If anyone is curious how the Bellingham bar music scene will sound in a year, this show should be a good barometer. Despite a less than modest turnout, the amount of fresh faces in the crowd added some anticipation to the night.

The Mission Orange and Candysound have been playing for a while, but their friends are beginning to see them in bars and it’s exciting seeing a new audience making its appearance in town. The Masques, who were added to the bill last minute, finished playing as we walked in. Not sure how their set went, especially considering they were playing without a bass player that night, but a quick visit to their MySpace profile reveals a blues-based garage sound not unlike The Mission Orange, but more laid back in feel.

After a long set change, Seattle’s Armed With Legs played an impressive set that got the younger crowd either talking shit or scratching their heads. A two-piece comprised of Jim Vermillion on bass/vox and Nick Krivchenia on drums, Armed With Legs layers “bass” parts on the biggest loop pedal I’ve ever seen. They grabbed my attention immediately with a 7/4 groove that alternated between sections instead of building on top of itself the way most loop-based music does. They kept me on the edge of my seat as Vermillion fiddled with knobs between nearly every measure, creating new tones in new registers, just barely making it back in time to play the next part. I picked up a copy of their EP, which sounds fantastic, and look forward to seeing them up here again.

Candysound was probably the main attraction of the night and they treated the crowd to four new songs off an upcoming EP. I’m a time signature nerd so I got really excited when their fourth song featured 6/8, 4/4, and 5/4. This was also the first time I heard them play with a bass and Jesse Cohen’s playing is a welcome addition to their sound.Rather than simply floating to the music and providing low end, Cohen’s bass is talkative without being overbearing or distracting. Candysound went on to play older songs, exchange quips during breaks, and overall were an average young band as far as a performance goes. It’s good music for what it is, but I was looking forward to hearing The Mission Orange’s new sound in a live setting.

The Mission Orange rarely disappoints in delivering energy with their sets and they didn’t let the sparse crowd or the late start time affect them. What’s cool about their new songs is that they take their blues-based “gar-unge” and add an element of intricate rhythms la Faraquet. Sam Hutchens kept the beats driving, no matter the meter, as Marcus Nevitt’s ever-active hand utilized most of the fret-board. They weren’t as engaging with the audience as Candysound was, but they don’t have to be as the music alone is captivating. It’s really interesting seeing how they’ve progressed from back in the days of performing at Tweek’s. They kept their set a little short due to time but I am really looking forward to hearing their new material recorded.

Though I walked into Common Ground just as Seattle bass drum duo Armed With Legs were finishing their set of indie noise, I quickly got my money’s worth during the set of the following band, Post Harbor, who play precise, mostly instrumental post-rock.

While bringing to mind bands like Explosions In the Sky and Mogwai, the Seattle quintet incorporated multiple pianos, delayed guitars, a bass, a cello, and drums to create dynamic, emotionally charged soundscapes that usually climaxed with guitar driven freakouts. This was my first time seeing them, but I’m already looking forward to their new record They Cant’s Hurt You If You Don’t Believe In Them, due next month on Burning Building Records.

Mount Vernon rock band The Masques closed the night to a small but awed audience. Playing tracks off their new EP Stories and the Sound released that night, as well as driving covers of Dinosaur Jr’s “In a Jar” and the Pixies’ “Wave of Mutilation,” The Masques stayed true to their indie rock heroes while showcasing where they’ve taken that adoration; distorted guitar and driving drums cut through the venue, making the micing of the band’s instrumentation through the PA unnecessary. Bassist Kellen Hawley may have stolen the whole show with his pummeling bass lines and unique harmonies.

Every time I see them their sound improves exponentially. Catch them at The Brown Lantern in Anacortes on Feb. 20.