Able Baker, Null Device at Memorial Union Terrace

Photo by Elly Fine.

It would be nice to see more shows in Madison that reach across genres and generational lines, like this bill with Madison synth-pop veterans Null Device and the much younger Able Baker, a band that’s been really finding its voice on a series of punchy but tender indie-rock tracks. Null Device recently finished up its eighth album, The Emerald Age, and plans to release it this fall. The album will open with an already released single, “Flags,” which captures the band’s gift for ominous moods and suspenseful hooks. The track is an industrial-tinged reflection on the corrupt, fascist politics that pervade our historical moment, offering both a lament and a challenge—”When it all comes down / What kind of people will you fight for?” the chorus asks. But at the same time, it’s committed to the clean lines and bold gestures that make a good pop song tick. The chance to hear more new work from Null Device, plus the dynamic and assured live sets Able Baker has been playing lately, should make for a lovely night on the Terrace. —Scott Gordon