Playing their first show to promote the album "Animal!" (which is recorded but won't be released until July), the members of Margot & the Nuclear So and So's wore animal-themed masks when arriving onstage Friday night at the Vogue.

Vocalist Richard Edwards discarded his mask before many people in the packed house could identify his species. But as the Rock for Riley benefit concert unfolded, Edwards portrayed a wolf in sheep's clothing.

He delivered a handful of new songs in smooth, honey-dripping voice. Teeth were bared, however, on lyrics such "I want to gouge your eyes, splinter your spine" and "This is how you ditch someone that drives you mad."

Emerging from a winter spent in studio hibernation, the eight members of Margot & the Nuclear So and So's attacked their instruments with muscular focus.

Democracy may be the band's most valuable trait, as guitars, strings, percussion, keyboards and brass meshed on stylish show opener "At the Carnival," messy rocker "The Shivers (I've Got 'em)" and the radio-ready "German Motor Car."

The polished textures of "Carnival" and "Car" shouldn't be dismissed as major-label sheen prepared for Epic Records, which will release "Animal!" in July.

The New Wave sounds actually echo the half-retro, half-futuristic work of the Academy -- the pre-Margot band that featured Fry brothers Andy (guitar) and Chris (drums).

Meanwhile, onstage confidence continues to bloom for 24-year-old Edwards.

When introducing "A Patriotic Dream Come True," he said the song won't appear on the band's new album.

Instead, he earmarked "Dream" for the follow-up to "Animal!" -- promising a release date to coincide with President Bush's last day in office.

Of all his onstage pronouncements, Edwards may have been most serious about retiring "Broad Ripple is Burning." He admitted to falling out of love with the song, a fan favorite that's only been released as a 7-inch vinyl single.

If Friday does prove to be the tune's final performance, Edwards, keyboard player-vocalist Emily Watkins and multi-instrumentalist Erik Kang gave "Broad Ripple" an eerie send-off.

With Kang creating a drone reminiscent of Johnny Greenwood's soundtrack for "There Will Be Blood," Edwards and Watkins added a line to the song's chorus of "I'll be hanging from a rope": "I will haunt you like a ghost."

For the balance of the 75-minute performance, Margot returned to the magical folk-pop world created on debut album "The Dust of Retreat."

Voices throughout the Vogue rallied to sing "Talking in Code" with Edwards -- despite the night's general lack of attentiveness (and manners) in some pockets of the audience.

In the end, Margot steamrolled traditional closing number "Barfight Revolution, Power Violence" and made more than enough racket to snuff casual conversation.

Supporting act Bon Iver showed off the original landscape songwriter-vocalist Justin Vernon has created for his music.

It might be fair to describe Bon Iver as the backwoods Sigur Ros for ethereal vocals and guitars that careen from restraint to abandon.

The backwoods part of the equation is found in Vernon's rustic resonator guitar and a wooden box that one of his sidemen thumped for percussion.

Whatever the instruments, Vernon has an admirable grasp of the power of tension and release. The Wisconsin native also has a sense of humor: He urged the crowd to demand Leinenkugel's beer be served at the Vogue.

The event raised $122,217.77 for Riley Hospital for Childen.