The Spinto Band

Fri., Oct. 17, 8 p.m., $12, all ages, with Frightened Rabbit and The Sw!ms, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

by Kevin Pearson

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Published: Oct 14, 2008

rock/pop

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While some might argue against the "local" part of the "local boys done good" tag, you can get to Wilmington, Del., on SEPTA, which makes The Spinto Band honorary Philadelphians. The first time I saw the sextet perform, at West Philadelphia's Avant Gentleman's club, they were electrifying (and electrified, thanks to several stinging shocks from their microphones). That was a few years ago, though, before the mandolin-propelled "Oh Mandy" became advertisement soundtrack fodder and landed them support slots with The Arctic Monkeys. While that piece of pop perfection — a song England's Sunday Times named one of the best of 2006 — could've been an albatross around their neck, the Spintos are back with a sixth album, Moonwink (Park the Van), which throttles said albatross and throws it overboard. Stuffed full of quirky keys, off-kilter melodies, and more hooks than a coat-hanging convention, Moonwink is catchy, contagious and conspicuously mandolin-free.

Fri., Oct. 17, 8 p.m., $12, all ages, with Frightened Rabbit and The Sw!ms, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

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