Deliciously tuneful sleaze-punk reeking of C.B.G.B. circa '76 without sounding the least bit dated, the Lusties are a Chicago quintet led by bold and brassy former Austinite Edie Lustie. In the great Ramones tradition, the musicians have all taken "Lustie" as their last name -- dedicated to both tickling and titillating listeners while relentlessly pummeling them old-school style a la the Ramones, X and the earliest Blondie.

The group is as likely to pay homage to a marital aid, an illicit young love or a B-grade horror flick -- as on "RubberMade," "Hi Skool Luv" and "Zombies," respectively -- as it is to deliver a startlingly powerful, moving and once again relevant cover of the '60s hit "Soldier Boy," which betrays the sort of mile-wide emotional streak that every true punk hides beneath his or her leather jacket. To date, the group has two self-released EPs available, but I for one am eager to hear more.

The group is as likely to pay homage to a marital aid, an illicit young love or a B-grade horror flick -- as on "RubberMade," "Hi Skool Luv" and "Zombies," respectively -- as it is to deliver a startlingly powerful, moving and once again relevant cover of the '60s hit "Soldier Boy," which betrays the sort of mile-wide emotional streak that every true punk hides beneath his or her leather jacket. To date, the group has two self-released EPs available, but I for one am eager to hear more.

You can sample the Lusties' sound at myspace.com/thelusties, or better yet catch them in all their grungy glory as they provide the soundtrack for the Varietease Cabaret Aug. 9 at the Lakeshore Theatre, 3175 N. Broadway, and take the stage Aug. 29 at Reggie's, 2109 S. State.

You can sample the Lusties' sound at myspace.com/thelusties, or better yet catch them in all their grungy glory as they provide the soundtrack for the Varietease Cabaret Aug. 9 at the Lakeshore Theatre, 3175 N. Broadway, and take the stage Aug. 29 at Reggie's, 2109 S. State.