Indie folk veteran Paleface is on the road in support of One Big Party, his new record that launched earlier this year. Traveling with drummer Monica “Mo” Samalot, Paleface's sound is sparse yet energetic.

If Stephen Malkmus would have started a classic rock band rather than starting Pavement, it might have sounded like Free Energy. Powerful rock riffs, as glam as anything from the '70s, carry this Philadelphia-based band. Fans of Thin Lizzy or Cheap Trick will want to hear Free Energy's brand of straightforward, no tricks, Marshall-and-Gibson rock & roll.

It may seem pretentious to use the word rapturous to describe a concert-going experience, but the delight of seeing Jónsi Þór Birgisso is difficult to describe in any other way. Jónsi -- singer and guitarist of Sigur Rós -- is on tour for his 2010 solo record, Go. Expectations were set high for this tour for those familiar with the renowned live performances of Sigur Rós.

It was clear from the start that Blonde Redhead lets its music do the talking. There were no hellos and just a few thank yous during the group’s tight 80-minute set Monday night at the Pageant. The band took the stage to a sea of flickering yellow lights that mimicked candle flames as umbrella lights adorned the backdrop, reflecting gold light across the band members. The moody lighting created more of a theater feel than one of your typical rock concert.

Menomena creates the musical equivalent to a filmmaker’s cinematic montage. The band's songs are full of expansive textural layers and deep atmospherics that blend together in a chaotic yet pleasingly melodious harmony. The resulting sound is huge: Synthesizers, guitars, piano, percussion, saxophone and loops all merge together, conjuring to the mind something dark yet playful.

The Drastics may hail from Chicago, but the band's sound, full of reggae hooks and expert dub, can evoke beaches, breezes and the hot vibe of an island dance hall.

If the members of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and the Black Angels hooked up to make a record then it might sound something like Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor. Dark, moody, spacey psych-rock is what this Detroit band brings to the table, and to KDHX during an exclusive live session.