Pen & Page

Little Brazil in preformance at the Railyard Nov. 4, 2009.

Little Brazil hit the Railyard in a big way last week, exploding with a refined sound full of active melodies and bursts of engaging guitar work.

I first saw the band perform in Billings in 2006, and they were a rowdy and rollicking bunch. Through the years they’ve kept that energy but have a newly-developed focus, and the band has come into its own.

Little Brazil frontman Landon Hedges.

Little Brazil sports a frontman, Landon Hedges, with impressive credentials. Hedges honed his skills in Saddle Creek bands The Good Life (a project of Cursive’s frontman Tim Kasher) and Desaparecidos (a side project Conor Oberst, one of the Saddle Creek founders and frontman for Bright Eyes).

Hedges’ time spent in such influential bands has no doubt influenced the music of Little Brazil, which is sternly anxious yet robust and melodic.

1090 Club keyboardist Mike Galt in performance at the Railyard Nov. 4.

Local indie rock band 1090 Club headlined the concert, and their sound swooned in the venue, aided by the new sound system installed in September.

Little Brazil performs Wednesday at the Railyard.

Omaha-based rock band Little Brazil snagged a last-minute spot on Wednesday, performing with 1090 Club at the Railyard.

Formed by Landon Hedges (The Good Life, Desaparecidos), Little Brazil is touring on its album, “Son,” released in March. The band has made several performances in Billings, including a March performance with Saddle Creek rock band Ladyfinger.

Doors for the 18+ concert open at 9 p.m. and the cover is $5.

For a free download of the band’s music, check out their October 2008 Daytrotter session.