Friday, December 29, 2017

Travis Peery residency at The Satellite

There was some nice diversity of genres going on at The Satellite for Travis Peery's last residency night.

First up was Mason Summit who would have fit in nicely at a Hotel Cafe line up.

Mason Summit
Then Alaeddin X brought some power rock.

Aladdin X

Travis Peery ended the night with good old Americana sounds.

Travis Peery


Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Cover Night at The Hi Hat

It was a cover night at The Hi Hat in support of WFSU Fest.

Starting things off was New Evil doings great imitations of Billy Idol.

New Evil

Inti Wawa did some great rendition of No Doubt songs.

Inti Wawa

Cass Cravens did a one woman show of Tegan and Sara covers.

Cass Cravens

WASI did Le Tigre covers in colorful style.

WASI


Friday, December 22, 2017

Shannon Lay with Laena Geronimo and Night Shop at the Echoplex

A special night at the Echoplex. The night started off with Laena Geronimo from Feels doing a solo set. "Open your heart to me," she sang in the quite chamber of the Echoplex. It was so quite one could hear her clicking on the pedals.

Laena Geronimo

Night Shop provided another singer songwriter. While he tuned his guitar, he said, "A band member of mine used to get so nervous when tuning that in the middle of tuning he'd say, 'That's good enough."

Night Shop

It was a Feels night. Shannon Lay did her final stint of a short December residency. I swear there were moments where I thought I was listening to Enya. So wonderful.

Shannon Lay


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Saro with Banoffee and Stormi Bree at the Resident

I had this night circled for awhile. Saro was playing and I hadn't seen him since early January.

Banoffee opened up the night with a look that had me thinking Mad Max. Of course, she is from Australia so maybe that helped the reference. She played her synth with aplomb.
Banofee

Stormi Bree did a short set. She's a former Miss USA. She had her keyboard and sang a few songs. Her friends were out in force.
Stormi Bree

Saro was anything, but sorrowful. Though, I will say, his eyes can convey a multitude of feelings.

Saro


Monday, December 18, 2017

At The Hi Hat: MetronOhm, Taleen Kali, WASI, and Lucy and La Mer

It was a diverse night of music at The Hi Hat for the first night of WASI's residency.

MetronOhm brought an air of Basia.

MetronOhm
Taleen Kali brought some punk sounds.

Taleen Kali
WASI brought the fun with plenty of folks playing with balloons.

WASI

Lucy and La Mer brought the cherry sounds against a backdrop of awkward dances.

Lucy and La Mer

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Nightgown and Spare Parts for Broken Hearts at The Satellite

It was off to The Satellite to catch a couple bands. Nightgown opened the night by providing some stylish glamour
Nightgown

Spare Parts for Broken Hearts ended the night for me by providing some rocking sounds.


Spare Parts for Broken Hearts

Monday, December 11, 2017

At Hotel Cafe with Cody Crump, Cashew and Cleary and Sounding Arrow

I headed off to Hotel Cafe as I was invited to see The Smoking Flowers. I also got to see three other bands/musicians. Cody CrumpCashew and Cleary and Sounding Arrow.

Cody Crump gave a solo performance. The crowd was small, but filled with love from friends.

Cody Crump
In terms of Cashew and Cleary, I learned later that Cashew used to be part of the Kiss or Kill music scene.

Cashew and Cleary

Sounding Arrow gave The Hotel Cafe audience some downright awesome sounds with a fashion sense that screamed Northwest country.


Sounding Arrow

Thursday, December 7, 2017

SUR and Liz Huett at The Hi Hat

I guess it was an Interscope night at The Hi Hat. Both SUR and Liz Huett are signed by Interscope. SUR gave the crowd some power vocals as well as some rap freestyle. Liz Huett provided the pop sounds. I couldn't help but notice one thing while searching through Liz Huett's Instagram account. One of her photographers is Sarah Barlow who happens to be the cousin of my friend Jodie (who used to front The Shakers). Just so random.

SUR

Liz Huett

Monday, December 4, 2017

Jenny O and Salar Rajabnik at Zebulon

2017 is coming to a quick end and I have to say it has been a solid year of music. That includes the end of 2017. Why? Well, one reason is that I usually only get to see Jenny O once a year; however, this year I got to see her twice. I just love her sound. And one of her backup musicians for this particular set was Rachel Goodrich. First, I couldn't help but notice how Jenny O played a significant portion of her set with one foot lifted just inches above the ground. It was almost like she was practicing some The Karate Kid moves. And then there's Rachel Goodrich. I do love how she plays her bass. She makes it look so cool to play.

Jenny O


Salar Rajabnik opened up the night with solid singer songwriter skills. For one song, he brought out the harmonica.

Salar Rajabnik


Thursday, November 30, 2017

At The Hi Hat to catch Young Creatures, Livingmore and Dream Phases

I had this night circled. There was a reason. I wasn't able to or just missed seeing Livingmore at various times. So I decided I'd catch them on this night.

Dream Phases opened the night with some psychedelic sounds. And I couldn't help but notice that on stage with them was the individual I call the hardest working musician in Los Angeles.

Dream Phases

Livingmore came up next with a sound that went from country to pop. To me, their sound makes me think about Emma Stone picking up a white microphone stand and going all out on La La Land.

Livingmore

Young Creatures was doing their record release party. Their sound is earnest and their fans were showing their love at the front of the stage. There was some audience dancing and some balloon tossing. And yes, the hardest working musician in Los Angeles was there with the band.

Lyrics of the set: I didn't mean to stray so far.

Young Creatures

Monday, November 27, 2017

A Monday Night at The Satellite

It was a Monday night and off I went to The Satellite for a non-residency night of music. Up first was PHEVR. They had their touch of southern rock going. And you could tell they were having fun. There were smiles throughout their set.

PHEVR

Paradise Vultures brought some good old rock to their set.

What did I notice: The drummer used a deodorant stick for his neck prior to the set. He was moving so much through the set, he probably did need it.

Paradise Vultures

Keli Price did a solo set. That wasn't the intent as he mentioned that his band wasn't able to make it. He did a number of covers instead as well as a couple of his own songs.

Keli Price

Ever So Android went full blast for about 20 minutes. I do love this band. Their music rocks and their stage show kicks it out of the park.

Ever So Android


Sunday, November 19, 2017

Los Angeles Police Department with raener and Justus Proffit at the Bootleg Theater

Bootleg Theater has the Los Angeles Police Department as their November residency band. When I saw that name, I assumed the Bootleg Theater had booked a punk band. Anyways, not even close.

raener opened up the night with their lovely tonal sounds. The lead singer, in almost a symbiotic move with their sound, kicked off his shoes.

Moment of the set: the announcement that the band had brought cake to celebrate their return to Los Angeles.

raener
Justus Proffit was feeling rather relaxed on stage. He must have felt really relaxed, because I do believe their set lasted only 17 minutes.

Justus Proffit

Los Angeles Police Department's name might make you think punk, but instead you get some smooth melodies. The lead singer let the audience know, "My music is very vulnerable."

Comment of the set: Thanks for dancing there, that was very nice.

Moment of the set: For the very last song, everyone in the audience moved up to the very front of the stage. They weren't even asked to do so. They just did it on their own. A wonderful little moment.

Los Angeles Police Department
So yes, I think you get a sense it was a very relaxed and mellow atmosphere.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Superet with Cillie Barnes and Boyo at The Echo

It was a great night of music at The Echo. I selected this specific night to catch Superet because of Cillie Barnes and Boyo. I've seen Cillie Barnes three or four times. I enjoy her singer-songwriter sounds.

What I noticed: well, of course, I noticed how she decorated her microphone stand.

Cillie Barnes
I'd never seen Boyo, but have seen the name. There was a simplicity to the sound.

Moment of the set: he laid down on his back, playing the final notes of a song on his guitar. He then got up with a pleased look on his face.

Boyo
Superet is the residency band at The Echo. I was surprised that I was the only photographer in the audience. They put on a show. They had an extension to The Echo stage (not sure if this is permanent or just for the residency). It was well used. And what a light show.

Superet



Tuesday, November 7, 2017

The Aquadolls with Lily Waters and Precious Kid at The Smell

One band I haven't seen in a very long time are The Aquadolls. My notes seem to indicate the last time I saw them was at The Smell way back in 2012; however, I'm pretty sure I saw them at Pehrspace at a later date. Either way, Pehrspace has been shut down for awhile now so even then its been a long time since I've seen The Aquadolls. I did have the chance to see The Aquadolls at Echo Park Rising, but they were one of the last bands to play on Sunday night and I'd been covering Echo Park Rising all day Friday, Saturday and then hung out much of Sunday. So I honestly was too drained to catch them. So when I saw that they were playing at The Smell, I circled the night. It was awesome catching their punk rock set.

The Aquadolls
Moment of the set: one member of the band mentioned that her mother had bought her a cup of tea.

Lily Waters
Lily Waters and Precious Kid opened the night. I'm telling you, you're going to hear more from Lily Waters. Amazing. I wouldn't be surprised to see this band headlining a residency at The Echo, The Satellite or Bootleg Theater in a couple years. As for Precious Kid, maybe it was the Halloween costumes, but this band put on a theatrical show. The lead singer knows how to perfectly point with her fingers and she loved to drape herself on her mic stand. It was fun set.

Precious Kid



Monday, October 30, 2017

Alyeska/Goon with Liv Slingerland at The Echo

It was off to The Echo to catch Alyeska. I've followed her for a little over a year and was so happy to hear that she was doing the residency at The Echo. I was familiar with all the musicians this night though most familiar with Alyeska. Liv Slingerland hit the stage first. I've seen her backing a number of musicians (Lauren Ruth Ward as well as Lucy and La Mer). I will admit I decided to head out this specific Alyeska night at The Echo to catch her set. I've always wanted to see what she brought when fronting her own band. She brought some deep vocals with an Americana sound.

Liv Slingerland

Goon is sharing the residency with Alyeska. I previously saw them at The Hi Hat when they were playing with Alyeska. Interesting how that all works. They brought their heavy, melodic sound to The Echo. I just really enjoyed their set. There is a joy to their sound.

Goon
Alyeska ended the night. There is this awesome youthful wisdom to her sound. And she approaches her set with a modest presence. To show how the night was filled with so many familiar faces, Wolf Woodcock who I also saw at The Hi Hat once, was a backing musician.

Alyeska

Monday, October 23, 2017

Love and a .38 with LANTERNS at The Satellite

It was a free Monday night at The Satellite. The free night wasn't due to a residency, but that didn't stop it from being a great night. Love and a .38 was like the Sunset Strip coming to the east side. They kept the energy up throughout the set to such a degree that I think the light guy got into it.

Love and a .38


LANTERNS opened up the night. The guitarist knows how to play at lightening speed. And the lead singer was chill with his Hawaiian inspired shirt.



LANTERNS

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Space Diaries and Molino at the Silverlake Lounge

Space Diaries
Time passes and I hadn't been to Silverlake Lounge in a couple months. Molino and Space Diaries had the night. Space Diaries is the residency band for October. The lead singer hadn't had the best of days and so their set didn't go the full 30 minutes, but they still put out some solid tunes. Molino was dressed in black, but played with some smiles.

There was a solid crowd there to enjoy the night.

Molina

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Janelane and French Vanilla at The Smell

It was off to The Smell to catch Janelane and French Vanilla. Janelane is one of my new favorite bands. As I believe I mentioned, the lyrics are filled with break-up emotions. French Vanilla turns it up on the hip-hop punk, especially when the saxophone comes out to play.

Opening up was Lunch Lady and Jody.

The Smell Oct 17