Song Spotlight: The Album Leaf's Falling From The Sun (a night at Zebulon)

Over a decade ago, I got to see The Album Leaf play at the 2015 Culture Collide music festival. It was the final year of that festival that brought bands into Echo Park from across the globe. Bands from South America, Asia, and Europe would fly in and play a couple sets at different venues. And then sometimes, Culture Collide would play a little loose with the facts and say that so and so band was from Sweden even though they lived in Los Angeles. No matter, it was a fun festival. 

The Album Leaf at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Power Pink & Sweet's Raspberry Lime (a night at Gold-Diggers)

I first came across Powder Pink & Sweet in 2023 at Permanent Records Roadhouse. The band was playing with my favorite New York based band Laveda. You can read my US Rocker Music post from the night here. As is often the case when it comes to Los Angeles bands that I find intriguing, way too much time had passed since I last crossed paths with the band. By chance, as I was putting together my weekly Show Alerts for this blog site, I checked out what Swyndle LA had scheduled for their Harvard & Stone Monday night showcase and noticed that the promotor was putting on a Friday night show at Gold-Diggers. It just so happened that Powder Pink & Sweet was playing. An opportunity presented itself and so off I went. 

Powder Pink & Sweet at Gold-Diggers

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Feb 15th - Feb 21st

A Handful (Bucketful) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Feb 15th: Alice Sandahl at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 2 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her "Walk It Off" here.

Sunday, Feb 15th: Bloody Death Skull at The Fable. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2013, I wrote a short review of their set that you can read here.

Sunday, Feb 15th: Dream Phases at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their "Turn Away" here.

Monday, Feb 16th: McKail Seely at Hotel Cafe (a short set for Monday Monday). Doors at 8 p.m.

She is a member of Harry Katz and the Pistachios. You can read my 2025 review of the band's set here. 

Tuesday, Feb 17th: Marcus Buser at The Fable. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for his "Right Man" here.

Wednesday, Feb 18th: Caravan 222 at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2025, I wrote a review of their Grand Ole Echo set that you can read here.

Wednesday, Feb 18th: Slugs at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their "Super Sane" here.

Thursday, Feb 19th: Laena Myers at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, she performed at a C.A.P.O. Center fundraiser where she volunteers her time. You can read my US Rocker Music review of that night here.

Thursday, Feb 19th: Yagki at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.
You can read my Song Spotlight for her "Something I Do" here.   

Friday, Feb 20th: Cissi.TV at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her "I Guess I Made It" here.

Friday, Feb 20th: Gilbert Louie Ray and Luke Pelletier at the Bigfoot Lodge. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review for their sets (same review as McKail Seely above) that you can read here. 

Friday, Feb 20th: Self Improvement (opener) at Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their "Change My Mind" here.

Friday, Feb 20th: Surprise Baby at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I've been following Sarsten Noice since 2018, when I covered her Hydro Kitten set at Echo Park Rising for Buzzbands. Find a photo here. 

Two Movies seen on TCM: Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) and Biloxi Blues (1988)

I've been hooked on TCM for years now. I just always remember being a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, James (Jimmy) Steward, John Wayne, and many many more. The following two movies are Biloxi Blues and Week-End at the Waldorf.

Song Spotlight: Noël Tsoukalas' Pull the Plug (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Noël Tsoukalas no doubt wishes she had advanced further in American Idol's Season 21 (2023), but her time there left a positive lasting impression none the less. As her WFNM showcase set came to a conclusion at Hotel Ziggy, she told the audience her fond memory when she sang her song "The Girl In Your Story" during the competition, "I was scared out of my pants. Literally about to pee myself. Shaking, having to play piano. I thought I was done for . . . I remember looking Lionel Richie in the eyes. And you know what he told me? 'Girl, you got to keep writing music to the day you die.'" She took that to heart. In 2025, she graduated with a music degree from  Point Loma Nazarene University and released her debut album I Still Hear You. 

Noël Tsoukalas at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Olivia Soli's thanks to you (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

It was an American Idol night at the WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy. The night included Lola Bonfiglio (Season 23 -- 2025) and Noël Tsoukalas (Season 21 - 2023). A third former contestant of the music competition was Olivia Soli who was also in Season 21 and made it to the Top 20 -- and is the focus of this particular blog post.

Olivia Soli at Hotel Ziggy

Review: Lola Bonfiglio Pays Homage to Family Legacy at Hotel Ziggy

Sometimes you head out and the unexpected occurs. There was that time back in 2022 when I went out to cover Night Talks at The Troubadour. Cherie Currie of the Runaways showed up to sing "Cherry Bomb." Currie's cameo appearance was due to the fact that her son Jake Hays was opening up the night. You can read my Buzzbands article here.  

Lola Bonfiglio at Hotel Ziggy

Review: DIY Artist Mars Rodriguez Shines at The Whisky a Go Go

I first came across Mars Rodriguez (the moniker for Maria Alejandra Rodriguez Serrano) in 2019 when I got an out of the blue invitation to catch her set at Hotel Cafe. You can read my US Rocker Music interview that I conducted after the set here. I got to catch another Hotel Cafe set in early 2020 (prior to all the venues shutting down). The final time I caught one of her sets was in 2022, which resulted in an interesting adventure on my part in my attempt to get home for the night. 

Mars Rodriguez at The Whisky a Go Go

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Feb 8th - Feb 14th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Thursday, Feb 12th: Giselle at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Skeletons" here.

Friday, Feb 13th: Nail Polish at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Haunted Spells" here. 

Two Movies seen on TCM: Fort Apache (1948) and The Naked Spur (1953)

I've been hooked on TCM for years now. I just always remember being a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, James (Jimmy) Steward, John Wayne, and many many more. Around a decade ago, I used to do some reviews of movies I saw on TCM. I figured I'd start it up again. If you're interested, click on through.