Ariel Pink

With their concise old-school rock formula, it’s tempting to label Montreal’s TOPS as a nostalgia project. But pop-rock doesn’t account for the band’s intricate layers and synthpop negates the group’s prowess in both their instruments and songwriting. Sure, the keys pop and levitate into a lush atmosphere, but it’s a dreamy wave that invites you to dance not brood as was the case last Friday in Austin’s Red River District at The Mohawk.