By Amber Shaffer, SDAM Staff Writer
©Copyright 2024 SDAM.com/Amber Shaffer

As we pulled into the strip mall and found the new location of SOMA in a former movie theater, we were pleased to find plenty of parking. Free parking. After a bit of struggling over the guestlist, we managed to get into the lobby and find a fairly young crowd loitering. We followed the echo of music down the hall to SOMA's Sidestage. On stage were G Spot, enthusiastically relaying their flavor of ska. The horn section composed of two trumpets, a trombone, and a sax, played together well. We didn't notice the sax player for half of the performance because he was hidden behind a speaker stack. The Sidestage is pretty wide, but it was hard to squeeze this 8 piece on comfortably, so we were impressed that all 8 members managed to stay out of each other's way throughout. Particularly inspiring was their cover of Jewel's song "You Were Meant for Me". Every time we were feeling a little down, a guy cruised across the stage in a helmet and aviation suit with a sign encouraging the audience to "SCREAM!" and show their love for our friends from East County. Between bands we pretended we were 14 and parked ourselves on the floor in the lobby. I think we did a good job of fitting in, what with our giggle fits and soda pop consumption. When that got old, we got up and skulked around SOMA, peaking into the Mainstage area that large national acts play (occupancy approx. 2400). It looks like the floor is flat which means it will be more comfortable to stand in than the 500 occupancy Sidestage which is a small movie theater with all the seats torn out but the sharply sloped floor was not leveled. It's a cool venue, but my old back can't take standing at an angle for that long. So either be prepared to lean against the wall at the back, or shove your way down front where there's about 15 feet of flat floor. There's no re-entry at SOMA, but there is a side-patio where all the smokers and sweaty circle-pit enthusiasts can stuff themselves for a bit of air or a cancer stick. We heard the thud of the next band beginning to play so we went back to the Sidestage to check out Bad Credit. We were here at the suggestion of my friend Adam, singer for Rookie Card (http://www.rookiecardthemovie.com), who had been expostulating on how rad this band is for weeks. We had expected to experience another ska explosion, but instead we found funk-ska. Actually, this was just plain funk! But they all wore suits and one member played horn for a bit creating the ILLUSION of ska. Plus they Pogo and have 2 singers who are FUNNY. Then there was the one member whose sole function in the band, as near as we could tell, was to dance. Bad Credit is the most energetic local act we've seen and their lyrics are a rare combination of wit and intelligence. They hadn't even finished their first song before Sara and I turned to one and other and said in unison "LOVE them!" We couldn't stop smiling and nodding our heads to their funky beats and kick-ass rhymes all night. Their lyrics, performed in a rhyming style a la Beastie Boys, have more pop-culture references per minute than MTV has bad videos per hour. The crowd was sucked in to Bad Credit's performance in no time at all, pumping their fists in the air, participating in the shout-along portions of the songs ("Bill Gates – WHAT?!? – He owes me 5 dollars!"), and in general having a good time. At one point, the band started a song that is best described as speed-punk. A handful of boys immediately rushed to the flat part of the floor to start a circle pit. No sooner had they completed half a circle, Bad Credit stopped and shouted "Tricked You!" and launched into one of their beat heavy songs, complete with Morris Day and The Time choreography. It all happened in about 12 seconds and was hilarious. Just take it from us, it would be in your best interest to go check out Bad Credit next time you see them listed on the bill anywhere (May 25th at the Casbah). They're our current favorite local music makers. Normally we don't dig on humor-rock, but these kids rock our socks off. Voo Doo Glow Skulls were the night's headliner. We didn't stay for the whole set, but what we saw was done well. They played tightly and their guitar was reminiscent of early Suicidal Tendencies. Before we left, I did sneak outside and around the side of the building to the "shed" attached to the back of the stage. This is where the bands load their equipment onto the stage. I stood in the doorway that separates the shed from the stage and watched the performance from that angle for a song. I always love seeing the show from the band's perspective. Looking at all the fans in the front row shouting along with every lyric emphatically, I missed going to concerts for my favorite bands where I am one of those kids. All in all, it was a well spent evening. It was nice to check out SOMA's new digs and discover an incredibly entertaining local act. I'm looking forward to returning to the venue again later this month for some national acts playing the Mainstage (A.F.I. and The White Stripes), but SOMA's owners are most passionate about supporting the local music scene and the majority of the week, you will find at least 3 of San Diego's budding and established bands rocking the Sidestage's sound system. See who's playing SOMA next at their Web site. To learn more about these bands, visit their Web sites: Bad Credit - G-Spot