Song Spotlight: Marni's 99¢ (a night at Permanent Records Roadhouse)

Marni recently played Permanent Records Roadhouse. The band is fronted by Nicolas Lara and Michaela Gradstein. Can one be blown away by a band when they're just doing their instrumental intro song? I don't know how wise it is to make an immediate judgement call just based on a band jamming together to start off the set, but they sent my heart pumping with adrenaline. I was sold and that feeling lasted throughout their set, which focused on their 2025 EP release fml era (f*ck my life) as well as a trio of unreleased songs.  

Marni at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Song Spotlight: Brookelen's moon (a night at The Fable)

Brookelen (moniker for Brooke Tannehill) recently played The Fable for a Ryan Pollie showcase night. I first crossed paths with her in December 2024. Coincidentally, it was at another Ryan Pollie showcase at The Fable. Since then, I've learned that she's one of the more collaborative musicians in Los Angeles. In 2025, I crossed paths with her via Lower Merion (read about that night here) and We Shrunk. Lower Merion is a project that includes Ryan Pollie. Then in 2026, she popped up as the lead singer for Host Family for an El Cid set (read about that night here).  

Brookelen at The Fable

Review: Livingmore Dials Up the Red Phone at LAX (with opening band Sonica)

This past Friday night, Livingmore came into town to celebrate the upcoming release of their fifth studio album, the eponymous named album Livingmore at LAX. The band formed back in 2014 as a collaboration between Los Angeles based singer-songwriters Alex Moore and Spencer Livingston. I say came into town as the now married couple has since moved to Japan (though based on their bio, they still spend time in Los Angeles). If you're interested in how expats live or spend time scanning Zillow listings (both apply to me), you can see a reel of the home they purchased here.

Livingmore at LAX

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jun 28th - Jul 4th

 A Handful (Massive) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jun 28th: Dreyted and I'll show you magic at Old Towne Pub. Doors at 8 p.m.

I recently wrote a review of Dreyted's set, which you can read here.

You can read my Song Spotlight for I'll show you magic's song "Feel You" here.

Sunday, Jun 28th: Julez and the Rollerz at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
You can read my Song Spotlight for their song "Call Me Up" here.

Sunday, Jun 28th: Mo Dotti and Valley Porno People at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I recently wrote a review of a Mo Dotti set, which you can read here.

Valley Porno People made my list of favorite 2024 bands. You can read that list here.

Sunday, Jun 28th: The What Four at Gold-Diggeres. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2015, I wrote a review of their set, which you can read here.

Monday, Jun 29th: Annie Hardy and Paige Stark at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for Annie Hardy's song "Man Downn" here.

Paige Stark is also in Tashaki Miyaki. You can read my Song Spotlight for the band's song "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothin' here. 

Monday, Jun 29th: Escape Artist Lovers at the Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2024, I covered the band for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Monday, Jun 29th: Faydean at The Hotel Cafe. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Rock 'Em-Sock 'Em" here. 

Monday, Jun 29th: Nick Flessa at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for his song "Medicine Hat City Slogan" here.  

Tuesday, Jun 30th: Anna Thoresen at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Dear Soulmate" here.

Tuesday, Jun 30th: Christina Apostolopoulos at Hotel Cafe. Doors at 8 p.m.

If you look carefully, you'll see a photo I took for Buzzbands at Echo Park Rising here.

Tuesday, Jun 30th: Maryon King at Revolver WeHo. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for her song "What's a Girl To Do" here.

Tuesday, Jun 30th: Primitive Ring at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2024, I wrote a review of the band, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Jul 1st: The Blank Tapes at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I've been following the band since 2018. 

Wednesday, Jul 1st: Declan Palmer at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight for his song "Am I Into You" here

Wednesday, Jul 1st: Ryan Pollie at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

In 2022, I covered his set for Buzzbands, which you can read here. 

Thursday, Jul 2nd: Escape-ism at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their song "Charge of the Love Brigade" here.

Thursday, Jul 2nd:  Jessy Fury at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for his "Heaven" here.

Thursday, Jul 2nd: Lilliana Villines at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "yours" here. 

Friday, Jul 3rd: Fartbart at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 9:30 p.m.

In 2013, I wrote a review of Fartbart, which you can read here.

Friday, Jul 3rd: Tashaki Miyaki at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their song "City" here.

Song Spotlight: Ella Hunt's Six Hours (a night at the Airliner Bar)

Back around the 2018 time frame, Play Like a Girl (no longer around) and Purple Bite joined forces to put on Friday night events at Stories Books and Cafe. They called the nights Commune. It was an evening where singer-songwriters would both sing and discuss their tunes. On a recent adventure out to the Airliner Bar, I had a sense of déjà vu to those nights at Commune. This time, instead of Commune, it was School Night (a collaboration between Make Out Music and KCRW). Closing out the night was Ella Hunt who was doing a west coast release party celebration of her debut album Blindspot (a few days earlier, she had one in New York).   

Ella Hunt at The Airliner Bar

Song Spotlight: Tyler Ballgame's Matter of Taste (a night at The Fable)

It was a Tuesday night and I decided it was going to be spent at the The Fable. It was a Ryan Pollie showcase night and there was going to be a secret headliner. This is when my hunch came out correct. If someone had asked me for a guess on who the secret headliner would be, I would have said Tyler Ballgame. At the previous showcase in May, I noticed Tyler Ballgame and Ryan Pollie huddling together. I felt something was up. I was proven correct three weeks later when I noticed an Instagram story where it was mentioned he was playing a set, but it did not mention where. I knew where that was going to be. 

Tyler Ballgame at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Pablo Lynn's Blue Room (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

I will say I didn't know what to expect when Pablo Lynn (moniker for lead singer Ilan Eskenazi) hit the stage at Bar Lubitsch during a recent WFNM showcase. All I knew was that the band had only 26 followers on Instagram. That just led me to believe they were a super new band that Grant Owens (WFNM founder) had uncovered. As the band was setting up their gear, I was hanging at the front of the stage, at one of my two normal spots. I was likely on my phone, reading a random article from the Internet, because I didn't realize that a crowd had followed the band into the venue (for those who don't know, Bar Lubitsch has two rooms: a bar and a venue area). 

Pablo Lynn at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Stella Prince's The Replay (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Folk singer Stella Prince brought her talents to the WFNM showcase at Bar Lubitsch. She describes her music as Gen Z folk. The generation is making their cultural mark on America. As those who follow movie box offices, you know that Gen Z made a big splash in May. Obsession was directed by 26 year old Curry Barker. It is the rare movie that saw it's wide release (not a platform release) box office increase in the second weekend. Then Backrooms came out, which was directed by 20 year old Kane Parsons. It rather immediately became A24's biggest domestic box office movie. When it comes to folk music, Stella Prince is wanting to have a similar impact.

Stella Prince at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Jady's TMSTIDK (a night at The Fonda Theatre)

Jady (the Ohio due of vocalist Jarrett Doherty and drummer Ashton Bergdorf) took to the stage at The Fonda Theatre as one of the opening acts for The Cab. I got to review the night for US Rocker Music. You can read that review here. Bergdorf was the first to walk out onto the stage and take a seat behind his drum kit. What I immediately noticed was that he had a chain necklace circling his head. Being a fan of both the Dune books and Dune movies, my mind went directly to the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.

Jady at The Fonda Theatre

Photo Review: CARR at The Fonda Theatre

CARR (the moniker for Carly McClellan) dance-bounced her way across the stage throughout her set at The Fonda Theatre. She was one of the opening acts for The Cab. You can read my US Rocker Music review of the night here. In many ways, she reminds me of a favorite band The Dollyrots. 

CARR at The Fonda Theatre

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jun 21st - Jun 27th

A Handful (Bucketful) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jun 21st: Dave Harrington at the Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2025, I wrote a review of his Zebulon set, which you can read here.

Tuesday, Jun 23rd: Primitive Ring at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2024, I wrote a review of the band, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Jun 24th: Andie Yagher at The Hotel Cafe. Doors at 9 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight for her song "twenty something" here.  

Wednesday, Jun 24th: Jamma at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Farewell" here. 

Wednesday, Jun 24th: Taylor Jules at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "All Time Low" here. 

Thursday, Jun 25th: Chalk Teeth at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 9:30 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their  song "Floor It" here.

Thursday, Jun 25th: The Paranoyds at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

In 2022, I covered their set for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Friday, Jun 26th: Beck Pete at The Hotel Cafe. Doors at 9 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Scared of Everything" here. 

Friday, Jun 26th: Livingmore at LAX. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2021, I covered their set for Buzzbands, which you can read here. 

Saturday, Jun 27th: Horse Rider at The Haven. Doors at 6 p.m.

The band made my list of favorite new finds in 2025. You can read that list here.

Saturday, Jun 27th: Niantic plays June Gloom at PA Rehearsal Studios. Doors at 1 p.m.

In 2023, I covered the festival for US Rocker Music. You can read about the night here.

Saturday, Jun 27th: OP ED at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

The band made my list of favorite new finds in 2025. You can read that list here. 

Saturday, Jun 27th: June Swoon at Healing Forces of the Universe. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Denver" here. 

Saturday, Jun 27th: Sunder and Taleen Kali play Dum Dum Fest at The Echo. Doors at 6 p.m.

In 2026, I covered both bands for US Rocker Music. You can read about that night here. 

Song Spotlight: The Cab's Back From The Dead (a night at The Fonda Theatre)

I got the opportunity to catch The Cab at the The Fonda Theatre. I covered the night for US Rocker Music. You can read the article here. Below are just some miscellaneous additional observations and my Song Spotlight.  

The Cab at The Fonda Theatre

Song Spotlight: Drauve's Wool (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Drauve closed out a recent Rocknite showcase night at The Airliner Bar. They were the primary reason why I decided to drive down to the venue on this particular Wednesday night. A couple days prior, I went to Spotify and took a listen to their 2025 EP Timeline while tapping away at my work computer. The first two songs off the EP ("Wool" and "Sink In") got me hooked. If interested, I found this Atwood Magazine article (link here) where they discuss the songs from the EP. 

Drauve at The Airliner Bar