Danny Elfman @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre [8/03/23] Photos by Alex Matthews It’s a crisp, Summer night in Chula Vista and I’m ready for Spider-Man. I’m also ready for Batman, Doctor Strange, The Simpsons, Oingo Boingo…I’m ready for it all. Or at least I think I am. I honestly don’t know what to expect…
As I was stuck in traffic, I could tell that it was definitely not a normal Saturday in Santa Ana. At 4:00, the sidewalks were swarming with people covered head to toe in jester makeup, alt fashion, silver chains, and ripped band tees. Attracting a crowd of about 12,000, the Observatory OC’s “1 Strange Night…
Do you remember your indie phase in high school? Were you ever obsessed with artists like Wallows, Dayglow, or Boy Pablo? With these artists blasting in your car along with your A/C in the summer, driving towards your friend’s house or part-time job. Or as you experienced your first love and shared playlists with friends…
It’s 7:45 in West Hollywood, and a line of excited concertgoers can be found assembling along Santa Monica Boulevard. Previously hosting the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and Elton John, the Troubadour stands as a vibrant reminder of the rich history of Los Angeles rock culture. That being said, it’s only appropriate…
ZelooperZ @ The Roxy [06/14/23] Photos by Jonguk Yoo (IG: manduruyo) During an exhausting finals week with nothing but late night essay-writing and long work shifts, the only thought keeping me afloat was the anticipation to let loose and experience a unique performance from one of Detroit’s finest artists in the most literal sense, ZelooperZ.…
~~~ Goth Babe @ The Greek [7/15/2023] Photos by Jeslyn Wang ~~~ Goth Babe can’t help but take over the sun when he’s on stage. At tonight’s celestial show, The Greek Theatre is met with a galaxy of inflatable unicorn floaties, six thousand glitter-adorned fans, and an endless supernova of neon stage colors orbiting around.…
Orange County, California: home to 40 miles of beaches, world-class surfing, and glimmering sunshine. What could be a better location for a Summer Salt concert? 2012 saw Matthew Terry (vocalist/guitarist) and Eugene Chung’s (drummer) introduction into the Austin, TX music scene, developing a sound reminiscent of bossa nova, 60s rocksteady, and surf psychedelia. Two years…
Photos by Sophia Russo Surfing the wave of Indie Sleaze, (and now Indie Sleaze resurrection) Metric is a powerhouse of synthy, alternative pop rock neighboring the sounds of CHVRCHES, Tegan and Sarah, and Silversun Pickups. Opening for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and Garbage, most attendees are still looking for parking as front woman Emily…
Photos by Neel Bonthala It quickly became apparent that the Regent Theater in downtown Los Angeles was the perfect stage for Nathan William’s beach indie-rock outfit, Wavves, to take on. The venue was an intimate space connected to a bar and quaint pizza parlor, a welcome accompaniment to live music. The carefully curated energy of…
Photos by Angela Kan There are a million different places a person can go to on a Friday night in Los Angeles. However, it seemed that everyone arriving to the YouTube Theater that Friday was a part of a community that wouldn’t be anywhere else other than Melanie Martinez’s Portals tour. Upon arrival, my friend and…
A venue typically used for college football games and iconic flea markets, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena was transformed into a mecca for the avid fans of boygenius, Clairo, Dijon and Bartees Strange on June 3rd. The second day of the re:SET festival took place at the Brookside, where an abundance of Doc Martens and cowboy boots shuffling around in excitement set the mood for an iconic lineup of alternative-indie pop.
Kara Jackson @ Feels Like Floating [05/26/23] Photos by Evan Ibarra To say that May has been an odd month feels like an understatement. Ever since my dog back home passed away at the tail end of April, I’ve spent a good portion of this month grappling with the weird and unsettling reality of learning…
The beams of sunlight shining through the patchwork of clouds over UCLA’s Sunset Recreation Center set the stage for this year’s annual JazzReggae Festival (JRF), a celebration of jazz and reggae culture stretching from Jamaica to Los Angeles. From 11 am to 7 pm, there were hours of live art, performances from both students and…
The techno-house music that lit up the Wiltern last Thursday night featured no synths, mixing boards, electronic keyboards nor headphones; instead, a marching band supplied the sound. The Hamburg-based music group, Meute, uses trumpet, marching percussion, saxophone, and other brass instruments to compose an incredible sonic experience for listeners that mimics electronic music with spectacular…
Cover Photo Credit : DIVISUALS It’s incredibly hard to summarize what Lightning in a Bottle is. The fest wears so many different hats and provides an experience unlike any other. First off, Lightning in a Bottle is long; it’s a five day fest. Its length, while at first seems overwhelming, is a major strength of…
Ripped fishnet tights, barely-there mini skirts, distressed t-shirts, the lowest of low-rise pants hanging loose from exposed hip bones. Grunge didn’t die in the ‘90s; it’s alive in “Pretty Sick” and I’ve never felt so simultaneously out of place yet at home. It was 7:45pm; Thursday evening; and a line was already extending down Hartford…
It’s still light outside as I am heading into the venue, so the red light of the “Roxy” sign hasn’t yet started to drip onto the sidewalk. I appreciate the lengthening of the days lately, and this is my first Sunday of the year where the night hints of summer. I grab my press pass…
Photos by Chloe Gonzalez Written by Candace Fernandez The first time I heard about 100 gecs was on a first date. Newly out of high school and still drowning in the melancholia of my adolescence, the music I frequented at the time began and ended at the subdued melodies of Cate le Bon, Billie Marten…
Photos by Angela Kan One of DTLA’s oldest bars, the Moroccan Lounge is an unassuming little white building lined with blue tiles and a sea blue dome at top. Tucked away on the outskirts of the Arts District and neighboring Little Tokyo, it is easy to miss. Tonight, I’m glad I didn’t miss it. The…
Hippo Campus @ SOMA It’s my good friend Brad’s birthday today and I’ve made the trip to San Diego’s historic SOMA to see the sensational indie-rock band Hippo Campus. I’ve only ever been to the smaller side stage at SOMA. But tonight, I’m eagerly waiting to see Hippo Campus rock SOMA’s sizable main-stage. The impressive…
“album cycle tours? old hat, played out, over! ep cycle tours? IN, fresh, sexy. only the hottest bands tour on ep releases. catch us on the road dishing out the hits and subjecting you to only minimal new music!” Hippo Campus’ Instagram post @thehalocline 5/15/23 Hippo Campus knows why you’re at The Greek. Yeah, they…
Photos Courtesy of Just Like Heaven Festival 75 degrees, beautiful greenery, and magical music shared with excellent friends — Just Like Heaven lives up to its name. Just Like Heaven is a music festival focused on the 2000s era of indie music. The fest’s headliners include Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Empire of the Sun, and…