Last year it was an on-stage burrito giveaway during the set.

This year it was a record-breaking 14 quarters shoved up a fan’s nose.

Alas, another Pookey Bleum concert.

“We always like to do something crazy at the M-Shop,” guitarist Patrick Fleming told the audience. “The world record for putting quarters up your nose is 10. We’re going to try to break that record tonight.”

With that, Steve Martin, a Drake University student and Pookey’s “number one fan,” according to Fleming, went on stage and proceeded to insert 14 quarters in his nose.

This was not a trick. Audience members tossed real quarters up on stage for Martin to use. (“You can have them back when he’s done,” bassist/vocalist Melissa Sorbo said.) But how he really put 14 quarters up his nose is indeed a mystery.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new world record,” Fleming said.

“This really hurts,” is all the wonder boy had to say.

The band dedicated their next song, “What The Hell’s A Pookey Bleum?” to Martin as he stood at the side of the stage going about the business of dislodging $3.50 from his nasal passages.

Thursday night’s concert was a CD release party to celebrate Pookey’s new and fourth album, “Lo Fi Rainbow.”

Well, it was supposed to be a CD release party.

It was actually a voucher release party, since the actual CDs hadn’t arrived in time for the show. But the band gave everyone in attendance a $5-off coupon for the album and promised the albums would be delivered the next day.

Despite the letdown of not being able to rip into a new CD after the show, the actual concert was anything but disappointing. The local popsters bounced through 11 of the 12 songs from “Lo Fi Rainbow,” as well as a few tunes from last year’s “Chords A Friend Suggested.”

Though it’s hard to imagine catchier pop songs than were on “Chords,” “Lo Fi Rainbow” is a concentrated effort that just might upstage its predecessor. Aaron Hefley and Melissa Sorbo’s voices combined for some deliciously sweet harmonies on the new songs. It was obvious that the new material was well rehearsed. The band stayed tight and together throughout the entire show.

This effortless flow of cheery power pop left time for other things on stage. While the entire band is known for its good-natured disposition, Fleming is Ames reigning prince of stage presence. His energy seemed to bubble out of him, ripple through the audience, and come right back to him. Eyes wide as saucers, Fleming pogoed all over the stage, periodically punctuating the songs with the nonsense ad-lib that makes each Pookey show unique.

The band closed out the show with the title track from the new album. Already a crowd favorite, fans streamed up on stage during “Lo Fi Rainbow,” to help Pookey close out its release party.

Pookey’s Bi-Fi Records labelmate Kathryn Musilek opened the show. With her clear voice and folksy acoustic guitar, she seemed like a cross between Ani and Alanis. She belted out songs of female empowerment and bittersweet relationship-oriented angst. Musilek is more than the proverbial girl with a guitar, though. She is one to keep an eye on.