The opening chords of "The Things I Say," by Sam Vicari, give me chills of recognition. With its gently chugging guitars and sugary sweet vocals, it is instantly reminiscent of decades of power pop, its melody even stretching back to the two-minute guitar heaven of early Beatles. Vicari is clearly a practiced creator of jangly pop, making the deceptively difficult act of crafting immaculate hooks and pristinely ringing melodies look utterly effortless. Recalling everyone from Matthew Sweet to Weezer, They Might Be Giants to Big Star, "Teenage Dirtbag" to C-86, and generations of spangly, guitar-driven songsmiths in between, Vicari's music is blessedly uncomplicated and unpretentious in its worship of the song as an unparallelled importance. There's something gloriously nerdy and charming in his voice, both lyrically and vocally, that serves to draw the listener even further in.

SAM VICARI, w/ Captain Algebra, 10 p.m., Le Voyeur, 404 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia, no cover, 360.943.5710