2020 Los Angeles Music Scene in Review

I’ve always done a year-end round up of my favorite “new to me, but maybe not new to you” lists. Well, let me go in a different direction this year end for obvious reasons. 

2020 in Review 

#20 Pink Sock / Echoplex 

Let’s start things off with Pink Sock. Anyways, a few years back, I got stuck outside The Echo without a photo pass. A quick e-mail was sent to one of the bands that was playing that night. Down came said drummer to rescue me. 

When this is all over: I’m going to see Emily Kinney in concert. Hold me to it.

Pink Sock

#19 Ariel Beesley / Echoplex 

A photo from her birthday show. Is it too early to say happy birthday for 2021? 

When this is all over: I’m buying myself a Canon EOS R5.

Ariel Beesley

#18 SHIRAGIRL / The Satellite 

This will be me (?September 2021?) when I head inside my first concert venue in over a year. 

When this is all over: yes, I am betting September 2021 - hey, it used to be Q1 2022. 

SHIRAGIRL

#17 Wax Charmer / The Satellite 

Going through my photos, this band really knows how to put on a performance. I love how the band interacts together as well as individually. 

When this is all over: will this be all over before or after Echo Park Rising 2021 is supposed to occur? 

Wax Charmer

#16 Automatic / The Glass House / shot for Buzzbandsla 

Buzzbands had their list of concerts they wanted covered for the month of January. There was a mini-music festival going on at The Glass House that was on the list. I noticed that Automatic was on the line-up. I also hadn’t been to The Glass House in years so I put my name in to cover the show. I left my “real” job at around 3:30 p.m. and just sat in traffic on the 210 Freeway. Part of me just started thinking I should send Buzzbands an e-mail and apologize that I just didn’t realize how bad traffic was and I wouldn’t be able to get to cover the night. Also, add that I was under the weather, which was totally true. But at the same time I was thinking, “I really want to see Automatic.” 

When this is all over: I’ve got to catch Jenny O, Mara Connor and Pu$$y Cow at least once. Traditions need to restart. 

Automatic

#15 Ceremony / The Glass House / shot for Buzzbandsla 

I can’t wait to see music fans in pure ecstasy again. 

When this is all over: I’ve got to shoot at The Glass House at least once.

 

Ceremony

#14 Strawberry Army / Bootleg Theater 

This band is fun to shoot. Tell me I’m wrong. 

When this is all over: How many times will I see Black Flamingo, Brassbox, Draemings and Kevin?

 

Strawberry Army

#13 Kate Clover / Bootleg Theater 

Every so often back in the day I’d run into Kate Clover hanging out at Zebulon. Those were the days. 

When this is all over: Who wants to open up a music venue? 

Kate Clover

#12 Neon Cowgirl / Club Tee Gee 

One of these days The Child should do a set. Just throwing that out there. I love the biographical lyrics of Neon Cowgirl. 

When this is all over: I do hope Livingmore asks me to photograph one of their sets. 

Neon Cowgirl

#11 Cheekface / The Satellite 

Do you know they have a song called “Glendale?” Do you know I live in Glendale? There are actually other local music scene folk who live in Glendale. I’m not sure Cheekface likes Glendale. I’m not sure I like Glendale. 

When this is all over: I’ve got to catch in-person some of those musicians/bands I saw on Home School (aka School Night) and WFNM. 

Cheekface

#10 Tillie / The Geometro Party 

That time I got invited to an underground party. Yeah, that doesn’t happen that often. 

When this is all over: I might travel beyond a 5 miles radius from where I live.

Tillie

#9 The Walks of Life / Highland Park Bowl 

One year during Echo Park Rising, I did a long walk over to Cosmic Vinyl to photograph a couple random bands for Buzzbands. I came across Sam Marine (The Walks of Life). I was impressed. 

When this is all over: How many music venues will still be around? 

The Walks of Life

#8 Broken Baby / The Satellite 

This is the last time I went to The Satellite. Perhaps this photo is just perfect. From my count 6 music venues have shut down (perhaps one or two of them might manage to re-open at other locations). For the life of me, I can’t figure out how other venues are able to hang on with no revenue over the last 9 months. 

When this is all over: I caught a couple online sets of Skullcrusher. I really want to see a live set. 

Broken Baby

#7 The Mulhollands / Viper Room 

I have two all time favorite Los Angeles music scene bands: The Mulhollands and Automatic Music Explosion. Even though these bands shut down years ago, I bet that they still rank as the bands I’ve seen the most times. This night at the Viper Room was a reunion show for The Mulhollands. I hope another one happens again someday. 

When this is all over: I’ll get my #quickhitbandinterviews going on a more consistent basis.

The Mulhollands

#6 The Shakers / Viper Room 

Lead singer Jodie has moved out of state. But it was like the band had never stopped playing live sets. Magic at the Viper Room. 

When this is all over: Take a trip and explore another city’s music scene. 

The Shakers

#5 Sofie Winterson / Zebulon 

February 25th. This was the last time I stepped inside a music venue. I purposely put a hold on my live music outings a couple weeks sooner than I had to. Zebulon was part of the Red Alert campaign on Sept 1st. I do hope they survive. 

When this is all over: Shoot some shows for Buzzbands. 

Sofie Winterson

#4 Michael Crain / “Six at Six” series on Instagram Live / curated by @the6660s

I got asked if I wanted to photograph a “Six at Six” series. Outdoors. Check. Masks. Check. I was in. 

When this is all over: Do some interviews for CaliforniaRocker. 

Michael Crain

#3 Fart Barf / Echo Park Rising / Bands in a Barbershop stage 

Echo Park Rising went virtual this year. I got to capture one set live. 

When this is all over: hangout at the front of the stage with four or five other photographers at a local music venue, not shooting for a music site or similar, just shooting because we love the band. 

Fart Barf

#2 Mars Rodriguez / “Six at Six” series on Instagram Live / curated by The 6660s 

I do believe Mars Rodriguez ties as the band / musician I’ve seen most “in-person” in 2020. How many times? Twice. I purposely made sure I got to see her a second time. Love her one person sets. I do find it a little amusing that the most times I’ve seen a band / musician in 2020 live is just twice. Usually, there are bands / musicians that I’ll see 5 or 6 times. Maybe because like Livingmore, I’m one of their go to photographers. Or a Ramonda Hammer or Spare Parts for Broken Hearts where they’re part of the Los Angeles music scene that I am most associated with. Or a Kevin that is just too cool not to see multiple times. 

When this is all over: I want to find a band before the swarm of photographers descend on the band, just want to be one of the first. 

Mars Rodriguez

#1 Joshua Payne Orchestra / Los Angeles River 

I wear a mask while exercising in this COVID-19 world and I’ve learned one thing about wearing a mask while exercising: walking up hills around my neighborhood is very difficult to do while wearing a mask. My lungs just don't get enough air. So I switched things up and started walking along the Los Angeles river, which doesn’t require as muchexertion on my part. Well, one day, I came across a musician who was in the process of packing up his gear. Then a couple weeks later, I saw him again, packing up his gear. I decided to go over and ask for his name. And that’s how I came across Joshua Payne Orchestra. 

When this is all over: I need to ask Feels for a photo pass.

Joshua Payne Orchestra

Quarantine Online Sets: Version 7

I saw a full set by tiLLie for the first time in 2018 at Broke LA and immediately fell in love with her pop driven music. A couple years went by and I was invited to the Geometro Party where I got to catch a two song set. When I noticed that she was part of BIIANCO's curated Uncancelled Fest, I was on board. Sure, it wasn't the same as seeing her live, but it was still an amazing experience. She spent her time siting in front of the camera inside her garage, either singing karaoke to tracks or using a synth-type guitar. The set went from talkative to depressing to party town. She took us through all levels of emotions. And she gave an over-time performance, adding 15 minutes to her set for a 45-minute set. Just brilliant.

tiLLie

Buzzbands has been doing a series of QUARANTUNES. Up recently were Will Fox, Alicia Blue, and Mini Trees. Will Fox, like tiLLie, gave an extensive set at 45 minutes. As his 30 minute set was coming to a close, he kept saying, "Let's play one more." Though there was no interaction between those watching and the musician other than messages on Instagram Stories, it felt all so close none the less.

Will Fox

Alicia Blue and Mini Trees played 4 p.m. sets on Thursday (4/16) and Friday (4/17). I'm currently working at home so I tuned in while working on the computer. The folk sounds of Alicia Blue and the acoustic moods of Mini Trees made for a perfect background music while closing out the workday. What was really cool was seeing my Show Alert for Alicia Blue go a touch viral on Instagram Stories. I saw that it got picked up by Alicia Blue, The Hi Hat and Buzzbands. Maybe others picked it up, also.

Alicia Blue

Mini Trees

Broke LA 2018: Favorite Memories

For the last few years, Broke LA Fest was held in various warehouse locations from the art district to El Sereno. This year, they shifted locations to DTLA’s Regent Theater and surrounding areas. Music was across three stages. The main stage was the Regent with the Love Song Bar used as a smaller space. The third stage was across the street in an outdoor parking lot, which included a market and with the music powered by the Sunstock Solar Festival. (I was told by those who run the Sunstock Solar Festival to expect their festival sometime in October.) A comedy stage was held at the Prufrock Pizzeria. Broke LA also expanded their festival from a one day to a two-day event. And for those who don’t know, this is a festival where local Los Angeles bands rule the weekend. The festival is meant to explore the local music scene and hang out with favorite bands and find a couple more to add to the list of favorites.

Day 1 Highlights Best Find of Day 1 Award: Princess Cyberspace

Princess Cyberspace

Her lyrics are so catchy and so social media:

“Cuz I got 10 likes
100 likes
1,000 likes
10,000 likes
I’ll probably get more by the end of the night” 

Put those catchy lyrics alongside snappy rhythms and stylist street fashion and you got an after-hour party happening just as the sun was setting.

Here’s my interview with the artist: 

How would you describe your sound? My songs can be described as post-EDM punk pop music with a tropical R&B influence. Perhaps even nu new wave cyberpunk. 

Your lyrics are very catchy. How do you go about writing your lyrics? I keep a diary of lyrics that just come to me during the day on the ‘Notes’ section of my phone and in a physical notebook. During studio sessions, I organize the lyrics into verses, choruses, bridges, etc. with my producer and/or co-writers. 

Any additional thoughts? I think my music is as unique as I am. I am ethnically ambiguous (Filipina, Polish, Irish, Russian) and grew up traveling a lot in an international family. I don’t fit into the ‘white EDM’ scene and I don’t fit into the ‘black hip hop scene’. I fit into my unique sound, and I hope that the people who dig my music can find home in them, too. 

You Never Know Who’s Listening Award: Sugar Rum Tantrum

Sugar Rum Tantrum

The accordion has to rank right there with the bagpipes, right? Hey, don’t worry, Sugar Rum Tantrum makes it look as cool as an electric guitar.

But why their award? The band was saying in jest, “We want to be sponsored by Lagunitas [Lagunitas was running the outdoor beer tent].” Just before their last song, the folks at Lagunitas came over with beers for all the members of the band. Big smiles, “Are we really sponsored by Lagunitas?”

Here’s my interview with the band: 

How would you describe your sound? Sugar Rum Tantrum's is accordion-fronted rambunction folk pop. What the hell is that? We don't know either. It has accordions, violins, and tons of attitude. Every show is a little different, sometimes we have loud distorted guitars with gutsy blues tunes, sometimes we play to naked hippie folk in tents. Sometimes people just plop around and dance in circles that look like nothing more than your standard bird mating ritual. 

How would you like your music to impact people who listen to your music or see you play live? Sugar Rum Tantrum aims for people to embrace their inner weird. To see something new and filled with attitude and make you say 'fuck yeah'. We care about the environment, the polar bears drowning among melted ice caps . . . we do! But mostly, we also care for the reclaimed human spirit...the polar bears within us! ;) 

Own Q&A: If the band could go anywhere for a day where would you go? We'd go to Nashville to meet Jack White. Basically, the White Stripes is an astronomically dividing issue within Sugar Rum Tantrum. The bass player despises their lack of a bass player and simplistic aesthetic . . . whereas Rich [drums] is stern and uncompromising in his love of the Stripes. Basically, the trip would start a big internal band brawl and would be great for catching some authentic videos for our "Behind the Music" documentary that we decided we're going to shoot right now. Hopefully there would be jousting. And Melinda [vocals, accordion] would get some legit Tennessee hot sauce. 

Surprise of the Day Award: Top Shelf Band

Top Shelf Band

They did a set on the Outdoor Stage and had the area packed with their college football halftime show music style. Later, as one set was ending inside the Regent and festival attendees were heading away from the stage, they came marching in and set the place on fire.

Here’s my interview with the band: 

What’s the story behind how the band started out? All of us are friends from high school and the RCC Marching Band. We just wanted to play cool music with homies. Now 5 years down the road we've been making some real noise in the LA and IE music scene. We’ve been playing for Sea World since 2014. And we made our first tour across Europe. The Top Shelf Brass Band is a combination of the energy of a marching band, instrumentation of a New Orleans Brass 2nd line, and the vibes of today’s music. 

Is there a specific decision the band has made (good or bad) that it feels other bands/artists can learn from? Stay true to the band's core values. Don't try to cater to any audience. Don't try to "Play the Game". Play for yourselves. Play for each other. 

Day 2 Highlights 

Best Find of Day 2 Award: tiLLie

tiLLie

Okay, so sometimes you have to say to yourself, “I really should have heard of this band/artist way before now.” The main draw of Day 2 has to go to tiLLie. The Regent attendance peaked for her set. You have to love an artist who does an 80’s cover of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

And she gets the award for best quote of the night, “This song goes out to those who f*cking try to fix you when you’re not broken.”

Best Wake-Up Call Award: The New Pacific

The New Pacific

There was no easing into Day 2. They rocked out right from the start. High leaps off the drum stage. Power rock jams. And a lot of long hair talk between band members. Hey, wake up, it’s 2 p.m.!

Here’s my interview with the band: 

What's the story behind how the band started out? The band started out 3 years ago as a rock project Alec put together when moving to Los Angeles from Nashville. The idea was to put together a band that could be as melodic as it was heavy. We've landed in a really great spot with great members and are excited to start releasing a new batch of songs this week. This next set of songs deals a bit more literally with what’s going on in the world right now. How could you not be with everything going on in the news right now? There’s a lot of raw emotion and exploration of human nature to be dug into. And we’re digging deep. 

Do you happen to have a favorite Broke LA story/thought -- doesn't have to be set related? Jessica and everyone at Broke LA and the Regent did an awesome job organizing it and we had an absolute blast. But there's a place behind the Regent called #CaldersRadPad where a production artist lives and displays his art and it's all made of cardboard. Us and a bunch of the other bands went and toured it and it blew our minds. 

Any additional thoughts? Honestly, we just want to encourage anyone that is interested in making art or having a voice to get out there and get in the garage and make it loud. We’ve all got one shot at this thing. If you’ve got something you really care about, don’t be afraid to dig in. 

Best Emotional Release Award: Holy Wars

Holy Wars

There was a conflict going on between stages as the festival was heading towards a close. Holy Wars and MetronOhm started their sets within seconds of each other. The moment actually perfectly highlighted the friendly vibes of Broke LA. A member of MetronOhm, Kofi, rushed over to the front of the Regent stage as Holy Wars was setting up and called out to Kat (lead singer of Holy Wars), “I’m going to be here with you in spirit.”

Holy Wars’ set was MINDBLOWING as they commanded the stage like no other Broke LA band. The band’s music was rocking. Their stage show was refined to perfection. Whoever was controlling the lights (social media says Matt Shores) must have gotten inspired by the set, because the Regent looked like it was hosting Lady Gaga. It was enough to get one to do a little pogo jumping, body slamming and grinning like a kid in a candy store.

Here’s my interview with the band: 

Why the name Holy Wars? The name was inspired by our lyric "Now there's a Holy War in me" in our song 'Mother Father.' When we wrote the first few songs there was still no name for the band and once that was written it was apparent that would be the best way to describe this whole collection of music. That lyric originally came to me when people would ask me how I was doing shortly after my parents’ passing and eventually I would just start to tell them, "every day feels like a holy war in me" to sum it all up. The band has been around for a little over a year. How has the band gel together as a group? 

The band has been together for a year. During that time the live show has continued to develop but even more so the sound has. We're working on our next release now and are planning on surprising everyone with where the band goes next. 

Own thoughts: I always love to talk about the album cover for Mother Father. It was a personal family photo of my mother and my father when they were teenagers. We had their handwriting recreated in the Mother Father title. Something most people don't know. That jacket in the photo that my mom is wearing, I still have and wear today. 

The most amazing thing I saw at our last 2 shows was people walking away with our vinyl with my parents on the cover. They are in the homes of people they've never met. And I feel like in some small way I'm helping them live on.  

Every show we play, I wear her socks and I have a token keychain of my dad's on my pedal board. Every stage I play, they come with me. 

And finally, freak-Out of the Festival: I’m sorry Broke LA, but those mannequins were freaking me out for some reason. Every set that I photographed at the Regent stage, out of the corner of my eye I would see those mannequins. I kept thinking, “I’m about to run into someone.” I’d freeze up and then realize, “It’s just those stupid mannequins.”