The Classic Crime is a band that straddles an interesting thematic line – their catalog of songs strikes a careful balance between an enduring, positive hopefulness and dragging despondency. It’s a duality of feeling that has kept them noteworthy while other emocore bands have fallen by the wayside over the years. More so than their peers, the Classic Crime writes music that accurately reflects youth’s unexpected highs and lows, rather than a staid series of stereotypical emotions. The quintet’s music is all about the big moments – building verses of dissonant percussion, guitar and sometimes screaming backing vocals that suddenly drop out and leave lead singer Matt MacDonald’s sometimes scraping, sometimes lilting vocals hanging alone for a few dramatic seconds. “The Classic Christmas Show” will feature some holiday tunes as well as new songs from the upcoming album Vagabonds, a record that is said to leave the mainstream rock sound behind in favor of a less refined, garage-rock sound – yet another sign of the band’s prevailing elasticity. With Daphne Loves Derby, Moneta, Endeverance, and Katie Lavoie and the Verdict. All ages. E. THOMPSON

Fri., Dec. 18, 7 p.m., 2009