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Last Wednesday at the Spanish Moon, I was witness to one of the strangest and tightest shows I’ve seen in a while, courtesy of one Daniel Smith, aka Danielson. I missed the opening set by the ubiquitous Secret Annexe and caught the tight middle set by local power trio Hi-Five. They are a fun little band, with the bass taking on the rhythm guitar pulse. Not quite emo-serious, not quite neo-punk explosive, Hi-Five sits right in the pocket of fun power indie rock. I’d say they could stand to expand their sound a little, especially in the instrumental numbers, but that’s a minor complaint.

Once Hi-Five bounced we saw music stands appear on the stage. You don’t see music stands very often at the Spanish Moon, even as a convenient place to set your drink while you break a few guitar strings, so we all knew we were in for something a little different. Daniel Smith created the Danielson idea as part of his senior art thesis in 1995, quickly manifesting itself as the Danielson Familie once he enlisted his siblings and other musical friends to flesh out his weird mix of theological exploration and sugar-coated infectious, high octane revelry. He started gaining notoriety for their elaborate stage shows and costumes (his most famous one is the elaborate tree costume he wore as a part of his “Br. Danielson” identity). Having celebrated indie poet laureate Sufjan Stevens as a band-mate and close compatriot doesn’t hurt either.

Touring behind his stellar album “Ships” – which boasts a crew of more than 70 people in the liner notes – he brought a battalion of six, all dressed in what appeared to be mock Salvation Army uniforms. You could tell the band had a military precision to it, since Smith’s elliptical tunes often swerve wildly and change gears at a moment’s notice, and Smith was clearly the commanding officer (in fact, if you are familiar with the back story and work of Captain Beefheart, there are a number of similarities in their strong armed command and singular vision). Smith even held the audience under the same scrutiny, for what seemed at first to be stage banter took on the guise of questioning and consternation. But, it’s all for a good cause, because the mix of handclaps, whistling, guitar, drums and especially Smith’s falsetto yelps converge into brilliant, ropy shanties and ballads. Particularly good was the rendition of the complicated “Did I Step on Your Trumpet?” replacing the album’s horn section with keyboards and vocal harmonies, and the forced sing-along of “The Dragon ate the Love, Sweet Love” during the encore. To me, this kind of unique personal vision brought to life with such precision and dedication is what indie rock is really all about – opening up the standard rock format to the wild world of true self-expression. One of the finest shows I’ve seen in a long time.

HERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF EXPRESSION

Thursday, July 13: Elsah kicks out the whiskey-soaked jams at Red Star. The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio is at Chelsea’s.

Friday, July 14: The epic soundtrack for the Red Star this evening will be provided by the Memphis roots-funk-folk orchestra Giant Bear with Return to Twang in tow. Epitaph recording artists Vanna will be appearing with We’re All Broken, Eyes and Hands and Before…There Was Rosalyn at the Darkroom. The Captain Legendary Band, Sweet Root and Low-Country Audio will raise the groove quotient of the Varsity by a considerable degree.

Saturday, July 15: Reception is Suspected and Cub of Sons (formerly Macrosick) will be at the Spanish Moon. The Rewinds will be the feature at the Red Star’s Indie Rock Dance Party. Lazy K will be at North Gate Tavern.

Sunday, July 16: Reaction, The Come Up, GameXtime and Albert React will all be reacting with one another, and you, at the Darkroom.

Monday, July 17: Honky (featuring JD Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers), Pistols at Dawn and The Way High Men are at Spanish Moon. T.J. Black and the Black Sound Parade will march a hole through Chelsea’s.

Want more suggestions for live music this weekend? Click here.