Monthly Archives: September 2024

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 →
New Music

Post-Punk, Synthpop, Darkwave Roundup: Molchat Doma, Ploho, Leathers and More

Molchat Doma Belaya Polosa album cover
Molchat Doma Belaya Polosa album cover

To be honest, I wasn’t a huge Molchat Doma fan. I could hang with a few songs, enough to oblige the frequent requests at clubs, but their albums just didn’t really resonate with me. Then, last Friday, I gave Belaya Polosa a listen and immediately bought it on Bandcamp. Molchat Doma’s fourth album is their best so far. 

But, I’ve been hesitant to write about the album because even AP has done that, on account of Molchat Doma’s now four-year-old TikTok hit, and there’s a digital stack of music that I’ve been meaning to write about, but haven’t. So, I’ll just try to squeeze as much as possible about all of it here. 

Continue reading Post-Punk, Synthpop, Darkwave Roundup: Molchat Doma, Ploho, Leathers and More →
Upcoming Gigs

Sunday, September 15 Is the Freestyle, HiNRG, Italo Edition of Disco Matinee

Disco Matinee freestyle hiNRG Italo disco at Grand Star Jazz Club September 15, 2024 DJ Liz O. and DJ Jus' B

Sunday, September 15, is the freestyle, hiNRG and Italo edition of Disco Matinee at Grand Star Jazz Club. In other words, Jus’ B and I will be playing all the jams you can handle from the likes of Sylvester, Donna Summer, The Flirts, Pet Shop Boys, Bronski Beat, Fun Fun, Divine, Alaska, Fancy, Stacey Q, Exposé, Lime and so much more.

Click here to get your discount, advance tickets available now on Restless Nites.

Disco Matinee is a day party held on the third Sundays at Grand Star Jazz Club from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. 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 and the venue is located across Broadway from Metro’s A Line stop in Chinatown. This is a 21+ event. Tickets at the door on the day of the event will be $8 (cash or Venmo).

The Playlist

Pulp x Underground Nite is September 13 (Plus, My Set List from Last Night)

Pulp x Underground Nite Grand Star Jazz Club Chinatown Los Angeles September 13, 2024

Friday, September 13, is Pulp x Underground Nite at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. Both floors of the venue will be open with Larry G., Jesse B and me (Liz O.) on the controllers. Dance to all your favorite Pulp jams before they play the Palladium and Hollywood Forever, plus, the Underground mix of post-punk, new wave, indie, darkwave, synthpop and more. Tickets are available now via Dice or Eventbrite. The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. and it’s 21+.

I played a last minute set at Underground last night from open to close. It was a fun night in spite of the hideous heat wave that struck L.A. this week. Thanks to everyone who came out and hit the dance floor. Set list is below. 

Continue reading Pulp x Underground Nite is September 13 (Plus, My Set List from Last Night) →