Saturday night at the Avalon, the Realistics joined the Sheila Divine for The Sheila Divine's EP release concert, for their "Secret Society." The venue was not the usual rock club, but instead the nucleus of Boston dance club culture on Lansdowne Street. The Realistics opened about 45 minutes later than was expected, but fortunately the wait was the only disappointing part of the show. The opening band from New York City warmed up the audience with toe tapping tunes that display a significant knowledge of rock and roll history, and a respect for musical forefathers such as the Rolling Stones and the Clash. Lead singer Denis even adopted Mick Jagger's dance style and hand clapping. Do not assume from this, however, that the resulting sounds were musty from decades in your parents' basement. The Realistics successfully update what has become paradoxically, traditional rock 'n' roll with a little pop, some blues and a heavy dose of punk. They could be considered the magical mystery tour of rock 'n' roll heritage. The band left the stage having left the crowd with the appropriate energy to greet the headlining act.

The Sheila Divine are Boston guys, and they know it. Upon first arriving on stage, lead guitarist and vocalist Perrino said, "We are always so surprised you people still come out to see us, it's really great." The graciousness of the band to its fans was overwhelming, but perhaps a symptom of the mainly word-of-mouth publicity that has brought them to the top of the Boston music scene.

"Secret Society" is the band's third release. The six-song disc seems to be the probable next step in the group's evolution; it contains a lot of the same musical qualities they are already known for, influenced by Morrissey and roughly fitting into what has been labeled-or stigmatized-as "emo." One critic accurately termed their style as "whisper to wail." The expressive guitars and intelligent lyrics make you listen, pull you in, and take you for a ride.

The lyrics of their songs successfully address the common themes in rock: Relationships, dissatisfaction, and questions of identity. One very specific theme the band often focuses on is the frustration of the "American Dream." From "Automatic Buffalo:" "Make your money / don't stop working / you have your future / financial planning." The generous guitars back a grown-up version of teenage angst, and for this reason are wholly gratifying to listen to. It's like being 14 again, but having the hindsight and vocabulary to understand it all.

Seeing them in concert only augments this sensation. There are bands that are 10 times better live than they are on CD; The Sheila Divine is one. For some reason, even a well-amplified broadcast of the studio disc does not do the music justice. In a world of vast musical choices, stage presence is The Sheila Divine's weapon. Perrino honestly embodies his lyrics, and the audience knows it. The bassist Jim Gilbert, and the back-up guitarist Colin Decker add equal enthusiasm. A slight smile on drummer Ryan Dolan's face finalizes the band's diverse but coherent on-stage persona. The band always looks like they are having a great time, and the feeling is contagious.

The set included all of the songs on the new EP like "Dramatica" and "We all Have Problems," as well as plenty of old favorites, especially, "I'm a Believer," "Opportune Moment," and "Hum" in which most of the audience participated.

The Sheila Divine is currently doing two shows in Shanghai and will return to the States for a series of shows with The Realistics in New York City at the end of October. No dates for the next Boston show have been set, but they will surely be back in town soon, and are something worth looking for. In all, this show (like most of their performances) was a genuine rock show. As they sing in "Like a Criminal," they are pleased to "Rock you, yeah, yeah, yeah."

The Sheila Divine's current release "Secret Society" (2002) is available on Arena Records.