New Video Alert: The Knitts' "Dimensions"

The Knitts have a new song called "Dimensions." I'm the worst when it comes to science, but according to a Google search, string theory believes there are 10 dimensions. The song asks, "When does my luck start to change, something won't let me keep sane?" or "How will I know your face, when we go to that resting place?" I'm not sure the song provides any answers other than to say that it will eventually all get settled out once we head to the heavens. Perhaps that is the best that we can know as humans.

The video has the band playing the song, having their garage rock fun. Band members are playing behind crystalized images and their images being shown in triplicate. Heads are seen bobbing throughout the video. Why not? Even if the answers are hard to fine, that doesn't mean you can't have fun.

photo taken at House of Machines

New Music Alert: Spare Parts for Broken Hearts' "Dirty Milk"

Spare Parts for Broken Hearts has a new single out called "Dirty Milk." Any proceeds from the record and merchandise will be used to support the release of their record. The music is relentless and without mercy. The vocals are gritty and feel just as prophetic as the lyrics.

The band says the following about the new release: 

The song is about lack, it’s about recourse. It’s about being a kid whose parents are ill-equipped to handle the responsibility of a whole other human turning out secure, so we learn these attachment styles within that dynamic and it sets us up to seek out that repeated pattern in others throughout life. Now we’re adults and we’re still lost, expected to know more than we know and need less than we do. Here we are now in present time, needing more than we’ve ever needed, and the system we are to rely upon and invest in is a hoax. The nuclear family has proved itself the same, it’s all the same. You’re fending for yourself as always and for what seems like forever. “Are you anonymous, are you just like me?” is us asking, do you see me? I’m like you too and I think we’ve been fighting the same battle together for so long, from the same side, against the same thing. Now we unite, what we’re being fed isn’t, and has never been, good enough.”

photo take at The House of Machines

New Music Alert: Milly's "Star Thistle Blossom"

Milly recently released their "Star Thistle Blossom" single. The band has this nonchalant approach to their garage-skateboard inspired rock. Throughout the song, one wonders if they realize or maybe even care how sonically crafted their music is.    

"Hope knows that I've lost it all alone. I hope that you know that this will not be long." Another way to say that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Yet, the lyrics go deeper, talking about how life is about growth and that hope never dies.

Photo taken at The House of Machines

Quick Hit Band Interview: The Letter Openers

The Letter Openers at The House of Machines

Interview with the Mac of the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your music? Rocknroll, garage rock.

The Letter Openers have been together for years. What keeps the band together? We actually broke up for about a decade. A couple years ago, Martin & I reconnected and started jamming on some of my new songs. We weren't planning to reform the LO's, but that's what the new music sounded like. So, we decided to revive the name, brought Matt back into the fold, and drafted Jon in, to play drums. We started playing out a year ago, and have been gigging & recording ever since. As far as what keeps us coming back for more . . . I think we really enjoying playing together, have a decent amount of overlap taste-wise, and we still get along pretty well.

Own final thoughts: we're fond of paying respects to some of our influences . . . Cheap Trick, MC5, The Replacements, Big Star, Pretty Things, Thin Lizzy, Redd Kross The Who, Johnny Thunders . . . loud guitars, melodies, hooks . . . can't get enough of 'em.

Massacre Week for the Los Angeles Music Scene

The coronavirus pandemic hit the Los Angeles music scene hard during the week of July 12th - 18th. Music venues announced that they were closing left and right. The parade of closures started first with Saint Rocke. The owners are putting the location up for sale. I suppose if the right investors bought the property, there is the possibility it might remain a music venue. Who knows, maybe if they can't sell the property and coronavirus becomes a non-issue in say 2021 perhaps they'll just go ahead and re-open. I will admit that I don't think if I've ever been to this venue. It is possible I went there once way back when, but definitely not twice. Yet, hearing the news was more than concerning.

Then there was a Friday massacre. The Satellite and The House of Machines called it quits. The Satellite will switch over to a full-time bar and restaurant. Now at some point they could turn back into a music venue, but how likely will that be as they've torn down the stage and are investing money. Here is part of what they wrote on Instagram:

We are currently removing the stage and redesigning the club to be more of a place to get good quality drinks and food. We will be re-opening the kitchen and doing a complete redesign. Due to the lack of funds, this will not happen quickly. 

We will be opening in the parking lot for food and drinks as soon as we have the kitchen re-opened or the government lets us hire a food truck.

Doing all that takes money. This isn't something that one can go ahead and just switch everything back to a music venue as doing that would also cost money.

This was a big hit for me as I've been going to The Satellite for well north of a decade. All those wonderful memories. In fact, one of the greatest local music line-ups that I've ever seen happened at The Satellite in 2012 when Haim, Cold War Kids and Milo Greene played on a Monday night.

Gustaf at The Satellite (my last time at the venue)

Soon after learning about The Satellite, someone sent me an Instagram IM about The House of Machines. I don't have the same history with The House of Machines as I do with The Satellite. I've only been going to this venue for the last year or so. Yet I would often find myself heading down there just to catch a band.

Their Instagram post said:

To our THoM family and beloved L.A. community – it’s with great sadness that we announce the closure of our store in the Arts District. The ongoing uncertainty in California caused by Covid-19 has left us with little choice.

And honestly, I expect that The Hi Hat will eventually announce that they're closing down. The owner just needs to find a buyer for his property.

Taleen Kali at The House of Machines (my last time at the venue)

Quick Hit Band Interview: Milly

Milly at The House of Machines

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

What's the story behind how your band started? It started as a solo recording project then overtime transformed into a collaborative live band.

What band/artist (past or present) would you most like to open for? Jawbreaker or Swirlies.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Oriah

Oriah at The House of Machines

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your music? Spirit Animal Rock & Roll.

What’s your favorite Oriah song and what makes it the favorite? Always changes! Usually anything new. Right now, it’s “You Get What You Give” which we just released a couple of days ago.

Final Child at The Sayers Club and Veneer at The House of Machines

I got invited to see Final Child at The Sayers Club for her Til Death Do Us Part EP release on Thursday night. I eagerly accepted the invite. It wasn't well advertised so I'm thinking the night was set up for friends as the venue was nicely packed for her 30 minute set. Her pops sounds have a vibe to them that makes you want to groove. My favorite song is Pill on the Tongue where her vocals just take their time floating along with the music. Her fashion helped with that intent as her choice was to wear a fringe skirt that gave the illusion of her flying just above the stage floor.

Final Child

After Final Child's set ended, I decided to drive from Hollywood to the Art District. At The House of Machines, I caught Veneer. I first saw this band at Echo Park Rising and wanted to catch them again. I'm more convinced now that they're a throw back to Billy Joel. Maybe the keyboard play influences my thinking.

Veneer

So a 9:30 p.m. set at The Sayers Club followed by an 11:00 p.m. set at The House of Machines. I've got to say, it was a solid night of music. Then afterwards, I decided to cross the street and get a slice of pizza at Pizzanista! I had always walked out of The House of Machines and noticed that pizza shop. I finally decided to cross the street and get a slice.

La Tierra De La Culebra and The House of Machines: Gracie Gray, Okudaxij, Glaare, Spare Parts for Broken Hearts, Milly and Tennis System

A recent Saturday was a busy music day. First up, it was out to a park in Highland Park called La Tierra De La Culebra. I had never heard of this park. It is on 57th Street, not that far from Highland Park Bowl. It is a community park kept up by the neighbors in the area. There are some giant trees that keep the area shaded. And there are paths along the area that takes you up and down the 3 tiers of the park.

The afternoon was put on by Beating Lights. I specifically went to catch Gracie Gray. I had just recently seen her at The Satellite and just fell in love with her vocals. Watching her a second time, playing under a massive oak tree, was like listening to the vocals of an angel. And the atmospheric sounds of her music hits you emotionally.

Gracie Gray

I also happened to catch Okudaxij and his folk tunes. He mentioned that his band name was hard to remember so he just told folks to find his Instagram by typing in OKUD. He also looked over to where Gracie Gray was sitting and said that he noticed that her Instagram account was GracietheGray. He wondered if that was a reference to Lord of the Rings. Gracie lifted up her left arm and yelled out, "Yes."

Okudaxij

A couple hours later is was off to The House of Machines to catch a few more bands.

Up first was GLAARE. I had previously caught GLAARE at The Satellite. As they started their set, they asked if the lights could be brought down to match their goth sounds. Unfortunately, the guys at the soundboard said they couldn't really do anything about the lights. Maybe they're connected to lights that impact the rest of the building? The lights were brighter than they might have wanted, but that didn't stop them from putting on a solid sound of doom.

GLAARE

Spare Parts for Broken Hearts was the highlight of the evening. Their punk sounds brought sunlight to the venue. They just are relentless in their music. One moment will stand out for me. Johnny, inspired by being in the moment, kicked a cup of water into the audience. I happened to be kneeling down at the stage during the moment. Drops of water splashed across me. A little bit hit my lens. No big deal, but my one thought was, "I wonder if I'm going to take anymore photos of Spare Parts for Broken Hearts or is there just going to be water bubbles all over my lens." I think the water splashes were more on the edges of my filter so I don't think they impacted the photos that much.

Spare Parts for Broken Hearts

Milly came up next. The band likes to play with rather emotionless looks on their faces. Kind of like the faces that models use on the walkway. Well, one friend was having none of it. She ran up to the stage and danced around until she got a smile from the band.

Milly

Tennis System closed out the night. Their sounds shakes the body. Moment of the set has to be when the bassist got atop the speakers that have to be 10 feet above the ground and then took a leaping jump off. I personally would have broken an ankle.

Tennis System

The House of Machines: Ariel Beesley with COQUÍ

What a fun night at The House of Machines. Why? Ariel Beesley was singing her catchy tunes. She spent much of the time prior to her set, coming up to folks and giving hugs and saying hello. Such a vivacious personality. And also indicated that the audience was filled with her friends. When her set started, her friends crowded the stage and were singing the words to a number of her songs. A couple of them danced with abandon throughout. Ariel also decided to take the hands of a couple friends during one song and started to dance with them for a few moments.

Ariel's lyrics and music just blend seamlessly together. She also puts on an excellent stage show. Hair flings. Body moves that showed her ability to balance on one foot. And showing up great flexibility. 

Ariel Beesley

Opening up was COQUÍ who put on the dance moves, as well. He skated across the stage with ease.

Coqui

The House of Machines: Holy Wars

It was off to the Art District to catch Holy Wars at The House of Machines. It was a cool setup for the night. It was opening night for artist Jonah Nimoy's gallery show: Demons in Disguise. There was an improve/technology mixer based music from Roy Mayorga who played throughout the gallery hours. It reminded me of my adventures to some of the more artistic type venues in San Francisco back in 2013. There was also a special enclosed installation put on by Holy Wars. Unfortunately, I got in line way too late and so have no clue what awaited people once they entered the installation. It must have been fascinating, because individuals spent up to 15 minutes inside the exhibit.

Though the night really did belong to artist Jonah Nimoy, one has to admit that a number of individuals showed up just to catch Holy Wars. Recognizable music fans started to pop into The House of Machines starting at around 10 p.m. As always, Holy Wars did not disappoint. The crowd was pressed up against the stage throughout the set. The band, as always, put their heart and soul into their set to the delight of the crowd. A couple new songs. Some crowd surfing. Video imagery. Use of props. Around 45 minutes of awesomeness.