Peter Pan

Like gauze, a warm shower and a cup of coffee, rock and roll, when properly applied can be restorative. Brit band Art Brut are unique in that their enthusiastic sincerity is balanced with just the right about of self-awareness, refreshingly devoid of pretension. The sheer joyous positivity by which they played off and with each other was so infectious at last night's Triple Rock show, it brought smiles to even the most dispassionate wallflowers.

They deftly incorporated snippets of Smiths, Ramones and Coldplay lyrics, called-out the blithe commercialism of U2, and wondered aloud why the Bravery are so popular.
The evening's highlights were many, among them the often hilariously revealing anecdotal origins of several songs from lead singer Eddie Argos. Yes, Emily Kane really exists, and they still talk, although both have moved on to other relationships. The lyrics to Modern Art were changed to DC comics and chocolate milk, as the indefatigable frontman bounded through the crowd like a sweaty, suited superhero.

Art Brut were tight as a screw, their punky attack stripped bare and professional. They even took requests, leaning heavily on their first album, Bang Bang Rock and Roll. Argos was flanked by two guitarists and a bassist, who played the entire set with mouth agape, as though enthralled by his band's own blast of boisterous noise. In a final, impassioned coup de grace, Argos implored each of us to start bands, not to become millionaires and play stadiums, but for the fun of it. Smash your Rock Band and Guitar Hero games, buy the real deal, and make a racket. By wearing their influences proudly on their sleeves but transcending the sum of their parts, Art Brut managed to convey what's best about a genre that remains as vital and influential as ever.