At first glance, Oakland trio Bare Wires looks like the grungier cousin to Philadelphia’s Free Energy. Both pull from the same pot of 1970s influences to create a sugary soft punk sound. But whereas Free Energy sound like they should be playing on the boardwalk at Coney Island, Bare Wires is better suited for the basement of the beach house a few blocks down. There’s a lack of polish in their production and an immediacy in their live show that destroys any illusion of “safety” in their sound. Furthermore, their live show last night at Comet Ping Pong definitely had a modern feel — there was no question as to what decade these songs were written. DCist had a moment to talk to Bare Wires singer/guitarist Matthew Melton about what’s next for the Bay Area band.