I recently dropped by the Rhino Records in Claremont with deux amis to see a tiny in-store performance by Kimya Dawson (which ended up being almost 2 hours long-yeep!).

I was just so taken aback with her approach to the performance, it just made me grin nonstop. She not only brought her beau and toddler, Panda, but also two of her friends Matty Pop Chart and Paul B. (who is mentioned in her song, Tire Swing).

It felt like the old times, when you could go to a small show, that was either at a library, a small room in a school, or some tiny auditorium borrowed for the night where you rarely paid more than $2 for a show and ended up chatting it up with the band afterwards. There was no hailing of the band, no screaming when someone touched the bassist's foot or caught a holy guitar pick.

This show was so new and yet so sentimental, intimate, fun, and just kick-back. I felt like I was just in my living room, watching a friend fool around on the guitar and tiny silly casio keyboard.

Have a listen to some of Kimya's or Matty Pop Chart or Paul Baribeau (Both can be found on Plan-It-X Records). With a love for life, laughs and lack of fear of being honest and out there, these artists just may be a new movement of back-to-the-basics, old school, good-time community music.

Listen. Love it. Live It.