A friend turned me on to Shudder to Think fairly recently, almost two months ago. I didn't have much of an opinion about the Washington hard rock band, whose technically precise music bristles with punk influences.

 And after catching the group's show on the North Stage, I still don't know what to make of them. What really sets the group apart is lead singer Craig Wedren, a bald guy with thick, pork chop-shaped sideburns. He sings in circular, operatic runs over the pummeling beats and raging guitars. Strange, I know. But the sonic concotion is more melodic than you'd think.