Mogwai

When Mogwai takes the stage at the Cure's rock 'n' gloom carnival, plenty of attendees will be milling about, ordering hot dogs and beers and excitedly awaiting their headlining heroes. Their loss. Few opening acts ever give reason to come early to a music festival, but not many bands can generate the transcendent music Mogwai does.

The Scottish quintet recalls the psychedelic pop and auditory hallucinations of everyone from minimalist composer Philip Glass to Pink Floyd to noise-pop pioneers My Bloody Valentine. With its layered melodies of piano and guitar subsumed in waves of harmonic feedback, Mogwai has a rare talent for producing the musical equivalent of an acid trip. Its psycho-acoustic mélange may even cause you to be so awe-struck, you drop your chili dog on the goth kid in front of you. -- Hans Morgenstern

Catch Mogwai at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, as part of the Curiosa Festival (see Night & Day for details) at Sound Advice Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansbury's Way, West Palm Beach. Call 561-795-8883.