Goldfinch’s live performances have a perfect, tranquil quality to them. It’s like watching a well-oiled machine of melancholy, where harmonized vocals play with themes of forgiveness and loss while floating above tinkling music. The Tacoma band is essentially just Grace Sullivan and Aaron Stevens, but when they play live, their respective keyboards and guitar are backed by a drumset, cello, violin, and bass. That live music is a strong sonic earful, crescending when Sullivan and Stevens sing the chorus on “Go Easy On Me,” an emotionally charged apology for running away. “Go Easy On Me” is also the only song that sounds just as good on the band’s self-titled, self-released LP as it does live. The rest of the tracks sound flatter when recorded, and Stevens’ deep, low voice has a tendency to overpower both the instrumentals and Sullivan’s singing. It’s an unexpected reversal, that Goldfinch’s live performance has more power than the album. Maybe it’s because seeing this band feels like being enveloped in emotions, and that’s something stereo speakers or headphones just can’treplicate. With These United States, Dewi Saint, Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps.

Fri., Sept. 25, 9:30 p.m., 2009