22

THURSDAY

OK, I know rock ‘n’ roll is dead. Like jazz and blues before it, rock is now little more than an archival pursuit. There are some bands, however, that don’t seem to recognize this truth. The Mysteries of Life is one, playing new stuff that sounds just like the old stuff. They distill the best of ’60s Top 40 pop rock, adding just a hint of Jonathan Richman. If they were slicker they could be the Grass Roots, but they play it casual and loose. By keeping it simple, they avoid the pitfalls of retro rockers obsessing over period details. The Mysteries of Life’s music, however, is perfect for “driving past the Stop and Shop…with the radio on!” And they just may help you overlook rock’s death, at least for a moment. The Mysteries of Life open for their drummer Freda Love’s former Blake Babies bandmate Juliana Hatfield at 8:45 p.m. at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $12. (202) 393-0930. (Mark W. Sullivan)