Weekend Recap: Saturday: Pop Noir, Silverbird, Bella Vista

Saturday night involved some seriously good music and some serious alcohol consumption. Before heading to the Ken Club for Morgan Young’s Birthday Circus, Matt (Vinyl Radio) and Andrea came over to my house and we had some cocktails and some red headed slut shots to prep us for the evening ahead. I don’t wanna be a total asshole here, but I have to give props to Rob the bartender for getting us into the show. $7 cover may be nothing to you if this is the only show you go to all week, but I’ve put in my time at the Ken Club, gathering glasses when the bar is slammed, straightening up the bathroom when it is frightening, and even plunging the toilet when some idiot clogs the thing, so I feel entitled to a lifetime of not paying cover there, and thanks to Morgan for being cool about it.

We got to the bar just before 10 and had plenty of time before Pop Noir started. While the flyer for the show said they’re from the UK, it is my understanding that they’re from Long Beach, but maybe I need to look into that. Fronted by twins on bass and guitar (and occasional keys) they had a drummer which made me happy because one of the DJs on Indie 103 played them the other day and said their initial demo was full of “cheesy drum machine beats.” If I was moved to dance ever, this is a band I might’ve danced to. But as I’m not inclined to publicly shake my ass, I snapped some shots of them instead. I thought they were fun to watch and there seemed to be a good crowd while they played.









In between bands, a gang load of people headed to my house for more shots and to use the bathroom since quite a line had developed at the bar. When we got back, Silverbird had just started and the room was packed. I love their alt country sound, full with lap steel and keys, drums, bass and guitar. I even like when they drop the “alt” stuff and play straight up old country sounding stuff reminiscent of Marty Robbins and that generation of musicians. I did notice the crowd shrinking, maybe not expecting so much county, maybe just not in the mood for some of the slower paced music, and maybe just hanging out because so many familiar faces were in the bar, but I thought they were phenomenal.















Again I ran to my house between bands. I was getting pretty lit by this time and so thankful I’m such a short walk from the bar. Back at the bar for Bella Vista and it was one of those nights you just don’t want to end because you’re having such a great time, there’s a good crowd of friends there hanging out, and everyone is just really in the moment.

Bella Vista was the final band and Matt loves them and I can see how their sound would translate well with the guys in Vinyl Radio, playing rock with a late 70s sound to it. I took some pics but by that point of the night was definitely no music critic. Not that I really ever am, anyway, but especially not this night.










(Is he not Vinyl Radio Matt's doppelganger??)

The bar may have closed at 2, but the party continued at my house until the wee hours. Thanks to everyone who came, hung out, and made it such a fun night.