[listen up] Spirit Kid "Happiness" EP; release party July 16 @ Brighton Music Hall

Who releases a new EP in the middle of the summer? A band as cool and airy as an indie-pop waterslide, that’s who. SPIRIT KID might be pulling opening duty for NYC weirdoes Darwin Deez Saturday night at Brighton Music Hall (158 Brighton Ave, Allston | 9pm | $12), but our local melody-makers take top billing with the release of their new Happiness extended player, which they tossed up on the ol' Bandcamp just this morning.

It’s been a good year so far for the Kid, one that began as part of our Class of 2011 feature on new bands to watch, then saw them wildcard their way into the Rock and Roll Rumble final and release an intentionally-grainy video for the "Wrong Kind of Money," shot live during the friendly competition at TT The Bear's Place in Cambridge.

Now featured on the soundtrack of new coming-of-age indie flick LAID: Life As It’s Dealt -- which isn't a new Gregg Araki movie but it kinda sounds like one -- Emeen Z. and his band of ’60s-minded sunshine-pop bandits are giving us a new definition of Happiness, by way of their air conditioned summer soundtrack.

If you can't wait for Saturday's gig to get a free copy of the new EP, listen in below and download it from the internets.