I’d heard about this place within certain circles since I moved to San Diego. I pictured soda fountains, tall metal cups filled with milkshakes, and guys in those white paper hats and striped shirts. Wrong. So Soda Bar is a dive. Renamed “Soda Bar” in 2008 from it’s previous “Chasers,” Soda Bar strikes me as a dive bar that is trying too hard. Grunge to the nth degree, the quintessential San Diego beards manning the front door, the bar, and the sound, and judging stares if you order anything other than the latest local craft IPA. Stacy and I heard three different sets while we were there. And although the acoustics were atrocious for the first two bands, the third was mesmerizing.
Tow’rs is a band out of Flagstaff, Arizona whose founding members got their start in college Young Life. They now have a band that makes beautiful music with haunting lyrics. Trumpet, cello, electric guitar and two lead vocalists whose voices mesh as if they come out of one body. Look these guys up and try not to be transfixed by their words.
I’d go back to Soda Bar for the music, which I guess is the idea. It’s a live music joint where you can vibe out with no distractions. Bare bones music. I can appreciate that.
Thanks to Stacy for the nudge to find this place, and for freezing our buns off while we waited for the doors to open!