Song Spotlight: Allegra Ondine's Museum of Houses (a night at Harvard & Stone)

Allegra Ondine's soprano vocals that take on operatic qualities hit the Harvard & Stone stage during a Swyndle LA showcase. I ran across Ondine previously back in 2023. I first ran across her in July when she was a back-up vocalist for Gaia Calista. Then in August, I happened to catch a Paradise Lovers set, which is a duo with Maybellene Ryder. In regards to Ryder, I happened to mention her in a US Rocker Music when she was playing violin for Oh, Rose (you can read that article here). Paradise Lovers is an interesting pairing. Ondine has classical vocals while Ryder has alternative pop / folk vocals. 

Allegra Ondine at Harvard & Stone

Song Spotlight: O.S. Coleman's Natural Way (a night at Harvard & Stone)

O.S. Coleman (initials for Odin Scott) opened up the night at the Swyndle LA showcase at Harvard & Stone. It was a set filled with bluegrass and gospel tunes with Coleman switching between the banjo and violin while his bandmate Troy Dillinger (known for playing with Harry Katz and the Pistachios) took up accordion duties. 

O.S. Coleman at Harvard & Stone

Song Spotlight: Yagki's Something I Do (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Yagki (aka Sarah Yagki) took the stage during my first WFNM showcase of 2026 at Hotel Ziggy. The Lebanese heritage, Australian born, current Los Angeles resident (apparently ended 2025 moving to Los Angeles) had an infectious enthusiasm during her 35 minute set. She made sure people were aware that her accent was Australian and "not a bad British accent." Personally, I'd like to know why Vegemite is a thing. 

Yagki at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: Chase Burnett's Penny I Promise (a night at The Fable)

Chase Burnett was the opening performer for Ryan Pollie's first 2026 showcase at The Fable. He's Texan born and currently living in Los Angeles. He wanted to spend a month in Oakland, but will have to stick it out in Los Angeles for awhile as someone stole his catalytic converter. Though I do believe his current home base is Los Angeles, it would seem he spends significant time away from the city, as his Instagram page indicated that he spent a month or more in Austin, Texas. Time to time, when doing these write-ups and the corresponding research, I do notice the travel that various musicians do in life (beyond just touring), and I do say it gives me that travel itch. 

Chase Burnett at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Sharon Silva's Underachiever (a night at The Fable)

I believe I first caught a Sharon Silva set in 2022 when she opened up for Jenny O, which I covered at the time for Buzzbands. Prior to that; however, I was familiar with her via The Wild Reeds and that dates back to 2013. I always seem to catch her playing with some awesome singer-songwriters. In 2023, she was on the same bill with Adriana McCassim. In 2024, she played a night that included Johanna Samuels and Valley Queen. I didn't happen to catch a set in 2025, but the opportunity popped up in early 2026 to catch a set at The Fable for Ryan Pollie's biweekly showcase. 

Sharon Silva at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Never Knows Best's Wait and See (a night at the Redwood Bar)

Prior to headliner Never Knows Best taking the stage at the Redwood Bar, Spiral Teeth (you can read my review of that set here) told the audience "Happy New Year's Eve Eve." It was nearly the last day of 2025 and I finally made it to the Redwood Bar for the first time that year. The Redwood Bar isn't part of my standard rotation of venues that I visit, but you'd think I would have hit up the venue more than once in 2025. 

Never Knows Best at the Redwood Bar

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jan 25th - Jan 31st

A Handful of Show Alerts

Monday, Jan 26th: Sierra Spirit and Sharon Silva at Healing Force of the Universe. Doors at 8 p.m.
In 2024, I covered a Sierra Spirit set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

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

Monday, Jan 26th: Slowpoke at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight for "Tiki Dream" here.

Wednesday, Jan 28th: D.A. Stern at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight for "I Never Said I Was The One" here.

Thursday, Jan 29th: Fashion Club at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "Confusion" here.

Thursday, Jan 29th: Sister Gemini at the Airliner. Doors at 7 p.m. 

Read my Song Spotlight for "Elvira" here.

Saturday, Jan 31st: Photo Ops at Healing Force of the Universe. Doors at 8 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight for "Walking Under The Trees" here.

Saturday, Jan 31st: Shannon Lay at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
Read my Song Spotlight for "All This Life Going Down" here.

Two Movies seen on TCM: Boom Town (1940) and Thief (1981)

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. The following two movies are Boom Town and Thief. 

Song Spotlight: Spiral Teeth's Monochrome (a night at the Redwood Bar)

I came across Batcave Lark (moniker for Lark Detweiler) in November at Substance Fest. They were a backup dancer for Pink Stiletto. Flash forward to the last few days of December and I was weighing two choices: head off to The Smell or the Redwood Bar. I took a look at the bands / artists playing at each venue. Playing the Redwood Bar was a band called Spiral Teeth. I quickly made the connection that Spiral Teeth was another artistic avenue of Detweiler's (maybe I figured this out back in November, but then just forgot about it). Decision was made, if Valery Kvochkova of Pink Stiletto had a connection with Spiral Teeth, I would head out to the Redwood Bar.

Spiral Teeth at the Redwood Bar

Song Spotlight: Nail Polish's Haunted Spells (a night at Harvard Stone)

I'm always looking for new bands in order to do write-ups on this blog site. It was the week of New Year's Eve and so not a whole lot was happening in the Los Angeles music scene. I wanted to head out a couple nights, because I do have a goal of writing at least 3 or 4 posts a week. There are a handful of weekly promotor inspired nights that I target when looking for new bands: AM Presents Music, Rocknite LA, and WFNM. All three were shut down for the week. Not all was lost. There was one final promotor that I track that was still holding a night of music. It was Swyndle and their Monday night at Harvard & Stone. 

Nail Polish at Harvard & Stone

Review: Less of This creates a frenzy at Zebulon

Less of This who uses the hashtags post-hardcore and metalcore on their Instagram account were the main attraction at Zebulon. It was a post-Christmas night of music that had them as the opening band, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that the crowd showed up early to see them. The crowd was still in the festive mood of Christmas and spent plenty of time yelling their love for lead singer Aiden Grillo and wildly pogo dancing through many of their six song setlist. 

Less of This at Zebulon

Song Spotlight: D.A. Stern's I Never Said I Was The One (a night at Club Tee Gee)

Before Los Angeles was flooded by a series of holiday storms, D.A. Stern opened up the night at Club Tee Gee for an AM Presents Music showcase. Based on his Spotify bio, he's a New Jersey native who eventually made his way to Los Angeles. He must be a big baseball fan as his bio mentioned that while in New Jersey he'd spend time watching the Yankees with his mom and that once in Los Angeles he lived close to Dodgers Stadium. As for his music, "Stern’s laid back, tongue-in-cheek lyrics effortlessly compliment his dreamy pop rock arrangements of dense guitars and swirling organs. The music of D.A. Stern, who is more inspired by filmmakers Albert Brooks and Mel Brooks than any songwriter . . . "

D.A. Stern at Club Tee Gee

Song Spotlight: Photo Ops Walking Under The Trees (a night at Club Tee Gee)

I took off to see Mirrorball at AM Presents Music showcase at Club Tee Gee. Luckily for me, they played last. Why? Because I got to catch Photo Ops (the moniker for Terry Price). Based on the Instagram poster, I figured that Mirrorball would be up second and I was going to take off after that and jump into bed early. That plan was disrupted when Photo Ops took that slot.   

Photo Ops at Club Tee Gee