Record Collecting

Target’s Music Section and the Gentrification of Vinyl

vinyl records at Target in Downtown Los Angeles
The vinyl scene at Target

My eyes darted back and forth between two items on a sparsely populated shelf of records at the downtown Los Angeles Target. I couldn’t decide which one was more offensive. Was it the new vinyl reissue of a 15-year-old Celine Dion greatest hits collection? Or, was it the copy of Now That’s What I Call 90s R & B with the sticker that read “limited edition” and “exclusive”? 

Target’s music selection has always sucked. Today, however, it sucks in a way that’s a lot like gentrification. It helps bolster the sales of the music industry’s 1% by selling exclusivity and collectibility to fans inside big box stores, an irony that I still can’t quite wrap my head around. 

Continue reading Target’s Music Section and the Gentrification of Vinyl →
Happening in L.A.

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, May 16 – Wednesday, May 22

Thank God It's Friday with Donna Summer
Thank God It’s Friday is screening on Friday at WHAMMY! in Echo Park

I hate writing “there’s a lot going on L.A. right now,” but, damn, this city is overflowing with things to do right now. I narrowed it down a lot. As a general rule of thumb, I don’t include the corporate festivals because I figure that your timeline, like mine, is already overrun with ads for them. 

I also try to keep this list specifically for lower priced shows, so I didn’t add Kraftwerk’s nine-night stint at Walt Disney Concert Hall to the list. However, I will say that I’ve seen Kraftwerk twice and they are amazing live. That said, if you can splurge on the tickets, then do it. (And tell me all about it because I’m not going this time around.)

My next club gig isn’t until next Thursday, where I’ll be DJing at Harvard and Stone for the Family of Light, Host Family, the Rose Haze show presented by The Witching Hours. Click on this post for more information, including how you can get tickets. In the meantime, keep scrolling for info on what’s happening between tonight and next Wednesday. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, May 16 – Wednesday, May 22 →
Happening in L.A., Live Music, Upcoming Gigs

Family of Light, Host Family, Rose Haze Play Harvard and Stone on May 23. I’ll Be DJing

Family of Light, Host Family, Rose Haze at Harvard and Stone Thursday, May 23, 2024

On Thursday, May 23, I’ll be playing tunes at Harvard and Stone for the Family of Light, Host Family and the Rose Haze show, presented by The Witching Hours. This is one of those events where I highly recommend early arrival because you won’t want to miss any of the artist’s on the bill. It’s the sort of line up I love, where all the bands have a different, but complementary, sounds.

Continue reading Family of Light, Host Family, Rose Haze Play Harvard and Stone on May 23. I’ll Be DJing →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played in the New Wave vs. Darkwave Room for Klub Nocturno’s 4th Anniversary Party

Klub Nocturno 4th Anniversary Party, May 10, 2024, New Wave vs. Darkwave Room at Catch One in Los Angeles. (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Dancing to “Love Will Tear Us Apart” in the New Wave vs. Darkwave room at Klub Nocturno’s 4th Anniversary Party on May 10, 2024 (Pic: Liz O.)

Thanks to Klub Nocturno for asking me to be a part of their 4th anniversary party last night. It was amazing. Online tickets sold out a few days before the event and, from what I saw on Insta, the few remaining tickets at the door went quickly. A big surprise for the night was the first U.S. performance of Depresíon Post-Mortem. I didn’t get to see their set, but did get to hear soundcheck, which was a real treat. You can hear Depresíon Post-Mortem on Soundcloud or Spotify and you should do that as soon as you have the chance because both their covers and original tunes are fantastic. 

I played open to close in the New Wave vs. Darkwave room. Sometime after 11 p.m., while playing “Sex Dwarf,” I flashed back to Stigmata, which was *the* big Friday night alternative club when I was fresh out of high school. It was a combination of the song and the energy inside the room that made me think about being out with my friends when we were 18 or 19 and dancing so hard that we were dripping sweat, but still couldn’t leave the dance floor. I dropped “Sex (I’m a…)” into the set after that and realized that I’m 99% sure that’s how those two songs were played at Stigmata. It was long time ago— like, back in the days of paper flyers and L.A. Weekly club ads— so maybe I’m misremembering, but some things just stick with you. And, for me, those things are usually songs. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played in the New Wave vs. Darkwave Room for Klub Nocturno’s 4th Anniversary Party →
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 →

Indie music and alt culture blog from Los Angeles. By Liz O.