Kate Clover wants it now

DOWN AT THE ROCK AND ROLL CLUB—Watermelon, a Chicago band that self-describes as “super sour punk,” opened last night at Cobra Lounge. I noticed right away that the drummer was sporting a Hoodoo Gurus t-shirt. A good omen, I thought.

I was right. Watermelon—the drummer and two women with matching powder blue Mosrite guitars, shag haircuts, and skinny black jeans—blasted out a dozen or so three-chord rockers, all super-charged power riffs and hollered vocals. At one point, the bass player announce...