Wye Oak wraps up tour with magical Club Bahia set

Wye Oak wraps up tour with magical Club Bahia set
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 31, 2015

Thursday night, Baltimore indie rock duo Wye Oak concluded their brief tour run with a headlining night at Club Bahia, an Echo Park property that was recently scooped up by LiveNation.

The previous night, Wye Oak did a set at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. Jill of all trades Jenn Wasner made it clear to the crowd early on that if you missed out on that night’s show, you were getting the full experience Thursday.

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Halsey adds second show at Fonda Theatre

Halsey adds second show at Fonda Theatre
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 31, 2015

On Wednesday, we announced that rising 20-year-old pop star Halsey would be headlining the Fonda Theatre on Wednesday, November 18. That show had such a high demand (and sold out in seconds) that Goldenvoice has decided to add a second show at the Fonda, scheduled for Thursday, November 19.

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TV on the Radio open KCRW Sound in Focus with premier indie rock set

TV on the Radio open KCRW Sound in Focus with premier indie rock set
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 27, 2015

Studio City was the place to be Saturday early evening as KCRW kicked off the first of their free Sound in Focus shows that featured performances from TV on the Radio and Boxed In. The music was the main course for a night that featured excellent food truck choices and solid drink options as well as some interesting entertainment in between the music.

The event took place at the Annenberg Space for Photography, a massive courtyard that sits behind the CAA building. If I ever was jealous of anyone who runs around in that realm of entertainment, it was for the fact that they get to enjoy their lunches in this beautiful area.

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The Mud Howlers and Flames of Durga rock The Satellite out of orbit

The Mud Howlers and Flames of Durga rock The Satellite out of orbit
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 24, 2015

Thursday night, The Satellite played host to a bill that featured a couple up-and-coming bands with different styles.

Kicking things off was LA-based trio Flames of Durga, the brainchild of identical sisters Cecilia and Beah Romero along with drummer Nate Million.

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Madden social media team takes dig at Seahawks

Madden social media team takes dig at Seahawks
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
July 22, 2015

It wasn't enough for the Seattle Seahawks' social media team that Marshawn Lynch was given the highest rating of any running back in the upcoming Madden 2016 video game.

The Seahawks' Twitter account wondered aloud how Beast Mode wasn't given a 99-overall rating in the trucking category. It didn't take long for the official EA Sports Madden account to take a jab at how they failed to utilize their star running back's skills on the final goal line play of Super Bowl XLIX.

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Justin Cox waived by Chiefs following arrest

Justin Cox waived by Chiefs following arrest
Mark E. Ortega
NFL.com
July 21, 2015

Undrafted rookie cornerback Justin Cox was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday following an arrest on charges of burglary, aggravated domestic assault and trespassing on Monday.

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House of Guvera launches LA flagship with hot, steamy performances by Best Coast and Froth

House of Guvera launches LA flagship with hot, steamy performances by Best Coast and Froth
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 20, 2015

House of Guvera had their LA launch this past Thursday night in the Arts District of downtown LA, providing a free In N Out Burger truck out front, along with an open bar and intimate performances from LA favorites Best Coast, as well as Froth.

Guvera is a music streaming service that based itself in Australia but has extended itself after having reached 11 million subscribers. House of Guvera plays host to original content, which included interviews with the likes of Talib Kweli and Wolfmother among others.

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Abner Mares: Leo Santa Cruz 'never really wanted to face me'

Abner Mares: Leo Santa Cruz 'never really wanted to face me'
Mark E. Ortega
USA TODAY
July 15, 2015

LYNWOOD, Calif. — Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares have been on a collision course for several years. With the two finally due to square off, Mares says there’s only one person to blame that it hasn’t happened sooner.

“I pushed for this fight, he never really wanted to face me,” Mares said. “I’ve wanted to fight him for a while. We fought on the same card at Staples Center and I’ve wanted to fight him since then.”

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For Brad Stitt

Five years ago today, my best friend Brad Stitt passed away. It was quite shocking to realize that it's been that long when I can still recall his goofy laugh like it was just yesterday that I heard it for real.

One of my favorite films of all time is the classic '80s coming-of-age tale, Stand by Me. It's a film that took on a much deeper meaning to me after losing my friend. There's a line where the narrator, the grown-up version of the film's main character Gordie, types this sentence: “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” That line rings remarkably true for me, and looking back, the similarities between my friendship with Brad to that of Gordie and Chris Chambers in the film is remarkable.

Jurassic 5 turn up on a Thursday at Club Nokia

Jurassic 5 turn up on a Thursday at Club Nokia
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 10, 2015

After Thursday night, I can confirm that there is at least one Jurassic-named entity that began in the ’90s that is still thriving more than 20 years later.

Los Angeles-based hip-hop collective Jurassic 5 performed to a sold-out crowd at Club Nokia, proving in the process that there’s been no decline in their game since they first got their start in 1993.

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Watch The Vaccines' new video for '20/20' off new album 'English Graffiti'

Watch The Vaccines' new video for '20/20' off new album 'English Graffiti'
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
July 7, 2015

West London indie rockers The Vaccines have put out a new video for “20/20” off their latest album, this year’s English Graffiti. As is the case with many of their previous videos, it is very cinematic.

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Wolf Alice officially arrives with debut full-length 'My Love is Cool'

Wolf Alice officially arrives with debut full-length 'My Love is Cool'
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
June 22, 2015

London rockers Wolf Alice have been on our radar since making their L.A. debut at Bardot in January, and excitement for their debut album My Love is Cool has been buoyed by subsequent standout performances. The album dropped June 23 off Dirty Hit/RCA Records and it was well worth the wait.

With a sound often times reminiscent of the best of the ’90s alt-grunge movement, Wolf Alice takes things a step further on their debut full-length.

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Watch Ryn Weaver's new video for 'Traveling Song' (will probably make you cry)

Watch Ryn Weaver's new video for 'Traveling Song' (will probably make you cry)
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
June 18, 2015

The new music video from Ryn Weaver for her song “Traveling Song” should come with a NSFW disclaimer — because nobody wants to cry when sitting at their desk at work.

Having seen Weaver perform live a number of times (from SXSW to Coachella to Bonnaroo), an emotional moment always comes in the form of her performing “Traveling Song.” Weaver details the loss of her grandfather Max, who died on Jan. 1 this year. Weaver nearly breaks down in tears every time I’ve seen her perform it, and when looking around at the crowd, almost everyone’s eyes are welled up.

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Billy Joel caps Bonnaroo with throwback Sunday set; Florence + The Machine wins fans over

Billy Joel caps Bonnaroo with throwback Sunday set; Florence + The Machine wins fans over
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
June 18, 2015

To be honest, Billy Joel was one of the main drawing points to attending my first ever Bonnaroo. In a time where there are seemingly endless music festivals, it gets harder and harder to land a legitimate festival headliner. Billy Joel fit the mold quite well, a legacy act and Rock n Roll Hall of Famer with a ridiculously deep catalog of tunes that appeal to all demographics.

With pretty much the entire 80,000 Bonnaroovians taking in his set as there was nothing going against it, Billy Joel ripped through a memorable set that put the energy back in people who had spent the previous four days in the humidity with precious few showers.

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Mumford & Sons' Bonnaroo redemption highlights Saturday

Mumford & Sons' Bonnaroo redemption highlights Saturday
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
June 16, 2015

Two years ago, Mumford & Sons were set to headline Bonnaroo at the peak of their success. When bassist Ted Dwane had to undergo emergency brain surgery, the band had to cancel their appearance just two days before the festival.

If redemption was what the London-based folk rockers were after, they got that in spades after a lengthy main stage performance to one of the biggest crowds of the weekend.

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