Happening in L.A.

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, October 10 – Wednesday, October 16

Club Underground Gorillaz x Daft Punk Grand Star Jazz Club Friday, October 11, 2024 DJ Larry G. DJ Liz O.

This Friday, October 11, is Gorillaz x Daft Punk night at Underground. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open with Larry G. and I DJing all night. The last time we did a Gorillaz x Daft Punk night was back in the summer of 2023 and it was amazing, so don’t miss out on this one. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite and Dice. 

If you want to hear what Friday might sound like, click this link to listen to one hour of my set from the 2023 Gorillaz x Daft Punk night at Club Underground. 

Grand Star Jazz Club is located at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. Underground is Friday nights from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. and it’s 21+.  If you’re going to see French Police on Friday, come by after the show, the Grand Star is a pretty short drive from Belasco. 

(In other Underground-related news, tickets are running low for the October 25 Halloween party, so get yours ASAP. I’ll be DJing alongside Larry G., Malvada and Jesse B.) 

Added a handful of other events happening this weekend and early next week. I’m particularly excited about EXP TV’s Kung Fu Halloween going on at Philosophical Research Society on Saturday night. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, October 10 – Wednesday, October 16 →
Adventures in L.A., Live Music

Los Bitchos at Teragram Ballroom, October 3, 2024

Los Bitchos live at Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 3, 2024 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Los Bitchos live at Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 3, 2024 (Pic: Liz O.)

At 10 p.m. on Thursday night, Belinda Carlisle’s 1980s pop hit “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” played inside Teragram Ballroom, the volume increasing as the lights on the stage dimmed, then glowed purple. The members of Los Bitchos— four full-time members and one touring guitarist— take the stage and dance as they adjust their instruments, waiting for the song to nearly fade away before beginning a set that sounds nothing like Belinda Carlisle. 

On Talkie Talkie, the new album from Los Bitchos, you can hear a bit of an ‘80s pop sheen in the production. It’s a subtle nod, but it’s there in the “La Isla Bonita” vibe of “Talkie Talkie, Charlie Charlie” and the dreamy Balearic disco of “Don’t Change.” On stage, though, Los Bitchos’ sound is raw and urgent, like they’re leading a party that might teeter— to appropriate a B-52s song title— out of bounds at any second. 

Continue reading Los Bitchos at Teragram Ballroom, October 3, 2024 →
Happening in L.A.

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, October 3 – Wednesday, October 9

Videotheque Highland Park screening calendar flyer for October, 2024

Friday, October 4, Videotheque kicks off a month of horror screenings with a Dark Shadows binge curated by yours truly. I picked out five episodes filled with tarot, witchcraft and maybe— just, maybe— a creature of the night. The episodes will make sense whether you’re new to Dark Shadows or if you, like me, have seen all 1200+ episodes. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. for the screening, which starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $12. You can RSVP on Partiful.  4102 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park 90031.

Read “Lost in Time Watching Dark Shadows” if you want to catch up on the series. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, October 3 – Wednesday, October 9 →
Happening in L.A.

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, September 26 – Wednesday, October 2

Oasis Nite at Club Underground with DJ Larry G and DJ Liz O. at Grand Star Jazz Club on Friday, September 27, 2024

Friday, September 27, is Oasis Nite at Club Underground. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open, with Larry G. and me (Liz O.) DJing from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tickets are available now, so click on this link to pick up yours. The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, right next to the Bruce Lee statue in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, and it’s a 21+ venue. 

Then on Sunday, September 29, I’ll be playing Splash at The Mermaid with DJ Vanish. This is an open format night— so, really, anything goes musically— that is from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. Vanish is playing the first half of the night and I’m doing the second. There’s no cover and it’s 21+. The Mermaid is at 428 E. 2nd St. in Little Toyo. 

As for the rest of the weekend and early next week, here are just a few things I’ve noticed happening in L.A. that are under $30 and not sold out. For more options, check out my Get Into the L.A. Groove column for Discover Los Angeles. Click on this link for shows happening this weekend. For events happening the week of September 30, click here. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, September 26 – Wednesday, October 2 →
Adventures in L.A., Live Music

L.A. Industrial with Paul Barker, Jane Jensen and Vague Lanes @ The Slipper Clutch

Paul Barker live at Slipper Clutch, September 19, 2024
Paul Barker of Lead Into Gold at Slipper Clutch on Thursday, September 19, 2024

Paul Barker is playing upstairs at The Slipper Clutch, in a tiny, attic-like space covered with murals and old show flyers. It’s loud, and I forgot my earplugs, so I hang out towards the back of the room, which is what I did when I saw Ministry many years ago— back when Barker was in the band— at a show that ranks at number 2 on the list of loudest concerts I’ve ever attended. This show at Slipper Clutch, however, isn’t as much of a raucous. The raw and rhythmic music is comfortably booming where I stand. 

As for the vibe, it’s one that I’ve always known, the fringe of L.A. nightlife. It’s also one that I often fear is edging closer to extinction because there are fewer independent spaces in L.A. and fewer events that are more about the music than whatever shit went viral last week. And, in the most pessimistic moments, I think that there are simply fewer people who are interested in leaving the house and taking the chance on something that an algorithm didn’t send their way. 

Continue reading L.A. Industrial with Paul Barker, Jane Jensen and Vague Lanes @ The Slipper Clutch →
Adventures in L.A., Live Music

Future Islands at The Shrine, September 18, 2024

Future Islands live at The Shrine in Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 (photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Future Islands live at The Shrine on September 18, 2024 (pic: Liz O.)

I saw the first Future Islands fan rush the stage at the end of “Corner of My Eye,” which closed out the band’s main set at The Shrine on Wednesday night. The way I remember it, which may or may not be 100% accurate, Samuel T. Herring was singing “thank you, thank you.” Someone in a plaid shirt ran up from audience’s right hand side and embraced the singer. Security appeared. Herring said something along the lines of, it’s okay. Later on, when Future Islands and openers Oh, Rose were in the midst of a “Vireo’s Eye” dance party during the encore, I saw two more people hop on to the stage, where they were promptly chased off by security. It was a déjà vu-inducing scene for me, and maybe for anyone else in the crowd who has been to a Morrissey show. 

It was a fitting end to the night because, nearly two hours earlier, when Future Islands kicked off the show with “King of Sweden,” I thought, this vibe is so Morrissey. Herring has a different style of performance than Moz— there’s a good amount of HIIT-level cardio happening during a Future Islands show— but he also taps into a similar level of intensity that is infectious. The teenage girls in front of me bopped up and down excitedly. The totally ordinary looking dudes a few rows in front morphed into dancing machines. I wondered if anyone would rush the stage. It took a while, but they did. 

Continue reading Future Islands at The Shrine, September 18, 2024 →
Happening in L.A.

Happening in L.A.: September 19 – September 25, 2024

Analog Outlaw Book and Record Fair Los Angeles September 22, 2024

My next DJ gig isn’t until September 29 (see the Upcoming Gigs section for details), but there is an event happening this weekend that I want to tell you about. 

Analog Outlaw and Record Fair is happening on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Zebulon. It’s founded by James Weigel of Bibliomancers and Crystal Claire of Nooners Books and brings together publishers and vendors specializing in counterculture material. Plus, Mark Webber of Pulp will be DJing. I interviewed Weigel and Claire for Southern California News Group’s papers (that’s the Daily News here in L.A., plus Orange County Register and others). If you want to read the interview, click on this gift link which will get you past the paywall. This is going to be a really cool event for anyone who loves books and music that exist outside of the mainstream. 

Of course, that’s far from the only thing happening this week, so scroll through the list and start making your plans. Everything listed below is pretty reasonably priced. I think the highest ticketed event is His Name Is Alive, which is a little over $30, at Zebulon, and, like, how often do you get to see His Name Is Alive? There are a handful of movie screenings on here too, including Perfect Blue (!!!) at Braindead on Saturday night for the Satoshi Kon fans. (And if you’re unfamiliar with the late anime director’s work, we need to change that.)

If you want more recommendations for next week, check out my Get Into the Groove column for September 23 through September 29 for Discover Los Angeles.

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: September 19 – September 25, 2024 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on Friday, September 13

Club Underground Halloween at Grand Star Jazz Club, Friday, October 25, 2024

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 25 because Club Underground’s Halloween party will be taking over both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. Halloween at Underground is always a blast, so you won’t want to miss out on this. 

Last Friday, I played upstairs at Underground from open to close. Check out the set list below. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on Friday, September 13 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played for Klub Nocturno at Alex’s Bar on September 12, 2024

Dracula art inside the bathroom at Alex's Bar in Long Beach
Dracula art in the ladies room at Alex’s Bar.

On Thursday, September 12, I headed down to Long Beach to play with Klub Nocturno at Alex’s Bar. It was my first time playing at the venue and it was a total vibe– super cool crowd with great energy. My set was roughly from 8:30 p.m. until around midnight and the set list is below the jump.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Klub Nocturno at Alex’s Bar on September 12, 2024 →
Music

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, September 12 – Wednesday, September 18

Klub Nocturno New Wave, Darkwave, Synth Pop at Alex's Bar in Long Beach on Thursday, September 12, 2024

Tonight, I’ll be in Long Beach, playing darkwave, new wave and synth pop with Klub Nocturno. There’s no cover, but it is 21+ and you probably should arrive early. Party starts at 9 p.m. at Alex’s Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St. in Long Beach. RSVP on Dice.

On Friday night, I’m back at the Grand Star for Club Underground’s Pulp Nite. Both rooms of the venue will be open at 9:30 p.m. Get your advance tickets now. The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. This is a 21+ party. 

Click here for more info on Pulp x Underground Nite. 

And, on Sunday, I’ll be back at the Grand Star for Disco Matinee: Freestyle, HiNRG, Italo edition. Advance tickets are available now on Restless Nites. Party goes from 3 – 7 p.m. and it’s 21+. 

Click here for more info on Disco Matinee. 

Want to know what else is happening in L.A.? Keep reading. For next week’s plans, you can also check out my column for Discover Los Angeles, “Get Into the L.A. Groove” for September 16 through September 22. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, September 12 – Wednesday, September 18 →