Sun. March 2

Every young band on the planet, it seems, is warming up for the big mid-March SXSW festival in Austin. Such is the case with The Boy Bathing, a Brooklyn-based quartet that's on the road and stopping at the Middle East Upstairs Sunday March 2. One word you're going to hear tossed around regarding The Boy Bathing is "emo." Not meaning Emo Phillips - though come to think of it, he's coming to town soon, too. No, emo the phrase that's come to define soft, emotive singer-songwriter folk-pop. It sometimes makes me cringe and react the way "Animal House" icon John Belushi did to that folksinger on the stairwell. But let's skip the emo tag, and just say that while The Boy Bathing is on the delicate side and the name's a tad fey, they've got just the right about of quiet orchestration - trumpet, bass, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, drums - to buoy David Hurwitz ever-accelerating pop. They remind us of Bright Eyes or Belle & Sebastian. They're not going to slam you over the head with what they do; but they should draw you into the circle and make your head spin gently. They're on at 10, playing with Band Marino, Josh More and The Life Adventure (ex-Christians & Lions). Tickets: $8.

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-864-3278 www.mideastclub.com