It's been a while since I wrote about seeing music at all … but I have been out. I spent some time at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) and met some cool people from the bands and from around town. The bands didn't start until late, but another local musician and friend of members of The Missing Teens offered to let them play a bit in the basement. So we went there for a few minutes and a few songs — a proper preview of the great, high-energy rock with a lounge-jam edge we were to see later on.

Back at the Bug Jar, Illimanjaro kicked things off with some high-power, melodic, fast rock. Their guitarist was particularly apt at very fast playing and did a few impressive solos. The Missing Teens was up next, replacing the temporary iPod with Illimanjaro's drummer and not one but two keytars. Thunderbang! finished things off with some well-executed funky lounge-rock and even got a few people dancing.