If Philadelphia had a band mascot, it would be Mumblr. Their brand of feel-good power-pop anthems are plenty spunky and spirited enough to get all the kids enlivened. The lyrics are the centerpiece of each peppy jam and showcase not only lead singer Nick Morrison’s beautiful, polished, and precise Rivers Cuomo cadence (this dude’s definitely had voice lessons or something), but also the band’s sarcastic yet revealing, lighthearted yet tragic sense of humor. The rest of the band matches the dynamic range of the lilting vocals as they move through soft then loud, jagged then steady progressions and rhythms. With a seemingly bottomless reservoir of stamina and imagination, Mumblr will rock your socks but also amuse you in your thinking organ; and they will prove it tonight at Johnny Brenda’s where they’ill be opening for Car Seat Headrest, the brainchild of Will Toledo, who’s been making big internet blogging headlines recently. For good reason too, as Will’s been at it for over 5 years now refining his sound and sense of self into something that superficially resembles Guided By Voices with more synthesized textures and a wry and introspective overtone. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N Frankford Ave, 8pm, $10, 21+ – Bryce Woodcock
