SAN DIEGO — Following the release of “Love, Darla” — the New York City band’s third and most inventive album yet — Laveda embarked on a month-long headline tour of the U.S., visiting many cities for the first time in their six-year career.

Laveda is currently taking on 25 shows in just 29 days, and San Diego sat near the halfway point of this rigorous tour — a true moment of inflection, especially as the first stop on the West Coast.

“It sorta feels like the grind we’ve put in has paid off,” said vocalist Ali Genevich in an August interview with Youngster Year. “I know we’re all excited to be getting back over to the West Coast too. I just love playing shows and I never want to stop.”

Laveda arrived in San Diego on Sept. 30 after coming west from Phoenix. They played Soda Bar, a 21+ venue straddling the line between the Normal Heights and City Heights neighborhoods with a maximum capacity of 230.

On a quiet Tuesday night, despite two local openers, Soda Bar was at no risk of selling out. Laveda was preceded by Slacker and Crasher — the aforementioned openers, but also what a particularly laddish man might call his fists.

Slacker, a college band with ties to San Diego State, took the first slot on the bill and generated an enthusiastic response from their audience of friends and local barflies. Crasher followed and garnered a similar reaction, ducking out immediately after their set to get home to their families.

By the time Laveda took the stage, the crowd had thinned to approximately 20 people, including the members of Slacker and at least four of their friends.

But sparse attendance appeared not to sway Laveda in the slightest. Upon taking the stage, Genevich expressed the band’s deep appreciation for their audience and the band’s excitement to be touring their new album.

“I don’t know if I exactly feel ‘settled’ in the sonic identity of ‘Love, Darla,’” said Genevich in August, “but it’s definitely the thing I’m most proud of to date.”

Laveda’s pride for their music, love for performance and appreciation of their listeners was apparent through the entirety of their well-crafted set, which largely featured songs from the new album as they were intended to be heard.

“Love, Darla” came out Sept. 12 and has since signaled a clear evolution for the band, marking a distinct departure and new way ahead.

“We’ve evolved a lot as a band over what feels like a short period of time,” said Genevich. “I think it’s cool. I hope people think it’s cool too.”