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"You know what was great," says Stulbach, "clearly nobody was there to see us, like they didn't even know who we were, but by the end they were loving it -- those days were great."

While there are songs that share an Air-like feel on Sunshine Barato (especially "Vagalume"), the added dimensions to the new disc are primarily more rock oriented -- as though the band toned down the pop without sacrificing the summery feel entirely. Root's hooks are stronger (and they weren't weak to begin with), the electric guitars are further up front in the mix, and there are some songs ("Shooting Stars," "27 Degrees") with a melodic feel similar to Yo La Tengo -- probably picked up from haunting the same East Village watering holes since no one in the Mosquitos cites the Hoboken band as an influence.

"I didn't know and I still don't know very much the music of Yo La Tengo," Stulbach says, "but I guess I should hear a little bit because you're not the first one that says that."

Whatever the sources, the change from one album to the next is subtle but still obvious. Along with the band's growing familiarity, Stulbach credits Smith with the group's expanded sound.

"He's got a wonderful interesting brain, and he brings that into the trio, so it's like brain, heart and humor, and then it switches around," she says. "It's funny, we three people, we happened to meet in life, you know, and we think we complete each other -- not alike, but complete, you know? You learn a lot from each other."

Which would explain the good vibes the band gives off, musically and otherwise. Stulbach has to interrupt the phone conversation at one point for a good two or three minutes because she was laughing so hard she couldn't catch her breath, the rest of the van convulsing along with her.

"There's no room in this van," she says, "it's crazy, too packed. We're like a little sardine, so we'll have to have a good time or kill each other, you know?"

Which is easier to do with a soundtrack like the Mosquitos' virtually daring you not to have a good time.
-- John Schacht

The Mosquitos open for the Wailers at the Visulite Saturday. Doors at 9pm, tickets $20.