The Brian Larney Band and The Shellye Valauskas Experience share a pop melody-filled bill at Best Video Film & Cultural Center on Fri., May 8. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10.

The Brian Larney Band is a hook-driven rock/pop outfit built around the songs of songwriter Brian Larney. Haunted by hooks and good old-fashioned songcraft, the band channels the melodic punch and heart of 70s and 80s guitar pop—big choruses, ringing guitars and the kind of songs that stay with you long after the last note fades. Larney (vocals, guitar, keys) is joined by Dean Falcone (lead guitar, vocals), Bob Hibson (bass), and Jim Balga (drums), a lineup that brings both muscle and nuance to the material.

Larney’s songs have earned placements in film and television and he has shared stages with artists like Cheap Trick, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Ellis Paul. In this full band setting, those melodic instincts expand into a full-throttle live show-tight, energetic and built around the simple idea that great songs and players still matter. Equal parts power-pop shimmer and Brill Building–inspired songcraft, The Brian Larney Band delivers timeless, melody-first rock made for anyone who still believes in the power of a great chorus.

Based in the New Haven area, Shellye Valauskas & Dean Falcone lead The Shellye Valauskas Experience and write meticulously crafted power pop songs, with an emphasis on “power.” The songs hearken back to the finer moments of the 1970’s and 1980’s and are filled with sparkling melodies powered by sharp and often jangly electric guitars; think Big Star, The Raspberries and Aimee Mann. The latest release, History of Panic, is a collection of catchy choruses, swirly guitars and melodies that instantly draw you in and satisfy on every level.