Empires/Stiletto!

Their early U2-inspired sound on their new album, Orphan, is decidedly more polished than past recordings as they cater to a more mainstream-radio sound. That’s not necessarily an all-bad thing, though, as tracks “How Good Does It Feel” and “Orphan” take synthy backgrounds and a midtempo beat and add in vocals touched by euphoria as they ramp up to the refrain. “Please Don’t Tell My Lover” and “Shadowfaux” have hints of late ’80s new wave with heavier guitar than what’s heard on the rest of the album. Overall, they aren’t incredibly groundbreaking but they’re pretty solid and worth a night out. Expect to hear a lot of new stuff tonight. (Trenholme)