Review: Pistacioland Cracks Open the Yes

It was a Pistachioland night at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Were there any actual pistachios at the venue on a Saturday night? I didn't see any, but I did see a band called Harry Katz and the Pistachios and a tie with pistachios in the design. The night was hosted by Harry Katz and this night was apparently Pistachioland III. I missed the other two iterations of this festival of fun. It was a night filled with music as well as face painting, a juggler, and DIY shops. Hopefully, I don't miss Pistachioland IV.

Harry Katz and the Pistachios at Permanent Records Roadhouse

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

A Handful (Bucketful This Week) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Mar 2nd: The Blushes at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
One of my favorite bands. The band played Echo Park Rising in 2024. You can read my review of the festival for US Rocker here.

Sunday, Mar 2nd: Eagle Rock Gospel Singers at Hotel Cafe. Set time at 7 p.m.
Came across this band back in 2014. 

Tuesday, Mar 4th: Bruvvy at Madame Siam.
You can read my NFV Song Spotlight here.

Tuesday, Mar 4th: Christina Apostolopoulos at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

If you look carefully, you'll see a photo I took for Buzzbands at Echo Park Rising here.

Tuesday, Mar 4th: Escape Artist Lovers and Mercedes Kilmer at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
You can read my US Rocker reviews of Escape Artist Lovers here and Mercedes Kilmer here.

Thursday, Mar 6th: Jenny O at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Buzzbands review of Jenny O here.

Saturday, Mar 8th: Dear Elise at The Smell. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my US Rocker review here.

Saturday, Mar 8th: Lake at 2220 Arts. Doors at 8 p.m.

Been following this band since 2009.

Saturday, Mar 8th: Menea at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 7 p.m.

Saw her recently at WFNM.

Saturday, Mar 8th: Moonfuzz and Pegzilla at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

This is a punk night.

Song Spotlight: Perrin York's Keep Out (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

 

This is Los Angeles. When you hear fabulous vocals from a singer, your first thought is that this person competed in American Idol (okay, or The Voice). That is the case when it comes to Perrin York who was a contestant in Season 18 (aired in 2020) of American Idol. 

Perrin York at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Gretchen Klempa's A Little Bit (a night at Zebulon)

Gretchen Klempa split her set at Zebulon into two. Her first three songs were from a previously released album called Human Nature. The next three songs were new songs. Then she ended the set with Dogbite that her fans recognized with cheers.  

Gretchen Klempa at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Ultraviolet Communication's No Return (a night at Club Tee Gee)

I will admit that I was feeling this deep desire to catch some live music. I totally understand that due to the fires that hit Los Angeles starting January 7th that venues needed to shut down due to the potential for the fires to spread (as well as thick smoke that would have made for very uncomfortable situations inside the venues for both the musicians and audience) and a show of empathy. In fact, I was ready to go out on January 8th to Hotel Ziggy to catch Kat French, but then the Sunset Fires flared up and I thought that was a really stupid idea. 

Ultraviolet Communication at Club Tee Gee

Song Spotlight: Ben Reddell's Tumbleweed (a night at Club Tee Gee)

I have not seen Ben Reddell perform all that often, but he is a very familiar face in the Los Angeles music scene. He is one of the movers and shakers in the Americana-Country scene as he curates the Grand Ole Echo series each year at The Echo. The 2025 series should be starting up on the last Sunday of March or the first Sunday of April. I tangentially did a Q&A related to the Grand Ole Echo last year. If interested, you can read my interview with Charlie Overbey over on US Rocker Music. He was playing Grand Ole Echo to celebrate his In Good Company record release. I unfortunately wasn't able to make the record release party as I was up in Big Bear - that sounds like an Americana thing to do, right? 

Ben Reddell at Club Tee Gee

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Feb 23rd - Mar 1st

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Feb 23rd: Osnova at Gold Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.
Osnova was one of my favorite new bands of 2024. 

Tuesday, Feb 25th: Beeson at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
You can read my NFV Song Spotlight here.

Thursday, Feb 27th: Jagged Baptist Club at the Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.
I covered the band at Happy Sundays Long Beach 2024 for US Rocker, which you can read here.

Thursday, Feb 27th: The Blank Tapes at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
I've been following the band since 2018. 

Thursday, Feb 28th: Brenda Carsey at Healing Force Records. Doors at 8 p.m.
I covered her at Echo Park Rising 2018 for Buzzbands. You can find a photo here.

Friday, Feb 28th: Duderella at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.
I covered the band at Echo Park Rising 2019 for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Friday, Feb 28th: Bonavega at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
I covered the band at Echo Park Rising 2023 for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Friday, Feb 28th: Bruvvy at The Virgil. Music at 7 p.m.

You can read my NFV Song Spotlight here.

Saturday, Mar 1st: Harry Katz and the Pistachios at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I've been following the band since 2019.

Saturday, Mar 1st: Death Valley Girls at Scribble. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

You can read my US Rocker coverage of the band here.

NFV Song Spotlight: Cesar Maria's on ur side now (a night at Zebulon)

I walked into Zebulon and John Williams was being blasted over the loudspeakers. The music sparked a sense of positivity. The massive Los Angeles fires had just started that day and evening (Tuesday) and there wasn't yet an understanding of the true magnitude of the damage. Yet, it is depressing when there are fires that burn across Los Angeles and the music gave that window of good cheer (that obviously did not last when the reality of the situation hit home). 

Cesar Maria at the Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Maryze's Playing Dress-Up (a night at Permanent Records Roadhouse)

Strangely, the last time I was at Permanent Records Roadhouse was June of 2024. That really needed to change quickly in 2025. I happened to notice via Night Talks that there was an Altadena Wildfire relief event occurring on a Friday night at 6 p.m. What better way to spend a Friday night: donate funds to those impacted by the Eaton Canyon fire and catch a favorite band called Night Talks. 

Maryze at Permanent Records Roadhouse

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