When delivered in an underwhelmed monotone voice, “We’re thrilled to be here” sounds like some sort of obligatory statement or truly pathetic joke. Thus, it was hard not to snort a little when The Twilight Sad‘s James Graham first delivered that line from the stage at Rock and Roll Hotel Monday night, staring at his shoes. However, unlike some other underwhelmed-sounding Scots (Camera Obscura and Arab Strap come to mind), Graham’s demeanor immediately switched from dour to intense the moment his bandmates started playing their instruments and The Twilight Sad were able to convey a visceral urgency over and above the sheer volume of their music.

This urgency proved magnetic. Although local openers The Positions had a perky, pleasant indie-pop-meets-ska set, their lack of on-stage energy (perhaps due to singer Nicole Stoop’s cold) further magnified the intensity of the Scottish quartet… an element that, along with the decibel level, actually increased the longer the band remained onstage.