Tag Archives: Indie Dance Clubs

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

Here’s What I Played in the Indie vs. 80s Room at Klub Nocturno on August 31, 2024

View of people on the dance floor from DJ booth at Catch One in Los Angeles for Klub Nocturno on August 31, 2024. (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
This was my new from DJ booth in the Jewel’s Room at Catch One for Nocturno on Saturday, August 31. (Pic: Liz O.)

It’s Sunday morning, I’ve hardly slept. I have Sacred Skin’s song “Call It Off” running through my head and Depresion Post Mortem’s cover of “Yo Voy” fighting to overtake it. Still, I’m going to try to explain last night’s gig at Klub Nocturno in a way that people who normally don’t know what I’m rambling about will understand. It might not work, but we’ll try. (Scroll down if you just want to see the set list.)

Last night, Klub Nocturno took over Catch One, which is this massive, multi-room disco that has an amazing history going back to actual disco L.A. There were five dance floors of varying sizes going all night: Rock en Español vs. Cumbia, Indie vs. 80s, Deftones Night, Corrido Night and Sad Bunny Night. I played Indie vs. 80s in the Jewel’s Room, where the dance floor is on the ground level of the building and a staircase in the corner leads up to a mezzanine, where the DJ booth is located, before heading towards the second level of the club. 

I have a view from the booth that overlooks the dance floor and stage. Usually, it’s not until right around 10 p.m. that I see the room begin to fill with people. Last night, I started playing at 9:30 on the dot and began to see signs of life on the dance floor three or four songs into the set. By the time I mixed “Rippin Kittin” into “Something to Remember Me By,” the dance floor was alive and growing.

The first time I heard people scream for a song that night was during “Love My Way,” the Psychedelic Furs classic, which was maybe at around 10:30 p.m.  The energy was incredible. I’d look down and see this big mass of people under the purple and red glow of the lights. I could hear them singing along to The Strokes song “Reptilia” and Le Tigre’s big ’00s club hit “Deceptacon.”

When the intro of “Smalltown Boy,” the Bronski Beat’s jam, faded in at midnight, the screams were wild. TBH, that’s really the song of summer 2024, even though it’s literally 40 years old. I hear it everywhere from clubs to the A Line.

The room hit its peak at midnight. People chanted through “Living on Video” and sang along with “Two of Hearts.” There were dancers in the mezzanine lounge area too, so during the stretch from “Smalltown Boy” through “Goodbye Horses,” I felt like I was DJing in the middle of the dance floor. 

It was one of those nights that passed all too quickly. I looked at my laptop, noticed it was after 1 a.m. and realized that I had to start dropping the big sing-a-long numbers— “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” “There Is a Light,” “Just Like Heaven”— immediately and try to squeeze in as many requests as I could. (I had more than four hours of requests, which came in before the party started, loaded into Rekordbox.) Anyhow, it was an awesome night and you can see my set list below. 

Continue reading Here’s What I Played in the Indie vs. 80s Room at Klub Nocturno on August 31, 2024

Here’s What I Played for Indie Sleaze at The Offbeat on April 27, 2024

Indie Sleaze at The Offbeat on April 27, 2024 with Scarlett Casanova, Killed by Synth, Drayk and Liz O.

On Saturday night, I played Scarlett Casanova’s Indie Sleaze party at The Offbeat. It was a ton a fun. It was also a reminder that I need to go through my collection and rip a bunch of CDs that I used to play in sets during the ’00s because I was continually reminded of songs I have and probably haven’t heard since I had a laptop with a CD drive. I need to get one of those external drives too.

If ’00s indie is your thing, mark your calendar for Underground x 2000s Nite on May 31. Maybe I wll have ripped some of those old CDs by then.

Click here for Underground x 2000s tickets on Eventbrite.

Click here for Underground x 2000s tickets on Dice.

Next gig: Dolce Vita at The Mermaid on Tuesday, April 30. Starts at 8 p.m. and there’s no cover. More information in this post.

Keep reading for last night’s set list.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Indie Sleaze at The Offbeat on April 27, 2024

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

Club Underground at Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown, Los Angeles on April 12, 2024. DJ Liz O.
I took a photo while I was DJing and then remembered why I don’t take photos when I DJ.

Thanks to Larry G. for having me back at Underground on Friday night and for everyone who showed up and hit the dance floor. Some notes on last night’s set: I played the newest additions to my virtual crates really early, so you probably didn’t hear them. Mostly, I wanted to see what “Cadenas de la Infancia” and “I Forget” sounded like in a club. I might stick with them. I might not, but both Mueran Humano’s album, Reemplazante, and Jaako Eino Kalevi’s album, Chaos Magic, have been playing on repeat at home and I absolutely recommend getting both.  

I’m so happy to see people digging Pet Shop Boys’ recent single “Loneliness.” It’s a jam. The lyrics are poignant in a way that only PSB songs are. Plus, we’re only two weeks away from the new album and I, for one, can’t wait to hear Nonetheless. And— omg!— Neil Tennant sang “Rebel Rebel” with Johnny Marr in London last night. (And they did “Getting Away With It” too!) Anyhow, here’s the set list.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played at Underground on April 12, 2024

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 11 – Wednesday, April 17

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

I’m back at Club Underground on Friday night for The Strokes Nite. Both floors of Grand Star Jazz Club will be open, with Larry G. and me playing from 9:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. Tickets are available now via either Eventbrite or Dice. Hope to see you there! Here’s what else is happening in L.A. this weekend and into next week.  

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 11 – Wednesday, April 17

L.A. Music Events: Thursday February 22 – Wednesday February 28

Club Synth at Stowaway DTLA with DJs Drayk, Jen Rock and Liz O. playing synthpop on vinyl.

This Friday, February 23, I’ll be at the Stowaway in downtown Los Angeles, playing alongside DJs Drayk and Jen Rock for Club Synth. This is an all-vinyl night dedicated to synth tunes, so expect a lot of fun finds from my our record collections in the mix. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until last call. 

We’ll be playing in the Rio Room at The Stowaway, which is located at 416 S. Spring Street, DTLA 90013. This is a 21+ venue and there’s no cover. See you on Friday night!

On Saturday, I’m heading out to Phoenix with Klub Nocturno to play at Crescent Ballroom. I’m so excited to be playing new wave and darkwave for this two room event, which, I should probably mention, will be my first gig outside of Southern California. Head over to TicketWeb for more information on the party if you’re in the area. Klub Nocturno also has a party going on Saturday night at The Observatory in Santa Ana, information for which I’ve included with other local events below. 

Here’s what’s happening in and around Los Angeles this weekend and early next week. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday February 22 – Wednesday February 28

L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 15 -Wednesday, February 21

Acidtrain live at Sean Carnage Friday Night at Oracle Tavern on April 14 2023 Photo by Liz Ohanesian
Catch Acidtrain Saturday night at The Smell

I’m not DJing this week, but there’s so much to do in town that I’m looking forward to going out just for fun. The list below is a small sample of L.A. music events for this week, including some killer live shows and DJ events with low or no covers, one record swap and a few reasonably priced film screenings. 

Continue reading L.A. Music Events: Thursday, February 15 -Wednesday, February 21

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

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

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