The Satellite: DREAMER with Polartropica and MADUS

You know it will be a good night when you walk in early at The Satellite and the front of the stage is already staked out by fans. MADUS opened the night rocking. Polartropica gave some Asian infused pop. DREAMERS was the reason the fans came out and they gave a one hour set to reward those fans. To end the night, half the crowd jumped up on stage to celebrate the night.

MADUS

Polartropica

DREAMER

Bootleg Theater: Karmic, Kinney, Mikey Mike

It was a Sunstock Music Festival Reunion night at the Bootleg Theater. Karmic was doing their shortened residency (due to the holidays). Opening up was Kinney. Playing with Kinney was Skylar, who runs Sunstock.

Karmic

Kinney

In the middle was rapper Mikey Mike who put on one fun set. There was even a wheel of fortune. Well, not good fortune. The winner ended up drinking from a shoe. Yuck.

Mikey Mike

Harvard & Stone: Colleen Green with James V

Way too much time passed since the last time I saw Colleen Green. I noticed that she was playing at Harvard and Stone so off I went. Of course, things didn't go as planned. Her set got delayed, because it appeared that someone forgot their bass. It looked like the drummer took off to get the bass. When he came back, he didn't exactly look happy. Then Colleen Green played for perhaps just 15 minutes. Disappointing, but those 15 minutes were enough to remind me why I love her so much.

Noticed: could not help but see the old school cell phone she uses.

Colleen Green

James V opened up the night.

James V

Madame Siam: Zealyn, Talker, Jubilo Drive

It was a holiday party at Madame Siam. Jubilo Drive opened up with some rocking music. One of my favorite musicians, Zealyn, went with some energizing pop. And Talker ended the night with some singer-songwriter jams.

Jubilo Drive

Zealyn

Talker

El Cid/Wild Riot: Vava, Cheer Up Club, Ariel Beesley, New Evil

Wild Riot was putting on an event at El Cid. The highlight for me was Ariel Beesley. She was also the highlight for most people as the venue was packed for her set. Something dreamy about her sets. And her messed up lipstick by the middle of her set made her look like a punk rock star.

Ariel Beesley

New Evil followed up with a their punk/horror style. I have to admit I couldn't get over with lead singer Sophia's eyes. She was using a contact that made her right pupil super small.

New Evil

Opening up the night was Vava and Cheer Up Club.

Cheer Up Club

VAVA

Bootleg: Mating Ritual and SWIMM

I have to say that I've only been to a couple Dr. Martens nights. But I have kept an eye on who is on their various bills. They've put together some awesome shows across Los Angeles. This specific night was no different with Mating Ritual and SWIMM playing the night.

The last time I saw Mating Ritual was a Chinatown Summer Nights in 2016. It was great seeing them again.

Mating Ritual

I saw SWIMM for the first time earlier this year. They definitely have a solid fan base. Got to say that they seemed to play this set with a greater edge than what I remembered.

SWIMM

The Hi Hat: Joshua and the Holy Rollers with Paige Calico and Balto

Joshua and the Holy Rollers told folks up front that they better find some ear plugs. The band then blasted the audience with some high energy. With Al from Cowgirls on bass, it guaranteed the set would thrill. Now they didn't go all out for the full set. Joshua did take time to do a couple solo songs.

There were some funny comments during the set. When the rest of the band left the stage to allow Joshua to do a solo set, Al said something like, "The band is tired. I'm going to get a massage. Our drummer is going to get a haircut. We're getting the f*ck off the stage."

Then when Joshua was switching from guitar to the keyboard, he walked to the back of the stage where the keyboard was and said, "Look, a keyboard. Was this here the whole time?"

Joshua and the Holy Rollers

Paige Calico said she was to be the softer sound in between the more rocking Joshua and the Holy Rollers and Balto. It may have been quieter sound, but it was just as solid.

She also had some amusing comments.

"It's better then just playing with myself . . . now everything I say is going to sound sexual."

"I'm going to steal your face like Game of Thrones."

Paige Calico

Balto open the night with some rocking sounds.

Balto

The Smell: The Aquadolls with Pleo Sharman, The Gems, The Grinns

Mosh pit city. That's what was going on at The Smell throughout the night. It started off with Pleo Shaman and continued on. Pleo Shaman's lead singer kept having microphone problems. I don't know if it was because he was moving around so much or that he just had a defective connection. The Gems might have toned it down, but it didn't stop the crowd from wanting to body slam. They love to dress to impress. The Aquadolls was the main reason why I showed up at The Smell on this night. I've followed this band for years. They always put on a good show. As the show came to a close, there was some riding on an inflatable dolphin. Closing out the night was The Grinns. The band had their fan base showing up. What I found myself getting fascinated by trying to catch a photo of the Rickenbacker brand on the end of the bass.

Pleo Shaman

The Gems

The Aquadolls

The Grinns

Stories Books and Cafe: MishCatt and Fiona Grey

This was my second time hanging out at Stories Books and Cafe for a Commune event. The music is held behind the store in an open patio. It isn't just about the music. Time prior to the music is spent talking with various individuals. It really is a moment of commune.

Opening up the night was MishCatt. I previously saw her in February. She was the main reason I went to Commune as I wanted to catch her set again. It was a nice period of telling stories and music. She even talked how coloring her face purple was driven partially by her wanted to do a social experiment.

MishCatt

Fiona Grey is someone I've heard about and seen on various schedules. This was my first time catching her set. She has some great vocals. She also told stories that she wouldn't feel comfortable putting in a press release. I suppose one story that would be fine to tell would be the fact that at the age of 19 she went on a European tour with Kitten.

Fiona Grey

The Echo: Sugar Candy Mountain with Dream Phases and FD & the Wizards of the West

I got an invite by Dream Phases to catch their set at The Echo. I checked my calendar and said, "Yes." Their set was rocking with some liquid lights as backdrop. Lucy from Lucy and La Mer was in the audience. Both Dream Phases and Lucy and La Mer were in Europe at the same time. She mentioned that they had tried to meet up, but couldn't.

Dream Phases

FD and the Wizards of the West followed up with Congo drum rock sounds.

FD and the Wizards of the West

Sugar Candy Mountain had the crowd swooning. Interestingly, enough, they were the very first band I saw at Echo Park Rising 2017.

Sugar Candy Mountain

Bootleg Theater: Motor Sales with Jenny O and Madison Cunningham

It was off to the Bootleg Theater. Motor Sales is doing the November residency there. It was also a perfect time to catch Jenny O.

Opening up the night was Madison Cunningham. It kind of felt like a showcase for her. As soon as I walked into the Bootleg, the place was packed. It was around 8:45 p.m. so not like I was showing up late. Her set had a wonderful tone to it and one couldn't help but notice her amusing facial expressions that she gave her band mates.

Madison Cunningham

Jenny O came up next with music that just knocks me over every time I catch her. There is just this pure combination of her vocals and guitar driven sounds.

Jenny O

Closing out the night was Motor Sales. As mentioned this is their residency month. Considering that Madison Cunningham and Jenny O opened up the night, I was expecting music that was on the singer-songwriter side of things. But nope, there sound was upbeat and wild. Though to keep to the vain of Madison and Jenny, Sydney from CLARA-NOVA was backing the band up.

Motor Sales

El Cid: Kate Faust, Uruguay, Bogan Via, Oak Palace

Wild Riot had an event going on at El Cid. I used to hang out at El Cid a lot back in the Kiss or Kill days, but I do believe the last time I was at El Cid was way back in 2015. That was just crazy. I took the opportunity to catch some bands associated with Wild Riot.

Oak Palace opened the afternoon. They're a band from San Diego. They had some wonderfully intricate music.

Oak Palace

Bogan Via had some computer issues that cut their set short. There was some frustration about the situation, but one they worked things out, they put out some cool electronic tunes.

Bogan Via

Uruguay was the band I was most interested in catching. I had missed their set at one of the Summer Sessions put on by Wild Riot. For their set, folks took to the seats that were set up around tables (El Cid also serves dinner) and enjoyed the duo's haunting vocal style.

Uruguay

Kate Faust finished up the day for me. Love her vocals. You just fall in love with her singing.

Kate Faust

The Satellite: Good Witch

I decided to do a one band hit and run at The Satellite. It was the final night of the Softer Sex Production series at The Satellite. I knew that the lead singer of Good Witch is part of Softer Sex Productions so I figured it'd be nice to support the band as they had put on a nice series. Admittedly, I wasn't able to go to all the Wednesday nights, but I did get to attend two nights and enjoyed both of them. The venue was full of folks in costume as it was Halloween night. As described by Good Witch on their Facebook page, their vocals brought out the mood associated with their music.