This night of live music opened up with Dateless, who played fast punk pop and may be wasted as an opener. While I was eating one of Cafe Venus' unusual pizzas (delicious, by the way), I kept thinking that "This can't be the first band. They're too awesome…" And honestly, I can count on one hand the number of times that thought has run across my mind. After scarfing my food, I bounced into the Mars Bar and watched the tail-end of their set, when a pair of leather jacket-clad swing dancers started dancing to the songs. My friend and I both nodded to each other, tapping our toes in what passes for music appreciation in the Seattle area.

Next up was Tea Cozies, a garage band I was introduced to about half a year ago when some enthusiastic friends blog-gushed about their previous Seattle show with the Hot Toddies. I wasn't really expecting much, but the Tea Cozies kind of rocked my socks. Alternating between low-key lyrics and ballsy songstreaming, the cocky lead singer hid behind aviator sunglasses and a floppy engineer hat so that you couldn't see her expressions for most of the set — just a quirky smirk in between song lines. I enjoyed the plotted discord that the guitars and vocal harmonies hit, especially alongside the curious combinations of surf rock and punk/jazz with some saloon piano. Check out their song "Tranciting" to see what I mean…

Last but never least, the Hot Toddies came into the heated bar with their dirty cotton candy pop. The best way to describe their style is a 50's girl band that's been transplanted into this modern day and corrupted by our perverted times. From slow dances to theme songs about Seattle that can make even this lecherous child blush, the perfect pastblast sound rocked the bar with tidy dual or triple harmonies on each song. Although I'm fond of their tune "Photosynthesis," the Hot Toddies's dirty ditty called "HTML" was the best of the night — they sing it with such studious innocence that you can't help but be bludgeoned into laughter by the band's satiric take on internet chat rooms.