The difference between brothers Nate and Sean Kavanugh’s two bands, the Kavanaugh Brothers Celtic Experience (a traditional Irish folk group) and the High Sea (an indie noise-pop trio) might seem vast, but it’s not—both groups equally create soul-wrenching, sing-along tunes that blur the line between sadness and joy, just in different ways.

The High Seas’s new EP, Good Loud Shout!, contains six new post-punk pop songs. The recordings are raw and sparse, an appropriate choice for the self-conscious lo-fi 90s indie rock influence (Pavement, Modest Mouse, Guided By Voices) found in their music. There’s plenty of distorted, angular guitar riffs, subtly complex structures and vocals drenched in infectious harmonies, but unlike many of their 90s forefathers, there’s an indie-folk element, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering their Celtic group.

One of the standout tracks, “Tears”, is one of the simpler, less dissonant, jangle-pop songs with a passionate shout-along chorus. The lyrics could easily pass for an Irish drinking song (“Tears of laughter are the very best kind. Tears of joy trail close behind”). The remainder of the songs revel more in dissonance to some degree. The perfect example is “Manic,” which features a jittery Modest Mouse-esc riff and spastic vocals. The guitar solo is a nice touch.

Stanford is bringing back its historic Frost Amphitheater in a big way on May 19 when Modest Mouse will play a show that could represent the beginning of a comeback for the 75-year-old venue, which once hosted music greats like Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. The last major artist to perform there was Mos Def in 2004.

Tickets are on sale today for the Modest Mouse show, which brings the Washington band to the South Bay as they prepare their first studio album in five years. They toured for more than two years in support of 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, and since then have replaced the Smiths’ Johnny Marr—who played with the band for only one album—with Jim Fairchild. (Fairchild’s old band Grandaddy announced last month that it’s re-uniting for a number of gigs, including this summer’s Outside Lands, but it remains to be seen if that will affect his role in Modest Mouse.)

The Frost Amphitheater is somewhat hidden away among the trees on the Stanford campus, but very close to the huge Bing Concert Hall project. Blankets and picnics have been standard-issue at Frost shows in the past, and will be welcomed once again, though chairs and large coolers won’t be allowed.

Tickets for the “Frost Revival” Modest Mouse show, which begins at 3pm with openers Eyes Lips Eyes and Benjamin Francis Leftwich, are $40 and available through the Stanford Ticket Office.