Australian guitar-pop band Twerps will serenade crowds Wednesday at New Orleans’ Gasa Gasa venue as part of the group’s 23-date United States tour.  With a vocal delivery evoking a young Lou Reed and guitars suggesting a very mellow Keith Richards, the band’s jangling sound does not depart from what one might expect of the New Orleans alternative-rock scene. 

While this is the band’s first visit to the Big Easy, it is not its first time playing in the United States.  The band has performed in the U.S. three times before, including performing at the South by Southwest festival twice.  Guitarist Jules McFarlane recounts a warm reception by previous U.S. crowds.

“We kind of have been really lucky in the states with our shows,” McFarlane said. “There are some kind people who say nice things about the show and I suppose that’s a good yardstick for whether or not we should be here or not. The last three times we’ve had really fun times on tour and played with some excellent bands like White Fence.” 

Twerps’ new album, “Range Anxiety” was released in January. McFarlane said band wrote the album was actually written and recorded long before it was released, and reflects a tumultuous period for the band. 

“We recorded it about two years ago,” McFarlane said. “It’s quite common for bands to have things come out after a certain amount of time that feels too long. We recorded that when we were really fresh from a lineup change, so I think ‘Range Anxiety’ is a lot like an album that documents that process — it’s got real high points and low points.”

The album is rife with expressive chords and clean, upbeat riffs like those of “Back to You” and “New Moves,” along with smooth and ethereal melodies in songs like “Fern Murderers.”  The band, however, disagrees with the ways some critics have interpreted the album.

“I’ve heard it be described as easy-breezy slacker pop — like chill, laid-back summer tunes,” McFarlane said.  “I don’t really hear that — some of the songs are like that, but it’s called ‘Range Anxiety’ for a reason.”

The band hopes new listeners will be drawn in by certain aspects of their stage performance.

“[They should expect] some pretty crazy cross-dressing,” McFarlane said. “I suppose a lot of choreographed dance moves on stage too.”