Song Spotlight: Alexandra Skora's Morning Bird (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

I don't know why, but when Alexandra Skora came up onto the WFNM showcase stage at Hotel Ziggy I starting thinking about Arwen of Lord of the Rings and the Targaryens of Game of Thrones. Is comparing someone to a Targaryen a good thing as the family line went down in flames (or who knows, maybe if the book series is ever completed the outcome will be different from the TV series)? There was a fantasy quality to her vocals, a story telling that flowed like a crystal clear stream. 

Alexandra Skora at Hotel Ziggy

Potential Russian Law would Outlaw Internet Searches for Pussy Riot

Back in January, I got to catch Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot and wrote about it for US Rocker Music, which you can read about here. She does like to be a thorn in Russian President Putin's side as one of the highlights of the performance was Act 3's "Putin's Ashes." 

Nadya Tolokonnikova at the Honor Fraser Gallery

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): July 20th - July 26th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jul 20th: Leslie Stevens plays Grand Ole Echo (The Echo). Doors at 5 p.m.

I covered her 2023 set for Buzzbands, which you can read here. 

Sunday, Jul 20th: Iress at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I covered one of their 2024 sets for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Jul 23rd: Milly at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

I covered one of their 2024 sets for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Thursday, Jul 24th: Swimming Bell at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight of "95 at Night" here.

Friday, Jul 25th: Foxx Bodies at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I covered one of their 2023 sets for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Saturday, Jul 26th: Pu$$y-Cow and Silver Needle at The Escondite. Set times start at 8:15 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight of Pu$$y-Cow's "Taco-Chariot" here. They're celebrating 20 years together as a bad.

As for Silver Needle, I followed this band for years. They kick off the rust every couple years or so catch them now or you'll need to wait a few.

Two Movies Seen on TCM: Rosemary's Baby (1968) and The Straight Story (1999)

I've been hooked on TCM for years now. I just always remember being a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, James (Jimmy) Steward, John Wayne, and many many more. Around a decade ago, I used to do some reviews of movies I saw on TCM. I figured I'd start it up again. If you're interested, click on through.

Song Spotlight: Starling's Bottlebrush Tree (a night at Zebulon)

Starling took to the Zebulon stage with their mystically ethereal sound that emphasized lead singer's Kasha Souter Willett gothic and vulnerable persona. Bassist Grace Rolek could be seen swaying along with her bass. The venue kept the lights low (which isn't at all unusual for Zebulon) as if to emphasize a David Lynch Blue Velvet visual experience for the audience. 

Starling at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Madison Cunningham's All I've Ever Known (a night at The Fable)

I first ran across Madison Cunningham at the Bootleg Theater (did not re-open after the shutdown if anyone is wondering where that venue is in Los Angeles). It was a venue that I first came across many a band or singer-songwriter. It was 2018 and this is what I wrote after the set:

"Opening up the night was Madison Cunningham. It kind of felt like a showcase for her. As soon as I walked into the Bootleg, the place was packed. It was around 8:45 p.m. so not like I was showing up late. Her set had a wonderful tone to it and one couldn't help but notice her amusing facial expressions that she gave her band mates."

Madison Cunningham at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Matty Gottesman's Not Scared (Of Being Along) (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

I had just recently spent a weekend at USC for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Of course, it was time to support UCLA. That occurred when I crossed paths with a Matty Gottesman, an UCLA student, via WFNM's showcase at Hotel Ziggy. He and his four piece backing band are all UCLA students (or maybe by the time this posts some will have graduated). I'm also guessing that their photographer was a UCLA student -- every so often I run into UCLA photographers at various venues who are shooting for UCLA Radio. 

Matty Gottesman at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Host Family's Dromedary (a night at Zebulon)

Pretty But Wicked put together a solid line-up at Zebulon on a Tuesday night with Host Family as the anchor. The band was celebrating the release of their EP Extended Play. I will admit that the reason I went out to Zebulon was to catch Mo Dotti for the first time in 2025; however, the whole bill was fantastic. Seko opened up the night. The band was joined at different points during the set by Host Family band members Spencer Stange and Zac Hernandez. 

Host Family at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Devon Ross' All the Things (a night at Zebulon)

I first came across Devon Ross in December 2023 at the Zebulon. I was an immediate fan. She was scheduled to once again play Zebulon in January 2025, but the night got cancelled due to the massive January fires in Los Angeles. I knew that the night would get rescheduled eventually so I kept an eye out. Finally, it was announced that there would be a Monday night set in May to help celebrate her single release "All the Things." Date was circled and I was there when it arrived. Of interest is that Longplayer was part of the bill for both that December 2023 set and this May 2025 set. 

Devon Ross at Zebulon

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jul 13th - Jul 19th

A Handful (Bucket Full) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jul 13th: Rosy Nolan and Tone Slingers at The Echo (Grand Ole Echo). Doors at 5 p.m.
I shot both for Buzzbands. You can see my 2023 coverages of Rosy Nolan at Americana West Fest here and Tone Slingers (photo only) at Echo Park Rising here .

Sunday, Jul 13th: MACKandgold at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.
You can see my Buzzbands' MACKandgold coverage at the 2023 Echo Park Rising here .

Tuesday, Jul 15th: Hysteria at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my "Reason to Pray" song spotlight here.

Wednesday, Jul 16th: Hysteria at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

Second set of the week.

Wednesday, Jul 16th: Jenny O at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
You can read my 2022 Buzzbands review of Jenny O here.

Wednesday, Jul 16th: Optometry (band includes March Adstrum) at the Lodge Room. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my March Adstrum "Relics from Phantoms" song spotlight here.

Wednesday, Jul 16th: Sister Gemini at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my "Elvira" song spotlight here.

Thursday, Jul 17th: Devon Ross at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
You can my review of one of her sets here.

Friday, Jul 18th: Easylove at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.
Used to be part of Summer Twins, a one time favorite band of mine.

Friday, Jul 18th: Mac Hanson at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my "Alfa Romeo" song spotlight here.

Friday, Jul 18th: Soft Palms at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m. 

Read my "Rainbows" song spotlight here.

Saturday, Jul 19th: Hysteria at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.

Third set of the week.

Saturday, Jul 19th: Tashaki Miyaki at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

Read my "City" song spotlight here.