It’s understandable to see why Son Step is a favorite among pockets of local musicians. The band combines what seems to be a learned background in avant-garde jazz with a unique approach to songwriting and attacks it with such conviction and ferocity that it’s hard not to appreciate what they are doing from an artist’s perspective. However, that club always felt a bit exclusive, but judging by the initial offerings from their new EP Ova Nova, which is out today, the band seems to have found more of a balance between cerebral jazz and pop accessibility, which might just find them more appealing to a wider audience. Son Step will celebrate the release of their latest evening this evening at Boot & Saddle with electro-acoustic orchestral-pop outfit Grandchildren and psych-rockers Drone Ranger. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
