Small shows seem to have much more of an impact than large, arena-type shows. There’s some sort of connection that can be made between artist and fan that is usually lost in the giant crowds that fill the monsters. San Francisco’s Amnesia is an excellent venue to find that connection, particularly when such talented bands grace the stage, as was the case this particularThursday night in mid-January. The club was dark and very small, two features that inject an immediate sense of intimacy into any scene, particularly when the room is shoulder to shoulder as it was this night. The chatter of the crowd was as loud as the house music when The Antiques took the stage, but a few chords into their first song, the crowd was engaged.

Although this LA-based, indie-folk-rock band usually plays with a drummer, the duel guitar, bass, and keyboard line-up played a softer set that resembled the sound of Wilco, when Jeff Tweedy is in a more sullen mood. As the tops of drinks showered their shoes, the crowd tapped their feet to “The Traditionist,” a little pop ditty reminiscent of The Monkees, but sung in a more subdued voice than the one Davy Jones employs. The subtle chord changes in “Shallow Winter’s Moon” added to the social warmth of the room, which was fueled by the lone candle flames that cast shadows on the dark red walls.

Ash Reiter, a San Francisco darling and specialist in the simple jazz sound that Leslie Feist has made a career out of, followed The Antiques’ set with her guitar and charming voice. Her standard guitar chords, blended to form adorable jazz-pop songs, were backed by an upright bass, an instrument that creates an atmosphere with the strike of any of its robust-sounding strings. Reiter’s set was sugar cane sweet, in far contrast to the following act, The Vision of a Dying World.

These San Diego indie rockers picked up the show’s pace with their loudly sung three-part harmonies and rowdy, yet focused stage presence. Their sound is a mélange of The Beatles’ raucous, bluesy tracks on the “white” album and the straight-forward indie rock on Weezer’s “blue” album. “Cadillac Bears” was a highlight of their set and also a highlight on their last full-length album, The Vision of a Dying World and the Grammar Lamb. The candles flickered during The Vision’s set, making the shadows dance along the walls until Golden Boots took the stage, which is when the shadows began to sway once more. Golden Boots headlined the night and brought the pace down a bit without losing the crowd’s attention, sounding like a mix between Vetiver and Pavement. Their set blended tracks from their Coyote Suprize Deathbed tour EP, their new album Burning Brain, and a couple new songs. Overall, Golden Boots’ indie rock meets folk rock sound was indicative of the entire night, which was filled with great music from four up-and-coming acts.