It will be a quality show tonight at the Off Broadway as up and coming Merge Records band Wye Oak hits the Off Broadway tonight with Pontiak.

The Baltimore duo’s atmospheric rock found on their debut, “If Children,” was received very well upon its release a few months back.

Made up of Andy Stack on drums and keyboards (yep, both at the same time) and Jenn Wasner on guitars and vocals, Wye Oak has accomplished a textured, dynamic sound that doesn’t seem like the work of just two people.

Some of the songs on the album come off as folk, but Stack said that the categorization is off.

“We’ve showed up at gigs advertised as an acoustic folk duo. As far as our live sound goes, that (description) is as far as you can get from what we are,” said Stack. “We’re loud and hit hard.”

The duo has been touring more extensively than ever, including a likely trip to Europe in the fall.

“It’s the coolest thing I could have ever imagined,” said Stack. “It’s been a life goal to have your music support your world travels. I guess I need to get a new goal.”

Wye Oak’s members met in high school and played with several larger lineups until the group was whittled down to two a few years ago. Stack said that both members try to maximize their musical outputs. Playing drums with one hand while playing keys would be a good example.

“We never fully planned to stay a duo,” said Stack. “We try to get a quartet sound out of two people and we’re always trying to reinvent that process.”

After Rolling Stone christened Baltimore as the new ‘it’ town a few months ago, Stack said that the scene was abuzz.

“Baltimore is getting a lot of attention these days, which is a funny thing for us,” said Stack. “People are just doing what they do here. It’s not like anyone is thinking they’re important or that they are trend setters here.”

Of the album’s lyrical themes and title, Stack said that environmental concerns came into play.

“Lyrically a lot of the record raises question about the environment and geographical displacement. Both of us are fixated on the idea of our society being on the edge and it comes through on the record in subtle ways. Environmental and personal issues can sometimes go hand in hand. The title plays on the question of doubt and not knowing how things going to turn out.”

***

Pontiak is made up of three brothers from the Blue Ridge farm country of Virginia; Van (guitar, lead vocals), Lain (drums, vocals) and Jennings Carney (bass, organ, vocals). The power trio plays swaggering guitar rock with broad song structures that allow for three-part vocals, drums, organ and slide guitar. Julian Cope described them as, “straddling a wide sonic rift valley, with references that stretch from the southern latitudes of Spain’s Viaje to the northern majesty of Black Sabbath and Harvey Milk via the Doors.”

***
Wye Oak with Pontiak
Tonight (Mon.), Off Broadway, $8
3509 Lemp Ave.
Wye Oak will also give an in-studio performance on 88.1 FM KDHX at 6:30 tonight.
http://www.myspace.com/wyeoak