Since its 2009 debut, Pocket Full of Rye has become a staple at underground charity fundraisers and hip literary readings. The band's suave style — just a guitar, a cello, and the voice you want singing you to sleep at night — fits any performance space and goes down like smooth whiskey. At live shows they perform original songs, Misfits covers, and standards like "Stand by Me" — stripped of every bell and whistle except musicianship and soul. Their new album, on the other hand, throws effects at every track to see what sticks. When a fan asked them what style of music they play, anyway, Jamie McKenzie, Chris Harrington, and Cristian Ortiz replied, "Suburban funk!" — and it fit. It means they're able to get a punk room into a funky groove while playing an acoustic coffeehouse set, or kill at a BART station poetry reading with a single amp.