The Stranger

British quartet Fujiya & Miyagi rank among modern music’s slyest ambassadors for the less-is-more ethos. Vocalist David Best never rises above a whisper while delivering wry, seemingly stream-of-consciousness lyrics as the music cruises with precise, motorik funkiness. Guitar and keyboards punctiliously chime and swell, respectively, and the bass accentuates the beat with Holger Czukay–like intensity. Everything is perfectly poised, which should make F&M a tidy bore. Instead, they excite with deceptive grooviness and surprising rave-ups. (Neumos, 925 E Pike St, www.neumos.com, 8 pm, $13, 21+) by Dave Segal

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