BeachLife Festival [5/2/25-5/4/25]

Photos by Isabella Appell Hundreds of thousands of multi-generational fans traveled back in time to Club Kokomo from May 2-4 for a weekend of (somewhat) sunny skies, live music, and sunset views. With legends like The Beach Boys, Lenny Kravitz, and Sublime taking the stage, SoCal’s ultimate coastal festival offered a little something for everyone. …

Yo La Tengo @ The Novo 5/8

Photos by Julia Steinhouse We found ourselves at yet another concert where we were the youngest ones there by a mile. It’s not surprising that the crowd was composed of largely older Yo La Tengo fans this night at the Novo, given that YLT formed over 40 years ago in 1984. The group first came…

Alice Phoebe Lou @ Lodge Room [04/07/2025]

Photos by Chloe Gonzales Alice Phoebe Lou’s socks were tie-dyed. Sprightly and balletic, they brazenly traced the Lodge Room’s stage; if Alice Phoebe Lou can be deemed anything, it’s whimsical. Light on the balls of her feet, Lou radiated merriment in an earnest, almost child-like way, her small movements and bashful smile permanent fixtures throughout…

Neil Frances @ Don Quixote [03/08/2025]

NEIL FRANCES by Day, CLUB NF by Night Photos by Ava London The evolution of a househead [househead: someone who greatly enjoys house music] unfolds in distinct stages. It begins with a gentle introduction to artists such as Fred Again or John Summit—universally adored, their tracks offering familiar rhythms with dynamic rises and falls. As…

Pond @ The Belasco [12/05/2024]

Photos by Isabella Appell Last Thursday, the historic Belasco in Los Angeles transformed into a swirling vortex of kaleidoscopic sound and light as Pond, the Australian psychedelic rock powerhouse, took the stage. Known for their eclectic blend of glam rock, funk, and cosmic psychedelia, Pond delivered a performance that was nothing short of mesmerising, reaffirming…

Joyce Manor @ Anaheim House of Blues [12/02/2024]

I exited the House of Blues with the memory of my horrendous commute veritably wiped. In its place was a lingering contentment I could feel pulling my lips almost unconsciously into a slight smile; on my mind was the complete and total satisfaction Joyce Manor, Algernon Cadwallader and Toys That Kill had birthed. The bands were perfect, the crowd was a picture of total engagement, leaving absolutely nothing to be desired. I can always identify a great show by the artist’s level of disruption into my listening habits in the subsequent days after the show; safe to say Joyce Manor left their mark.

Xavi @ The Novo

As I walked down LA Live, the streets were flooded with lines, merchandise vendors, food vendors and a lot of security. Initially I had thought to myself, “Perhaps there’s a concert at the crypto arena tonight.” But in reality the line, filled with fans and latino news channels, was for the Novo theater. As you…