Tag Archives: DTLA Nightlife

Upcoming Gigs

Early Bird Tickets for New Years Eve at Club Underground Are Available Now

Flyer for Club Underground New Year's Eve party on 2023 at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown with DJ Larry G. and DJ Liz O.

First, thanks to all of you who came out to Club Underground on Friday night for Depeche Mode Night and my birthday party. I’m really happy to have been able to have the chance to celebrate at Grand Star Jazz Club with Larry G., Malvada and all of you. (Sorry for not posting the set list, but I accidentally deleted part of it and couldn’t remember much aside from a couple songs.)

I’ll be back at Underground on Sunday December 31, 2023 to celebrate New Year’s Eve with all of you at Grand Star Jazz Club, where both floors of the venue will be open. Early bird tickets are available now on both Eventbrite and Dice at a discount from the price at the door. Plus, last year’s party sold out, so the sooner you snap up your tickets, the better. Head to Underground’s website, or follow Underground on Instagram, for more info when it’s available.

Continue reading Early Bird Tickets for New Years Eve at Club Underground Are Available Now →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played for Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on November 28, 2023

Two classic margarita drinks with salted rims at The Mermaid in Little Tokyo Los Angeles (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Margaritas at The Mermaid (Pic: Liz O.)

A few years ago, I finally got over my fear of tequila (we’ll save that story for another day) and realized that I love margaritas. They’re tart and salty with just a hint of sweetness underneath, all qualities I appreciate in everything. The Mermaid, where I play (more or less) monthly as part of L.A. Industrial’s party Dolce Vita, is home to a very good margarita. In fact, I would say, no matter who is bartending on any given night, it’s consistently the best classic margarita I’ve had. I don’t know the secret. I just know that it’s so good that I keep going for the margarita instead of working my way through The Mermaid’s ample menu of cocktails, even though I know from experience that their specialty drinks are delicious.  

So, that’s my tip for you today. Get yourself a margarita next time you’re at The Mermaid. Here’s my set list from Dolce Vita. Catch me next week at the Grand Star on Sunday, December 3 for Disco Matinee and on Friday, December  8 for Depeche Mode Night/My birthday at Underground. 

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Got It On Vinyl

It’s Time for a Christmas Disco Classic From Charo

Charo "(Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?" 12" single with Tom Moulton mix released on Salsoul in 1978. Seen here at Pasadena City College Flea Market. (Photo: Liz Ohanesian, February 2022)
That time in 2022 that I found the 12″ single for Charo “(Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?” at PCC Flea Market. (Photo: Liz O.)

The 12” appeared in the midst of a deep dig through crates set up inside a Pasadena City College parking garage during the monthly PCC flea market. I had already excavated records by Harry Nilsson, Tangerine Dream and Patrice Rushen when a friend, whose visit to Los Angeles was the catalyst for this adventure, called me over to a booth filled with soundtrack albums and soul records. I flipped through As the Record Turns ‘ vinyl selection and paused when I noticed “(Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?” the 1978 disco Christmas single from Charo, “A Tom Moulton Mix” released as an extended 12” single on Salsoul with a stamped note on the backside of the cover that read:

 “In all my life, the most happy time of the year is Christmas and I want to share it with you. When you play this record I’ll be with you. Merry Christmas. Love and cuchi cuchi, Charo.”

Continue reading It’s Time for a Christmas Disco Classic From Charo →
Upcoming Gigs

Catch Me Playing Italo Disco with David Christian at The Mermaid on November 28

Dolce Vita Italo Disco at The Mermaid Little Tokyo Los Angeles November 28, 2023

I’ll be back at The Mermaid this coming Tuesday, November 28, for weekly Italo disco Dolce Vita. Join David Christian of L.A. Industrial and me, Liz O., for a night filled with Fun Fun and Fancy as we dive into our collections of ’80s dance classics.

Dolce Vita starts at 9 p.m. and goes until last call. There’s no cover and it’s 21+. The Mermaid is located at 428 E. 2nd Street, about a block or so away from Little Tokyo’s A/E Metro stop. There also tends to be lots of available street parking on Tuesday nights. For a taste of what you might here, check out my playlists or listen to my set from Dolce Vita, recorded live on February 7, 2023, right here:

Hope to catch you at The Mermaid on November 28.

Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs.

Related:

HERE’S WHAT I PLAYED AT THE MERMAID FOR ITALO HORROR DISCO ON OCTOBER 24, 2023

HERE’S WHAT I PLAYED AT THE MERMAID FOR DOLCE VITA ON SEPTEMBER 26

Music, The Playlist

Here are My Top 10 Jams for 2023

Dance floor at Club Underground with DJ Liz O. at Grand Star Jazz Club on Friday, November 3, 2023 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The crowd at Underground.

With only a handful of gigs left for this year, I figured that now is a good time to post my top 10 jams for 2023. Technically, these aren’t all songs that came out this year, and my top pick I actually started playing in 2022, but they all made an impact on my DJ set in 2023. Check out the list below and I hope to see you on the dance floor soon. 

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Disco Matinee, DJ Gigs

Disco Matinee Is Back on December 3, RSVP for Discounted Entry

Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club on Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 3 -7 p.m. with DJ Hoseh, DJ Liz O., DJ Jus' B

Disco Matinee is back at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Special guest DJ Hoseh (Dublab’s “Version Sounds”) will be joining resident DJs Jus’ B and Liz O. for an afternoon filled with club classics and deep cuts. Party starts and 3 p.m. Your DJs will be dropping disco, funk, freestyle and more heat until 7 in the evening. 

RSVP on Facebook, Instagram or by email for $5 entry to Disco Matinee before 4 p.m. Otherwise, the cover is $8 (cash or Venmo) at the door. 

The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. There is both street and lot parking in the neighborhood. The venue is also located across Broadway from Metro’s A line stop in Chinatown.

Subscribe to the Disco Matinee mailing list for updates. 

See you on dance floor for Disco Matinee on Sunday, December 3. 

The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on November 10, 2023

Sign at Club Underground in Los Angeles that reads: Underground x Interpol Room 1- Turn on the Bright Lights Loads of Interpol, post-punk, indie, Britpop, synthpop, dark/new wave dance party (80s-today) w/DJ Larry G. Room 2 — Antics Post-punk, indie, Brit pop, synthpop, dark/new wave, goth dance party (80s -today) with DJ Liz O. Underground loves you!! clubundergroundla.com
I forgot to take pics last night, save for this one of a sign in the stairwell.

I don’t know what I’m most grateful for tonight. Was it the people at Club Underground who danced to the brand new Confidence Man tune? Was it the person who admitted listening to Confidence Man, who released one of my favorite albums of 2022, because of my sets? (BTW, Confidence Man is at the Echoplex on December 2.) Or, was it the trio who listened to my rant about how Chumbawamba were the working class heroes we needed, but we didn’t deserve them and now we’re stuck with capitalist icon Taylor Swift? Maybe it’s all that. 

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The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Disco Matinee on November 5

Photo of Chicago 13 which includes the disco song "Street Player" (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)

Thanks to everyone who joined Jus’ B, Jen Rock and me at Grand Star Jazz Club on Sunday afternoon for Disco Matinee. It was great to see everyone on the dance floor for a mix of disco classics, freestyle jams and more. I played all-vinyl sets this time. Keep reading to see what was in them.

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DJ Gigs

This Week, Head to Dum Dum Records’ Anniversary Party at Gold Diggers and Interpol Nite at Club Underground

Dum Dum Records 2 Year Anniversary Party at Gold Diggers Los Angeles with Taleen Kali, Bysts, DJ Liz O., DJ Ann Eliza Thursday November 9, 2023

Thanks to everyone who started off this week at Disco Matinee with Jus’ B, Jen Rock and me. I have two more gigs this week– Dum Dum Records Anniversary Party and Underground’s Interpol Nite– and hope you can make it out to one or both of them.

Continue reading This Week, Head to Dum Dum Records’ Anniversary Party at Gold Diggers and Interpol Nite at Club Underground →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on November 3, 2023

Dance floor at Club Underground with DJ Liz O. at Grand Star Jazz Club on Friday, November 3, 2023 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The crowd at Underground dancing to an old Mylo/Scissor Sisters mashup.

One of the first things I learned in the DJ booth— and this might actually be a life lesson— is that you never know where the night will take you. Planning a set is futile because what you play is always dependent on what will make people dance. You won’t know what will make a specific crowd on a specific night dance until you see it for yourself. So, I never plan sets. I usually have songs floating through my brain, but plenty of times, like at Underground last night, those aren’t the ones I end up playing. So, maybe I’ll play those next week . You should stop by and find out for yourself.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on November 3, 2023 →