The Satellite: Creating Monsters with nhala and Kapali Løng

It was a busy night at The Satellite though I have to admit I only stuck around for the first three bands. Kapali Løng gave a rocking performance, which included a song dedicated to his fiance. nhala had her videographers out to capture who solid dance moves. Creating Monsters had a Wednesday night residency at The Satellite. After hearing the set, I wished I had made it to more than just one night. That was some blues driven noise.

Kapali Løng

nhala

Creating Monsteres

Old Towne Pub: Peg Leg Love

The last time I was at Old Towne Pub was way back in 2016 for the final year of Make Music Pasadena. The venue was never a favorite, but I used to go a handful of times a year. For some reason, it dropped off my radar for 3 plus years. Well, I got invited to catch Peg Leg Love and decided to accept the opportunity. When I got to Pasadena, I actually realized that I knew the general area where the venue was, but wasn't exactly sure which side street to head down. That's what happens after 3 plus years. Luckily, I could hear a band ending their set and so let the music lead me.

Peg Leg Love is one of those DIY bands that you can tell plays for the love of the craft. The focus throughout the set was on the music, which is what one would expect from a band that has been at it in different forms since 2005. Lead guitarist and vocalist Ilir provided that raw energy while bassist Christina gave out a nonchalant cool vibe. Rocio on drums made sure they kept the pace of their furious sounds. 

The set was to celebrate the release of their record The Funeral Empyre. The Pub crowd seemed to be packed with friends and family that were out to support the release.

After their set, I decided to head to - where else - King Taco.

The House of Machines: Livingmore and Patrolled By Radar

It is always cool to catch Livingmore. They have some catchy music. And as I've told the band, you're not always sure what type of sound you're going to get from the band. I've heard them take a country angle to their music and sometimes a rock angle. On this night, perhaps because of the line-up, they distinctly went country.

Livingmore

Though there were four bands in the line-up, I only caught one other band, Patrolled By Radar. (Okay, so I got home after a week of work and going out on various nights and just had to take a nap.) Patrolled By Radar had a country sound to them.

Patrolled By Radar

School Night: Fever Joy, Jane Holiday, Taylor Janzen, Ruby Waters

I saw Fever Joy earlier this year and when I saw that they were playing School Night, I decided I just needed to head out to School Night. It has been awhile since I last went to School Night. Even though I don't seem to make it out there enough, I always enjoy the music. Fever Joy closed out the night with energy and blazing white lights. I enjoyed them more this second time around then the first time, which is a good sign.

Fever Joy

Jane Holiday perhaps was the primarily band to see for the School Night crowd. I've seen him a handful of times. He put on a rocking performance.

Jane Holiday

Taylor Janzen and Ruby Waters were in from Canada. Taylor Janzen had those singer songwriter qualities that just cause you to fall in love. Ruby Waters put a bit a gravel in her vocals.

Taylor Janzen

Ruby Waters

The Satellite: Kristeen Young, Glam Skanks and Fox Violets

A new month means a new residency band/artist at The Satellite. For the month of October it is Kristeen Young. Of interest, I'd seen all three bands/artists on the bill. Kristeen Young back in 2017 and Glam Skanks and Fox Violet in 2018.

Kristeen Young is a full on art extravaganza. Those vocals that just soar without warning. A fashion sense that is SciFi futuristic.

Kristeen Young

Opening up was Fox Violet that rocked to out.

Fox Vioet

And then there was Glam Skanks. The name says it all. This band is rock glam. Hair flings. Heavy metal power vocals. And an all female band. What more is there not to want here.

Glam Skanks

The Hi Hat: Cat Scan, Susan and Traps PS

It was a double album release party with both Cat Scan and Susan celebrating similar accomplishments. I'd just recently seen Cat Scan at Happy Sundays Long Beach. Over 3 years had passed since I last saw Susan. In fact, I saw Susan three years plus ago at The Hi Hat. As having just seen Cat Scan, I was more than ready for the chaotic beauty. What I was surprised to learn was that lead singer David moved out of Los Angeles. Per LA Record, he moved to San Diego. I wonder what that means for Cat Scan? As for Susan, I knew I loved them the first time I saw them, but since so many years had passed, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. What I got was some awesome garage rock/punk sounds. And no, as I learned back in 2016, no one in the band is named Susan.

Can Scan

Susan

Opening up the night was Traps PS.

Traps PS

Zebulon: Makoto Kawashima

More than a few months had gone past since I last went to Zebulon. I recently decided that I just needed to head out to the Zebulon. I got to catch Makoto Kawashima from Japan. Seats were set up for the night and folks were very mesmerized by his saxophone artistry. He falls under what is called free jazz.

Makoto Kawashima

Opening was Tashi Dorji doing a guitar set, also free jazz.

Echoplex: Fell Runner with Expensive Magnets and Johanna Samuels

Fell Runner was the September residency band at The Echo/Echoplex. This band jams with intensity. They're hard to put into a box other than they're a mix of everything put together. And I'm not saying a mix of pop, rock, punk. Include in there some jazz and classical, as well.

Fell Runner

Expensive Magnets played some funky jazz tunes. This was their first set ever though both principles are established musicians.

Expensive Magnets

Johanna Samuels opened the night with some singer-songwriter cheer.

Johanna Samuels

The Hi Hat: Opus Vitae with The Haunts and Bogan Via

It was off to The Hi Hat to catch a couple bands that I didn't catch at Echo Park Rising. My main reason for going was to catch Opus Vitae. Their music is layered and gorgeous. What was fascinating was watching the musicians switching it up on various instruments. The bassist hitting the keys for a song. The guitarist then hitting the keys. Another guitarist hitting the drums.

Opus Vitae

The Haunts were another band that played Echo Park Rising. I was talking to another photographer who mentioned that he fell in love with the band at Echo Park Rising. That was a good endorsement. I loved their rock sound.

The Haunts

Bogan Via didn't play Echo Park Rising, but I did happen to catch them during a Wild Riot event in late 2018. They played it soft and soothing.

Bogan Via

Harvard & Stone: Luci and Rambling Ways

Talk about some heavenly voices. Luci has three lead vocalists who just shine.

Luci

Rambling Ways brings the Latin flavored sounds. Just a thrill to catch this band.

Rambling Ways

The Satellite: Love Nothing with Gracie Gray and Jet Trash

Love Nothing is the residency band at The Satellite. They brought some solid rock sounds to The Satellite. There are some real tender tales in those lyrics.

Love Nothing

Gracie Gray hit it out of the park with her set. I just love her vocals and how she wraps that up in her layered music. Her vocals have a bedtime story quality to them.

Gracie Gray

Jet Trash opened up the night. They said they hadn't played a set in 2 years. They put on such an energizing set, I had to ask, "Are they sure they haven't played together in 2 years?"

Jet Trash

The Smell: Kicked off the Streets, Skippin Stoned and The Slop

A few months had passed since the last time I was at The Smell. I figured it was time to head on over. It was a night of mosh pits. Skippin Stoned started it off by encouraging the crowd to start moshing. By the time Kicked Off The Street hit the stage, there was no need for encouragement. The fans knew what to do. The Slop did a quick set. It was a 15 minute set, but worthy of praise.

Kicked Off The Street

Interesting moments: The Smell was having problems with their lights. Kicked Off The Street had to play their last couple songs in near total darkness.

The Slop

Skippin Stoned

The Hi Hat: The Morning Yells, Jessi Williams and Coyote, Sumeau

Way too much time had passed since I last went to The Hi Hat. I'm talking May. How is that even possible? It was time to change that by heading off to catch a night where I knew I'd enjoy. Two of the bands on the schedule were bands I'd seen before: Sumeau and Jessi Williams and Coyote. The third was a band that I'd meant to catch The Morning Yells.

It was a sweet night filled with a crowd that were friends with the various bands. Jessi light-heartedly tried to convince her friends to move to Topanga.

Jessie Williams and Coyote

Sumeau reminded folks why they're a cult music group.

Sumeau

The Morning Yells is a band that share song-writer duties. It is cool knowing that everyone in the group is involved in creating their songs.

The Morning Yells