Soundadvice

Get Out!

While electroclash evaporated and nu rave ran out of steam, Omaha's dance-pop punks The Faint continue to march to their own pre-programmed drum. Sure, the new songs are a little slower and more minimal than previous outings, but the synths still squelch like bare feet in wet sneakers. And after more than 10 years of robotic ruminations on the world's social ills, The Faint still juxtapose their lyrical bite by putting on one hell of a live show.

—Kevin Pearson

Sun., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., $18-$25, all ages, with Jaguar Love and Shy Child, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

Inside the relatively rudimentary confines of an indie-rock quartet, the L.A.-based Bodies of Water combine gospel-style, multipart, male/female vocal harmonies with Ennio Morricone's Western motifs, elements of tropicalia and occasional heavy-metal riffing. Live, they prefer passion and exuberance to precision, belting out each tune as if every show is a never-ending encore. And while the group's recently released second album plumbs more subdued emotional depths than their debut, Bodies of Water are still well worth diving into.

—Kevin Pearson

Sat., Aug. 16, 8 p.m., $10, with Port O'Brien and Private Sea, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. , 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

Frisky as honeymooners and trusty like old buddies, Evil Janet's Brian Ziprin and Janet Kim regroup with a new rhythm section and bared teeth. Ziprin's nervy guitar dominates, while Kim elbows him aside every now and then with a warble worthy of the impish spawn of Throwing Muses and Deerhoof.

—M.J. Fine

Sat., Aug. 16, 9 p.m., $8, with Boy Genius, the Busses and The Bye Byes, Manhattan Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577, themanhattanroom.com.

A good pops concert can be a nice change of pace from the usual serious concert hall fare, like a frosty pilsner instead of a dry red wine. The gold standard for such shows is the Boston Pops, in town Wednesday with a touring version known as the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Conductor Keith Lockhart will present a Bernstein festival of sorts, with music from ballet and film (On the Waterfront) and of course, Broadway, including tunes from On the Town, West Side Story and Candide. The band will be joined by a quintet of vocal soloists.

—Peter Burwasser

Wed., Aug. 20, 8 p.m., $39-$85, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

This Seattle trio sails smoothly through the indie-pop landscape, dropping anchor at various reference points (C86, lo-fi), and sounds as though everything was recorded in an empty hull. Their jangly, catchy, playful "sloppy pop" songs are strummed and stuttered, while vocal registers rise and retreat like the tide.

—Kevin Pearson

Fri., Aug. 15, 8 p.m., $8, with Creeping Weeds, Drink up Buttercup and Greyhounds, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.