by Jessica Barrett and Travis Dudfield, contributing reporters

Inside the dim light of the Anza club, the aftermath of one of the first hot, summery days to hit Vancouver lingered in a scented trail of faded sunscreen and hair product. Moses Joans’ sultry, nerve-fuelled crooning beckoned sun-weary partygoers off the sidewalk and into the casual atmosphere. Twelve bucks got you in the door of one cool word’s Spring Fling (plus a copy of the latest issue with accompanying compilation CD); it felt like an upscale house party in your parents’ basement rec room, or maybe a really classy open mic night.

Moses Joans’ earthy, folksy sound set the tone for the relatively relaxed evening and meshed well with the heat. There was no trace of pretension in his voice or his soulful acoustics reminiscent of Andrew Bird or Chad Van Gaalen. His tentativeness at playing one of his first solo shows was actually rather endearing. Despite the nerves, Joans managed to melt at least a few hearts in the predominantly female crowd, who hurled support towards the stage. Joans’ lone wolf shtick serves him well. He is one of those performers whose husky voice is better suited to simple accompaniment, as opposed to competing with a backing band.

Next up was firecracker Adaline, whose Tori Amos-like vocal prowess and grab bag of stylistic influences has recently won her recognition in all the local media. With a voice as full-bodied as her rich, chestnut tresses, Adaline flirted with her adoring fans and even seemed to recruit a few more off the street. Definitely one who can hold her own, Adaline’s band of three complimented her quirkiness by manning a range of instruments, including a xylophone for a whimsical touch.

The mass exodus after Adaline left us feeling slightly sorry for her follow-up, La La Boom Boom…until their mish-mash-bang-clash sound of poorly balanced vocals and suspect harmonies jolted us out of our relaxed, summery haze. Exuberant and energetic, La La Boom Boom made up in volume what they apparently lacked in rehearsal. Unlike delightfully eclectic Adaline, La La Boom Boom’s unique mix of instruments, from accordion to violin, didn’t quite fit together.  Rather, it made their lyrics virtually indecipherable, save for one refrain of “Hallelujah,�? which had us wondering if they were, in fact, a Christian rock band. But gosh darn it if they didn’t give it their all. A for effort.

The final act of the night, Empire Alley, took about 11 seconds to change the mood once again. Uniformed in Chuck Taylors and black skinny jeans, the band blasted their tight vocals and synthesized sound to their depleted audience. They were fun to listen to, but you were left asking: why should I listen to them? Nothing set them apart from anything you might hear on CBC Radio 3. Each song was well rehearsed and they played with a confidence that appeals to a certain demographic. But for that night and that crowd, Empire Ally lacked the unique quality that Adaline had to spare. It really felt like it was 1994 and Our Lady Peace was rockin’ a high school dance.

All in all, Spring Fling offered something for almost every musical taste and was a good introduction for neophytes to the Vancouver music scene.