All posts by Liz O.

I'm a longtime, cross-genre DJ and writer living in Los Angeles.
Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, May 9 – Wednesday, May 15

Flyer for Klub Nocturno 4th anniversary party on May 10, 2024 at Catch One in Los Angeles

This Friday, May 10, Klub Nocturno celebrates its 4th anniversary with a bash at Catch One. It’s a massive party with five themed rooms: Rock en Español vs. Cumbia, New Wave vs. Dark Wave, Deftones Night, Sad Bunny Night and Disco. I’ll be in the New Wave vs. Dark Wave room and hope to see you on the dance floor. It’s 18+ and starts at 9:30 p.m. Click here to get your tickets and make sure you get there early. Catch One is at 4067 W. Pico Blvd. 

On Tuesday, I’ll be back at The Mermaid for Dolce Vita and will be playing an Italo vs. French Disco set from 8 p.m. until closing time. I’m really excited to dig up some heat for you, so stop by. The Mermaid is at 428 E. 2nd Street in Little Tokyo. There’s no cover and it’s a 21+ venue. 

I know there’s a lot going on this weekend and next week, but here are some more suggestions that aren’t Cruel World and still have reasonably priced tickets available. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, May 9 – Wednesday, May 15 →
Adventures in L.A., Got It On Vinyl

Digging for Heat at On the Record Vinyl Fair

The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, May 4, 2024 for On the Record Vinyl Fair (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
On the Record Vinyl Fair at The Music Center on May 4, 2024 (Pic: Liz O.)

Salt Box Records has never steered me wrong. So, when I saw a 7” with a tag on cover the sleeve that read “Italo-style Spanish synth pop,” I grabbed it. I had never heard of the band Tango?— or, at least, in that moment, I thought that I hadn’t heard them— and the song title “Breve Síntesis de los Huecos,” sounded completely unfamiliar to me. I bought it strictly because that descriptive tag, written in Sharpie by an actual human, said, “Listen to me, Liz” in a way that algorithmic suggestions never do. 

Later on, I would realize that I had previously heard Tango?, who were based in Barcelona and active in the mid-1980s. They had a self-titled song that was included on the stellar compilation, Ritmo Fantasía: Balearic Spanish Synth-Pop, Boogie and House. The two songs couldn’t be more different, though. “Tango?,” the song, is a slow groovy piece suited for pool parties and bars where they serve tapas on shady, outdoor patios. “Breve Síntesis de los Huecos” should have accompanied a montage in an ‘80s movie. It’s a vibe.

But, back to the record shopping. 

Continue reading Digging for Heat at On the Record Vinyl Fair →
Happening in L.A.

Happening in L.A.: May 2- May 8, 2024

Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club on May 5, 2024. Special guest DJ Don French. Resident DJs Liz O. and Jus' B. Playing from 3- 7 p.m. 21+ Advance tickets for $6.50 on Restless Nites.

This Sunday, join Jus’ B, guest DJ Don French and me, Liz O., at Grand Star Jazz Club for Disco Matinee. We’ll be playing disco, funk, dance-punk and more from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Tickets are $6.50 if you click this link and buy them on Restless Nites now. They’ll be $8 at the door. 

The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, next to the Bruce Lee statue. It’s a 21+ venue. There is street and lot parking in the neighborhood, but you can also take Metro’s A Line to the Chinatown stop, which will drop you off right across Broadway from The Grand Star. See you on the dance floor. 

As for the rest of the weekend, and early next week, here’s what’s happening. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: May 2- May 8, 2024 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita’s Italo Disco vs. Space Disco Night on April 30, 2024

The Mermaid in Little Tokyo on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 for The Wolves takeover and Dolce Vita Italo disco with DJ Liz O. (Photo: Liz O.)
Scene at The Mermaid on April 30

The Mermaid was busy last night. People filtered in and out of the bar. Guest bartenders from The Wolves poured specialty cocktails. Scenes from Star Odyssey, the “Italian Star Wars,” played on the TV set. I played a mix of Italo disco, space disco and other assorted, related tunes from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. A couple friends turned up and got a dance party going. It was a good time. Check out the set list. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita’s Italo Disco vs. Space Disco Night on April 30, 2024 →
Beatique Mix

Listen to the New Beatique Mix with Music from French Police, Twin Tribes and More

It’s been a while, but I finally made a new Beatique mix. It’s a bunch of relatively new music, a mix of indie, darkwave and synthpop with a touch of shoegaze. I’d say more, but DJs talking about DJing is boring af, which is why I hate Threads. Anyhow, give the mix a listen here or on Mixcloud. Share it if you like it. Turn it up (all the way up) in the office or car or wherever if you really like it. Set list is below. 

Continue reading Listen to the New Beatique Mix with Music from French Police, Twin Tribes and More →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played for Indie Sleaze at The Offbeat on April 27, 2024

Indie Sleaze at The Offbeat on April 27, 2024 with Scarlett Casanova, Killed by Synth, Drayk and Liz O.

On Saturday night, I played Scarlett Casanova’s Indie Sleaze party at The Offbeat. It was a ton a fun. It was also a reminder that I need to go through my collection and rip a bunch of CDs that I used to play in sets during the ’00s because I was continually reminded of songs I have and probably haven’t heard since I had a laptop with a CD drive. I need to get one of those external drives too.

If ’00s indie is your thing, mark your calendar for Underground x 2000s Nite on May 31. Maybe I wll have ripped some of those old CDs by then.

Click here for Underground x 2000s tickets on Eventbrite.

Click here for Underground x 2000s tickets on Dice.

Next gig: Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on Tuesday, April 30. Starts at 8 p.m. and there’s no cover. More information in this post.

Keep reading for last night’s set list.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Indie Sleaze at The Offbeat on April 27, 2024 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Apotheke on April 26, 2024

Klymaxx album Meeting in the Ladies Room on vinyl in a metal DJ crate. (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Klymaxx’s album Meeting in the Ladies Room on vinyl. I played “The Men All Pause”

A big shout out to my friend Clifton Weaver for inviting me to play with him at Apotheke in Chinatown last night. I had never DJed there before and it was so much fun with a great crowd in a really beautiful venue. 

Check out the set list below to see what I played for this all-vinyl set. If these are the tunes that make you groove, click this link for tickets to the next Disco Matinee, which is May 5 at Grand Star Jazz Club. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Apotheke on April 26, 2024 →
New Music

Pet Shop Boys, A Certain Ratio, Brainstory and More April 2024 Music

I’m home on a Thursday night trying to finish a story that I need to turn in tomorrow. Since it’s already tomorrow in the U.K., the new Pet Shop Boys album, Nonetheless, is up on Spotify. So, I listen as I write and I listen again after I decide that 700 words is enough words for now and I can finish that article in the morning, when my eyelids aren’t quite as heavy and the chocolate mini Easter eggs I popped into my mouth one after the other aren’t weighing me down. 

To recap: I flipped over “Loneliness,” the first single and opening track from Nonetheless, when it was released earlier this year. It’s been doing really well in my sets too. It’s a classic Pet Shop Boys club track, the kind of that reminds you that life is sad, but you’re happy on the dance floor. They followed up “Loneliness” with the single “Dancing Star,” which I haven’t played yet, but I do quite like. It’s slightly reminiscent of “Domino Dancing,” which is probably why I picked up that vintage 12” at Rubycon last weekend. 

Continue reading Pet Shop Boys, A Certain Ratio, Brainstory and More April 2024 Music →
Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 25 – Wednesday, May 1

Apotheke Friday April 26 with Clifton Weaver and Liz O.

You can catch me at the clubs twice this coming weekend. On Friday, April 26, I’ll be joining my pal Clifton Weaver in the DJ booth at Apotheke in Chinatown, from 9 p.m. until close. We’ll both be playing all-vinyl sets filled with soul, funk, disco, boogie and more. I’ll definitely bring my favorite Candi Staton album and my current Toto Coelo jam. You might hear Chaz Jankel too and maybe that Scream + Dance 12” I found at Rubycon last weekend. Party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until close. There’s no cover and it’s 21+ Apotheke is at 1746 N. Spring Street. 

On Saturday, I’ll be joining Scarlett Casanova, Killed by Synth and Drayk for an Indie Sleaze night at The Offbeat. We’ll be playing ‘00s indie jams and more for the 21+ crowd and there’s no cover this one-off party.  The Offbeat is at 6316 York Ave. in Highland Park.

You can also catch me on Tuesday night at The Mermaid, where I’ll be providing the music for Dolce Vita’s Space Disco vs. Italo Disco night. I have some really fun tunes for this night, so stop by between 8 p.m. and closing time. There’s no cover and it’s 21+. The Mermaid is at 428 E. 2nd Street in Little Tokyo.

Here’s a short rundown of other events happening in L.A.  

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 25 – Wednesday, May 1 →
Music

Support Your Local Record Store. They’re Doing the Work That Streamers and Socials Don’t.

Rubycon Records and Tapes Los Angeles California (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Inside Rubycon on Saturday, April 20

I’m standing by a bin of records at Rubycon, talking to a friend, who also happens to be one of the DJs for an in-store event happening that day. She asks what records I pulled and I flip through the small stack of vinyl that I will soon purchase. I show off a 12” with wavy pink stripes and a large stick figure on the cover. The band’s name, Scream + Dance, is scrawled above the stick figure’s head in thick letters. 

Continue reading Support Your Local Record Store. They’re Doing the Work That Streamers and Socials Don’t. →