This Friday, August 30, is Depeche Mode Night at Club Underground. It’s also the birthday of Underground’s founder and resident DJ Larry G., so you know this is going to be a night for the books. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open and DJ Filthy Rich and I (Liz O.) will also be dropping heat all night. Be ready to dance to Depeche Mode’s biggest hits, plus album cuts and B-sides, along with your Underground favorites. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite and Dice, so take your pick and get yours now.
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.
Club Underground brings a dose of post-punk Manchester to Los Angeles on Friday, August 9 with a Joy Division x The Smiths dance party with DJs Larry G. and Liz O. (that’s me) at Grand Star Jazz Club. Both floors of the venue will be open, so you can expect a mix of hits and deep cuts from the Mancunian icons as well as your favorite Underground indie, Britpop, post-punk, darkwave and new wave jams. Plus, there will be a giveaway for tickets to this year’s The Smiths/Morrissey Convention at Avalon on August 25.
This Saturday night, July 27, I’ll be DJing in the new wave vs. darkwave room for Nocturno at Catch One. Elsewhere in the club, you’ll find Rock en Español vs. Cumbia, Corrido Night and Sad Bunny Night. Nocturno is always a blast and it’s a really good option if you’re going out with friends who have different tastes in music, so make plans and get your tickets now. (Click here to buy yours.) The address is 4067 W. Pico Blvd. in Arlington Heights. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27, and is 21+.
I’ve been juggling deadlines for the past IDK how long, so this is just a really quick post to let you know what’s happening in L.A. if you’re not stuck working or whatever. There is probably stuff missing, but that happens. Apologies in advance.
A few notes about this list. Most of the events are under $35, at least before fees. On the higher end of the spectrum are Fuck on the Beach at the Regent on Saturday night, which I feel the need to mention on account of the fact that I saw them play at the Cobalt Cafe (IYKYK) a gazillion years ago, and Sister Nancy at The Mayan on Sunday. The one legit high-priced ticket is the 24 hour movie marathon at Gardena Cinema, which I figure is justifiable on account of it being a literal day of movies, which would probably be a lot more if you tried to buy tickets for 24-hours worth of individual screenings.
I also added a couple weekday afternoon movie screenings to the list for those whose days off fall during the week. I’ll try to add more stuff like this in the future, although it seems to be getting harder and harder to find anything worthwhile happening on weekdays, which reminds me of the *long* lists of rants I’ve been meaning to write, some of which you may have seen referenced in my Instagram stories lately.
Tl;dr: Liz O. has a lot of complaints, but there’s a list of stuff happening in L.A. too, so let’s get to the list.
This Friday, I’m back at Club Underground with Larry G. for Yeah Yeah Yeahs x Siouxsie Nite. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open and tickets are available now. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. and it’s 21+. Find the Grand Star at 943 N. Broadway inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza next to the Bruce Lee statue.
As for the rest of the weekend and into next week, your options include Pearl and the Oysters’s free show at Levitt Pavilion on Saturday. Also happening Saturday is Razorcake’s annual chili cook-off at Footsies and Décadanse’s tribute to Francoise Hardy at the Grand Star. On Monday, Ed Harcourt is playing at The Stowaway, which is a very intimate venue. Tuesday night, my favorite Schwarzenegger movie, The Running Man, screens at Vidiots in Eagle Rock. There’s plenty more happening in L.A. too. Check out the list below.
This is going to be a whirlwind of a weekend. I’m playing four gigs in the next seven days and hope to see a few you out at least one of them. Friday night is Decadanse x Underground at Grand Star Jazz Club with Larry G. and me playing all your Underground favorites and Decadanse DJs Pierrot and Fifi LaRoux bring French heat to the dance floor. Tickets are available through Eventbrite or Dice.
On Saturday, I’ll be playing records for Malvada’s party at Bigfoot Lodge in Los Feliz with DJ Felix. Sunday is the first anniversary party for Disco Matinee over at Grand Star and Tuesday I’ll be joining David Christian for Dolce Vita’s ‘80s night Splash over at The Mermaid. Details for all those gigs, plus a handful of recommendations for the rest of the week, are listed below.
Thursday, July 4
4th of July Block Party w/Healing Gems, Tropo Magica, Grupo Soñador & more @Gloria Molina Grand Park
200 N. Grand Ave., DTLA 90012; 4 p.m.; All ages; No cover
96 Tears w/perksandkisses @ Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets
Subtract on the Pier 9 Year Anniversary @ Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier
15 39th Place, Long Beach 90803; 1 p.m.; 21+ ; Get tickets
Dávila 666, Self Improvement, Op-Ed, Space Horse @ The Paramount
2708 E. Cesar E. Chavez, Boyle Heights 90033; 8 p.m.; All ages; Get tickets
Friday, July 5
Decadanse x Underground w/Fifi LaRoux, Larry G., Liz O., PierrotGrand Star Jazz Club
943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets
Saturday, July 6
DJ Felix, Liz O. @ Bigfoot Lodge
3172 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz 90039; 10 p.m.; 21+; No cover
Sunday, July 7
Disco Matinee 1st Anniversary Party w/Liz O. and Jus’ B @ Grand Star Jazz Club
943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 3 p.m.; 21+; $5 at the door, RSVP on Instagram or Facebook for free entry before 4 p.m.
Monday, July 8
Izzy Outerspace, Essencer, Ter, Voice on Tape @ Genghis Cohen
740 N. Fairfax, Hollywood 90046; 7 p.m.; 18+; Get tickets
Tuesday, July 9
Splash w/David Christian, Liz O. @ The Mermaid
428 E. 2nd St., Little Tokyo 90012; 8 p.m.; 21+; No cover
Wednesday, July 10
The Future Is Female: L.A. Filmmaker Screening @ Vidiots
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7:30 p.m.; Get tickets
Disco Matinee is turning one year old and we’re going to celebrate on Sunday, July 7 at Grand Star Jazz Club from 3 to 7 p.m. To say thank you for your support this past year, there will be no cover before 4 p.m. if you RSVP on Instagram or Facebook* and the cover after 4 p.m. (or if you don’t RSVP) will be $5 for the first anniversary party.
Disco Matinee is a monthly, Sunday afternoon party with DJs Liz O. (that’s me) and Jus’ B. We play disco, funk, dance punk and more. If you’re down to dance to everything from Donna Summer to Talking Heads to Mary Jane Girls to Lime, this is the party for you.
Grand Star Jazz Club is at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee Statue. Both street and lot parking is available. The venue is also right across Broadway from Metro’s A Line stop in Chinatown.
See you on the dance floor on Sunday, July 7.
*If you don’t have Facebook or Instagram, just click this link to send us an email with RSVP in the subject line and send us your name.
Indie music and alt culture blog from Los Angeles. By Liz O.