The Frights

The Frights are a San Diego-based surf rock and garage punk band whose records have accumulated a devoted following through a combination of melodic precision, emotional directness, and a live show that treats every small-room gig as if the stakes were considerably higher. Albums like You Are Going to Hate This (2016) and Hypochondriac (2018) refined their ear for the kind of guitar pop that works equally well in headphones and in rooms where the amps are too loud for the space.

Their audience tends to know every word — a loyalty built through years of consistent touring and records that treat the listener's emotional investment as a given rather than something to be earned. The Masquerade on July 14.