Minipop "A New Hope" (20.5 MB) from A New Hope Cafe du Nord San Francisco, CA May 24, 2007

The first band on the bill -- starting their set just as I walked in -- was something called Potion, which was two people playing with additional recorded music. It was really kind of unimpressive, and yet I think their late addition to the bill got the cover bumped from $8 to $10. Go figure.

Meanwhile, this title track from Minipop's debut LP is one of a handful of tracks from the that album that keep threatening to move into greatness every time I hear them. The first four tracks in particular are really superb to listen to repeatedly -- though my iPod's shuffle reminded me on the plane that they're not quite up to the level set by their most similar competition, Eisley.