Ladyhawke

Do New Zealand blondes with Asperger’s really have more fun? Critics are both charmed and skeptical of Kiwi babe Ladyhawke’s ’80s revivalism, deeming her self-titled debut everything from “brazenly Banarama” to “an excretion of irony.” While hit single “Paris Is Burning” channels old-school Madonna on a student’s ISIC card budget, “Back Of The Van” tries on Chrissie Hynde for size with one plaintive wail, developing dance floor drama out of a one night stand. One could argue that Ladyhawke’s audience was barely sentient in the ’80s, deeming synth-based kitsch a non-issue. But damn if it don’t complement a neon tank top.

Tue., March 24, 8 p.m., 2009