At The Hi Hat to catch Young Creatures, Livingmore and Dream Phases

I had this night circled. There was a reason. I wasn't able to or just missed seeing Livingmore at various times. So I decided I'd catch them on this night.

Dream Phases opened the night with some psychedelic sounds. And I couldn't help but notice that on stage with them was the individual I call the hardest working musician in Los Angeles.

Dream Phases

Livingmore came up next with a sound that went from country to pop. To me, their sound makes me think about Emma Stone picking up a white microphone stand and going all out on La La Land.

Livingmore

Young Creatures was doing their record release party. Their sound is earnest and their fans were showing their love at the front of the stage. There was some audience dancing and some balloon tossing. And yes, the hardest working musician in Los Angeles was there with the band.

Lyrics of the set: I didn't mean to stray so far.

Young Creatures

A Monday Night at The Satellite

It was a Monday night and off I went to The Satellite for a non-residency night of music. Up first was PHEVR. They had their touch of southern rock going. And you could tell they were having fun. There were smiles throughout their set.

PHEVR

Paradise Vultures brought some good old rock to their set.

What did I notice: The drummer used a deodorant stick for his neck prior to the set. He was moving so much through the set, he probably did need it.

Paradise Vultures

Keli Price did a solo set. That wasn't the intent as he mentioned that his band wasn't able to make it. He did a number of covers instead as well as a couple of his own songs.

Keli Price

Ever So Android went full blast for about 20 minutes. I do love this band. Their music rocks and their stage show kicks it out of the park.

Ever So Android

Los Angeles Police Department with raener and Justus Proffit at the Bootleg Theater

Bootleg Theater has the Los Angeles Police Department as their November residency band. When I saw that name, I assumed the Bootleg Theater had booked a punk band. Anyways, not even close.

raener opened up the night with their lovely tonal sounds. The lead singer, in almost a symbiotic move with their sound, kicked off his shoes.

Moment of the set: the announcement that the band had brought cake to celebrate their return to Los Angeles.

raener

Justus Proffit was feeling rather relaxed on stage. He must have felt really relaxed, because I do believe their set lasted only 17 minutes.

Justus Proffit

Los Angeles Police Department's name might make you think punk, but instead you get some smooth melodies. The lead singer let the audience know, "My music is very vulnerable."

Comment of the set: Thanks for dancing there, that was very nice.

Moment of the set: For the very last song, everyone in the audience moved up to the very front of the stage. They weren't even asked to do so. They just did it on their own. A wonderful little moment.

Los Angeles Police Department

So yes, I think you get a sense it was a very relaxed and mellow atmosphere.

Superet with Cillie Barnes and Boyo at The Echo

It was a great night of music at The Echo. I selected this specific night to catch Superet because of Cillie Barnes and Boyo. I've seen Cillie Barnes three or four times. I enjoy her singer-songwriter sounds.

What I noticed: well, of course, I noticed how she decorated her microphone stand.

Cillie Barnes

I'd never seen Boyo, but have seen the name. There was a simplicity to the sound.

Moment of the set: he laid down on his back, playing the final notes of a song on his guitar. He then got up with a pleased look on his face.

Boyo

Superet is the residency band at The Echo. I was surprised that I was the only photographer in the audience. They put on a show. They had an extension to The Echo stage (not sure if this is permanent or just for the residency). It was well used. And what a light show.

Superet

The Aquadolls with Lily Waters and Precious Kid at The Smell

One band I haven't seen in a very long time are The Aquadolls. My notes seem to indicate the last time I saw them was at The Smell way back in 2012; however, I'm pretty sure I saw them at Pehrspace at a later date. Either way, Pehrspace has been shut down for awhile now so even then its been a long time since I've seen The Aquadolls. I did have the chance to see The Aquadolls at Echo Park Rising, but they were one of the last bands to play on Sunday night and I'd been covering Echo Park Rising all day Friday, Saturday and then hung out much of Sunday. So I honestly was too drained to catch them. So when I saw that they were playing at The Smell, I circled the night. It was awesome catching their punk rock set.

The Aquadolls

Moment of the set: one member of the band mentioned that her mother had bought her a cup of tea.

Lily Waters

Lily Waters and Precious Kid opened the night. I'm telling you, you're going to hear more from Lily Waters. Amazing. I wouldn't be surprised to see this band headlining a residency at The Echo, The Satellite or Bootleg Theater in a couple years. As for Precious Kid, maybe it was the Halloween costumes, but this band put on a theatrical show. The lead singer knows how to perfectly point with her fingers and she loved to drape herself on her mic stand. It was fun set.

Precious Kid

Alyeska/Goon with Liv Slingerland at The Echo

It was off to The Echo to catch Alyeska. I've followed her for a little over a year and was so happy to hear that she was doing the residency at The Echo. I was familiar with all the musicians this night though most familiar with Alyeska. Liv Slingerland hit the stage first. I've seen her backing a number of musicians (Lauren Ruth Ward as well as Lucy and La Mer). I will admit I decided to head out this specific Alyeska night at The Echo to catch her set. I've always wanted to see what she brought when fronting her own band. She brought some deep vocals with an Americana sound.

Liv Slingerland

Goon is sharing the residency with Alyeska. I previously saw them at The Hi Hat when they were playing with Alyeska. Interesting how that all works. They brought their heavy, melodic sound to The Echo. I just really enjoyed their set. There is a joy to their sound.

Goon

Alyeska ended the night. There is this awesome youthful wisdom to her sound. And she approaches her set with a modest presence. To show how the night was filled with so many familiar faces, Wolf Woodcock who I also saw at The Hi Hat once, was a backing musician.

Alyeska

Love and a .38 with LANTERNS at The Satellite

It was a free Monday night at The Satellite. The free night wasn't due to a residency, but that didn't stop it from being a great night. Love and a .38 was like the Sunset Strip coming to the east side. They kept the energy up throughout the set to such a degree that I think the light guy got into it.

Love and a .38

LANTERNS opened up the night. The guitarist knows how to play at lightening speed. And the lead singer was chill with his Hawaiian inspired shirt.

LANTERNS

Space Diaries and Molino at the Silverlake Lounge

Space Diaries

Time passes and I hadn't been to Silverlake Lounge in a couple months. Molino and Space Diaries had the night. Space Diaries is the residency band for October. The lead singer hadn't had the best of days and so their set didn't go the full 30 minutes, but they still put out some solid tunes. Molino was dressed in black, but played with some smiles.

There was a solid crowd there to enjoy the night.

Molina

Janelane and French Vanilla at The Smell

It was off to The Smell to catch Janelane and French Vanilla. Janelane is one of my new favorite bands. As I believe I mentioned, the lyrics are filled with break-up emotions. French Vanilla turns it up on the hip-hop punk, especially when the saxophone comes out to play.

Opening up was Lunch Lady and Jody.

Decorator with The Mosaics and The Unending Thread at The Satellite

A new night for The Satellite's residency band hit this month of October. Decorator opened their residency with some awesome jazz infused RnB sounds. The night had that type of cool factor sound with The Mosaics and The Unending Thread opening up for them.

Lemolo at Hotel Cafe

So my story about Lemolo goes like something like this: I believe there were some stage delays at Music Tastes Good 2016. So I took a walk towards another stage to see what was going on there. I heard the lovely vocals of Lemolo and fell in love with the music.

A year later and this Seattle based band was playing Hotel Cafe on the Friday before Music Tastes Good 2017. Was I heading over to catch them? You bet. And from the looks of things, a number of friends of the band showed up, as well.

It was a set of some sweet sweet sounds.

Hopefully, during the rest of their US tour, they were able to get the keyboard working.

Jesse Jo Stark with Leroy from The North, Whispertown and Night Talks

It was Jesse Jo Stark's final residency night. I definitely was going to head on over for a second helping. Opening up were two top notch folk bands. Leroy from The North opened the night with a sound that got two women dancing on the floor. Whispertown is one of those bands I've followed for years and love to catch them whenever I can. Then Jesse Jo Stark hit the stage to an appreciative crowd. Loved the lights. Loved the sound. Loved her casual, but intense way with her performance. Night Talks was the midnight band. I couldn't stay long, but I did have to stick around to catch their first song. Always love their pop style.

Mara Connor, Desure and David (Bjorn and the Sun) at The Hi Hat

A couple Sundays back, The Hi Hat had a fundraiser to help those impacted by the hurricanes that have hit the US. Knowing that Mara Connor was going to play a set, I knew I was going to get to enjoy some folk music. David from Bjorn and the Sun opened up the day. Desure had that sound and look that reminded me of I Love Lucy and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Mara Connor was great as always. I love getting to catch her whenever I can.