Former The Teeth members Peter MoDavis, Brian Ashby, and Jonas Oesterle take the stage tonight at Kung Fu Necktie as their latest incarnation Purples. The band’s sound is a combination of raw power with an eye focused on pop refinement. Ashby’s guitar licks are at times ragged and sinister at others refined and soaring. The vocals toe a similar line between gut-wrenching and harmonious providing the full range of possibilities while giving strength to either cause. Purples appear to hit that balance – the brute force and emotional energy of a garage band with a touch of control and precision. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
