It is probably due to my desire to catch local bands before they gain a following that explains why I like to catch opening bands. I've occasionally shown up at venues an hour early (because I simply can't judge when the first band hits the stage) just so that I can catch the opener. And by desire to catch local bands, I mean being one of the first photographers to snap some concert photos.
Side note: that theory of being one of the first photographers to snap photos could also apply to the last band of the night, but depending on when that band hits the stage, there is something called needing to wake up the next morning to go to work. Trade-offs in life.
 |
| Night Party at Zebulon |
Zebulon more often than not introduces me to bands that are new to me, but maybe not to others. This was the case on a recent Saturday night when Autogramm hit the stage just before 8:30 p.m. The band joked that there was a large contingent of Canadians in the audience. The band comes from Vancouver, British Columbia though their Instagram account also mentions Chicago and Seattle. I'm not sure if they all currently live in Vancouver or if they all grew up in Vancouver and now some of them live in the United States. Whatever to that wondering on my part, the band had their Canadian support crew in the audience.
 |
| Autogramm at Zebulon |
I first crossed paths with Bruvvy at a WFNM night at Bar Lubitsch. At the time, they were recent arrivals from Miami. One of their Miami photographers was joining in on the fun. I saw them again a month later at another WFNM night, this one at Hotel Ziggy. In between those two dates, lead singer and guitarist Liz Varum broke her foot. She had to spend that second set sitting on a barstool, but the band still had their classic set. After only seeing the band twice, what would I call a classic set? A blow away set filled with head bangs, jumps, back to back stances, guitar and bass swung in wild fashion, and basically non-stop energy. Does this band even have any slow songs? Maybe they do, but I'm so into the set that I don't even notice that they've slowed it down. Their music is an electronic amalgamation of pop-rock intensity and attitude.
 |
| Bruvvy at Harvard & Stone |
I first came across Matt Axton in Glendale. In 2023, The ALEX Theatre was holding a short music series called Country In The Courtyard. I don't recall how I noticed that this was occurring, but the reason I went on that particular night was because Rosy Nolan was playing. I had previous seen Nolan playing the Americana West Fest at Hotel Cafe. Since I live in Glendale, I walked over to The ALEX Theatre, which took about 30 minutes or so.
 |
| Matt Axton at the Bigfoot Lodge |
It has been around 11 months since I was last at Scribble. That night was also my first time at the venue and I was hyped to see Fuss (former members of The Gooms) playing their debut show. Fast forward to 2024 and I went back to the venue thanks to In Sonic Dreams Presents who invited me to catch the 20th anniversary of Earlimart's album Treble & Tremble. I'll be honest, I had never heard of Earlimart before. I say some interesting symmetry there -- in a way, going to the venue to see bands for the first time.
 |
| Earlimart at Scribble |
Matt Axton was celebrating his birthday at Bigfoot Lodge during the monthly Americana Joy music showcase. Coming in for the festivities was Grammy nominated George Ducas. His nomination came for co-writing the song "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)" for Garth Brooks and George Jones that got nominated for the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals category.
 |
| George Ducas at Bigfoot Lodge |
I admit I was a late convert to Gold Star. Gold Star, singer-songwriter Marlon Rabenreither, has been releasing music since 2012. That probably means he's been playing music since at least 2011? When did I finally come across Gold Star? In 2023. I went to Club Tee Gee to catch Mara Connor and came away with another favorite musician. I saw the band three times in 2023 and each time the venue played at was packed. The highlight of that year was the set at The Echo during Echo Park Rising. The venue was so packed that I had to squeeze and forced my way to the side of the stage in order to get some photos. As a friend said to me during one of those 2023 sets, “People show up for Gold Star, baby.”
 |
| Gold Star at El Cid |
I first came across Funds for Jimmy back in early 2022. They were playing at Harvard & Stone. I remember the sound guy was so amazed by their performance that he personally asked for an encore. I recently caught a set at the same venue.
 |
| Funds for Jimmy at Harvard & Stone |
 |
| The Spyrals at Gold-Diggers |
The USC Thornton School of Music senior Hailey Wild had the WFNM night at Hotel Ziggy rocking. It was a perfect blend of hard rock anthems and the Sunset Strip. She opened up the set with Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" that solidified her rocker bona fides from the start.
 |
| Hailey Wild at Hotel Ziggy |
I do enjoy going to Club Tee Gee on occasion. Why? I often don't know anything about the bands or singers on the bill. It is an exploration of the unknown. I seldom even do any preliminary research on who is playing on the bill other than a cursorily look at Instagram pages. And honestly, sometimes the fewer Instagram followers the better, because I'm looking to be one of the first photographers to capture some photos of a band or musician.
 |
| Wayne Redfern at Club Tee Gee |
I've seen Pom Poms at least 6 times throughout the years. The band has played alongside some of my favorite local bands each of those 6 times. I first came across Pom Poms when they played with The Controversy at one of my previous favorite stomping grounds, The Satellite. It was a shared residency and I saw the pair team-up twice. In regards to The Controversy, it appears that the band is on hiatus though I do know that lead singer Laura Vall and husband / bandmate Thomas Hjorth are still involved in music.
 |
| Pom Poms at Harvard & Stone |
