Song Spotlight: googly eyes' EVERYWHERE (a night at The Peppermint Club)

I got an invite to catch googly eyes at The Peppermint Club. I was unsure if I could attend due to my real life work and how certain days of the month required longer hours. On the other hand, the show was on a Friday night and I figured that no one was going to want to work late on a Friday night (as weird as it is to say, that is not always the case). I accepted and it all worked out well. You can read my US Rocker Music review here. 

googly eyes at The Peppermint Club

Her Spotify bio has interesting tidbits of info, "Trained in opera and seasoned as a co-writer for stars like Sabrina Carpenter . . . "

As mentioned in my US Rocker Music review, the night was a release party for her 2026 EP called (it is a rather lengthy title): paint me like one of your fav american girls. The background story to the EP is cool. Per the press release that I received, "In September of 2023, Tove Lo and Flume posted an artist development open call out to new artists on Instagram, and after receiving and reviewing thousands of demos, googly eyes emerged as the dream artist for the opportunity."

googly eyes at The Peppermint Club

What did I particularly enjoy about the set:

I loved how she seemed to float across the stage. She could have easily just stayed right next to the microphone stand, but particularly during song transitions, she would glide around the stage. 

I loved how one of the bartenders could not help but dance during the set. 

I really loved how the crowd demanded for an encore and googly eyes appeared generally overwhelmed by the response. She did not have a song prepared for an encore so she just went with recycling a song from the setlist. Based on the crowd request, that song was "EVERYWHERE." The final song from her EP. She mentioned that is was the one song from the EP that she produced. She did a solid job at it and it is my song spotlight.

googly eyes at The Peppermint Club

It has a fairy tale sound. I really could see this being part of the sound track for a Pixar or Disney prince / princess movie. 

When you ask where I feel all your love
I say, "Everywhere"

Setlist: Internet Star, Mid-Leap, 5 More Minutes, Picking Petals, I Don’t Go Out, Feel like I Died, Made Of, Bruises on the Peach, EVERYWHERE, I Like Being Human, Sex Sells, Waste of Conversation, Brand New Bitch. Encore: EVERYWHERE. 

Song spotlight: Alison Albrecht's Two Hearts (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

It was a special night for Alison Albrecht at her WFNM showcase. The day before, she had celebrated her 26th birthday and Bar Lubitsch was buzzing with good wishes. A friend who took to the stage earlier, gave her a shoutout. Her set ended with her full band (guitar, bass, keys, trombone, drums) playing "Happy Birthday" while the crowd sang the lyrics. While the tune was sung, she looked grateful and then maybe a touch awkward hanging out in front of the microphone. Eventually, she resolved the matter by stepping off the stage. A fun way to celebrate a year around the sun. 

Alison Albrecht at Bar Lubitsch

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Mar 29th - Apr 4th

A Handful (Bucket Full) of Show Alerts

Monday, Mar 30th: Dama Blake, Nikki Hahn, and Yagki at Bar Lubitsch. These are all short sets with the night starting at 7:10 p.m.
You can read my Dama Blake song spotlight for "Mr. Right" here.
You can read my Nikki Hahn song spotlight for "another 13" here.
You can read my Yagki song spotlight for "Something I Do" here.

Monday, Mar 30th: Will Brahm at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of his set, which you can read here.

Tuesday, Mar 31st: Pom Poms at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for their "I Think You're Right" here. 

Wednesday, Apr 1st: talker at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 9:30 p.m.

In 2022, I covered the band for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Apr 1st: Vial at The Echo. Doors at 7 p.m.

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

Thursday, Apr 2nd: Jessy Fury at Hotel Cafe. Set time at 9 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for his "Heaven" here.

Thursday, Apr 2nd: Noah Vonne at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "I Call B.S." here.

Thursday, Apr 2nd: UGHH at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of the band, which you can read here. 

Friday, Apr 3rd: Georgia Maq at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
You can read my song spotlight for her "You'll Be Singing My Name" here.

Friday, Apr 3rd: Mirrorball at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for their "Red Hot Dust" here.

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