Elbow

I'm certain that Elbow front man Guy Garvey was once that precocious

child who simultaneously enchanted and annoyed the fuck out of

everyone . . . except he never grew out of it . . . and then he

started a band. Elbow has received plenty of endorsements from fellow

musicians and critics alike over the years, all of it well-deserved.

The Manchester-hailing quintet has established themselves as an

intelligent band to reckon with, consistently delivering an evocative

combination of imagery-loaded lyrics and finely layered

instrumentation. But don't let any of that annoy you too much.

Radiohead should have increased your tolerance for precocious

musicians years ago. And compared to Thom Yorke, Garvey is an absolute

doll. With Air Traffic. Showbox at the Market, 1426 First Ave.,

628-3151. 8 p.m. $16.50 adv./$18. ERIKA HOBART

Mon., May 5, 8 p.m., 2008