Sunday afternoon not only provided Madison with a traffic jam of triathletes, their supporters, and furious drivers downtown, but also a congregation of activists on the east side. Whether they were promoting Buddhism, belly dancing or Tammy Baldwin, residents, visitors and artists gathered on yet another blocked-off road for the Willy Street Fair.

And while the liberal politics didn’t really intrigue me, I was entranced by my new local band of choice, Jimmy’s Comet. Looking a little preppy compared to the diverse crowd of hippies, harlequins and Harley riders, the Eau Claire quintet entertained with their versatile music and random inter-song repartee.

While a majority of Jimmy’s Comet’s titles imply dreaming or escape, each song has a unique sound, which is why the band is able to attract such distinct crowds. Their style ranges from Coldplay-like ballads featuring the loud, pure wailing of vocalist Kris Larson and slow beats of Brad Kolberg to upbeat tracks like “All the Dreamers are Gone” and “Small Holidays,” featuring cool harmony and guitar riffs reminiscent of Weezer. At times, twinges of Mason Jennings, Van Morrison, Wilco and yes, even the Beatles, sneak through.

Adding to the band’s appeal is the members’ resourcefulness, as they use each member for various functions. Slight-statured Adam Strom and lankier Patrick Cassidy swap positions on guitar and bass while Larson occasionally steps over to the keyboard. Strom, Cassidy, Larson and guitarist Karl Christenson are all featured lead vocalists, helping to produce a particular ambience for each song.

The guys recently emigrated from Eau Claire and are currently working on a second album to accompany their 1999 recording Meanwell.

Jimmy’s Comet will perform live on WORT 89.9 FM this Friday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. and will be at Café Montmarte this Saturday at 9 p.m. (get your IDs cause it’s a 21+ show). Check it out. Or, rather, check out all the different dreamy dispositions of Jimmy’s Comet.