Weekends is a two-piece that just had an intense raw energy that really comes through with nothing but a guitar, a fuzzed out amp and dirty drums. Thanks go to the G-Spot for the free keg beer (later cans of Natty Boh) and red and white wine for getting the party extra-frenzied.

Then, it was Sri, who I compared to a Doors-ey sound. That’s not a bad thing, by the way. Psych rock at its best, which is refreshing at this point in the music biz, with all the synth-pop stuff coming out now.

When the top bills came on, all bets were off. Wye Oak isn’t necessarily the biggest "jump-around" band, but the crowd was definitely bobbing its collective head. I'm pretty sure they busted out at least two new songs, about which front-woman Jenn Wasner admitted, "We haven’t figured out our transitions yet."

Chill, Jenn. You were awesome, in that ethereal but hard-rocking way Wye Oak always brings.

As for Arbouretum, the guys put together a quick set that closed the place down perfectly.   They offered a perfect mix between brooding, driving rhythms that were brooding rock at the core and haunting lyrics. But somehow, it’s still a fun – and captivating – party.

One of the best parts of the night came when Arbouretum and Wye Oak joined forces for a closing cover of Neil Young’s “When You Dance, I Can Really Love.” Show-stopper and great ender.

So what am I getting at in this blog entry? Basically, there is never a bad time to support local bands and blogs.  It’s obviously something Midnight Sun always champions.

At a time when Pink is performing on the Grammys doing some weird, water-drenched trapeze act above the audience, sometimes the best music is often enjoyed in a small converted warehouse.

The free Natty always helps, too.

(Photo by Duffster)