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

Song Spotlight: Ryan Raines' Please Quit Your Job (a night at The Fable)

Ryan Raines took out all the stops for his set at The Fable (a Ryan Pollie showcase night). His backing band included the standard bass, drums, and guitar setup; but he also added on a saxophone, and for the last two songs of the set a harmonium. Along with vocal duties, he added to the instrumental orchestral sound by switching between guitar and keyboard. His alt-rock sound had me thinking retro indie Los Angeles from back in the day when Spaceland (link here for some music history) was the center of the Los Angeles music scene. It was a night of dreamy music, highlighted by Raines' bass vocals.  

Ryan Raines at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Electric Guest's Take It Slowly (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Electric Guest had The Airliner Bar packed for their It's A School Night set (hosted by KCRW and Make Out Music). This was my first time at The Airliner Bar since 2022 when I covered a Jenny O set for Buzzbands (see link for the review and photos). I know that after that point in time, the bar venue went through an ownership change. When I noticed that they were once again putting on shows, I knew I wanted to head there again. I actually wanted to go in January, but something popped up that prevented me from going. Jump to April and I noticed that Electric Guest (as well as Theo Moss) were playing School Night and off I went. What did I notice when I first got to the venue (which is above the bar)? The hole-in-the-wall vibes are now replaced with a sleek modern touch that is similar to The Peppermint Club. 

Electric Guest at The Airliner Bar

Review: Fervent Supporters of Lauren Lakis and Buckets Enjoy a Double Records Release Party

Lauren Lakis and Buckets teamed up for a double album release party at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Lakis recently released her fourth studio album Deadlights and it was her penultimate tour stop. Buckets released their third studio album Horse To Water and will be embarking on an album supporting tour in July. The night was presented by litany of Los Angeles music scene supporters: KCRW, Big Top Booking, and Slouch Records (the record label behind Buckets' album). 

Lauren Lakis at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Song Spotlight: Nick Flessa's Medicine Hat City Slogan (a night at Zebulon)

Nick Flessa opened up the Rocknite showcase at Zebulon on a recent Tuesday night. I first crossed paths with him back in 2019. Then again in 2021 when he fronted his band Dayton Swim Club. Back in 2019, he responded to an interview inquiry, which you can read part of the response below:

How would you like your music to impact people who listen to your music or see you play live? As a performer I want to amaze and surprise people. I want to challenge assumptions in a way that’s entertaining and engaging. Musically, I want to build worlds that audiences and listeners can travel through. I want to combine seemingly disparate styles, genres and musical personalities in ways that haven’t existed yet. I want to move people while also making them think. 

Nick Flessa at Zebulon