Song Spotlight: Gracie and Rachel's WTF (a night at Permanent Records Roadhouse)

I had the opportunity to cover Gracie and Rachel for US Rocker Music for their recent set at Permanent Records Roadhouse (presented by Sid the Cat). I had not previously heard of the band before when I received the invite to cover the band (as is often the case for me). I took a listen to maybe one or two of their songs and agreed to cover the set. I liked their self described chamber pop tunes. It kind of reminded me of the soundtrack to a minimalist movie set out in nature, far from the population centers. 

Gracie and Rachel at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Aug 9th - Aug 15th

A Handful (Massive) of Show Alerts 

Sunday, Aug 9th: American Sigh at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "No Resolution" last month.

Sunday, Aug 9th: Buckets at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I wrote a review of their album release party back in June.

Sunday, Aug 9th: Caravan 222, Leslie Stevens, and Matt Hill & The Black Spurs at The Echo (Grand Ole Echo). Doors at 5:30 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of both Caravan 222 and Matt Hill & The Black Spurs playing Grand Ole Echo.

In 2023, I wrote a review of Leslie Stevens for Buzzbands.

Sunday, Aug 9th: Nick Kivlen (of Sunflower Bean), Ricky Berger, and Tashaki Miyaki at The Fable. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2024, I wrote a review of Sunflower Bean for US Rocker Music.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for Ricky Berger's song "My Insides" back in April.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for Tashaki Miyaki's "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothin'" back in 2025.

Sunday, Aug 9th: Ultraviolet Communication at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "No Return" back in 2025.

Monday, Aug 10th: Monday Mondays at Hotel Cafe. Doors at 7 p.m.

The last Monday Monday's series at the current Hotel Cafe. Too many artists that I've written about to mention.

Tuesday, Aug 11th: J.R. Slayer at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2024, the band was part of the No Earbuds Fest that I covered for US Rocker Music.

Wednesday, Aug 12th: Gilbert Louie Ray at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for his song "What I Have Left" back in March.

Wednesday, Aug 12th: Powder Pink & Sweet at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Raspberry Lime" back in February.

Thursday, Aug 13th: Cody's Program and Ramonda Hammer at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of Cody's Program.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for Ramonda Hammer's song "Eyelash" back in 2025.

Thursday, Aug 13th: Swimming Bell at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "95 at Night" back in 2025.

Friday, Aug 14th: Janelane at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Instincts" back in May.

Friday, Aug 14th: Satellite Citi at The Echoplex. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2023, I wrote a review of the band for US Rocker Music.

Friday, Aug 14th: Shannon Lay at the Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "All This Life Going Down" back in 2025.

Friday, Aug 14th: Valley Queen at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Ride" back in 2025.

Saturday, Aug 15th: Johanna Samuels at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2023, I reviewed her set for Buzzbands.

Saturday, Aug 15th: MyVeronica at The Glass House. Doors at 6:45 p.m.

I listed the band as one of my favorite new bands of 2024. 

Song Spotlight: Olivia Barnes' Reds (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Country music arrived at the School Night (a collaboration between Make Out Music and KCRW) showcase. Olivia Barnes brought her Southern accent to The Airliner Bar. She grew up in Atlanta, but is currently living in New Orleans. A rather interesting coincidence of the night was the fact that the night's headliner, Macy Todd, also grew up in Atlanta.

Olivia Barnes at The Airliner Bar

Song Spotlight: Julez and the Rollerz's I Need Love (a night at The Fable)

I last saw a full Julez and the Rollerz's set in May 2025. I did see about two-thirds of their set three months later at Happy Sundays Long Beach. What was up with the band during that time gap? They released their debut album Dirty Little Rock 'n' roller. (Where's the 'z' in that album title?) They had an album release part at Zebulon and will be doing an 8 stop tour on the East Coast come September. For those in Los Angeles, you'll have an opportunity to catch them on August 30th (Sunday) at Echo Park Rising (yes, they're officially expanding to two days after a couple years of just holding the festival on Saturdays -- though there were unofficial sets being held on Fridays and Sundays).      

Julez and the Rollers at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Tanner Massey's Wish I Was Him (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Tanner Massey arrived in Los Angeles the previous day after driving 32 hours from Oklahoma. He showed no signs of exhaustion from the drive during his WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy. If his name sounds familiar, it is because he was on the 24th (2023) season of The Voice and finished in the Top 12 while being part of Team Gwen Stefani. Could he had placed higher? He felt if he had done Shawn Mendes' "Mercy" that he would have gotten to the next stage. Either way, his fans showed up to catch his set and to spend a few moments afterwards to talk with him.   

Tanner Massey at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Elizabeth Bowersox's Red Hot Summer (a night at the Bigfoot Lodge)

San Diego based Elizabeth Bowersox came up north to play the Bigfoot Lodge on a recent Friday night. The night was a collaboration between two Americana-country promotors: Americana Joy and Small Town Friday Nights. This is embarrassing to admit, but when I was walking up to the Bigfoot Lodge, I saw Jack from The Doohickeys standing outside next to Bowersox who was wearing a bright red cowgirl hat. Perhaps it is time to head off to the optometrist, because I was thinking for sure that was Haley (okay, okay, Haley wears blue). As I walked closer, I was like, oops. Hey, maybe I did right by giving Jack the heads up about a recently (enough) opened venue in Highland Park, Oblivion.  

Elizabeth Bowersox at the Bigfoot Lodge

Song Spotlight: Lua & the Nightflowers' Pretty Baby (a night at The Fable)

Lua & the Nightflowers (fronted by Lara "Lua" Norton) opened up the night at The Fable (an In Sonic Dreams showcase) with some old school funk and jazz packaged with Americana and psychedelic rock. It was a genre blending set that had friends sitting up close. 

Lua & the Nightflower at The Fable

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Aug 2nd - Aug 8th

A Handful (Bucketful) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Aug 2nd: Ryan Hahn and The Believers at The Echo. Doors at 5:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for his song "Farmers Son" back in 2025.

Monday, Aug 3rd: Dave Harrington at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of his set.

Tuesday, Aug 4th: Draag at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

In 2022, I wrote a review of their set for US Rocker Music.

Tuesday, Aug 4th: Jenny O at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2022, I wrote a review of her set for Buzzbands.

Tuesday, Aug 4th: Moonfuzz at Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight of their song "Hell Week" back in 2025.

Tuesday, Aug 4th: Ryan Pollie at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

In 2022, I wrote a review of his set for Buzzbands. 

Wednesday, Aug 5th: Juneswoon at El Cid. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "Denver" back in March.

Thursday, Aug 6th: Shi La Rosa at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight of her song "Want It All" back in 2025.

Friday, Aug 7th: The Sleeperz at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

The band made my 2024 list of favorite new bands. 

Friday, Aug 7th: UGHH at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of the band's set.

Saturday, Aug 8th: Goon at the Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2023, I wrote a review of their set for US Rocker Music.

Two Movies seen on TCM: The Sea Wolf (1941) and Semi-Tough (1977)

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.

Song Spotlight: Girlstupid's The Beans (a Megan Winsor night at Bar Lubitsch)

I first came across Megan Winsor in 2023 at a WFNM night so I was familiar with her sound when I recently showed up at Bar Lubitsch for a WFNM showcase. I was expecting to hear a singer-songwriter set. I was in for a surprise from the now Nashville based artist's set. There was a set within a set performance where she brought up her band mates from Girlstupid. The trio performed three songs. It was a pleasant surprise, because I was aware of the band and had wanted to catch a set back in 2025, but had a conflict. The trio is rounded out with Diana Thale (in 2025, I wrote a Song Spotlight article) and the artist that goes by Yugs. 

Girlstupid at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Nymphlord's Paper or Plastic (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Nymphlord (moniker for Tia Rabinovitz) closed out a Make Out Music showcase at The Airliner Bar. Including Nymphlord, this night was a both a flash-back, anticipated, and unexpected night. I circled the date, because I'll show you magic was on the bill. I saw them earlier in the year and became an immediate fan. The flashback happened when I talked to Gigi after the set. You'll have to click on that link to read the story. The unexpected happened when Nymphlord hit the stage. This was my first time seeing the band and I didn't do any research on the band prior to heading out. I made an assumption based on the band's name on what I might expect to hear. I honestly was expecting a sound similar either Patriarchy or Lord Friday the 13th. I was in for a surprise as the sound was, using her own description,  "angsty, ethereal, dissonant and hopeful."  In some ways, it was a flash back moment, as well, as the music reminded me of Happy Hollows (circa 2009). 

Nymphlord at The Airliner Bar

Song Spotlight: Hardcastle's Mundane (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

My introduction to the alternative rock band Hardcastle was back in 2022 at a WFNM showcase. Time passed and I happened to notice that the band was playing Bar Lubitsch for another WFNM showcase. Somethings change and somethings do not change. Like what doesn't change is seeing the band at a WFNM showcase. While writing up this blog post, I decided to return to those 2022 days and checked out my photos of the Graham Laderman fronted band. I scrolled through my photos and then decided to go looking for my videos of the band. I didn't find a single video. Then it dawned on me that their set was prior to my decision to start taking videos of band performances. I did one additional check. I decided to see if I took a photo of their 2022 setlist. That, I did find. Here's a comparison of the two setlists:

Hardcastle at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Gigi's PAC (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Blast from the past. My primary reason for heading out to the Make Out Music showcase at The Airliner Bar was to catch I'll show you magic, a band I recently wrote about in a Song Spotlight article. The first band up for the night was Gigi. The band has an eclectic sound that just might remind you of the beatnik music that accompanied Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face. 

Gigi at The Airliner Bar