Southern Beardo

How does a quirky beardo from the tiny town of Wynne, Arkansas (pop. 8,615) come to write songs that are so beautiful and moving that they can only be referred to as “pieces?” Chances are, there was nothing else to do in a place that small for Chase Pagan, whose musical script is based in classical composition and features chilling moans of falsetto atop poignantly pounding piano chords and phrases. The resulting sound is reminiscent of a less melancholy Ours or an indie-pop infused, less-produced version of Muse. Pagan’s debut album, Oh Musica!, cleverly avoids a campy or contrived sound while possessing a certain theatrical/vaudevillian quality that demands at least a good foot-tapping, if not a full-on jig.

Thu., July 24, 8 p.m., 2008