The Futureheads streaked out of Sunderland, England, in 2004 in jetstream of U.K. post-punk bands such as Franz Ferdinand (the respective quartets' debut albums came out only months apart) who looked to the likes of Wire, Gang of Four and XTC for inspiration.

The difference-maker in the music of brothers Barry and Dave Hyde, David Craig and Ross Millard was the vocals — three- and sometimes four-part harmonies slathered atop their frenetic rhythms and angular guitars. It was a deliriously quirky, and maybe too much so for audiences who glommed onto the more radio- and dancefloor-friendly Franz, Bloc Party and assorted followers. After two big-label albums, the Futureheads receded (at least from a U.S. perspective) into DIY land.

Maybe the days of touring with Oasis and the Pixies are past, but the foursome reasserted itself this summer with the release of its fourth album, The Chaos, a thicket of propulsive rock that's anything but obvious, especially when you get to the six-minute a capella song “Jupiter” at the finish. (They are currently at work on an a capella album.)

Some L.A. fans may remember the quartet's furious set at Coachella 2005, but there haven't been many sightings since. The Futureheads make their first visit to L.A. in four years, headlining the Troubadour tonight supported by Orange Country-bred up-and-comers Young the Giant.

Elsewhere: Broken Bells return for a sold-out show at the Wiltern. … Slash is back for another night at the House of Blues. … And at the release party for the Friends of Friends' Vol. 3 compilation, Mexicans With Guns appear alon with Salva, Daddy Kev and Gaslamp Killer.

Also: Nightmare & the Cat at Spaceland; Peter Wolf at Largo; Kenneth Pattengale and J. Irwin Daily at the Hotel Cafe; Nathan Picard at the Viper Room; CocoRosie and We Are the World at the Music Box; Tera Melos at the Bootleg theater; Shane Harper at the Roxy; Auditorium and Masks at the Silverlake Lounge; and Boyz Skule & the Precious Medals at 3 Clubs.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.