Harvard & Stone: Strawberry Army with Verum

It is always fun to catch Strawberry Army. The twin sisters just have so much fun on stage. Smiles. Seemingly having way too much fun on stage. Vocals that are deeper than one might expect.  A stage show filled with antics. Only problem, I seem to only see them in poorly lit venues. One day I'll catch this band under the bright lights and get some really solid photos.

Strawberry Army

Verum opened up the night. One of the band members is also part of Strawberry Army. 

Verum

Harvard & Stone: Grace McKagan and Tessa Rae

This was my first time seeing Grace McKagan since seeing her front The Pink Slips all the way back in 2017. Her set was rocking and she definitely knew how to put on a stage show. Of course, fronting The Pink Slips for a number of years helped her with both of those aspects of being a live performer. She had a residency at Harvard & Stone for November and I really wish I'd seen more than just one of those nights.

Grace McKagan

Tessa Rae opened the night. I previously saw her play for WFNM at Bar Lubitsch. With a number of friends out in support, she put on an energetic pop-dance set.

Tessa Rae

The Silverlake Lounge: Moonfuzz with Lilliana Villines and Pio Gabriel

It was Moonfuzz's final residency night and I hadn't made it out to The Silverlake Lounge yet for their November residency. So off I went, because this band is awesome and I love residency nights. The way Miranda (guitar) and Heaven (bass) play off each other is just fun to watch. One just has to love it when they face off on each other and let it rip. 

Moonfuzz

Lilliana Villines opened up with a calming disposition. Pio Gabriel had the 60s rock sounds going. For a couple songs, they had a friend play the harmonica. The band is on the older side of the ledger, which just proves you can rock out at any age.

Pio Gabriel

Lilliana Villines

Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church: Shannon Lay and Ryan Pollie

Ryan Pollie has been putting on a weekly event at the Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church. I had gone the previous week. He has a sly sense of humor and rocks out some cool tunes.

Ryan Pollie

I've got to admit that Shannon Lay was the main reason I decided to go out on this Sunday night. I just can't get enough of her Irish folk tunes. She did a solo set and I have to say: does she really need a backing band? To me, her music works perfectly either way. 

Shannon Lay

Bar Lubitsch: Thomtide, Beck Pete, Carli Storms, The Natural Supernatural, Young Rising Sons

It is always fun to head to Bar Lubitsch for a WFNM night, especially when there are a couple bands that I've wanted to see, but just haven't been able to catch. 

Thomtide opened up the night. He had friends that flew in for the set. Now that is what friends are for. I'd say he started out a touch nervous, but he grew more confident as he got his sea legs.

Thomtide

Beck Pete was the only person on the bill that I'd seen before and that previous time was a short set. She played an El Cid afternoon set where there was a double booking and so bands got only 10 to 20 minutes of set time. Got to say that it was awesome catching a full set. She was super honest about one song where she mentioned that when her father died she briefly spiraled out of control.

Beck Pete

Carli Storms was one of the musicians that I've known about for a few years, but just never got to catch a set. She put on an enthusiastic set with arms raised out in an engaging manner.

Carli Storms

The Natural Supernatural played the recent Lunar Bloom festival. They were the final band of the night on one of the stages and their set time didn't hit until perhaps 1 a.m. It was just too late for me and I had to head home. Yet this is Los Angeles so that means sometimes you just have to wait a couple days and you'll be able to catch the band again (or like Carli Storms you have to wait a few years). They put on a 70s inspired set that had me wishing (if sleep wasn't an issue) I'd caught their Lunar Bloom set.

The Natural Supernatural

Young Rising Sons closed out the night with a pop-rock set. They put on an entertaining show that almost led to the lead singer falling off the stage a few times. Luckily, the stage it not that high up. And also, it was sort of self-caused due to where he set up his pedal board. For one song, the crowd lifted up their cell phones and turned on the flash lights.

Young Rising Sons

Over-all, I got to catch two new bands / musicians I hadn't heard of. Got to catch a couple bands / musicians that I've wanted to catch. And got to catch up with a musician I hadn't seen in a couple years.

The Goldfish: Sonoda with Brin + Mitchell Brown

I decided at the last minute that I'd see what was going on at The Goldfish. I went there in early September when they had their first live bands and hadn't been back. In fact, I'd barely even checked to see what was on their schedule. I think the issue is that many of their nights are dance nights and so it just doesn't make it on my list of venues that I regularly check up on. Luckily for me, the night I decided to head over to their Instagram page was the night that they had live music. The night was listed as "An Underwater Ambient Series." Sonoda was on the bill and that was a name that I recognize well and so that was the nudge that convinced me to head on out. Opening was Brin + Mitchell Brown.

Sonoda

The first thing I noticed was that The Goldfish had made adjustments to their stage. It was in the same location -- where the VIP area (which wasn't really a VIP area) used to be for the prior occupant, The Hi Hat. What the venue did do was replace the straight lines that made the stage have a geometric look with a circular style (which, okay, is also a geometric look). I wonder if they made the changes based on feedback that they were getting from bands / musicians.

Brin + Mitchell Brown

The night was dedicated to synthesizer music. I can't say I have a full appreciation of the music. My first full introduction to this type of music was when I spent some time in San Francisco back in 2013 and heard multiple nights of this type of music. It is a bit too eclectic for me still, but I do try my best at appreciating the music.

Bar Lubitsch: Olivia Grace, Kill K3nny, Seth Glier, Girl Wilde, Lev

I decided to take off to WFNM for a night where I hadn't seen any of the musicians before so it was all new. Olivia Grace was perhaps the closest musician that I came across before. I noticed that she had played Echo Park Rising a year where I was doing photography for Buzzbands. I just didn't have the opportunity to catch her set. Her music has a soothing pop sound.

Olvia Grace

Kill K3nny came up next with an upbeat pop set. His wife was up at the front, giving some positive vibes. 

Kill K3nny

Seth Glier had flown in that morning from the east coast. Though he is an east coast person, he had a couple friends backing him up who live in Los Angeles. If I understood correctly, one of them used to live in the same town as Seth Glier. His music had a blues sound.

Seth Glier

Girl Wilde brought the flamboyant sound. Sort of reminded me of Jen Awad who had played at WFNM just recently. I wish I had gotten to see that set, but just couldn't make it. 

Girl Wilde

Lev closed out the night with a packed venue filled with fans. His vocals are perfect and seductive. The words just flow perfectly. It was an absolutely enthralling set. 

Lev

The Echo: Cryogeyser with Lecx Stacy and Alms

It was a fun time at The Echo last Monday. Lecx Stacy opening it up. With a drummer backing him up, he leaped into a rap and electronic set that had him bouncing around the stage. His set got those in the audience ramped up as a mosh pit started up. 

Lecs Stacy

Alms came up next and changed the direction of the music towards rock. A four piece that had one remembering the alternative bands of the 80s / 90s. 

Alms

Cryogeyser is the resident band for the month of October. I saw the band previously at Non Plus Ultra a couple years ago. It was nice seeing them getting the residency at The Echo. There were some issues with monitors and such that caused some frustrations, but though the band might not have been able to hear themselves properly, it all worked out fine for those in the audience. 

Cryogeyser

Highland Park Bowl: The Walks of Life, Nightjacket, Kiwicha

There were two reasons I went over to Highland Park Bowl this past Friday night: The Walks of Life and Nightjacket.

The Walks of Life is a band I've followed for a few years now. I love their folk sounds. It might be folk, but they bring the energy every time I've seen them.

The Walks of Life

As for Nightjacket, this is one of the bands I came across during the pandemic, watching online sets. They really intrigued me, especially their song "Lonely Archer." I just love how the guitar starts the song with that Family of the Year vibe. The vocals for that song are so tenderly perfect, as well. The set opened up with that song, which thrilled me. 

Nightjacket

Kiwicha is a band from Chicago. They have an ethereal sound that is gently crafted by this two piece band. Their one desire in their trip through Los Angeles, a good suggestion for a sushi bar.

Kiwicha

Little Joy: Mariah Priddy, Aaron Andreu, Topaz, Maio

Little Joy on Tuesday had a nice line-up of mostly singer-songwriters. Mariah Priddy opened it up with vocals that grooved at just the right moments.   

Mariah Priddy

Aaron Andreu had a surprise duet going on when Luna from Maio started to sing along from the seats of Little Joy. It made for a chamber sounding set.

Aaron Andreu

Topaz had backing electronic tracking for her set. The tracking gave the set a futuristic sound of a lost civilization that has yet to have been created on this planet of ours.

Topez

Maio closed it out. The duo met during the pandemic and it was their first show. Smooth electronic sounds with visuals against the wall.

Maio

WFNM with Lucy Clearwater, Daisy Gray, Mia Nicolai, Hayden, Windser

WFNM is known for highlighting a variety of musicians that range from crooners to rockers. Lucy Clearwater was a late add. I didn't even realize she was playing. I walked in and she was in the middle of her set. I had seen her once before during the pandemic when she played an online set for WFNM. It was nice to catch her live.

Lucy Clearwater

Daisy Gray came up next with stunning vocals that had a hint of gospel influence.

Daisy Gray

Mia Nicolai came in from The Netherlands with some pop tunes.

Mia Nicolai

Hayden providing some crooning vocals. 

Hayden

Windser closed out the night with joy.

Windser

The Echo: Kairos Creature Club with Poppy Jean Crawford and Canned Peach

Kairos Creature Club is from Florida and made a joke about the fact that they were all vaccinated. They're also the residency band at The Echo for the month of September. They let the sun shine through their music. 

Kairos Creature Club

Poppy Jean Crawford closed out the night. I've had the opportunity to catch her sets twice before. A sure fire rocking hit. She had some dress issues. She accidentally split her dress apart and showed a whole lot of leg that was not intended. She didn't let that get in the way of her putting on an awesome set.

Poppy Jean Crawford

Canned Peach opened up the night with rocking sounds. 

Canned Peach

Zebulon: Gal Pal

I went off to Zebulon to catch Gal Pal, but missed two other bands. That wasn't necessarily the intention. I guess I just remember when Zebulon didn't have bands go on until 10 p.m. By the time I showed up at 9:30, the second band was on their last song. Oh well, it was worth only seeing Gal Pal. This band has vocals that punctuate with an eclectic sound.

Highland Park Bowl: Night Talks and The Social

It was off to Highland Park Bowl for the first time since early 2020. It was also my first time since the re-opening of our music venues to catch Night Talks. You can depend on one thing when it comes to this band, a set filled with expressive display. Their pop sounds were on display for a packed crowd. In fact, some folks from the sidewalks, looking through the window, also spent a few moments watching the band play.

Night Talks

The Social came on next with their own brand of pop sounds. What I found highlighted the band was some beautiful vocals. The melodies are perfectly crafted. Such an enjoyable set that had their fans standing within inches of the stage to get the whole experience. 

The Social

Hotel Cafe: Monday Monday

It was off to Hotel Café to enjoy the Monday Monday series that is on Mondays. It is a time when singer songwriters do short 3 song sets. If you stay the full night, you can get introduced to up to 10 artists. On this particular night, I hung out for half the night. Opening up was an unannounced performance by December Fades (Kevin Rogers) who was also doing sound that night. Chris Del Rosario is someone I'd seen previously at Junior High (when it was in Hollywood). His songs were soft and wonderful. Tara Honda, I learned later, was on American Idol. She mentioned that she got her ticket to Hollywood, but didn't get to advance. Yet, the experience obviously had a positive impact as she is still singing in Hollywood. Arend Lee Jessurun was up twice. He did his own solo set and then backed up Jessica Gerhardt -- they just so happen to be paramours. Brenda Carsey is someone I've seen a number of times. It was great running into her again. Jessica Gerhardt closed out the night for me. Like with Chris Del Rosario and Brenda Carsey, I'd also seen her perform before. I previously caught her set at The Hi Hat. She was also the host for the night, taking on the duties that are normally performed by Joel Eckels. All that for just $5. 

Chris Del Rosario

Tara Honda

Arend Lee Jessurun

Brenda Carsey

Jessica Gerhardt

December Fades