Los Angeles, California - There has been a heaviness in contemporary pop music — a weariness and general unhappiness in all but the most saccharine stuff. Let’s face it — the indie scene is slandered with the term emo quite often, and it’s not without cause.

But fret not! All is not doom and gloom (and self-indulgent moping)!

In a world where all is anguish and misunderstanding, there stands a beacon of joy and pretense-less mirth: Jukebox the Ghost. A little trio out of DC, Jukebox the Ghost is just Ben Thornwill on the keyboard, Tommy Siegel on the guitar, and Jesse Kristin on drums. The centerpiece is undeniably Ben’s virtuosic tickling of the keys, which seems to bring endless comparisons with Ben Folds, but don’t be fooled — the similarities end with the piano. Mr. Thornwill also happens to have quite a set of pipes on him.

Jukebox the Ghost is a reminder of how much fun live music can be. It’s actually physically impossible to not smile and tap your feet at a Jukebox the Ghost show (I know this firsthand, having seen them twice in the last two months). Far from being some schmaltzy gimmick band, they expertly navigate the fine line between being original and being a one-trick novelty band.

With great presence and a great comedic rapport between Ben and Tommy, their performance didn’t lull for a moment. In fact, while they were only second on the bill, it seemed as though the bulk of the audience was there to see them. The audience was quite active, and it was surprising how many people were singing along, especially given the fact that they’ve never played Los Angeles before.

The magic of their formula seems to be in the mixture of upbeat, up-tempo music and fun, playful lyrics which manage to avoid being overly comedic or saccharine. Even their song about unrequited love, “Hold It In,” manages to stay cheerful. It perfectly captures the feelings of giddiness, anticipation, and a hint of anxiety so inherent to young love.

They’ve been garnering an increasing amount of critical praise, and it’s no wonder why. The band still has a string of dates over the next few weeks, so check them out if you have a chance — I guarantee a good time.

Also worth a special mention was the opening act, Princeton, a young quartet that showed a lot of promise, with songs evocative of Vampire Weekend (but with a lot less self-satisfaction and a much more engaging live show). They’re certainly worth keeping an eye out for.

Until you’re lucky enough to catch Jukebox the Ghost live for yourself, enjoy a little taste with their song “Hold It In”:

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