Austinist Show Preview: Oxford Collapse, Frightened Rabbit, & Peel @ The Mohawk (Free Show!)

Oxford Collapse conjures up vivacious, noisy pop songs and The Mohawk hosts the New York act’s fuzzy textures and inviting melodies this Thursday. The band utilizes layers of vocals (courtesy of Michael Pace and Adam Rizer) to produce catchy verses and sing-along choruses, and engages the listener throughout with jittery post-rock backdrops. “Amongst Friends” is a poignant anthem that a current crop of youth could play on graduation night while “Please Visit Your National Parks” kicks off like an R.E.M. ditty before exploding with Pace’s assertive yowl and sustaining six-strings. In fact, there is an '80s college-rock feel to a number of their songs but whatever their inspirations may be, this trio’s quirk-pop compositions do more than enough to keep things interesting, and they are sure to put on a raucous live show. Oxford Collapse’s upcoming fourth record Bits is scheduled for an August release on Sub Pop. The band just got back from a U.K. tour with We Are Scientists and will tour again with their fellow New Yorkers following the current stint with Frightened Rabbit.

Frightened Rabbit opened up for French Kicks recently at The Mohawk and many in the audience believed that the Scottish quartet stole the show that evening. Frightened Rabbit’s soaring indie-pop concoctions harbor affecting and clever lyricism, occasional folk strains, and moments of epic grandeur. “The Modern Leper” is an instant classic that portrays their lyrical chops and expert musicianship, and you can enjoy the gritty guitars that drive single “Heads Roll Off” (via YouTube) following the jump. After a few repeated viewings, we do believe the introductory lyric is “Jesus is just a Spanish boy’s name” and not “Jesus is just SpongeBob’s name”!!

Local fuzz-pop connoisseurs Peel open with nuggets off their new D-I-Y effort August Exhaust Pipes. The five song EP is available only at shows but you can stream it here now. Buy it later at the concert tonight!