Manishevitz

It didn’t faze Manishevitz when the band drew all of ten people (bar staff included) to its last appearance in Lawrence. No, Manishevitz just shrugged it off, joked between songs with the bartender and the sound guy, then streamed out the kind of jazz-tinted, folked-out indie pop that makes you feel stoned, even if you’ve downed only a couple of drinks. The band’s music invites Roxy Music comparisons, but Manishevitz is undeniably creative — if a little lacking in focus — standing on its own. Simple melodies are manipulated to create a rich sound that meanders without becoming completely lost. It’s the type of music that makes you want to think important thoughts about alienation and loss, even if all you really wonder is if you can sneak a cigarette inside the Jackpot without anyone noticing.