The Weeknd, BANKS, Travis $cott turn The Forum into Madness; Lana Del Rey guest appearance

The Weeknd, BANKS, Travis $cott turn The Forum into Madness; Lana Del Rey guest appearance
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 11, 2015

Is there anyone in music who’s had a bigger 2015 than The Weeknd?

Wednesday night’s show at The Forum – the second of two sold-out shows on The Madness Tour at the 17,500 capacity venue – was further evidence that the answer to that question is no.

With a nearly two-hour set, The Weeknd – aka Abel Tesfaye – proved his merit and vocal prowess. Perhaps the highlight of the hit-filled set was the shocking surprise in the form of a Lana del Rey appearance at the end of his set to perform their track “Prisoner” from his critically-acclaimed 2015 record Beauty Behind the Madness.

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Sweetgreen makes boom at LA launch with performances by BANKS and Alvvays

Sweetgreen makes boom at LA launch with performances by BANKS and Alvvays
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
June 8, 2015

Sweetgreen is a smartly sourced seasonal food chain that began in DC and now operates all along the East Coast, founded by three Georgetown University graduates. With two of those founders being LA-based, it was only a matter of time until they tried their hand on the West Coast. Though the W. 3rd St. location officially launched on May 21 (and with one coming to Santa Monica soon), a block-party style launch took place Thursday with performances from LA’s own BANKS and rising lo-fi rockers Alvvays, in partner with FADER.

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Staff Picks: Grimy Goods Best Albums of 2014

Staff Picks: Grimy Goods Best Albums of 2014
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 19, 2014


1. Sharon Van Etten – Are We There (Jagjaguwar) 
This is clearly Van Etten’s best and most expansive work to date. On previous efforts, she stuck with a less is more approach but incorporated a much fuller sound on this release. The common use of a piano brings an added element, and Van Etten takes a more hopeful approach to dealing with heartbreak and moving on in many songs. There’s not a single weak link among the 11 tracks, which you can stream here.

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ALTimate Christmas Party keeps things short but sweet

ALTimate Christmas Party keeps things short but sweet
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 10, 2014

It’s not often you can go to a show that features seven well-known acts, get in the doors at 6PM and be home and in bed before midnight on a work night.

At ALT 98.7‘s Altimate Rooftop Christmas Party at the W Hotel Hollywood, lucky attendees were treated to just that kind of experience. An exceptionally well-run event that featured performances by Bush, Banks, Cold War Kids, Glass Animals, Robert DeLong, The Neighbourhood, and a headlining performance by Fitz and The Tantrums. The event worked so seamlessly because it had alternating stages, giving you only about five minutes to catch your breath and munch on free appetizers before walking to the other side of the roof.

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Ten Best Live Cover Songs of 2014

Ten Best Live Cover Songs of 2014
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
December 1, 2014

Having been fortunate enough to see around 100 concerts in 2014, not to mention a good number of music festivals, I had the opportunity to see some musicians pull out some pretty bad ass covers during their live sets. After much deliberation, I’ve broken down my Top 10 for the year, which was no easy feat.

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BANKS cashes in at Coachella on Saturday

BANKS cashes in at Coachella on Saturday
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
April 20, 2014


Talented emerging female vocalist BANKS showed her vocal range on Saturday in the Gobi Tent, hitting all the high and low notes all throughout a heart-stopping set at Coachella weekend two.

The American-born, L.A.-based singer has some pipes and she showcased them in front of a still arriving crowd ready to kick things into high gear. BANKS brought it in a number of ways, often with a sultry sound yet she also carried her range well when she needed to climb a few keys.

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