Song Spotlight: Maudlin Strangers' Spaghetti Western (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

When I saw that Maudlin Strangers was on the schedule at Hotel Ziggy for a WFNM showcase, I immediately recognized the band name. It was a flashback to 2014 when I went off to the Bootleg Theatre (the current location of 2220 Arts) to catch their August Residency. What's a residency, some Los Angeles music fans might ask? Back in the day, local venues across Los Angeles would set aside Monday nights as a free night of music and a specific band would play each of those nights. It was always free entrance. Zebulon still carries on that tradition off and on. 

Maudlin Strangers at Hotel Ziggy

Review: It was a Theatrical Night at Healing Force of the Universe (Eli Tarantula, Max Meteor, Sisters of Black Mountain)

Healing Force of the Universe opened up in late 2023 and it only took me a little over a year and a half to make it out there. What's my problem? I'm an unfortunate creature of habit these days, rotating around specific venues / promotors. In Sonic Dreams gave me a necessary push as the promotor was putting on a show at the record store-venue. The venue is located in Pasadena and I would say that most of my visits to the city is driven by a trip to Samy's Camera. Off I went with a good idea of where the venue was located and ended up accidentally driving past Walnut St. Pasadena is the city of one way streets and so I ended up with a couple failed attempts to get one block north. I do have a tendency to drive past spots. The next day, I drove over to a restaurant and instead of turning into the parking lot of the restaurant, I drove past it and turned into the parking lot of an auto service business.  

Sisters of Black Mountain at Healing Force of the Universe

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): Jul 12th - Jul 18th

A Handful (Massive) of Show Alerts

Sunday, Jul 12th: El Colmo and OP ED at Alex's Bar. Doors at 2 p.m.
In 2024, I did a review of El Colmo's set for US Rocker Music.
OP ED made my list of favorite new finds of 2025.

Sunday, Jul 12th: Izzy Outerspace at The Monty Bar. Doors at 7 p.m.

In 2025, I wrote up this review.

Monday, Jul 13th: Dreyted at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

I recently wrote up this review. Can also catch the band on Wednesday.

Tuesday, Jul 14th: Dear Elise at Harvard & Stone. Doors at 8 p.m.

In 2021, I covered the band for US Rocker Music.

Tuesday, Jul 14th: Deathchant at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 8 p.m.

The band made my list of favorite new finds of 2024.

Tuesday, Jul 14th: I'll show you magic at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Feel You" back in May.

Wednesday, Jul 15th: Dreyted at The Airliner Bar. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jul 15th: Giselle and Neska Rose at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 8 p.m.
I wrote a Song Spotlight for Giselle's song "Skeletons" in 2025.
I wrote a Song Spotlight for Neska Rose's song "Very Green" in 2025.

Thursday, Jul 16th: Cosmic Kitten at The Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Hole in my Soul" in 2025.

Thursday, Jul 16th: Mr. Dinkles at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for their song "Eat Chips and Talk Shit" back in May.

Thursday, Jul 16th: Tender Misfit at Oblivion. Doors at 7 p.m.

Ariel Beesley, the creative force behind Tender Misfit made my list of favorite new finds in 2019.

Friday, Jul 17th: Ella Woolsey at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "a million" back in May.

Friday, Jul 17th: Ryan Hahn at the Bigfoot Lodge. Doors at 8 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for his song "Farmers Son" back in 2025.

Friday, Jul 17th: talker at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "Gold Rush" back in April.

Saturday, Jul 18th: Stella Prince at the Moroccan Lounge. Doors at 6:30 p.m.

I wrote a Song Spotlight for her song "The Replay" last month.

Song Spotlight: Aden Black's for me (a night at Hotel Ziggy)

Aden Black has been a fixture at the WFNM showcase over the last couple years. Back in 2024, I covered Hailey Wild and she was a backup singer (click on this link for a photo that has Aden Black in it). She's also done a couple of WFNM sets. I was finally able to catch one of those sets at Hotel Ziggy. It was a rare Tuesday night event and the venue was packed. In fact, I might say it was an over flow situation as people were standing out in the lounge area of the hotel. Those fans ranged from their twenties to their sixties. 

Aden Black at Hotel Ziggy

Song Spotlight: The Mormons' Assholes and E Waste (a night at The Escondite)

I'm not certain when I first came across The Mormons. A possible date was in 2007 when they played the Eagle Rock Music Festival. If that was my first encounter, it was very appropriate. I've always associated The Mormons with Los Angeles music festivals. In 2010, I shot the FYF Festival and as I left the festival (exhausted from a full day of shooting), one of my hopes was to run across the band playing somewhere outside the festival grounds. I was not disappointed.  

The Mormons outside FYF in 2010

Song Spotlight: Stephanie Wittmer's Texas Is Haunted (a night at the Bigfoot Lodge)

It was a Friday night so why not enjoy a full night of music. I did a rare venue jump (for me, maybe not for others) by starting out at Zebulon where I caught the full line-up. Then I went off to the Bigfoot Lodge to end the night at just past the stroke of midnight. Stephanie Wittmer was playing the Americana Joy showcase and was celebrating the release of her "Texas Is Haunted" single. 

Stephanie Wittmer at the Bigfoot Lodge

Song Spotlight: Jana Horn's Without (a night at Zebulon)

Jana Horn let fate decide the outcome of her set at Zebulon. But the question should be: did fate push back and argue for free will? Before that answer, if there is one, she grew up in Glen Rose, Texas but has since moved to New York. I decided to see where Glen Rose is located and just went down a small rabbit hole. As of the 2020 census, the population was only 2,659. It doesn't seem to be a boom to bust type of city. Since 1880, it has always been a small town. Yet, I was thinking this has to be a deserted town in the middle of nowhere like Niland, California (last year, I wrote about that city, which is where Katie Ward's parents grew up). Glen Rose is sort of away from it all, about 44 miles from Fort Worth, but then I checked out Zillow and got a shock. There are multiple million dollar listings. A number of other homes were in the $300,000 to $400,000 range. Small town living can be more expensive than you think. 

Jana Horn at Zebulon