Tag Archives: Synthpop

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

Get Triple Fire, the new album from Geneva Jacuzzi, Now

Album cover for Triple Fire by Geneva Jacuzzi released on August 23, 2024 by Dais Records
Album cover for Geneva Jacuzzi’s new album, Triple Fire

I’ve been hooked on Triple Fire, the latest album from Geneva Jacuzzi, since a promo turned up in my email a while back. As the August 23 release date approached, I listened to the album more often, trying to dig deeper into the stories within songs like “Laps of Luxury,” “Art Is Dangerous” and “Scene Ballerina” that are so vivid, yet so open to interpretation. The music, the lyrics, it all felt like it was already a part of Los Angeles.

Jacuzzi has been making music in L.A. since the ‘00s and first came to underground attention with the band Bubonic Plague, who were amazing live, btw. Triple Fire is her third solo album since 2010 and her first full-length for Dais Records.

Continue reading Get Triple Fire, the new album from Geneva Jacuzzi, Now

This Belgian Cover of “Vamos a La Playa” Sounds Like Early ’80s Los Angeles

12" single of "Vamos a la Playa" cover of Righeira song by The Miamis featuring Lou, U.S. release from Baja Records with original mix, scratch mix and extended version

It was hot and the record store was small and bright. Jazz filled the room as I flipped through bins, side-eyeing price tags on ‘80s records. That’s what they want for the Go-Gos? I thought. That’s the kind of record you get from your relatives who went digital ages ago. In fact, at least one of my Go-Gos records came to me in exactly that way. I don’t even want to see the Fleetwood Mac prices here. 

I headed over to the dance bin, just in case there was something that looked interesting. And there was. It was a copy of “Vamos a la Playa” with a $4.99 price tag on it. That’s weird, I thought. I can’t tell you how long “Vamos a la Playa” has been in the L.A. ether, but it’s one of the Italo disco jams that everyone seems to know. If you play it a club— and I think most of us DJs have done so many, many times— you can hear the crowd singing out on the floor. At least, they sing along with the chorus, “Vamos a la playa, oh-oh-oh-oh.” They usually don’t get all into the verse about radioactive winds blowing through your hair. It’s a strange song by today’s standards, but deceptively cheerful ditties  about nuclear annihilation were totally a thing in the 1980s. Don’t believe me? This is probably the only time in my life that I will ever recommend listening to “99 Luftballoons” in English

Continue reading This Belgian Cover of “Vamos a La Playa” Sounds Like Early ’80s Los Angeles

Here’s What I Played for Splash! at The Mermaid on July, 23, 2024

Christmas in July at The Mermaid on July 23, 2024 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Christmas in July continues at The Mermaid. (Pic: Liz O.)

It was totally last minute, but I filled in for Splash! at The Mermaid on Tuesday night, playing ’80s music from 8 p.m. until last call. I was in a Roxy Music, Japan and Duran Duran mood, which manifested in the set. Plus, I’ve had the Real Life song “Openhearted” stuck in my head on-and-off for a few weeks, so that made an appearance in the set too. Check out the set list below.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Splash! at The Mermaid on July, 23, 2024

Here’s What I Played for Splash! at The Mermaid on July 9, 2024

Christmas in July at The Mermaid in Little Tokyo with Christmas tree tiki mug, sand snow man tiki mug and gingerbread man tiki mug (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
The Mermaid’s Christmas in July tiki mugs, including a Christmas tree, a sand/snow man and a gingerbread man. (Pic: Liz O.)

Splash! is Dolce Vita’s new Tuesday night ‘80s party at The Mermaid. You’ll still hear Italo disco in the mix, but you’ll also hear new wave, synthpop and more subgenres of the decade’s dance music . I played for the first time since the rebrand for the first half of the night tonight and it was lot of fun to get to drop some of my Italo favorites (Ken Laszlo, Pino D’Angio) with a few of the ‘80s night standards (OMD, The Cure, etc.), some tunes that I don’t get to play out so much (Olivia Newton-John “Twist of Fate”) and a few tracks from the era that are actually new to me (Angelyne “Sex Goddess,” thanks to the Dark Entries reissue). Oh, and I was able to work in the best song from Voyage of the Rock Aliens (Real Life “Openhearted”), a movie I’ve been trying to write about for a while, but I still can’t make sense of it, which might be the point. My only regret is not adding Pia Zadora to my ‘80s virtual crate. Next time. 

Also, it’s Christmas in July at The Mermaid. The tiki mugs in the top photo are part of the promotion. You can buy one solo or with one of the drinks on the Cocktails for a Cause menu, all of which have Christmas horror names, like Santa’s Slay. The mugs were so cute— my favorite is the sand/snow man in the center of the photo— so I had to take a photo. 

Anyhow, keep reading for the set list. Seen you next on Friday, July 12, for Yeah Yeah Yeahs x Siouxsie Nite at Club Underground.

Continue reading Here’s What I Played for Splash! at The Mermaid on July 9, 2024

Listen to the New Beatique Mix with Music from French Police, Twin Tribes and More

It’s been a while, but I finally made a new Beatique mix. It’s a bunch of relatively new music, a mix of indie, darkwave and synthpop with a touch of shoegaze. I’d say more, but DJs talking about DJing is boring af, which is why I hate Threads. Anyhow, give the mix a listen here or on Mixcloud. Share it if you like it. Turn it up (all the way up) in the office or car or wherever if you really like it. Set list is below. 

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Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 25 – Wednesday, May 1

Apotheke Friday April 26 with Clifton Weaver and Liz O.

You can catch me at the clubs twice this coming weekend. On Friday, April 26, I’ll be joining my pal Clifton Weaver in the DJ booth at Apotheke in Chinatown, from 9 p.m. until close. We’ll both be playing all-vinyl sets filled with soul, funk, disco, boogie and more. I’ll definitely bring my favorite Candi Staton album and my current Toto Coelo jam. You might hear Chaz Jankel too and maybe that Scream + Dance 12” I found at Rubycon last weekend. Party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until close. There’s no cover and it’s 21+ Apotheke is at 1746 N. Spring Street. 

On Saturday, I’ll be joining Scarlett Casanova, Killed by Synth and Drayk for an Indie Sleaze night at The Offbeat. We’ll be playing ‘00s indie jams and more for the 21+ crowd and there’s no cover this one-off party.  The Offbeat is at 6316 York Ave. in Highland Park.

You can also catch me on Tuesday night at The Mermaid, where I’ll be providing the music for Dolce Vita’s Space Disco vs. Italo Disco night. I have some really fun tunes for this night, so stop by between 8 p.m. and closing time. There’s no cover and it’s 21+. The Mermaid is at 428 E. 2nd Street in Little Tokyo.

Here’s a short rundown of other events happening in L.A.  

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 25 – Wednesday, May 1

Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 18 – Wednesday, April 24

Clarence Carrot and Mrs. Broccoli marionettes made by Bob Baker Productions in 1950 from Bob Baker Marionettes 60th anniversary exhibition at Forest Lawn in 2023 (Photo: Liz Ohanesian)
Bob Baker Day is this Sunday at L.A. State Historic Park. Vintage Bob Baker marionettes from the 60th anniversary exhibition at Forest Lawn in 2023. (Photo: Liz O.)

No gigs for me this week, but stay tuned because I have three coming up the following week. If you want to get out of the house between April 18 and April 24, check the list below for some fun happenings. There is a decent amount of events that are all ages on the list this time around, including Bob Baker Day at L.A. State Historic Park on Sunday, which is ideal if you have young kids. Also, two of the events listed below are part of weekend-long happenings, Akiba Live in Little Tokyo and Plantstock over at Philosophical Research Society, so check out their websites and see if there’s anything else you might want to attend. 

Continue reading Happening in L.A.: Thursday, April 18 – Wednesday, April 24

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