Because they come from Canada, the Weakerthans’ take on punk rock doesn’t sound like the punk rock we make here in the States. Their fourth album, Reunion Tour, actually steers close to roots-rock-inspired indie pop: pedal steel, banjo, and glockenspiel are all over it. Three-fourths of the quartet played on Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin’s solo CD last year; the payoff is Reunion Tour’s hook-filled meditations on some very gloomy subjects (like the “sun in an empty room”). It never comes close to emo’s annoying bellyaching, however. The muscular riffs and daring musical flourishes make sure of it.
Fri., Oct. 26, 9 p.m., 2007
