By Jeeyoon Kim

Sofar Sounds held its monthly Boston installment in the heart of downtown’s Leather District. Tucked away amongst the financial high rises, troupes of Bostonians grabbed their six-packs and slipped into an entryway marked with Sofar’s distinct logo.

The first thing I wondered when learning about the Sofar movement was, “who are these people who let hordes of strangers into their living room?” Meet Britta. She’s our host, and her beautiful industrial style loft is ours for the night. A global marketing manager for a local tech company by day, Britta is a music enthusiast, photographer, and avid knitter by night.

One quaint detail that really strikes me about Sofar is the simple act of being in a stranger’s home. For any This American Life junkies out there, you may recall the Valentine’s Day episode. A man on a 30-day sprint to sleep with as many women as possible can’t help but notice how fascinating it is to be in the homes of others. “Wow, this is all of your stuff. This

is what you choose to keep on your bedside table,” he thought to himself. That’s how I felt when I walked into Britta’s home. I couldn’t help but notice her pristine white comforter and how strange it was to see a Sofar poster taped up on her bathroom wall amidst personal knick-knacks and toiletries. There’s a great deal of trust here that’s easily taken for granted.

That trust was increased as guests begin to arrive and were all asked to leave their shoes in the hallway outside. As a person who is hesitant to leave my coat in a room at house parties, I was pleasantly surprised that not a single person refused this request (and as far as I know – nobody had their shoes stolen). This is what Sofar is: a musical movement that has tapped into the goodness of human nature.

“I think the idea of having something in your home is very, very special,” Britta said. “[When I first heard about Sofar] I thought ‘I should have come up with that idea a long time ago!’ I’m jealous that I didn’t, but I’m glad somebody did. It’s a very special way to listen to music, you get to know the artists on a really intimate level. Instead of seeing them on stage, here you can sit right next to them, sweat right next to them, and meet them afterwards! It’s a relationship between the audience and artist that you can’t really replicate anywhere else.”

So who’s on the bill? Thomas John Cadrin describes it best, “Sofar is a grab bag show.” I should mention he also was our opening act for the night. “I don’t even really know what it is. But I know that you agree to come to a show not knowing who is playing and you should leave pleasantly surprised,” Cadrin said.

Cadrin is an independent singer-songwriter who approaches his sets in a very atypical way.

He orchestrates each set as a short one-man play. Cadrin intros and outros each track in near-soliloquy like fashion. In his songs, notice how his surgical rhythms, varied song structures, and dynamic vocal chords weave together. There are moments of imperfection and greatness just like any theatrical plot-line should.

Up next was The Western Den, a local ambient folk group that just formed last year. The band was approached by one of the Sofar organizers to play, “I didn’t know what it was to be honest, but when I looked it up I immediately thought ‘Of course I want to do that,’” said pianist and co-vocalist Deni Hlavinka. “We play house shows a lot, but not like this. [Sofar] is a listening audience. People are here for the music, not just to go out. When you play, you know your audience is listening.”

Outfitted with a violinist and trumpet player, the combination of Hlavinka with co-vocalist and lead guitarist Chris West makes for a compelling pairing reminiscent of People In Planes and The Civil Wars. This is an act you want to keep your eyes on.

And this is where the night took a turn. Audience members looked puzzled as they saw multiple wooden platforms brought center stage. A keyboard was traded for Spanish guitars and a violin for a Donkey jawbone. Hailing from East LA, Las Cafeteras took the stage to close out the night. Las Cafeteras knew they were about to shake things up and from the moment they took the stage they emanated an unmatched confidence.

Claiming to be a group about whom all of the stereotypes are simultaneously true and false, Las Cafeteras delivered a high-energy set that showed the great range of all seven members. Their sound infuses typical Afro-Caribbean sounds with Spanglish rap and modern hip-hop beats. A majority of their songwriting revolves around politically charged and community themes, Las Cafeteras’ mission is to share and practice Son Jarocho culture. By the end of the night, everyone was on their feet and the band invited Cadrin and The Western Den back up on stage for an impromptu group jam.

You should join us next month. Sign up for the Sofar mailing list and keep an eye out for the March invitation. For more information on Sofar Sounds, visit their website here and check out a Q&A with two of the Boston curators. Remember that Sofar Sounds is alive and well in 40+ cities worldwide. Join the global conversation because there’s something very special happening here and it’s much, much bigger than Britta’s living room.