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Live Review: Emmett Skyy at Hotel Café in Hollywood, CA
Material: Emmett Skyy has a sound that doesn’t fit into one genre. The songs mirror his diverse inspirations—sometimes too closely—and tell stories of love, hardship and truth. “To Be A ... -
Water District at Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles, CA
Material: There’s an edginess to the indie and surf-rock sounds of Water District. Delayed guitar riffs, echoing over upbeat verses, emote with lyrics about love and solitude. The band’s song ... -
Live Review: Evan Roth at The Mint
Material: Combining elements of piano rock, indie rock and R&B, Evan Roth has found a unique sound reminiscent of Coldplay. His vocal melodies, which travel in the lower register, seem ... -
Live Review: Native June at The Viper Room
Material: Native June’s energetic and sometimes gritty material infuses elements of surf rock, but also harkens back to the classic rock era. Choruses explode with hard-hitting, distorted chord progressions that ... -
Live Review: The Fontaines at Harvard & Stone
Material: The self-described “new-wop” group—imagine vintage doo-wop crossed with alternative pop—writes catchy songs that showcase powerful dynamics. Verses transition seamlessly to poppy choruses or staccato breakdowns that feature Charlotte Fontaine’s ... -
Live Review: John Defeo at Room 5 Lounge
Material: Combining elements of funk, hip-hop and acoustic pop, John Defeo has developed a neo-soul sound with attitude. The vocals, delivered with a hip-hop intensity, add a raw element to ... -
Live Review: Matt Turk at Genghis Cohen
Material: Matt Turk’s lyric heavy, slow-paced songs have folk foundations, but incorporate other genres like gypsy jazz and old-timey country. Turk hits his stride in his emotional folk tunes, replete ... -
Live Review: Slick and Wicked at The Whiskey
Material: The spirit of ‘80s metal and rock & roll is alive in the energetic, distorted songs of Slick and Wicked. Hollow sounding drums and rich bass tone epitomize the ... -
Live Review: Slapbak at House of Blues Foundation Room
The Players: Jara Harris, bass, lead vocals; TJ Quake, rap, vocals; Alicia Contreras, vocals; Adam Smith, guitar; Alyse Harris, keyboards; Jesse Conlee, drums. Material: Slapbak serves up funky, soulful tunes ... -
Live Reviews - Alexz Johnson at the Bootleg Theater
The Players: Alexz Johnson, lead vocals, guitar; Patrick Droney, guitar, backup vocals; Maxwell Butler, keyboard, backup vocals; Kyle McCammon, bass, moog, backup vocals; Garrison Johnson, drums, backup vocals. Material: Alexz ... -
Live Review: Mark Mackay at West Hollywood House of Blues
Material: Storytelling is intrinsic to country music, and Mark Mackay’s tunes revolve around autobiographical tales. The staccato banjos, twangy Fender Telecaster tone and a deep southern drawl work together like ... -
Live Review: Imani Chyle at the Viper Room
Material: Soul and rock collide in Imani Chyle’s hard-hitting music. Her fierce attitude transmits through personal lyrics delivered with gritty intensity. The menacing riffs and tight-knit rhythms match her growling ... -
Live Review: Smoke Season at the Echoplex
Material: Ethereal, transient electronic influences collide with delayed riffs of folky Americana in Smoke Season’s well-composed tracks. Although a four-piece, the band is reminiscent of the powerhouse duo the Kills. ...
