Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): June 15th - June 21st

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jun 15th: El Colmo at Alex's Bar. Doors at 2 p.m.

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

Sunday, Jun 15th: Shamon Cassette at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
Played the Happy Sundays Festival in 2024. You can read my US Rocker Music review of the festival here. 

Wednesday, Jun 18th: Giselle at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight "Skeletons" here.

Friday, Jun 20th: Broken Baby at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

Played  the Happy Sundays Festival in 2023. You can read my Buzzbands review of the festival here. 

Friday, Jun 20th: Jesika Von Rabbit at The Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight "Psychic Spice" here.

Friday, Jun 20th: Jordan Gruver at Hotel Cafe. Doors at 7 p.m.

Made my 2024 list of "favorite new to me, but maybe not to you" list. You can read that list here.

Friday, Jun 20th: Lone Kodiak at The Echo. Doors at 7 p.m.

Caught the band way back in 2016.

Friday, Jun 20th: Ramonda Hammer at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.
I covered their 2019 set for Buzzbands. You can read it here. 

Friday, Jun 20th: Valley Queen at Scribble. Doors at 8 p.m.

Saw Valley Queen three times in 2024. 

Saturday, Jun 21st: Shannon Lay at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight "All This Life Going Down" here. 

Saturday, Jun 21st: Trousdale at the El Rey Theatre. Bands start at 8 p.m.

I covered the band in 2021 for Buzzbands. You can read that list here.

Song Spotlight: Swimming Bell's 95 at Night (a night at The Fable)

I first came across Swimming Bell, the moniker for Katie Schottland, in late November 2022. I was off to Permanent Records Roadhouse to catch an Emily Rose & the Rounders set and Swimming Bell was the opening band for me (I say opening for me as I missed Selland & Starr set -- I believe this was the night I was expecting Selland & Starr to come on after Emily Rose and was hanging out around the stage while the Permanent Records crew was breaking down equipment and I finally realized I missed their set). I learned at the time via one of my Q&A interviews that Schottland is a New York native and had moved to Los Angeles a couple years back. Since that was 2022, I'd say she's an adjusted Los Angeleno (or maybe not).   

Swimming Bell at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Ferry Townes' Salt (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Ferry Townes, the moniker for Julia Gargano, walked up to the Hotel Ziggy microphone during a WFNM night with a smile and an enthusiasm for her music that was shared by the audience. It didn't take long for someone to yell out, "So f*cking awesome." Her response, "Thank you, dude."

Ferry Townes at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Danny's Song by Seko (a night at Zebulon)

Seko was the first band up during Pretty But Wicked's night at Zebulon. I was impressed as soon as the first notes were played of their opening song "Say Hi To The Son." While writing this blog post, I had to do some research on the band (I had never heard of them before). To be honest, my first observation was that their band name is very similar to the long time Los Angeles band Sego. 

Seko at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: Jagged Baptist Club's Temptation Death House (a night at Permanent Records Roadhouse)

Jagged Baptist Club took to the Permanent Records Roadhouse stage, yelling out "Los Angeles!!!" The band is fronted by Blake Stokes who has to rank as one of the more engaging lead singers of the Los Angeles music scene. He gave his audience a complement after their first song of the night, "Now ladies and gentlemen of Los Angeles, California, I have to tell you something . . . I'm already impressed. We were playing eleven shows in England. And they were very good at clapping. And in the past, you Americans have not been very good at clapping. But guess what, you're very good at clapping." He then called out someone who had stopped clapping to the beat set by their drummer Morgan Ponder. 

Jagged Baptist Club at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Song Spotlight: Memo PST's I Used To Be A Pretty Boy (a night at Zebulon)

Memo PST brought the punk to Zebulon. One has to give it up to Secret Fires who booked a great night of music. The night did belong to the headliners Gustaf, but Memo PST was not to be ignored. The band "was formed in 2022 by longtime associates Orville Neeley and Chris Shaw." Neeley takes the electric guitar duties while Shaw handles the vocals and front man responsibilities. 

Memo PST at Zebulon

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): June 8th - June 14th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jun 8th: Dagger Polyester at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2023, I covered the band for Buzzbands, which you can read here

Sunday, Jun 8th: Lauren Lakis and Taleen Kali at The Echo. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2023, I covered Lauren Lakis for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Also, in 2023, I covered Taleen Kali for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Monday, Jun 9th: Ultraviolet Communication at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.
You can read my "No Return" Song Spotlight here. 

Tuesday, Jun 10th: Lucy & La Mer at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

Flash back to 2017 when Lucy & La Mer made my list of Top New Bands (new to me, but maybe not new to you) list. You can see the list here. 

Wednesday, Jun 11th: Guantanamo Baywatch at Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 9:30 p.m.
In 2023, I covered their Happy Sundays Long Beach for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Jun 11th / Thursday, Jun 12th: Zola Jesus at 2220 Arts. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2022, I covered her set for Buzzbands, which you can read here

Thursday, Jun 12th: Bitter Half at Old Town Pup. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my "FY IMY" Song Spotlight here.

Saturday, Jun 14th: Ava Maybee at The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.
In 2024, I covered her for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Saturday, Jun 14th: Lily Waters at Boomtown Brewery. Doors at 8 p.m.
Just like Lucy & La Mer, Lily Waters made my 2017 Top New Bands. Same link. 

Song Spotlight: Paper Citizen's Heart On Fire (an afternoon at The Escondite)

I've been wanting to catch up with Paper Citizen for a few months now. The band is the brainchild of Singaporean Claire Gohst. I had previously circled a date at The Escondite in January, but the night got cancelled due to the Los Angeles fires. Fast forward three months and I noticed that she was playing another show at The Escondite. This time, there was no interference to my getting to catch a set other than a rather bad accident on the southbound 2 freeway, which resulted in a less than 30 minute trip turning into a 1 hour torture drive.

Paper Citizen at The Escondite

Song Spotlight: Mini Trees' Spring (an afternoon at the Art Center College of Design)

I first came across Mini Trees (the moniker for Lexi Vega) at the 2019 Echo Park Rising festival. If you so wish, you can find a photo I took here on a Buzzband's photo gallery from the festival. I only caught a song or two. That's just how it is when you're running and gunning for a blog site. The band played at Trencher. Trencher was a restaurant (since closed) and I remember people coming in and out to pick up or order food throughout the time I was there. 

Mini Trees at the Art Center College of Design

The duo of Jeffertitti and Chloe Kat charm at Hotel Cafe

It was off to Hotel Cafe on a Wednesday night to cover a Lisa Crawley single release party for her song "What You Can Do." I wrote up an article for US Rocker Music with a Q&A that you can read here. The night included the opening duo of Jeffertitti and Chloe Kat. This was my first time seeing Chloe Kat on stage (I believe, always possible I've seen her as part of a backing band) though I'm rather sure I've seen her around town. As for Jeffertitti Moon, well, what long time Los Angeles music fan hasn't crossed paths with Jeffertitti?

Jeffertitti and Chloe Kat at Hotel Cafe

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Jameson Tabor (a night at Bar Lubitsch)

Jameson Tabor recently played the WFNM at Bar Lubitsch with keyboard support from Elise Go. He had a million dollar smile and a dance performance that was no doubt influenced by his musical acting background. His engaging performance had the crowd chanting UFO with him during the song "UFO." UFO is the acronym for Unexplored Feelings of Obsession. With arms outstretched, he provided the early crowd with a warm singing embrace to start the night off on a positive note.

Jameson Tabor at Bar Lubitsch

Song Spotlight: Madam Bombs' Girl with a Fuse (an afternoon at The Escondite)

I first came across Madam Bombs at The Redwood Bar in 2022 when they played alongside Speed of Light and The Pumps. At the time, I was unfamiliar with the band. I had gone there specifically to catch Speed of Light and The Pumps. Speed of Light used play in the short lived, but memorable DIY punk scene Bands In A Barbershop. I was familiar with The Pumps via Rio Infante who played in the band Strawberry Army.

Madam Bombs at The Escondite

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): June 1st - June 7th

A Handful of Show Alerts

Monday, Jun 2nd: Raue at The Roxy. Doors at 7 p.m.

Made my list of favorite new to me bands of 2023.

Tuesday, Jun 3rd: Bitter Half at the The Escondite. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my "FY IMY" Song Spotlight here.

Thursday, Jun 5th: Swimming Bell at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

Check out her recent release "96 at Night" here on Youtube. 

Friday, Jun 6th: Guantanamo Baywatch at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

I covered their 2023 set at Happy Sundays Long Beach for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Friday, Jun 6th: Sunflower Bean, Gift, Tashaki Miyaki at the Lodge Room. Doors at 7 p.m. Set times start at 8 p.m.

I covered Sunflower Bean's 2024 set at Zebulon for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

I did a 2024 Q&A with Gift for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Check out my Tashaki Miyaki "City" Song Spotlight here.