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Darlings of quirky indie rock lovers everywhere, The Decemberists made their name with eccentric instrumentation, melancholy lyrics about ghosts, lost love, and consumption, and stage charisma to spare. A large part of their success is due to the driving vision of lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Colin Meloy, who was at La Zona Rosa last Monday.

Toughing out a cold and drinking a copious amount of wine, he performed mostly Decemberists songs. He teased the crowd with a sample of new material, titled “Hazard” on his set list; another epic, multi-act song about star-crossed lovers and heartbreak. From an older solo tour, he sang Morrissey’s Every Day is Like Sunday, and finished off the night – with help from an enthusiastic audience – with a group sing-along to a perennial crowd favorite, The Mariner’s Revenge Song.

Sunday night at Emo’s, the lineup combined local talent with visiting artists. YellowFever was charming, back down to their original two-person act, and Daniel Francis Doyle was a one-man hurricane of screeching loops, dripping sweat, and desperate, frenzied singing.

And then HEALTH took the stage and tore it up. They exemplified noise-rock at its most insane; sudden, dramatic pauses – not the best for a crowd definitely feeling the effects of a drink or two – drums that sounded like they were trying to wage a war, and music so mind-blowingly loud that the silences echoed, seeming almost absolute. Their instruments had duct tape holding them together, and from the band’s thrashing around on stage, it’s a miracle they survive each night. If you’re looking for something indescribably crazy, energetic, and original, check these guys out when they come back to Emo’s in July.

Ramble John “RJ” Krohn, aso known as RJD2, was once a hip-hop producer; after releasing 2 mostly instrumental LPs, he went in an entirely different direction with 2007’s The Third Hand, leaving behind the samples that had made his fame. And when getting together a band for the new tour, he went old school, asking friends from childhood in Ohio. Emo’s was only their 3rd stop; they are still trying to make cohesive sense of RJ’s old and new sound, a crazy mix-up of turntables and live instruments and vocals.

Smoke and Mirrors, arguably their most immediately recognizable tune, was given hard-hitting new life with fresh samples and live drumming mixed in, adding an immediacy that is readily accessible to a larger audience. Some of the live drum and guitar collaborations, and definitely the keyboard, have some really strong and groovy jazz influences in a way that the album didn’t; new members providing a fresh spin on material that R.J. originally crafted and recorded by himself. These guys are playing the chillest music that you still want to dance to, the catchiest tunes you’ve never heard.

YellowFever was at Emo’s Friday night, and received an impressively enthusiastic reception from an audience largely there for another homegrown band, Voxtrot. Even with guitarist/backup vocalist Isobel Martin missing for a good portion of the set, remaining band members Jennifer Moore and Adam Jones had an experimental, chill sound that was too cool for school. This group switches instruments at the drop of a hat, and while that can sometimes feel contrived, it works well for their sound: minimalist, twee, lo-fi 60’s-tinged pop. Moore has a melancholy, sweetly appealing voice, and when Martin chimes in, they seamlessly blend into harmony.They’ll be playing locally this month with some pretty impressive acts, including Health, Belaire, and The Black and White Years. Catch them live before they take off on a summer tour of the west coast, and for a sample of their quirky charm, listen to Alice.

Chillville was at Emo’s Friday night for Voxtrot’s first Austin show in almost a year. The crowd mixed hardcore fans – wearing Voxtrot shirts, grabbing photos with the band, singing along with almost every song – with those only there to check out what all the buzz was about.They started with Firecracker; a ‘with a bang’ pun may be considered foul play, but is difficult to resist. The crowd was dancing, singing along; generally ignoring the miserable weather to scream at the top of their lungs. Cementing their place in fan’s hearts, Voxtrot played two encores – the second of which the impatient-to-leave completely missed out on.

Before starting, singer Ramesh Srivastava polled the audience for someone who knew the words, and then proceeded to pull her on stage. Other band members helped a few more up as the song progressed, and by the end the stage was packed, a gigantic dance party, and the perfect, euphoric ending to an eminently fun show. Catch these guys live if you can; they should be playing a few more gigs before summer, when bassist Jason Chronis goes on tour with Belaire.