Song Spotlight: Jake Manzi's The Trouble (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Jake Manzi dropped by The Airliner Bar on a recent Rocknite showcase night. He's an Americana musician from Western Massachusetts who now lives in Los Angeles and he recently released a new album titled Getting Somewhere. His official record release party was scheduled for the following week at The Kibitz Room, but it did feel like this was a sneak preview set as he played the first six tracks from the album. I think one can also call a practice run on his part as he had a full backing band of 5 musicians that included keyboards, steel guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. 

Jake Manzi at The Airliner Bar

Song Spotlight: Gaptooth's Funhouse (a night at The Fable)

When I noticed that Gaptooth (moniker for Margaret Haesler) was playing a Ryan Pollie and Make Out Music collaboration night at The Fable, I was eager to catch the set. Though this was my first time seeing her, the moniker did ring a bell as she had shared a bill with Adriana McCassim earlier in the year and I had mentioned the night on my Show Alert post for that week.   

Gaptooth at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Zig Zags' Why I Carry A Knife (a night at Zebulon)

The self described heavy metal, punk rock band Zig Zags shook the foundations of the Zebulon throughout their 13 song set - that being from the stage to the floor to the back step benches. As the band said, "Not bad for a Tuesday night." It was a free night, but they didn't treat it as one. They obliterated the more than willing crowd with a 45 minute set.

Zig Zags at Zebulon

Review: Stars Align for Tender Misfit at Oblivion (with Jesse Detor)

Tender Misfit (the moniker for Ariel Beesley) recently concluded her first headliner tour that took her across California to celebrate the release of her Stargirl album. I got to catch her at the Los Angeles Oblivion stop. It was my first time catching a set since seeing her twice in 2024 -- a close to two year gap. During that time frame, she was busy writing up new songs. I did a setlist check and the only song that was similar between 2026 and the previous time I crossed paths with her was "Dirt."

Tender Misfit at Oblivion

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jul 19th - Jul 25th

A Handful (bucketful) of Show Alerts 

Sunday, Jul 19th: Julez and the Rollerz at The Fable. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Call Me Up" back in 2025.

Sunday, Jul 19th: Mr. Dinkles at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.
I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Eat Chips and Talk Shit" back in May.

Sunday, Jul 19th: The Mastersons at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2024, the band was part of a Roots Rock tribute night at Zebulon that I covered for US Rocker Music.

Sunday, Jul 19th: Colleen Green and DA Stern at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of Colleen Green's set at El Cid. 

I wrote a Song Spotlight for his song "I Never Said I Was The One" earlier this year.

Sunday, Jul 19th: Guantanamo Baywatch at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Two sets with doors at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

In 2023, I covered the band for Buzzbands.

Monday, Jul 20th: Tashaki Miyaki at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "City" in 2025.

Tuesday, Jul 21st: Simi at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "Stranger With My Secret" in 2025. 

Thursday, Jul 23rd: Alex Andre at The Woodbridge. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

In 2021, I covered the band for Buzzbands.

Thursday, Jul 23rd: Bruvvy at The Airliner. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of their set at  Good Times at Davey Wayne's.

Thursday, Jul 23rd: Ricky Berger at Scribbles. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "My Insides" earlier this year.

Thursday, Jul 23rd: The Paranoyds and Suzie True at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2022, I covered The Paranoyds for Buzzbands. 

In 2024, I covered Suzie True for US Rocker Music.

Friday, July 24th: Ron Blakely at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Tired" in 2025. 

Saturday, Jul 25th: Brookelen at The Woodbridge. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "moon" just last month.

Saturday, Jul 25th: Dutch East Indians at Alex's Bar. Doors at 2 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for the band's "All Time High" in 2025.

Saturday, Jul 25th: Mirrorball at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Red Hot Dust" earlier this year.

Saturday, Jul 25th: Sunder at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, the band made my list of favorite new finds.

Song Spotlight: Laguna Hill's Can't Buy Time (Even with a Million Dollars) (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

It was a special night at Bar Lubitsch. Grant Owens of WFNM was celebrating his birthday. Opening up was the recently formed Laguna Hill. The band is the husband-wife team of Ryan and Lena Doyle. They mentioned during the set that they formed the band on the inauspicious date of April 1st, 2026. Also, the recently married couple moved from New York to Laguna Beach. The folk-pop band has Lena on violin and Ryan on guitar. They share vocal duties. Their Spotify bio has this detail about their music, "their music reflects real-life experiences and a shared creative chemistry."

Laguna Hill at Bar Lubitsch

Review: OP ED Revs Ups the Celebration Antics at Gold-Diggers

I came across OP ED at Echo Park Rising last year. Megan Tracy suggested that I catch them as one of the members of the band is Marlon Rabenreither. He fronts the band Gold Star and both of us are fans of the band. The rock-punk set was so dynamic and awesome that I put them on my list of favorite new bands of 2025 (see link here). 

OP ED at Gold-Diggers

Song Spotlight: Small Forward's Hollywood Con (a night at The Fable)

I was trying to figure out how I was going to plan out a recent week of music. I knew I had two days locked down towards the end of the week. I had a random day to plan out. On Monday, I checked out Ryan Pollie's Instagram page to see what he had scheduled for his showcase at The Fable. One of the bands playing was Small Forward and I knew I was going to do the short drive from Glendale to Eagle Rock. 

Small Forward at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Sāde Frame's I Need You (No I Don't) (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Grant Owens, founder of WFNM, was celebrating his birthday at Bar Lubitsch. One of the artists performing was vocal talent Sāde Frame. Back in 2021, she got an American Idol golden ticket. A year later, she won one of the the weekly "Love Song" contests held by the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for her song "Dating Isn't Fun," which was the first song she performed for the birthday party festivities.    

 Sāde Frame at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Maudlin Strangers' Spaghetti Western (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

When I saw that Maudlin Strangers was on the schedule at Hotel Ziggy for a WFNM showcase, I immediately recognized the band name. It was a flashback to 2014 when I went off to the Bootleg Theatre (the current location of 2220 Arts) to catch their August Residency. What's a residency, some Los Angeles music fans might ask? Back in the day, local venues across Los Angeles would set aside Monday nights as a free night of music and a specific band would play each of those nights. It was always free entrance. Zebulon still carries on that tradition off and on. 

Maudlin Strangers at Hotel Ziggy

Review: It was a Theatrical Night at Healing Force of the Universe (Eli Tarantula, Max Meteor, Sisters of Black Mountain)

Healing Force of the Universe opened up in late 2023 and it only took me a little over a year and a half to make it out there. What's my problem? I'm an unfortunate creature of habit these days, rotating around specific venues / promotors. In Sonic Dreams gave me a necessary push as the promotor was putting on a show at the record store-venue. The venue is located in Pasadena and I would say that most of my visits to the city is driven by a trip to Samy's Camera. Off I went with a good idea of where the venue was located and ended up accidentally driving past Walnut St. Pasadena is the city of one way streets and so I ended up with a couple failed attempts to get one block north. I do have a tendency to drive past spots. The next day, I drove over to a restaurant and instead of turning into the parking lot of the restaurant, I drove past it and turned into the parking lot of an auto service business.  

Sisters of Black Mountain at Healing Force of the Universe

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jul 12th - Jul 18th

A Handful (Massive) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jul 12th: El Colmo and OP ED at Alex's Bar. Doors at 2 p.m.
In 2024, I did a review of El Colmo's set for US Rocker Music.
OP ED made my list of favorite new finds of 2025.

Sunday, Jul 12th: Izzy Outerspace at The Monty Bar. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote up this review.

Monday, Jul 13th: Dreyted at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I recently wrote up this review. Can also catch the band on Wednesday.

Tuesday, Jul 14th: Dear Elise at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2021, I covered the band for US Rocker Music.

Tuesday, Jul 14th: Deathchant at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 8 p.m.

The band made my list of favorite new finds of 2024.

Tuesday, Jul 14th: I'll show you magic at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Feel You" back in May.

Wednesday, Jul 15th: Dreyted at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jul 15th: Giselle and Neska Rose at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 8 p.m.
I wrote a Song Spotlight for Giselle's song "Skeletons" in 2025.
I wrote a Song Spotlight for Neska Rose's song "Very Green" in 2025.

Thursday, Jul 16th: Cosmic Kitten at The Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Hole in my Soul" in 2025.

Thursday, Jul 16th: Mr. Dinkles at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Eat Chips and Talk Shit" back in May.

Thursday, Jul 16th: Tender Misfit at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

Ariel Beesley, the creative force behind Tender Misfit made my list of favorite new finds in 2019.

Friday, Jul 17th: Ella Woolsey at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "a million" back in May.

Friday, Jul 17th: Ryan Hahn at the Bigfoot Lodge. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for his song "Farmers Son" back in 2025.

Friday, Jul 17th: talker at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "Gold Rush" back in April.

Saturday, Jul 18th: Stella Prince at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 6:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "The Replay" last month.

Song Spotlight: Aden Black's for me (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Aden Black has been a fixture at the WFNM showcase over the last couple years. Back in 2024, I covered Hailey Wild and she was a backup singer (click on this link for a photo that has Aden Black in it). She's also done a couple of WFNM sets. I was finally able to catch one of those sets at Hotel Ziggy. It was a rare Tuesday night event and the venue was packed. In fact, I might say it was an over flow situation as people were standing out in the lounge area of the hotel. Those fans ranged from their twenties to their sixties. 

Aden Black at Hotel Ziggy