The Sketches
Web: www.thesketches.com
Album: Alphabets
Label: self-released
Show: August 3 at Black Cat
For a few years these locals have served up a nice mix of aggressive guitar, Beatles-style male harmonies and indie rock songwriting. Their new disc steps up a level, with crisp production and strong music to back Charlie Bernardo’s ambitious writing. The mix emphasizes his words; besides Lennon-McCartney, listeners might find hints of the Counting Crows, with whom the disc shares a producer, and especially local meteors Monopoli, with whom the group shares a drummer. Standout tracks include “Secret Alphabets” and “Apt 101”.

Bellman Barker
Web: www.myspace.com/bellmanbarker
Album: Anise & Anisette
Label: self-released
Show: August 10 at the Rock AND Roll Hotel
Four local guys who aren’t afraid to be troubadours, BB plays pretty songs like “Pockets” and slightly heavier songs with pretty singing, like “Charles Kil” and “In Their Defense”. The latter starts out almost hard but turns into a chorus of “It’s not that bad to be in love / In love, in love, in love...” Positive, nice-guy music, deftly made.

The Gypsy Sons
Web: www.thegypsysons.com
Album: The Greatest Moment
Label: Kaminski Records & Tapes
Show: August 3 at JW & Friends, Springfield
Fans of the Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even Aerosmith will find a lot to like from this Alexandria trio. With stagenames El Boracho the Hammer, Tommy Hell Cat and Crash Fistfite, the boys play unapologetic tribute to loud guitars, centerfold babes, hard drinking and country boy life. The title track is even romantic.

The City Veins
Web: www.thecityveins.com/blog
Album: A Weekend Affair
Label: self-released
Show: August 5 at Galaxy Hut
Only a band since March, the City Veins began as an attempt at the “RPM Challenge”: recording a ten-track album in 28 days. What we have instead is a four-song EP that the band is giving away free, and it sounds pretty good. The vocals show a bit of bombast, reminiscent of, say, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, but in the service of guitar-driven DC power pop. The final track, “Strike Up the Band,” aims highest, with minor chords and 3:4 time contributing to an effective haunted feel.