The Boy Least Likely To, Brenmar Someday, Skeletons & Girl-Faced Boys, Walter Meego

THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO
As visions of sugarplums and fairies dance in our heads, two giddy little Englishmen are happy to provide the soundtrack. The whimsical duo, The Boy Least Likely To, has raided the music rooms of early learning centers and primary school practice halls to create the sweetest album since — well, were records ever made of chocolate? Their impressive debut, the aptly titled The Best Party Ever, is full of elementary instrumentation including recorders, bells, Casio keyboards and woodblocks. Galloping guitars and skipping basslines surround childlike melodies that could easily be sung at storytime. Singer Jof and instrumentalist Peter have created a sound as lighthearted as Dexy’s Midnight Runners and as innocent as They Might Be Giants. Although, sadly, their first headlining tour has been cancelled for an opening slot for James Blunt, The Boy Least Likely To is certain to make better decisions in the future. (Appearing with James Blunt at the Riviera on March 25) –text: Gina Pantone

BRENMAR SOMEDAY
You know those young genius home-recording types that the Pitchforks and alternative weeklies are always raving about? Brenmar Someday is one of those. He’s spent the last few years turning a room in his mother’s house into a fine cave full of loose wires, novelty instruments, junkyard sequencers and bleeping blipping boxes that most of us couldn’t even fathom. It seems like every time he emerges, he’s got another EP and that with each recording, he’s tweaked his sound. His first demo was all blip hop and ambient dubs. His collaboration with Elissa P wavered between crisp piano pop and avante garde noise. The last time I saw him play, he was rockin Anticon-brand hip hop with a local Dose One-type. For this show, he’ll be joined by Adam Langston and Mike Silvestri, who’ll be layering traditional instruments over the electronics. (Appearing with Skeletons & the Girl-Faced Boys at Empty Bottle on March 22) –text: Eric Lab Rat

SKELETONS & THE GIRL-FACED BOYS
Sometimes Skeletons and the Girl-Faced Boys sound like a horde of robots run amok. At other times their sound is delicately layered and tenderly melodic. And that can all be during the course of one song. Skeletons, a.k.a. Matt Mehlan, started playing with experimental electronic pop sounds on his own but collaborations with other musicians led to the establishment of compatriots in noise, The Girl-Faced Boys. Together they create the sound of electricity that’s gotten free of the wires. Impossible to pen in and at times uncomfortable, sometimes they’re putting forth funky electro-pop and at other times an unapproachable sonic mess seemingly inspired by cheap Halloween haunted house soundtracks. Still, with lyrics like, “We won’t be proud / We’ll just think you’re an idiot,” how can you not like this group? (Appearing with Brenmar Someday at Empty Bottle on March 22) –text: Noah Levine–photo: Will Calcutt

WALTER MEEGO
I can’t quite figure out what to make of Chicago’s Walter Meego. Just when the beats and loops point in one direction, Justin Sconza’s vocals drop in and suddenly I think I’m listening to a George Harrison record. I’ve been inclined to call the band electro-pop, dance, and post-rock at different moments and the reality is that they are all of those things…a feat rarely pulled off successfully. The track “Usually” fuses a danced-up juke joint stomp with muted horn parts and, perhaps surprisingly, the result is thoroughly enjoyable. The disparate elements are weaved together with rich and elegant production that begs for a set of headphones. The band has honed its live skills opening for the likes of Caribou and Tom Vek, and noted indie label Brilliante Records will release their full-length debut, Hollywood, on March 28. If you’re feeling particularly impatient you can pick up a copy at the Empty Bottle show, which will serve as the official release party. (Appearing at Empty Bottle on March 24) –text: Don Bartlett