Scenes from the Bang Bang Bar at ONCE – 2/8

Somerville’s ONCE Lounge and Ballroom transformed into a place both beautiful and strange for a Twin Peaks-themed bash last weekend. 

“What year is this?” indeed. Time and space warped like the Black Lodge on Saturday night as a sold-out and largely costumed crowd packed ONCE for a celebration of all things Peaks-related and inspired. From the life-size “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign and red room replica to the donuts, Log Lady(s), coffee cocktails and blue roses, the attention to detail was high for the largest and most elaborate of these semi-regular Lynchian tribute evenings yet.

Johnny No Graves kicked off the night’s musical program with their arsenal of roadhouse-appropriate Johnny Cash tunes, followed by local supergroup Julee Cruise Director putting their spin on various soundtrack cuts and dreamy Cruise ballads (plus a show-stopping detour to Rebekah Del Rio’s iconic “Llorondo” scene from Mulholland Drive). Hallelujah the Hills closed out the night with originals, more soundtrack favorites (somebody had to jam out “The Pink Room”) and a custom-made log instrument courtesy of violist David Michael Curry.

And in between all that was an inspired costume content that ran the gamut from Coopers and Audreys to Catherine Martell in disguise and Pete’s fish-in-the-percolator. All told, this thing was a whole lot of geeky fun bolstered by a bevy of local talent and I will happily break out my best Dale Cooper ensemble again for some future edition. Check out photos from the night below.