Over the course of the six albums the band has released over the past 20 years, the group has mined those influences. So when it came time for the veteran band to write tunes for its latest effort, Whiteout Conditions, singer-guitarist Carl Newman has said he wanted to head in a different direction. The herky jerky, synth-heavy “Play Money,” which features singer Neko Case, a band member who’s also had a successful solo career, on lead vocals, was one of the first songs that he wrote. The songs all have a brisk pace to them, which should make tonight's show a particularly exuberant affair. (Niesel)