the ’Zine

Sardo’s Rock Band Night – E3 Style

June 10 by Veng

Filed under: Rock Band on the Road / Tags: e3 / 3 comments

My trip to Sardo’s had anything but an ordinary beginning. It seems that for the Microsoft Press Demo that had happened early Monday morning, our intrepid Harmonix team had to borrow cymbals from them in order to complete our signature “look.” This is where HMXPardo, HMXThrasher, and I come in. To boldly go where we had never been before (Burbank, CA) and deliver those cherished cymbals back to their rightful owner. And also to give them a token of our appreciation: one full hour of drinks on Harmonix.

After receiving our mission from HMXSean, we decided this would be the perfect time to hit up the elusive ‘In-n-Out Burger’ in Hollywood. In my several trips out to California for the Harmonix Community Team my quest for the double-double, the one and only HMXAlex has kept me from ever visiting the much-fabled burger joint. Curse him and his love for Del Taco! Luckily, Pardo, the Thrasher and I would not be deterred. Yes, this event was of such significance that I had to devote an entire paragraph to it. So, full of delicious burgers (with Thrasher being the exception since she doesn’t dine on anything that’s ever walked, flew, or swam) we rode our golden chariot (a Kia minivan) out to Burbank, California to grace the bar known as Sardo’s with our divine presence.

The evening started quietly as there were barely 12 people, including us and the DJ (please forgive me as I forget his name because he was totally awesome). We met Chris Morley, Rock Band super-fan (and an Expert player on all instruments), who helped introduce us to many of the regulars. In fact, it turns out that many of the regulars have become friends because of Rock Band. Two of them, Sam and Pelita, were actually celebrating their 1-year anniversary that night having met there for a Rock Band night. Fantastic! Says Chris,

“It’s crazy how we’ve all met and become good friends by playing this game and coming to this night. If it wasn’t for your game I don’t think any of us would have originally talked to each other.”

Well, we also made fast friends with everyone there by buying all the drinks for an hour, causing a rapid increase in inebriation. Let me just say that these people love their Pearl Jam and they are not afraid to express it at top volume. And this level of enthusiasm wasn’t just limited to just the veteran rockers. It seemed everyone who came into Sardo’s took a hand at playing Rock Band or doing some karaoke (which they interspersed throughout the night). Luckily for the audience they did not turn “No Fail” on so we were spared listening to many mangled (but ebullient) versions of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” Instead, the house rule was if a song had not passed the 30% completion mark then the band were allowed to try again once more. However, hit the 31% and you got booted out of there. Brilliant!

It should be said that we took advantage of this rule as we attempted to play "My Hero" in front of everyone to show them that we’re no slouches at Harmonix…only to have Pardo fail out on drums! Oh the humiliation! There were some well-deserved jeers for that one (never let that man on drums again).

One of the older regulars of the bar, Jim, braved the crowd several times – both with karaoke and Rock Band. Not having a regular group of misfits to take over the instruments, everyone else just hopped on to help him out without any real prodding. It definitely showed us that the general tone at Sardo’s was super-friendly and genuine.

At the end of the initial hour, it looked as if the night was in no shape to slow down. So, to the delight and cheers of the rest of the patrons and fans at Sardo’s, we extended the free-drinks for another half-hour. Never have I ever been so warmly greeted and welcomed (and most likely never again). There’s just something about paying for a man’s (or woman’s) alcohol that endears you to them for life, or at least until the buzz wears off. It must also be said that the wait staff was amazing and that Seymore, the owner, is a god among men for hosting such a great night every week.

Having never felt like such big deals, we had to bid adieu at the end of our last half-hour of free drinks (which had doubled our original tab, btw) as an early morning at E3 awaited us the next day. Shaking hands, slappin’ five, and waving good-bye we left Sardo’s as minor celebrities, having the good will of the entire bar. We climbed into our hot ride (the minivan) for the quick ride back to Los Angeles knowing that if we hadn’t completely changed the lives of everyone back at Sardo’s, at least we got ‘em drunk enough to completely enjoy themselves while pretending to be rock stars.

Also, lots and lots of Pearl Jam.

Check out more of the 2009 Harmonix E3 recaps!

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