Minus the violin, Solvents would still be a band worth watching and listening to - earthy, melancholy, lively in the face of heartache. They draw from indie rock godfathers who innovated by veering closer to the heart of pop music, not running away from it (Big Star, the Replacements, etc.). But the ever-present, beautifully expressive violin work provided by Emily Madden offers the perfect counterpoint to Jarrod Bramson's gruff, mournful lead vocals and steadily strumming acoustic guitar. Bramson's vocal ticks, if not his tones, owe a bit to John Lennon in the way he can express regret, shame, remorse and vulnerability without sacrificing masculinity and a cynical bite. And all the while, Madden's violin sweetens and gently badgers Bramson in a game of musical one-upmanship that elevates Solvents into something special.

[Northern, with Letters, Sunshine & Irony, 9 p.m., all ages, $5, 321 Fourth Ave., Olympia, olympiaallages.org]