The Darkest Hollar and VaVoom at the Double Down's first Saturday Matinee Show - Saturday 3-7-26

 

Our weekends tend to be pretty packed between errands, chores, house-cleaning, cooking and what-have-you, but we thought that this afternoon show at the Double Down sounded like a fun time so we got a bunch of errands done quickly in the morning and headed out.

To avoid competition with Red Dwarf's Sunday Surf Brunch, the DD decided to try this matinee gig on Saturdays and added a taco truck and a couple vendors outside and it seems to us like it was a roaring success.

The Minges were scheduled to play but could not make it so in their place was a new-to-us combo, the Darkest Hollar, a self-proclaimed Satanist Bluegrass band! Acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, banjo and fiddle accompanied fine vocals and songs about Satan (natch), murder, goth girls, sacrifices, orgies and more, and even a cover from the band Ghost! Everyone excelled at the instruments, although the fiddle and banjo were the primary solo instruments. Funny stories in between the tunes and they even winged a cover of "Pretty Polly" when a patron requested it (along with a monetary tip)! Very fun, funny and talented and we hope to see them again soon and maybe play together in some permutation at some point!

Las Vegas' garage/rockabilly/Cramps-ian combo, VaVoom, filled out the afternoon (along with a hip DJ), with an energetic set of their own tunes about UFO's (with added theremin effects by bassist Kelly), parties, freaks and more. Some numbers reminded me of drummer Jomar's old band, the Mad Daddies (who took after the Cramps, as well), some were more garage-y, some more Link Wray, but all fun, with reverbed Mosrite guitar work, Kelly's simple, solid bass lines and Jomar's rockabilly influenced poundin'. Always a good time and one of the better times I have seen them!

Thanks to the Double Down and promoters Ryan and Katherine Reasons (Two Reasons Presents) for a great idea and a Fun afternoon! 

We even finally got to try the fab restaurant across the street, the Modern Vegan, which is highly recommended if you're in the area!