Song Spotlight: Lily Waters' Big Star (a night at Harvard & Stone)

I first came across Lily Waters in 2017 and put the band on my list of favorite new bands for the year. I went back to look at that list of bands. I've got to say that was one awesome year of coming across new bands. Who were some other names on that favorite's list?

Lily Waters at Harvard & Stone

Boy Deluxe (Ever So Android at the time)

Francisca Valenzuela
Goon
Gypsum
Holy Wars
Janelane
Lauren Ruth Ward
Lucy & La Mer
Potty Mouth
Trapdoor Social
Warbly Jets
Zealyn

I've left a couple bands off the list who have disappeared from the Internet. There isn't a band on the list that I don't distinctly remember. I mourned when Potty Mouth decided to call it quits in late 2021 / early 2022 timeframe. Some may wonder who in the world is Gypsum, but you may recognize Rosie Tucker who was a founding member of the band. I've covered many of these bands for either Buzzbands or US Rocker Music over the years. 

In 2023, I covered Boy Deluxe for Buzzbands (read that article here).

In 2023, I covered Goon for US Rocker Music (read that article here).

In 2021, I covered both Gypsum and Potty Mouth for Buzzbands (read that article here). 

In 2019, I covered Holy Wars for Buzzbands (read that article here).

In 2019, I covered Janelane for Buzzbands (read that article here).

In 2018, I covered Lucy & La Mer for Buzzbands (read that article here).

In 2022, I covered Zealyn for US Rocker Music (read that article here).

There are a number of bands that I still try to see on a year / semi-year basis such as Boy Deluxe, Janelane, Lucy & La Mer, and Lily Waters. 

Lily Waters at Harvard & Stone

I noticed that Lily Waters was playing a Swyndle LA show at Harvard & Stone. I decided to do a targeted drop by. (I usually try to catch more than one band when I go out, but the night was coming  after I'd spent the weekend at Substance Fest and not getting home until 2 a.m. I needed to do some sleep catch-up. Also, the following night, I was covering a band for US Rocker Music.) To me, what highlights Lily Water from the others on that list (perhaps the exception being Lauren Ruth Ward) is lead singer Gabbi Green's vocal cadence. There is punctuation that is given to certain words in any song. Her vocals also have a country-folk drawl that immediately stands out. It was also nice seeing Billy Changer on guitar and synths. 

Lily Waters at Harvard & Stone

What's the Lily Waters song that stands out for me? The band hasn't released that many songs over the years, but I do have a sweet spot for "Big Star." It is about being sucked into the Los Angeles black hole of actresses, actors, singers, musicians, and let's just add in photographers. Do you stay or leave? Or maybe do you switch to pursue another career? Or maybe you do breakout? In some ways, this is why I re-booted this blog in 2025 -- to give some recognition to bands / singers that give so much joy to the Los Angeles music scene and hoping that many of them do break out.  

Are these the feelings of regret or the feelings of hope?

You can go back home to the people who love you most