When Owen Ashworth was just an unknown film school dropout recording minimalist pop in his bedroom for an audience of dozens, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone seemed an apt band name. More recently, with the litany of collaborations, stage-­sharing tours and split releases Ashworth has enjoyed over the past year or so, Ashworth might want to consider renaming his band. Not that CFTPA’s music has changed that much. Ashworth still favors lo-fi production and basic yet affecting melodies; earnestness still defines the CFTPA songbook. It’s only that he grows ever less painfully alone. With every new release of cheap-beat bliss and naked lyricism, his already strong cult following comes closer and closer to mainstream indie ­superstardom. With Baby Panda, Kids & Animals, the Girl with Violent Arms. All ages. NICHOLAS HALL

Thu., Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m., 2010