A few weekends ago I invited a few of my friends to watch a Beatles cover band perform. I am friends with the lead singer, and I saw the promotions on Instagram, so I decided it would be a great way to spend a Saturday night. I’ve always loved live music, and it’s been increasingly difficult to make the time to see a show, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. When we arrived at the Chestnut Hill Bocce Club, we initially mistook it for a private home. As I was calling someone else who I knew would be in attendance, the door swung open, and I saw a few familiar faces. The outside looks just like a typical house for a family of four. The backyard had a low fence, and a few people were crowded around a TV. My friend on the phone let me know that she and her family were only a few hundred feet away having dinner, and the invitation was extended for us to join her.

We made our way over to El Poquito and opted to sit at the bar so we could catch up. I feel like my friends have been all over the world this summer, and it’s hard to catch everyone at the same time. After a much needed catch-up session shared over some drinks and appetizers, we met up with my friend and her husband before making our way back to the house.

When we entered, there were elements of several bars I’ve been to stuffed into the first floor of a home. There was a pool table immediately to my left, and beyond the makeshift cover pay and stamp area, there was a full bar with tables and chairs scattered around, and in the far right corner the band was setting up.

I ordered drinks for my friends, and we found a spot against the wall to settle into. The band, Fools on the Hill, made quick introductions before jumping into their first song, “Back In The U.S.S.R.” After a few songs, the tables and chairs in front of the band were moved so everyone had more room to move around.

My friends and I eventually moved from our spot on the wall to get closer to the band. Everyone you looked at was smiling and singing along with the band. It had been a while since I had been to such an intimate show, but the smaller shows are always more fun anyway. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the band members play again in November as Echo Kid, celebrating the release of their EP Regolith.

— Fiona Stewart, account executive