Category: The Playlist

Klub Nocturno New Wave vs. Darkwave Setlist March 6, 2026

Cover for Jawbreaker by Sam Quealy. Get this album!

Thanks to everyone who hit the dance floor in the new wave vs. darkwave room at Nocturno last night. Was very happy to see you dancing to “Londontown” by Sam Quealy. Wasn’t sure if I was going to play that or not last night, so I’m glad it went over well. Her album, Jawbreaker, is overloaded with bangers. Give it a listen when you have the chance. Lots of Depeche Mode in last night’s set, because that was the theme, plus new music from Night Ritualz, a few of last year’s club hits from the likes of Sextile, Pixel Girl, N8NOFACE, French Police and Alice Glass, lots of throwbacks from Soft Cell to Ladytron and more. Set list is below and, as always all songs from the past year link back to other references on this blog.
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March 7, 2026
What You Heard Downstairs at Underground’s Smiths x Joy Division Night

Last night was The Smiths x Joy Division Night at Club Underground. It was also the release of Gorillaz new album, The Mountain, which features multiple contributions from my all-time favorite guitarist, Johnny Marr, so I kicked off the open-to-close set downstairs with “Casablanca,” from Gorillaz, featuring Mr. Marr and bassist/dapper punk Paul Simonon.

“How Soon Is Now?” was going to be the last song, but I underestimated how long it is. Then “Unloveable” was going to be the last song, but I could totally squeeze in “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” after that because it’s only two minutes, so that was going to be the last song. Then the crowd asked for one more, so you got a bonus track, “Morrissey” by Robbie Williams. It’s on his new album, Britpop. Totally in theme. Anyhow, set list is below. Songs from the past year or so link back to previous mentions on the blog.
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February 28, 2026
What You Heard Upstairs at Underground for Gorillaz x Daft Punk Night

“The Happy Dictator” is the first single from The Mountain, by Gorillaz, out on February 27, 2026

I am really excited for The Mountain, the new album from Gorillaz that’s due at the end of month. Three of the album’s already-released singles made it into my Gorillaz x Daft Punk set upstairs at Club Underground last night. The set list is below and, as always, songs from the past year or so are highlighted and link back to the artist’s tag on this blog. Thanks for dancing!
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February 7, 2026
A Gorillaz Earworm + More of What You Heard at Club Underground on 1/30/26

“The Happy Dictator” is the first single from The Mountain, by Gorillaz, out on February 27, 2026

“The Happy Dictator” is an earworm. On the few occasions that I’ve been able to play the Gorillaz song at a club, I’ve woken up the following day with it stuck in my head. This morning is no different. I played it early at Underground last night and now it’s lodged in my brain, with Damon Albarn and Russell Mael trading off vocals on a loop.

I don’t plan sets at all. I just drop 24+ hours of music on my laptop, sort it by BPM and then figure it all out as the night goes on. So, it’s only in hindsight that I can say that last night’s set at Underground was probably influenced by being at the anti-ICE protest/march in downtown Los Angeles earlier in the day. “The Happy Dictator,” “Police on My Back,” (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang,” “Shout to the Top,” “Tubthumping,” blah blah blah. Whatever is stuck in my head makes it into the set and then the set gets stuck in my head. That’s a DJ brain for you.

Anyhow, thanks to those of you who made it out to Underground last night. It was a blast as always. See you next Friday for Gorillaz x Daft Punk night! Set list is below. New-ish songs link back to previous mentions here.
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January 31, 2026
Chromatics, Chumbawamba + More of What You Heard at Club Underground 1/16/26

View from the DJ booth (Pic: Liz O.)

Played the second half of the night in the Underground room for Club Underground x Synthwaves last night. Fantastic crowd, as always. Got in a nod to David Lynch with a remix of Chromatics’ song “Shadow.” Didn’t play anything extremely new, but did get in some of last year’s faves, like Sextile “Rearrange” and Confidence Man and Jade “Gossip.” Dropped in “Tubthumping” near the end for a reason. Heed the wisdom of Chumbawamba, friends. Set list is below. New-ish stuff links back to other mentions on this blog.
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January 17, 2026
Sextile “S Is For” + More of What You Heard at Klub Nocturno 1/09/26

View from the DJ booth in the new wave vs. darkwave room at Klub Nocturno on January 9, 2026 (Pic: Liz O.)

Yes, Please by Sextile was my favorite album of 2025 because it has bangers for days. Last year, I mostly played “Women Respond to Bass” and “Rearrange,” although “Freak Eyes” and “Push Ups” have gotten some love too. Last night, for the first Klub Nocturno of 2026, I finally had the chance to play “S Is For,” which I love because it has such a early ‘00s electro punk vibe. Also, who doesn’t just want to shout out “shit” over and over again while raging on the dance floor right now?

Full set list is below and the new-ish releases link back to previous mentions on this here blog. As always, thanks for dancing! To keep up on when and where I’m playing next, either check back here or sign up for the newsletter or follow me on Instagram.
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January 10, 2026
Everything You Heard Upstairs at Club Underground’s New Year’s Eve Party

View from the stage upstairs at Grand Star Jazz Club for Club Underground’s New Year’s Eve Party 2025/26 (Pic: Liz O.)

Last night, my friend asked if I had a song for the new year. I didn’t. I thought about it, though, and answered Kneecap “H.O.O.D.,” more for the band than for the specific song. They’re the group I would consider the MVP of 2025, one that has had a lot of bullshit thrown their way just for speaking out against the genocide that so much of the world has watched transpire on their phones. Yet, they’ve stuck to their principles and refuse to be silenced. They’re the real deal in a time of fakers and I appreciate that so much. That’s the kind of energy we need this year.

Anyhow, I played upstairs at the Grand Star for Underground’s New Year’s Eve party. Super cool crowd. Thank you all for being there, especially on a rainy L.A. night. It was great to overhear someone in the crowd saying, “I love this song…it’s Confidence Man” when “Gossip” came on. Even better to hear from people who came up to the booth because you were excited to hear “Juicebox” or “¿Porqué te vas?” or some other song that I can’t recall right now. Hope to see more of all of you in 2026. Set list is below. The 2025 songs link to other mentions on this blog.
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January 1, 2026
Everything You Heard at Club Underground on December 26, 2025

If you’re ever like, “I can’t find the Grand Star!” just look for Bruce Lee. (Pic: Liz O. 12/26/25)

Last night at Underground might have been the first time ever that I’ve played “Friday I’m in Love” at a club. The reason is that, yesterday, news broke that Perry Bamonte of The Cure died. He had been playing with the band live in recent years and is in The Show of a Lost World (a terrific concert film that you really must see). However, his tenure with the band in the studio was from 1992-2004, so any song I played in tribute would likely have to come from Wish and, really, it would have to be “Friday I’m in Love.” That’s just how it works out.

Anyhow, the Christmas storm finally ended right before the club opened and it was great to see people out and about. Thanks so much for dancing last night. Club Underground is on Wednesday next week for New Year’s Eve. Both floors of the Grand Star will be open. Larry G. and I are on the decks all night. It will be a good time. NYE at Underground always sells out, so be sure to get your tickets in advance.

Get tickets for Club Underground’s New Year’s Eve Party at Grand Star Jazz Club

Set list from last night is below. All 2025 releases are linked to other references to the band on this wee blog.
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December 27, 2025
Best of 2025 + More of What You Heard at Klub Nocturno 12/20/25

View from the DJ booth in the new wave/darkwave room at Klub Nocturno on 12/20/25

I’m writing this on Sunday morning and the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet, so IDK what to say except that last night at Klub Nocturno was a vibe. I DJed alongside Milagro in new wave/darkwave room. Played a few of my favorite tunes from this year, like “Women Respond to Bass” by Sextile, “Catch and Release” from Alice Glass, Pixel Grip’s “Reason to Stay” and “Everything We Thought We Knew” by N8NOFACE. People danced. Good times were had. Anyhow, set list is below. The newer songs (past year or so) are in bold and link to other mentions here on the blog. Wishing you all happy holidays!
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December 21, 2025
Ultravox Brings Together New Remixes, Minimal Synth B-Sides and More on The Collection Deluxe Edition

Back in 1984, Ultravox released The Collection, a best of compilation that brought together 14 singles released over the course of four years. If you’re new to the band, The Collection is a good place to start because it contains the jams of the band’s Midge Ure era, like “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes,” “Reap the Wild Wind” and, of course, “Vienna.” It was my first Ultravox record, pulled from a used bin in a San Fernando Valley record store for $2.99 back in the late 1990s. Last week, a deluxe edition of The Collection was released and, if you’re already a fan, you probably will want this in your collection.
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December 9, 2025