Formerly managed and produced by the late Joey Ramone, the Independents play a horror-themed punk that creeps and crawls along the same webs spun by the Misfits. They’re more lighthearted (and fun) than the Lodi, New Jersey, originators of the horror-punk subgenre, playing with a highly charged edge and comedic wit that eluded Danzig and company. The Florida group has been playing steadily since forming in 1992, drawing from a diverse set of musical influences including the Specials, Conway Twitty, Iron Maiden and the Ohio Players, to create an everybody-on-the-dance-floor sound all its own. The Independents grace us with their gory glory Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Strange Matter. Opening will be groovy death ghoulies Black Cat Attack from Oshawa, Canada, and hometown B-movie horror rockers Creep-a-Zoids and Mistaker. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10. strangematterrva.com