Yesterday (Sunday), I spent a great afternoon and evening hanging with one of my coolest girlfriends and her boyfriend, Billy, who just happens to be turning FIFTY-FIVE today. (Happy Birthday toooo yooou . . . . you don’t look a day over 21, dear man.)

Because Billy is a seriously accomplished drummer in the L.A.-and-beyond world, and because he and my buddy GF used to be residents here, there was really no other option than to begin the festivities at our famous Laguna Beach “Sunday Service.”

That’s right. This Sunday Service has been going on for 20 years (this June), and residents here attend religiously, let me tell you.

It’s the Marine Room Tavern’s weekly live band, Missiles of October, from just 4 – 8 p.m., every Sunday. Seriously, these boys have never missed doing this famous Sunday Service for 20 STRAIGHT years.

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Now, I’ve written about the Marine Room before – it’s one of just three “bars” in Laguna Beach. I call it the “Triumvirate,” a veritable, powerful (yet benevolent) regime of the three only existing bars in Laguna Beach. (We sadly lost Woody’s and The Boom Boom Room in recent years.)

1. We have the Marine Room Tavern across from Main Beach in Laguna Beach …
2. – the infamous Saloon just two blocks up PCH from the Marine Room ( see my previous entry) …
3. –  and we have the Sandpiper (aka: The Dirty Bird) heading toward the south of Laguna Beach. (This story coming soon in this blog.)

It’s the Marine Room that brings in the majority of bikers, especially in summer months, and it’s always a roaring good time. (And the people watching is QUITE extraordinary.) [singlepic id=152 w=320 h=240 float=right]

You’ll see a bunch of black leather in every possible clothing option (believe you me), but this is by no means a nasty biker’s hangout. While the Marine caters to middle-age folks, you’ll see tables of 20-somethings next to tables of 70-somethings who still want to shake a leg.

As for our famous Laguna Beach Sunday Service here … well, there’s nothing like it in the OC as live music goes. The Missiles are a critically acclaimed, highly talented band, singing classic covers and a lot of their own great tunes.

[singlepic id=154 w=320 h=240 mode=watermark float=left]Poul Pedersen, the lead singer and founder of the band was in the Breeze Brothers in Santa Barbara back in the 70s, and his cronies Frank Cotinola (drums), Jimmy Perez (bass), and Richard Bredice (lead guitar) weren’t far behind.  Missiles itself has been together for years and years and that’s something to be said in and of itself.

Locals and tourists alike crowd into the tiny dance floor (about the size of a coffin) and dance between tables all the way to the back. If they can’t fit in the doors, they hang on the open windowsills from the sidewalk and do their swing steps there on the concrete. The Missiles of October just deliver that kind of vibe. The bar serves everything from classic roadhouse to top shelf, the servers are cool and the prices are absolutely reasonable. Cover charge is just $5; $10 if you whine. It says so at the door.

So, next time you’re feeling like some glory and hallelujah, we’re not telling you to skip your morning Sunday Service. Just come on down to the afternoon’s follow-up to stay in the proper, joyful vibe all the day long!

P.S. After we left the Marine Room yesterday, we headed over to Mozambique for some reggae. . . but that’s another story (and a whole ’nother audience!) Stay tuned …