As far as friendly, intimate concert atmospheres go, Love Garden takes the cake. And when paired with Lawrence band The Belles, the record store’s atmosphere and the band’s CD release show last Friday was a breezy complement to a humid summer day. 
The Belles eased right into their short and sweet stripped-down set with “The Late Hours,” showcasing soft vocals and a gentle beat while onlookers quietly continued to gather at the back, drawn by the band’s soft sincerity. But that’s not to say there wasn’t energy; after the first song, they picked up the pace, and their equipment looked thrown together but it worked; seeing a suitcase used as part of a drum kit was interesting and enjoyable, and the fun, upbeat rhythms allowed the audience to partake in some toe-tapping until the set slowed down again. There was more silence than chatter in between songs, as the crowd waited with bated breath to hear where The Belles would take them next. When they arrived at the fifth song of their set, an upbeat track titled “Existence is Fragile,” the small crowd’s energy was at its highest. And the title track, “Time Flies When You’re Losing Your Mind,” immediately followed, an enchanting song that kicks off the band’s new album and was just as fun to hear live.
Then, long before I was ready for the end, the Belles had just one more song to play. “What We Are” began softly, the searching lyrics seemingly asking quiet questions of someone unknown, and then continuing slowly and somewhat darkly down the same path until the end. Their set ended just as quietly as it began, but it seemed more resolute than it had before. After just a whisper, a quiet, shimmering moment at the set’s close, Love Garden regained its liveliness and resumed the overhead tunes of a regular record store day.
While I wish the set had been longer, I also appreciated it for what it was. I felt thrown into the sudden stillness that was the show, an intimate half hour illuminated by colorful overhead lights and surrounded by albums, onlookers and the occasional wandering cat. It was refreshing and lovely, leaving me feeling almost prepared to leave the calm of the show to step back out into the cacophony of a bustling, busy street and a sweltering Kansas evening.
D.C. finally has a new, inviting dance club to call its own in the form of the U Street Music Hall. Just two blocks from the now world-famous Ben’s Chili Bowl, it has a façade so minimalist that you could completely miss it when you’re walking east on U Street unless you’re keeping your eyes peeled for it. This was the first show I’d ever seen there; the venue just opened on St. Patrick’s Day this year, with Belgian DJs/producers 
