First, the bad news: Kensington Heights, the Constantines’ fourth release, may be a bit of a disappointment to fans of their jagged instrumental edges and willfully-thrown-into-the-abyss vocals. They’ve slowed down and looked inward, and the quiet rumble and grumble of Heights is a far cry from the tense and edgy builds and cathartic crescendos that characterized standout works like their eponymous debut in 2001 or 2003’s Shine a Light. The good news is that there’s no way they’re going to be able to dial their live show back, even if they tried. These Montreal road warriors are one of the most energetic and ambitious live acts on the road, and no amount of creative downshifting could possible change that. With Ladyhawk, the Weather Underground. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467. 8 p.m., $13 adv.
Sun., June 29, 8 p.m., 2008
