Dr. Manhattan/Foxy Shazam

7:30 p.m. Monday, February 16. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue.

Feb 11, 2009 at 4:00 am

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Dr. Manhattan's self-titled 2008 album may be the shape of pop-punk to come. The Wauconda, Illinois, quartet's debut blends moody, propulsive verses and inventive, not-too-slick production with the sort of shout-along choruses that make angsty teenagers drool over Against Me! records. Distorted beats and At the Drive-In's right-angled guitar work mingle perfectly with vocalist Matt Engers' breathy delivery and minor-keyed, serpentine melodies. Engers steers clear of the nasal vocal pitfalls that doom many of his Warped Tour brethren, and the entire band maintains a healthy sense of humor free from dick and fart jokes (one of the band's strongest tracks is titled "To Feel Cozy Surrounded by Cats"). Dr. Manhattan is the thinking man's pop-punk band — the anti-Blink 182, if you will. Fellow quirkmeisters Foxy Shazam headline.