Part-Time Punks, full-time fun. That may sound like a line from a press release but it's the closest I could get to describing the weekly Sunday night club hosted by Michael Stock, Benjamin White and Samuel "Surfin' Sammy" Cooper in one brief sentence.

The club, which takes place at The Echo in...Echo Park, is nary a year old but has steadily grown in popularity over the past few months as the place to be for great music. Stock and White specialize in DJ'ing rare and obscure rock tunes like it's nobody's business (personal side note: this is where I first heard The Virgin Prunes). Not only that, but the club also features live sets by up-and-coming/unsigned/local/indie bands and last week was no exception.

I have been a fan of Midnight Movies for a few years now since I saw them open for Clinic at The Casbah in San Diego. I was immediately hypotized by their mellowed psychedelia and immediately jumped at the chance to see them live again, especially now that their lineup had changed (keyboardist Jason Hammons quit the band over creative differences). Gena Olivier and Larry Schemel are now joined by two new members and with a slightly different sound.

• 24 Hour Dream
• Coral Den
• Persimmon Tree
• Souvenirs
• Patient Eyes
• Hide Away
• Nights In White Satin
• Strange Design

Gena spent nearly the entire set (sans the last two tracks) behind a mic and keyboard as opposed to a mic and drum kit as she once used to. The music has changed in the sense that it's more like Stereolab in terms of tempo. Whereas their debut album contained a strong, dream-like psychedelic quality, it sounds like the new album will be more rock-oriented in its psychedelia.

Gena surprised long-time fans when she swapped places with her drummer and sang from behind the drum kit. It was during the last song, "Strange Design," that the true power of the band came forth as everyone, especially Olivier, cut loose. My only grief about the set: No "Blue Babies."

Part-Time Punks is free to anyone 21+. Otherwise, cough up five Washingtons.

Part-Time Punks.com

Midnight Movies