The Playlist

Ora the Molecule and More of What You Heard at Club Underground on 10/24/25

Ora the Molecule live at El Cid in Los Angeles on May 15, 2025 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
I didn’t take pics at Underground last night, so here’s one of Ora the Molecule at El Cid back in May. (Pic: Liz O.)

Someone asked about a song I played at Club Underground last night and I wasn’t sure what it was at the time, but it was probably “Nobody Cares” by Ora the Molecule, since it was the only new song in that chunk of time. Also, people have asked about it elsewhere recently. It’s my favorite song on, Dance Therapy, the latest album from Ora the Molecule (who, for those reading in L.A. on Saturday, is playing at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s costume ball tonight) and it’s been doing really well on the dance floor. I’m guessing it’s because the song is true— “Oh, you’re feeling weird?/ Well, guess what/Nobody cares.” 

Anyhow, I played the second half of the night and the set list is below. The 2025 releases are in bold and link back to other mentions on this lil’ blog. Don’t forget to snag yourself a ticket or two or more for Club Underground’s Halloween Party.  

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Adventures in L.A.

The “Crotch Bump” and Other Dodgers Moments on View in Billy Kheel and Pat Riot Art Show at Eastern Projects

Kiké Hernandez and Gavin Lux crotch bump in 2024 depicted on a felt tapestry by artist Billy Kheel at Eastern Projects in Los Angeles (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Billy Kheel captures the Kiké Hernandez and Gavin Lux crotch bump in felt at Eastern Projects in Chinatown. (Pic: Liz O.)

It’s the first day of the World Series and while the Dodgers are in Toronto to face the Blue Jays, fans in L.A. can check out Dodger art just downhill from the stadium. Doubleplay, a joint show from L.A.-based artists Billy Kheel and Pat Riot, opened earlier this month at Eastern Projects in Chinatown and it’s on view at the gallery through November 22. 

Continue reading The “Crotch Bump” and Other Dodgers Moments on View in Billy Kheel and Pat Riot Art Show at Eastern Projects →
Happening in L.A.

Depeche Mode on the Big Screen, Ora the Molecule Live and More Happening in L.A. 10/23-10/29/25

Ora the Molecule live at El Cid in Silver Lake on May 15, 2025 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Ora the Molecule, seen here at El Cid earlier this year, plays Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s 3rd Annual Costume Ball on Saturday Night (Pic: Liz O.)

We’re heading into one of those weekends/weeks where there is too much to do in Los Angeles. It can be overwhelming. Trust me, I know, because I’m also overwhelmed with options, since I’m not DJing at a club this week. (I am, however, playing Halloween tunes with Hoseh on Dublab’s Version Sounds next Tuesday at 4 p.m.) Just narrowing down this list was tough, so keep reading for the highlights. 

Continue reading Depeche Mode on the Big Screen, Ora the Molecule Live and More Happening in L.A. 10/23-10/29/25 →
Adventures in L.A.

Halloween Shopping Near Downtown L.A.? Head to the Piñata District

Spooky piñatas in Los Angeles' piñata district (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Halloween shopping? Maybe head down to the Piñata District (Pic: Liz O.)

Right now, if you head to the Piñata District, you might come face to face with oversized jack-o-lanterns, menacing scarecrows and grinning witches. The small strip of Olympic, roughly between the Fashion District and the produce markets, is decked out for Halloween with piñatas that range from creepy-cute to gruesome. There are characters you’ll recognize from bedtime stories, horror films and, maybe, some of your nightmares. There is also a bounty of Halloween decorations and candy. Lots of candy. And gum too. So much that I could feel myself turn into a hybrid of Augustus Gloop and Violet Beauregarde as I rummaged through rows of chocolates and lollipops and other sweet treats. This tends to happen anytime I’m in the Piñata District. It’s hands down my favorite place in L.A. to stock up on candy and, if you’re getting ready for Halloween, and are near downtown, I suggest hitting up the Piñata District. 

Back in August, LAist reported that the Piñata District had been “pummeled” by the ICE raids that have dogged Los Angeles since the start of the summer, with one store reporting a 90% drop in sales and another noting that even price cuts weren’t bringing in customers. One of the reasons cited in the story is that people just aren’t having parties right now. But, with Halloween right around the corner, there’s a really good opportunity to support the Piñata District. You’ll be shopping in a way that’s budget-friendly for you while also helping out local businesses that have been impacted by the Trump administration’s cruel and absurd whims, rather than feeding more money into mega-corporations. 

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The Playlist

“Les Yeux de Laura” and More of What You Heard at Salt Box Sessions on 10/19/25

Vinyl 45 single for "Les Yeux de Laura" by Gouts de Luxe
The 45 for “Les Yeux de Laura” by Goûts de Luxe

It was an ordinary Sunday in Los Angeles. I heard one driver blasting Zapp while walking from the Metro station to Salt Box Records, another blasting Debbie Deb as I walked back. Second Street was packed with teenagers dressed in goth garb and anime gear and indie sleaze vintage with Labubus hanging off their bags. 

Salt Box Sessions was a blast. Did some digging through the vinyl bins. The Miracles 45 that I got made it into the set. I went more soul than disco in the set, but the song that got the biggest reaction was “Les Yeux de Laura” by Goût de Luxe. It really impressed a French guy, who took a photo of it. I don’t know anything about the band or the song and the only reason why I know the title means “The Eyes of Laura” is because I Googled it and the movie The Eyes of Laura Mars (which is amazing, see it, if you haven’t) was one of the results. It is, however, a 45 that I found in the bins at Salt Box not too long ago. 

Anyhow, here’s the set list. 

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Adventures in L.A., Music

Why I Went to the No Kings Rally in Downtown Los Angeles, 10/18/25

A balloon of Donald Trump as a scowling, oversized orange baby in a diaper floats over the crowd at No Kings events in downtown Los Angeles. October 18, 2025 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
A balloon of Donald Trump as a scowling, oversized orange baby in a diaper floats over the crowd at No Kings events in downtown Los Angeles on 10/18/25 (Pic: Liz O.)

Right in front of Los Angeles City Hall, a massive inflatable Trump, scowling, raccoon-eyed and decked out in a diaper, hovered over the crowd. “Dump Trump” read the sign just below the inflatable, a caricature of the former reality TV star as an Oompa Loompa positioned like a turd hanging from the big orange baby’s bottom. Not too far from there was an old, worn couch tagged with “JD Vance was here.” 

In the crowd, there was a zooful of people dressed in inflatable animal costumes, hippos, bears, chickens and, of course, frogs, amongst them. People hoisted signs loaded with dick jokes and memes. But, it wasn’t all comedy. “If there’s money for a parade? Then there’s money for Medicaid,” read a sign posted on a trashcan. Refuse Fascism set up an installation with photos of those who have been disappeared.

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The Playlist

French Police, Riki, Klub Nocturno @ The Novo 10/16/25

French Police live at The Novo in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 16, 2025 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
French Police live at The Novo on 10/16/25 (Pic: Liz O.)

I’ve seen French Police a few times this year and last night’s show at The Novo was the best of them. The energy was really high, both from the band and the crowd. I watched the show from stage left, where you’re looking at a diagonal past the band and into the crowd. L.A. has a rep for not dancing at shows, but, here, seemingly everyone was bouncing around, even in the balcony seats, maybe especially in the balcony seats. 

Riki does a terrific cover of “Porque Te Vas,” the Jeanette song, that’s on her second album, Gold and I was so excited to hear her play it live in the opening set that I can’t remember what else was in the set. Again, I watched from stage left and noticed how the crowd was vibing.

This isn’t a show review, btw, because I think it’s weird to review shows in which one is a participant and I was on DJ duty for Klub Nocturno’s support sets. I played the tunes for the first hour and then for the half-hour between Riki and French Police. So, all this is to say that it was a fantastic night. The set list is below. 

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Interview

HAAi Contemplates the Future of Humans and Machines on HUMANiSE

Haai Humanise press photo by Sophie Webster
Photo: Sophie Webster

It’s an unusually muggy September afternoon in Los Angeles and HAAi (aka Teneil Throssell) is in town for a brief stay in between gigs in Miami and Washington D.C. “This city has been really kind to me with support, with everything,” she says, mentioning that she was planning a free pop-up party in town with her friend, Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa, during her stay. At the moment, though, we’re talking about HUMANiSE, the album that HAAI was readying for release. By now, you might have heard it. HUMANiSE came out on October 10 via Mute.

For her sophomore full-length, HAAi considers the rapidly-evolving connection between humans and machines. She describes her relationship with technology as fickle. “It’s one of those things that I’m fascinated by and terrified by it at the same time, like, I think, most people,” the London-based DJ, producer and singer says as we chat in the lobby of a downtown hotel. 

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Happening in L.A.

French Police, Salt Box Sessions + More Happening in L.A., 10/15-10/22/25

French Police live at Glass House in Pomona, CA, on May 1, 2025 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
French Police live at the Glass House back in May. (Pic: Liz O.)

Are you going to see French Police at The Novo on Thursday? Not only is Riki playing, but I’ll be on hand DJing as part of Klub Nocturno’s support set. I got to play with Klub Nocturno for the French Police shows at the Glass House and El Rey earlier this year and they were fantastic, so I’m psyched to be doing it again. See you at the club this Thursday night. 

Then, on Sunday, October 19,  I’ll be playing and all-vinyl set with XL Middleton, Moniquea and more as part of Salt Box Sessions inside Hello Stranger. Come through between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to dig through the Salt Box’s vinyl selection, hang out and dance a bit. For the record, I have no idea what I’ll be playing. It could be Italo disco or minimal synth or norther soul or all of the above, so you really have to stop by to find out. 

Continue reading French Police, Salt Box Sessions + More Happening in L.A., 10/15-10/22/25 →
Adventures in L.A., Art, Books

R. Crumb Shares Tales of Paranoia in New Art Show and Forthcoming Comic Book

R. Crumb Tales of Paranoia cover original art at David Zwirner Gallery in Los Angeles (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The original cover art of Tales of Paranoia by R. Crumb on view at David Zwirner in Los Angeles (Photo: Liz O.)

Next month, Fantagraphics will release Tales of Paranoia, the first comic book from R. Crumb in 23 years. Right now, though, you can check out original art from the book, as well as other works from Crumb, at David Zwirner here in L.A. The gallery exhibition, which runs through December 20, is the first Crumb exhibition in the city since The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb’s Book of Genesis ran at the Hammer in 2009/10. 

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Indie music and alt culture blog from Los Angeles. By Liz O.