Review: Cody's Program does the walk-off at The Goldfish

Cody's Program had a packed crowd at The Goldfish during a Rocknite LA night. It was partially driven by the backing vocalist Kelly Rose Golden (in a band called Rigby) who had a gaggle of friends surrounding her on stage while the band was setting up. I was hanging out at the stage with my camera, waiting for the band to start their set and I was gently edged out of my spot due to her crowd of friends. I wasn't upset by it. I just found it amusing. As the DJ played the tunes over the sound system, many of them were dancing. 

Cody's Program at The Goldfish

NFV Song Spotlight: Lower Merion's Wolf Shirt (How I Picture Dallas)

Lower Merion is the brainchild of Ryan Pollie. Playing alongside him are Ben Absent, Brooke Tannehill (who plays under the moniker Brookelen), and Pearce Gronek (who plays with Tannehill in the band We Shrunk). 

Lower Merion at The Goldfish

NFV Song Spotlight: Destiny Petrel's Dirtbag

Destiny Petrel hit the Bar Lubitsch stage during a WFNM night with a distorted metal walk-on guitar intro. It was like a moment on a Sunset Strip stage. "How are we feeling, guys?" That got some yells from the crowd who packed the venue. What a way to get the blood pumping both for Petrel and the crowd. She then launched into "Trippin In Chanel." It is an unreleased song, but it needs to be released. It started off with a quiet opening -- far different than her intro. Then one knew it was just about to explode. The lyrics got stretched out and the vocals peaked, an indication to her backing band that it was time to blast the ear drums. 

Destiny Petrel at Bar Lubitsch

Review: Muscle Beach Brings European Expressionism to the Zebulon

I took off to Zebulon on a recent Friday night to catch Agender's record release show (you can read the write-up I did of their set here). Prior to heading out, I took mild notice of the opening band Muscle Beach. By mild notice, I mean I glanced at their Instagram page just so that I knew what the band looked like. I walked into the venue not having a clue about what to expect. My assumption was that they were likely a punk band or based on their band name perhaps something in the line of Bonavega. 

Muscle Beach at Zebulon

Notes from Vivace Show Alerts (Los Angeles): May 25th - May 31st

A Handful of Show Alerts

Sunday, May 25th: Rachel Goodrich at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 6 p.m.

I covered Rachel Goodrich for Buzzbands during Echo Park Rising 2018. You can see my photo here. 

Tuesday, May 27th: Mo Dotti at Zebulon. Doors at 8 p.m.
I covered Mo Dotti's 2024 set for US Rocker Music. You can read that here.

Wednesday, May 28th: Sakshi Chopra at Hotel Ziggy. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "Not My Fault" Song Spotlight here. 

Wednesday, May 28th: Tino Drima at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "Life on the Patio" Song Spotlight here.

Thursday, May 29th: Agender at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

You can read my "Damaged Girls" Song Spotlight here.

Friday, May 30th: Andy Clockwise and The What Four at Gold-Diggers. Doors at 7 p.m.

I've followed Andy Clockwise for years. The What Four recently played Bigtop Bandstand, you can read my review here. 

Friday, May 30th: My Veronica and Annie Jets at The Goldfish. Set times start at 8 p.m.

I listed My Veronica as one of my favorite new bands of 2024. You can read that post here.

You can read my Annie Jets' "Avalanche" Song Spotlight here.

Friday, May 30th: The Mormons at Redwood Bar. Doors at 8 p.m.

I always have fond memories of seeing this band playing outside music festivals as fans were heading home.

Saturday, May 31st: Jagged Baptist Club and Julez and the Rollerz at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Doors at 9 p.m.

I covered the Jagged Baptist Club at Happy Sundays Long Beach 2024 for US Rocker, which you can read here. I covered Julez and the Rollerz's Is This Where The party Is? EP release party at Non Plus Ultra for US Rocker Music.

NFV Song Spotlight: Agender's Damaged Girls

Agender's record release show for Berserk at Zebulon was the third time I came across this band. The first two times were memorable moments. My first time crossing paths with the band was at The Echo during one of the last Monday night residencies held at the venue (oh how I miss those nights). It was Crook's 2023 residency and the line-up included Iress and Silent Mass. Iress is a band I've followed since 2019. The first time I saw the band was at Echo Park Rising and lead singer Michelle Malley played the set in a sling around her right arm. As for Silent Mass, I've been following lead singer Ammo Bankoff for years through various bands. She has a new project, I'll be there -- well, actually, she's in New York City these days so I guess technically if she comes out with a new project that plays a Los Angeles set, I'll be there. 

Agender at Zebulon

NFV Song Spotlight: Sakshi Chopra's Not My Fault

Sakshi Chopra stood off to the side, dressed as a modern day genie, while her guitarist played a quiet reflective intro. She then walked onto the staged, standing barefoot on a carpet that took on magical qualities. Standing there, she looked a touch nervous to start off the Hotel Ziggy set (a WFNM night). That nervousness quickly ended once she started to sing and dance through her opening song "Hypnotized." The song mixes in traditional Indian music with modern pop and R'n'B. The set got support from a huge fan base that was beyond capacity of the venue and had many standing in the hotel lobby area.   

Sakshi Chopra at Hotel Ziggy