An Apples In Stereo performance is much more reminiscent of a massive celebration than the congregation of head-nodding that usually occurs at indie-rock shows. Listening to an Apples record almost forces a cheerful disposition; the urge to move around a bit comes swiftly and without warning. An upbeat, gleeful aesthetic has always informed the group’s music, and this translates into a pretty exciting show for both band and audience. After a recent move to Louisville, Ky., and the birth of a child to husband-and-wife team Robert Schneider and Hilarie Sidney (guitar/vocals and drums, respectively), the Apples arrived in Philadelphia to support the recent Velocity Of Sound (spinART).

Things got started with San Francisco’s Oranger, whose look and sound made its California origins obvious. Sporting surfer-style haircuts and tans, the band members seemed out of place on this below-freezing Saturday night, performing to a roomful of scarves and wool sweaters. Oranger’s songs are effortlessly poppy, with a relaxed/slacker feel to them. Fortunately, the music was able to heat everybody up, bringing with it much needed memories of sun, summertime and warmth in general.

Of all the bands associated with the now-defunct Elephant 6 confederation, collective godheads Apples In Stereo seem to have the most fun, a trait that undeniably comes through in their live show. All of the band members (Schneider and Sidney, along with guitarist John Hill and bassist Eric Allen) look outright ecstatic to be onstage: Schneider jumps around like a four-year-old with a lollipop, taking sporadic breaks to readjust his glasses. As you might imagine with Apples In Stereo songs, the entire crowd was moved to bounce along uncontrollably. At 45 minutes, the set was rather short—understandable when the average song length is two minutes—and dominated by songs from the rock-solid Velocity Of Sound. The only slight disappointment to a few of the more casual fans was the absence of Powerpuff Girls staple “Signal In The Sky.” The requests for “Signal” died down once everyone realized the set would be just fine without it.

Since 1995, Apples In Stereo have successfully replicated your parents’ Beach Boys and Beatles records. They agree with you that Pet Sounds was a fantastic record—and didn’t that last song kind of sound like it? They hope you had an excellent time; perhaps you’ll even come see them again next time they come around to blanket you with warm, sun-kissed pop that feels like shelter against the cold.