Review: Less of This creates a frenzy at Zebulon

Less of This who uses the hashtags post-hardcore and metalcore on their Instagram account were the main attraction at Zebulon. It was a post-Christmas night of music that had them as the opening band, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that the crowd showed up early to see them. The crowd was still in the festive mood of Christmas and spent plenty of time yelling their love for lead singer Aiden Grillo and wildly pogo dancing through many of their six song setlist. 

Less of This at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: D.A. Stern's I Never Said I Was The One (a night at Club Tee Gee)

Before Los Angeles was flooded by a series of holiday storms, D.A. Stern opened up the night at Club Tee Gee for an AM Presents Music showcase. Based on his Spotify bio, he's a New Jersey native who eventually made his way to Los Angeles. He must be a big baseball fan as his bio mentioned that while in New Jersey he'd spend time watching the Yankees with his mom and that once in Los Angeles he lived close to Dodgers Stadium. As for his music, "Stern’s laid back, tongue-in-cheek lyrics effortlessly compliment his dreamy pop rock arrangements of dense guitars and swirling organs. The music of D.A. Stern, who is more inspired by filmmakers Albert Brooks and Mel Brooks than any songwriter . . . "

D.A. Stern at Club Tee Gee

Song Spotlight: Photo Ops Walking Under The Trees (a night at Club Tee Gee)

I took off to see Mirrorball at AM Presents Music showcase at Club Tee Gee. Luckily for me, they played last. Why? Because I got to catch Photo Ops (the moniker for Terry Price). Based on the Instagram poster, I figured that Mirrorball would be up second and I was going to take off after that and jump into bed early. That plan was disrupted when Photo Ops took that slot.   

Photo Ops at Club Tee Gee

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jan 18th - Jan 24th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jan 18th: Alex Andre at The Haven. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2021, I covered his set for Buzzbands, you can read that article here.

Sunday, Jan 18th: Moonfuzz at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight of "Hell Week" here.

Monday, Jan 19th: Monday Monday at Hotel Cafe featuring artists Brenda Carsey, Broadway B, and Matt Axton. 

In 2018, I covered Brenda Carsey at Echo Park Rising for Buzzbands, you can see a photo of the set here.

In 2023, I covered Broadway B at November Haze for US Rocker Music, you can read that article here.

Read my Song Spotlight of Matt Axton's "Golden Times" here.

Wednesday, Jan 21st: Host Family at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight of "Dromedary" here.

Wednesday, Jan 21st: Maryon King at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight of "What's a Girl To Do" here.

Friday, Jan 23rd: Chemical Therapy at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight of "East Los Luv" here.

Friday, Jan 23rd: Hailey Wild at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 7 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight of "Wake Up" here.

Friday, Jan 23rd: Pu$$y-Cow at Maui Sugar Mill Saloon. Sets start around 9 p.m.

In 2025, I covered their 20th anniversary, you can read that article here.

Friday, Jan 23rd: Shannon Lay at Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight of "All This Life Going Down" here.

Photo Review: Devon Thompson (a night at El Cid)

I first came across Devon Thompson in 2023 at The Smell and a couple times at WFNM in 2024. My 2025 encounter with the rising rocker was in December at El Cid (you can read my song spotlight for "Wishing" and other photos from the night here). Yes, a bit of a long wait to catch another set, but that is just how it is. The one thing I know about Devon Thompson is that she is one of the more photogenic musicians in Los Angeles. There is just a composure to the way she presents herself onstage. I knew I wanted to capture a photo that you'll see after the jump.

Song Spotlight: Mirrorball's Red Hot Dust (a night at Club Tee Gee)

I came across Mirrorball at the 2024 Echo Park Rising festival. I was an official photographer for the festival and so I only caught a couple songs of their Bar Henry set before I was off to catch another performer. Bar Henry is a bit off the beaten path when it comes to Echo Park Rising so I was making a bee line all the way to Sticky Rice to snap photos of a favorite band of mine, Slugs. Along the way, I came across Beauty Queen playing a sidewalk performance. That was a pleasant surprise as I caught a couple of her sets back in 2019 and this was the first time connecting back up. Why am I bringing up all these random bands? Well, the purpose of this blog over the last year plus has been to randomly incorporate my memories of the Los Angeles music scene.

Mirrorball at Club Tee Gee

Song Spotlight: Street Play's Choke (a night at the Lodge Room)

Street Play opened up a mid-December night at the Lodge Room in support of Faetooth. Of interest, both bands have a commonality. Ashla Razzano played in both bands, ending her run with both in 2023. If the reader is interested, she is currently fronting the folk band Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit. This was my first time catching the band that currently has Jenna Reynoza on lead vocals and guitar, Jake Pavlica on drums, and replacing Ashla Razzano on bass is Keely Martin. Back in 2021, Martin directed a Street Play music video called "Teeth Puncture Lust" for the band. I love all these connections between bands. It just reminds me of last year's Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and how all these artists randomly connected during the same timeframe.   

Street Play at the Lodge Room

Song Spotlight: Faetooth's Eviscerate (a night at the Lodge Room)

Before catching their December set at the Lodge Room, I had previously only caught Faetooth once before at Non Plus Ultra. It was 2022 and I was enthralled with their doom metal and the witchy sort of vibes that the band gave off. At the time, they were a four piece that included Ashla Razzano on guitar (currently in an alt-folk band called Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit). What really sticks in my mind is what happened after their set. I believe that Urns and Argyles was playing their set and a mosh pit formed. I was blissfully on my knees taking photos. Standing to my right was guitarist Ari May. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her motioning to me to move. I thought it was a very nice gesture. 

Faetooth at the Lodge Room

Whitney Tai explores facets of the American Wasteland at Licorice Pizza Records

I came across Whitney Tai back in 2023 at a  Monday Monday at Hotel Cafe night hosted by Brenda Carsey. Monday Monday nights are mini-sets so since that night I've always wanted to catch a full set. I know it took way too long, but I got to attend her record release party for her third album American Wasteland at Licorice Pizza Records. 

Whitney Tai at Licorice Pizza Records

Song Spotlight: Eliza Spear's Sweetheart (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

I went off to WFNM's showcase at Hotel Ziggy to catch Mara Connor. My chances of catching her in concert are not as frequent as prior years as she's spending time in Nashville. You can read a blog post that I wrote close to a year ago for her song "Someone New" here. Anyways, the first artist of the night was Eliza Spear who happened to mention that she's also from Los Angeles, but has since moved to Brooklyn. 

Eliza Spear at Hotel Ziggy

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jan 11th - Jan 17th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jan 11th: Funds for Jimmy at The Smell. Doors at 8 p.m.
You can read my song spotlight for "unclean." here.

Thursday, Jan 15th: Soft Palms at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Rainbows" here. 

Friday, Jan 16th: Pegzilla at The Smell. Doors at 9 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Giver" here. 

Friday, Jan 16th: Ty Teg at Scribble. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Open Sky" here. 

Review: Havana Bass adds Caribbean sounds to the Americana Joy night at the Bigfoot Lodge

A few months had passed since I last went to an Americana Joy night at the Bigfoot Lodge. For some reason, the Friday night events either snuck up on me or I had a scheduling conflict. On this particular night, I noticed that Harry Katz and the Pistachios was playing so I made extra sure that my calendar was cleared for that Friday night. What is always fun for me when going out to catch a particular favorite band is when I come across a band that isn't on my radar and I find their set rather enjoyable. That so happened on this particular night when Havana Bass hit the stage. 

Havana Bass at the Bigfoot Lodge

Song Spotlight: Maejoy's Blueberry Lemonade (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Maejoy closed out the night for me at the WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy. It appears that she is currently living in Los Angeles though she recently lived in Las Vegas. From what I can tell, she was ingrained in the Las Vegas music scene, putting together an occasional event called "All The Feels" at The Sand Dollar Downtown. 

Maejoy at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Sofia Ionescu's You Don't Know Me (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

The Romanian-born Sofia Ionescu recently moved to Orange County just two years ago and is now a freshman at USC. In early December, she performed at Hotel Ziggy for the WFNM showcase. Being a USC student, she brought along a contingent of fellow USC Thornton classmates who providing backing vocals and instrumental support. Her Spotify bio mentions that she is a fan Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and Amy Winehouse. You know what that means, it was a jazz-blues set and, of course, a cover of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good."

Sofia Ionescu at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Darienne Savoy's Frozen In Time (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Darienne Savoy opened up a December night at Hotel Ziggy the right way for the WFNM crowd. Her R&B vocals were smooth and polished, delighting all. Joining on keys and backing vocals was her producer Noriko Olling while Kaili Sincere and Aaron Junior provided additional backing vocals. And I should not forget that hidden off to the side was guitarist Yohei Nakamura.  

Darienne Savoy at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: They/Live's Master Melody (a night at Zebulon)

They/Live took the stage at Zebulon on a December night. It was an interesting route to Zebulon on my part, but I'm glad I made it. The previous night, I got a last minute request to cover a set in DTLA. I pinged my contact the next morning (being the night of the They/Live set). I was told that everything was a go with a photo pass and ticket at the box office window. I got to the venue at around 7:30 p.m. I went to the box office booth and was told I had a ticket, but I wasn't on the photo list. I spent the next 45 minutes trying to resolve the situation. I sent texts to my contact. I sent Instagram messages to the two performers that night and even sent a message to someone I know who occasionally works at the venue. It just wasn't meant to be. 

They/Live at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Sunrose's Chemical Feel (a night at El Cid)

Sunrose (lead vocalist and guitarist Jaxon Rose, bassist Tripp Bowers, and drummer Jax Kemp) had drummer Kemp take to the El Cid stage for a Whiplash solo percussion opening. Got to love it when a band let's the drummer open up the night. On that early December date, the band's aggressive style was the perfect setup for headliner Devon Thompson (you can read that review here). 

Sunrose at El Cid

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jan 4th - Jan 10th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Monday, Jan 5th: MyVeronica at The Haven. Doors at 6 p.m.

I listed My Veronica as one of my favorite new bands of 2024. You can read that post here.

Tuesday, Jan 6th: MacGregor Burns and Sharon Silva at The Fable. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for MacGregor Bruns' "Paradise Motel" here.

In 2022, I covered Sharon Silva for Buzzbands, which you can read here. 

Tuesday, Jan 6th: The Sea Monks at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2025, I wrote a review of their set, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Jan 7th: Giselle at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for "Skeletons" here.

Wednesday, Jan 7th: Muscle Beach at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2025, I wrote a review of their set at Zebulon, which you can read here.

Saturday, Jan 10th: MacGregor Burns at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

Playing twice this week.

Saturday, Jan 10th: The Letter Openers at Old Towne Pub. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2024, I wrote a review of their set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Song Spotlight: Jesse Detor's Hands (a night at El Cid)

Jesse Detor might have been the opening artist at El Cid in early December, but as soon as the doors opened to let the crowd into the venue, many of them rushed to the front of the stage in anticipation of her set. That enthusiasm for her music was reciprocated with pop-punk energy on her part. The rocker recently moved to Los Angeles, having grown up in Minneapolis and attended the Berklee College of Music. 

Jesse Detor at El Cid

Song Spotlight: Child Seat's Stress (a night at The Goldfish)

Child Seat (the duo of Madeleine Mathews and Josiah Mazzaschi) kicked off the night at The Goldfish in a celebration of girlish figure's music video release for "Please Her For Pleasure." You can read that review here. I've followed the band since 2022, but I've known about both Mathews and Mazzaschi for much longer. I came across Mathews via MAWD in 2019 and I've followed Mazzaschi since 2011 (oh yeah, I've been hanging out in the Los Angeles music scene for way too long) via Light FM and then in 2018 via Bizou. Interesting fun fact about Bizou, bassist Nicole Fiorentino is known for playing with Garbage and The Smashing Pumpkins. Circling back to Child Seat, I've always loved the band and in 2024 I covered their record release show for their sophomore album Dancing at The Disco, which you can read here. 

Child Seat at The Goldfish

Song Spotlight: Font's Looking at Engines (a night at Zebulon)

I've been hanging out in the Los Angeles music scene long enough that when I saw the band Font was playing Zebulon, I immediately flashbacked to a band called LA Font. That was a band that played the Los Angeles music scene from around 2008 to 2018. I believe I saw that band band four different times between 2011 and 2014. 

Font at Zebulon