Music: Zonk and The Peak Show

Monday, July 26, 2004, at 07:41AM

By Eric Richardson

Saturday night Miggles and I wandered over to 3rd & Main to check out the party/show The Peak Show was hosting. We didn't really stay for the party part, but we did see both Peak Show and Zonk.

Zonk was first (for us... the first band was more punk, not exactly my thing, so we came a little late). The acoustics in the room did them no favors. Concrete walls, a concrete floor, and a high ceiling (wood at least). Mics had a tendency to go into a very gradual feedback loop as things echoed and rattled around the room. As a soundman the first thing I would have done is hang thick comforters on the walls to try and kill some of the bounce. But whatever, it's a band throwing a party.

But back to Zonk... The lead vocals got washed up in the bounciness, so the set lacked the punch of the stuff I'm hearing on their site. They're at Temple Bar tonight, and I'm kicking around heading out there to give the live sound a second chance, but it's a late show and I've got work in the morning, so I'm not too confident that'll happen. So I guess in summary, I think I like them.

Peak Show was up next. The same acoustic disclaimer applies, but I enjoyed this set a lot more. Holland was a bit more forceful about bringing out her vocal, and that helped. I've heard various Peak Show stuff before, with Friend playing some on KCRWMusic.com's show Broadband. Megan Jacobs, who I saw last year as Old Sol ,was on keys and backup vocals. It was a fun, intimate set, with the band playing about 6 feet away from, and on the level of, the 60 or so people who were there.

So, yeah, a fun time, but next time you're throwing a party that includes a show, please think about the acoustics. Please?