Whiskey and music are a timeless, enigmatic combination, and SoundDiego combined the two for its most recent live event at Seven Grand in North Park. The DJ Robin Roth-hosted event featured Oliver Trolley, The Hampton Beats, and The Hollerin, and all three bands rocked the night away in the back lounge.

The Hollerin were a great complement to the bar’s hunting lodge aesthetic. As winners of SoundDiego’s Garage 2 Glory contest, The Hollerin had earned their way to the lead-off slot in the night’s lineup. The band’s music was upbeat, a little bit country, and a little bit punk. For a virtually unknown band, The Hollerin did a good job tearing the crowd away from the hosted bar for a few songs.

Next, The Hampton Beats scared up a few good hits when they took the stage with their unique style of rock and roll. The six-piece had great energy, with their single “Party” serving as the set standout. The Hampton Beats have been working with producer David Jerden (Social Distortion, The Offspring), and his experience has added a welcome new element to the band’s sound.

The stars of the night, however, were headliners Oliver Trolley, a local quartet comprised of Kevin Childs, Brian Zanini, Adam Lopez, and Brian Meyer. Oliver Trolley released their EP, Ships, earlier this year to much acclaim, and their music is now a staple on local radio programming like 91x’s Loudspeaker. Crowd favorites of the night included their single, “Minerals,” and “Watching the Red Sun.”

At every SoundDiego Live event, a Jack Daniels-branded guitar is given away to one lucky RSVP-er. In this case, that lucky person was yours truly — and taking home a new guitar was a great way to cap off the evening.