Upcycling the late ‘90s dance hit “Better Off Alone”, Sunny Ali & the Kid’s revamp of Alice Deejay channels the quirky vibes of Happy Birthday with the nonchalance of the Ramones. Cutting the track’s original length in half, Ali and Saeed instinctively emphasize its lyrical core alongside jaunty riffs and hissing snare. Easily read as indifference, “Better Off Alone” is vocally precise, and it’s brief repetition and harmonized end capitalizes on the song’s sweet brevity. A mix of buzzing psych folk meshed with surf drenched pop, Sunny Ali & the Kid’s latest EP Try Harder is a easy charmer with song titles like “I’m a Skinny Fucker” and “Fuck Me.” Filling the parentheses between lingering high school frustration and 20-something bliss, this local duo is fun and cathartic. Become their new number one fan when the join local funk fiends Prowler and Altered States at The Ox tonight. The Ox, 2nd & Oxford St., 8pm, $5, All Ages – Dianca Potts