The percussion has that casual snap and pop that makes your head nod like you’re giving an affirmation or an answer that comes so easily it seems instinctive. The bass lines are like offensive lineman creating pathways in space at the point of sonic attack. Cheers Elephant is a multi-faceted quartet, a team of musicians that make it happen because the go-to plays are executed at a veteran level. The vocals are crisp, harmonies where individual voices blend so well that one wonders how they were ever apart. The groove gets your heart rate and hips synched up, and then just as a matter of balance, the guitar has that way of running so smooth that you forget how fast it can go. Cheers Elephant has a retro sound, but more accurately it’s a quality refined one that comes from an understanding of what makes the plays work. They will be headlining the show tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, which also features The Explorers Club, a South Carolina, pop-rock group that also embraces the elements of harmonious retro rock, and the psychedelic-tinged Americana of locals Honeychurch. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
