On schedule and without hesitation, The Bravery emerged, led by lean frontman/guitarist Sam Endicott, diving right into their most recent release with a warm-up track, the medium-bodied "Split Me Wide Open." Ready for an energizing rock show, the crowd responded wholeheartedly with hollers of recognition, soon rewarded with an even faster number, the heart-pumping "No Brakes," from the group's 2005 self-titled debut. "Public Service Announcement" highlighted suit-clad bassist Mike H with a simple yet funky bassline at the track's core, accented by Endicott's catchy "stop, drop and roll" chorus and John Conway's miscellaneous keyboard contributions.

Throughout the evening's hour-long set, The Bravery volleyed back and forth between their two discs, with only one non-album song, "Dandy Rock," making the set list. The bones of this tune, including the stellar guitar work and fast-as-lightning drumming, fit the traditional Bravery model except for the shriller vocals contributed entirely by guitarist Michael Zakarin. "Tyrant," the first single the rockers ever recorded and found on their self-titled debut, provided a mellower moment before catapulting into "Believe," a fan favorite that is still holding its own on Billboard's modern rock singles chart.

Having been supremely focused on the music from his first step on stage, Endicott took a moment to talk frankly with the audience, inquiring about their interest in the day's Super Tuesday primaries. He gave a quick pep talk on how we can each make a difference before segueing into, appropriately enough, "Every Word Is A Knife In My Ear," heavy with electronic effects and an oh-so-danceable beat. The bouncing pack ate it up.

The Bravery performed effortlessly from one song to the next, as if this set list and their work in general were old-hat. Despite this visible ease, the dynamic quintet didn't come across as bored, but casually jovial, which spilled over into the vivacious throng. "The Ocean," a slower track off "The Sun And The Moon" that featured Endicott's vocals deeper and darker than usual, provided a perfect moment for a camera phone snapshot as he, for once, stayed relatively stationary before jumping into their most contagious number, "An Honest Mistake." Easily the rockers' most recognizable song, the opening notes nearly incited a riot as ladies screamed and men began their mix of jumping and thrashing. At one point, the collective vocals of the audience overwhelmed Endicott's, who succumbed and let the fans finish the chorus.

After a succinct, hour-long set, The Bravery paused for a brief break before returning for a three-song encore. "Fearless," another well-received performance off their debut, brought to mind a loose combination of Danko Jones and The Faint with its strong drum presence and electronic accents. "Unconditional" closed the night's set with a skilled electric guitar solo by Zakarin and Endicott's brutally honest words, "I just want love / I just want something / Something for nothing," which struck chords with many, judging from the chanting mass.

Set List:
"Split Me Wide Open"
"No Brakes"
"Public Service Announcement"
"This Is Not the End"
"Tyrant"
"Believe"
"Dandy Rock"
"Time Won't Let Me Go"
"Every Word Is A Knife In My Ear"
"The Ocean"
"An Honest Mistake"
"Swollen Summer"

Encore:
"Fearless"
"Tragedy Bound"
"Unconditional"