It can be difficult to jumpstart a motionless crowd of D.C. concert goers, but one Baltimore band has found a way literally to bring life to the lifeless. In fact, in a very meta sort of way, Yeveto formed their group a few years ago for the sole purpose of adding a modernized sound to a classic horror film. They wrote and recorded a new score to the 1920s Paul Wegener movie, Der Golem, about a beast in Jewish folklore made from clay and animated by sorcery to protect the Jews in Prague from persecution.

The instrumental group consists of Russell deOcampo on piano/keyboard, Ben Hoffman on drums, Gregory Rago on guitar and the post-Golem addition of Amy Cavanaugh on cello, who enhances their sound with a stunning eeriness. While continuing to compose film scores, the band morphed into a more traditional rock band and have been performing their work on stage, occasionally with visuals flashing on the screen behind them. But no film is really necessary, as their music alone tells a story. It’s not entirely menacing, and much of what shines in their dark demeanor is the fast paced drumming and riveting guitar elements that drive tracks like “Heart of a Dog”.

Yeveto released a new album earlier this year, For Stars and Atoms, and opened a show at Iota last week where they performed for a nearly full house. Their set alternated between the upbeat and the surreal, with their unique style and soundtrack-like qualities working well live. The band takes a sophisticated area of music and transforms it into a lighthearted setting where artsy isn’t just black-and-white.