An American Chinese

Fri., Aug. 28, 9 p.m., $10, with Savoir Adore, The Armchairs and Grandchildren, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

by John Vettese

rock/pop

Gotta love a band that gives you options. On their Panic Pilgrim EP, local faves An American Chinese were largely in a nomadic folksy storytelling mood (best exemplified by the subdued bounce of "Blaine Wiggins, Failed Magician"). But they also pulled off the odd acousto-rocker ("No, No Like That"). Cuts from their new Utopian Tree seem to sound like neither side, adopting either a dreamy Elephant 6 bent ("Metropolis") or going in the direction of, like, a technotronic hellbent Polyphonic Spree ("Chasing Rabbit"). The result? Everybody will like at least something they play, and at least somebody will like everything.