There was plenty to talk about last Friday night at Isla Vista’s Biko Co-Op Garage. In the mix was a celebration for the two newly elected I.V. Recreation & Park District student officials, Liz Budah and Josh Cataldo, along with an impressive set of music brought to the showpace by SBDIY. The lineup included an eclectic mix of genres, ranging from the thrashcore sounds of Aunt Dracula to the electro-driven songs of UCSB alumni Kissing Tigers to the melodic rock of Beirut’s touring partner Devon Williams. With the night of indie tunes beginning roughly around 9:30 p.m., clusters of people and animals-including a group of chickens living in the backyard’s coop-prepared for a long night of loud live music in the garage, not to mention a live deejay who spun inside the house.

Fresh off touring stints with Beirut and Destroyer, Los Angeleno Devon Williams headed up to Isla Vista last week for a show at the Biko Co-Op Garage.

First up was Devon Williams, who loosened up the crowd by taking them from bouts of body swaying to outbursts of lively rug-cutting in the concrete garage. Williams and his Los Angeles-based trio heavily influenced audience behavior with their heavy drums, booming amps, ambient vocals, and stirring guitar solos. With the party growing in the house of seemingly limitless rooms, the first set unplugged in the garage and Aunt Dracula was next on the roster.

This Philadelphian thrash band stood out on Friday night, thanks in part to their grimy tone, which caused swarms of energetic collegians to shake their heads, pump their fists, and mosh along. The keyboard, laptop, drums, and guitar twisted the tempo along with the band’s shocking grooves, pounding rhythms, and vocal yelling. With the Co-Op’s festivities at their peak, the packed driveway made room for the return of I.V.’s indie darlings, Kissing Tigers.

These electro-infused rockers (who now reside in Los Angeles) packed the garage and then some, causing quite a bit of commotion. While the crowd inside the space danced along furiously, those outside the garage’s opening peered in to watch as crazed fans crowd surfed and tossed one another about. The end of the set signaled no slowing down for the spectators, as Buda and Cataldo’s bash continued within the house, giving people a reason to linger around, talk to the bands, and simply enjoy the Biko community.

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