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I kind of like 20 Foot Halo. They're a loose, relaxed indie-pop four-piece. The two guitarists both sing: one has a high, sweet sound, while the other is working the interesting dichotomy of a sort of weird, cracked voice singing pretty, catchy melodies, a la J Mascis or perhaps Weezer. The rhythm section is straightforward and solid, the guitar parts lively and somewhat engaging. There's a nice fluttery wah section that I quite like.
The Cory Bantic Band have a great pun in their name, which proves to be the only great thing about them. (In fact, the pun is a false promise, but I didn't know that; I knew that "corybantic" was a word, but not that it means "wild, frenzied." They're not.) They explain that Cory couldn't make it tonight, so one of them will have to sing, despite having a terrible voice. This, at least, is truth in advertising. Their songs are basic bar band fare, and really not very interesting. They massacre their version of "Glass Onion." (If you're going to screw up a cover, please, do something obscure; if you make a mistake in a Beatles song, I promise that everyone will catch it.) Then, around the time I think they must be bottoming out, they do a country song.
The New Dumb are the band I've come to see, because the drummer is a great guy with excellent taste in music. His band are a three-piece, playing simple, silly punk songs. There's not a huge lot going on, but then, they are called The New Dumb. Unfortunately, it's all a bit sloppy; they sort of lurch into a new tempo when they change sections, and drag a bit in the faster parts. But I like the guitarist's grumpily self-deprecating patter, and some of the songs (the pirate song in particular) are goofy fun.
