On Jan. 6, 2017, two local rock bands played on a carpet in the back corner of The Plough and Stars, a cosy Cambridge pub that has been around for almost 50 years. First up was Boston-based rock band, The Furniture, made up of Nick G. Ward (vocals, guitar), Jeff Walsh (drums) and Michael O’Brien (keyboards, vocals). Walsh’s glass of beer sat on a nearby amp. He took a shot as Ward set up his guitar and tested his amp. The sound blared through the restaurant but no one noticed.

The Furniture’s Nick Ward (vocals, guitar) at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge on Jan. 6, 2017

It all changed when they began their first song, the loud, pounding music pushing up against the walls of the tiny bar. Conversation was nearly impossible. Some die-hards wore earplugs. One man put his earbuds in.

Too-loud sound levels left lyrics indecipherable. But on The Furniture’s Bandcamp page, the songs are quirky rock confessionals filled with stream-of-consciousness lyrics. Ward sings about being average and the mundanity of life. On “The Overture,” off of their 2016 album Park Cars, he describes a night of performing.

“Tonight our guitarist needs a ride, because the drummer’s got the car keys / But we’re here / Yeah me and Jeff set up our gear and we drank a couple of beers / But then everybody left after the overture / And now I’m singing to the furniture”

At The Plough and Stars, The Furniture performed their second cover ever, according to Ward. The track was “Cigarettes and Alcohol” by Oasis. Ward also announced that his parents were in the building.

“My mom and dad are here,” he said.

The Furniture had a small but devoted group of supporters standing at the carpet’s edge, quite close to the musicians.

Next up was Somerville band Soft Pyramids, which features Dwight Hutchenson (vocals, guitar), Jon Christensen (guitar), Shaun Curran (bass, guitar, vocals), Matthew Glover (drums) and Aaron Spransy (keys, vocals). Their set was equally incomprehensible due to loudness and bad acoustics. Like shoegazers, their performance was withdrawn, focused mainly on the sound being created.

Soft Pyramids released their sixth album, Planes, in October 2016. Their hazy indie-rock is glittering and introspective.

Soft Pyramids at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge on Jan. 6, 2017. From left: Aaron Spransy (keys, vocals), Dwight Hutchenson (vocals, guitar), Shaun Curran (bass, guitar, vocals), and Jon Christensen (guitar). Dummer Matthew Glover is seated in the back.