Wednesday night at Detroit Bar meant it was time for some good old-fashioned alt-rock, and the line up for the evening, a collection of SoCal locals, delivered in a big way. Fans milled around the candlelit bar while Van Nuys band Theft, the first band of the night, set up for their set. They opened up with a pretty, mellow track that enticed the audience and pulled them in, then moved right into their next song with a steady beat and rock and roll riff. Singer Matt McCartie seemed to be fighting with gravity as he sang, literally standing on tiptoe. Theft played tracks like “Hard Way” (the title track off their 2nd full-length album) and “Weight of the World,” which has a hauntingly beautiful melody that followed me home and sneaked into my iPod. Despite occasional mic problems and mid-set guitar tuning, the band seemed to be enjoying themselves, and their excitement jumped off the stage and onto the audience before them.
Next up was Los Angeles group Act As If, and their white Christmas lights draping the stage created a whimsical vibe that perfectly aligned with their music. Like the previous band, Act As If opened with a ballad. Peter Verdell and Sara Lindsay’s harmonies were ethereal and enchanting, and the cymbals and xylophone accompanying them added to the otherworldly feel of the song. The songs were consistently engaging, dynamic, and full, from the slower songs to the up-tempo ones. The set was comprised of songs off their EP– which we had the great privilege to review – including “Saying and Meaning Goodbye” and the title track, “There’s a Light.” But the sweetest surprise was the group’s performance of “Sleigh Bells and Reindeer,” an original Christmas-inspired track that speaks to the excited, wide-eyed child in all of us who still gets giddy around the holidays. As the tambourine finished its final jingle, the room burst into applause, and a warm smile was on the face of everyone who heard Act As If play.
Act As If. Photo by Rebecca Mickletz
Finally, Huntington Beach punk rockers The Opera finished out the evening. These boys were loud from the get go, in the best possible way. The energy was feisty and strong, their lyrics a refreshing balance between deep emotions and cocky come-ons, but The Opera always played with an aggressive, truly punk stage presence that couldn’t be ignored. They riled up the crowd, asking, “Are you having a good time?” When we answered in the affirmative, lead singer Jose asked if we were ready to… well, he screamed something that none of us could understand and then explained, “You don’t have to know what it means to know what it means… See? We’re deep.” All in all, these SoCal groups were impressive and fun, all of them definitely worth a look-see.
Weiland is notorious for his ever-changing looks and persona, but when he finally came out on stage at 10:40, he revealed an alter ego that no one was expecting.
