WEDNESDAY, MAY 2: Central Valley troubadour Nik Freitas has been fighting it out in LA for a few years now. His most recent record, Voicing the Hammers, is a collection of well-crafted pop songs forged in his own studio and played entirely by himself—from cymbals to harmonies. With assistance from a drummer (it’s hard playing drums, guitar and singing live), Nik alternated between Fender Rhodes and guitar throughout his brief set, occasionally saying a muted “Thanks” while transitioning between instruments. With such bare instrumentation, he had the freedom to play with a sloppy, two-pint precision that was a perfect match for the room. The early weeknight crowd was mostly subdued, save a few self-absorbed rockabilly knucklehaads with voices louder than the music. Tangier plays host to a lot of disheartening shows: the bar, which is separated from the performance space, can often be packed, while only a handful of people are inside listening to the music. Isn’t it better to have a full house of non-paying attendees than an empty room? The performer won’t be making any money, so he should at least get to play to a few new pairs of ears. Right? (SOC)