The Satellite: Herbert Bail Orchestra with Sophia Knapp

Herbert Bail Orchestra was the residency band at The Satellite for the month of January. This folk rock band just knocked it out of the park. I remember growing up hating the accordion. This band (along with a handful of other bands that I've seen use the accordion) is changing my mind about this instrument.

Herbert Bail Orchestra

Sophia Knapp opened up the night with a singer-songwriter set.

Sophia Knapp

The Satellite: Ever So Android, Tarah Who?, The Gutter Daisies, Niantic

It was a night of some punk rock.

Ever So Android and Tarah Who? really showed how it was down. Ever so Android goes with a touch of romance while on stage. Tarah Who? was totally new to me. They slammed some drums. They were loud. They reminded me of my Kiss or Kill years.

Ever So Android

Tarah Who?

The Gutter Daisies and Niantic also played the night. The Gutter Daisies know how to stage a show. I only caught perhaps half of Niantic's set. They seemed to be having fun, which is always a good thing.

The Gutter Daisies

Niantic

The Hi Hat: LA Girlfriend and Jagged Baptist Club

I previously saw LA Girlfriend at Make Music Pasadena in 2016. Two years later and she still kicks up a good show.

LA Girlfriend

Jagged Baptist Club was a totally new band for me. From what I gather, they recently went through a name change and this was only their second show under the new name. They really put on a rocking good set.

Jagged Baptist Club

The Satellite: DREAMER with Polartropica and MADUS

You know it will be a good night when you walk in early at The Satellite and the front of the stage is already staked out by fans. MADUS opened the night rocking. Polartropica gave some Asian infused pop. DREAMERS was the reason the fans came out and they gave a one hour set to reward those fans. To end the night, half the crowd jumped up on stage to celebrate the night.

MADUS

Polartropica

DREAMER

Bootleg Theater: Karmic, Kinney, Mikey Mike

It was a Sunstock Music Festival Reunion night at the Bootleg Theater. Karmic was doing their shortened residency (due to the holidays). Opening up was Kinney. Playing with Kinney was Skylar, who runs Sunstock.

Karmic

Kinney

In the middle was rapper Mikey Mike who put on one fun set. There was even a wheel of fortune. Well, not good fortune. The winner ended up drinking from a shoe. Yuck.

Mikey Mike

Harvard & Stone: Colleen Green with James V

Way too much time passed since the last time I saw Colleen Green. I noticed that she was playing at Harvard and Stone so off I went. Of course, things didn't go as planned. Her set got delayed, because it appeared that someone forgot their bass. It looked like the drummer took off to get the bass. When he came back, he didn't exactly look happy. Then Colleen Green played for perhaps just 15 minutes. Disappointing, but those 15 minutes were enough to remind me why I love her so much.

Noticed: could not help but see the old school cell phone she uses.

Colleen Green

James V opened up the night.

James V

Madame Siam: Zealyn, Talker, Jubilo Drive

It was a holiday party at Madame Siam. Jubilo Drive opened up with some rocking music. One of my favorite musicians, Zealyn, went with some energizing pop. And Talker ended the night with some singer-songwriter jams.

Jubilo Drive

Zealyn

Talker

El Cid/Wild Riot: Vava, Cheer Up Club, Ariel Beesley, New Evil

Wild Riot was putting on an event at El Cid. The highlight for me was Ariel Beesley. She was also the highlight for most people as the venue was packed for her set. Something dreamy about her sets. And her messed up lipstick by the middle of her set made her look like a punk rock star.

Ariel Beesley

New Evil followed up with a their punk/horror style. I have to admit I couldn't get over with lead singer Sophia's eyes. She was using a contact that made her right pupil super small.

New Evil

Opening up the night was Vava and Cheer Up Club.

Cheer Up Club

VAVA

Bootleg: Mating Ritual and SWIMM

I have to say that I've only been to a couple Dr. Martens nights. But I have kept an eye on who is on their various bills. They've put together some awesome shows across Los Angeles. This specific night was no different with Mating Ritual and SWIMM playing the night.

The last time I saw Mating Ritual was a Chinatown Summer Nights in 2016. It was great seeing them again.

Mating Ritual

I saw SWIMM for the first time earlier this year. They definitely have a solid fan base. Got to say that they seemed to play this set with a greater edge than what I remembered.

SWIMM

The Hi Hat: Joshua and the Holy Rollers with Paige Calico and Balto

Joshua and the Holy Rollers told folks up front that they better find some ear plugs. The band then blasted the audience with some high energy. With Al from Cowgirls on bass, it guaranteed the set would thrill. Now they didn't go all out for the full set. Joshua did take time to do a couple solo songs.

There were some funny comments during the set. When the rest of the band left the stage to allow Joshua to do a solo set, Al said something like, "The band is tired. I'm going to get a massage. Our drummer is going to get a haircut. We're getting the f*ck off the stage."

Then when Joshua was switching from guitar to the keyboard, he walked to the back of the stage where the keyboard was and said, "Look, a keyboard. Was this here the whole time?"

Joshua and the Holy Rollers

Paige Calico said she was to be the softer sound in between the more rocking Joshua and the Holy Rollers and Balto. It may have been quieter sound, but it was just as solid.

She also had some amusing comments.

"It's better then just playing with myself . . . now everything I say is going to sound sexual."

"I'm going to steal your face like Game of Thrones."

Paige Calico

Balto open the night with some rocking sounds.

Balto

The Smell: The Aquadolls with Pleo Sharman, The Gems, The Grinns

Mosh pit city. That's what was going on at The Smell throughout the night. It started off with Pleo Shaman and continued on. Pleo Shaman's lead singer kept having microphone problems. I don't know if it was because he was moving around so much or that he just had a defective connection. The Gems might have toned it down, but it didn't stop the crowd from wanting to body slam. They love to dress to impress. The Aquadolls was the main reason why I showed up at The Smell on this night. I've followed this band for years. They always put on a good show. As the show came to a close, there was some riding on an inflatable dolphin. Closing out the night was The Grinns. The band had their fan base showing up. What I found myself getting fascinated by trying to catch a photo of the Rickenbacker brand on the end of the bass.

Pleo Shaman

The Gems

The Aquadolls

The Grinns

Stories Books and Cafe: MishCatt and Fiona Grey

This was my second time hanging out at Stories Books and Cafe for a Commune event. The music is held behind the store in an open patio. It isn't just about the music. Time prior to the music is spent talking with various individuals. It really is a moment of commune.

Opening up the night was MishCatt. I previously saw her in February. She was the main reason I went to Commune as I wanted to catch her set again. It was a nice period of telling stories and music. She even talked how coloring her face purple was driven partially by her wanted to do a social experiment.

MishCatt

Fiona Grey is someone I've heard about and seen on various schedules. This was my first time catching her set. She has some great vocals. She also told stories that she wouldn't feel comfortable putting in a press release. I suppose one story that would be fine to tell would be the fact that at the age of 19 she went on a European tour with Kitten.

Fiona Grey

The Echo: Sugar Candy Mountain with Dream Phases and FD & the Wizards of the West

I got an invite by Dream Phases to catch their set at The Echo. I checked my calendar and said, "Yes." Their set was rocking with some liquid lights as backdrop. Lucy from Lucy and La Mer was in the audience. Both Dream Phases and Lucy and La Mer were in Europe at the same time. She mentioned that they had tried to meet up, but couldn't.

Dream Phases

FD and the Wizards of the West followed up with Congo drum rock sounds.

FD and the Wizards of the West

Sugar Candy Mountain had the crowd swooning. Interestingly, enough, they were the very first band I saw at Echo Park Rising 2017.

Sugar Candy Mountain