HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — By day, Grant Penrod peruses town in suit and tie as a lawyer, but when dusk falls he transforms into Gnat King Cruel, an alien come to Earth along with his trusty crew of bandmates who together are known as Crab Action. Smeared in face paint and illustrated by bizarre neon beasts, Crab Action is practically royalty for Harrisonburg's underground music scene.

In another dimension, Crab Action is still shredding and slashing to clusters of moshing, enthralled crowds most nights. But in this dimension, without venues and musty basements to roar under dimmed bulbs, the ro...