I've seen a bunch of great shows recently at the Sunset, which in some ways has become kind of a de facto garage ground zero with a good punk-rock vibe. The space is has been cozily crowded on the weekends, the beer is cheap, and even though their fucked-up pool table makes playing a game really goddamn frustrating, seeing shows there always feels like a party.

But not every venue in Ballard can be the Sunset. And while I've driven by the Ballard Firehouse a number of times, I can't say I'd ever set foot in the place before last week. The space is pretty big, made even bigger when the small crowd lines the walls--like they did the night I went there--instead of heading out to the checkered floor.

The empty dance floor was no fault of the night's openers, though, a band called Nature Boy Saints that featured frontman Toby Bailey on guitar, Liza Bailey on bass, Henry Cheng on guitar, and Kubby White (with a cigarette dangling from his lips most of the set) on drums. This band's strongest point was definitely their vocals. Toby's voice, which at times reminded me of a lighter Peter Murphy, took every note effortlessly, reminding me how rare it is that I actually hear someone singing at a show (versus, say, hollering or screaming). When Liza's voice chimed in, their harmonies were nearly flawless, and I could picture them taking over the room in some pretty alt-country band.

But this wasn't an alt-country band; it was more of a mainstream alt-rock band with a sort of late-'80s feel. Their songs had some solid, radio-friendly hooks, and the swankily dressed crowd seemed into them. If you want to check them out, NBS have a new EP out this week called Spite; their last LP was called Love and Pain.