This was my first experience with the Garage, which has opened in the months since I moved back to Philly. It seemed an OK place, albeit oddly set up. Leigh and I were there mainly to see Anne Summers and do some DJ sets between Magnet and Anne Summers, and after the show. When we got there, Dave Marsh (the HFS guy) showed us how to run the equipment. Through all of that, I caught pieces of the Hissyfits, a New York band. Very post-riot grrl. At times they reminded me of Sleater-Kinney, but I did not get into them at all.

The Beans were next, improving greatly over the first band. They reminded me of why I like Blink 182, singing many songs about girls and goofy things, but not resorting to the level that many of todays pop punk bands. They were mature and fun. Magnet did not bode well with me. Their lead singer acted as if he was a big rock star doing everyone a favor by playing in such a small club. There was nothing special about them.

As for Anne Summers, all of Leigh's talk was right. They were really as good live as they were on disc. I didn't recognize many of the songs, but they a bunch from the first album, and the upcoming album, "Very Classy". After the show, Leigh Djed for about a half an hour, with a spot of my help, and I even made up with Alec. Good show. They'll be playing with Ladybug Transistor and Papas Fritas at the Black Cat in March.