If you've never been to Niles, California you're missing out. Before Hollywood, this was where Charlie Chaplin filmed his movies and the main street still resembles the old west town it was at the turn of the last century with antique stores and restaurants shouldering up against each other to tempt passersby. When I was growing up, Niles was a rough neighborhood with the hard rock club Niles Station and several raucous bars. Today it's a sleepy, welcoming neighborhood with a silent film museum just a couple doors down from The Florence Bar and Grill. Once an Italian restaurant back in the 40s, The Flo has held out as one of the last of what used to be a series of biker bars on the circuit. Outside, you'll be guaranteed to find a line of motorcycles being watched over by a statue of Charlie Chaplin chained outside the dutch door, which is usually propped open for ventilation. Inside it's a dimly lit haven with a giant wooden bar and bric-a-brac decor. The Flo houses rock shows other days of the week and, on Wednesdays, you can be in on the party: either behind an instrument or on the mic.

Basically, this is band-e-oke. The event has a lot of regulars who know each other and tend to form groups that turn into a 30-45 minute set of a band where each band member uses their performance slot to lock in a song. In other words, one singer could be up there for 4-5 songs, one for each member of the band backing them. You're best bet is to get there by six to sign up and be patient while the groups of performers who know each other use their turns. Once you attend the event a few times, you may find yourself a part of these ensembles, and they'll keep you up for a few songs at a time.