The impending end of the
semester could just be occupying my mind, but as I walked into Turlock’s
Grizzly Rock Café a couple nights before the start of December, the
atmosphere felt transitory. Many people stopping by after school or work
probably had major studying awaiting them afterwards, or would be
getting up early for their jobs. Sparse Christmas decorations reminded
the college kids that they’d be heading home soon for the holidays—even
if home was 10-40 minutes away for some.
That
doesn’t mean those present weren’t enjoying themselves, but they seemed
aware of the night’s unremarkable position between bigger
events—musical or otherwise. Okay, maybe it was merely a Thursday night.
For
a few minutes as Word of Man waited to begin to their set, Valley
Taylor played a slow ambiance on guitar that seemed to strengthen the
air of jovial, laid-back affability. I’ve seen the band three times, and
only once have all the members been there. In this incarnation, Taylor
was accompanied solely by Michael Hardwick on drums.
This
performance was much different from the live jam session they busted
out the last time Word of Man played with an incomplete roster. Taylor
and Hardwick produced a full, albeit contained set, rendering softer
versions of some of their tunes.
After their first song, Taylor remarked, “I’m shaking!” in regards to the trouble he was having holding himself back.
When
Indian Runner started, it was clear that this was less a night about
music, and more a night about friends having a couple drinks and
watching each other play. There was no crowd gathered around the stage;
no one got up from their seat. After every song, deserved applause was
given, but conversations never really stopped, even between the band and
the audience.
The show
coincided with the release of Indian Runner’s new EP. The atmosphere of
cheerful endings was summed up in the way guitarist/singer Michael White
laughed when describing the deathly inspirations behind the release’s
thoughtful final track, “Jesus.” 
The
Tide finished the night off, most members coming out to the Valley from
San Diego. They had a few problems with levels, but no one begrudged
them their extended sound check that lasted throughout their
performance.
The high points
of their set were in the songs which featured vocal harmonies between
bassist Sarah Gunder and guitarist/singer Zach Young. Unfortunately, The
Tide’s most interesting song was their first—when you could actually
hear Jeremy Lai’s keys, which were subsequently turned down to the point
of obscurity.
The night was
less of an event than the two recent holiday shows at the Grizzly Rock,
but it highlighted the best parts of a good local scene: acceptance,
amicable equipment sharing and casual intermingling between bands and
their fans. There are worse ways to spend a Thursday evening.