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Detroit Bar, Honeypie, Melanoid & DallasA friend of mine recommended that I check out a venue called Detroit Bar, in Costa Mesa, so Frank and I ventured out there for a night of music. Detroit Bar is tucked away in the corner of a strip mall, but it has the feel of the kind of cool bar one would find in Silverlake. There is a large stage for a venue of its size (a big plus for bands wanting to play there) and plenty of space for a crowd of over a hundred people. The rest of the bar sports an indie/lounge vibe, with couches and a few tables from which the band can be watched. An added bonus: TVs that silently play classic Saturday Night Live musical guests between sets. A separate room towards the rear of Detroit provides a quieter area where people can chalk-up at the pool tables. HONEYPIE
Image borrowed from www.myspace.com/honeypiemusic
With microphone stands decorated in swirly floral vines to match the hometown influence of their music, Honeypie confidently played a slightly indie version of feel good folk rock. Tricia is their lead singer, who has a cute sexiness about her, as she shines through the music with vocal parts that reminded us of a slightly sweeter Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley. The band was tight and well-rehearsed; the drummer was noticeably a rocker who brought an important and energetic edge to the music; rhythm guitar and bass locked up with the drums; the lead guitarist, clearly well versed in country folk, played some pleasantly subtle but melodic riffs; organ added the final fantastic piece to the puzzle. Together the music was not quite predictable. Predictability often being a trait expected from country-influenced music, Honeypie was a breath of fresh air. MELANOID
Image borrowed from www.myspace.com/melanoid Suddenly the stage lights turn red and ominous. Mystery is afoot at Detroit Bar. Melanoid takes the stage. First and foremost, Melanoid plays their own unique brand of art rock that sits comfortably somewhere between the moodier side of Muse and the ambient side of Radiohead. John, the singer of Melanoid has a very soothing voice that swells into memorable melodies that make you want to learn the songs and sing along. The band as a whole proved that you don't need to go to the Hollywood Bowl to see professionals. While John sang and played guitar, the lead guitarist got experimental and made some amazing sounds come out of the six string. The drumming was unquestionably fitting and solid. The bass player used the entire neck of his instrument skillfully. The organ, played by the same person who played in Honey Pie, was amazing for the second time (see review below). While the musical style was art rock, it was a brand of which was quite comprehensive and gave the listener something to hold on to while they fell deeper into the creativity of Melanoid. DALLAS KRUSE
Image Borrowed from http://www.dallaskruse.com/dk/zionstudios.html Dallas Kruse, was the keys player for both bands this evening. Quite frankly, it was a pleasure to watch him bang on the black and whites. In each band he added a layer of sound that drastically enhanced the music. In addition it was clear to see that Dallas had a vast understanding of his instrument and music in general as he played his dynamics appropriately. We approached Dallas after the sets to simply shake the hand of a musician. We discovered that he plays in twelve local bands in addition to working on his own material and managing Zion Studios, located in Santa Ana. The Slater Sisters Blog officially endorses this go-getter! For music and more information on these bands, please visit our links section. Lauren & Frank  
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