Sonos Studio says goodbye with killer blowout headlined by Gaslamp Killer

Sonos Studio says goodbye with killer blowout headlined by Gaslamp Killer
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 29, 2016

Last Friday, Sonos Studio in Los Angeles had one last party before closing their doors. Performing on the evening were Gaslamp Killer, YACHT, Daedelus DJ sets that were preceded by a set from Warpaint bassist Jennylee.

Jennylee played from her debut album Right On right as the show began at 8 PM. People packed the venue quickly, enjoying some drinks on the house in the tiny studio that featured some of the best sound of any venue I’ve been to.

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Futurebirds belt The Echo with high-quality country-rock

Futurebirds belt The Echo with high-quality country-rock
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 29, 2016

Wednesday night, Athens, Georgia’s Futurebirds brought their brand of country-rock to The Echo. Playing mostly songs from their 2015 record Hotel Parties, though the venue wasn’t sold out, it was filled with fans passionate for their tunes.

One interesting thing I found while watching this band is how they alternate vocals between their three main members, though Carter King often takes the lead. They all have slightly different vocals and it gives their songs a different flavor depending on who heads the mic – though the others usually share harmonies in backup duties.

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Matt Corby awes Masonic Lodge crowd at Hollywood Cemetery

Matt Corby awes Masonic Lodge crowd at Hollywood Cemetery
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 28, 2016

Years ago, I discovered singer-songwriter Matt Corby via the Australian radio station TripleJ’s Like a Version segment – which is when a musician stops in and performs an original song and a cover on their air. His cover of The Black Keys’ “Lonely Boy” was solid, but it was his original song “Brother” that had me hit play again and again on YouTube.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers playing Bernie Sanders benefit at Ace Hotel!

Red Hot Chili Peppers playing Bernie Sanders benefit at Ace Hotel!
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 27, 2016

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are playing a benefit show for Bernie Sanders as part of the Feel the Bern effort to raise money for the presidential candidate at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel on Friday, February 5. Pre-sale tickets are on sale now and are priced between $40 and $2,000.

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Reviewed: St. Lucia’s “Matter” is sure to have you dancing

Reviewed: St. Lucia’s “Matter” is sure to have you dancing
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 27, 2016

With Brooklyn-based synthpoppers St. Lucia churning out tunes, Phil Collins – you can stay retired. St. Lucia has perfected the tropical synths and heavy percussion sound that Collins became known for in the ‘90s after defecting from Genesis.

It’s been two-and-a-half years since their debut album When the Night dropped. After seeing them a half-dozen times over the last year-plus, I’ve been itching to hear the studio version of the new tunes they’ve been playing at their shows. Alas, on Friday, January 29, their second album Matter finally drops, via Columbia Records. It was worth the wait.

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Years & Years to headline Fonda Theatre as part of Coachella’s sideshow series

Years & Years to headline Fonda Theatre as part of Coachella’s sideshow series
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 27, 2016

Burgeoning British electropop trio Years & Years will headline the Fonda Theatre on Monday, April 25 just days after wrapping up their second of two performances at this year’s Coachella. They last played Los Angeles at The Wiltern in September, making the Fonda show a sure-to-be slightly more intimate experience. It is also one of their few announced headline shows in the States as they open for Ellie Goulding for much of the early part of the year.

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Courtney Barnett, Alvvays double-bill hits Glass House for Coachella sideshow series

Courtney Barnett, Alvvays double-bill hits Glass House for Coachella sideshow series
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 27, 2016

Aussie rocker Courtney Barnett and Nova Scotian indie outfit Alvvays will team up for a show at the Glass House in Pomona on Thursday, April 14. Both are slated to perform at Coachella on consecutive Saturdays, April 16 and April 23rd. But before they do that, they’ll partake in a show that’s part of Coachella’s yearly sideshow series.

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The Last Shadow Puppets to headline Theatre at Ace as part of Coachella’s sideshow series

The Last Shadow Puppets to headline Theatre at Ace as part of Coachella’s sideshow series
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
Janury 26, 2016

The Last Shadow Puppets are headlining the epic downtown Theatre at the Ace Hotel on Wednesday, April 20. The side project of Alex Turner and Miles Kane of The Arctic Monkeys will be bringing their show to consecutive weekends at Coachella on April 15 and April 22, but will also stop in Los Angeles in between as part of Coachella’s legendary sideshow series.

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Miguel channels David Bowie during special intimate School Night performance

Miguel channels David Bowie during special intimate School Night performance
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 26, 2016

I arrived at Bardot on Monday night for a special edition of School Night at 7:30 PM in an effort to nag a great spot in the tiny Hollywood venue. R&B singer Miguel was announced as the special headliner just an hour or so earlier, and I knew the place was going to be jam-packed.

By the time Miguel took the stage around 11:30 PM, my feet were beyond wrecked by the unforgiving hard floor. But the wait was immediately made worth it when the Los Angeles native launched into a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” (watch the video below) supported by nothing but an acoustic guitar. There was audible excitement as Miguel worked through the first couple verses before segueing into his song “Waves.”

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Miguel playing special version of School Night at Bardot tonight

Miguel playing special version of School Night at Bardot tonight
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 25, 2016


GRAMMY-nominated R&B singer Miguel will headline a special edition of School Night at Bardot tonight, Monday, January 25. A month ago, curators for the weekly free-with-RSVP showcase teased they would have a special headliner.

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Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek dust off Reflection Eternal at Belasco gig to much fanfare

Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek dust off Reflection Eternal at Belasco gig to much fanfare
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 22, 2016


Friday night at The Belasco in downtown Los Angeles, I got to see Talib Kweli dust off his side-project with Hi-Tek called Reflection Eternal.

In order to get to the point where Talib finally took the stage a little bit after 11:15 PM, I had to brave the smell of your mom and dad’s not-so-dank marijuana. The crowd was on average a decade older than myself, early-to-mid thirties being common. The security trekked their way through the main pit constantly forcing people to put out their low-grade joints, telling them to take it to the smoking patio.

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Bonnaroo 2016 — A lineup for everyone, a weird and true festival experience

Bonnaroo 2016 — A lineup for everyone, a weird and true festival experience
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 21, 2016

Cage the Elephant inspires madness at iHeartRadio Theater LA

Cage the Elephant inspires madness at iHeartRadio Theater LA
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 21, 2016


I’ve seen a number of shows at the awesome iHeartRadio Theater LA in Burbank, but none of them matched the intensity of Cage the Elephant’s performance Wednesday night.

While most crowds are somewhat subdued for these intimate performances, the crowd for Cage the Elephant was raucous from the get-go. Wearing a black blazer, singer Matt Schultz and the rest of the band are just able to inspire mayhem wherever they go.

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The Weeknd, Florence + The Machine, Cage the Elephant among chief Hangout Fest acts

The Weeknd, Florence + The Machine, Cage the Elephant among chief Hangout Fest acts
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
January 20, 2016

Among the dozen or so festivals I covered for Grimy Goods in 2015, the beach-side Hangout Fest stood out as easily the most unique and definitely one of the most memorable of the bunch. When Beck’s fest-closing set ended last year, I was already making plans to come back in 2016.

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2016 Forecast: 10 Los Angeles Acts to Watch —- they’re on the rise!

2016 Forecast: 10 Los Angeles Acts to Watch — they’re on the rise!
Mark E. Ortega & Sandra Burciaga
GrimyGoods.com
January 15, 2016

2016 is in full swing and its time for us to release our annual forecast of Los Angeles bands we feel will make some serious waves this year. From the manic punk of Kim & The Created to the alluring sounds of synth pop duo, Pr0files — check out our 2016 Forecast: 10 Los Angeles Acts to Watch (yes, they’re on the rise!). We’ve also noted some honorable mentions who are definitely worth a listen.

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Oh Wonder, GEMS dazzle at sold-out first night at El Rey Theatre

Oh Wonder, GEMS dazzle at sold-out first night at El Rey Theatre
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
January 14, 2016

London-based synth-pop duo Oh Wonder couldn’t get over how each time they’ve come to LA, the reception has been greater and greater. On Wednesday night, they headlined the first of two shows at the El Rey Theatre, a sold-out endeavor that solidifies the idea they’re a rising act to keep an eye on.

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Shaky Knees lineup to feature At The Drive-In Reunion, Deftones, Jane’s Addiction

Shaky Knees lineup to feature At The Drive-In Reunion, Deftones, Jane’s Addiction
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
January 13, 2016

Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival announced its fourth-year lineup, with headliners Florence + The Machine, My Morning Jacket and Jane’s Addiction – who will be performing the album Ritual de lo Habitual in full. This year’s festival takes place May 13-15, moving sites again – this time to Centennial Olympic Park & International Plaza. Pre-sale tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 13 at 7 AM ET for $215. Once advanced tickets have sold out, regular 3-day tickets go up to $236 with single-day passes priced at $102.

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The Cure, Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes top Sasquatch! bill

The Cure, Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes top Sasquatch! bill
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
January 12, 2016

Robert Smith and The Cure will headline 2016’s Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge in Washington. If that’s somehow not enough, Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes and Disclosure top the bill at the most laid-back camping festival I attended last year. The four-day festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend from May 27-30. Tickets go on sale January 12 at 10 AM and are priced at $350.

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Surfer Blood and Cayucas deliver vibrant double-bill at LA’s Teragram Ballroom

Surfer Blood and Cayucas deliver vibrant double-bill at LA’s Teragram Ballroom
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
January 11, 2016

Headlining in support of their third studio album 1000 Palms, a reshuffled Surfer Blood lineup impressed at the Teragram Ballroom with fellow surf-pop rockers Cayucas in support.

Their beach rock sound was welcomed happily on a gloomy Friday night in downtown Los Angeles. Guitarist Thomas Fekete and bassist Kevin Williams are no longer in the band – Fekete battles a rare form of cancer while Williams left the group for a job – but their replacements Mike McCleary and Lindsey Mills proved ample replacements. Mills’ duties as a backup vocalist provided an alternative layer to some of lead man’s John Paul Pitts’ sometimes Rivers Cuomo-type vocals quite nicely.

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Tom Coughlin set to meet with Eagles on Monday

Tom Coughlin set to meet with Eagles on Monday
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
January 9, 2016

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to cross enemy lines as they continue their search for a new head coach.

The Eagles will meet with the recently-departed Tom Coughlin on Monday, a source informed of their thinking told NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Rapoport classified the meeting as more of a feeling-out for both sides rather than an interview. Philly had to ask permission from the Giants because Coughlin is still technically under contract with New York. The Giants granted it.

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Detroit Lions hire Bob Quinn as general manager

Detroit Lions hire Bob Quinn as general manager
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
January 8, 2016

The Detroit Lions have found their new general manager.

Detroit will hire Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn to fill the role and has an agreement in principle, Lions president Rod Wood announced Friday. The soon-to-be new GM had the support of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

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Antonio Brown tops December's Players of the Month

Antonio Brown tops December's Players of the Month
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
January 7, 2016

Antonio Brown just keeps on posting monster numbers.

The Steelers went 4-1 in December and January, and it was in no small part thanks to the star wide receiver's output. In five games, the sixth-year player compiled 51 catches for 642 yards and five touchdowns.

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Coachella 2016: finally moving away from being a boy’s club?

Coachella 2016: finally moving away from being a boy’s club?
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
January 5, 2015

According to an April 2013 Buzzfeed article, Coachella hadn’t seen a ratio of male-fronted acts to female-fronted ones below 80% since 2008. Last year, female-fronted acts represented less than 16% of the lineup with names like Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes, Jenny Lewis and St. Vincent being some of the more prominent ones.

Only Bjork (twice) and Portishead have headlined the desert fest as female-fronted acts. With LCD Soundsystem, Guns N Roses and Calvin Harris headlining in 2016, that trend of exclusion will continue.

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