Song Spotlight: Joe Bourdet's Amongst the Pines (a night at Zebulon)

Joe Bourdet and his band The El Caps was the opening band for Leroy from the North's album release party at Zebulon. I've crossed paths with Bourdet a couple times. The first time was in 2023 during the Americana West Fest where he shared the stage with Leroy from the North. (You can read my Buzzbands coverage of the festival here and find a photo of Bourdet.) Last year, I caught a short set at the pre-Halloween event titled Murder Ballads & Dark Songs. In neither or those two occasions did I catch a full set.  

Joe Bourdet at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Zelma Stone's Want You All The Time (a night at The Goldfish)

I went over to The Goldfish for the Rocknite showcase to catch Zelma Stone (the moniker Chloe Zelma Studebaker). I ran across them twice in 2022, but hadn't gotten another chance to catch a set since. When I noticed they were scheduled for Rocknite, I circled the date and off I went. 

Zelma Stone at The Goldfish

Review: Leroy from the North unleashes a Zebulon party for My Favorite Gun

Americana rocker Leroy from the North (the moniker for Eli Wulfmeier) recently celebrated his sophomore album release My Favorite Gun at Zebulon. The packed venue was filled with people wearing trucker caps and cowboy hats. It didn't take long for couples to take to the front of the stage to show off their dancing skills. Whenever the band hit the 70s rock beat, the back step bleachers shook. His Spotify bio describes his music as follows, "LA based, Americana/rock band, Leroy From the North, could best be described as a velour track suit with a Cowboy hat. influenced by the sounds of 70's country gold, mixed with a little Detroit steel . . . "

Leroy from the North at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: The Strumbellas' Come Back Around (a night at the Regent Theater)

I was hanging out at the Regent Theater on a Friday night to cover Hotel Fiction. The headliner band was The Strumbellas. I had no clue who they were (I actually didn't know who Hotel Fiction was, either), but learned quickly that they're a Toronto, Canada based band. I was thinking, "Hey, I have this photo pass, why not take photos of The Strumbellas. I didn't sign anything that restricted me from shooting the band." I was allowed into the photo pit without any issues and so I started to photograph the band. 

The Strumbellas at the Regent Theater

Song Spotlight: Witch Post's Twin Fawn (a night at El Cid)

Former Los Angeles-based singer Alaska Reid (if I'm not mistaken, at some point she moved back to her home state of Montana), returned for a one-off show at El Cid with her new-ish band Witch Post (co-founded with Scottist musician Dylan Fraser) in tow. The venue was packed with friends and fans to welcome her back.  

Witch Post at El Cid

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Mar 22nd - Mar 28th

A Handful (Bucket Full) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Mar 22nd: Hex Code at Alex's Bar. Doors at 2 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for the band's "Walk Into It" here.

Tuesday, Mar 24th: Hysteria at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
You can read my Song Spotlight for the band's "Reason to Pray" here.

Wednesday, Mar 25th: Skullcrusher at The Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2021, I covered the band for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Thursday, Mar 26th: June Swoon at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for the band's "Denver" here.

Thursday, Mar 26th: Adriana McCassim at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I listed her as one of my favorite new artists of 2023.

Friday, Mar 27th: Skating Polly at The Echoplex. Doors at 7 p.m.

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

Friday, Mar 27th: Suzie True at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

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

Saturday, Mar 28th: Crisis Actor at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

In 2025, I did a review of their set, which you can read here.

Saturday, Mar 28th: Dreyted at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.

I did a recent review of their set, which you can read here.

Saturday, Mar 28th: Lasers Lasers Birmingham and West of Texas at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2021, I mention both sets during a Week of Music review I did, which you can read here. Also, is this the last live music nigh ever at The Goldfish?

Saturday, Mar 28th: Mystic Knights at The Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

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

Review: Figure Eight from "Beautiful Oakland, California" light a candle at El Cid

I got an invite to catch Figure Eight at El Cid. I had not heard of this Oakland based band until my industry connection pinged me about them. I took the invitation without hesitation. First, I trusted the person who made the suggestion. Second, the band was playing alongside three Los Angeles based bands that I adore: donna, Host Family, and Mo Dotti. 

Figure Eight at El Cid

Song Spotlight: memoryloop's Afraid of Everything (a night at The Goldfish)

Closing out a recent Rocknite showcase at The Goldfish was memoryloop. Interestingly, this was the night of bands who have changed their name. Opening up the night was Essencer, which used to be called Wizard Puffs. (You can read my Song Spotlight post on Essencer here.) Memoryloop used to be called Pedestrian. Both decided to go through name changes in 2024. I will say I do love the choice of memoryloop as a band name. It fits in so perfectly with their ambient shoegaze sounds. 

memoryloop at The Goldfish

Song Spotlight: Hotel Fiction's Ghost of Me (a night at the Regent Theater)

Back in early February, the editor of US Rocker Music sent over a request for coverage of Hotel Fiction that was playing the Regent Theater on March 6th. The band was opening for The Strumbellas. The request revolved around coverage and a potential interview with the band. I have a regular job as well as keeping this personal blog site up and running. Putting in extra research into coming up with questions for a band can be draining. My default was that I was only interested in photographing and writing a review of the night. Before responding, I decided to check out their music (I had never heard of the band). It didn't take long for me to fall hard for their tunes. I decided to put in the extra time to come up with some questions for the band. You can read my US Rocker Music review as well as the band's full interview here. 

Hotel Fiction at the Regent Theater

Song Spotlight: Essencer's So Long (a night at The Goldfish)

The Rocknite LA showcase at The Goldfish recently had Essencer on their schedule. I've been following the Lee Jenkins (vocalist and bassist) and Alec Nelson (guitarist) founded band since 2022. One might say Essencer has only been around since 2024, but back in 2022 there was a band called Wizard Puffs that crossed my radar when I went to Highland Park Bowl (they used to have bands playing in a side room) to catch Diva and the Pearly Gates. Nelson kept playing a recording of a voice-over saying "Wizard Puffs" and Jenkins would start cracking up. I figured they were a dreamy-eccentric pop band.   

Essencer at The Goldfish