Disco Matinee: Punk ‘n’ Funk Edition Is Sunday, April 7

Flyer for Disco Matinee: Punk 'n' Funk edition at Grand Star Jazz Club on Sunday, April 7 at 3 p.m. with DJs Televandalist, Liz O. and Jus' B

On Sunday, April 7, head to Grand Star Jazz Club for the Punk ’n’ Funk Edition of Disco Matinee. Guest DJ Televandalist will join residents Liz O. and Jus’ B for an afternoon dive into the intersection between punk, funk and disco.

Advance tickets are available now via Restless Nites for $6.50, which includes ticket fees. The cover will be $8 at the door on the day of the event. Disco Matinee is the first Sunday of the month from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Grand Star Jazz Club. This is a 21+ event. 

The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. There is both street and lot parking in the neighborhood. The venue is also located across Broadway from Metro’s A line stop in Chinatown.

Purchase advance tickets for Disco Matinee: Punk ’n’ Funk Edition on Restless Nites

Check out my set list for Disco Matinee: Freestyle & hi-NRG Edition

Here’s What I Played at Underground on March 8, 2024

Club Underground Grand Star Jazz Club March 8, 2024 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
When everyone is vibing to Animal Collective and they realize I’ve turned my camera on the crowd.

It was so good to be back at Underground last night. Both floors of the Grand Star were open on Friday night, with Larry playing Depeche Mode and New Order jams upstairs and Scarlett Casanova and I playing everything else downstairs. The crowd was a lot of fun. I was happy to see “Loneliness,” the latest Pet Shop Boys single, do well on the dancer floor. What did even better though was TR/ST’s cover of the PSB classic “Being Boring,” which is one of my current favorites. The most successful of the new tunes, though, was “Sangre de Oro,” from Twin Tribes’ latest album, Pendulum. The song also did extremely well at Nocturno’s party in Phoenix last month. Anyhow, thank you for dancing. Here’s the set list. 

Set 1:

ABC “Be Near Me” 

Kylie Minogue “Cupid Boy”

Saint Etienne “We’re in the City”

Royksopp “Ice Machine (Ewan Pearson Remix)”

Sally Shapiro “Rent”

Human League “Seconds”

Echo and the Bunnymen “In Bluer Skies”

Chromatics “Ceremony”

Chameleons “Reptile” 

The Cure “Primary”

Set 2: 

Ladytron “Playgirl”

Gorillaz “Dare (DFA Remix)”

Pet Shop Boys “West End Girls”

TR/ST, Jake Shears “Being Boring”

Boy Harsher, Ms. Boan “Machina”

Yaz “Situation”

Talking Heads “Girlfriend Is Better” (request)

Sophie Ellis Bextor “Murder on the Dancefloor” (request)

The Bucketheads “The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind) (Armand Van Helden Re-edit)”

The Rapture “House of Jealous Lovers”

Confidence Man “Angry Girl”

Le Tigre “Deceptacon”

Wet Leg “Chaise Longue”

Set 3: 

Donna Summer “Our Love”

New Order “Blue Monday”

Trans X “Living on Video”

Vitalic “La Rock 01”

Crystal Castles, Robert Smith “Not in Love”

Soft Cell “Tainted Love”

Bloc Party “Banquet”

Molchat Doma “sudno (Boris Ryzhy)”

Twin Tribes “Sangre de Oro”

Los Prisioneros “Tren al Sur (Basic Remix)”

Nine Inch Nails “Closer”

Tom Tom Club “Genius of Love”

Daft Punk “Da Funk”

Chumbawamba “Tubthumping”

Set 4: 

Pet Shop Boys “Loneliness”

Hercules & Love Affair “Blind”

Animal Collective “My Girls”

Tame Impala “Is It True”

Mr. Flagio “Take a Chance”

My Mine “Hypnotic Tango”

Righeira “Vamos a la Playa” 

Desireless “Voyage Voyage”

Q Lazarus “Goodbye Horses”

Depeche Mode “Nodisco”

New Order “Sub-Culture”

If you’re around Cypress Park today, catch me playing records at Footsie’s for Razorcake’s party, which is from 5-10 p.m. and keep checking back here or follow me on Instagram because I have a bunch of stuff to announce in the next day or so. 

Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs.

Related: 

FUTURE ISLANDS, TR/ST AND MORE JANUARY 2024 MUSIC

HERE ARE MY TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2023

Here’s What I Played for Night Shift at Bar Franca on March 7, 2024

Bar Franca DTLA Exterior March 7, 2024 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)

Thank you to everyone who came out to Bar Franca for Night Shift last night. It was so much fun to play post-punk, synthpop, darkwave and shoegaze for you all night. Plus, as always, it was great to catch up with some pals and meeting some lovely new people. Anyhow, I’ve posted the set list below. See you tonight at Underground’s Depeche Mode x New Order party. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Night Shift at Bar Franca on March 7, 2024

Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita on March 5, 2024

Jalapeño and pineapple wontons at The Mermaid in Little Tokyo Los Angeles (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Jalapeño and pineapple wontons at The Mermaid. (Pic: Liz O.)

It was a little unexpected, but I did turn up at The Mermaid on Tuesday night to provide the music for the first half of Dolce Vita. I also didn’t have a chance to eat dinner beforehand, which led to another unexpected delight. The jalapeño and pineapple wontons at The Mermaid are amazing. I hadn’t had them before last night and loved them. Even with the chili sauce, they won’t set your mouth on fire. It’s more of a subtle sweet-and-spicy hybrid. Plus, they are shaped like starfish, which I find endearing. 

Anyhow, here’s what you may have heard if you were at The Mermaid between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita on March 5, 2024

L.A. Music Events: Thursday, March 7 – Wednesday, March 13

Flyer for Depech Mode x New Order night at Club Underground in Los Angeles on March 8, 2024 with DJ Larry G, DJ Liz O. DJ Scarlett Casanova

It’s the rare week when I’m playing three nights in a row, so if you want to follow along for the ride, here are the details. On Thursday, March 7, Night Shift launches at Bar Franca, where I’ll be playing post-punk, synthpop, darkwave and shoegaze from 9 p.m. until close. You’ll find Bar Franca downtown at 438 S. Main Street. There’s no cover and it’s 21+

The following night, Friday, March 8, is Depeche Mode x New Order night at Club Underground. Larry G., Scarlett Casanova and I will be playing your favorites from both bands as well the best in new wave, post-punk, indie and more. Underground is at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown’s Central Plaza (943 N. Broadway 90012) and it’s 21+. Tickets are available via Dice and Eventbrite

This Saturday, March 9, is Razorcake Hearts Drinking Beer & Listening to Records at Footsie’s. This is an early, all-vinyl party with no cover. I’ll be playing alongside Nikki Nothing and Samantha Beerhouse between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. As for what I’m bringing, that’s still up for debate, but I’m in a dubby ‘80s mood, so we’ll see where that goes. Footsie’s is located at 2640 N. Figueroa St. in Cypress Park and it’s 21+. Since we’re done at 10 p.m., there will be more than enough time to check out other happenings in L.A., so that’s where this list of music events begins. Also, there are a few super cool movies screening this week, so I’ve added those to the list as well. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday, March 7 – Wednesday, March 13

Here’s What I Played at Disco Matinee on March 3, 2024

Intro "Lost Without Your Love" vinyl 12" single (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Intro “Lost Without Your Love” isn’t on Spotify, but it is in my record collection, so you’ll hear it in my vinyl sets.

Thank you to everyone who came out to Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club on Sunday, March 3 for our freestyle and hi-NRG party. Jus’ B and Gustavisimo played some jams for the crowd. I think I did too. At least, I got to play the Intro 12” for “Lost Without Your Love,” which I posted about on Instagram the other day. 

The next Disco Matinee is Sunday, April 7. Check back here or follow me on Instagram for details, including our guest DJ and theme, because we’ll be announcing all that later this week. In the meantime, here’s my set list. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Disco Matinee on March 3, 2024

Club Underground’s Next Depeche Mode x New Order Night is March 8

Club Underground Depeche Mode x New Order Night at Grand Star Jazz Club on Friday, March 8, 2024 with DJ Larry G., DJ Scarlett Casanova, DJ Liz O.

Club Underground‘s next Depeche Mode x New Order night is Friday, March 8. Larry G., Scarlett Casanova and I, Liz O., will be your DJs and both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open.

Tickets for Depeche Mode x New Order Night at Club Underground are available on both Eventbrite and Dice. Pick up yours as soon as possible and join us at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown on March 8. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. and is 21+.

Continue reading Club Underground’s Next Depeche Mode x New Order Night is March 8

L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 29- Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Disco Matinee Freestyle Hi-NRG Flyer for March 3, 2024 at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown with DJ Gustavisimo, DJ Jus' B DJ Liz O.

This Sunday afternoon, I’ll be DJing alongside Jus’ B and Gustavisimo for the freestyle and hi-NRG edition of Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club. I’m playing an all-vinyl set and am currently digging through my crates for gems by the likes of The Flirts, Divine, Shannon, Nocera, Lime and so much more. See my previous post about Disco Matinee for RSVP details, which will get you in for $5 before 4 p.m. We’ll be playing from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and this is a 21+ event. The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. 

Keep reading for more L.A. music events happening between February 29 and March 6. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 29- Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on February 27, 2024

Valentine's Day display at The Mermaid in Little Tokyo Los Angeles with skulls, hearts and candles.
Hearts and skulls on display at The Mermaid, February 2024

I popped into The Mermaid on Tuesday night to play the opening set for Dolce Vita. The party starts at 8 p.m. now and there was already a good crowd at the bar by then, so I dropped more familiar tunes than I normally would for the early portion of the night. Also got to work in some themed portions of the set. I won’t disclose the themes right now, but if you look through the playlist below, you might be able to figure out what they are. 

Next up is Disco Matinee on Sunday, March 3, at Grand Star Jazz Club. The theme is freestyle and hi-NRG and I’ll be playing it all on vinyl. Anyhow, keep reading to see what I played at Dolce Vita on February 27, between (roughly) 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on February 27, 2024

Why I Keep Living in a Magazine By Zoot Woman in My DJ Crate

Cover of Zoot Woman Living in a Magazine released in 2001 on Wall of Sound Records, U.K. import vinyl (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Here’s the cover of my copy of Zoot Woman’s debut full length Living in a Magazine

For all-vinyl gigs, I often bring my copy of Living in a Magazine, the 2001 debut full-length from Zoot Woman, with me. The reason why is simple. No matter which song I play off this album, at least one person will come up to the booth and ask about it. In fact, that happened last Friday night, when I played the band’s cover of “The Model” at Club Synth. More than 20 years later, this album is still a vibe. 

Living in a Magazine is one of my favorite records of the early ‘00s. In fact, I would argue that it’s one of the finest, and certainly most under-appreciated, albums of the era. The brand of soft funk-meets-indie disco that Zoot Woman cultivated on this album helped solidify a sound that persists this day, whether or not the bands who land Spotify playlists like Pollen and Indie Chillout realize it. At the turn of the 21st century, few outside of Zoot Woman and Phoenix were riding such a mellow groove. This was a handful of years before bands like Hot Chip and Holy Ghost hit the scene, before the fascination with “yacht rock” and definitely before the vinyl resurgence sent a new generation of crate diggers on the hunt for the smoothest sounds of the 1970s and 1980s. 

Continue reading Why I Keep Living in a Magazine By Zoot Woman in My DJ Crate