WBRS continued to earn its title as the "World's Best Radio Station" when it brought The Antlers to Cholmondeley's in a last-minute surprise concert last Thursday. The Antlers, a Brooklyn-based indie rock outfit, has experienced growing popularity in the indie rock scene over the past few years. Their most recent release, the band's fourth studio album Burst Apart, received strong reviews from Pitchfork Media, AbsolutePunk and The AV Club. Members Peter Silberman, Michael Lerner, Darby Cicci and touring member Timothy Mislock gave an intimate, musically powerful and enjoyable performance that matched their reputation. It was a highly impressive feat that WBRS was able to bring the band to Chum's right before The Antlers kicked off for their tour with the extremely popular post-rock band Explosions in the Sky.

Opener Zanois took the stage at around 8:45 p.m. Zanois, hailing from Manchester, N.H., is composed of Punk, Rock n' Roll Club Co-president Justice McDaniel '12 along with his father and brother, Kyle and "McDad," as their Facebook fan page calls him. The family power trio rocked out with a unique and enjoyable brand of experimental rock. Justice's ethereal guitar-playing style meshed nicely with his father's remarkably powerful drumming and his brother Steinberger's bass notes and vocals. Zanois served as a strong opener for The Antlers, whose music also has otherworldly elements with its wall-of-sound guitars and synthesizers.

The Antlers' set began around 9:30 p.m., as over 120 people crowded into Chum's for the serendipitous occasion. Opening with the eerie yet powerful "Parentheses," the band immediately drew in their audience. Lead vocalist Peter Silberman's swooping, high falsetto rang perfectly in tune over airy synthesizers and thick guitar chords. The Antlers further proved their musical prowess by playing in unique and odd time signatures, such as 10/4 time alternating with 4/4 time. Other highlights from the band's set included "Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out," "Sylvia" and their closer, "Putting the Dog to Sleep." The band's stage conversation with the audience served as a funny counterpoint to their heavily emotional music. Although it was not clear whether their stage banter was sarcastic ("So, how's school, guys?") or honest, it was clear that both the band and the audience enjoyed the intimate setting of Chum's.

The concert was a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Brandeis. WBRS Music Director Michael Zonenashvili '13 said of the show, "It was kind of a case of stars aligning. A show like that shouldn't happen in Chum's, and it's almost an honor that it did."