After a year of woodshedding and playing casual gigs, the Dullards seem ready to make things less dull for themselves. The quartet, which already has a CD, is made up of local music veterans who have settled into a comfortable niche somewhere between Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, but without the overarching preciousness. At least that was the case Tuesday night at Iota.

Fronted by a pair of singer-songwriter-guitarists - Alistair Millar and Guy Benson, both formerly with Hooverville - the Dullards mixed originals with well-chosen covers (Guy Clark's "L.A. Freeway" was a standout) for a perfectly pleasant set that revealed promise. Self-consciousness was in short supply, as were overzealous solos, and the team effort was earnest. An encore of the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers" seemed all the more sincere when sung by Millar in his soft tenor.

- Buzz McClain