Photos By: Rachel Frank
By: Amanda Martinek
If you like hanging downtown but are sick of getting sucked into uber expensive nightclubs, tourist-trap restaurants or EDM blasting bars, the Hard Rock Hotel’s “Third Thursdays” events at 207 Club host live rock music on the third Thursday of every month and offer a welcome change of scene in the Gaslamp. Thursday’s show brought the national acts The Chain Gang of 1974 and Empires, alongside 91X’s local break Nicky Venus, together for a night of bright lights, big sounds, and girls in tight dresses dancing to rock and roll.
Nicky Venus kicked off the night with electro/synth dance beats and new wave, Brit-pop style deep bravado vocals. Empires, from Chicago, followed and got everyone (mainly female) bopping around the dance floor with their garage rock grittiness and crowd swooning dance moves. But it was clear the crowed was excited for The Chain Gang of 1974, who closed out the night, by bringing back the synth-pop dance music, a fantastic light display, and overall got the crowd grooving. With dive bar drink prices, free entry (with RSVP), and a fun, eclectic crowd, Third Thursdays are the most fun you’re going to have in the Gaslamp, and really anywhere in San Diego, on a Thursday night.
