Although black metal has been the countrys chief musical export of late, Norways all-time most successful band remains 80s synth-pop outfit a-ha, who announced that theyre retiring at the end of 2010 (what, you didnt know they were still active?). Earlier this summer via an American Idol-esque reality show sponsored by a-ha the Take On Me boys passed their torch to upstart Norwegians Casiokids, who won the contest and the accompanying one million kroner (around $160,000). Thats allowed them to finance a U.S. tour, where they can show what theyve been up to since forming in 2005. That means lots of high-energy, retro electro-pop crafted out of vintage keyboards, strings, toy instruments, weird samples, joyful melodies, and gentle vocal harmonies. With Light Pollution. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG
Fri., Aug. 20, 7:30 p.m., 2010
