Tonight: The Kindness Kind at Chop Suey, Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks at the Triple Door

Evan Carlyle

The Kindness Kind, with People Eating People, Hosannas. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8000. 9 p.m. $10. Since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album A Novel, the local indie pop act The Kindness Kind has been wowing crowds with their catchy electro-infused sound that rightfully draws quick comparisons to The Cure or The Smiths. Jumping between tones and time signatures, the deliberate compositions and melodic flares serve as perfect backdrop for the distinctive vocals of songstress Alessandra Rose--accenting more than overpowering her. There's been no official release since the band's 2008 self-titled sophomore effort, but you can be sure that this show will be sprinkled with a taste of material from their forthcoming record, due out sometime this year. NICK FELDMAN

Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks. Triple Door, 216 Union St., 838-4333. 7:30 & 10 p.m. $23. As a performer and songwriter, Dan Hicks is imminently engaging, twisting his signature mishmash of damn near every musical style known to man into songs that feel supremely natural. The magic holds for as long as the music plays; once a song's over, the theoretical strangeness of Hicks' sound sinks in. How could Western Swing play alongside gypsy jazz, while surf rock mingles with bossa nova cowboy sing-alongs, and female backup singers play call-and-response with Hicks' very particular vocal twang? Add to that Hicks' penchant for writing lyrics filled with a dry wit reminiscent of Garrison Keillor and Frank Zappa, and you've got something very strange - very strange and very wonderful. NICHOLAS HALL