Live Sessions: Rivita and Avalon Bridger

I do get asked to catch sets and I did do just that when I went over to Live Sessions on Instagram to catch Rivita. It was her first time on Instagram Live. She kind of reminded me of Honey Child Choir, operatic vocals used to sing pop tunes.

Rivita

I stuck around for Avalon Bridger. A talented teen with a cheerful personality and pitch perfect vocals.

Avalon Bridger

WFNM Online: Ships Have Sailed, Trapdoor Social and Luke De-Sciscio

On a recently Wednesday night, I stopped by WFNM to catch Ships Have Sailed, Trapdoor Social, and Luke De-Sciscio.

It was three great sets to catch.

Luke De-Sciscio was playing at 3 a.m. from the UK. He was playing in his car with his girlfriend (?) doing the recording. He said something about how maybe he should be afraid about strange people walking around at 3 a.m., but that he was probably the strange person playing tunes in his car. Got to give it to him for being thoughtful about his neighbors and playing inside his car versus his apartment/home.

Luke De-Sciscio

Skylar from Trapdoor Social played next. The band seems to have a nice following of fans from South America. One would think that after this pandemic has passed that they should head to South America.

Trapdoor Social

Ships Have Sailed talked about supporting local businesses. He mentioned how he does take out from his favorite restaurants. I'll be honest that I've avoided my favorite restaurants due to fear of COVID-19. I've yet to read a study about people catching COVID-19 from takeout food so I'm probably going to be heading to some of my favorite spots as well in the next couple weeks to give some support there.

Ships Have Sailed

Buzzbands Quarantunes: Oddnesse

Oddnesse hit Buzzbands' Instagram page on Saturday. She provided a soothing performance during this time of coronavirus. She was also very cheerful throughout the set, letting us know that her excellent sound was driven by a microphone that was above her. It looks like musicians are figuring out ways to provide great online performances. What was amusing? She started to take off her glasses before starting a song, because she said that the comments being written were making her laugh.

WFNM: Kordelya and Austin Ward

I probably found a new favorite musician in Kordelya via WFNM. A great personality with solid vocals. Though the lyrics were all in Spanish, it didn't matter to this English speaker. And the music just has the perfect pop rhythms.

Kordelya

Austin Ward opened the night for me with smooth deep vocals that got me thinking of the great pop vocalists from the 80s.

Austin Ward

WFNM: YVR, Charisma, Cheridomingo, Myylo, Rainne

WFNM has gone online and a recent Wednesday night was dedicated to the pop sounds of YVR, Charisma, Cheridomingo (well, maybe they're more rock), Myylo and Rainne. Cheridomingo was holding court for a second time for WFNM. They're doing a mini-residency. YVR is a regular at WFNM. Charisma was singing from Texas. Myylo was doing solo work. Raiinne brought out the saxophone.

YVR

Charisma

Cheridomingo

Myylo

Rainne

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McKail Seely Online

I happened to come across McKail Seely via six degrees of separation. I'm a fan of Lauren Ruth Ward who runs in the same circle as Ari Tibi. I then caught Ari Tibi at Hotel Cafe. Then I learned that Ari Tibi is in a band called Luci. I caught that band, which also includes McKail Seely. (I believe Ari may have left the band recently.)

While doing "stay at home" work, I happened to notice that McKail Seely was doing an Instragram Live set. I'd never actually seen her do a live set so I turned away from doing my work and tuned in to her live set. She was doing her live set from a bathroom. That was a unique set to see right there. It probably helped with the vocal acoustics.

A fun diversion from work.

WFNM Online: Georgia Green, Cheridomingo, Hayley Warner

This was my first time catching WFNM in 2020 and it so happened to be an online version of the night. I'm happy that I tuned in. Georgia Green opened the night up. She's also with the band Trousdale. Her set was coming from her parent's home. Though she might have had some problems getting her phone set up (as her face was always on the lower bottom of the screen), it was great hearing one of the vocalists from Trousdale. That band just knows how to sing.

Georgia Green

Cheridomingo played their set from the home of one of the band members. They played a rocking acoustic set while also have fun messing around with each other. Though perhaps not a perfect example of social distancing, they did spread out throughout the house.

Cheridomingo

I think Hayley Warner mentioned that she was doing her set at either a friend's house or recording studio. She played her set under the low lights of a single lamp. The lighting set the tone of a wonderful singer-songwriter set with vocals that had that Aussie accent.

Hayley Warner

Stuck at Home: Rituals of Mine/The Quarantine Stream

In this time of quarantine, it is nice to catch some music online.

On Tuesday, I caught Rituals of Mine. I first saw them at The Echo when they were opening for Y La Bamba. I admit at the time, it was a big shock, because Y La Bamba is folk while Rituals of Mine is hard core punk/metal. Watching the band do their music online and knowing what to expect was enjoyable and fun. They had the whole set-up: lights, sound, stage space.

Rituals of Mine

Come Wednesday, it was over to Lily Water's The Quarantine Stream festival. I got to catch Space Honey, Precious Kid and Lily Waters (of course, Lily Waters). Space Honey had this beatnik poetry style going throughout her set. Precious Kid was enjoyable pop. And Lily Waters had that country vocal whine nailed.

Space Honey

Precious Kid

Lily Waters

Zebulon: Odessa with Sofie Winterson

Zebulon had the tables and chairs out on the floor for Odessa and Sofie Winterson.

Odessa gave a wonderful performance that had me thinking about walking in a quiet meadow.

Odessa

Sofie Winterson picked up the beat with bass, guitar and synths.

Sofie Winterson

Bootleg Theater: Temme Scott with Ruth and Trousdale

Temme Scott put on an excellent final residency night. Opening up was Trousdale who can most definitely challenge the band Joseph for pitch perfect harmonies. Then there was Ruth of Lauren Ruth Ward. She played the set with her back to the audience while sitting on the floor. Audience in the know obviously backed the Bootleg for her set. Rounding it out was Temme Scott with a beautiful singer-songwriter set.

Trousdale

Ruth

Temme Scott

Zebulon: Maraschino, Diva and the Pearly Gates, Lucola and Olive Kimoto

It was a diverse night at the Zebulon. Olive Kimoto opened it up with some Twin Peaks inspired sounds. She had a couple songs in there that had you thinking Julee Cruise's Falling.

Olive Kimoto

Lucola brought nerdy sexy to the stage along with a couple ballet dancers towards the back half of the set.

Lucola

Diva and the Pearly Gates shifted the night towards some art experimental sounds.

Diva and the Pearly Gates

Maraschino ended the night with some enthusiastic pop.

Maraschino

Highland Park Bowl: The Walks of Life and Sie Sie Benhoff

It was off to Highland Park Bowl to catch the wonderful sounds of The Walks of Life. Those vocals just kill and the music is written in wonderful fashion.

The Walks of Life

Sie Sie Benhoff opened the night with tales of over-drinking the prior night. The hangover didn't impact her music abilities.

Sie Sie Benhoff

The Satellite: Cartalk with Cheekface

It was off to The Satellite to catch Cartalk. The month of February is their residency. The lead singer had an amusing story. At a prior set, a person came up and said, "Truck, I really love your music." Response was, "Truck? No, my name is Chuck." The music rings of America folk.

Cartalk

Cheekface opened up the night for me. Their sound rocked The Satellite.

Cheekface

Club Tee Gee: Neon Cowgirl and Andrew St. James

I've been in slow recovery from an illness. Yet, I found the energy to head out to catch Neon Cowgirl at Club Tee Gee. It is always a joy to catch Holly Marilyn. Her current music is very introspective.

Neon Cowgirl

I was going to leave after neon Cowgirl, but ended up with talking to a friend of Andrew St. James. I decided to stay for half of set of this San Francisco artist. It was amusing (or maybe it shouldn't have been amusing) listening to his random comments about his difficulties with San Francisco law enforcement.

Andrew St. James

Hotel Cafe: Mars Rodriguez with Banjo Kitty and James Booth

I went to Hotel Cafe to catch Mars Rodriguez. Her enthusiasm for her music shines through her set. Though she was having some pedal issues, it was still a one person tour de force.

Mars Rodriguez

Banjo Kitty opened prior with banjo folk.

Banjo Kitty

James Booth came on after with a full band and charming Americana.

James Booth

Bootleg Theater: Kate Clover with Strawberry Army and Blue Rose Rounders

I was able to make it out to the Bootleg Theater to catch Kate Clover. She is one of my favorite musicians in Los Angeles. With the band Crocodiles backing her, she was swinging that microphone stick and rocking out.

Kate Clover

Blue Rose Rounders and Strawberry Army opened. Strawberry Army was first up with their pop-punk style. They're such a fun band. They'll kick up those heels while singing catchy tunes. Blue Rose Rounders brought in the folk and blues sounds.

Strawberry Army

Blue Rose Rounders

The Hi Hat: Momma and Gal Pal

For my last outing for 2019, I took off to The Hi Hat where I caught Gal Pal and Momma. I was actually under the weather (still under the weather while writing this), but I was bored with sticking around my apartment.

I stuck around for two of the bands on the bill.

First up was Gal Pal, which I previously caught at Non Plus Ultra opening up for Kevin. I love how this band switches up instruments. And they ended the set with their drummer playing out in the audience, similar to what was done at Non Plus Ultra. It was a thrilling way to close the set.

Gal Pal

Momma was a band I hadn't seen before. Their music has a garage rock/pop sound. Those vocals are silky smooth. Moment of the set was when the lead singer admitted that she hung out that day to catch two Tiktok influencers. She found herself surrounded by 13 year olds.

Momma