There’s something pure about seeing a three-piece band rock like they’re playing in their garage or rehearsal. Yes, many of the big outfits over the years have been quartets, but that doesn’t take away from the stripped down simplicity of a three-piece. Last week at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, RNDM, a trio hailing from all over, but for the sake of this piece are based in Seattle, played their second of three dates of their short tour. They reinforced the notion that it’s the quality of players rather than quantity of instruments that matters most.

Well, that previous statement isn’t necessarily fair either. When a band, no matter how new it is, contains a singer/guitarist like Joseph Arthur, an experienced bass player who is likely a first ballot Rock n Roll Hall of Famer like Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament and a veteran drummer like Richard Stuverud, one would expect a great show. And yes while the show did rock, the beauty of the night was seeing three guys playing together in a small club and having a great time. Smiles were aplenty and the good vibes were extended to the few hundred people who packed the venue. 

Formed as a fun side project, RNDM has taken on its own identity. The group’s mantra is something along the lines of “having a beef with” (which changes based on tense, grammar etc) and has allowed them to brand themselves, even if its members are grizzled vets. But that’s the joy of hearing live music, especially when the three guys genuinely enjoy playing with each other.

Entering the stage in ski masks and in their trademark all-orange getups, the trio played the songs from their debut album, Acts. Usually when a group of guys with the pedigree of RNDM comes together, the effort could be fast and loose without any direction. But the songs were anything but that. This was a loud, enjoyable rock show that would have been at home in a larger room as well as this tiny one on the outskirts of downtown Los Angeles. Songs were crunchy and soulful, packing a bigger punch than can be captured while in a recording studio.

Naturally, Pearl Jam loyalists made their way downtown to see one of their heroes in a setting that’s far uncommon for someone who has been around as long as Ament. Yet, he thumped his bass lines with the same vigor and intensity as if he were playing The Forum (PJ hasn’t played Staples Center yet so that wouldn’t have been a logical comparison). Likewise with Arthur, whose vocals were passionate and poetic, and enjoyed being in the room as much as the fans did.

RNDM will be playing on Conan tonight as well, so if you haven’t seen them live or don’t live in Seattle, Los Angeles or Napa, this is the best opportunity to see what I’m talking about since who knows if this is the last of a good thing.