Demo2DeRo: Modern Chemist

Earnest young fellows from the south suburbs, bassist and vocalist Daniel Eden, guitarist Kevin Kirchman and drummer Patrick Lewandowski drew on a mutual love of the mainstream punk sounds of Blink 182, Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Alkaline Trio and came together as Modern Chemists in 2006. Now, the band is celebrating the release of its first EP, “Dawn and Dusk,” a solid, well-recorded collection of cheerfully melodic, respectively rollicking radio-friendly mall punk.

The group is at its best when it keeps things focused and moving rapidly forward, as on the songs “16” and “Worship You.” It strays a bit too far into generic metal with the solos in “Stop the Clocks,” but the songwriting is ambitious and sophisticated enough to mark the band as one that may develop into a group to watch.

Modern Chemist performs at the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, at 6 p.m. on Aug. 28. Meanwhile, hear them online at www.myspace.com/modernchemists.