Chinatown Summer Nights: August 2019

One of my favorite annual summer events, Chinatown Summer Nights, came to a conclusion for 2019 on a recent Saturday night in August. Interestingly, I interviewed 4 of the 5 artists that I saw on this particular night. It made for a special event.

Mara Connor opened up the day with her sweet Nashville sounds. She ranks right up there with anyone when it comes to sweet vocals. This was my first time catching her set this year. I mentioned earlier this year that I like to keep an annual tradition: catching Mara Connor, Pu$$y Cow and Jenny O at least once a year. With the year entering the 2nd half, I can now say I've seen Pu$$y Cow and Mara Connor. Let's hope Jenny O plays a show in Los Angeles by December 31st.

Mara Connor

Nicole Kiki Jaffe came up with her rock sounds that were enhanced by a cello. I was told randomly by someone that the cellist also plays with Meg Myers. As is her norm, she sang The Cranberries' Zombie. I love that song and love hearing her sing it.

Nicole Kiki Jaffe

Inspired and The Sleep was a new band for me. They have some chill pop sounds. Their sound causes one to float a couple inches above the ground. The band got the prime golden hour. Temperatures were drifting lower as the sun dipped below the horizon.

Inspired and The Sleep

Oddnesse is a band I just saw a couple weeks back in Highland Park. The band was the same, except for a different keyboardist. I did notice that. Her Bob Dylan style catches your attention and holds it.

Oddnesse

VIAA closed out the night. I hadn't seen her since 2016 at the Bootleg Theater. She got the crowd dancing to her catchy sounds. In fact, two kids couldn't have had more fun. They were putting the moves on that would challenge any of the adults in the audience.

VIAA

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Oddnesse

Oddnesse at The Hi Hat

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

What is currently influencing your music? Classic pop songwriting, lush vocal harmonies, dramatic synth lines, earthy guitars and percussion.

What’s your favorite set/tour story or memory? Echo Park Rising last year was the most fun I ever had playing a show. I was so amped that I stayed out until sunrise that night, rare for LA and pretty much unheard of for me.

Own final thoughts: I used to make electronic music. Grey Goon calls me the velocity queen for the precision with which I will sit there and edit the bass midi. About half our tracks have programmed bass. I am not ashamed.

Commune: Polartropica and Oddnesse

Commune at Stories Books and Cafe is an occasional event (I believe it happens bi-monthly) where not only do you get to hear stripped down versions of songs sung by the musicians/bands that play at the event, but you also get to hear stories behind the songs.

Oddnesse told an interesting memory that inspired some of her songs. She decided to go to an event (forget if it was in Idaho or Utah). She ended up staying at an Air Force major's house during her time there. The two of them had some interesting conversations that Rebeca (Oddnesse) appreciated and found refreshing, because the Air Force officer had totally different political opinions than folks in Los Angeles. While there, she signed up for a $250 session where she ended up spending time screaming into a pillow. And she also found her long distance lover, an executive who afterwards would fly her out to stay with him.

Oddnesse

Polartropica's stories weren't so much about her music, but about her memories of Laura Peters. Laura Peters recently passed away. She was one of the individuals who ran Play Like a Girl (which helps co-run Commune) and greatly influenced Polartropica. Her set ended with a Psychic Love (Laura Peters' band) cover. Tears flowed throughout those in attendance. It was a wonderful tribute to an important members of the LA local music scene.

Polartropica

The Hi Hat: Purple Bite Holiday Party

Whenever I run into Purple Bite PR around various music venues in Los Angeles, it is usually because they represent many of the top music talents around town and their bands/artists are playing sets. Many of their clients did residencies across Los Angles in 2018 and prior years. Lauren Ruth Ward and Jesse Jo Stark are perhaps the biggest names on their client list to have residencies. But other residencies were put on by Magic Bronson, Saigo, and October's Child. And I'm probably over-looking others.

Lauren Ruth Ward

On a recent Saturday night, they put on a free holiday show showcasing their talent at The Hi Hat.

Rainsford

The biggest musician of the night was, of course, Lauren Ruth Ward. I previously mentioned that Lauren Ruth Ward is the most supportive local musician in Los Angeles. One can't help but love the growing success she is having. One can only hope her success continues to grow in 2019. She gave the audience a stripped down set with just her and one other. The acoustic set just let her vocals float across an adoring crowd.

Rainsford definitely had her fans, as well. And just a few cameras were out and about. If I'm not mistaken, she was the only one who did a Christmas cover. She mentioned that she thought it was a holiday party so she had prepared a cover of White Christmas. Well, it was a holiday party and the cover was perfect -- especially since is was cold (Los Angeles version) that night.

Kera and the Lebians

Kera and the Lesbians is someone I've seen on occasion. (She might just go by Kera now, not totally sure on that.) I still remember the first time I saw her at the Bootleg Theater. Her set that night left me misty eyed. She only did a two song set on this particular night, but it still highlighted the emotional impact of her music.

Loyal Lobos

Loyal Lobos was a wonderful surprise. I swear she has lovely hints of Enya. And bringing up Enya, I still remember the first time I heard the Watermark album. I will remember the first time hearing Loyal Lobos.

Also, playing sets were Crow, Oddnesse, O Future and Glory Daze. O Future definitely has one unique sound -- perhaps I'd describe it as Silicon Valley infused music. Oddnesse had a beautiful singer-songwriter vibe. Crow gave a stripped down version of her more artsy set that I remember from when I saw her at Broke LA. I only caught a song or two of Glory Daze. Hey, it was college football playoffs night.

Oddnesse

It has to mentioned that this was a night where a lot of the Los Angeles influences and musicians hung out to celebrate the success of Purple Bite PR.

O Future