Club Tee Gee: Neon Cowgirl

The last time I saw Holly Marilyn was back in late 2016 at Hotel Cafe. The only reason I caught that set was because I noticed something that Lauren Rocket (a friend of Holly's) said on social media. I had spent a number of years following Holly in the band The Child and for a short while when she backed the band Night Terrors of 1927. For her, the last few years have been spent living in Nashville. She just recently returned to Los Angeles.

When I learned that she would be at Club Tee Gee as Neon Cowgirl, I circled it on my calendar. Like the last time I went to Club Tee Gee (to catch Aging Actress), I walked the mile to the venue. It was a nice way to walk off some calories from a large lunch. The night was attended by many of her friends so there was a very supportive crowd. She mentioned that even with a support crowd, she was still nervous. She mentioned that past sets hadn't gone all that well, but that this one seemed to be going in the right direction. Gone were the pop/synth sounds of The Child. Replacing it was an introspective singer-songwriter's set that explored some of her darker past experiences.

Quick Hit Band Interview: Trends

Trends at El Cid

Interview with the band. Enjoy:

How would you describe your music? I think our music conveys a palette of emotions. A lot of our songs were written over the course of several years, and with each life experience our perspectives have expanded. Overall, it’s melancholic and reminiscent of late 90s music.

What is one of the band’s high or low moments and what makes it stand out? We spent a year looking for someone to join the band as a bassist. We’d finished writing the record and had to delay playing live because we were down a person. It was grueling setting up so many auditions and not being able to find the right fit. Definitely a frustrating and difficult time, but in the end, Jose was worth the wait. He’s a bit out there, and as it turns out he had responded to one of our ads, but forgot to reply when we tried to set up a meeting. It took a year for him to circle back. Things happen in their own time, apparently!

Own unique band info. Each of us always dreamt of being in a band that felt like family. I never liked the idea of just showing up to rehearsals and gigs and taking off right after. As individuals, we all really enjoy investing time and effort into building lasting relationships. We’re there for each other and I think our connection is something that translates well at the shows.

Quick Hit Interview: Magic Bronson

Magic Bronson at The Hi Hat

Interview with the band (via Matt). Enjoy:

What's the story behind how your band started? Me & Mike both lived out in the suburbs in Agoura and Thousand Oaks & knew each other through different bands we played in at the time. I was in an indie hip hop band playing bass & he was drumming for a few different groups. I ended up running into him at a local bar one night in 2011 and he invited me over to his dad’s garage studio to hang out and jam sometime. We started recording & writing the first day we got together and realized we worked together really well in the studio and had a lot of the same influences and it kind of just took off from there.

What struggles has the band had to over-come to get to this point as a band? I think mostly just staying positive and trusting the process. For us, we know if we are always writing & recording good things will happen. Sometimes it can be hard to find the right people to take you to the next level or step, but if you keep at it and put out good songs people will hear them and be willing to help.

Final thoughts: People always ask us where the name Magic Bronson came from: We’d been trying to figure out a band name for months and couldn’t come up with anything. We knew we wanted a play on something, but weren’t sure what. I had recently seen the movie “Bronson” with Tom Hardy about the London criminal Charles Bronson and Magic Johnson has been in the news a bunch because he was going to become a part owner of the Dodgers. In Mikes backyard one day while taking a studio break, I just blurted out what about Magic Bronson and it just stuck. We didn’t find out about Action Bronson till about 3 months later, but people liked our name so we kept it.

The Satellite: The Manx with SkullCrack and Wacko

It was a photography night at The Satellite featuring the work of Anthony Mehlhaff. His photos always capture the energy of the punk rock scene. The exhibit was held in the back bar. Now it wasn't just a photo exhibit. There were always bands playing. I caught the first three bands: Wacko, SkullCrack and The Manx.

Wacko

I was familiar with 2 of those bands though I'd never seen them before. I had wanted to catch Wacko at Happy Sundays Long Beach, but scheduling problems created a conflict. And The Manx has played at the American Barbershop and I've just not been able to catch a set.

SkullCrack

It was a wild night with the mosh pit going strong for all three bands. Wacko had a piñata that was quickly destroyed in the mosh pit. The band can contort their body and instruments into knots. SkullCrack brought out the over-sized skull mask for the bassist. Their lead singer screamed out their lyrics. The Manx had the body paint and video game speakers to continue the crowd participation.

The Manx

As for photographers, most were right in the pit, but a couple others just gave up and moved out. As for me, I tried to strategically go in during what seemed like opportune times. Of course, it didn't always work out for me. For The Manx, I went in for some photos and then started to leave. I didn't leave fast enough, because someone in the big pushed me hard in the back. I did a stumble, stuck my arm out and balanced myself against someone who was just outside the pit.

Resident: Feels with Reckling

The last time I saw Feels was earlier in the year when I caught their record release party with The Paranoyds. This was also the first time this year that I've gone down to the Resident. I used to head down to the Resident far more often, but they appear to have changed their format at this venue, shifting away from live music. This was also the first time since the apparent departure of Shannon Lay from the group. I believe that there are now two original members left (Laena and Michael) from the Raw Geronimo days. So in some ways the night felt like a first for many reasons.

The band mixed it up between their two albums, but they also covered a Mariah Carey Christmas song. Laena Geronimo was in a good mood. Swinging her hair. Smiles throughout the set. Taking a stroll into the crowd. It must have felt good playing in front of an appreciative Los Angeles crowd that included a number of us faithful photographers. Amy Allen on bass gave us the stage presence that made her such a great addition to the band a couple years back. And the music was that slightly scratchy garage/punk/rock mix that just has a touch of those original psychedelic sounds. Based on what Laena said, this was their last live set for awhile as they put together a new album.

Their set list was: Tell Me, Car, Find A Way, Slippin, Running, Unicorn, Toll Booth, Mariah Carey cover, Flowers, Anyways, Sour, Post Earth, Deconstructed, Close My Eyes.

Feels

Opening up was Reckling. Their music goes at hyper speed. And vocals that stretches across those speedy jams.

Reckling

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Dyllan

Dyllan at The Hi Hat

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

How would you describe your sound? Dark Dreamy Pop.

What motivates you to write your music? Mostly heartbreak.

Quick Hit Artist Interview: Greg Felden

Greg Felden at The Echo

Interview with the artist. Enjoy:

When did you know you wanted to be a musician/singer? Great question. I played violin as a kid and loved it. I picked up the guitar as a teenager and definitely had a moment of thinking "Oh, I can do this and it's all I want to do with my time." That said, it'd sure be great if life were significantly longer so I could live out every passion I've ever had. There have been a lot.

What’s your favorite (own) song and what makes it the favorite? Don't make me choose from among my children. I kid. But honestly, it's usually the case that the most recent song I've finished is my favorite. I see that as a good thing. Hopefully it means I'm getting better over time. The latest is called "Little Things," and it isn't on the album I'm releasing. Hopefully it will be on the next. You'll have to stay tuned.