In addition to Ned’s Liars review, I’m going to throw in a short bit about the other half of that show — or should I say bill. The oh-so-hot No Age opened last night for the Liars, but I didn’t see them there. I saw them at the vegan grocery store, Food Fight.

It was packed. I couldn’t see the band at all, except when the guitarist climbed up on top of the frozen food section, so when they were talking in-between songs, I couldn’t tell who said what. But this summed it all up:

“We’re playing again later tonight at the Wonder Ballroom, but fuck, this is free.”

Which speaks a lot to who No Age are, and what’s propelling their success.

They didn't have to do double duty. They're on a big ass tour. But making that DIY connection has payed off in spades.

No Age has reaped a whirlwind of hype and acclaim usually suited for a band of greater range or innovation -- which is not to say they aren't a solid, fun band, they are.

But they've done things to separate themselves from the pack. Releasing five 7"'s on five different labels -- which would come together to form there first full-length -- was brilliant. So much extra-exposure, as each label is likely to have it's own separate fan base.

Then there's the Smell, a hot DIY venue space in LA, which I can't totally speak to as I have never been. Surely though, it's a scene that's putting bands on the map (HEALTH being another). Most importantly, it appears a very accessible scene, which I think is a major draw for No Age.

They're out interacting with the crowd while performing. They're easygoing dudes who fans can talk to after the shows. They make sure to play all ages venues. They've got a humble, aww-shucks air about them. They're psyched to be doing this and it shows. It's as if old-school punk ethics got thrown into the hipster scene, and No Age is just happily rolling with it.

So anyway, the show:

It was crammed inside the brightly lit grocery store. Loud too. Something stunk. Hopefully it was just all the rain-soaked bodies that were mashed together. The band rattled through song after song, washing and bashing all the way. One very large guy with pink shoes and matching underwear surfed the crowd from front to back, nearly tipping over one of the stores freestanding grocery racks.

Up in the corner a man with a fairly professional video setup taped the performance. (Which begs the question, if he was with the band, are they doing this DIY shows everywhere on top of the tour for some kind of video project? Wouldn't surprise me.)

No Age didn't keep things going to long, as the packed, fluorescent, smelly room wasn't a place you want to spend too much time (they also aren't a band who should every play longer than 30 minutes except on very special occasions). But that said, beneath the giant mural of Ronal McDonald being pursed by angry fruit, there was nothing but contentment, a few dancers, and a lot of bobbing heads. It just felt right. The band seemed more than happy to be pulling double duty, which was, for post-work 6pm show, really liberating.

For their last song -- the pseudo-hit, "Neck Escape" -- the duo entered a slightly extended jam before the guitar was handed to an unsuspecting audience member. He fumbled with it as it's owner tweaked the knobs on his pedals and amp to great noise effect. It didn't go on to long, and slammed shut to nice effect.

It's the little interactive touches, more so than the songs perhaps, that shoot No Age beyond the fray -- and therein lies their innovation and range.