Review: Monday Monday at Hotel Cafe celebrate the life of John Skoog

It was a hot minute since I last went to Hotel Cafe (April 2025). Since learning that they were moving locations, I had long wanted to head out to the venue one last time. I kept taking a look at what Monday Monday at Hotel Cafe offered up. I saw an Instagram post that mentioned that long time supporter of the showcase, John Skoog, passed away in November. The post has this tidbit, "John loved music and the artists that create it. He would say that Monday Monday was his church and would often explain how he felt that it was more of a pure example of what church represents to so many people. The community, the music, the messages and the human connection resonated so much for him as it does with the rest of us." 

John Skoog Table at Hotel Cafe

I decided to head out in support of his memory. Based on what was mentioned on stage, he started to head out to The Hotel Cafe after his wife passed away. Playing the night (along with others) were three favorite singer-songwriters of mine: Ari Tibi, Brenda Carsey, and McKail Seely.

It has been awhile since I last saw Ari Tibi performing her own tunes -- got to flash back to 2019. I did see her last year when she did a cameo appearance for a Robert Delong set (which you can read about here). I also saw her in an amusing AT&T commercial (watch it here). I don't recall the exact details on when I first saw the commercial. I don't know if I saw her mention it on Instagram or if I saw it first on television / Youtube. I just remember I was seeing it everywhere (the video is sports related so you get the idea that not only do I go out and catch live music, but I do on occasion watch sports -- though I often will keep an eye on scores of my favorite teams while out watching live music, which indicates my priorities). A short reflection on John Skoog was provided, "I walked him home once just to see what the deal was." 

Ari Tibi at Hotel Cafe

I first came across Brenda Carsey back in 2018 when she was hosting a stage at Echo Park Rising. You can see the flashback photo over at Buzzbands (here). Ever since that date, I've been catching one or more sets a year. On this particular night, she didn't have a glass of alcohol with her, but she did have a bottle of water and asked everyone to raise a glass to honor John Skoog. She ended her set singing his favorite song of hers, "Just Trying To Do My Thing." A big vocal R&B tune that does Anita Baker a solid. A song about following your truth, "Let the spirit move me how it wants to."  

Brenda Carsey at Hotel Cafe

Earlier in the night, Madison Malone was up on stage and had to stop the set, because she was laughing so hard. Why did she have to stop? Because she noticed a "girl group band going on back there." It was Brenda Carsey and Ari Tibi dancing to her song at the back of the room. 

Johnny Carson died in 2005 -- he ended his run on the Tonight Show in 1992. I'm just mentioning that for McKail Seely. Whenever I think about McKail Seely, I immediately think about Harry Katz and the Pistachios. I actually find that amusing, because when I first saw that band 2019, she was not part of it. I also first crossed paths with her in 2019 via a band called Luci - Ari Tibi was a member of that band, as well. One reason I mention this is because for one song the third member of Luci trio, Ashley Maietta, came up to join in a duet for the song "Better Now." It is a song that the two of them sang for Maietta's brother's wedding. The tune left Maietta in tears. I don't know why, but I was given a jolt of surprise when the two of them started to sing that song and mentioned that they were in a band called Luci. This happened even when earlier in the night I noticed Maietta in the audience and suspected what was going to occur during McKail Seely's set. My brain is just so hardwired in equating Seely as one of the Pistachios. It has created tunnel vision. My head might explode if she ever leaves the band. 

McKail Seely and Ashley Maietta at Hotel Cafe

Here's a story about John Skoog from Seely, "John was like my Johnny Carson . . . I didn't need his approval, but I kind of did. If I did a good job, he would then proceed after the set to open up the door and follow me in and be like 'hey, that was great.' One time, I was a little too stoned. And he met me back there. Okay, good, he thought I did a good job. And he goes, 'What the f*ck was that?!?'" 

McKail Seely at Hotel Cafe

Interesting side note: a hot minute had also passed since I last went to The Smell. On back-to-back outings out into the music scene, I went to shows at these two iconic (vastly different) venues.