When an actor who is also a frustrated musician decides to start their own band, the end result can often be summed up with the word "sucks" ... which is why Juliette Lewis' Friday night (3/17) performance at the Austin Music Hall was a nice surprise.

Clad in a skintight, yellow bodysuit--under which she quite obviously wore nothing more than a thong--calf-high, white, stiletto-heeled boots and white kneepads, Lewis put her formidable acting skills to use by giving an Oscar-worthy portrayal of a bona-fide rock star.

The "Oh my gosh, that's the chick from the movies" factor only goes so far, and Lewis clearly wasn't banking on it to keep her audience engaged. Instead, she gave a completely credible punk-rock performance that answered that long-burning question: What would happen if scientists fused Iggy Pop and David Lee Roth together in the form of a hot, lithe, athletic, long-haired brunette woman?

Lewis was the definition of self-assured as she strutted about the stage, flirtatiously cavorted with her bandmates, and belted out song after song in a nasally-yet-powerful voice. She and her group showed just how much confidence they had in their ability to deliver the goods by starting the performance with "You're Speaking My Language," the title track from their 2005 debut, and the only cut that any casual listener may have heard before setting foot in the venue.

By the time their 45-minute set had ended, Lewis--who capped the show by twice diving into the audience for some crowd surfing--and her band had proved they were the real deal, and were worth checking out for more than just her star-power.