It has been open for less than a month and debuted its first show less than two weeks ago, but the lounge at Lot 10 is generating some well-deserved buzz for attracting quite an impressive lineup of shows for a place that just opened its doors. Actually, scratch that: their lineup is impressive for any place in Ithaca, period. The best part about this is that you will be able to see that lineup in person this Thursday at 9 p.m., when three bands — two from Ithaca and one from Montreal — will not only put on a memorable show but also jolt Ithaca with a burst of musical trendiness. 

Situated at the place where the restaurant Delilah’s once occupied, Lot 10 is named after the property designation on which the building sits on. The name gives off a smooth casualness that matches the lounge itself. Its just-right size provides something that’s hard to come by in Ithaca: an underground, listening room environment where people (for it also hosts events like swing lessons) can interact candidly. But that sincerity hides the lounge’s goal organically adjust to trends outside Ithaca. This does not so much signify a departure from local music but adds to the scene by bringing in music other than the established roots rock, singer-songwriter and blues acts Ithaca already has. 

The Ithacan quintet Kin Ship begins the show with summery, reverb-laden folk songs from their forthcoming album, Where I Live. Many other bands share the same aesthetic, but the band stands out from the competition with their ability to successfully fuse in a nostalgic 60s element many other bands strive for. Songs For a C.K. Dexter Haven, available for free on their Bandcamp page, is a collection of demos that gives insight into their sound. None of the songs surpass three minutes, but a lot happens in each short burst. Bright folk-pop melodies emerge from the turntable static, accompanied by soft percussion that supports delicate vocals. They are wonderfully produced, with ethereal strings and organs manifesting to add to the exquisite balance of the songs. Kin Ship describes its own music the best, saying it is “what you miss about your father’s record collection,” a wistful escape to simpler times.

Intensive Care comes all the way from Montreal in the wake of increasing attention from the internet music elite. The outfit is juggling the consequences that come with any band’s ascendancy into public attention: not only is it preparing for an album release and finalizing a record deal but embarking on an experimental tour through the United States to gauge demand. Collaborating with Jace Lasek of the Besnard Lakes (also from Montreal), it already has a self-released album under their belt from 2009, Fairytales from the Island (which you can also get from Bandcamp). A prog-rock album at heart, the album works in pop and folk within a post-rock template to create deceptively simple songs that build up to towering climaxes. An EP, It Takes Time, released just this month, is much more straightforward in its indie rock influences, yet maintains what one commentator describes as their “soaring, trippy, hazy rock” elements.

Wrapping up the show are the garage veterans of Ithaca, Candy Pants. Though a favorite local band for years (they formed in 1997), a lot of time has passed since its last show. It’s also its first show with their new guitarist, making this show all the more essential for existing Candy Pants fans. To be fair to Cornellians who have never heard of Candy Pants, it is hard to find it because they share their name with two other bands. They also do not have a MySpace for people to check them out. But that is because we take the internet for granted and expect content to come to us, rather than us searching for it. Those who do search are rewarded with the discovery of a great band with a lo-fi indie rock ethos like that of Pavement and the Dismemberment Plan. Its ability to get people dancing has been noted even by The New York Times. 

Even through actively different approaches, all three bands fundamentally play a type of rock music that invigorates Ithacan music with a shot of something different. This show offers a great opportunity for Ithaca to attract bands with different styles of music and make the city an even more attractive destination for new music trends. Lot 10 is off to a great start, so keep your eyes peeled on the place.

Lot 10 is located at 112 South Cayuga Street, and can be reached by the Route 30 and 90 Bus. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5. Ages 21 and up.