Elbow

I'm certain that Elbow front man Guy Garvey was once that precocious child who simultaneously enchanted and annoyed the fuck out of everyone . . . except he never grew out of it . . . and then he started a band. Elbow has received plenty of endorsements from fellow musicians and critics alike over the years, all of it well-deserved. The Manchester-hailing quintet has established themselves as an intelligent band to reckon with, consistently delivering an evocative combination of imagery-loaded lyrics and finely layered instrumentation. But don't let any of that annoy you too much. Radiohead should have increased your tolerance for precocious musicians years ago. And compared to Thom Yorke, Garvey is an absolute doll. With Air Traffic. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave., 628-3151. 8 p.m. $16.50 adv./$18. ERIKA HOBART
Mon., May 5, 8 p.m., 2008