Crystal clear

With a name like Crystal Skulls, and with their tour mates being Black Mountain, I was sort of expecting this Seattle outfit to be more psychedelic; instead they sound more like a jumped up Postcard band crossed with 1970s powerpop. Good, though.

Christian Wargo sings and strums while new lad Mark Richardson handles keyboards and percussion.



Ryan Phillips tickled the ivories (or whatever they make piano keys out of nowadays) on the band's album, but was on guitar full time on Monday.



That's bassist Yuuki Matthews between Phillips and Wargo. He was bobbing and weaving so enthusiastically that he bobbed out of my camera frame in my other shots.



Like Wargo, drummer Casey Foubert has worked with Pedro the Lion (Wargo's also done time with the Danielsen Famile).



That's the lot.



They have an upcoming tour with the Wedding Present. Most would say it's a far better match stylistically than Black Mountain, but I personally prefer a diverse musical ticket: Both rock and roll.

• Show reminder: Mono Hum (with the addition of Casey Comeau on organ) play Irene's tonight with z'Howndz from Toronto.