Teenage Strangler

For all their whacked-out screechiness and their creepy name, you wouldn't expect Teenage Strangler to be so upbeat. The local trio sound sort of like a happy Sonic Youth. Though not overtly buzzed on too much Wellbutrin, the head-bopping drum beats, accidentally charming mumbled/shouted vocals, and canoodling between ultra-fuzzed rhythms and bright and warbly lead guitars meld into a woozy bliss. The band members claim to have punk influences, but they seem more likely to be descendents of the heady deconstruction of grunge and "alternative" in the early '90s. Instead of opting for catchy hooks and clearly defined song structure, they drench everything in a wash of feedback-laden noise. With Awesome Snakes and Bombay Sweets.
Sat., Dec. 12, 9 p.m., 2009