SXSW Performer: Silversun Pickups (Los Angeles, CA)

Shoegaze revivalists Silversun Pickups offer a swirling mess of musical flavors that includes liberal pinches of My Bloody Valentine and Smashing Pumpkins, among other identifiable strains, along with a dash of Lou Reed and an Emril-like BAM! of Sonic Youth. By all rights, the resulting stew should taste awful, but the group manages to rise above its copycat instincts by producing well-crafted songs that make up for in punch what they lack in originality. 2006's "Carnavas" exposed the Los Angeles-based outfit to an eager mainstream audience; the disc produced two Top Ten singles on Billboard's Modern Rock chart. "Swoon," the band's latest, is due in stores this April.

Performing Saturday, March 21 (time to be announced) at Antone's (213 W 5th St.)

website: http://www.silversunpickups.com