Seattle band Pedro the Lion are touring in support of their new album, Phoenix, their first release in 15 years (after frontman David Bazan took some time to create music as a solo artist). The new record parses Bazan’s childhood in, you guessed it, Phoenix. It plays like big-dick-quasi-emo-indie-rock. It’s an obnoxious description on my end, but fitting—the animating emotions are melancholy and nostalgia, with Bazan’s craggy voice lancing through it all. Songs like “Quietest Friend” are almost hard to take seriously (Bazan rehashes a bullying incident from fifth grade). But you know what? It’s great to crack open a shower beer to. Being a kid is rough. by Jas Keimig