If Islands front man Nick Thorburn is suffering from a broken heart he definitely doesn't show it. The LA quartet swung by at the Vera Project this past Saturday and brought nothing but smiles, long extended guitar solos and loads of good feeling vibes for a small but enthusiastic crowd.

Islands most recent album, A Sleep and A Forgetting, is a bleak and dispiriting piece of work that focuses on personal loss and the mournful disposition of an ended relationship. Saturday's show however, couldn't be any different. Yes the new songs were played, but these tunes had more of a playful approach to them. For instance when the band played "Can't Feel My Face", the heartfelt lyrics of "I miss my wife/I miss my best friend" were off set by the tropical charm of tambourines and maracas.

The stage props were minimal and left the audience to focus most of their attention on the band. The group was dressed in some dapper suits while a projection of some morphing TV static cluttered the backdrop. The image and would change colors and intensity through out the show, but it never felt distracting. Resting on top of the piano was a small glowing skull which was a nod to the gloom and doom attitude of the latest album, as well as the music video for the song "Hallways".

The band moved through a nice selection of songs that touched on all points of their career.  "Switched On" from 2009's Vapours seemed especially well rehearsed; Crisp and full of energy. Fan favorite "Swans" (from 2006's Return to the Sea) had a long, and at times, chaotic feel that boarded on psychedelic jam band music. It was the type of well rounded setlist all concert fans could appreciate.

While the show might have ended too early for my liking (damn all ages curfew!) it was well worth every penny of the 11 dollar ticket price. Plus when you look beyond the music, there might have been a lesson to be learned. Sometimes the best way to move on from a bad break up is with some sun splashed indie rock played loud and shared with some of your closest friends.