This is Los Angeles. When you hear fabulous vocals from a singer, your first thought is that this person competed in American Idol (okay, or The Voice). That is the case when it comes to Perrin York who was a contestant in Season 18 (aired in 2020) of American Idol.
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| Perrin York at Hotel Ziggy |
Gretchen Klempa split her set at Zebulon into two. Her first three songs were from a previously released album called Human Nature. The next three songs were new songs. Then she ended the set with Dogbite that her fans recognized with cheers.
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| Gretchen Klempa at Zebulon |
I will admit that I was feeling this deep desire to catch some live music. I totally understand that due to the fires that hit Los Angeles starting January 7th that venues needed to shut down due to the potential for the fires to spread (as well as thick smoke that would have made for very uncomfortable situations inside the venues for both the musicians and audience) and a show of empathy. In fact, I was ready to go out on January 8th to Hotel Ziggy to catch Kat French, but then the Sunset Fires flared up and I thought that was a really stupid idea.
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| Ultraviolet Communication at Club Tee Gee |
I have not seen Ben Reddell perform all that often, but he is a very familiar face in the Los Angeles music scene. He is one of the movers and shakers in the Americana-Country scene as he curates the Grand Ole Echo series each year at The Echo. The 2025 series should be starting up on the last Sunday of March or the first Sunday of April. I tangentially did a Q&A related to the Grand Ole Echo last year. If interested, you can read my interview with Charlie Overbey over on US Rocker Music. He was playing Grand Ole Echo to celebrate his In Good Company record release. I unfortunately wasn't able to make the record release party as I was up in Big Bear - that sounds like an Americana thing to do, right?
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| Ben Reddell at Club Tee Gee |
A Handful of Show Alerts
Sunday, Feb 23rd: Osnova at Gold Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.I walked into Zebulon and John Williams was being blasted over the loudspeakers. The music sparked a sense of positivity. The massive Los Angeles fires had just started that day and evening (Tuesday) and there wasn't yet an understanding of the true magnitude of the damage. Yet, it is depressing when there are fires that burn across Los Angeles and the music gave that window of good cheer (that obviously did not last when the reality of the situation hit home).
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| Cesar Maria at the Zebulon |
Strangely, the last time I was at Permanent Records Roadhouse was June of 2024. That really needed to change quickly in 2025. I happened to notice via Night Talks that there was an Altadena Wildfire relief event occurring on a Friday night at 6 p.m. What better way to spend a Friday night: donate funds to those impacted by the Eaton Canyon fire and catch a favorite band called Night Talks.
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| Maryze at Permanent Records Roadhouse |
It has been established that I saw Mara Connor's first Los Angeles set. It was over at The Hi Hat. For those unaware of that venue, the location is now The Goldfish. In regards to firsts, I also attended The Goldfish's first live music event (there had been some dance nights previously) and covered the night for Buzzbands. You can see the photos and review here. The venue had a rough start and basically had limited music nights from 2023 - 2024. During that time, I did happen to cover Jess Joy (formerly of Moon Honey) coming back into town from New Orleans for US Rocker, which you can read here. Good news for the venue; however, starting in mid-February they started booking shows again. Hopefully, I'll get to make it over shortly.
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| Mara Connor with Ben Joyner at The Fable |
As soon as the band Tino Drima started to set up their gear on the Zebulon stage, the crowd pressed close. The night was dedicated (I'm assuming) to songs that will appear on an upcoming record. After playing an unreleased song called "Mixed Tape," the audience was told, "I've been working on a new record. It's taken many years of doing a little bit at a time."
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| Tino Drima at Zebulon |
A Handful of Show Alerts
Sunday, Feb 16th: Shana Sarett at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 6 p.m. |
| Bitter Half at Harvard & Stone |
I first came across Fleece Kawasaki (the project of New York City born, but currently residing in Los Angeles artist Kiazi Halpern) in 2022 at Club Tee Gee. He was opening up for Jenny O. Jenny O is a favorite of mine so that was a great way to get introduced to a singer.
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| Fleece Kawasaki at Harvard & Stone |
It was the first Friday night of the new year and I decided to head off to Zebulon. My first music night of 2025. The decision to go out came down to the fact that I didn't know any of the two bands on the bill. In fact, I learned that the band closing out the night (Respira Raus) was playing their first set ever and I don't believe they even have a social media presence. If you've followed my music adventures throughout the years, you know I love heading out to catch new music. How else am I able to come up with my annual list of favorite new bands and artists?
Was it a good decision or just a blah decision? The first band up, noworriesLMK, charmed me so it was an excellent decision.
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| noworriesLMK at Zebulon |
Tremours celebrated the release of their debut album Fragments at Zebulon last Wednesday night. I first came across the band in early 2022 when they opened up for L.A. Witch at the Lodge Room. I got to cover the night for Buzzbands, which you can read here. I learned later in the night that Tremours' vocalist and guitarist Lauren Andino had joined L.A. Witch on guitar.
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| TREMOURS at Zebulon |
A Handful (Bucketful This Week) of Show Alerts
Sunday, Feb 9th: Mercedes Kilmer at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.RIAH (the project of Mariah McManus Goss) drew the crowd at Bar Lubitsch for a WFNM. That is not an exaggeration. Just a few minutes prior to her set, a group of people walked into the venue and then another and another. (For those who don't know about Bar Lubitsch, the bar is split into two rooms. The back room is the venue. The front room is the bar.) Too much info: I was heading to the bathroom after another singer on the bill had finished his set and all these people started entering the venue. After getting done with my business, I went back inside the venue and the place was packed and I needed to squeeze my way back to the front so that I could take my photos and video. Grant Owens of WFNM was literally giddy with the size of the crowd. It was definitely one of the larger crowds at a Bar Lubitsch WFNM night.
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| RIAH at Bar Lubitsch |
I first came across Emily Rose & the Rounders back in January 2020. At the time, the band was playing under a different name. Like many a Los Angeles band for me at the time, this first encounter occurred at the Bootleg Theater (a venue that unfortunately closed down shortly after the pandemic; more due to partnership disputes than the pandemic shutdown). This night ranked as one of the top music nights of the year for me. Even if 2020 hadn't ended up being a truncated year, it would still have stood out as one of the top nights for me. Why? The night also included performances by Kate Clover and Strawberry Army. Everyone who loves the Los Angeles music scene should know who Kate Clover is. As for Strawberry Army, the band has ended their run, but they burned bright during their time, playing along side bands such as The Paranoyds.
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| Emily Rose & the Rounders at Boyle Heights Bar |
I ran across Blue Wisteria back in April 2022. They were playing at the Silverlake Lounge (not the current owners, but the prior owners). I did an interview with the band at the time. Here are some snippets from that interview:
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| Blue Wisteria at Club Tee Gee |
I came across Ray Williams at a Swyndle night at Harvard & Stone. If you love your country folk music being presented with pristine vocals, Williams is your person. I was captivated from the start. There is something special when listening to the minimalism of a person on stage with just an acoustic guitar -- if they have solid vocals.
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| Ray Williams at Harvard & Stone |
A Handful (Bucketful This Week) of Show Alerts
Sunday, Feb 2nd: Pu$$y-Cow and The Letter Openers at The Escondite. Bands start at 6 p.m.