A Happy Alternative

Yesterday, we told you (twice, actually) about the adrenaline-laden aggression-fest that will be at the Electric Factory tonight. But maybe you've had a great week—the Phillies won, the weather has been fantastic, and all is generally right with the world. So you're not really feeling Rise Against and Alkaline Trio. We can understand that.

Fortunately for you folks, there's a mellower, cheerier concert alternative tonight, as Los Angeles pop-rockers The Little Ones (MySpace) will bring their brand of sunny rock to the Khyber. And what is The Little Ones' brand? Well, think of The Shins or The Magic Numbers on happy pills. Lots of happy pills.

Some critics have referred to The Little Ones' debut album, Morning Tide, as being excessively happy, to the point that the band is out of touch with reality. That may be true, but they're not exactly a band that aspires to be grounded, or even particularly thoughtful:

The Little Ones quickly realized that their only weapon against reality was their imagination. They embarked on a radical experiment: to see if they could convince themselves that everything was going to be all right.

If you need any further proof that reality isn't really The Little Ones' forte, take a look at the cover art of Morning Tide. It looks like something straight out of Alice in Wonderland.

If you want thoughtful, political, or intellectual lyrics, you might want to steer clear of the Khyber tonight. But if you're feelin' the good vibes and want some music that will keep your spirits up, you might want to check out The Little Ones.

The New Motels, with The Little Ones, Robes, and Problem Solving
Tonight, Fri., 10/17/08
The Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St.
9:00 p.m., 21+
Tickets: $8