Man Man + Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers

The early work of NYC-Philadelphia outfit Man Man is unapologetically hairy; on its first release, The Man in a Blue Turban with a Face, the music unpredictably swings from loose atmospheres to tight structures, from stark rhythms to lush orchestration and from sincere moods to deliriously oddball ciphers—often within the same song. Perhaps best evaluated on the strength of its ebullient live performances, the group specializes in caterwauling bohemian bar chants dispersed into rambling indie-pop landscapes…and may no instrument be left behind. The band's latest, Life Fantastic, is a melodically sharpened affair molded by Saddle Creek figurehead Mike Mogis. Local punk-cabaret firebrand Shilpa Ray sets the stage.