It was a cold and rainy night. . .(well it was). Rare but not unheard of in San Diego. I wondered if it would make people stay home and watch the Simpsons rather than partake of "Gardener." I had come to share in Aaron Stauffer's music once again (having made the Seaweed show a couple of weeks earlier, Stauffer is the singer/songwriter for both of these units).

"Gardener" also boasts another Pacific Northwest (semi) legend, in the hulking, but diminutive, presence of Screaming Trees guitarist Van Conner, along with a drummer fluent with the trumpet, a subtle warm bassplayer named George, and newly added younger sister of Aaron named Sarah. "Gardener" has released a tremendously pleasing album entitled "New Dawning Time" on SubPop records. Fitting in somewhere around other SubPop alumni, such as Sonic Youth, Eric's Trip and Sebadoh, "Gardener" utilize a low-fi rock approach, and craft emotional songs with a subtle array of instrumentation.

Personally, and as a critic, "New Dawning Time" shows a very accomplished song writing force, able to write tangible, yet original and memorable melodies, and makes an excellent listen. I was enthusiastic despite the rain, and the grand total of 8 people in attendance so far.

Washington DC's "Polyplush Cat's" were the first band I saw. Loud rock three piece consisting of a Charles Manson-esque wide-eyed drummer named "Eric," a devil-goatee'd madman of hair and gritted teeth of a guitarist, and a sly red-headed female bassplayer/singer. Drummer Eric is the mouthpiece between songs and did a stand-up job of addressing the handful of people watching their set.

The first song had this weird, off time, wood-block clacking beat that sounded uncomfortably cool, although a bit hard to follow. The "Polyplush Cats" play a style of loud garage rock, with songs revolving around some kind of juicy guitar riff. The vocalist is pretty ruff and can't really carry a tune very well. She was better when she vocalized and wasn't trying to sing, probably the weak point in their live set and not a whole lot better on disk.

What the Cats did have is attitude, and plenty of it. The kind of attitude that lets you play a show at 100% whether there's 2 or 2000 people watching while waving the "fuck you - this is rock!" flag. They played hard and that's always admirable. Not the most polished of sounds and executions, but I don't think the "Polyplush Cats" gave a shit - they were having fun. I watched most of their set before having a chat with "Gardener" Sarah in the alley in the rain.

Sarah is very personable, and from what history of her and "Gardener" she relayed, she is the newest addition to the world of being in a rock band. I don't know if it was the martini's she was drinking, or the lack of anyone else to talk to (the bar had yet to break the dozen people count yet - nor would it), but she was exceptionally easy to talk to and willing to fill me in on her perspectives of the "Gardener" dynamic.

With a quick set change, "Gardener" humbly gathered on stage. Sarah told me that the previous night had been a "Gardener" gig at the Roxy, with a great response and decent crowd. I'm sure that high was completely counter-balanced by tonight's weather and pathetic turnout. But with a sly smile, Aaron Stauffer started the rolling acoustic spine of "Backseat," accompanied by sis with those plastic drumstick/brushes against a handheld drum (forgive my ignorance in the percussion terminology). The song rolls along like that until the chorus comes falling in with "Gas up/ And drive/ We'll be there by Monday/ Your Father's Car/ Backseat to sleep in/ We can leave your parents out/ It's just as well we tried/ We can leave your parents out/ So turn the key and drive," with backing vocals by Sarah. Quite pleasant.

They followed that up with my favorite, and the opening track from their CD, "Tamed," which found sister Sarah supplying the haunting mood with a flute and Van Conners sparse one note bends. Again...chills. "Now you go back/ From where you came/ And take those black spots from my name/ I don't know how/ We've all been tamed/ I know you're Tamed..." observed Stauffer.

The title track, "New Dawning Time," also supplied some spine tingles. The songwriting of Gardener is superior, and their execution tonight was, well, somewhat sloppy. The live "Gardener" (at least tonight) stumbles on it's own simplicity and lack of time solidifying as a band. The more simplistic and clear a band's sound, the easier it is to detect missed breaks and flubbed notes. Not that there was a lot, but I'd be lying if I said I heard a flawless set.

Sarah's inexperience shows through in a somewhat reserved stage presence and slight struggles to sometimes harmonize with her brother's vocal lines. But when they are on, it's a beautiful sound. "Gardener" only has the one release, so all songs where plucked from it. The few in attendance seemed to be enjoying what they heard as much as me. Too bad there wasn't even enough people for a baseball team, but I was here, and so was "Gardener," so all the more personable for me.

I got a chance to sit down with a tour tired Aaron Stauffer, sister Sarah and bassplayer George after the set. Aaron politely answered questions, but I could tell he'd rather be loaded up and out of there. Sarah, on the other hand, was a martini fueled chat box - more than ready to field questions and offer her observations. She was pretty funny by the end of the night, not embarrassingly so, but definitely under the influence. Van Conner had skillfully dodged my attempt at an interview stating "I'm really tired right now," which I can understand, but I was disappointed none-the-less.

Big thanks to the "Gardener" alumni who politely put up with my inquisitions. And bigger thanks for that special little set that only about 6 people were aware even took place.