NFV Song Spotlight: March Adstrum's Relics from Phantoms

March Adstrum recently played the Harvard & Stone stage. I came across her in 2023 at The Smell. She started to play in other bands that I enjoy such as Magnolia and Valley Porno People. She's also in a band called Optometry that I've yet to see.  

March Adstrum at Harvard & Stone

NFV Song Spotlight: Ouch!'s Bitter Host

In early September, Ouch! hit the stage first at The Fable on the same night that Janelane played. It was a more than appropriate line-up as Ouch! reminded me of early Janelane. The band hails from Oakland and is fronted by Ryann Gonsalves. Based on her Instagram page, Ouch! is just one of the four bands that she is in. 

Ouch! at The Fable

NFV Song Spotlight: The Doohickeys' This Town Sucks

I've followed The Doohickeys for a bit over a year now. The band duo includes Haley Spence Brown and Jack Hackett. I first came across the band at Americana West Music Festival in 2023 and I got addicted immediately. What got me addicted to this band? Well, as per the title of this blog post, it would be their song "This Town Sucks." I just couldn't help but laugh back in 2023. I also grew up in a small town. The song is about Liberty, Missouri which currently has a population of around 31,000 and is where Brown grew up. The city I grew up in also had a population of around that size. 

The Doohickeys at the Bigfoot Lodge

NFV Song Spotlight: Jessy Fury and The Sound's Heaven

Jessy Fury and The Sound is the project of Jesse Robitaille and they recently played Hotel Ziggy. Robitaille's vocals bring his pop tunes to life. He projects an Elvis Presley reincarnation, but mixed in with pop sounds of the late 80s / early 90s. On this night, the band did toss in a Presley cover song. His backing band is selected to create energy. Emily Dickinson on the keytar and Aubrey Harris on bass amplified and synergized perfectly with Robitaille. Let's not forget the beats and tracks of Declan O'Raidy. The packed house ate it up. 

Jessy Fury and The Sound at Hotel Ziggy

NFV Song Spotlight: Janelane's Killing Time

Janelane recently played The Fable during a Ryan Pollie night. I first came across Janelane in 2017 at Echo Park Rising. I was shooting the festival for Buzzbands. I technically wasn't suppose to shoot Janelane. I had been assigned the venues east of The Echo. Yet, I decided to check out Janelane over at Spacedust (the store closed at the end of 2023), which was a store west of The Echo. I've been a fan ever since. The band is fronted by Sophie Negrini with a rotating cast of musicians. 

Janelane at The Fable

NFV Song Spotlight: Circle the Earth's Sweetest Pain

I saw Circle the Earth play a spirited set at Hotel Ziggy (a WFNM night) on August 27th, 2024. Of note, the band name is so appropriate as the members hail from across the globe. You have Brazilian drummer Sandro Feliciano, Japanese guitarist Kazuki Tokaji, and Taiwanese keyboardist Sandy Chao Wang. The five piece band is rounded out by Michael McBay on bass and Aviva Scott on vocals. The band's set was filled with the power pop ballads that highlighted Scott's crystal vocals. 

Circle the Earth at Hotel Ziggy

PAGOTO Celebrates Record '7989' by Blasting Ear Drums at Licorice Pizza Records

PAGOTO, a project of L.A. Witch drummer Ellie English, had their record release at Licorice Pizza Records. Knowing that connection, one might expect a sound somewhat similar to L.A. Witch, a bit psychedelic mixed in with blues and rock. That would be totally incorrect. This band is a hard core industrial band. Vocals are screamed at jet engine levels and drums are slammed with the intensity of the flames coming from a rocket booster engine. Their 8 song album, 7989, is 7 songs of industrial with the final song “Ancestor” taking one on a meanderingly chill drug trip – got to let the listener take a breather. The band played the album in full at Licorice Pizza in front of friends as many a long conversation was had prior to the band hitting the stage. Members of L.A. Witch also arrived to show their support for their band mate. 

PAGOTO at Licorice Pizza Records

Harvard & Stone: Strawberry Army with Verum

It is always fun to catch Strawberry Army. The twin sisters just have so much fun on stage. Smiles. Seemingly having way too much fun on stage. Vocals that are deeper than one might expect.  A stage show filled with antics. Only problem, I seem to only see them in poorly lit venues. One day I'll catch this band under the bright lights and get some really solid photos.

Strawberry Army

Verum opened up the night. One of the band members is also part of Strawberry Army. 

Verum

Harvard & Stone: Grace McKagan and Tessa Rae

This was my first time seeing Grace McKagan since seeing her front The Pink Slips all the way back in 2017. Her set was rocking and she definitely knew how to put on a stage show. Of course, fronting The Pink Slips for a number of years helped her with both of those aspects of being a live performer. She had a residency at Harvard & Stone for November and I really wish I'd seen more than just one of those nights.

Grace McKagan

Tessa Rae opened the night. I previously saw her play for WFNM at Bar Lubitsch. With a number of friends out in support, she put on an energetic pop-dance set.

Tessa Rae

The Silverlake Lounge: Moonfuzz with Lilliana Villines and Pio Gabriel

It was Moonfuzz's final residency night and I hadn't made it out to The Silverlake Lounge yet for their November residency. So off I went, because this band is awesome and I love residency nights. The way Miranda (guitar) and Heaven (bass) play off each other is just fun to watch. One just has to love it when they face off on each other and let it rip. 

Moonfuzz

Lilliana Villines opened up with a calming disposition. Pio Gabriel had the 60s rock sounds going. For a couple songs, they had a friend play the harmonica. The band is on the older side of the ledger, which just proves you can rock out at any age.

Pio Gabriel

Lilliana Villines