Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

L.A. Music Events: January 25 – January 31

Club Retro Boom Bowie vs. Bunbury Night at Grand Star Jazz Club January 27, 2024 DJ Vanish, DJ Filthy Rich, DJ Liz O.

Head down to Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown this Saturday, January 27, for Club Retro Boom, where DJ Vanish, DJ Filthy Rich and I will be playing a mix of ‘80s and rock en Español for this special Bowie vs. Bunbury event. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. and I’m handling the first set of the night, so get there early. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite. Club Retro Boom is 21+. 

Grand Star Jazz Club is located at 943 N. Broadway, right next to the Bruce Lee statue in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. Both street and lot parking is available and the venue is located right across Broadway from Metro’s A Line station in Chinatown. See you on the dance floor. 

As for the rest of the week, here’s what’s on my radar. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: January 25 – January 31 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Klub Nocturno on January 20, 2024

View of the dance floor from DJ booth at Catch One in Los Angeles for Klub Nocturno January 2024 (Liz Ohanesian)
One of these days, I’ll remember to take a real photo instead of screencapping my video clips

I don’t know what to say about last night except, thank you, Klub Nocturno! I played in the New Wave vs. Darkwave room from open to close, where the night went by so quickly, at some point, I realized that it was past 1 a.m. and I had yet to play “Blue Monday.” 

I noticed people had started dancing during “Something to Remember Me By,” which was great on account of that being my favorite song from The Horrors.” When I dropped “10:15 on a Saturday Night,” which ended at the time stated in the song title, I looked up and the room was pretty full. It was a really fun crowd and I’m very grateful to have had the chance to play for them. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Klub Nocturno on January 20, 2024 →
Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

L.A. Music Events: January 18 – January 24

Flyer for Klub Nocturno at Catch One on Saturday, January 20, 2024

This Saturday, I’ll be DJing at Klub Nocturno’s massive, multi-room bash at Catch One. The RSVP list has already filled up and if you’re on it, be sure to arrive early because entry is first-come-first-serve. See Klub Nocturno’s post on Instagram for more details. I’ll be playing in the New Wave vs. Dark Wave room and can’t wait to see those of you who are going on the dance floor. 

As for the rest of the week, here’s what’s happening. I’m keeping this brief on account of not having much time to write this week. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: January 18 – January 24 →
The Playlist

Here’s What I Played for Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on January 16, 2024

Photo of skulls on the wall at The Mermaid in Little Tokyo Los Angeles (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)

For as long as I’ve been DJing, I’ve been keeping track of my set lists. Somewhere in my, er, archives (really, boxes of folders that I haven’t gone through since college), there are probably old playlists of my KXLU shows and crumpled bits of paper from my early club sets. I started sharing the set lists online before social media mostly so that people who went to the clubs could familiarize themselves with the new music and people who weren’t in L.A. knew where they could dance to Ladytron or Miss Kittin or whoever when they visited our fine city. (And, that actually worked, I did meet people from as far as London and Berlin who saw my set list in some electro-indie-whatever forum.)

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on January 16, 2024 →
Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

Disco Matinee Is Back On February 4, RSVP for Discount Entry

Disco Matinee flyer for February 4, 2024 from 3 - 7 p.m. at Grand Star Jazz Club 943 N. Broadway, Chinatown, Los Angeles 90012 with DJ Liz O, DJ Jus' B, DJ Jen Rock

Disco Matinee returns to the first Sunday of the month at Grand Star Jazz Club on Sunday, February 4. Join resident DJs. Liz O. and Jus’ B, alongside special guest DJ Jen Rock from 3-7 p.m. We’ll be celebrating Jen’s birthday with an afternoon mix of disco, funk, freestyle, plus a dash of Italo and nu-disco. If your jam is a mix of Donna Summer, Taana Gardner, Lime, Daft Punk and Purple Disco Machine, head on down to Disco Matinee.

Drop us a line to RSVP for $5 entry before 4 p.m. Entry without an RSVP, or after 4 p.m., is $8. 

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.

The Playlist

Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on January 12, 2024

Photo of large Alladin Sane David Bowie banner outside of Grand Star Jazz Club in Los Angeles for Club Underground Bowie Nite on January 12, 2024 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The Bowie banner outside of the Grand Star on Friday night. (Pic: Liz O.)

My first club gig of 2024 was Underground’s Bowie Nite on January 12. Both floors of the Grand Star Jazz Club were open, so Larry G. played all the David Bowie jams downstairs. That’s also where people were able to get their Bowie makeovers from Miho. Meanwhile, I was upstairs playing all the other Underground jams, or as many as can be squeezed into a four hour set. Thanks to Larry for having me play and for everyone who spent some time on the upstairs dance floor!

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Club Underground on January 12, 2024 →
Happening in L.A., Upcoming Gigs

L.A. Music Events: January 11 – January 17, 2024

Flyer for Bowie Nite at Club Underground Grand Star Jazz Club Los Angeles on January 12, 2024 with DJ Larry G. DJ Liz O. and make-up artist Miho

You have two chances to catch me in the DJ booth this week. First up is Club Underground’s Bowie Nite this Friday, January 12, at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. Underground is taking over both floors of the Grand Star this week, with Larry G. playing open to close on the main floor and me, Liz O., doing the same on the second floor. Discounted tickets are available now via either Dice and Eventbrite. 

The Grand Star is located at 943 N. Broadway, Los Angeles 90012. It’s inside Chinatown’s Central Plaza, right next to the Bruce Lee statue. Both street and lot parking is available in the neighborhood. The venue is also right across Broadway from Metro’s A Line station in Chinatown. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. and it is a 21+ event. 

On Tuesday, January 16, you’ll find me at The Mermaid loaded up with Italo disco jams for L.A. Industrial’s weekly party, Dolce Vita. There’s no cover and it’s 21+, so stop by with your pals for some tasty cocktails and a soundtrack filled with tunes by the likes of Fancy, Fun Fun, Ken Laszlo, Sabrina and more. 

The Mermaid is located at 428 E. 2nd Street in Little Tokyo. There’s typically loads of free parking available after 9 p.m., which is the same time that Dolce Vita starts. The bar is also a (very) short walk from Metro’s A/E line stop in Little Tokyo. 

As for the rest of the week, here are my picks. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: January 11 – January 17, 2024 →
Adventures in L.A., Record Collecting

Digging for Miguel Bosé

Miguele Bosé Bandido (1984) on vinyl found at Sonido del Valle in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
My copy of Bandido by Miguel Bosé the day I found it inside Sonido del Valle in Boyle Heights (Pic: Liz O.)

I paused with the door of the convenience store fridge open when I heard the song. It sounded like Ultravox during the Midge Ure years, but it was in Spanish. Who was this? Shazam likely would have turned up the answer, but I asked the cashier instead. Miguel Bosé, she answered immediately. 

Maybe I should have known that? I think the cashier was surprised that I didn’t recognize the singer. We talked about music often when I popped into the store. She played a lot of ‘80s Spanish pop jams. Once I remarked, “ooh, I love this song!” while Flans’ version of “No Controles” played and that got us started. But, I also didn’t grow up with the music. I had some knowledge of the alternative bands that were in the 1990s ether, stuff like Cafe Tacuba and Kinky, but I didn’t start listening to Spanish ‘80s until the ‘00s and what I knew came via my friends who are DJs. 

Continue reading Digging for Miguel Bosé →
Adventures in L.A., Record Collecting

The Time Chaz Jankel’s Post-Disco Jam “Ai No Corrida” Turned up at Fingerprints

Chas Jankel vinyl 1981 with "Ai No Corrida" Photo by Liz Ohanesian
Chaz Jankel’s debut solo album featuring “Ai No Corrida.” (Pic: Liz O.)

I walked towards the front of Fingerprints feeling fairly accomplished. A dig through the holiday record bin may have turned up no copies of “El Burrito de Belén” (or “El Burrito Sabanero”), but, I did find a vinyl copy of Let It Be Blue, the !!! album that was one of my favorites of 2022, on sale for a very 2002 price. I was happy to leave the store with that and nothing else, but Carlos called me over to a bargain bin. “Look,” he said with excitement on his face. He held up  the Chaz Jankel record where the musician’s first name was spelled Chas. It’s the album with the original version of “Ai No Corrida.” 

Continue reading The Time Chaz Jankel’s Post-Disco Jam “Ai No Corrida” Turned up at Fingerprints →
Upcoming Gigs

Bowie Nite at Club Underground Is Friday, January 12. Get Your Tix Now!

Flyer for Bowie Nite at Club Underground Grand Star Jazz Club Los Angeles on January 12, 2024 with DJ Larry G. DJ Liz O. and make-up artist Miho

Bowie Nite at Club Underground is coming up on January 12, 2024 at Grand Star Jazz Club. Join Larry G. and me, Liz O., for a night celebrating Starman. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open, so expect to hear your favorite Underground jams in addition to Bowie classics. Makeup artist Miho will be on hand as well to Bowie-fie your look for the night.

Continue reading Bowie Nite at Club Underground Is Friday, January 12. Get Your Tix Now! →

Indie music and alt culture blog from Los Angeles. By Liz O.