Still, there's a decent number of people at the Front this evening and they all cheer between songs. A handful of people approach the members after the set to tell them that they were great, and these humble young souls look mildly embarrassed, as if this writer might think that they set it up. "People appreciate it even though it may not be exactly what they're into," Abbruzzese says.

Electric Corpse is a band in its infancy — it has one EP out and has only played a handful of shows — but the quality of the songwriting, the stark honesty in the lyrics and the chemistry shared between the band members is spellbinding. Frankly, when the band played the last note of the set and walked off, it felt as if they'd just walked on. Some people will find the name cheesy, but that shouldn't put you off. Just enjoy the fact that this band has a knowing, self-deprecating sense of humor.

As expected at this stage in the interview, the band's ambitions are humble bordering on nonexistent. "Let's see, we want to make money tonight, and I'm going to have six more beers," Galanek says with a smile. "We want to take that money and buy T-shirts. We're recording an album and then we want to go on tour. Ideally, I want to write four more songs and record them. And practice a lot. That's why our other band didn't work out — we could never work out a practice schedule."

The Electric Corpse folks are happy to admit that, in this unpredictable and harsh music climate, they may be as big as they will ever get. If they stay together, they could well be playing the Berkley Front on a bill with two bands of different styles 10 years from now. They don't care.

"This is as big as I've ever been so that's fine," Galanek says. "As long as I keep putting new stuff out and playing out, I'll be happy. We don't have an audience yet anyway."

The interview is sputtering to a halt and the band members, obviously giddy at the idea of being interviewed at all, are giggling at every question now, particularly anything centered on the idea that they might be successful one day. But to finish, just to be cheeky and play the goth card one last time, which Batman does Electric Corpse prefer? Chris Nolan's or Tim Burton's? 

"Tim Burton," Galanek says. "[Jack Nicholson's] Joker was cooler. I liked Michael Keaton a lot better as Batman too. He was more cool and suave. The new Batman's voice is overdone."

Getting back to the aspirations ... 

"When I was 14, I was convinced Hot Topic would be my first job," Marcoux says, on cue. "We probably all applied."

I knew it.

> Email Brett Callwood