Weird War

While shrieking, hanging-from-the-rafters front man Ian Svenonius and groovy bassist-chanteuse Michelle Mae led the Vespa-riding, white-belted indie kids in a gospel yeah-yeah revolution with The Make-Up during the late '90s, their latest act, Weird War, has evolved--or is it devolved?--into a purveyor of psych sleaze suitable for an Easy Rider orgy. Illuminated By the Light, Weird War's fourth album, is a mellower, pared-down affair compared with earlier efforts. That said, it's still deeply funky with fuzzed-out guitar riffs and Svenonius' signature soul falsetto, which he's been perfecting ever since his days with D.C. punk darlings Nation of Ulysses. Expect a sweaty, electric live show, with fans' unhinged dancing rivaling the moves onstage; impressively, Weird War gets this kind of reception without the help of any trendy keyboards.