Song Spotlight: ModPods' Detox (a night at The Smell)

I happened to notice that the ModPods were playing a show at The Smell. Interesting note is that Danbert Nobacon (former singer for Chumbawamba) was also on the night's bill. According to my band catalog list that I keep, I've only seen the band perform live once and that would have likely been only for a song or two as my records indicate that I saw them in 2018 at Echo Park Rising (I was shooting for Buzzbands so I would have been jumping from one band to the next). 

ModPods at The Smell

Song Spotlight: Alexander Biggs' Mostly I Feel Nothing (a night at The Fable)

Alexander Biggs took to The Fable stage where he played a number of new songs that will likely end up on a new album. It was a Ryan Pollie showcase night and his set was a sublime way to begin the night. He started off the set on guitar, letting his tender vocals shine.  

Alexander Biggs at The Fable

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jul 5th - Jul 11th

A Handful (Massive) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jul 5th: Ben Reddell and Maybellene Ryder at The Echo. Doors at 5:30 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for Ben Reddell's song "Tumbleweed" here.

In 2024, I happened to catch Maybellene Ryder playing violin for a band called Oh, Rose at the Shrine. I wrote a review of that night on US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Monday, Jul 6th: Adrian Bourgeois and McKail Seely at Hotel Cafe (second stage). Doors at 8 p.m.

Adrian Bourgeois made my list of favorite new finds in 2025. You can read that list here. 

I recently wrote a review of McKail Seely's set at Hotel Cafe, which you can read here.

Tuesday, Jul 7th: Maejoy and Yagki at Hotel Cafe (second stage). Doors at 7 p.m.
You can read my Song Spotlight for Maejoy's song "Blueberry Lemonade" here.  

You can read my Yagki Song Spotlight for "Something I Do" here.

Tuesday, Jul 7th: Mara Connor at The Fable. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my song spotlight for her song "Someone New" here. 

Wednesday, Jul 8th: Pearl Charles at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Step Too Far" here.

Wednesday, Jul 8th: UGHH at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote a review of the band, which you can read here. 

Thursday, Jul 9th: Andie Yagher at Hotel Cafe (second stage). Set time at 10 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "twenty something" here.  

Thursday, Jul 9th: Deathchant at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

The band made my list of favorite new finds of 2024. You can read the list here.

Thursday, Jul 9th: Maejoy at Hotel Cafe (main stage). Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for her song "Blueberry Lemonade" here.  

Friday, Jul 10th: Eli Tarantula at Healing Force of the Universe. Doors at 8 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for his song "Fire & Lightning" here.

Friday, Jul 10th: OP ED at Zebulon. Doors at 7 p.m.
The band made my list of favorite new finds in 2025. You can read that list here.

Friday, Jul 10th: The What Four at The Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2015, I wrote a review of their set, which you can read here.

Saturday, Jul 11th: El Colmo and Mike Watt at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

In 2024, I did a review of El Colmo's set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

In 2024, I covered Mike Watt's Happy Sundays Long Beach set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here.

Saturday, Jul 11th: Pegzilla at The Haven. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my Song Spotlight for their song "Giver" here. 

Saturday, Jul 11th: Slowpoke at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

Read my Song Spotlight for "Tiki Dream" here.

Two Movies seen on TCM: The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956) and Hollywood Canteen (1944)

I've been hooked on TCM for years now. I just always remember being a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, James (Jimmy) Steward, John Wayne, and many many more. Around a decade ago, I used to do some reviews of movies I saw on TCM. I figured I'd start it up again. If you're interested, click on through.

Song Spotlight: Marika Christine's Enjoy the Clouds (a night at The Fable)

In support of her third studio album Enjoy the Clouds, Marika Christine (Marika Christine Stuurman) dropped by The Fable to open up the Ryan Pollie Tuesday night showcase. Since I try to limit how many nights a week I head out to catch live music, I was considering going out on either Monday or Tuesday night. I knew specific artists that were playing on Monday and Tuesday, but there were also artists that were new to me. I decided to go out on the night where I liked the music of the unknown artist the best. I went to Spotify and took a listen. I decided I enjoyed Marika Christine's music the best. It was kind of a coin flip as both were solid, but I leaned towards Tuesday night. 

Marika Christine at The Fable

Song Spotlight: Sierra Spirit's Rodeo Clown (a night at The Airliner Bar)

Back in 2024, I wrote up a review of a Sierra Spirit (Sierra Spirit Kihega-Pyrzenski) set for US Rocker Music, which you can read here. I happened to notice that she was playing School Night (a collaboration between Make Out Music and KCRW) at The Airliner Bar and circled the date. I was interested in seeing her progress as a singer. 

Sierra Spirit at The Airliner Bar

Song Spotlight: Marni's 99¢ (a night at Permanent Records Roadhouse)

Marni recently played Permanent Records Roadhouse. The band is fronted by Nicolas Lara and Michaela Gradstein. Can one be blown away by a band when they're just doing their instrumental intro song? I don't know how wise it is to make an immediate judgement call just based on a band jamming together to start off the set, but they sent my heart pumping with adrenaline. I was sold and that feeling lasted throughout their set, which focused on their 2025 EP release fml era (f*ck my life) as well as a trio of unreleased songs.  

Marni at Permanent Records Roadhouse