Song Spotlight: Talk2Strangers' Fawn (a night at The Goldfish)

When online sets were the rage in 2020, I caught Talk2Strangers via Los Angeleno (from what I can tell, the website still posts articles on an intermittent basis). It was an artsy set in the vain of other Los Angeles notables like Bloody Death Skull and Jess Joy (since moved back to her home state of Louisiana). You can see that performance here. 

Talk2Strangers at The Goldfish

Song Spotlight: American Mile's Photograph Of You (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

I got introduced to American Mile by Sideways Media (Nicole Poulos) back in May. I've worked with Poulos for nearly a decade (give or take a year or two either way). She was asking if I could make their American Dream album release party in June, but that just wasn't going to work out for me (real life work issues). I did suggest doing a Q&A with the band for US Rocker Music. 

American Mile at Hotel Ziggy

Below is a response to one of the questions:

Question: Your sophomore album American Dream, just came out. How would you like the album to impact those who listen to it?

Answer" I would like the album to inspire people, make people groove and dance, give people hope and faith in life. I want the album to let people know, to never give up, to keep going. I also hope it inspires people to write more songs and pick up more instruments too.

American Mile at Hotel Ziggy

You can read the full Q&A here. 

Fast forward to August and Echo Park Rising. I noticed that they were playing with  The Doohickeys at The Den Studios. The venue was way too off the beaten path for me so I once against had to skip out on their live show. 

During my research of the band in June, I did learn that they play 200 shows a year so another opportunity was sure to pop up. Jumping a couple months to October, and I noticed that they were playing the WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy. I could make that one. The date was circled. 

American Mile at Hotel Ziggy

Was it worth the wait? Actually, I wish I had come across them far sooner in life. Their set was a blast. When people were hanging out in the hotel lobby to start off the set, guitarist Joe Perez left the stage and corralled people into the venue area. And if people weren't immediately convinced to leave the lobby area, they soon were via their Southern rock tunes. People were immediately inspired to dance. The band kept it entertaining and high energy throughout. A couple times lead singer Eugene Rice used a talk box, which gave their music a modulated sound.

Their final song of the night "Shake That Thing" is by far their most popular Spotify song. Drummer Colton Miller went Whiplash on the song. At one point, Perez, Rice, and bassist Dezmond Saunders all went out into the crowd. Perez stepped up on a round table. Saunders swung his bass in all directions. Rice slide-danced his way across the floor. "Stay Young," was the band's farewell advice to the audience. The response from one individual was, "That was insane."

American Mile at Hotel Ziggy

The song spotlight goes to "Photograph Of You." It comes off their American Dream album. It is a song about a couple breaking up and later realizing that they truly are in love with each other. 

Last twenty in the tank

Truck is set to cruise

I drive along with a photograph of you

Song Spotlight: TELAH!'s Winner (a night at The Goldfish)

I first came across Telah! when they played Echo Park Rising's Sunday after party (that's what I called it) at Sticky Rice in 2024. I don't believe I was there for all the bands that performed that Sunday, but they were the first band playing when I arrived. Their world music tunes stuck with me. This past October 2025, I got to catch up with them once again at The Goldfish (the sister location for Sticky Rice). Based on scanning their Instagram, I believe this was also their first set since Echo Park Rising. Though this was only the second time I've ever seen a set, this band has always remained top of mind. This is, admittedly, partially driven by the fact that I cross paths with their leader Dani who works at The Goldfish and also worked Echo Park Rising 2025 at the Sticky Rice stage. 

TELAH! at The Goldfish

Song Spotlight: Maryjo's Don't Call Me (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Maryjo brought her stunning vocals back to the WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy -- she said that this October set was her 6th time at the venue. She mentioned to the audience before her performance that she was going to be singing her saddest songs. There was more than just singing. There was much laugher, because there were some off the cuff sexual entendre one liners (as well as some more direct ones) -- she did threaten to hunt down people if they posted the comments online, but I'll take the chance as they were amusing. 

Maryjo at Hotel Ziggy

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Nov 30th - Dec 6th

A Handful of Show Alerts 

Sunday, Nov 30th: Soft Palms and UGHH at The Lyric Hyperion. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Soft Palms song spotlight for "Rainbows" here.

You can read my UGHH review at Happy Sundays Fest here. 

Sunday, Nov 30th: The What Four at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I recently wrote a review of their set at Frogtown Brewery, which you can read here.

Monday, Dec 1st: Brenda Carsey at Hotel Cafe. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2018, I covered her at Echo Park Rising for Buzzbands, you can see a photo of the set here.

Wednesday, Dec 3rd: Alice Sandahl at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Walk It Off" here. 

Wednesday, Dec 3rd: Baba Jenkins at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.
You can read my song spotlight for "Wild" here.

Wednesday, Dec 3rd: Devon Thompson at El Cid. Doors at 7 p.m.

Got introduced to Devon Thompson via The Smell.

Wednesday, Dec 3rd: Rachel Goodrich at Healing Force Records. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Why Do We Fall in Love?" here. 

Thursday, Dec 4th: Pegzilla at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Giver" here.

Friday, Dec 5th: Cosmic Kitten and Mike Watt at the Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Cosmic Kitten spotlight for "Hole in my Soul"  here. 

In 2024, I covered Mike Watt for US Rocker Music when he played Happy Sundays Long Beach, which you can read here. 

Saturday, Dec 6th: Crisis Actor and Jagged Baptist Club at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I recently wrote a Crisis Actor review of their Old Towne Pub set, which you can read here. 

You can read my Jagged Baptist Club song spotlight for "Temptation Death House" here. 

Photo Reviews: The Dandy Warhols (a night at The Bellwether)

A few weeks back, I got to shoot The Dandy Warhols at The Bellwether for US Rocker Music. You can read the article here. 

I figured I'd discuss a couple photos that I took. I'm happy with the shots. I got to the venue perhaps 15 minutes later than I anticipated due to the fact that I accidentally walked pass the side street that I needed to turn on and so I had to loop back. When I finally got inside the venue, there were really no good places to stand next to the stage. Would there have been if I got there 15 minutes earlier? Who knows. The venue recently took out their photo pit area that was in front of the stage. I'm not saying that if I had found a spot next to the stage that I would have stayed there the whole night. I'm just saying I didn't get a chance to shoot right up front. 

Review: Movie Club has the Soundtrack to Your Favorite Movies

Movie Club reached out to me in August 2023 to see if I was interested in coming to their residency at Harvard & Stone. I wasn't able to catch their immediate night as I had plans to catch a couple bands at Zebulon. The following week, I got sick. They pinged me a couple months later about a set they were playing at Gold-Diggers. Not only did I get to catch their set for the first time ever, but I also got to cross paths again with Wargirl (a band I hadn't seen since 2017, but left an impression at the time). What's the point of this background? Every so often bands reach out to me and I have to decline. But hey, keep asking, because I do my best to eventually make it out to a set (as long as the set is played in my definition of the core Los Angeles music scene or better explained as within a 10 mile radius of Glendale -- ha ha).

Movie Club at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Song Spotlight: Rituals of Mine's Devoted (a night at Zebulon)

I came across Rituals of Mine back in 2019 when they opened for Y La Bamba. I covered the night for Buzzbands. You can read that article here. I had specifically wanted to cover that set, because I ran across Y La Bamba in 2017 at the Music Tastes Good festival in Long Beach and really enjoyed their set. 

Rituals of Mine at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Zara's Breathe Child (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Zara (aka Zara Sargsyan) took the Hotel Ziggy's WFNM showcase stage for the second time this past October. The first time was back in November 2024. I was lucky enough to catch both sets. The recent Berklee College graduate had fellow alumni Angelo Della Valle playing backing guitar. Zara also played the guitar while singing. The duo guitars made for nifty jazz-pop interplay with intricate fingerpicking one her part. Her vocals had those Basia vibes from the 1980s-1990s. This was all perfectly highlighted from the top with the opening song "Stolen Joy."       

Zara at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Holy Wars' Metamorphosis (a night at Pico Union Project)

As I mentioned in my Ramonda Hammer write up (you can read that here), I had a rather thrilling back to back nights in the Los Angeles music scene. Thursday night it was Ramonda Hammer at The Goldfish and then Friday night (11/21) it was off to see Holy Wars at Pico Union Project. Those two bands are two of my favorite bands in Los Angeles and it had been a rather long time since I last saw either band on stage. 

Holy Wars at Pico Union Project