New Music Alert: Gracie Gray's "alienlover"

I first came across Gracie Gray at The Satellite. I was immediately touched by her music. And then she performed the cover "Over the Rainbow." That sold me. I became a big fan right there. 

A recent single called "alienlover" can be found out on the Internet. The music starts off with some hard bass beats before shifting to the atmospheric blending of Gracie Gray's vocals. The bass downbeats dissipates into the layered vocals that soar just at the right moments. A choir of voices gather together in this wonderfully tuned and thought out song.

Photo taken at La Tierra De La Culebra

Silverlake Lounge: The Gooms with Chase Petra and Mashugana

The Gooms are the October residency band at the Silverlake Lounge. Like many bands, this was their first live set since the start of the pandemic. Opening up for them was Mashugana that had a nice chill sound. When the spirit took hold, the lead singer let loose with some vibrant moves on stage. The band got a touch excited when someone in the audience yelled out their band name with the proper pronunciation. I had to look up the word. It means someone who acts crazy or nonsensical.

Mashugana

Up next was Chase Petra. This is a band I saw three different times during the pandemic -- all online. I saw them playing Echo Park Rising, the Six at Six, and Wonder & Awe. Their music has a pop punk flavor to it. Having seen them online so many times, I was super eager to catch this band for the first time live. Yes, live. What did I notice that was different from catching their music online? Mercy, this band is so fun to photograph -- especially when the bassist and guitarist face off with each other.

Chase Petra

The Gooms closed out the night. Now, here's what I noticed about both Chase Petra and The Gooms. Their fans packed the front of the stage. I feel like this is the first time I've seen this happen when hanging out post-reopening at the Silverlake Lounge. No one was getting to the front of the stage if they didn't get their prior to the start of Chase Petra's set. The Gooms is just a fun band. They play their music fuzzy and, well, they like to make amusing facial expressions. I've followed this band since early 2019 and just was so happy to catch them again.

The Gooms

New Music Alert: Kate Clover's EP "Channel Zero"

Kate Clover recently released a 4 song EP titled Channel Zero. I first came across Kate Clover in 2016 when she played in the band ExSage. I was immediately intrigued and kept following the band and then continued on when she moved to her personal project. I'd also run into her frequently at Zebulon where I'd always find her sitting on the bench risers. 

This EP draws on her cool vibes and let's just admit that she's one of the coolest musicians in Los Angeles. There's a confidence in those songs as she whips at light speed through punk beats.  

Photo taken at the Bootleg Theater

 

New Music Alert: Livingmore's "Sharp"

 

Livingmore is one of those bands that I see live multiple times a year (other than during pandemic years). In fact, in 2018, I saw the band more than any other: six times. I do hope I get to see them live in 2021. 

Their music video to their song "Sharp" has lead singer Alex Moore popping her head out of a car sun roof, singing the lyrics to their pop gem that has you thinking of Belinda Carlisle tunes. Those guitar riffs also reminds me of a past favorite Los Angeles band called, The Mulhollands.  

There is such joy that shines from Alex. Just watching the video and listening to the music has me wanting to jump around and brag, "I've seen this band live many a time."

Photo take at The House of Machines

New Music Alert: Mating Ritual's "Tell Me You Don't Love Me"

My introduction to Mating Ritual dates back to 2016. The band not only makes great music, but you often see them out and about supporting other bands (pre-COVID-19, of course). I'd see them at Madame Siam, Hot Shot Muffler and other venues. It is great seeing musicians supporting their friends. 

The band is out with a song called "Tell Me You Don't Love Me." The song is just dripping with sensuality and painful memories. The video features a female dancer, she seduces the camera throughout, but that is just the lingering joyful memories that are drifting away.

The band has this on their Instagram page: I normally make a little quip about the song, but this one is super emotional and honest, so I'll just let it do the talking.

Lyrics: Tell me you don't love me / Tell me you're cool with this / Tell that you're better off than before / Because right now I don't remember what went wrong.

Photo taken at Chinatown Summer Nights

New Music Alert: L.A. Witch's "Motorcycle Boy"

L.A. Witch is a band that I've caught during epic line-ups at the Echoplex. The first time I saw them they were in a line-up with Kim & The Created and Colleen Green. The next time I saw them they were sharing the stage with Tashaki Miyaki and Z Berg. Their 70s inspired rock and roll and over-all cool style stage performances are just addicting.

Their recent single "Motorcycle Boy" embodies that feeling. What is more rock and roll than riding a motorcycle out on the open road. In the video, the musicians are dressed in black while riding or playing, but during moments of dream hallucinations are dressed in white. At the end, the trio are in black, standing by a memorial to a death. Has darkness won over the light? Or in death, does the soul find goodness?

Harvard & Stone: Strawberry Army and The Bites

I first came across Strawberry Army in early 2019 when they played during a Wild Riot event. I saw them two additional times after that. Both of those times were at the Bootleg Theater. They opened up for The Paranoyds one of those times and played with Kate Clover the next time. The band has been somewhat active in 2021, playing shows in San Diego and Pomona. Well, they made a late announcement that they were going to play Harvard & Stone this past Monday. I didn't want to miss this night. This band has a pop-punk sound with some raspy vocals and a dynamic stage performance. Did I enjoy the set? When it felt like the set finished up within minutes of starting you know it was a fun set. The one disadvantage of the set was that Harvard & Stone gave them very low red lights throughout the set making it difficult to do any photography.  

Strawberry Army

Up next was The Bites who brought their own stage lights. A friend brought some lights and cameras to video the whole set. So lights weren't an issue for their set. This band is a perfect Sunset Strip band with their rocking 1980s sound. They had their fans crowded right up to the front of the stage. And unlike many bands where the fans eventually move a few feet back, these fans stuck right up front throughout. To end the set, the band took a group bow. Hey, it was deserved, they're very entertaining.

The Bites