotus (who played a DJ set), but that's the magic of SXSW.

Sleigh Bells -- the buzziest band of last year's SXSW -- opened the night with a set that included every hit in their repertoire, with the band cranking up the volume even higher (as if that were possible) for smash hits 'Tell 'Em' and 'Rill Rill.'

Leading Lady Alexis Krauss -- who was just named in our '25 Women Who Rock' list -- was all over the place during the performance, bouncing around in her American-flag-patterned spandex pants while clapping hands with people in the crowd. The band's flashing strobe light was so bright and the room so small, it was like trying to contain a rainbow in a shoebox.

Flying Lotus, the experimental beat-maker from California, filled the silence between acts with a DJ set as the crowd went about enjoying the free arcade games and skee ball provided by Zynga Dog House for the party.

Headliners TV on the Radio took the stage just before midnight and appeared in reasonable spirits despite the news that bassist Gerard Smith has been diagnosed with lung cancer and won't be performing with the band during SXSW or their upcoming tour while seeking treatment. The Brooklyn-based band played an array of tracks that included older gems like 'Wolf Like Me' and a sped-up version of 'Staring at the Sun' that reminded fans why live music is indeed so much fun.

They also played two new songs from their forthcoming studio album, 'Nine Types of Light,' which will be released April 12.

TV on the Radio fans can look forward to hearing more from the upcoming album when the band plays AOL Music and Spinner's SXSW showcase on Thursday, March 17 at Stubb's Bar-B-Q, alongside Foster the People, Portugal. the Man, Noah and the Whale, and Charles Bradley.