Sunday, August 31, 2025

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Aug 31st - Sep 6th

A Handful of Show Alerts 

Monday, Sep 1st: Addie Addie Addie at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.
My favorite new find at this year's Echo Park Rising.

Tuesday, Sep 2nd: Tremours at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.
Earlier this year, I covered their record release party, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Sep 3rd: Slowpoke at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Tiki Dream" here.

Thursday, Sep 4th: Giselle at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Skeletons" here.

Friday, Sep 5th: Mini Trees at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2023, I covered their set for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Saturday, Sep 6th: North by North at Supply and Demand. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Bad Vibes" here.

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Song Spotlight: Addie Addie Addie's Industry (an afternoon at P.F. Candle Co. during Echo Park Rising)

For the second year in a row, I was one of the official photographers of Echo Park Rising. I decided I would try to hit up as many venues as possible while still photographing some of my favorite bands. One of the smaller venues was P.F. Candle Co. They only had three bands playing, all one after the other. That meant I had a very tight window to photograph the venue. I decided I was going to photograph the first artist up: Addie Addie Addie (the moniker for Addie Weyrich).

Addie Addie Addie at P.F. Candle Co (Echo Park Rising)
Addie Addie Addie at P.F. Candle Co

Friday, August 29, 2025

Song Spotlight: Band of Skulls' Sweet Sour (a night at the Troubadour)

A PR person I've worked with for over a decade happened to mention to me that she could get me into the Troubadour to shoot Band of Skulls. I have to admit that I did not know who Band of Skulls was. When provided the offer, I did a look at the Troubadour calendar and noticed that the show was sold out. That indicated something to me. I was a go for sure. I was actually probably a go anyways even if I didn't notice that it was sold out, because I don't get the opportunity to shoot the Troubadour that often. 

Band of Skulls at the Troubadour
Band of Skulls at the Troubadour

Thursday, August 28, 2025

Song Spotlight: The Blushes' Celebrity Sex Cult Party (a night at The Semi-Tropic)

Echo Park Rising 2025 was such a blast. For those in the know, there was a pre-party that occurred on Friday night at The Semi-Tropic and Sticky Rice. I decided to just stick around The Semi-Tropic the whole night, because the line-up was filled with band that I love, but don't get to see on a regular basis. One of those bands was The Blushes. They're a trio that includes Lori Dorfman on guitar, Katie Jayne Earl-Hogan on drums, and Katy Rose (on bass). For long time LA music fans who are unaware, Katie Jayne Earl-Hogan is in the The Mowgli's

The Blushes at The Semi-Tropic
The Blushes at The Semi-Tropic

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Song Spotlight: Shoe Shopping's Glowering (a night at The Goldfish)

Shoe Shopping is fronted by Tiffany Lin and have an art nouveau approach to punk rock. Her bio has this to say about her background, "is an interdisciplinary artist working at the cross section of graphic narrative, social practice, and performance. Her varied projects parse through social conventions at odds with the natural world, utilizing drawing to investigate topics as austere as US Census data to doom metal inspired teeth people." What is doom metal inspired teeth people? I have no clue. 

Shoe Shopping at The Goldfish
Shoe Shopping at The Goldfish

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Review: Kyra Fields has a Breakout Moment at Hotel Ziggy

Maybe once or twice a year, I show up to a venue and I'm shocked by how many people are already packed inside -- before any of the artists have hit the stage. (To clarify, I'm talking about it being totally unanticipated on my part versus showing up to a venue that is packed early because the artist is a known draw.) That happened on a recent WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy. I showed up and the place was filled with polite, and yet, eager tweens with their parents in tow. I was totally taken aback. What showcase artist is bringing out all these tweens? I started to think through the artists playing and I had to settle on Kyra Fields. This was my third time at a WFNM showcase where Kyra Fields was playing a set. I could not recall seeing so many young people hanging out with eager anticipation during the prior two shows. This had me thinking: I'm catching a breakout moment. 

Kyra Fields at Hotel Ziggy
Kyra Fields at Hotel Ziggy

Monday, August 25, 2025

Song Spotlight: Chemical Therapy's East Los Luv (a night at Gold-Diggers)

I came across Chemical Therapy at Gold-Diggers, playing a Swyndle night event. The band started out in Charleston under the name Heyrocco. The members eventually moved out to Los Angeles and underwent a name change to Chemical Therapy. The band wasn't totally new to me (though I didn't figure that out until I started doing my band research for this post). I came across lead singer Nathan Merli briefly during another Swyndle night at Harvard & Stone when he did a cameo during a Bruvvy set. 

Chemical Therapy at Gold-Diggers
Chemical Therapy at Gold-Diggers

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Aug 24th - Aug 30th

A Handful (Bucketful) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Aug 24th: Day 2 of Happy Sundays Long Beach.

Sunday, Aug 24th: Jesika Von Rabbit and Dream Phases at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for Jesika Von Rabbit's "Psychic Spice" here
In 2021, Dream Phases was part of Happy Sundays Long Beach. I covered for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Sunday, Aug 24th: Rose's Pawn Shop at The Echo. Doors at 5 p.m.
In 2024, I covered their set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Aug 27th: Sagittaire at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Hi, It's Caroline" here.

Thursday, Aug 28th: Annie Jets at the Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Avalanche" here.

Thursday, Aug 28th: Kat French at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Casket" here.

Friday, Aug 29th: Blue Wisteria at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Members Only" here.

Friday, Aug 29th: SWIMM at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
In 2023, I covered their set for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Saturday, Aug 30th: Kate Clover at the Levitt Pavilion. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2022, I covered her set for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Saturday, Aug 30th: March Adstrum and Valley Porno People at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my March Adstrum Song Spotlight for "Relics from Phantoms" here.
Valley Porno People made my list of favorite 2024 bands. You can read that list here.

Saturday, Aug 30th: Moonily at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Evil Eye" here.

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Song Spotlight: Slugs' Super Sane (an evening at Bar Flores during Echo Park Rising)

Though I've photographed Echo Park Rising for years now, even I still come across something totally unexpected. Last year I shot a band or two at Bar Flores and they were using their indoor bar as the stage. Part of me was wondering why bands such as Slugs (solo set by lead singer Marissa Longstreet) and Iress were playing such a small stage. I was thinking about how rude I was going to be, having to squeeze my way to the front of the stage to take some photos. My excuse would be that I needed to get to the front of the stage as I was shooting for the festival. I did not have to worry about that, because the stage was not inside the bar. There were signs that pointed ever so upwards until I got to a large open parking lot that part of me thinks is actually connected with a separate building. As I made my way up to the stage, a most amusing encounter happened. A young woman looked me straight in the eye and so I briefly stopped to listen to her complaint, "Do you know I just spent $30 on nachos? I've never spent that much." I looked at her and responded, "That is a lot." What can I say, that does sound laughably high. 

Slugs at Bar Flores (during Echo Park Rising )
Slugs at Bar Flores

Friday, August 22, 2025

Song Spotlight: Peach Pit's Peach Pit (a night at the Greek Theatre)

I don't get the opportunity to shoot the Greek Theatre all that often. When I got the opportunity to shoot Peach Pit at the venue, I obviously jumped at the opportunity. You can read my US Rocker Music review here

Peach Pit at the Greek Theatre
Peach Pit at the Greek Theatre

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Song Spotlight: Anna Thoresen's Dear Soulmate (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

I will admit that the first thing I noticed when Anna Thoresen and her band hit the WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy was Maria Grace Ono on guitar. I just happened to catch her playing guitar a few weeks earlier for Julez And The Rollerz. You can read my blog post about that particular night here. The next thing I noticed was her bassist, Danielle Koppel who had a little stuffed animal hanging from a belt loop and there was a Pippi Longstocking quality. Ignore all that observation about Koppel, what really caught my attention was her boyfriend (assuming there is a connection there) was feeding her French fries that they'd bought from the Hotel Ziggy bar. I've had a couple of those French fries. I can say they're addicting. 

Anna Thoresen at Hotel Ziggy
Anna Thoresen at Hotel Ziggy

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Song Spotlight: GIFT's Wish Me Away (a night at the Lodge Room)

GIFT from New York was recently on tour with Sunflower Bean and played the Lodge Room. You can read my review of the night here. I came across this band last year when their PR firm reached out to US Rocker Music about covering a set. Unfortunately, I couldn't head out to cover their set due to, you know, real life work that required some long hours. It was really unfortunate, because one of their sets was with Reb Ribbon who I had seen earlier in the year and had put them on my favorites list, which you can read here

GIFT at the Lodge Room
GIFT at the Lodge Room

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Review: Pu$$y-Cow celebrates their 20th Anniversary at The Escondite with Silver Needle and The Groans

Celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band, Pu$$y-Cow hit the indoor stage at The Escondite, playing in front of a packed house. An interesting side note for the night is that Ben Reddell was running the sound. For those in the country-folk world, you know that he books Grand Ole Echo, which is also celebrating their 20th anniversary. To put 20 years into another context, I've been shooting bands for nearly that same period of time though not yet at 20 years. Numbers. Numbers. Numbers. 

Pu$$y-Cow at The Escondite
Pu$$y-Cow at The Escondite

Monday, August 18, 2025

Song Spotlight: Sunflower Bean's Nothing Romantic (a night at the Lodge Room)

I will admit I was a bit late to get on the Sunflower Bean band wagon. It took a pandemic for me to finally in love with the band (though I'd heard of the band maybe a year or two prior to that). The band played an online set on the Dr. Martens' Instagram page. The song I really appreciated was "Twentytwo." You can read my brief thoughts about that online set here. 

Sunflower Bean at the Lodge Room
Sunflower Bean at the Lodge Room

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Aug 17th - Aug 23rd

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Aug 17th: Echo Park Rising after parties at Dada Echo ParkSticky Rice, and The Semi-Tropic
If you didn't have enough fun on Saturday . . . 

Sunday, Aug 17th: Escape-ism at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "Charge of the Love Brigade" here.

Monday, Aug 18th: Henry Hall at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2024, I covered his set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here

Monday, Aug 18th: Powder Pink & Sweet at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2023, I covered the band's set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here

Thursday, Aug 21st: Hailey Wild at Bar Lubitsch. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "Wake Up" here.

Thursday, Aug 21st: Taleen Kali at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.
 In 2023, I covered the band's set for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Friday, Aug 22nd: Cody's Program at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
I covered the band's recent set on this blog site, which you can read here.

Saturday, Aug 23rd: Happy Sundays Fest Long Beach
It's not just on Sundays.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

2025 Echo Park Rising Sunday Schedule

Sunday's Echo Park Rising Afterparty Schedule:

Dada Echo Park
1606 W Sunset Blvd
I believe you need to enter via the back alley

3:00 PM: Laena Myers
4:00 PM: Dustin Wong
5:00 PM: Dave Harrington / Max Jaffe / Spencer Zahn
6:00 PM: Leng Bian
7:00 PM: Slow Heat

Sticky Rice
1801 W. Sunset Blvd

Main Stage

2:00 PM: Marshall Van Leuven
3:00 PM: Child Seat
4:00 PM: Shelailai
5:00 PM: The Silvertone
6:00 PM: TwoLips
7:00 PM: Wet World
8:00 PM: Tolliver
9:00 PM: Very Be Careful

Spirit House Stage

1:00 PM: Danny Parker
2:00 PM: Lucky Kilmartin 
3:00 PM: Inner Space Visitor 
4:00 PM: Ny Oh
5:00 PM: The Antiks 
6:00 PM: Kaycie Satterfield 
7:00 PM: Grey Dugan 

Stories Books and Cafe
1716 W. Sunset Blvd

Starting at 7 p.m. 

Kim Dallesandro
Zoe Hansen
Michelle Carr
Patty Schemel
Emily Rose
Laena Myers
Lisa Kekaula



Song Spotlight: Jazzy K's Heartless (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Jazzy K went old school for the WFNM showcase at Bar Lubitsch. She has a unique talent at writing verses to songs of well known singers. During her set, she highlighted this by singing her own verse for Toni Braxton's old school song "Un-Break My Heart." In fact, this song writing talent got her the opportunity to join Coldplay on stage in Australia back in 2024 during the song "We Pray." She got to insert her own verse into the live set -- not just once, but on back to back nights. You can see the Youtube video of one of those nights here

Jazzy K at Bar Lubitsch
Jazzy K at Bar Lubitsch

Friday, August 15, 2025

2025 Echo Park Rising Saturday Schedule

Here's the Saturday schedule for Echo Park Rising -- the official day of the festival though events are happening on Friday and Sunday.

The official program can be found here, but there's just a certain way I like to look at schedules so the below is how my mind works. Apologies for any misspelling and bad set times -- some may not even be my fault.

Band names in bold are my suggestions. 

Saturday (Aug 16th):


Bar Flores
1542 W. Sunset Blvd

1:00 PM: Carlos y Charlos
2:00 PM: Los Eclectics
4:00 PM: Smiling Quietly Underneath Internal Radical Melancholy
5:00 PM: Caravan 222
6:00 PM: Dominique and the Diamonds
7:00 PM: Slugs
8:00 PM: Iress


Bar Henry
1228 W. Sunset Blvd

3:00 PM Jason Paul & The Know It Alls
4:00 PM Datamaps
5:00 PM: Impulse Bangs
6:00 PM: Harry Katz & The Pistachios
7:00 PM: Belle and Chain
8:00 PM: Julez & The Rollerz

Cantiq LA
1571 W. Sunset Blvd

1:00 PM: Orchids of Jupiter

2:00 PM: Reverse Cowgirls

3:00 PM: Franx

4:00 PM: B.E.G.

5:00 PM: Lord Friday the 13th

6:00 PM Shamon Cassette

7:00 PM Bitchkiss

8:00 PM: Dagger Polyester

9:00 PM: Donzii

10:15 PM: Aurat


Dada Echo Park
1606 W Sunset Blvd
I believe you need to enter via the back alley

3:00 PM: Nancy Sanchez (replacing Belligerent Swans)

4:00 PM: Op Ed

5:00 PM: Host Family

6:00 PM: Dagger Polyester

7:00 PM: Sweet Nothin's

8:00 PM: Zoe Lloyd

9:00 PM: Caravan 222


Fluffy McCloud's
1814 W. Sunset Blvd

2:00 PM: Toulouse Control

2:45 PM: George Children

3:30 PM: Quad Super Six

4:15 PM: Pillow Fight

5:00 PM: The Freebies


Gentlemen's Breakfast
1101 Mohawk St.

6:00 PM: Nail Polish

7:00 PM: The Collarbones

8:00 PM: Chicano Thunder & The Heat

9:00 PM: Junaco

10:00 PM: Angelsaur


KG Bakery
1471 Echo Park Ave

12:00 PM: Siam Jem

1:00 PM: Flesh For Fantasy

2:00 PM: Dead By Sunday

3:00 PM: M-16


Lowboy
1540 W. Sunset Blvd

1:30 PM: Mermaid

2:30 PM: Moselle

3:30 PM: Chloe Entoinette

4:30 PM: TwoLips

5:30 PM: JMK Jr. and Friends

6:30 PM: Pio Gabriel & Friends

7:30 PM: Smiley Bone Jones

8:30 PM: Solomon


P.F. Candle Co.
2205 W. Sunset Blvd

3:00 PM: Addie Addie Addie

4:30 PM: Sonoda

6:00 PM: Teal Pop


Pitfire Pizza
2141 W. Sunset Blvd

1:00 PM: Jagged Jein

4:00 PM: Buckets

7:00 PM: Kit Major


Raven's Gallery
1545 W. Sunset Blvd

1:00 PM: Jamie Ruiz Risch

2:00 PM: SaintKid

3:00 PM: Tawny Ellis

4:00 PM: Cynthia Catania & Rich Devletian

5:00 PM: Rowan Drake

6:00 PM: The Latini Infiniti Band

7:00 PM: Storms

8:00 PM: Shimmer Bed

10:30 PM: New Elvis


The Short Stop
1455 W. Sunset Blvd

1:00 PM: Anna Marie Postigo
2:00 PM: Dog Smoke
3:00 PM: The Silvertone
4:30 PM: MACKandgold
5:30 PM: Daz & The Demons
6:30 PM: The Strokers (The Strokes Tribute)

Sick City Records

1381 W. Sunset Blvd


2:00 PM: Virulents

4:00 PM: Lucky and Love

6:00 PM: Duderella

7:00 PM: This is a Revolver


Sticky Rice
1801 W. Sunset Blvd


Main Stage


12:00 PM: Telecomm 

1:00 PM: Annie Jets

2:00 PM: Pelo Grande 

3:00 PM: Vinyl Williams

4:00 PM: J3

5:00 PM: Harry the Nightgown 

6:00 PM: Magic Bronson

7:00 PM: Dark Fantasy

8:00 PM: Normans

9:00 PM: Intestinehead


Spirit House Stage


1:00 PM: Lovepig

2:00 PM: Laney Tripp

3:00 PM: Bunny Lowe

4:00 PM: Kelcey Ayer

5:00 PM: Dmytryk

6:00 PM: Bradley Hanan Carter

7:00 PM: Winn Winn


Stories Books and Cafe
1716 W. Sunset Blvd


1:00 PM: The Heartstrings

1:40 PM: Cian (time change)

2:20 PM: Swimming Bell (time change)

3:15 PM: Bloody Death Skull (time change)

4:00 PM: Stephen McBean (time change)

4:45 PM: Gabriel Bernini (added)

5:30 PM: Jeffrey Davies

7:00 PM: Good Heroin Comedy


Taix French Restaurant
1911 W. Sunset Blvd


5:00 PM: Noir Dalis

5:45 PM: D.R.E.A.M.

6:30 PM: El Colmo

7:15 PM: TBD

8:15 PM: Flotilla

The Den Studios
1260 W. 2nd St
Note: Admittedly, a bit far from the rest of the festival venues, but this line-up is awesome.

6:00 PM: Sheva Elliot
7:15 PM: American Mile
8:00 PM: Leroy from the North
9:00 PM: The Doohickeys


The Echo / Echoplex

1822 W Sunset Blvd (The Echo)

1154 Glendale Blvd (Echoplex)


Grand Ole Echo Stage


3:30 PM: Ned Casual & the Tombstone Blues

4:30 PM: Sweet Nothin’s

5:30 PM: The Tone Slingers

6:30 PM: The What Four

7:30 PM: Tribute to Thin Lizzy

8:30 PM: Same Ol’ Smile


The Echo Stage

3:00 PM: Hysteria
3:50 PM: Morning Forever
4:40 PM: Theo Moss
5:30 PM: Fat Evil Children
6:20 PM: Host Family
7:10 PM: 16 Underground
8:15 PM: Sinnerella
9:20 PM: La Doña

Echoplex

3:45 PM: Kurupi & Pressed
4:35 PM: Jordan Patterson
5:20 PM: Marinero (Marin Guero)
6:15 PM: Valley Boy
7:05 PM: Fake Dad
8:55 PM: Zzzahara
10:00 PM: Tijuana Panthers


The Semi-Tropic

1412 Glendale Blvd

6:00 PM: Kinetik
7:00 PM: Possible Oceans
8:00 PM: Club Indigo
9:00 PM: Valley Queen
10:00 PM: Twin Seas
11:00 PM: Introverted Funk
12:00 AM: Finkel

Song Spotlight: Grace Kay's When You Wanted (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Grant Owens threw himself a birthday party at his WFNM showcase at Bar Lubitsch. I've been going to WFNM nights for quiet awhile now. I've had some memorable moments hanging out at his various showcases. The night in 2021 when I came across both King Mala and Halo Kitsch at Bar Lubitsch was top notch amazing. In 2019, which I believe was also a Grant Owens birthday party, Kat from Holy Wars took a ride on the shoulders of fellow photographer Scott Free. Also playing that night were Christina Castle and Fever Joy who I always enjoyed catching live. I've seen numerous favorite new bands and artists for the first time at a WFNM showcase. That applies to King Mala and Halo Kitsch, but also to Lizzy Land (technically I'd seen her prior in Mating Ritual, but WFNM was the first time I caught her on her own project), Ava Maybee, and many many others. 

With all that history, I do try to head out to his birthday parties. One of the highlights on this 2025 edition of his birthday party was Grace Kay (the moniker for Grace Korkunis) who had this to say, "I just want to say thank you so much to We Found New Music and Grant. The first show I ever did as Grace Kay was at We Found New Music." She also mentioned that on that particular night, she released the video for "Open" which is currently her best performing song.  

Grace Kay at Bar Lubitsch
Grace Kay at Bar Lubitsch

Thursday, August 14, 2025

2025 Echo Park Rising Friday Schedule

I'll try to post the Echo Park Rising Saturday schedule on Friday. I'm still trying to locate the official set times for The Echo / Echoplex.

Bold are bands that I'm familiar with and give them my thumbs up.

Friday (Aug 15th):


Sticky Rice Stage


7:00 PM: Common People

8:00 PM: Blame My Youth

9:00 PM: Double Wish

10:00 PM: Mac Hanson


The Semi-Tropic Stage


7:00 PM: Giant Waste of Man

8:00 PM: Buckets

9:00 PM: Mac Hill

10:00 PM: The Blushes

11:00 PM: MACKandgold


Song Spotlight: The Franks Sisters' I Love You (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

The Jonas Brothers made a shocking surprise appearance at the WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy. Before I cause the rumors to fly (wouldn't it just be amusing if the AI search engines tossed out that, as they call it, "hallucination"), it was a joke tossed out by Melia Franks during her set with sister Samantha Franks. The two form the duo The Franks Sisters. 

The Franks Sisters at Hotel Ziggy
The Franks Sisters at Hotel Ziggy

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Song Spotlight: Everett Beau's Sweet Reverent Sunrise (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Everett Beau dressed in black and sported a black tie took to the WFNM showcase stage at Hotel Ziggy. I think it is safe to say he mesmerized the crowd with his elegantly quiet singer songwriter set. I don't believe there was much talking during the set. I would say it was the proverbial situation of being able to hear a pin drop. As his short 6 song set progressed, people were drawn into the venue from the hotel lobby. 

Everett Beau at Hotel Ziggy
Everett Beau at Hotel Ziggy

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Song Spotlight: Annie Hardy's Man Downn (a night at Stories Books & Cafe)

It was a Friday night. I had put in for a photo request that did not get approved. I decided to take a glance at Showlist on Instagram and noticed that Annie Hardy was playing at Stories Books & Cafe. It was almost like it was meant to be. 

I've been aware of Annie Hardy since I encountered her band Giant Drag at the Indie West Fest in 2011. By that point, the band was well established in the Los Angeles music scene, having formed in 2003. It took a few years -- jump all the way to 2019 -- before I crossed paths with Hardy once again. She was on the same music bill as Queen Kwong (a favorite of mine). During that set at The Redwood Bar, I knew she looked familiar and then she mentioned the band Giant Drag and it started to click. I saw her one last time in 2019 at Stories Books & Cafe

Annie Hardy at Stories Books & Cafe
Annie Hardy at Stories Books & Cafe

Monday, August 11, 2025

Song Spotlight: Rhiannon Lewis' Be My Enemy (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Sometimes I have to be rather persistent in my Internet research when I want to write up a blog post about an artist with somewhat limited information available. I came across Rhiannon Lewis at a WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy and was immediately intrigued. They just had a quirky personality, "I did decide tonight to prioritize the vibe of the setlist over the logistics of the setlist. So you may see me hopping around from instrument to instrument." That hopping around consisted of switching between a couple acoustic guitars throughout the set. 

Rhiannon Lewis at Hotel Ziggy
Rhiannon Lewis at Hotel Ziggy

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Aug 10th - Aug 16th

A Handful (Bucketful) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Aug 10th: Guantanamo Baywatch at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2023, I covered their Happy Sundays Long Beach for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Sunday, Aug 10th: Matt Axton at The Echo. Doors at 5 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "Golden Times" here.

Sunday, Aug 10th: Memo PST at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 10:30 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "I Used To Be A Pretty Boy" here.

Monday, Aug 11th: Rah Rah Rabbit at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2024, I covered their Americana West Fest for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Monday, Aug 11th: Rocco DeLuca at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
Read my review of his recent Zebulon set here.

Tuesday, Aug 12th:
Audrey Lisette at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "Take Back the Memories" here.

Thursday, Aug 15th: Bruvvy at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my review of their recent Davey Wayne set here

Friday, Aug 15th: Mo Dotti at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "dead to me" here

Friday, Aug 15th: The Paranoyds at the Lodge Room. Set time at 8 p.m.
In 2022, I covered their set for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Saturday, Aug 16th: Echo Park Rising Festival. All day.
Too many good bands to mention here. 

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Song Spotlight: Robert DeLong's Fool Me Once (a night at El Cid)

I came across Robert DeLong by chance in 2011. There was an event called Art Cycle LA that year. It was a combination of both biking and art. I personally don't own a bike, but I went anyways to participate in the art portion of the event. I happened to come across DeLong and I remember that he had his fans out. Jump to 2017 and he stole the show at the Sunstock Solar Festival. I wrote the following about the party atmosphere around his set, "The festival organizers brought out the balloons and a balloon party went on throughout the set. Some of the balloons would end up in the photo pit and various photographers would toss the balloons back into the eager crowd."

Robert DeLong at El Cid
Robert DeLong at El Cid

Friday, August 8, 2025

Song Spotlight: Erin Ross' Wilderness (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Erin Ross was feeling the sun and the breeze during her WFNM's showcase at Hotel Ziggy. She opened up her set with Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good" which gave everyone an introduction to her multi-octave vocal talent. She let it ripe during the "feeling good" hook moments. She then shifted to her own music. She started it off with the 2024 single release "I Don't Feel The Cold," a love song describing her best friend's marriage. 

Erin Ross at Hotel Ziggy
Erin Ross at Hotel Ziggy

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Song Spotlight: Self Improvement's Change My Mind (a night at Zebulon)

Self Improvement threw a party for their second album release Syndrome and people showed up in mass to support the band. Zebulon, the location of this party, was packed from the front of the stage to the exits. The band members took about a minute on stage to gather themselves, a brief conversation occurred between guitarist Reuben Kaiban and lead vocalist Jett Witchalls. Witchalls did the traditional "Check! Check!" of the microphone. Then they launched into their self titled song "Self Improvement" with alternative college radio station flair. The first song they played off their new album was "Scam" that was like the band was marching towards Hades as screaming banshees. 

Self Improvement at Zebulon
Self Improvement at Zebulon