Eight Gigs: The Frights

San Diego-based band the Frights are full of capricious, infectious energy. Their songs are short, but not necessarily straightforward. What starts out as surf punk or doo-wop-abilly is often interrupted with electronic digressions that make what is familiar suddenly interesting and fresh. Frontman Mikey Carnevale’s vocals are full of twists and turns. From boyish sneers to sweet nothings to purposefully off-key trail-offs, Carnevale’s melodic showmanship is engaging, and his genuinely pleasant voice belies what might otherwise be misjudged as nothing more than another garage band. 946 Olive Drive in Davis, www.thefrights.com.