Tuesday Dec 2, 2008 (8pm)
Built from the wreckage of the late, great Shrimp Boat, arty popsters the Sea and Cake are the frothy confection their name implies, with the laid-back, carefree vibe of a day at the beach. Their light, jazz-inflected sound recalls the Coctails, but with the solid musical underpinnings of Tortoise; in fact, both of those Chicago institutions are represented in the Sea and Cake's lineup. After an extended mid-aughts hiatus, they're back on the road supporting their eighth studio album, Car Alarm, named in part after singer/guitarist Sam Prekop's infant son.
– Ben Bass