Song Spotlight: Sakshi Chopra's Not My Fault (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Sakshi Chopra stood off to the side, dressed as a modern day genie, while her guitarist played a quiet reflective intro. She then walked onto the staged, standing barefoot on a carpet that took on magical qualities. Standing there, she looked a touch nervous to start off the Hotel Ziggy set (a WFNM night). That nervousness quickly ended once she started to sing and dance through her opening song "Hypnotized." The song mixes in traditional Indian music with modern pop and R'n'B. The set got support from a huge fan base that was beyond capacity of the venue and had many standing in the hotel lobby area.   

Sakshi Chopra at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Trent Peltz's Wish I Knew How To Find Her (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Doing some research on Trent Peltz, I came across an article that mentioned that he backs Grace McKagan on bass. I've seen Grace McKagan a handful of times and so I decided it was time to glance through some photos. (If interested, I covered Grace McKagan for Buzzbands, which you can read here when she opened for Irontom.) And yes, indeed, I do have photos of him on bass. He also played with her in the band The Pink Slips. I'm going to tuck that piece of information away as those who read my blog know that I love referencing the intertwining of musicians across various Los Angeles bands.

Trent Peltz at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Maddie Ross' Trash Fire (a night at The Goldfish)

It was a Rock Nite LA night at The Goldfish. It was my second time heading out to this weekly (Wednesday) night of free music. So far, Rock Nite LA is two for two in my book.

Maddie Ross closed it out on this particular Wednesday. Playing with her was Zach Bilson. I bring this up, because there used to be this music festival called Brokechella that was forced to change their name to Broke LA for a legal reason. The festival focused on the Los Angeles music scene. Anyways, back in the 2017 version, Bilson played in 4 or 5 bands. That is just a memory that stuck in my head. What also stood out that year was that it was the first time I came across my favorite American Idol, Zealyn. It was also the first time I came across Thumpasaurus. Got to say, it was a solid festival line-up.

Maddie Ross at The Goldfish

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): May 18th - May 24th

A Handful (Bucket Full) of Show Alerts

Sunday, May 18th: Goon (3:10 p.m.), Hailey Wild (5:30 p.m.), Madam Bombs (2:00 p.m.), Maybellene Ryder (5:45 p.m.) at the LA County Fair. 

Sunday, May 18th: Emily Rose & the Rounders at The Echo. Doors at 5 p.m.

You can read my "Too Much Too" song spotlight here.

Sunday, May 18th: Osnova at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 7 p.m.

One of my favorite "New to me, but maybe not to you" bands from 2024. You can read my list
here.

 
Monday, May 19th: Bitter Half at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my "FY IMY" song spotlight here.

Tuesday, May 20th: King Mala at The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.

One of my favorite "New to me, but maybe not to you" bands from 2021. You can read my list here.

Tuesday, May 20th: Soft Palms at Genghis Cohen. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "Rainbows" song spotlight here.

Wednesday, May 21st: Miya Folick at the Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m.

I covered her 2024 set at Echo Park Rising for US Rocker Music. You can read that article here.

Thursday, May 22nd: Easy Love at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

Used to be part of Summer Twins, a one time favorite band of mine.

Friday, May 23rd: Escape-ism at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "Charge of the Love Brigade" song spotlight here.

Friday, May 23rd: Isabel LaRosa at The Belasco. Doors at 7 p.m.

I covered her 2024 set for US Rocker Music. You can read that article here.

Friday, May 23rd: Jeffertitti at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can see one of my photos maxed out on his prior band's Instagram page, The Entire Universe.

Friday, May 23rd: L.A. Witch at the Lodge Room. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

I covered their 2022 set at the Lodge Room for Buzzbands. You can read that article here.

Friday, May 23rd: Luke Pelletier at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m. 

He was part of Pistacioland recently (same venue). You can read my review of that night here.

Friday, May 23rd: Trent Peltz at Hotel Cafe. Set time at 9 p.m.

I recently saw him play at WFNM.

Saturday, May 24th: Kills Birds at The Echo. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "Glisten" song spotlight here.

Fans dance as Bigtop Bandstand returns to Frogtown Brewery

It is late spring, which means that country music showcases are returning from their winter break. Grand Ole Echo is currently in Season XX and you can read my recent post on one of their weekly Sunday shows here. Also up and running at Frogtown Brewery is Bigtop Bandstand, which I believe is a monthly Saturday event.

The What Four at Frogtown Brewery

Song Spotlight: Kora's Far as I Can Tell (a night at Zebulon)

Kora (Kora Puckett) opened the night for Jawdropped on a Friday night at Zebulon.  He introduced the start of the set by saying, "Check the hands on the clock. It is 8:05, it is time to rock." He then proceeded to blast back open the Zebulon stage doors that had just closed. That did not literally happen, but it could have in an alternate universe where music has physical force. 

Kora at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Slowpoke's Tiki Dream (a night at The Goldfish)

I was doing some research about a particular Rocknite LA event at The Goldfish. I was like, okay, I've seen Cartalk a handful of times. I've seen Maddie Ross. Who's this Slowpoke band? I took a look at their Instagram page and the faces looked familiar. Of course, this being Los Angeles, it was very possible that I just recognized the faces from other bands. That is, in fact, true when it comes to Tamara Simons who plays in the band Goon that I've followed for a number of years. When I took a look at their Instagram page, they only had 20-ish posts with their first post coming in 2022. Hmm. I decided to take a look at their tagged photos. There were a lot more photos and as I scrolled through I finally came up with the answer. Yes, I did know this band. They were previously playing under the name New Media. 

Slowpoke at The Goldfish

Song Spotlight: Kesley Bou's stuck in atlanta (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Kesley Bou played a recent WFNM night at Bar Lubitsch. She played a short 5 song set with three of those songs coming from her recent 2024 Bad Dream album. The set opened up with "in the dark" that has the lyrics, "You told me to move on, but I can’t let this one go." Yes, the album is filled with sadness. The next song was also from the album and got the introduction with a chuckle, "This next song is less sad. Give or take. It's called 'the end.'" This one has the lyrics, "Flowers wilting underneath. The weight of your feet." 

Kesley Bou at Bar Lubitsch

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): May 11th - May 17th

A Handful (Bucket Full) of Show Alerts

Sunday, May 11th: Brenda Carsey at the LA County Fair. Set time at 4:30 p.m.

I've followed Brenda Carsey for years. FYI: if you're wanting to head out to the fair to catch her set, make sure you head out early. I went out last year to catch Lucy & La Mer and it was traffic torture.

Sunday, May 11th: Linnea at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my "Tough Luck" NFV Song Spotlight here.

Monday, May 12th: Devon Ross at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can my 2024 review of one of her sets here.

Monday, May 12th: McKail Seely at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

She's part of Harry Katz and the Pistachios. You can read my 2025 review of one of their sets here.

Tuesday, May 13th: Dove Armitage at The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my 2024 US Rocker Music review here.

Wednesday, May 14th: Iress at The Echo. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my 2024 US Rocker Music review of their set here.

Wednesday, May 14th: King Isis at The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my 2024 US Rocker Music review here.

Wednesday, May 14th: Paige Stark at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "City" song spotlight her band Tashaki Miyaki here.

Thursday, May 15th: Bruvvy at Hotel Cafe. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my 2025 review of their set here.

Thursday, May 15th: Moonfuzz at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my "Hell Week" song spotlight here.

Friday, May 16th: Mating Ritual at The Goldfish. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my 2021 Buzzbands review here.

 

Friday, May 16th: Niis at the Teragram Ballroom. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can ready my 2024 US Rocker Music review of their Happy Sundays Long Beach Festival set here.

Saturday, May 17th: Pegzilla at Supply and Demand. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my "Giver" song spotlight here.

Song Spotlight: Sagittaire's Hi, It's Caroline (a night at Zebulon)

This was my second time catching Sagittaire, the brainchild of Ivan Mairesse. The first time was at Resident DTLA. That was back in August 2023. I so enjoyed the set that I listed Sagittaire as one of my favorite "new to me, but maybe not to you" bands of 2023. At the time, I described the music as a touch above subliminal.   

Sagittaire at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Kill My Coquette's Put Me in Your Movie Quentin Tarantino (a night at Harvard & Stone)

It was time to head out to a Swyndle LA night at Harvard & Stone. This night was my first time in 2025. Kind of strange, especially since they've booked bands that I enjoy catching such as Blu Jay and the lovebombs. Something always got in the way and so I finally decided that no matter what, I was going to go to a Swyndle LA night. 

That's how I came across Kill My Coquette, the moniker band name for Natalie Denise Sperl. The band started off the set with "Slipped Him a Mickey." It's an homage to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. That's a book that I finally read last year. I picked it up used at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. I've seen both the 2009 and 2011 movies and so it only took me a decade plus to finally read the book.

Kill My Coquette at Harvard & Stone

Long Beach's Happy Sundays Festival (August 23rd / 24th) Announces First Round of Bands

Since 2018, I've always put the Long Beach's Happy Sundays festival on my calendar. The organizers of the festival (wife-husband team of Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya) recently announced the first set of bands for this year's edition, which will take place over the weekend of August 23rd - 24th. If you weren't aware, starting last year, the festival expanded to a two day festival. 

Grand Ole Echo is Celebrating Season 20 at The Echo

Grand Ole Echo is celebrating their 20th season of Americana and country music at The Echo. A couple years back, Los Angeles Magazine wrote up an article about how country music is a growing scene in the local music community. That is likely true, but even when country music wasn't at the forefront of the community, the Grand Ole Echo stood tall.