Wild Nothing

Like many a recent songsmith, Wild Nothing mastermind Jack Tatum has an '80s fascination. Thus, his Lee's show came with a checklist of period-specific influences, from the Johnny Marr melody on "Confirmation" (see "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out") and the jangly Robert Smith strumming on "Summer Holiday" to the Duran Duran sheen of "Live in Dreams." Even second-tier post-punk acts -- especially Chameleons -- got their due. Still, Tatum's no fool and he used his record collection as a starting-off point rather than simply fronting a cover band. Slyly blending his stable of inspirations, he and his fleshed out backing band played with plenty of texture and enough self-seriousness to avoid Housemartins comparisons.