The Echo: Warbly Jets with All Things Blue and Grace Mitchell

It was time to head out to catch the Warbly Jets' residency at The Echo. I didn't realize it, but Chuck Ellis and Jackson Singleton opened the night at The Echo with short singer-songwriter sets. A voice and a guitar for both. They were appreciative to the crowd that showed up prior to 9 p.m. 

Chuck Ellis

Jackson Singleton

Next up was All Things Blue. Her songs are also in that singer-songwriter direction with tender melodies. There is also a minimalist garage rock to some of her songs where she takes dramatic license with her vocals. Was there a moment to remember during the set? Most definitely. When she was closing out the set with her final two songs, she took a step back and tripped backwards over her guitar. Was she hurt? She kept performing. When the second to last song was finished, she exclaimed, "I fell." 

All Things Blue

Up next was Grace Mitchell with what she said was a whole new band. Her guitarist played it moody, but on occasion she'd flash a smile to the audience to let them know that she was rather pleased with the set. As for Grace Mitchell, she stood on stage and hit some rocking tunes. Time just jumped ahead in warp speed. At one point, I looked down at her set list (which was written down on a 11 x 14 sheet in large bold lettering) and couldn't believe the set was nearing an end. As far as I'm concerned, she could have re-started the set list again and I wouldn't have been bored. 

Grace Mitchell

Warbly Jets closed it out with their fourth residency night. This was my second time seeing their residency. This band is just amazing. Their music is rapid. The lead singer is in constant motion. The keyboardist isn't as dramatic, but still has a charismatic style just by the way he hits the keys. Their drummer takes triumphant stances throughout the set. And though this band is dramatic and wild, they are also very precise. They mark off the floor very precisely with tape, making sure their various instruments are set up exactly where they want them to be.

Warbly Jets

New Music Alert: Warbly Jets' "NASA"

I still remember Warbly Jets' The Satellite Residency back in January 2017. I went to two of their nights. The Satellite was just packed. This music video captures the joy and wildness of their residency. You have the band singing to the camera in a white room that quickly turns into a party seen filled with people. The white room shifts to a disco dance floor. The music has a pulsating dance club sound that will keep a house party going. 

The lyrics get you thinking, "Right on time We’re electrified Like spirits in the static We’ve been under the lights Oh my my From earth to the sky We keep on falling like we’re learning to fly." There is just something thrilling there. Electrified. From earth to sky. And yet it ends with "We keep on falling like we're learning to fly." What exactly is meant here. Flying makes us think of birds soaring above or Superman coming in to save the day. Yet falling, who wants to fall. Perhaps the point is that failing is something we need to learn to live with and that we should keep going on with life, finding it electrified, even if we're met with failure all the time.

Photo taken at the Bootleg Theater

Top 15 Los Angeles New Bands (new to me, but maybe not new to you) of 2017

I've done Top 10 lists for a number of years, but 2017 was so much fun, I couldn't limit my list to just 10 bands. Over the past couple weeks different band names kept popping up in my mind. So for 2017, I'm expanding my list to Top 15.

15: Pipe Dreams

August: So Jana Ghost was one of my first Instagram followers. I soon noticed that she was in a band called Pipe Dreams. It took around a year, but I finally caught her band at Echo Park Rising. LoFi with a who cares attitude.

Pipe Dreams at Harvard & Stone

14: Warbly Jets

January: They did the first residency night at The Satellite for 2017. I went twice. I seldom go to see a residency twice. The venue was packed. The music. The crowd. I felt swept away.

Warbly Jets at The Satellite

13: Goon

July: I first saw Goon randomly when heading out to catch a prior year Top Ten selection: Alyeska. Go see a favorite and find another favorite.

Goon at The Echo

12: Lucy & La Mer

August: My first interaction with the band wasn't because I saw them live. My first interaction was due to mistaken identity. Well, I decided to check out the band. This band can be rather deceptive. Lyrics tinged with painful memories against a backdrop of catchy melodies.

Lucy & La Mer at Chinatown Summer Nights

11: Ever So Android

March: I first saw them at The Hi Hat. They were the last band up. There were just a handful of us still around. I honestly was planning on sticking around for just a couple songs and then take off. They started to play and I fell in love. They know how to work a stage.

Ever So Android at The Hi Hat

10: Gypsum

October: Immediate reaction was: they sound like Local Natives!

Gypsum at The Echo

9: Zealyn

April: I first saw Zealyn at Broke LA. She has the most awe inspiring vocals and she moves so quickly that my camera has a hard time capturing her without blurs. By far my favorite idol.

Zealyn at Hotel Cafe

8: Trapdoor Social

September: You'll want to head out into nature and dance. Plus, this band puts on an awesome festival run totally by solar power.

Trapdoor Social at the Sunstock Solar Festival

7: Lily Waters

October: Combine Lauren Ruth Ward and LP together and you have Lily Waters.

Lily Waters at The Smell

6: Lauren Ruth Ward

March: Went to Harvard & Stone on a random night. Came across Lauren Ruth Ward. Addicted since that time. I'm sure many others out there would agree.

Lauren Ruth Ward at Harvard & Stone

5: Francisca Valenzuela

September: As is my norm every year, I head out to Chinatown Summer Nights. On this particular day, it was really hot and I was thinking of just going there later in the evening. But I changed my mind and went out early. I'm so happy I did. Her songs were in Spanish and I don't speak Spanish, but it didn't matter. I was listening to wonder.

Francisca Valenzuela at Chinatown Summer Nights

4: JaneLane

August: I first saw JaneLane at Echo Park Rising. Romantic disappointments against a soft touch of dreamy music. Now why wouldn't you love that?

JaneLane at The Smell

3: Holy Wars

June: My history with Holy Wars actually goes back a few years when there was a band called Sad Robot. I count this as a re-incarnation into a totally new sound and band. Some may find their music too emotionally painful. I find it to be emotionally cathartic.

Holy Wars at Harvard & Stone

2: Kid Wave/Lea Emmery

April: I had the opportunity to interview Kid Wave and got into a "debate" about what was the band's best song. She said "Everything Changes." I said "Wonderlust." I'm not going to lie: this is one of the few times I've seen a local Los Angeles band for the first time and known most of their songs beforehand. In my pre-interview research, I clicked on one song and then couldn't stop listening.

Kid Wave at Broke LA

1: Potty Mouth

January: 2017 started off with a big bang for me in terms of the Los Angeles music scene. And one of the main reasons is that I came across Potty Mouth. During their set, I was just blown away. I didn't want the music to end. I'm listing them #1 for a reason: for me, my go to Los Angeles band to listen to online is Potty Mouth.

Potty Mouth at The Hi Hat

Hope you've enjoyed this list. I have to say that this year was one of my favorite ever in terms of finding new bands. Ranks right up with those years where I first came across bands like Eastern Conference Champions, Family of the Year, Grouplove, and Local Natives.