Happening in L.A.: November 21 – November 27

Club Retro Boom one year anniversary flyer at Grand Star Jazz Club in Los Angeles with DJ Vanish, Liz O. and Filthy Rich

This Saturday, I’m heading down to Orange County to talk about live music at Irvine’s Great Park Gallery for “Concert Photography: Stories and Experiences,” a special event coinciding with the gallery’s current show, Thank You, Good Night: Concert Photography. This is a free, all ages get together that takes place from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Great Park Gallery is located at 270 Corsair, Irvine 92618 and you can find more information on the Great Park website

I’ll be back in L.A. on Saturday night to DJ alongside Vanish and Filthy Rich for Club Retro Boom’s first anniversary party, on the second floor of the Grand Star. We’ve got a good mix of Rock en Español and ‘80s to play for you from 9:30 p.m. until last call. (My set time is 10:30 p.m., btw.) Discount, advance tickets are available now on Eventbrite, so click this link to get yours. This is a 21+ party and you’ll find the Grand Star at 943 N. Broadway in Chinatown’s Central Plaza, next to the Bruce Lee statue. 

As for the rest of the week, the big ticket event that I will 100% recommend here is La Femme at the Palladium on Tuesday night. I normally try to keep this list of  recommendations to events that are $30 and under. La Femme is more, but the show will totally be worth it and I’m comfortable saying that because I saw La Femme at the Belasco a couple years ago and they blew my mind. (Click here to read the story I wrote about this show for Audiofemme.) Additionally, Sam Quealy, who I also interviewed for Audiofemme back in 2022, is opening again and she’s fantastic. If you’re going to the show, get there early enough to catch her set. I mean it. 

For free shows, Kingston Ska Orchestra and Los Rebeldes Romanticos are playing at Union Station’s tree lighting ceremony on Monday. This is an early evening event, but if your commute takes you through Union Station, I suggest making a detour and catching some of the show. On Tuesday, Oasus, the Oasis tribute band, is playing Zebulon. I DJed their show at Harvard & Stone last year and their set was so much fun. If Oasis is your jam, definitely check them out. 

There are a lot of great movie screenings happening this week, including The Devils at Videotheque and El Conde at Libros Schmibros on Friday night. Plus, Tokyo Godfathers, one of the best Christmas movies ever, is at Vidiots on Sunday. Also on Sunday is a holiday special at Philosophical Research Society with retro film clips and the Bob Baker marionettes. As for the night before Thanksgiving, I think the best party option is PIE! over at Akbar. The cover is low— free before 9 p.m. and $10 after that— the DJs are fantastic and there will be pies for sale. It’s also a canned food drive, so bring something with you if you’re going. 

More info on these and other events below. For more options, check out my nightlife picks for Discover Los Angeles

Thursday, November 21

96 Tears 7th Anniversary w/DJ perksandkisses @ Grand Star Jazz Club

943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets

The Rocksteady Lounge Friendsgiving Party w/ Mr. Jen, DJ Felix + Open Turntables @ Akbar

4356 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake 90029; 9 p.m.; No cover, Info on Insta

Delicatessen @ Los Feliz Theatre

1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90037; 10 p.m.; Get tickets

Friday, November 22

Underground w/Larry G. @ Grand Star Jazz Club

943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 9:30 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets

The Devils (screening) @ Videotheque

4102 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park 90031; 9 p.m.; Get tickets

El Conde (screening) @ Libros Schmibros Lending Library

103 N. Boyle Ave., Boyle Heights 90033; 7:30 p.m.; Free (donations welcome)

Sunday, November 24

Bob Baker Marionettes & Friends Very Merry Mixtravaganza @ Philosophical Research Society

3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz 90027; 1:30 p.m.; Get tickets

Butchona w/Lady Soul, DJ French, Killed by Synth @ Little Joy

1477 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026; 3 p.m.; 21+; No cover, info on Insta

Switched on Cinema: The Village House w/live ambient score @ Philosophical Research Society

3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz 90027; 6 p.m.; Get tickets

Tokyo Godfathers @ Vidiots

4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock 90041; 7 p.m.; Get tickets

Amelie (screening) @ Gardena Cinema

14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena 90249; Multiple times; Get tickets

Monday, November 25

Simon Joyner & the Nervous Stars, Sam Burton @ Zebulon

2478 Fletcher Dr., Elysian Valley 90039; 8 p.m.; 21+; Get tickets

My Own Private Idaho @ Egyptian Theatre

6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 90028; 1:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.; Get tickets

Cinematic Void Presents: Kuroneko @ Los Feliz Theatre

1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90037; 7 p.m.; Get tickets

Union Station Tree Lighting Ceremony w/Kingston Ska Orchestra, Los Rebeldes Romanticos @ Union Station

800 N. Alameda St., DTLA 90012; 6 p.m.; All ages; No cover, more info

Tuesday, November 26

Oasus (live tribute) @ Zebulon

2478 Fletcher Dr., Elysian Valley 90039; 8 p.m.; No cover, more info

La Femme, Sam Quealy @ Hollywood Palladium

6215 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood 90028; 7 p.m.; All ages; Get tickets

Wednesday, November 27

Pie! w/DJs Chris Bowen, Sindri, Lovefingers @ Akbar

943 N. Broadway, Chinatown 90012; 8 p.m.; 21+; Free before 9 p.m., $10 after, Info on Insta(this is also a canned food drive)

Sing Sing Thanksgiving (screening) @ Philosophical Research Society

3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz 90027; 7 p.m.; Get tickets

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore @ Los Feliz Theatre

1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90037; 7 p.m.; Get tickets

Studio Ghibli Fest: The Tale of Princess Kaguya @ Multiple Theaters

Get tickets

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

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