The air hangs low and blows of cigarette smoke permeate outside the Rhythm Lounge. The black-washed walls of the venue and obscure lighting of celestial suns and stars create an other-worldly atmosphere.
Three rock groups and one rapper soon broke the club’s silence with jamming tunes and beats this Friday night.
The first group, Ripple Street, is a three-person band who jammed rock and roll on the black-and-white patterned stage floor. Lead singer and guitarist Courtney Gains, who starred in the 1984 horror flick “Children of the Corn,” mastered the licks. Bass player Steven Adams slapped his bass and drummer Joshua Welles beat the hell out of his snares.
Before their final song, Gains pulled his vintage jeans up, positioned himself in front of the mic and engaged in small talk with the audience.
“Umm … do we know these people?” Gains asked as he sunk his head down to his shoulders. “Thanks for coming out. Shhh-weeet.”
A scattered applause followed their 30-minute performance. As the night progressed, more people started to arrive and the room went from looking lifeless to alive.
A rap beat introduced the next act. East Coast emcee Nejma Shea held onto her mic and pushed her camouflage-printed hood back, exposing two braids and dangling hoop earrings. She spit her rhymes and pounded her chest with her palm as she walked from side to side with her knees bent and shoulders slightly slouched. The radical poet raps about the “death of one’s recession,” oppressions, life and hard times.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to speak my mind. Real talk,” she said as she held her clenched fist up in the air. “One love, peace … and hip-hop revolution.”
Groupies slapped Sly Digs stickers to their chests and rears, and got closer to the stage in anticipation for the next act. The Sly Digs, a rock/garage/psychedelic band from Long Beach, dug into their instruments. The speakers trembled the room with sound. People crowded around the stage and started to dance, arms swayed in the air, drinks spilled and a few got freaky. As they wrapped up their last song, the crowd cheered and applauded wildly.
As the night drew to a close, The Brook Lee Catastrophe armed themselves with their instruments and began playing a heart-racing instrumental intro, reminiscent of Pink Floyd and Airborne Toxic Event. Brook Lee, Paul Mitchell, George Madrid, Ryan Nakata (bass) and Mike Duncan played the unique jangle rock sound of the talented five-man band.
There was a lot of talent in the house, but The Brook Lee Catastrophe was the best, hands down. People shouted “Encore!” and “One more!” when the lead singer strummed his last strum on his acoustic guitar.
The Rhythm Lounge is a 21-and-over club “where world rhythms meet.” They offer live performances from all types of music, from indie rock to reggae. A DJ booth also plays Top 40 songs. The admission price varies, depending on the events for the night. For more information, visit the Web site at www.rhythm-lounge.com.
