The Shins Dazzle the Night Away

Lights twinkled as the dreamy intro of "Sleeping Lessons" bewitched the crowd. Enter the Shins, a band that, despite impressive record sales as of late, walked humbly onto the Congress stage. They gushed their way through Wincing the Night Away's first four tracks, frontman James Mercer unleashing a punk snarl on the opener's line, "off with his head." Eric Johnson tapped his toes to his tambourine while Marty Crandall swayed at his keyboard. Embracing a rock edge on their finessed tunes, they swirled out mild distortion, which was outshone by the audience's earnest oohs, ahhs, and la la las.

Mercer, overcome by his band's reception, looked across nearly 3,000 showgoers and chuckled. "This place is pretty damn big," he said. "Damn, I'm glad you're on our side." Before stepping back into the shadows, the singer spun around, held up his glass and cracked a wince-free smile. ANDREA HART / PHOTOS BY KAREN CHAN

On SPIN.com:
The Shins Secure No. 2 Slot on Charts
Review: The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

>> Listen to the Shins on Napster

We asked: What is your favorite make out music? COMMENT

Name: Diana Richter
Age: 20
Hometown: New York, NY
Occupation: Student
"Air's Walkie Talkie."

Name: Theresa Stanford
Age: 17
Hometown: Lockport, IL
Occupation: Waitress
"Sufjan Stevens' Seven Swans."

Name: David Folty
Age: 18
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Occupation: Student
"The Cure."

Name: Lauren Paulson
Age: 20
Hometown: Vernon Hills, IL
Occupation: Student
"Either Matt Pond PA or the Hush Sound."

Name: Tyler Gibson
Age: 18
Hometown: Saint Joe, MO
Occupation: Student
"Carry Brothers' Blue Eyes."

Name: April Link
Age: 24
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Occupation: Waitress
"This is really cheesy, but the Zombies' Time of the Season."

Name: Forrest Smith
Age: 18
Hometown: Plano, TX
Occupation: Student
"Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart."

Name: Zacy McLeod
Age: 18
Hometown: Downers Grove, IL
Occupation: Student
"Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie."

Dave Hernandez and Marty Crandall

So says Mercer

Stage set for dreaming the night away

Young pilgrim, Crandall