The Red Paintings

You want to get thriller-movie freaked out? Put on the Red Paintings’ “Dead Children” off 2013’s The Revolution Is Never Coming and watch your knuckles whiten as the art-rock force originally from Australia turns your eardrums into war drums. Drama is almost an extra band member, its presence is so powerful, and the band – who performs in elaborate costumes (dressing as geishas, sea creatures, etc.) amid equally detailed sets – throbs through songs that arc unpredictably. Despite all these eccentricities, the Red Paintings still manage to sound magically accessible, with curious choices like emo-groaning vocals paired with gorgeous string arrangements and other odd arrangements that remarkably succeed. Perhaps their charging tunes will motivate you to join other brave audience members who leap onstage to paint on canvases (and sometimes other people) and become yet another distinct element of an already diversified show. – Ashley Belanger