Between Halloween and the start of the World Series at Dodger Stadium, this weekend is going to be bonkers. If you don’t have plans, perhaps you’ll consider going to one of my gigs this weekend. I’m actually DJing all weekend and all the sets are going to be different. Keep reading for all the details.
Attention, Long Beach pals! I’m back at Alex’s Bar on Thursday, October 17, when Klub Nocturno presents Darkwave Night. There’s no cover, so come down and dance to your faves from bands like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Boy Harsher, French Police, Ultra Sunn, Lebanon Hanover and loads more. This is a 21+ event and the party starts at 9 p.m. Alex’s Bar is located at 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach 90804. See you Thursday night.
In other news tickets are running low for Club Underground’s Halloween party on Friday, October 25, so click here to get yours now. Larry G., Malvada, Jesse B. and I are going to be on the decks and it will be a good time. The night before that, Thursday, October 24, I’ll be playing Olya Sonica’s Record Release party at Hotel Ziggy. Olya Sonica, The Dirty Shirts and Veronica Bianqui play live. I’ll be spinning Brit Pop and rock classics. Tickets are available now, so click here to get yours on Dice.
As for the rest of this week and early next week, check out the list below for some very reasonably priced events. It’s pretty heavy on movie screenings on account of October being a very good month for those. You can also head over to my Discover Los Angeles column “Get Into the LA Groove,” for more events happening this weekend and early next week.
This Friday, October 11, is Gorillaz x Daft Punk night at Underground. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open with Larry G. and I DJing all night. The last time we did a Gorillaz x Daft Punk night was back in the summer of 2023 and it was amazing, so don’t miss out on this one. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite and Dice.
Grand Star Jazz Club is located at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. Underground is Friday nights from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. and it’s 21+. If you’re going to see French Police on Friday, come by after the show, the Grand Star is a pretty short drive from Belasco.
(In other Underground-related news, tickets are running low for the October 25 Halloween party, so get yours ASAP. I’ll be DJing alongside Larry G., Malvada and Jesse B.)
Added a handful of other events happening this weekend and early next week. I’m particularly excited about EXP TV’s Kung Fu Halloween going on at Philosophical Research Society on Saturday night.
Friday, October 4, Videotheque kicks off a month of horror screenings with a Dark Shadows binge curated by yours truly. I picked out five episodes filled with tarot, witchcraft and maybe— just, maybe— a creature of the night. The episodes will make sense whether you’re new to Dark Shadows or if you, like me, have seen all 1200+ episodes. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. for the screening, which starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $12. You can RSVP on Partiful. 4102 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park 90031.
Friday, September 27, is Oasis Nite at Club Underground. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open, with Larry G. and me (Liz O.) DJing from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tickets are available now, so click on this link to pick up yours. The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, right next to the Bruce Lee statue in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, and it’s a 21+ venue.
Then on Sunday, September 29, I’ll be playing Splash at The Mermaid with DJ Vanish. This is an open format night— so, really, anything goes musically— that is from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. Vanish is playing the first half of the night and I’m doing the second. There’s no cover and it’s 21+. The Mermaid is at 428 E. 2nd St. in Little Toyo.
As for the rest of the weekend and early next week, here are just a few things I’ve noticed happening in L.A. that are under $30 and not sold out. For more options, check out my Get Into the L.A. Groove column for Discover Los Angeles. Click on this link for shows happening this weekend. For events happening the week of September 30, click here.
My next DJ gig isn’t until September 29 (see the Upcoming Gigs section for details), but there is an event happening this weekend that I want to tell you about.
Analog Outlaw and Record Fair is happening on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Zebulon. It’s founded by James Weigel of Bibliomancers and Crystal Claire of Nooners Books and brings together publishers and vendors specializing in counterculture material. Plus, Mark Webber of Pulp will be DJing. I interviewed Weigel and Claire for Southern California News Group’s papers (that’s the Daily News here in L.A., plus Orange County Register and others). If you want to read the interview, click on this gift link which will get you past the paywall. This is going to be a really cool event for anyone who loves books and music that exist outside of the mainstream.
Of course, that’s far from the only thing happening this week, so scroll through the list and start making your plans. Everything listed below is pretty reasonably priced. I think the highest ticketed event is His Name Is Alive, which is a little over $30, at Zebulon, and, like, how often do you get to see His Name Is Alive? There are a handful of movie screenings on here too, including Perfect Blue (!!!) at Braindead on Saturday night for the Satoshi Kon fans. (And if you’re unfamiliar with the late anime director’s work, we need to change that.)
Visitors from the Arkana Galaxy screens at Philosophical Research Society on Friday, September 6
Here’s the rundown on what’s happening in L.A. this week. I kept the list at under $35 this time around to include Fat Beats 30th anniversary at Avalon, which has a pretty awesome lineup. When I checked on Thursday morning, Ticketmaster had a BOGO sale going for Soft Kill at The Regent on Saturday night. The Paranoias, Professor Galactico show at The Paramount on Saturday is actually free if you’re over 21, but it looks like you still have to reserve a spot on Dice.
Keep reading for the full list. And for more events, check out my nightlife roundups for Discover Los Angeles.
Want to know what’s happening in L.A. this Labor Day Weekend. Let’s start off with where I’ll be DJing.
Friday, August 30
Club Underground: Depeche Mode Nite @ Grand Star Jazz Club
Not only is it Depeche Mode Nite, but we’ll be celebrating the birthday of Underground’s founder and resident DJ Larry G. Both floors of the Grand Star will be open, so expect Depeche Mode jams and deep cuts, plus your Underground favorites on Friday night. Larry G., Filthy Rich and I are DJing from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Grand Star Jazz Club, 943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets
Saturday, August 31
Klub Nocturno @ Catch One
Nocturno is back at Catch One on Saturday, August 31, with five rooms for dancing. I’ll be playing in the Indie vs. 80s Room. There’s also Rock en Español vs. Cumbia, Deftones Night, Corrido Night and Sad Bunny Night. Online tickets have already sold out, but there will be a very limited amount available at the door. Early arrival is suggested and the line starts at 8:45 p.m.
4067 Pico Blvd., Arlington Heights 90019; 9:30 p.m.; 18+; Online tix sold out, limited amount at door only, follow Nocturno on Insta for updates.
Check out what’s happening in L.A. for the rest of the week. Everything here is under $30 and it ranges from Spanish oldies at Grand Star on Thursday night to an L.A. Synth Club event in Long Beach on Sunday to a meet-and-greet with Night Tempo Tuesday night. There are some killer film screenings too, especially on Labor Day. If you’ve never seen The Time Masters, from Fantastic Planet director Rene Laloux, I highly recommend it.
I picked up this 45 of “No Longer Mine” from Thee Heart Tones at Going Underground recently and it’s fantastic.
I’ll be back in the DJ booth next weekend to play Club Underground on Friday, August 30 and the Indie vs. ‘80s room at Nocturno on Saturday, August 31. As far as this weekend goes, I’ve listed concerts, DJ events and movie screenings happening in L.A.
There are a few things to note about this list. If you want to see Nuovo Testamento at Lodge Room on Saturday, August 24, get your tickets as soon as possible because there is a low ticket alert for this show. If you’re in the mood to check out an up-and-coming band, I recommend Thee Heart Tones at The Paramount on Friday, August 23. I picked up the “No Longer Mine”/“Cry My Tears” away 45 at Going Underground earlier this month and it’s great. Plus, the show is celebrating the South Bay band’s debut full-length, Forever & Ever, which is also out this Friday. For The Smiths fans reading this, don’t forget that Sunday is the the annual Smiths/Morrissey convention is coming up on Sunday at Avalon. It’s always a fun event with tribute bands and DJs. This year’s event includes guest DJ Boz Boorer and, if you want to try your luck at winning a pair of tickets, there will be a giveaway at Underground’s ‘80s Nite on Friday.
Keep reading for more of what’s happening in L.A. this weekend and early next week.
This Sunday, August 18, is Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. Join Jus’ B and me for an afternoon of disco, funk, dance punk, Italo and HiNRG from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Discount, advance tickets are available now on Restless Nites.
The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, next to the Bruce Lee statue. There is both street and lot parking in the neighborhood and the venue is located right across Broadway from Metro’s A Line stop in Chinatown. Cover will be $8 at the door (cash or Venmo) and it’s a 21+ party.
Keep reading to see more of what’s happening in L.A. between Thursday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 21.