Waiting in anticipation, the tightly-packed crowd at Cholmondeley's was silent as soon as the first chords emerged from the coffeehouse's meager stage Thursday night. As the indie pop quintet matt pond PA filled the room with their heartfelt, melodic music, it was clear that the crowd-hardcore devotees alongside novice fans-would not be disappointed.

Shortly before the Philadelphia-based group's blistering set of folksy indie pop mastered the small stage, Lincoln Conspiracy, a local power-pop trio, warmed up the crowd with an energetic set. After a slow start, Lincoln Conspiracy ignited the crowd with a fire of enthusiasm with "Knew it All Along." Once the audience was on their feet and dancing, it took no time for the trio to use their piano-heavy tunes to captivate.

However, the show did not truly seem to start until matt pond PA took the stage: As Matthew Pond, the band's front man and namesake, grabbed the microphone and strapped on his guitar, the crowd followed his every move. Despite the cramped stage, unusually hot atmosphere and a restless, sweaty crowd, matt pond PA managed to entertain die-hards and newcomers alike.

Though occasionally muddled by the disonant speakers, Pond's soft, soothing croon still managed to work its magic over both the feedback and the audience during the set. The discordant noise and Pond's mystifying vocal prowess worked best together on "KC," a track from the band's 2004 album Emblems.

The group sped through their repertoire to present a short but entertaining set. With the unbearably hot temperature wearing down both the band and the audience, matt pond PA raced through their set list.

One of the best moments came during the song "New Hampshire" when Pond's haunting vocals were complemented well by the band's brilliant instrumental work. Pond's evocative guitar twang ceded to some harmonious cello work and soft percussive pitter-patter.

While the spotlight rarely left Pond, cellist Eve Miller impressed the crowd as she breezed through a few quick solos. She also shined during "Closet (Look Out)," in which she harmonized with Pond and revealed a unique chemistry that held particular resonance with the crowd. To the audience's dismay, however, they then ended their set and exited the stage.

After persistent calls, the group returned to their instruments for an impromptu encore, and the crowd found the extra helping energetic.

Matt pond PA's music has a truly unusual sound, but with their soft, folk-pop approach, it's not hard to see why they attracted such a large crowd to Cholmondeley's last Thursday, entertaining from the first chord to the final note.