Now, Now

Minneapolis' Now, Now honed its songcraft in the company of Afternoon Records, home of the Twin Cities' finest (One for the Team, Haley Bonar), national wave-makers (Poison Control Center, Pomegranates) and select St. Louisans (Target Market and, as of last week, Volcanoes). Lately the band draws a different crowd, touring with Paramore, Hello Goodbye and Never Shout Never. Unlike those headliners, Now, Now's power pop is reluctant, distancing itself with standoffish textures and Cacie Dalager's detached melodies — think Stars' Amy Millan fronting Transatlanticism-era Death Cab. No wonder pop-punks love the band; folks always want the loner, and Now, Now plays hard to get.

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