The Dead Science's Sam Mickens sings cracked art-pop songs with pants-on-fire urgency, while his band smashes orchestral elements together with anarchic glee. The results aren't exactly hummable, but the Dead Science's songs have an itchy, madcap appeal that's not unlike stumbling upon a mental patient's video diary on YouTube.

Sholi is a San Francisco Bay Area alternative/experimental band consisting of songwriter/guitarist Payam Bavafa, drummer Jonathon Bafus, and bassist Eric Ruud. "Attention-getting musicianship, with a drummer that knows when to hold back and when to unleash a busy, all-encompassing percussive racket, a strong and versatile singer in guitarist Payam Bavafa, and overall, the taste to discern what to do and when...indie rock truisms, a la the Walkmen, and a traditional side to handle the ethnic material like Morricone might have, with a lot of instrumental flash and a noble, heads-up presence." -DUSTED

Active Crime Transplant, a saxophone/laptop duo, opens.