At times noisy and at times more introspective, there's something psychedelic about the music of Philadelphia band Blue Smiley: the electric guitar's lo-fi, high-energy distortions sound as if Johnny Marr were on hallucinogens while playing with The Smiths. Meanwhile, the vocals are barely audible above the din, embedding in the instrumental texture rather than asserting themselves front-and-center. With hints of gritty garage punk and sun-drenched surf rock, the result is akin to the music of Silversun Pickups with some serious stoner vibes added for good measure. A full slate of local bands — Full Body, Pleistocene, and Big Fred — will also perform.
Blue Smiley plays Saturday, September 2, at the Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Avenue. 9:15 p.m. $7-$9. bugjar.com; bluesmiley.bandcamp.com.
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