Thank you to everyone who stopped by Disco Matinee on Sunday afternoon at the Grand Star. More importantly, thank you for hitting the dance floor. It was so good to see you out there. Here’s what we heard.
Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Disco Matinee on June 2, 2024
I’m not one for nostalgia, but ‘00s Nite at Club Underground on May 31 did make me feel a bit wistful for the final decade of life untethered to phones and social media and streaming platforms. I wouldn’t say the ‘00s were a particularly great decade (like I’ve written before, it wasn’t), but it was nice to not be connected to everyone, everywhere, all the time.
In keeping with this week’s theme at Underground, I busted out one of my favorite mashups, which I had downloaded and burned to a CD for gigs back in the ‘00s, and ended the night with the song that was my closer in the earliest years of that decade. Keep reading for the set list.
Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Underground’s 2000s Nite on May 31, 2024
On Memorial Day, right after turning in my last writing assignment of the month, I headed over to Bandcamp and played the new DIIV album. It was the first time I listened to Frogs in Boiling Water.Typically, I don’t like writing about an album unless I’ve given it a few spins, but, in that moment, DIIV resonated with me and I started typing.
Frogs in Boiling Water is an album that sounds amazing when you’re eyes are about to fall shut at 11:30 a.m. because you had a DJ gig the previous night— your third over the holiday weekend— and you had to wake up early enough to finish some work. That is a very specific situation, but it’s one that I can hear reflected in the tough, hazy sound of the album. This album is not dreamy, as people often refer to shoegaze bands. It’s the sound of pushing forward even when your shoulders slump and you have to close your eyes ever couple minutes.
Continue reading Neutrals, Blood Club and More May 2024 Music
Lol Tolhurst x Budgie were a couple songs into their set opening for Miki Berenyi Trio on Wednesday night when I noticed something strange. The sea of people in front of me at the Fonda Theatre was dark. There was not a single cel phone glowing above their heads. It was a sight I hadn’t seen since the year before the iPhone was released and it was jarring. Did I miss an announcement or something? Was security going to kick me out if I pulled out my phone?
Continue reading Miki Berenyi Trio, Tolhurst x Budgie at Fonda Theatre, May 29, 2024
This Friday is 2000s Nite at Underground and I’ll be playing the jams from Peaches, Interpol, Ladytron and more for you at Chinatown’s Grand Star Jazz Club. Tickets are available on both Eventbrite and Dice, so pick up yours now.
Then on Sunday, I’ll be back at the Grand Star for Disco Matinee. Jus’ B and I will be playing disco, funk, dance-punk and more from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. You can get tickets now on Restless Nites.
As for the rest of the weekend and early next week, I have some recommendations for you listed here.
Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, May 30- Wednesday, June 5
On Sunday, May 26, I popped into Footsie’s to play a one hour, all-vinyl set alongside DJs Scarlett Casanova, Ruby Woo 13 and Jenni Gee. It was a good time and I had the chance to play the Dexys Midnight Runners record I found at the Music Center’s record swap a few weeks ago. Here’s the set list.
Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Footsie’s on May 26, 2024
On Saturday, June 15, Klub Nocturno heads back to Catch One in Los Angeles for five rooms of dancing. You can hop between Rock en español vs. cumbia, new wave vs. darkwave (where I’ll be DJing), Deftones night, Sad Bunny Night and disco. Tickets are available now. Click this link to get yours.
On Friday, May 24, I headed down to San Diego to play in the new wave vs. darkwave room at Klub Nocturno’s show at House of Blues. This was the first time I’ve played a club in San Diego and it was definitely a good night. The energy was fantastic, with people staying on the dance floor until the house lights went up. Plus, there were some great requests and a few cool band t-shirts that I read as requests. Keep reading for the set list.
Continue reading Klub Nocturno Is Back at Catch One on 6/15/24 + My Set List from Nocturno’s San Diego Show
My whirlwind Memorial Day Weekend began on Thursday night with gig playing in between and after live sets from Host Family, the Rose Haze and Family of Light at Harvard and Stone. The show, presented by The Witching Hours, was fantastic and you should check out all of the bands on the bill.
I arrived right around the time Host Family started their set and it felt like walking into Spaceland. The band has a very turn-of-the-21st century L.A. indie vibe, which I really appreciate. The Rose Haze was followed with a set that was a lot heavier than I had anticipated. Kate Ramsey is a fantastic guitarist, as well as a singer. Family of Light hit the sweet spot between psyche and shoegaze, which influenced a decent chunk of what I ended up playing in this set.
Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Harvard & Stone on May 23, 2024
Ride a groove through Sunday afternoon at Disco Matinee on June 2. DJs Liz O. and Jus’ B bring a mix of disco, funk, dance-punk, Italo, hi-NRG and more to Grand Star Jazz Club from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Discount tickets for this 21+ event are available now for $6.50 via Restless Nites. Click on this link to get yours now. Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event for $8 (cash or Venmo accepted).
Grand Star Jazz Club is located at 943 N. Broadway, inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza. There is both lot and street parking in the neighborhood, plus, the venue is located right across from L.A. Metro’s A Line stop in Chinatown.
See you on the dance floor on Sunday, June 2.
Related:
Just doing a quick update this week with a smattering of events happening in L.A. over Memorial Day Weekend and into next week. Thursday night, I’ll be playing tunes at Harvard & Stone alongside live performances from Family of Light, Host Family and the Rose Haze. Check out my previous post for more information on the bands playing. This is going to be a very fun night and I hope to see you there. Tickets are available now on Dice. Harvard & Stone is located at 5221 Hollywood Blvd and this is a 21+ event.
Keep reading to see what else is happening.
Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, May 23 – Wednesday, May 29