The Safes

The Safes groove a familiar sound that is wholly unoriginal but entirely excellent, by nodding to Brit-garage, Mod and all kinds of power pop. (Think early Kinks spliced with any bubbly Superchunk tune.) The Chicago trio's 2007 release Well, Well, Well earned the brothers O'Malley — and they're real brothers, not "band brothers" à la the Ramones — plenty of positive attention from tastemakers like Pitchfork. Some of the Safes' studio detail is lost in translation live; the blasting rock elements overpower the music's pop intricacies. But its show always brings a welcome punch of rock & roll fun — and a chance to shake your tail feather.