Song Spotlight: Mara Connor's Someone New (a night at The Fable)

It has been established that I saw Mara Connor's first Los Angeles set. It was over at The Hi Hat. For those unaware of that venue, the location is now The Goldfish. In regards to firsts, I also attended The Goldfish's first live music event (there had been some dance nights previously) and covered the night for Buzzbands. You can see the photos and review here. The venue had a rough start and basically had limited music nights from 2023 - 2024. During that time, I did happen to cover Jess Joy (formerly of Moon Honey) coming back into town from New Orleans for US Rocker, which you can read here. Good news for the venue; however, starting in mid-February they started booking shows again. Hopefully, I'll get to make it over shortly. 

Mara Connor with Ben Joyner at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Tino Drima's Life on the Patio (a night at Harvard & Stone)

As soon as the band Tino Drima started to set up their gear on the Zebulon stage, the crowd pressed close. The night was dedicated (I'm assuming) to songs that will appear on an upcoming record. After playing an unreleased song called "Mixed Tape," the audience was told, "I've been working on a new record. It's taken many years of doing a little bit at a time." 

Tino Drima at Zebulon

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Feb 16th - Feb 22nd

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Feb 16th: Shana Sarett at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 6 p.m.
A Los Angeles fires benefit show.

Sunday, Feb 16th: Essencer at Supply and Demand. Doors at 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb 18th: Sally Spitz at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

I've been following Spitz since the French Vanilla days.

Wednesday, Feb 19th: The Mastersons at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote about their Western Edge event at Zebulon here for US Rocker.

Thursday, Feb 20th: Adriana McCassim at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

One of my favorite new 2023 artists that I came across for the first time.

Thursday Feb 20th: Paper Citizen at The Escondite. Doors either 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.

I caught a Paper Citizen set back in 2022 and did a review and photo gallery for Buzzbands that you can see here.

Friday, Feb 21st: Taylor Sackson at the Big Foot Lodge. Doors at 8 p.m.

One of my favorite new 2023 artists that I came across for the first time.

Song Spotlight: Bitter Half's FY IMY (a night at Harvard & Stone)

Bitter Half includes two former members of a band I used to follow: Stephanie de Santos and Jenny Sparkles. That's how I got my introduction to the two of them and I followed them in their new adventure, finally catching a set at Harvard & Stone in September 2024. The new band veers into punk pop territory with Santos and Sparkles trading lead vocals. 

Bitter Half at Harvard & Stone

Song Spotlight: Fleece Kawasaki's Sea of Regret (a night at Harvard & Stone)

I first came across Fleece Kawasaki (the project of New York City born, but currently residing in Los Angeles artist Kiazi Halpern) in 2022 at Club Tee Gee. He was opening up for Jenny O. Jenny O is a favorite of mine so that was a great way to get introduced to a singer. 

Fleece Kawasaki at Harvard & Stone

Song Spotlight: noworriesLMK's Trying for u (a night at Zebulon)

It was the first Friday night of the new year and I decided to head off to Zebulon. My first music night of 2025. The decision to go out came down to the fact that I didn't know any of the two bands on the bill. In fact, I learned that the band closing out the night (Respira Raus) was playing their first set ever and I don't believe they even have a social media presence. If you've followed my music adventures throughout the years, you know I love heading out to catch new music. How else am I able to come up with my annual list of favorite new bands and artists?

Was it a good decision or just a blah decision? The first band up, noworriesLMK, charmed me so it was an excellent decision. 

noworriesLMK at Zebulon

Review: Zebulon reverberates with Tremours' Album Release Party set

Tremours celebrated the release of their debut album Fragments at Zebulon last Wednesday night. I first came across the band in early 2022 when they opened up for L.A. Witch at the Lodge Room. I got to cover the night for Buzzbands, which you can read here. I learned later in the night that Tremours' vocalist and guitarist Lauren Andino had joined L.A. Witch on guitar.

TREMOURS at Zebulon

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Feb 9th - Feb 15th

A Handful (Bucketful This Week) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Feb 9th: Mercedes Kilmer at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
Zebulon always has the Super Bowl after party. You can read about my review of her set with Gold Star here.

Monday, Feb 10th: Velvet Penny at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read a brief note (here) I wrote about the band (with photo) while covering Echo Park Rising 2023 for Buzzbands. 

Tuesday, Feb 11th: Mara Connor at The Fable. Doors at 6 p.m.

You can read my Buzzbands review of her 2019 set here.

Wednesday, Feb 12th: Escape-ism Album Release Party at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

Caught the band at Zebulon recently. I have an article that I'm still working on regarding that night.

Thursday, Feb 13th: Nightjacket at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

You can read my Buzzbands review of their 2023 set here.

Thursday, Feb 13th: The Witching Hours presents For The Love Of Music Benefit Show at Non Plus Ultra. Mo Dotti headlines. Doors at 6:30 p.m. 

You can read my recent review of The Witching Hours night here.

Friday, Feb 14th: Slugs at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

You can read my Buzzbands review of their 2019 set here.

Friday, Feb 14th: Zzzahara at The Roxy. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read a brief note (here) I wrote about the band at Happy Sundays Long Beach.

Saturday, Feb 15th: Emily Rose and the Rounders at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

You can read my NFV Song Spotlight of "Too Much Too" review here.

Saturday, Feb 15th: Rain on Fridays at The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my US Rocker review of their 2014 set here.

Song Spotlight: RIAH's Prom (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

RIAH (the project of Mariah McManus Goss) drew the crowd at Bar Lubitsch for a WFNM. That is not an exaggeration. Just a few minutes prior to her set, a group of people walked into the venue and then another and another. (For those who don't know about Bar Lubitsch, the bar is split into two rooms. The back room is the venue. The front room is the bar.) Too much info: I was heading to the bathroom after another singer on the bill had finished his set and all these people started entering the venue. After getting done with my business, I went back inside the venue and the place was packed and I needed to squeeze my way back to the front so that I could take my photos and video. Grant Owens of WFNM was literally giddy with the size of the crowd. It was definitely one of the larger crowds at a Bar Lubitsch WFNM night. 

RIAH at Bar Lubitsch

NFV Song Spotlight: Emily Rose & the Rounders' Too Much Too (a night at Boyle Heights Bar)

I first came across Emily Rose & the Rounders back in January 2020. At the time, the band was playing under a different name. Like many a Los Angeles band for me at the time, this first encounter occurred at the Bootleg Theater (a venue that unfortunately closed down shortly after the pandemic; more due to partnership disputes than the pandemic shutdown). This night ranked as one of the top music nights of the year for me. Even if 2020 hadn't ended up being a truncated year, it would still have stood out as one of the top nights for me. Why? The night also included performances by Kate Clover and Strawberry Army. Everyone who loves the Los Angeles music scene should know who Kate Clover is. As for Strawberry Army, the band has ended their run, but they burned bright during their time, playing along side bands such as The Paranoyds. 

Emily Rose & the Rounders at Boyle Heights Bar

Song Spotlight: Blue Wisteria's Members Only (a night at Club Tee Gee)

I ran across Blue Wisteria back in April 2022. They were playing at the Silverlake Lounge (not the current owners, but the prior owners). I did an interview with the band at the time. Here are some snippets from that interview: 

Blue Wisteria at Club Tee Gee

Song Spotlight: Ray Williams' Fantasy (a night at Harvard & Stone)

I came across Ray Williams at a Swyndle night at Harvard & Stone. If you love your country folk music being presented with pristine vocals, Williams is your person. I was captivated from the start. There is something special when listening to the minimalism of a person on stage with just an acoustic guitar -- if they have solid vocals. 

Ray Williams at Harvard & Stone

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Feb 2nd - Feb 8th

A Handful (Bucketful This Week) of Show Alerts 

Sunday, Feb 2nd: Pu$$y-Cow and The Letter Openers at The Escondite. Bands start at 6 p.m.
I covered The Letter Openers for US Rocker, which you can read about here. I've probably followed these two local Los Angeles bands longer than any other active band out there. Just a bit longer than The Dollyrots.

Monday, Feb 3rd: LINNEA at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 6 p.m.

Read my NFV Song Spotlight of "Tough Luck" here.

Monday, Feb 3rd: Max Davey at Hotel Cafe. Bands start at 8 p.m.

This is at Monday Monday at Hotel Cafe so it'll be a short set. I saw a brief 1.5 song set (arrived late) at a WFNM night this past Thursday. I was impressed. 

Monday, Feb 3rd: Soft Palms at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my NFV Song Spotlight of "Rainbows" here.

Tuesday, Feb 4th: Lo Moon at the The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.

See some photos and my review that I did for Buzzbands here.

Wednesday, Feb 5th: Tremours has an album release at Zebulon. Joined by Lauren Lakis and Izzy Outerspace. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can see some photos that I took of the band for Buzzbands here when they opened up for LA Witch. You can read my Lauren Lakis review for US Rocker here.

Thursday, Feb 6th: Shi la Rosa at Bar Lubitsch.. Doors at 7 p.m.

Solo project for the always fun lead singer of Drugs Cosmetic.

Thursday, Feb 6th: Zealyn and Trousdale at Hotel Cafe. Bands start at 6:30 p.m.

This is night two of The Hotel Cafe Presents: A Benefit for Los Angeles. 

Friday, Feb 7th: Shannon Lay at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I've followed Shannon Lay for years, which includes when she played in Feels. 

Saturday, Feb 8th: Osnova and Powder Pink & Sweet at The Smell. Doors at 8 p.m.

Osnova was one of my favorite new bands of 2024. You can read my US Rocker review of a set performed by Powder Pink & Sweet at Permanent Records Roadhouse here.

Saturday, Feb 8th: Speed of Light and Devon Thompson at The Den Studios LA. Doors at 8 p.m.

Got introduced to Speed of Light via The 6*6*60s. Got introduced to Devon Thompson via The Smell.

Saturday, Feb 8th: Taleen Kali has a covers album release show at The Love Song Bar. Doors at 7p.m.

You can read my Buzzbands review of a prior set here.