Money Mark makes breakup sound breezy

Widely known as the fourth Beastie Boy for his extensive work with the hip-hop legends, Money Mark has largely focused on making funky instrumental tracks on his three previous solo albums. But on Brand New By Tomorrow, his latest release, Mark Ramos-Nishita picks up a microphone to sing songs about a recent breakup that are breezier than their subject matter.

In a short set at Buffalo Billiards' Orbit Room today, Mark was the essence of cool, leading his four-piece backing band through fun, melodic pop songs that showed the career instrumentalist to possess frontman chops. On "Summer Blue" and "Pick Up the Pieces," Mark made moving on sound like moving up, dropping lines like, "Melodies are meant to be free" in the midst of seeming heartbreak. In putting his own funky stamp on heartbroken indie pop, this Mark is on the money.

Pipettes' afternoon doo-wop

Seemingly beamed straight from the set of Happy Days, the Pipettes played a set of modernized 1960s girl group pop today, choreographed gestures and all. Dressed in black-and-white polka-dot minidresses and backed by an all-male quartet wearing yellow sweater-vests, the Brighton trio's cool pop was a sweet respite from the scorching temperatures outside.

Before a packed house at Flamingo Cantina, the girls sang one giddy, three-part harmony after another, matching the hype with which they came into SXSW. They brought a bit of pop punk flavor to the retro proceedings on tracks like "Dirty Mind," but this trio's popularity will depend on whether music fans are ready for a near-imitation of groups like the Ronettes.

Brother Ali's lyrical fury

Despite arriving from Minneapolis only minutes before his performance at Buffalo Billiards this afternoon, Brother Ali showed that he didn't check his mic skills at the gate. The powerful rapper, who has separated from his wife, been homeless, and struggled to gain custody of his son since his 2004 album Champion, was a beast on the mic. Ali blazed through a short set that featured his first single, "The Truth Is," from his forthcoming album, The Undisputed Truth, which hits stores April 10. On "Uncle Sam Go**amn," the rapper scorched the government with lines like, "Welcome to the United States / land of the beef / home of the slave." This is a man who clearly takes his torment out on the mic, to the benefit of fans of lyrical hip-hop.

Sondre Lerche changes his tune

Onetime prodigy Sondre Lerche has turned himself into a chameleon of sorts in recent years, but he has managed to maintain an uncanny ability to write compelling, romantic pop songs. Eschewing his prior solitary approach to making music, one that included 2006's Duper Sessions of jazz-flavored tracks, the Norwegian singer's latest work is beefier and more raucous.

In an afternoon set for broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio, Lerche played a handful of tracks from his new album, Phantom Punch, showing off a more aggressive energy and guitar-driven sound. Lerche is a hugely talented songwriter, one with the capacity to match the storied career of his greatest influence, Elvis Costello.