Vaccines 'Blow It Up' at Our First SXSW Pop-Up Show

If SXSW is all about discovering the next big band, you can stop right as it begins, because the Vaccines just kicked things off with the first AOL Pop-Up Show Series of 2011 -- thereby, announcing their intention to dominate the year in music. They did this in deeds, not words, as they powered through 30 minutes of music from their Columbia Records debut, 'What Did You Expect From the Vaccines?'

Of course, England already knows this, as their debut album is No. 2 in the UK this week, but the disc doesn't drop in America until May 31. Regardless, music fans and home viewers can watch the band's entire Pop-Up Set on AOL Music and relive the Vaccines tearing through soon-to-be-hits such as 'A Lack of Understanding' and 'Blow It Up.'

The band also showcased songs that are already bona fide hits, both in a tangible sense in the UK, and in the more telling sense in the international blogosphere -- 'Wrecking Ball (Ra Ra Ra),' 'Post Break-Up Sex' and 'If You Wanna.'

"Thanks for finding us," frontman Justin Young told the crowd, which gathered in front of the First Baptist Church, which Spinner turned into a temple of music for the surprise set.

Having just landed in America, Young was feeling a bit under the weather, which may explain not only the overcast skies, but also why he was short on words. The band just compensated by being big on the rock, in the anthemic, this-is-happening sense.

What else did you expect from the Vaccines? If the answer is greatness, you win.

Watch the Vaccines Perform at SXSW 2011

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