You'll be excused if you're not up to date with Sound Bite Social. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details myself, so I'll make some up for us both. The way I figure it, it opened last year as essentially the kitchen for Warehouse on Broadway. Shortly afterward, the space was finished with glorious windows, cozy booths, and beautifully restored brick. Changes elevated the room into its own restaurant destination – a late-night (Thursday-Saturday 5pm-1am) burger joint with a full bar. The addition of an impressive sound and light rig soon had the room hosting DJs, trivia nights, and other events. Recently, when a small stage appeared, live music made its debut. I'm not sure whether this slow rollout and ramp-up has always been the plan, or the owners are still searching for an identity for the space – as I already confessed, I'm making all this up. But it feels right. Currently Sound Bite Social sits somewhere between two sorely missed Westport institutions: The Riot Room and Foundry. It doesn't quite live up to either, but Sound Bite Social's story is still being written. Actually, that's what I should be doing now.

Headlight Rivals stepped onto the stage somewhere after the published 7pm start time. Frontman Eric Kleiner was lit by a bright window that ran the entire side of the stage. Seeing blue sky behind a performer was startling. And refreshing. The lighting didn't do much for my photos, but that's a small price to pay for discovering a new joy. Kleiner was backed by Seven Black (bass), Ryne Timken (guitar/vocals), and Daniel Casimir (drums). The last two are still new. The act has recently shuffled the deck, refocused, and recorded a new album that we've yet to receive. The current incarnation seems to have sidelined its love for rowdy Replacements and instead decided to focus on the bright polish of emo pop. Ultimate Fakebook still casts a long shadow over Manhattan, Kansas. Or maybe there is no plan at all. For the finale, the foursome slid into drop D, turned up the fuzz on Black's bass, and untethered Timken for a ripping solo that was bigger and bolder than anything else in the short set. So, who knows where Headlight Rivals will go.

The Touchdowns followed quickly afterwards. The project was started decades ago in tiny Iola, Kansas by Ryan Magnuson. It's his songs, his vocals, and his drums. Drums that were set up sideways at the front of the stage for maximum face time. Nick Colby (bass) and Aaron Swenson (guitar) complete the current lineup. The three musicians have shared more stages in more bands than any of them could possibly remember. Musically, however, not much has changed over the years. Magnuson still writes pop punk tunes, and they still sound more like Gin Blossoms than Blink-182. Varied structures ensured that no two songs sounded the same. Magnuson's variable pitch ensured no two choruses sounded the same. But hitting exactly the right note is not everything, and Magnuson is a showman and comedian as much as a musician. In front of this friendly crowd (including his parents, who sat comfortably at the bar) Magnuson was at 190%. To compete, Swenson revived the UFB "rock box" concept – a wooden box equipped with lights that illuminated Swenson whenever he stepped onto it. And that's why devil horns were invented.

The Eradicats headlined the night. Somehow this new Kansas City act is nearly two years old. I guess time flies when the band is fun. Couple Josh Thomas (guitar/vocals) and Kristi Who (bass/vocals) are the group's creative core, while Thomas' RxGhost bandmates Chris Smead and Justin Brooks lend guitar and drums respectively. The foursome played a fifteen-song set full of indie rock that was a little ragged, awfully precious, and completely self-aware. Lyrics are silly even when they're tackling big issues. Most of the time they're only tackling tunes about imaginary stunt horses or friendly concierges. Midway through the set the quartet grew by one, adding Josh Carr on trumpet for five numbers. Are The Eradicats a ska band now? Maybe! Even after Carr left, I couldn't stop fixating on the upstrokes that defined set highlight "Frank and the Lighthouse." Near the end of the set, Who sang a dynamite cover of "Be My Baby." It was definitely not ska. The palate cleanser also gave three kids in the front row another chance to shout for their favorite teacher and wave their posterboard signs. Did I already say precious?

But it wasn't all hand-drawn rainbows and kitties. Before closing with "Last Song" and then quickly acquiescing with "One More Song," Thomas told the crowd that Smead is leaving the band. On October 24th a new Eradicats will debut at Sk8bar with Andrew Woody (of Creepy Jingles) on lead guitar. Another chapter of a story unwritten. I guess I've still got work to do.