Three years ago, The Wombats were the plucky indie-pop trio with a garage-rock energy that propelled them into the international eyeand got me looking for the first cheap ticket to Liverpool. But after a backbreaking, nonstop 18-month tour stint, the bands darker energy landed them a more refined, semi-jaded sound with a synth-heavy New Wave sensibility that sees keys taking the melodic lead over guitar. Never fearthey havent abandoned the penchant for catchiness, danceability and shouted choruses that made Kill The Director and Lets Dance to Joy Division hits. Throwing a bit of electro and grunge influence into their sound might seem like a clusterfuck, but complexity isn’t their aim, and the result is as enjoyably simple as one could imagine they set out for it to be. With Wild Party. NICK FELDMAN
Sat., June 4, 8 p.m., 2011
