Ponytail

Fri., Aug. 22, 8 p.m., $10, with Don Caballero and An Albatross, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

by Kevin Pearson

rock/pop

Frank Hamilton

Don't let the name fool you. The members of Ponytail know how to let their hair down. Touted as one of today's best live bands, the Baltimore foursome plays prepubescent math rock with enough energy to power a small plane. They may look unassuming (their MySpace profile picture shows them smiling, with their arms wrapped around one another), but live they are assaultive. Singer Molly Siegel stands in the gun turret, firing off dissonant screams and yelps, while her bandmates provide propulsive rhythms and raucous guitar shredding. Underneath it all, Ponytail wants you to have a good time. They mix their primal sounds with a melodic sensibility that's part Television, part Dirty Projectors, part Yoko Ono. Their latest album, Ice Cream Spiritual (We Are Free), even features moments of ambience that serve as breathers from the contagiously catchy chaos.

Fri., Aug. 22, 8 p.m., $10, with Don Caballero and An Albatross, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.