Song Spotlight: mop's Save Yourself (a night at The Goldfish)

If I didn't work full time and could just have the time of my life out in the Los Angeles music scene, I would head out to the Rocknite LA showcase at The Goldfish far more often than I do. In early November, I took a look at their Instagram page to see who was playing that particular Wednesday night. I didn't initially recognize anyone on the bill, which isn't unusual as they have a way of uncovering bands and singers. I clicked on through each of the three bands / artist. The first Instagram link I selected was the band mop. To my surprise, it was a new band fronted by Laura Jean Anderson. I did not realize it, but at some point in the last couple years, she moved to New York. I was definitely heading out to The Goldfish -- and so did a lot of other familiar faces from the Los Angeles music scene. 

mop at The Goldfish

The first time I was introduced to Laura Jean Anderson was in 2017 at The Echo. Talk about an amazing line-up. The evening was a residency night for Jesse Jo Stark. The Pink Slips closed out the night, which was fronted by Grace McKagan (before she went solo). Dr. Doctor opened up the night, the precursor to Cuffed Up. Yeah, that was a night where two rising stars (Jesse Jo Stark and Grace McKagan) were getting their feet wet. 

mop at The Goldfish

When mop took to the stage, I was pleasantly shocked to notice that playing bass was Sarsten Noice (someone I've followed since 2017, as well; first via Hydro Kitten and then later in Slugs and Surprise Baby) and on guitar was Dylan Rodrigue. Later in the set, I learned that Noice and Anderson are dating, which perhaps explain why Noice recently moved to New York City.

What's the song spotlight? Currently, there are only two songs available on Spotify: "Save Yourself" and "Fall Asleep." I do have to say that the final song of the night "Don't Look Back" was a real rocker. It started off with tender vocals and instrumentals until suddenly Rodrigue and Anderson face each other and create an explosion of dueling guitars. The song culminates with a glorious minute worth of instrumentals with both of them challenging each other to shred even more aggressively. Afterwards, The Goldfish sound guy came up to me and basically said they were the most rocking band ever to play Rocknite. 

mop at The Goldfish

Of the two songs currently released, I would say the opening song "Save Yourself" best represents the sound of "Don't Look Back." It is a song that deals with her Puritan work ethics.

Idle hands
Make me scream
Have you noticed I can't stop shifting
Dirt beneath my playing nails

mop at The Goldfish

Comment of the night when encouraging the crowd to go wild for a song, "LA, you don't like to move." 

Setlist: Save Yourself, Fall Asleep Now, Shadow Girl, Never Enough, On + On, I'll Make It Right, Olympia Nights, Don't Look Back.