Local three-piece Stars and the Sea is shadowy without getting lost in mope-dom. Vocalist Shane Gardner has the kind of baritone that would be just as at home in a tragicountry band that listens to lots of Cash as it would in a group of Morrissey-influenced melancholy addicts. With the chugging indie churn of his bandmates on songs like “Beautiful Odd Girl” or “Bar Tripper,” you can hear a bit of the sardonic indie-darlings the National at play, but then a song like “Come to Me” shows more traditional post-punk influences still working their way out. It should mix well with the post-punk New Wave-y warble of Richmond’s Dead Fame and is a fitting welcome home for old Balt-rocker E. Joseph and his new band the Phantom Heart. Formerly of Splitsville and Myracle Brah, E. Joseph brings the brattier strains of pop punk back from Philly to round out this show along with Diefenbaker, who could bring, well, anything. They like to be mysterious.(Baynard Woods)