If I said The Fratellis were a Big Three for the new millennium, would that be too obscure a reference? How, then, about a Gerry & the Pacemakers for the new millennium? The point is that the Scottish trio, which played The Pabst Theater Monday night, has catchy tunes and distinct Merseybeat influence, but with a modern edge. You could say an early Beatles on speed, too.

With the simple backdrop of a huge letter F and the form of a leggy pinup projected onto the stage, the Glaswegian band mixed jagged guitars with Lennon-esque vocals on good time tunes frontloaded with catchy melodies, keeping the interest of the crowd – which filled the main floor of The Pabst – during its 45-minute set and three-song encore.

Opening with "Baby Fratelli," the group performed most of its debut disc, "Costello Music," saving crowd-pleasers like "Creepin Up the Backstairs" and "Chelsea Dagger" for the encore.

While they slowed down and somewhat country-fied the uptempo rocker "For the Girl," most of the material mirrored the performances on "Costello Music." Some tunes, like "Tell Me A Lie," had bluesy overtones, conjuring the early Stones, but most were firmly entrenched in early '60s and early '80s Britpop.

Drummer Gordon McRory (aka Mince Fratelli) was the band's spark plug with a dynamic style that kept the band on track despite some occasional timing missteps. Bassist Barry Wallace, like McRory, chipped in harmonies. But singer and guitarist Jon Lawler was the focus, his guitar the fuel. Lawler's curly mop obscured his face as he made a few remarks to the crowd between songs.

Most of those remarks were lost to a somewhat muddy mix was heavy on bass but lacked definition in the upper end, meaning some vocals were lost in the flood.

The show had two openers: Australia's Dappled Cities, signed to Dangerbird Records, a label co-owned by Milwaukeean Jeff Castelaz and London-based glam purveyors Switches.