March 18, 2007 3:58

The Ponys, Black Lips rock SXSW daytime party

Deerhunter also play Don't Mess With Texas event

Hotly tipped Atlanta bands Deerhunter and Black Lips rocked the Don't Mess With Texas party at South by Southwest today (March 17).

Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox pranced around the stage in a green dress throughout their set while guitarist Colin Mee and bassist Josh Fauver got into a kick-boxing match.

The quintet - which Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs recently touted in her blog - added some colour to the event with face painting and balloons, and ran through tracks including 'Wash Off', 'Octet', and 'Flourescent Gray' - a new song from their EP due out in April.

Black Lips played a blues-infused set of garage rock, while members of Deerhunter cheered and sang along in the audience.

"It's great because a lot of bands from Atlanta are here so it's really like a family affair," Cox told NME.COM.

Chicago quartet The Ponys also shared the Don't Mess With Texas bill, as did several comedians including Eugene Mirman and David Cross, who performed stand-up routines on a second stage.

For all the latest blogs, gossip and news live from Texas, check out www.nme.com/newmusic.