“Who tonight is feeling sexy” It’s really hard to feel sexy when you’re freezing in 50-degree weather. I spent the first half of my Wednesday night shivering in a jean skirt on a two-hour bus ride to Echo Park. When I decided to go see the iconic bedroom pop duo, Coco & Clair Clair, I…
Rina Sawayama @ The Hollywood Palladium [11/23/22] “Rina is an iconoclast that is reshaping the concept of a ‘popstar’ in her own image.” It is the day before Thanksgiving, and everyone and their mother has gathered to give thanks to Japanese-British Royalty, the venerated Rina Sawayama. DJ Alex Chapman warms up the audience with a…
Photos by Jackie Pierce Even blocks away, it was near impossible to miss the neon glow pouring from the blue and red letters of “The Wiltern.” Towering over all the surrounding streets, the iconic Old Hollywood style theater held a presence that almost demanded to be known – a presence further amplified by the never-ending…
[Lucy Dacus @ the Wilten 11/18/22] Photos by Emily Chang Tonight in LA, tomorrow in San Diego, then it’s over. Lucy Dacus’ Home Video Tour has been around the world in a dogged march since the summer of 2021. The Commonwealth hailing musician delves into the cleavages of strict faith, a nostalgia for home, and…
Steve Lacy @ The Greek Theatre [11/11/2022] Photos by Audrey Berry “Damn, my nipples are hard right now!” These words were spoken by one of the world’s hottest artists right now as he stood in front of the sold-out Greek Theater on Saturday night. On this brisk evening, it is Steve Lacy’s final show of…
You’re 16 and you’re gazing out at the sky. Your retinas are met with the glimmering lights of a magnificent Southeast Asian metropolis, contrasted by the subdued darkness of the night. As the average high schooler within this big city, you exist within a bubble of linear algebra, sneaking into 18+ horror movies & going…
Turnstile & Snail Mail @ Shrine Expo Hall [11/4/22] As a five-foot nothing girl I was terrified. But as a punk fan, I was ecstatic. Approaching the Shrine, I saw groups of Turnstile fans of all ages wearing all black thick eyeliner. After spotting more than 15 concert-goers with septum rings, my friend turns to…
Kenny Beats @ The Shrine [11/5/22] Photos by Angela Kan Don’t Over Think Shit! People often say these words when they’re offering advice, which for many, is easier said than done. However, Kenny Beats and his friends echoed these words throughout the night in a different context—almost as a command or a prerequisite for enjoying…
Photos by Angela Kan In crooked Old English lettering, “Troubadour” towers above as I enter Doug Weston’s iconic venue. Behind me, trails of a faint conversation between a concert attendee and a security guard float by. Concert-Goer is protesting, incredulous she’s being asked to spit out her gum. Security Guard’s answer is succinct and final:…
MUNA @ the Wiltern [10/26/2022] As I pass through the dirty gray metal detectors into the Wiltern, it is as if I have discovered the other end of a rainbow. Baby pinks, sky blues, and gold yellows flood the columned concert hall like Care Bear Con at the Vatican. Audience members mill about the lobby,…
Alice Glass @ The Fonda [10/29/22] Photos by Evan Ibarra The scorched earth quivers. At tonight’s goth bacchanal, we expect an explosion. Sad clowns, juggalos, and caped vampires have come together to Trauma Bond with Alice Glass, whose eponymous tour is debuting a full-length album that is wholly her own. After breaking from the eminent…
Skullcrusher @ the Masonic Lodge [10/17/22] When I get to the table outside the Masonic Lodge, after waiting in line, gorging on onion rings and ranch and peering out into the cemetery beyond, I am not on the list. After calling PR, I sit on the curb while the security guard- he looks borrowed from…
Photos by: Gracy Watts Even waiting in line to enter, there was a sense of excitement and lightheartedness surrounding us all. With their third album, People in Motion, being released earlier this month, The Novo was just the 5th U.S. stop on Dayglow’s tour. Since their first albums were focused on showcasing their versatility and…
Attending the final show of a well-loved band carries with it a heavy weight. Following an announcement regarding the conclusion of Girlpool as a band a couple months ago, their final show at the El Rey Theater feels less like a traditional concert displaying new material than it does a celebration of life. Upon entering,…
Phoenix @ the Youtube Theater (10/06/22) By Harry Frahn “Thank you! Thank you all! I love you!” cries the black-clad man while he rises, slowly lifted by countless hands, onto the shoulders of the crowd. As he reaches his zenith, he falls silent, lacking the words to properly describe the gratitude he’s feeling. At…
Interviewed by Jackie Pierce Quinn Christopherson caught the attention of the indie scene when they won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2019 with their song “Erase Me,” a compelling folk song with striking vocals and lyricism that speaks to Christopherson’s experience as a trans man. We sat down (over Zoom) with Quinn to talk about…
Sharon Van Etten, Angel Olsen, and Julien Baker at The Greek Theater Photos by Samantha Smithies As we pulled into the converted parking lot in Griffith Park, Sam and I saw the groups of identifiably indie fans trekking up the hill, making the pilgrimage to pay respects to some of the most established women of…
Desert Daze @ Lake Perris State Recreation Area [10/3/2022]
It’s an exciting time to be Irish, and so getting the message that Fontaines D.C. were being interviewed and then performing at the Grammy Museum was a sweet embellishment, and a way to celebrate the Dublin-formed band who now sit with the few of their countrymen sharing the title for Best Rock Album nominee. Since…
NOTE: As of 9/20/2022, the Writers Guild of America West released their board election results. Rich Talarico was not voted to a seat, but he continues efforts toward writer advocacy. He’s partnered with Stephanie Aly (advocate, journalist) to establish the Artistic Fairness Cooperative (AFC) to gather writers and fans to advocate for fair creative compensation.…