The electric guitar has been around a while, and I'm pretty sure all of its 126 to 144 notes have been played at some point or another. It takes a lot of gut-pouring and authenticity to get people's attention with one these days. It's like that line from Kevin Spacey in Seven, “Wanting people to listen, you can't just tap them on the shoulder anymore, you have to hit them with a sledgehammer.” With that in mind, check out White Mystery. With their indelibly intense garage sound, glam aesthetics, and omnipotent stage presence, the Chicago-based power-punk duo is starting to turn some serious heads. It's like if Marc Bolan had a baby with the White Stripes, then that baby did some Ketamine with John Dwyer and some methamphetamine with Jay Reatard. They'll be hitting Soundlab tonight (110 Pearl St., 9PM, $8) as part of their White Mystery Returns tour. Support comes from Rochester's Black Flag/Fucked Up-inspired hardcore outfit Rational Animals, along with locals Pink Tiger (New York Dolls meet Turbonegro) and Aircraft (an awesome stoner-pop band, disserviced by the label stoner-pop). And so, head downtown to get smacked with a sledgehammer of guitar.

Some bands have an extensive web presence – tracks on Soundcloud, a couple albums on Bandcamp, Purevolume player, Facebook page, and even an old Myspace profile floating around from their past. Then other bands remain shrouded in mystery, letting their live performances speak for themselves. Sea Snake Vs. falls in with the latter. We've caught some amazing shows from these guys, including sets at Steak & Cake's Holiday Party and our own Rooftop Extravaganza during last year's Infringement Fest, but it's hard to figure out what they're up to outside of the rumor mill. All we can really say about these guys is, “they sound like the National mixed with My Morning Jacket with Dan Auerbach on vocals,” and “they have five members now,” and “they are playing at Nietzche's tonight (248 Allen St., 8pm, $5?).” Sea Snake Vs. going to share the stage with Brooklyn's Veda Rays (fittingly self-described as “post-indie art rock”), and Buffalo's Pink Tiger (glam-punk-rock'n'roll). It's a well rounded bill with something for everyone in the family, and you don't want to miss it.