Monthly Archives: February 2024

Music

L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 29- Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Disco Matinee Freestyle Hi-NRG Flyer for March 3, 2024 at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown with DJ Gustavisimo, DJ Jus' B DJ Liz O.

This Sunday afternoon, I’ll be DJing alongside Jus’ B and Gustavisimo for the freestyle and hi-NRG edition of Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club. I’m playing an all-vinyl set and am currently digging through my crates for gems by the likes of The Flirts, Divine, Shannon, Nocera, Lime and so much more. See my previous post about Disco Matinee for RSVP details, which will get you in for $5 before 4 p.m. We’ll be playing from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and this is a 21+ event. The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. 

Keep reading for more L.A. music events happening between February 29 and March 6. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 29- Wednesday, March 6, 2024 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on February 27, 2024

Valentine's Day display at The Mermaid in Little Tokyo Los Angeles with skulls, hearts and candles.
Hearts and skulls on display at The Mermaid, February 2024

I popped into The Mermaid on Tuesday night to play the opening set for Dolce Vita. The party starts at 8 p.m. now and there was already a good crowd at the bar by then, so I dropped more familiar tunes than I normally would for the early portion of the night. Also got to work in some themed portions of the set. I won’t disclose the themes right now, but if you look through the playlist below, you might be able to figure out what they are. 

Next up is Disco Matinee on Sunday, March 3, at Grand Star Jazz Club. The theme is freestyle and hi-NRG and I’ll be playing it all on vinyl. Anyhow, keep reading to see what I played at Dolce Vita on February 27, between (roughly) 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on February 27, 2024 →
Got It On Vinyl

Why I Keep Living in a Magazine By Zoot Woman in My DJ Crate

Cover of Zoot Woman Living in a Magazine released in 2001 on Wall of Sound Records, U.K. import vinyl (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Here’s the cover of my copy of Zoot Woman’s debut full length Living in a Magazine

For all-vinyl gigs, I often bring my copy of Living in a Magazine, the 2001 debut full-length from Zoot Woman, with me. The reason why is simple. No matter which song I play off this album, at least one person will come up to the booth and ask about it. In fact, that happened last Friday night, when I played the band’s cover of “The Model” at Club Synth. More than 20 years later, this album is still a vibe. 

Living in a Magazine is one of my favorite records of the early ‘00s. In fact, I would argue that it’s one of the finest, and certainly most under-appreciated, albums of the era. The brand of soft funk-meets-indie disco that Zoot Woman cultivated on this album helped solidify a sound that persists this day, whether or not the bands who land Spotify playlists like Pollen and Indie Chillout realize it. At the turn of the 21st century, few outside of Zoot Woman and Phoenix were riding such a mellow groove. This was a handful of years before bands like Hot Chip and Holy Ghost hit the scene, before the fascination with “yacht rock” and definitely before the vinyl resurgence sent a new generation of crate diggers on the hunt for the smoothest sounds of the 1970s and 1980s. 

Continue reading Why I Keep Living in a Magazine By Zoot Woman in My DJ Crate →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played: Klub Nocturno’s Rockero Night (New Wave v. Darkwave Room) at Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix on February 24, 2024

Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, Arizona on February 24, 2024 Klub Nocturno Rockero Night (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The backside of Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, taken while we were loading out at the end of the night. (Pic: Liz O.)

I’ve been DJing for a very long time, but had never played a gig outside of Southern California until last weekend. I headed out to Phoenix with Klub Nocturno last weekend to play their Rockero Night at Crescent Ballroom. It was so much fun and I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to play for such a wonderful crowd and meet some of the people who came out to the party on Saturday night. Thanks so much to Klub Nocturno and to everyone in Phoenix for making the experience so awesome. 

There is definitely a challenge that come with playing in a different city, but it’s a fun one. I’ve been going to L.A. clubs since I was 18 and DJing at them almost as long, so I have a really good understanding of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to my hometown. But, playing a city that I’ve only visited once previously, and where I’ve never been to a dance club, means that I’m trying to figure all that out as I’m playing. So, I was paying attention to all these small cues in the crowd, like what band t-shirts people were wearing (Depeche Mode, The Faint), while I was scrolling through my collection. Anyhow, here’s what I played. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played: Klub Nocturno’s Rockero Night (New Wave v. Darkwave Room) at Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix on February 24, 2024 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Club Synth on Friday, February 23, 2024

Rio Room at Stowaway in downtown Los Angeles on February 23, 2024 for Club Synth with DJ Drayk DJ Liz O. DJ Jen Rock Image: Rio Room neon sign and mermaid statue in background.
The Rio Room at the Stowaway on Friday, February 23, 2024 before the party started. (Pic: Liz O.)

Fun Times were had at Club Synth on Friday night. I was delighted to have the chance to drop vinyl on the turntables alongside Drayk and Jen Rock. Plus, some old friends stopped by the Rio Room at the Stowaway to join in the fun. 

Tonight, I’ll be in Phoenix to play with Klub Nocturno on Saturday night at Crescent Ballroom. That said, this is a quick update and there is more info on some of the specific records played in this set coming next week. And, for those reading in L.A. (most of you), my next gig is another all-vinyl set on Sunday, March 3 for Disco Matinee: Freestyle Hi-NRG Edition at the Grand Star in Chinatown. RSVP on Instagram, Facebook or Partiful for $5 entry before 4 p.m. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Club Synth on Friday, February 23, 2024 →
Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

L.A. Music Events: Thursday February 22 – Wednesday February 28

Club Synth at Stowaway DTLA with DJs Drayk, Jen Rock and Liz O. playing synthpop on vinyl.

This Friday, February 23, I’ll be at the Stowaway in downtown Los Angeles, playing alongside DJs Drayk and Jen Rock for Club Synth. This is an all-vinyl night dedicated to synth tunes, so expect a lot of fun finds from my our record collections in the mix. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until last call. 

We’ll be playing in the Rio Room at The Stowaway, which is located at 416 S. Spring Street, DTLA 90013. This is a 21+ venue and there’s no cover. See you on Friday night!

On Saturday, I’m heading out to Phoenix with Klub Nocturno to play at Crescent Ballroom. I’m so excited to be playing new wave and darkwave for this two room event, which, I should probably mention, will be my first gig outside of Southern California. Head over to TicketWeb for more information on the party if you’re in the area. Klub Nocturno also has a party going on Saturday night at The Observatory in Santa Ana, information for which I’ve included with other local events below. 

Here’s what’s happening in and around Los Angeles this weekend and early next week. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday February 22 – Wednesday February 28 →
Upcoming Gigs

Night Shift Begins Thursday, March 7 at Bar Franca

Night Shift at Bar Franca DTLA with DJ Liz O. playing post-punk, synthpop, darkwave, shoegaze

On Thursday, March 7, join me, Liz O. for the start of the Night Shift at Bar Franca. From 9 p.m. until last call, you’ll vibe and imbibe to a soundtrack filled with post-punk, synthpop, darkwave and shoegaze. We’ll blast back to the past and ride forward towards the future with a mix featuring everyone from Siouxsie and the Banshees to the Pet Shop Boys to Slowdive to Fever Ray to Twin Tribes. 

Bar Franca is located 438 S. Main Street in downtown Los Angeles. There’s no cover and this is a 21+. See you at Night Shift on March 7!

Music

Disco Matinee: Freestyle and Hi-NRG Edition Is Sunday, March 3. RSVP for $5 Entry

Disco Matinee Freestyle Hi-NRG Flyer for March 3, 2024 at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown with DJ Gustavisimo, DJ Jus' B DJ Liz O.

Disco Matinee is back at Grand Star Jazz Club on Sunday, March 3, with guest DJ Gustavisimo joining residents Liz O. and Jus’ B for an afternoon of dance floor heat. This month, the theme is freestyle and Hi-NRG, so expect a heavy dose of ‘80s jams in the mix, including artists like Patrick Cowley, Bobby O., Lime, Debbie Deb, Company B and so much more. 

RSVP on Partiful for $5 entry before 4 p.m. Otherwise, the cover is $8, cash or Venmo. 

The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. There is both street and lot parking in the neighborhood. The venue is also located across Broadway from Metro’s A line stop in Chinatown.

Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 15 -Wednesday, February 21

Acidtrain live at Sean Carnage Friday Night at Oracle Tavern on April 14 2023 Photo by Liz Ohanesian
Catch Acidtrain Saturday night at The Smell

I’m not DJing this week, but there’s so much to do in town that I’m looking forward to going out just for fun. The list below is a small sample of L.A. music events for this week, including some killer live shows and DJ events with low or no covers, one record swap and a few reasonably priced film screenings. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 15 -Wednesday, February 21 →
Got It On Vinyl

“Me and My Music”: The Candi Staton Song That Reminds Me Why I DJ

Cover of Chance, 1979 album by Candi Staton featuring "Me and My Music" (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The cover of Chance

I think I’ve encountered nearly every album Candi Staton released on vinyl while sifting through L.A. record store bins these past few years. Sometimes, I’ll find multiple copies of the same album in one dig. There’s one, though, that has eluded me. It’s called Chance and it was high up on my wish list since the pandemic. I wanted this album for one reason, a song called “Me and My Music,” which became a welcome earworm back when Los Angeles’ nightclubs were closed. 

Candi Staton is best known in the U.S. for the 1976 disco jam “Young Hearts  Run Free.” People in the U.K., and househeads here, are probably also quite familiar with “You Got the Love,” an early ‘90s dance hit that was famously covered by Florence and the Machine in the late ‘00s. But, Staton has been singing since the 1950s and is still active (she played Glastonbury last year), so there’s a significant amount of her music out in the world. Some releases are harder to track down than others, which is the case with Chance. Not only did it take me far-too-long to find the actual vinyl, but, from what I’ve seen, it’s not available to download and streaming options are limited to Deezer and a few YouTube clips.

Continue reading “Me and My Music”: The Candi Staton Song That Reminds Me Why I DJ →