Regardless of an argument with a man who owned a pistachio stand across the way, the band set up, and laid down their instruments.

Running up and down State St., the members of Sidewalk Affair struggled to find a spot to play their music. But, with a growing fan base and their first show booked, they may no longer have to.

Sidewalk Affair, a new local band with a soft blue’s beat, is giving the indie folk scene of Santa Barbara a new sound. Zephan McIntyre-Bader (sax, vocals, guitar), Luis Soto (bass), Elliott Lanam (keyboard, backup vocals), Spencer Kelly (lead guitar), Justin Christopher (tenner sax, backup vocals), and Edwin Vega (drums) have all brought their unique street talent to one group, with hopes of expanding. The members are between 18 and 24 years old.

“The music is about bringing positive energy into a negative place,” said McIntyre-Bader. “We have a lot of fun and we want our audience to, too.”

The band is a collection of six different faces from Santa Barbara, four of them enrolled at City College.

They all strangely intertwined through random meetings at other gigs, schools or clubs. Each member recommended or introduced another, until the whole group had established they would fit well together.

“I was sitting in class and Zephan just turned around and said, ‘I think you’re my new drummer,” said Edwin Vega, laughing at the thought. “Apparently I had been recommended by Spencer.”

Vega continued to explain that he had seen a few of the band members play on the sidewalks before, but didn’t recognize their talent until they gathered and played together for the first time.

“Once I saw the guys [play], I knew I was staying,” said Vega.

Dr. John Clark, City Colleges music department chair, described McIntyre as both exceedingly “talented” and an “excellent [music] student.”

“He’s fun to work with, and great in performance,” said Clark.

The same can be said of all members of the band, if you ask them.

Most of them admitted to being in numerous bands before, but none quite compared to the talent and commitment in Sidewalk Affair.

“Everyone is really talented,” Christopher said. “There isn’t anyone who’s not pulling their weight.”

Originally called “The Big Band,” they later changed the name to Sidewalk Affair after a song title written by McIntyre-Bader’s dad.

“We thought it was a cool name, and we kind of put meaning to it,” said Vega. “I play on the streets for money, [Justin] does that, [Zephan] does that, and so it was a fitting name,”

“And now when we do play on the streets, we can officially call it a Sidewalk Affair.”

Unfortunately, McIntyre-Bader had already made 500 business cards with the old bands name. He later went through the cards with a black sharpie and crossed the old name out.

The band is currently working on a three-track EP and hopes to have it released by the end of March. They are also arranging plans to play in the Summer Solstice and Earth Day parades.

Soto compared the band to a “good relationship.” He said despite their struggles as a group, they all stand by their final product proudly.

“It’s all about chemistry,” said Soto. “Every person has to bring something unique.”

Sidewalk Affair will be hosting a free, 21 and over, show at the Savoy nightclub at 8 p.m. Friday, March 22.

From an argument with a man owning a pistachio stand, to worrying about outshining the harmonica player beside them, they continually take their earned spot on the sidewalks, all with the same look on their faces.

It was a consensus – they really are a family.