Tonight’s Pick: Icy Demons at the Black Cat

Chicago-based Icy Demons might not be the first to spring to mind when you think of purveyors of Pitchfork-endorsed experimentalism. The playful, pun-happy act does, however, boast one of the most famous fake names in the contemporary indie-rock world. Those familiar with Philadelphia-based band of merry madmen Man Man might have heard of drummer Christopher Powell under his onomatopoetic pseudonym Pow-Pow. Having somehow managed to exist simultaneously in the Midwest and on the East Coast, Powell has found time over the past few years to wipe off the Man Man makeup and provide percussion for the snarkier, more stripped-down Demons. On their latest, the tongue-in-cheekily titled Miami Ice, Powell’s rolling, slithering syncopation underpins cascading synth-skronks that explore a kind of lunacy all their own. Icy Demons may have a famous member, but they’re no side project, and they offer their own distinct vision of avant-pop. Icy Demons perform with Mr. Moccasin at 9 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $10. (202) 667-7960. —Matthew A. Stern