Carlsbad Art and Culture

Friends adventure in different ways as years flip in the breeze. Journeys entice the most grounded and home becomes the next gig. The time when each day began with the circulation of 10am phone calls is slowly departing. A morning hill was a highway and the humming urethane of a skater was your hot rod. A sit on the beach was your hour of therapy and the mischievous fart bomb planted strategically on a frequented corner was entertainment. Responsibilities tend to creep, schedules lure and the rapidly approaching future looms, but as often as we can make time, we let loose. A northbound meander led us up the I-5  in route for a night of the foot stompin’, knee slappin’ tunes of Los Sindicate at the OC Tavern in San Clemente.

Two security guards greeted us at the front door with fingers pointing at a hand painted sign. Los Sindicate scribbled in a thick marker confirmed that the long walk down the overly packed back alley led us to the right place. The once Chinese food restaurant, converted to a slightly upper scale grazing grounds for a prowl, invited us to a night of music and memories.

A large bar cracked as each stool slumped to the weight of light beer and fruity cocktails. Oversized plasma televisions pulsated with Ultimate Fighting and motor cross. The scent of styling gel hovered low. High heels strutted and muscles bulged like dancing fish around the frantic squirms of a juicy worm. Two large doors vibrated off the main hall accompanied by another guard with lazy eyes in search for blue wristbands. A nod fell and the double doors swung wide, releasing a soggy wave of thick air. Los Sindicate bounced on stage as the sounds of a loud party yanked us in.

Austin, a mean fiddler with deep punk rock roots rubbed the strings of his aged violin while hollering the well tuned vocals of his notebook scribbles. Bright lights and disco ball glitter bounced of his over sized belt buckle as his band mates kicked in their own individual way. Dan, an animal on stage and on guitar, overflowed with energy and wide smiles as even the mellowest rhythm was backed up with wild animation and passion. Brian thumped his base with sturdy swaggers and showcased a miraculous story visualized through music. Kevin, content in the back, pounded rhythm on drums, but when time called, took the over the stage with his powerful exhibition on the harmonica. Individually, each band member showcased the art of performance while as a whole, united in a powerful explosion of a raw energy and rocking talent.

For the night, we became young. Music guided us on a journey between heaven and hell, intersecting at a place called the OC Tavern. We floated effortlessly as ACDC covers and rockin’ espanol originals eliminated the thought of tomorrow’s chores. New and old friends shared the dance floor, and stage, as Los Sindicate’s Rock N Roll staggered into the early morning hours of San Clemente.

Should Los Sindicate Play in Carlsbad? Where?