Los Angeles power-trio The Actual play a very uncommon brand of reckless, pessimistic pop. Eschewing the whininess found in most of today's melodic rock bands in favor of wonder, insight and introspection, they combine it all into wonderfully hooky and surprisingly short songs delivered with gusto that would make any great post-punk act proud. On their forthcoming thirteen-song long-player Songs on Radio Idaho (out September 2nd on Eyeball Records) Max Bernstein's guitars are alternately jangly and strangling, weaving in between Jeremy Bonsall's linear walking-style basslines and Jeff Keenan's quick-wristed staccato drumming, often giving way for vocal hooks usually reserved for less ferocious bands. Since forming in late 2001, The Actual have been touring relentlessly without regard to starvation or attendance, opening for luminaries such as Superdrag, Taking Back Sunday and The Posies, impressing everyone in their path who likes dimension and fury with their pop.