Song Spotlight: The Little Miss' A Week into New Year's Resolutions (a night at the Sassafras Saloon)

My first encounter with The Little Miss (the moniker for Hayley Johnson) was back in 2018 at the Resident. I'm not going to lie, that was one strange first time encounter. Why? It was a mash up night. The headliner was Ever So Android (renamed Boy Deluxe a few years later). They're an electronic punk band. The Little Miss, a country folk singer. I was there for Ever So Android, but enjoyed The Little Miss and continued to follow Johnson throughout the years. 

The Little Miss at Sassafras Saloon

The last time I saw The Little Miss was at Oracle Tavern in 2023 when she was playing the second to last night at that venue before it shut its doors. I did love that venue. It was just outside of DTLA, but it felt like it was out in the high desert.

By strange chance, I went to her Instagram page, because it had been way too long since I last saw a set. (Around three years back, she moved to San Diego to take up a teaching job so encounters are not as frequent.) I noticed that she was playing the relaunch night of  Small Town Friday Nights (which used to be at The Silverlake Lounge) at Sassafras Saloon. Talk about getting super lucky. 

The Little Miss at Sassafras Saloon

Being a teacher, she gave the audience a quiz, "I got a quiz question for you. I now also become a teacher. If you can answer this quiz question, I'll give you our signature red bandana: how long has this iteration of band been playing together?" It was their first time together. The band was filled with professionals so you couldn't really tell. And perhaps it helps that when watching The Little Miss, one focuses on Johnson's vocals. She has one of the more distinct female voices in the Los Angeles music scene (I guess one should include the San Diego music scene, as well). It is textured and smokey with the tendency to draw out words for emphasis.  

My song spotlight goes to "A Week into New Year's Resolutions." Perhaps it is a bit strange for me to connect with this song. The world is separately in various ways, but one separation is between savers and spenders. I'm a saver, Johnson is a spender (or at least used to be a spender). Maybe I wish I were a spender and I'm living vicariously through another person? 

The Little Miss at Sassafras Saloon

I buy running shoes, but I don't run.
I buy sunglasses, but I don't go in the sun.
I buy groceries, but I don't cook.
And I don't read, but you know that I buy books.

Setlist: Red, White & True. Without A Trace. Shut Up Already. Baby, It's October. You Can Run. A Week into New Year's Resolutions. Spring Cleaning.