In punk, the singer is usually the most essential member of most any band. Even the most primitive three-chord slop can seem like legit noise if there’s a solid frontman with righteous lyrics.

Philadelphia’s Mercury Radio Theater laughs in the face of convention and tried-and-true formulas. MRT has no singer at all. That’s right, an instrumental punk band. Luckily for MRT, their music is interesting enough to make up for the lack of vocals.

Combining melodic punk with surf and hints of indie rock, MRT sounds good enough on record, but it’s their live show that demands your attention. Live, MRT combines their music with performance art and projected images to create a campy sci-fi/horror composition.

Also playing with MRT are pop maniacs Everything, Now! EN! is on the same wavelength as Everthus the Deadbeats, crafting zany pop songs that harken back to the glory days of Bowie and Zappa. EN! wouldn’t be out of place on a bill with Modest Mouse or Animal Collective either.