The House of Machines: Taleen Kali with The Knitts and New American

It was off to The House of Machines to catch Taleen Kali's 100th set. I'm actually surprised by the fact that she kept count of all her sets. I have no clue how many times I go out in a month. It was also her friend's birthday, which was celebrated with a cupcake. To celebrate set 100, the band rocked it out and Taleen put on a show.

Taleen Kali

Opening was The Knitts and New American.

The Knitts

New American

The Knitts put on some garage rock while New American rocked out.

Zebulon: Shannon Lay with Earth Girl Helen Brown

It was my second straight Monday night catching Shannon Lay and her short 3 night residency at Zebulon. There is beauty in those vocals. And with three backup singers, there is harmony layered with those vocals.

Shannon Lay

Earth Girl Helen Brown did a night mostly spent covering Joni Mitchell. The set definitely had me wanting to take some time on Spotify, listening to Joni Mitchell.

Earth Girl Helen Brown

South Lake Avenue to House of Machines: Trapdoor Social, The Letter Openers and Mean Heat

It was off on a double venue outing on a recent Saturday. First it was off to South Lake Avenue in Pasadena to catch Trapdoor Social. It was raining hard on the way to Pasadena, but once I got there, the rain was dying down. By the time Trapdoor Social hit the stage, the rain had stopped. It was great seeing Trapdoor Social for the first time since Echo Park Rising. And it didn't really matter if Skylar had a sprained ankle. He spent the set on the chair, but the music still shined through.

Trapdoor Social

A few hours later it was off to the House of Machines to catch The Letter Openers and Mean Heat. Perhaps over a decade has passed since I last saw The Letter Openers. There was a nice crew of Kiss or Kill folk in attendance to catch some rock and roll. Mean Heat told off their videographer, I'm assuming in jest. The set was filled with their lead singer showing her  body flexibility and emotional vocal delivery.

The Letter Openers

Mean Heat

Zebulon: Shannon Lay with Anna St. Louis

Shannon Lay has a December residency on Mondays. It is unfortunately just three weeks long. I swear to those coming across this post that there are 4 or 5 songs that will leave you just gasping at how beautifully crafted they are. I'm not saying she just has 4 or 5 good songs. I'm saying she has a number of great songs. I also think it was genius of her to include a backing band of individuals who also do back-up vocals. It really fills out the music.

Shannon Lay

Anna St. Louis opened the night with country tunes.

Anna St. Louis

The Hi Hat: The Colour Coast with Surely Lorraine, The Time Travelers and All Things Blue

It was off to catch The Colour Coast one last time in 2019. It happened to be their final residency night at The Hi Hat. Their Latin-flavor beats were awesome, but someone in the audience kind of bumped lead singer Marley off the stage. An individual decided to take to the stage and started dancing to one of the songs. A friend could be seen trying to encourage the individual to get off the stage.

The Colour Coast

Opening was Surely Lorraine, The Time Travelers and All Things Blue. There were some blasts to the past, hair flings and songwriter touches throughout the sets. 

Surely Lorraine

The Time Travelers

All Things Blue

Bootleg Theater: Rosie Tucker with Ramonda Hammer, Bella Porter, Jess Kallen and Pauline Lay

I went over to the Bootleg Theater to catch Rosie Tucker's closing residency night. Opening up the night was Bella Porter who drew a solid crowd for her layered yet minimalist style.

Bella Porter

The night was packed with five different bands and artists. I wasn't sure how that was going to work, but I learned quick when Rosie got on Bar's stage after Bella Porter's set and told us to head over to another stage. I'm not sure of the name of this specific stage. Maybe it is called the multi-purpose stage? Anyways, on this stage Jess Kallen gave the audience a singer-songwriter set. She also happens to be part of Rosie Tucker's band.

Jess Kallen

Then it was back to the Bar stage to catch Ramonda Hammer who roared through their final set of 2019.

Ramonda Hammer

Then back to the multi-purpose stage, Pauline Lay gave a solo violin set. She took her violin through the paces with an artsy take on strings.

Pauline Lay

Then closing out the night was Rosie Tucker.  I haven't gotten to catch Gypsum all year long, but I've gotten to catch Rosie Tucker and Cuffed Up a couple times each. Both are formed via members of Gypsum.

Rosie Tucker

Redwood Bar: Prince of Lilies with Dirtycakes and Nebulaen

I've followed the members of Prince of Lilies for a decade or so via Barb Wired Dolls and Royal Distortion. When I noticed that they were hitting the stage at the Redwood Bar, I decided to head on over. Replacing Sunset Strip sounds of Barb Wired Dolls and Royal Distortion is straight out rock and roll. Also, Pyn who in Barb Wired Dolls and Royal Distortion was more the hard driving guitarist took lead vocals.

Opening the night was Dirtycakes and Nebulaen. Dirtycakes hit the political activism of rock music while Nebulaen hit the dark notes of life.

Nebulaen

Dirtycakes

Prince of Lilies

The Satellite: Kristeen Young and Spare Parts for Broken Hearts

Kristeen Young concluded her residency at The Satellite. It went out with a bang with Spare Parts for Broken Hearts opening up the night. Spare Parts for Broken Hearts let it all out there with their grunge rock. They made a break in their set for a marriage proposal. So I went out on Friday night and caught a birthday celebration and then a couple days later I go out and witness a marriage proposal. Not bad.

Spare Parts for Broken Hearts

Kristeen Young has vocals that rank up there with Mariah Carey, but instead of pop sounds, she uses her talents for Avant-garde music.

Kristeen Young

The Satellite: Creating Monsters with nhala and Kapali Løng

It was a busy night at The Satellite though I have to admit I only stuck around for the first three bands. Kapali Løng gave a rocking performance, which included a song dedicated to his fiance. nhala had her videographers out to capture who solid dance moves. Creating Monsters had a Wednesday night residency at The Satellite. After hearing the set, I wished I had made it to more than just one night. That was some blues driven noise.

Kapali Løng

nhala

Creating Monsteres

The House of Machines: Livingmore and Patrolled By Radar

It is always cool to catch Livingmore. They have some catchy music. And as I've told the band, you're not always sure what type of sound you're going to get from the band. I've heard them take a country angle to their music and sometimes a rock angle. On this night, perhaps because of the line-up, they distinctly went country.

Livingmore

Though there were four bands in the line-up, I only caught one other band, Patrolled By Radar. (Okay, so I got home after a week of work and going out on various nights and just had to take a nap.) Patrolled By Radar had a country sound to them.

Patrolled By Radar

School Night: Fever Joy, Jane Holiday, Taylor Janzen, Ruby Waters

I saw Fever Joy earlier this year and when I saw that they were playing School Night, I decided I just needed to head out to School Night. It has been awhile since I last went to School Night. Even though I don't seem to make it out there enough, I always enjoy the music. Fever Joy closed out the night with energy and blazing white lights. I enjoyed them more this second time around then the first time, which is a good sign.

Fever Joy

Jane Holiday perhaps was the primarily band to see for the School Night crowd. I've seen him a handful of times. He put on a rocking performance.

Jane Holiday

Taylor Janzen and Ruby Waters were in from Canada. Taylor Janzen had those singer songwriter qualities that just cause you to fall in love. Ruby Waters put a bit a gravel in her vocals.

Taylor Janzen

Ruby Waters

The Satellite: Kristeen Young, Glam Skanks and Fox Violets

A new month means a new residency band/artist at The Satellite. For the month of October it is Kristeen Young. Of interest, I'd seen all three bands/artists on the bill. Kristeen Young back in 2017 and Glam Skanks and Fox Violet in 2018.

Kristeen Young is a full on art extravaganza. Those vocals that just soar without warning. A fashion sense that is SciFi futuristic.

Kristeen Young

Opening up was Fox Violet that rocked to out.

Fox Vioet

And then there was Glam Skanks. The name says it all. This band is rock glam. Hair flings. Heavy metal power vocals. And an all female band. What more is there not to want here.

Glam Skanks

The Hi Hat: Cat Scan, Susan and Traps PS

It was a double album release party with both Cat Scan and Susan celebrating similar accomplishments. I'd just recently seen Cat Scan at Happy Sundays Long Beach. Over 3 years had passed since I last saw Susan. In fact, I saw Susan three years plus ago at The Hi Hat. As having just seen Cat Scan, I was more than ready for the chaotic beauty. What I was surprised to learn was that lead singer David moved out of Los Angeles. Per LA Record, he moved to San Diego. I wonder what that means for Cat Scan? As for Susan, I knew I loved them the first time I saw them, but since so many years had passed, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. What I got was some awesome garage rock/punk sounds. And no, as I learned back in 2016, no one in the band is named Susan.

Can Scan

Susan

Opening up the night was Traps PS.

Traps PS

Zebulon: Makoto Kawashima

More than a few months had gone past since I last went to Zebulon. I recently decided that I just needed to head out to the Zebulon. I got to catch Makoto Kawashima from Japan. Seats were set up for the night and folks were very mesmerized by his saxophone artistry. He falls under what is called free jazz.

Makoto Kawashima

Opening was Tashi Dorji doing a guitar set, also free jazz.

Echoplex: Fell Runner with Expensive Magnets and Johanna Samuels

Fell Runner was the September residency band at The Echo/Echoplex. This band jams with intensity. They're hard to put into a box other than they're a mix of everything put together. And I'm not saying a mix of pop, rock, punk. Include in there some jazz and classical, as well.

Fell Runner

Expensive Magnets played some funky jazz tunes. This was their first set ever though both principles are established musicians.

Expensive Magnets

Johanna Samuels opened the night with some singer-songwriter cheer.

Johanna Samuels

The Hi Hat: Opus Vitae with The Haunts and Bogan Via

It was off to The Hi Hat to catch a couple bands that I didn't catch at Echo Park Rising. My main reason for going was to catch Opus Vitae. Their music is layered and gorgeous. What was fascinating was watching the musicians switching it up on various instruments. The bassist hitting the keys for a song. The guitarist then hitting the keys. Another guitarist hitting the drums.

Opus Vitae

The Haunts were another band that played Echo Park Rising. I was talking to another photographer who mentioned that he fell in love with the band at Echo Park Rising. That was a good endorsement. I loved their rock sound.

The Haunts

Bogan Via didn't play Echo Park Rising, but I did happen to catch them during a Wild Riot event in late 2018. They played it soft and soothing.

Bogan Via

Harvard & Stone: Luci and Rambling Ways

Talk about some heavenly voices. Luci has three lead vocalists who just shine.

Luci

Rambling Ways brings the Latin flavored sounds. Just a thrill to catch this band.

Rambling Ways

The Satellite: Love Nothing with Gracie Gray and Jet Trash

Love Nothing is the residency band at The Satellite. They brought some solid rock sounds to The Satellite. There are some real tender tales in those lyrics.

Love Nothing

Gracie Gray hit it out of the park with her set. I just love her vocals and how she wraps that up in her layered music. Her vocals have a bedtime story quality to them.

Gracie Gray

Jet Trash opened up the night. They said they hadn't played a set in 2 years. They put on such an energizing set, I had to ask, "Are they sure they haven't played together in 2 years?"

Jet Trash