Two Movies seen on TCM: Gentleman's Agreement (1947) and To Hell and Back (1955)

I've been hooked on TCM for years now. I just always remember being a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, James (Jimmy) Steward, John Wayne, and many many more. Around a decade ago, I used to do some reviews of movies I saw on TCM. I figured I'd start it up again. If you're interested, click on through.

Song Spotlight: Cheridomingo's Drugs (a night at The Roxy)

Cheridomingo recently opened up for Chase Petra at The Roxy. I reviewed the night for US Rocker Music. You can read the review here. Cheridomingo is one of those bands that I saw for the first time via online sets during 2020. I caught the band playing two online sets for WFNM. I got to catch the band live at the No Earbuds Fest in Pomona that I also covered for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. What do I remember most about their festival set? The fact that there was a very enthusiastic fan up front for their set. One of her friends said out loud, "She paid $50 just to catch one band."  

Cheridomingo at The Roxy

Review: a lighthearted set by The Freebies at Harvard & Stone

I like to rotate around venues and a bit of time had passed (3 months) since I last checked out a Swyndle night at Harvard & Stone. Off I went to make up for not hanging out at Harvard & Stone for awhile and I came across a band called The Freebies that has been around for a couple of years. While writing up these blog posts, I dig around the Internet looking for little tidbits about a band and honestly I couldn't find much about this band, which sort of indicated to me that they like to keep it low key. 

The Freebies at Harvard & Stone

Song Spotlight: Chase Petra's A Bug's Life (a night at The Roxy)

I recently covered Chase Petra at The Roxy for US Rocker Music. If interested, you can read the review here. It was their home coming show to celebrate the release of their sophomore album Lullabies for Dogs.

Chase Petra at The Roxy

Song Spotlight: Buckets' Judy (a night at The Semi-Tropic)

I caught Buckets for the first time in 2021 once venues started to open up after the 2020 shutdown. They were part of an outdoor mini-festival called Big Top DIY Fest that was held in someone's backyard in Highland Park. It represented my fifth time catching live music once again (there were technically some other events that I attended during the shutdown, but those were relatively small groups of people that were producing streaming content and I was the photographer).

Buckets at The Semi-Tropic

Song Spotlight: Go Betty Go's Fuzzy (a night at The Echo)

It was off to The Echo to cover The Dollyrots and Go Betty Go for US Rocker Music. You can read my review here. This was, I would say surprisingly, only my second time catching Go Betty Go live. Interestingly, the line-up this time around was very similar to that first time around. I caught the band in 2017 at The Hi Hat and they were opening up for  The Dollyrots. Also, playing that 2017 night was The Two Tens. The Two Tens did not play The Echo show, but member Adam Bones has a new band called The Manic Standstill that did play The Echo (he has also played with Go Betty Go in the past).

Go Betty Go at The Echo with former band mate Emily Wynne-Hughes 

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Sep 7th - Sep 13th

A Handful (Bucket Full) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Sep 7th: Dagger Polyester at The Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 9:30 p.m.

In 2023, I covered the band for Buzzbands, which you can read here.

Sunday, Sep 7th: Moonfuzz at Supply and Demand. Doors at 2 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight review for "Hell Week" here.

Sunday, Sep 7th: UGHH at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I just covered their Happy Sundays Festival set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Monday, Sep 8th: Harry the Nightgown at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

The band is fronted by Sami Perez who plays in various bands such as Cherry Glazerr and SadGirl. I covered a 2024 SadGirl set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Monday, Sep 8th: Madison Cunningham at Club Tee Gee. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight review for "All I've Ever Known" here. 

Tuesday, Sep 9th: Host Family at Zebulon. This is the return of School Night. Doors at 6:45 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight review for "Dromedary" here.

Wednesday, Sep 10th: Child Seat at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

In 2024, I covered the band for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Sep 19th: Goon and Draag at The Echo. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2023, I covered both bands for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Wednesday, Sep 10th: Small Forward (record release party) and Sharon Silva at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2022, I covered Sharon Silva for Buzzbands, which you can read here. 

In 2019, I covered Small Forward for Buzzbands during Echo Park Rising. You can find a photo of the band here. 

Thursday, Sep 11th: Shamon Cassette at Non Plus Ultra. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2024, I covered the band for US Rocker Music during Happy Sundays Festival, which you can read here.

Friday, Sep 12th: Death Valley Girls at Alex's Bar. Doors at 8 p.m. 

In 2024, I covered the band for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Friday, Sep 12th: The Little Miss at Sassafras Saloon. Doors at 8 p.m.

One of my all time favorite country singers who unfortunately moved to San Diego a few years back, but is back in town for this set.

Saturday, Sep 13th: Cursive at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.

This year, I covered the band for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. 

Song Spotlight: Iress' Shamed (a night at Bar Flores during Echo Park Rising)

Two of the bands that I was focused on catching at Echo Park Rising was Iress and Slugs at Bar Flores. I was one of the official photographers for Echo Park Rising so unfortunately I wasn't able to catch the full Iress set as there was another band to photograph, but the handful of songs I did catch were a thrill. 

Iress at Bar Flores

Song Spotlight: The Dollyrots' Get On This Ride (a night at The Echo)

I believe the first time I came across The Dollyrots was at the now closed The Lava Lounge on January 27th, 2007. I was part of the Kiss or Kill scene though I arrived towards the tail end of it. In 2012, a documentary was made of the scene, which you can see the trailer for here. When I came onto the scene, everyone would mention The Dollyrots. Eventually, I asked, who are The Dollyrots. I was told they were one of the biggest bands in the Kiss or Kill scene, but were constantly on tour so they didn't get the chance to play Kiss or Kill that often. I finally got to catch them and the night has always stuck with me. It wasn't a Kiss or Kill night, but it was a night filled with Kiss or Kill fans. I still remember guitarist Luis Cabezas leaping off the stage and right at me. Who can forget something like that. Oh mercy, I was sold on the band from that point onwards. 

The Dollyrots at The Echo

Song Spotlight: Valley Queen's Ride (a night at The Semi-Tropic during Echo Park Rising)

When it comes to Echo Park Rising, I call Friday night the pre-party night and I spent the whole time hanging out at The Semi-Tropic. When it came to the actual day of the festival, Saturday, I focused my attention elsewhere until 9 p.m. when I just had to pop in to catch a handful of songs from Valley Queen. 

Valley Queen at The Semi-Tropic

Song Spotlight: Spacehog's In the Meantime (a night at The Regent Theater)

Whenever I do band Q&As, I sometimes ask the following question: Would you rather be a 1 hit wonder known all around the world -OR- have a steady underground following?  And then of course, why the choice? 

In late June, I got the opportunity to catch Spacehog and EMF co-head at The Regent Theater. You can read my US Rocker Music review here. For good or bad, both bands are seen as one hit wonders. Spacehog has "In the Meantime" while EMF has "Unbelievable." Per Spotify, "In the Meantime" has been streamed nearly 136 million times. "Unbelievable" has been streamed 129 million times. I do believe that both songs were also their debut singles.   

Spacehog at The Regent Theater

Song Spotlight: MACKandgold's Chasing Down (a night at The Semi-Tropic)

MACKandgold (the moniker for Mackenzie Graham) closed out the Echo Park Rising Friday pre-party at The Semi-Tropic. With her funky beats, it was the perfect way to end the night. Her fanbase was pressed close to the stage. That very crowd is what makes the band's set so precious to attend. Their enthusiasm for her music is unmatched in the Los Angeles music scene. She'll give the fan base a look and you'll hear them singing back "I'm Your Dog" or any other catchy lyric. 

MACKandgold at The Semi-Tropic

Addendum Review of EMF at The Regent Theater

EMF played the The Regent Theater in late June. I got an invite from their PR firm in late May. I waited a couple weeks and then was like, "Oh wait, let's see if I can get a photo pass." It worked out and it was a fun night -- other than afterwards when my car ran into mechanical issues while driving home. I shot the night for US Rocker Music and you can read my review here. 

EMF at The Regent Theater