Anyone who appreciates the cacophonous, unholy union of the Climax Golden Twins and the A-Frames or the arresting experiments of Feral Children should put X-Ray Press at the top of the list of bands to check out. This is not to say that this quartet sound like either of those bands, but simply that they seem to be coming from similar viewpoints. Taking its name from a creative music-smuggling technique used by Soviet Union college students during the Cold War, the local band utilizes their jazz backgrounds to explore and deconstruct classic, Regan-era punk sounds. The resulting Fugazi-meets-the-Minutemen-meets-Coltrane mix is challenging, but enthralling. HANNAH LEVIN

Tue., Feb. 9, 8 p.m., 2010