Tom Lynch

Last time Brooklyn’s Pela was in town, at this very venue back in February, lead singer Billy McCarthy took a tumble and diced his hand on a broken pint glass, severing tendons, which required surgery and a cancellation of the tour. Apparently he’s all better, as the band returns to the scene of the accident. After about a year of listening to "Anytown Graffiti," it’s become relatively clear to me that Pela’s one of the most promising rock bands out there. Straightforward indie-rock with slight post-punk drippings, Pela survives on McCarthy’s deep, expressive voice, maybe a bit too hipster-cool for some tastes, but you have to admit, fits this sort of musical mayhem quite well. The simple pleasures one derives from songs like "Lost to the Lonesome," "Drop Me Off" and "Tenement Teeth" are enough to keep any record afloat, and adding on the more reflective tracks like "Trouble with River Cities" and "Your Desert’s Not a Desert at All" makes "Anytown Graffiti" its own sort of mini-epic. The album spins and spins.

Pela plays May 21 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, at 9pm. $10.

(2008-05-13)

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