Online Quarantine Sets: Version 85

The Satellite's Instagram Live sets took a couple months break due to the explosion of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles. But they returned this past Wednesday with a blast as Talker took to the stage. I've followed her for a couple years and love her passionate rock. She just puts it all out there. She mentioned that it was her first time playing in front of a live audience in a year (the live audience being those who were taping and photographing the set). Her last set was at the Bootleg Theater. 

One of her songs that put it all out there was "Sad Chick," which is a song about taking ownership of her depression.

What did I notice: those kicks she did at the end of her songs.

Quarantine Online Sets: Version 5

Talker has been one of the busiest Los Angeles musicians since we went into self-isolation. She's done a number of online sets. Perhaps it is driven by the fact that her birthday was on April 8th (Wednesday) or maybe this is how she's dealing with self-isolation or maybe some other reason. Who knows, but I'm happy she's doing so. I caught a set of her's for the second time on Monday, April 6th. The Satellite must have caught on that Talker (Celeste) has been very busy as they gave her a shout out on their marquee: Support Talker Online.

Screen shot of Talker's Instagram Stories

Celeste

On Tuesday, I decided to catch Echosmith on Billboard's Facebook page. That band has been around for years, but this was my first time catching their pop tunes. One of the amusing things about catching online sets is seeing bands adjusting to this new world of online sets. In order to read the comments, lead singer Sydney left the microphone and went over to camera/video recorder. She'd start talking about the comments, but no one could hear what she was saying as the microphone couldn't pick up her voice. Someone off camera mentioned it to her and so she dragged the microphone over so that she could read the comments and folks online could hear what she was saying. Then, later in the set, someone off-screen handed her a tablet so that she could read the comments.They ended their set with the addictive "Cool Kids" song.

Echosmith

Wednesday was packed. Up first was Lake doing a 15 minute set on Facebook (via Jenn Grant, who from what I can tell is also a musician). The last time I caught this band was in 2012. They're a band from Washington state though I believe one of the members grew up in Los Angeles, if I recall correctly. I remember catching a set for the first time at The Smell way back when. It might have been 2011 or 2012, I don't recall exactly (I know the 2nd and last time I caught them was in 2012). I was just over-whelmed by how their music filled the DIY venue. I know that they played in the Los Angeles area a couple months back, but I wasn't feeling that well. If I had, I would have sent an e-mail offering my camera services. Though the video on Wednesday was of really poor quality, the music was just as great as I remembered.

Lake

Mara Connor was up next on Dash Radio. She played with a No Fun banner above her head, which is the title of her recent album release. Her folk-America tunes have captured my soul for years. She's an artist that I always try to see at least once a year for perhaps 4 years now.

Mara Connor

Then it was off to catch The Living Roomers doing a Buzzbands set. I read on Buzzbands that they're a pop-punk band. Listening to one of their songs online, I'd say that sounds about right. But for this online set, they took it down several steps via an acoustic set. Though I've never heard of The Living Roomers before, I'm eager to catch them live and see their more amped up  performance. What I loved about the set was the creativity behind the set. They played outside in what looked like a backyard. The band was spread out and in front of them were mirrors on the grass. Whomever was doing the filming of the set would occasionally film the reflections of the band members off the mirrors. It was really a cool concept.

The Living Roomers

Quarantine Online Sets: Version 1

I can't go out to catch live music due to COVID-19 so it was off to catching online sets. My camera had been set aside for way to long so I started doing the lame thing of taking photos of my computer screen.

First up came Thursday, March 19th, when I caught parts of TOKiMONSTA's live streaming of her new album. I watched most of it, but as it was in the middle of the day and I needed to continue my work at home job duties. Also, I did step away for a few moments to go out and do some social distance walking. I had been cooped up in my apartment for so long that I just needed to go outside and stretch the legs for a few minutes. She was sitting with a friend, listening to her album and just talking and getting drunk. Her music was a lovely mix of genres and I would most love to catch a live set.

TOKiMONSTA

The Saturday and Sunday was spent catching some live sets from an online festival called Alone Together Fest. I got to catch a handful of bands/artists that I'd never seen before: Ness Lake, Pronoun, Sunsleep and I'm Glad It's You. Pronoun and Sunsleep really stood out to me. Too bad both aren't located in Los Angeles. I'm Glad It's You had cool fog machine effects. Ness Lake played the guitar with tender loving care. The reason I tuned into the festival was because talker was up on Saturday and Dan Sadin was playing Sunday. Talker really killed it with her acoustic set.

Ness Lake

Pronoun

talker

Sunsleep

 

Dan Saden 

I'm Glad It's You

Prior to tuning into the festival on Sunday, I caught BIIANCO. Earlier, she had broken her hand and it had healed. After her set, she mentioned on Instagram she felts she broke it again during her set. That tells you how much energy she put into her online set.

BIAANCO

Quick Hit Artist Interview: talker

talker at the Lodge Room

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? Grunge-pop. Walking the line between dark indie pop like Banks, and gritty indie rock bands like Wolf Alice.

Where is your favorite spot to write music? And why the spot? A. I honestly write all over the place, but while traveling by train, or by van on tour is super special for me.

Own thoughts. I'm really excited to be putting out my debut single "Collateral Damage" on Thursday 7/19! A little terrified of letting go and putting my music into the world, but so so ready and excited.

Lodge Room: Dan Sadin with friends

It was off to the Lodge Room to catch Dan Sadin. I got an invite by his PR group. I didn't exactly know what to expect. When I arrived, there were seats set up in the auditorium. I thought that was a little strange for a local rock concert. I think those there also thought it strange as the bands had to encourage folks to take a seat instead of hanging out in the rear near the bar. The seats actually worked to create an intimate environment in a packed room for the various singer-songwriter/acoustic sets during the night.

Dan Sadin

Dan Sadin has some Bruce Springsteen vibes. His guitar and lyrics put you into a reflective mood. Also, just take a look at his song titles: "The Way That It Hurts," "Here Comes The Heartbreak," "Edge Of The Dark," and "Lost on Nothing." Those are some moody song titles. "Here Comes The Heartbreak" title makes you think of love that is coming to an end and you just know that it is around the corner.

Holy Child

Opening up the night were a number of his friends, many who backed him during this set so in a way it was a family affair for the night. Liv Slingerland, Talker, Colyer, Holy Child and FRENSHIP played mini-sets of 2 to 3 songs. Liv Slingerland is a musician who I've followed for a couple years as she used to back-up Lauren Ruth Ward. FRENSHIP is a band that Dan Sadin plays in. They had a fun time joking about Dan. They also put him front and center. They let him go off on his guitar during the songs. Talker is the name for Celeste, who also happens to play with FRENSHIP. She also backed up Dan during his set as did Colyer who brought some awesome Hotel Cafe vibes. Holy Child did a mellowed down version of their set that I saw at Echo Park Rising 2017. When I saw them setting up, I was wondering if they'd have any of the thrilling stage show that they put on at Echo Park Rising. It was definitely toned down, to work with the night's music style, but you could see traces of Liz's stage show presence.

Liv Slingerland