The Hype: When am I going to learn? If it’s Stubb’s and it’s late night, then the rumors must be flying. This time, the hot 1 a.m. super-secret guest appearance rumor had troubled popped star Britney Spears joining Pharrell Williams’ N.E.R.D. during their night closing set. Getting to see a N.E.R.D. set is special enough, but a Britney sighting outside of a convenience store bathroom or the emergency room? Priceless.

The show: Needless to say, Brit was a no-show. And frankly, that’s the best thing that could have happened, because N.E.R.D had plenty going on with a six-piece live band (including two drummers) and Williams’ boundless energy. A note to any hip-hop artist out there who still thinks putting on a show means packing the stage with a posse and playing canned beats: Pharrell’s got something for your ass.

With a wildly eclectic sound reminiscent of funk legend George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic orchestra, Williams led N.E.R.D. through punk-funk versions of “Brain,” “Back Seat Love” and “Maybe,” with the latter propelled by military drums, psychedelic funk keyboard runs and a trippy, Beatles-esque vibe. “Rock Star” lived up to its billing, with Pharrell practicing his high-kicking mosh pit moves and the stage filling up with nearly two dozen friends who thrashed around with the producer and co-rapper Shay Haley. After a drum solo and an almost-punk-rock-sounding new tune, the set ended with a raucous “Lapdance,” “Everyone Nose” and “She Wants to Move,” which morphed briefly into Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust.”

The Verdict: N.E.R.D. should definitely tour more often because they rock as hard as any rock band out there and Pharrell clearly loves performing live with a band.

Keep checking in with You R Here for more South by Southwest coverage throughout the festival, plus there’s plenty more over on our sister blog, MTV News’ Newsroom.

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