Ryan stuck around at the hall to check out Bang Bang’s set (“LOUD” was the frequent description given for that one) and reported the highlight to be the return of original singer Dave Graw for the anthemic “1977.” Meanwhile, I floated over to Paycheck’s to catch a searing set from The Muggs, who once again proved that rock-and-roll in its purest form is most definitely not dead at all.  Danny Methric put on yet another disgusting display of guitar solo fireworks, lacing into originals like “White Boy Blues” and a cover of The Beatles’ “Yer Blues” with furious fretwork.  The band’s thick reading of “I Don’t Need No Doctor” (obviously patterned after the version on Humble Pie’s Rockin’ the Fillmore) was the set highlight, as Tony DeNardo laid down some solid bass-key work behind Methric’s guitar noodling.  The crowd at Paycheck’s was so receptive to the Muggs that the band kept playing twice after its set had supposedly ‘ended’.

On a different end of the musical spectrum, Matt found himself amongst a big crowd at Smalls for the Saturday Looks Good to Me show.  From Matt:

Fresh off of their European tour, Saturday Looks Good to Me had the headlining spot at Smalls on Friday night. The six-piece band tore through Fred Thomas’ ‘heart on the sleeve’ Phil Spector-ish anthems that played heavily off the band’s latest release Every Night, though the band didn’t ignore old favorites such as “Meet Me by the River”, “Diary”, and “Alcohol.”  Thomas’ upbeat sounding songs had the packed house dancing, singing and clapping along with every note.  Sassy singer Betty Barnes mesmerized many folks in the crowd with her ‘hand on the hip while singing’ dance move.  SLGTM were set to close the show with the latest single “I Don’t Want to Go,” but a shaky rendition led the band to throw in “Parking Lot Blues” for good measure.