Moneen

Moneen, a spunky Canadian quartet on its first headlining tour of the U.S., isn't really the rabble-rousing type -- except when it comes to the music. With deconstructive tune titles like "With This Song I Will Destroy Myself" and "To Say Something That Means Nothing to Anyone at All," the band's second disc, Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?, challenges the very concept of the song itself. In fact, the band meanders through art-school emo experiments, discarding styles like wet clothing mid-tune. Sharp edges reminiscent of Thursday and Jimmy Eat World pierce Kenny Bridges's yells and "Hippie" Chris Hughes's fretwork, as drummer Peter Krpan bashes out bits of rhythmic calculus. Even tranquil, ambient atmospheres in the vein of Sigur Rös crop up on "The Last Song I Will Ever Want to Sing." Moneen's sonic restlessness further pervades its energy-charged live show, where the charismatic Bridges and the rest of the band leap, bounce, and twirl onstage. They're passionate about subverting rock's conventions and converting jaded emo fans at the same time.