One day in 2017, I had the chance to cover this up and coming band playing their first Los Angeles show at the historic Viper Room. This venue only holds 250 people, and it was not a sold out show. This was only six years ago, and we went through a Pandemic where everything stopped functioning like normal for a full year. And yet, this band is now selling out arenas worldwide! That band is Greta Van Fleet. Who has been bringing the sound of 70s classic rock with blistering guitar solo’s and instrumental jam sessions back to the younger generation. Selling out the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on their Dreams in Gold Tour, and bringing with them Rival Sons. Greta Van Fleet brought the flower power movement back to Southern California.
Opening the night was blues rock baddies known as Rival Sons. I had heard a lot of good things about these guys and was looking forward to finally getting to experience what they were about. Opening their set with “Do Your Worst,” lead singer Jay Buchanan stepped onto stage wearing a three piece suit with no dress shirt, oozing charisma. Guitarist Scott Holiday looked like a snake oil salesman down in the bayou, but the way he handled the guitar and fuzzed up his tone was genuine. Drummer Mike Miley may have been positioned in the back, but he was nothing but personality behind the kit, with bassist Dave Beste maintained the low end with finesse and style all his own. With songs like “Nobody Wants to Die,” “Rapture,” “Where I’ve Been,” “Too Bad,” “Shooting Stars,” and ending with “Secret,” Rival Sons blues rock sound permeated the Honda Center, and the crowd couldn’t stop eating it up.
Then it was time for the one of the fastest rising bands in the rock music scene. Greta Van Fleet built the tension in their audience perfectly, as a scrim blocked the view of the stage as a voice over spoke to the audience. Once the scrim dropped and the boys hit the stage, for a moment you could not hear the band coming through the speakers over the sound of the crowd screaming in anticipated ecstasy. Opening the night with “Built by Nations” vocalist Josh Kiszka was dressed in a pearlescent sparkling white body suit with a gold trimmed robe. Josh was framed by his brother’s guitarist Jake Kiszka, in an all black two piece suit adorn by dragon embroidery pieces. And bassist Sam Kiszka wearing an all white two piece suit with translucent wings. It was as if three royal princes came down from their castle to grace the fans with their presence. Drummer Danny Wagner is not forgotten in the background, as he dresses with his silk ensemble and accented make up.
Greta Van Fleet has been evolving their stage show with every new tour, and every larger venue they can play in. With this arena tour, they brought along massive pyrotechnics with them. Blasting flames all around the stage and setting the Honda Center on metaphorical fire. Something that Greta Van Fleet Is bringing back that most modern day rock bands don’t do, is drum solos and jam sessions. Danny Wagner got a drum solo as the fourth song in the set, that let him show off just how skilled his beats and grooves are behind the kit. Then the whole band gets into a vibe while jamming out during “The Weight of Dreams.” Taking the Honda Center and its patrons back to the 60s when the artists would break off from the song to just flow with the essence and vibe of the tune. The Honda Center was even privileged to a brand new unreleased song called “Meeting the Master.” Greta played a two hour set with songs like “Black Smoke Rising,” “Safari Song,” “Caravel,” “Heat Above,” “Light My Love,” “Age of Machine,” and coming out for a three song encore with “Age of Man,” “That’s All Right,” and ending with “Highway Tune.” We were truly transported back to the essence of the 70s.
Something that has really caught my eye about Greta Van Fleet. It’s not just that every member of the band is a top notch skilled musician. But it’s the type of crowd that they bring into their shows. Normally when you think of a band playing classic hard rock and blues rock sounding music, you would think an older male audience. But Greta Van Fleet is able to pack these arena’s with screaming girls thriving to relive the days of flower power. I love seeing Greta Van Fleet continue to flourish and grow in popularity, and If Greta Van Fleet is the band that can bring classic rock sounding music back to the masses, I feel this would be a huge win for rock music.
OHH WHAT A NIGHT!!!
Hunnypot Live Show #483, another night of musical diversity with co-host Eric Zeigler. headliners The London Loves (Electro/Pop duo), FENCER (alt-rock trio), and Zeus Rebel Waters (The King of St. Louis Hood Pop). Afterparty short and sweet, surprise performances by Ill Bleed Millz, YerrtyG, Law Musiq, TK The Grate, Ayara Senoj and Fliparachee. Come out where music lovers go to play as we get closer to celebrating show #500!
Eric Ziegler is a Full Sail University graduate with a Bachelor's of Science in Music Business and an Associate's in Music from Frederick Community College. He is currently a Committee Coordinator for the Guild of Music Supervisors, as well as a Music Licensing Assistant for HBO Max.
Versed in multiple instruments, it was clear from an early age that Eric wanted to be involved in the music industry. It was after high school that Eric decided to get his Associate’s degree in Music and also get into the local music scene. During this time, he headlined and performed at many major venues across the east coast. Here, he learned about marketing, merchandising, tour management, artist management, sponsorship deals, and branding. After years of performing shows, Eric discovered Music Supervision while attending Full Sail University. The ability to merge music and media, and to help hone the vision of the director and producer, really spoke to Eric. It was then that he knew he had to pursue this craft. And so, he started doing freelance Sync Licensing, Music Assistance and Music Coordination for a variety of companies such as System 76, Moontown, Music 4 Scenes, 2 Sense Music, Panfurware, and more. Now, armed with knowledge and passion, he is determined to aid in the betterment and future of Music Supervision.
The London Loves are an American Indie Electro/Pop duo that create fresh modern music steeped in retro echoes and Lo Fi feel good vibes.
Lesley Goldberg’s signature vocals are layered in multidimensional harmonies that create a sound all her own. She gives an audio cocktail of dreamy confidence that oozes cool.
Brian Steckler’s vibrant productions and musical landscapes suck you in instantly, catapulting you into new worlds of sound. There is something wildly familiar, yet super innovative that you just can’t put your finger on.
The London Loves are the dream in your coffee, one cup and you’re hooked.
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Fencer, the self-defined garage opera band, is leading a new era of rock music with their own undeniably, dynamic sound. The Los Angeles-based trio consists of vocalist and guitarist Field Cate, bassist Scott Sauve, and drummer Cameron Sauve. Only two years after their inception, they became fan-favorite openers for notable acts such as Badflower, The Wrecks, and Dead Poet Society.
Tackling the stigma surrounding mental health and its struggles, Field’s emotive and frenetic vulnerability resonates with listeners to further solidify the band’s electric presence. The trio have racked up an impressive 2 million listens across all streaming platforms, despite having not even released their debut album. Field’s synesthesia (seeing music in color), Scott’s vigorous bass-lines, and Cameron’s expertise in self-producing flow together to create an eccentric style that is certain to become rock’s newest novelty.
Zeus Rebel Waters is an American hip hop artist/songwriter, entrepreneur, single-dad, community leader and philanthropist. The St. Louis native brings a distinct sound and style to hip hop known simply as Gumbo - a gritty blend of all genres mixed with melodic cadence and eclectic rhymes.
The indie rapper brings raw energy to the stage and unleashes it to all his fellow "Rebels" making his live show an experience of high-intensity and positive vibes.
From humble beginnings to Hoo Bangin’ Records, Waters has become a major player throughout the bi-state region. Now, the deity rapper is setting his sights on the global market. With business ventures in fashion, film, and community development, Zeus’ imprint goes far beyond bars and tracks. Make no mistake, Zeus Rebel Waters is here!
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Rapper Kenric Truitt known as ILL Bleed Millz an up and coming rap star is originally from Saint Louis. Being in the music industry for over 20 plus years now signing to a major label deal with Boi Bentley Enterprises located in Sacramento California.
Yerrty G is an American artist out of North St. Louis with intricate wordplay. On top of his “one of a kind” style of music, he’s known as the underground hip hop boogeyman.
LawMuziq, aka Bullet is a Ghanaian Afro Beat Artist/Producer. He developed his love for music at a very young age, which he later as a teenager went on to open his first recording studio ‘5th Project Studio’. LawMuziq was the co-founder of ‘5th Project Studio’, where he recorded and nurtured the likes of artist(s) Ruff & Smooth, Akwaboah, Gasmilla, Friction, Iwan, 0Fosu, Mob, Kwabena Kwabena, , Eazzy, just to mention a few with his colleagues Cedee and Richard(cedi). He produced some of the best music records between 2004 to 2008.
After while, he decided to master his engineering skills and further his education by attending Principia College in the United States of America. He graduated in Mass Communication and was the first student to bring audio engineering to Principia College.
A few years later he decided to head out west to Los Angeles. His time spend in LA is when he transitioned into becoming an Afro-Beats Artist and switched to the name Law Muziq. In 2019 he released his first single "Fire Dance" which went on to be a success in multiple countries. Shortly after he released several other single titled "Ganja", "Lonely", "Feel Alright".
Now, in the beginning of 2023 Law Muziq is set to release an EP titled "Blind Love". The EP blind love is a journey into the highs and lows of falling in love.
TK The Grate was born in August of 1995 and has been taking the city Indianapolis by storm ever since. TK was born of young parents who were not prepared to take on the responsibility of raising America’s next great sensation. Fortunately his loving grandmother took him in as an infant and raised him as her own. For the rest of his young life, TK grew accustomed to the older generations of musical stylings. Greats like Luther Vandross, James Brown, Gladys Knight and Anita Baker sparked his initial love for music and lyrical drama.
It was at the ripe young age of 12 years old that TK started writing his own songs and honing his skills as an artist. He used those skills not only in the musical world but also to excel as a poet and make a name for himself on the Spoken Word scene. With a flair for theatrics and the talent to match it is no surprise that TK affectionately names his greatest Hip Hop influence as none other than the late Tupac Shakur. At age 15 he used that influence and took his chance to be one of the greats. It was then that he wrote, recorded and released his first single album.
Over the following years TK continued to develop as one of the greatest wordsmiths his city has ever seen. In 2014 he outgrew his small hometown of Indianapolis and won the National Spoken Word Championship. It was this feat that solidified his credit as a true man of lyrical excellence not only in his city, but in all of America! Nearly 10 years later TK has developed an arsenal of musical and lyrical weapons that little Indianapolis just can’t contain anymore. America, steady yourself; TK the Grate may be from Nap Town, but his trajectory is nothing to sleep on.
Weirdo Gang Presents Lavonte “Fliparachee” Daniels. Fliparachee’s love of music grew naturally in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. By his teenage years he had migrated to Indianapolis, Indiana. Lavonte was given the name “Fliparachee” because of his fearless tumbling skills. By high school Fliparachee knew music was his passion and he was ready to take it seriously. He began writing, then rapping. Next thing you know he is laying tracks in a studio with his best friend, Hashtag So Weird (#SoWeird). Together they recorded their first original music. Fliparachee had to watch his best friend battle with depression until it took his life. Immensely hurt, Fliparachee vowed to bring more awareness to depression. The birth of Weirdo Gang and the mission began. His goal is first to bring awareness of depression, (especially in African American men), as well as encourage self-acceptance. Many refer to themselves as weird as a defense mechanism against not being accepted, but in Weirdo Gang you can be exactly who you are and if that is weird you will always be understood. Fliparachee has shared the stage with many well-known artists such as Pleasure P, Paul Wall, Wiz Khalifa and Twista. His energy on stage is unmeasurable as he puts his all into every performance. His love for performing has allowed him to travel the country sharing his message and music.
He has started a concert series, “Most Popular Unpopular Concert,” bringing local artists to the stage. The series is based in Indy and has created a platform for all kinds of artists to showcase their talent. Fliparachee is using his platform to create a doorway for other artists.
Indianapolis native Ayara Senoj is a versatile artist who combines creative melodies with her in your face rap style to produce songs that make you feel good. Whether it’s a motivational piece or a turn up, you’ll have a good time.
One of the hottest Heavy Metal tours in 2023 hit Anaheim, CA on Sunday night March 19 as Queensrÿche along with special guest Marty Friedman and thrash metal veterans Trauma opening the night took over House of Blues to deliver a night of metal madness. Queensrÿche have been out on the road quite a bit lately as they spent much of 2022 opening for Judas Priest on their 50 Heavy Metal Years tour while Marty Friedman recently made headlines around the world as he joined Megadeth onstage at Tokyo’ Budakon, playing a few songs with his former band for the first time in 23 years.
This triple bill of metal music kicked off at 8:00pm as veteran rockers Trauma hit the stage for a short memorable set of heavy music. The band most known for being Metallica bassist’s Cliff Burton’s (RIP) original band now only features a single original member (well almost original, since 1982) – drummer Kris Gustofson but along with vocalist Brian Allen, bassist Michael Spencer and the twin axe attack of Steve Robello and Casey Trask, the band delivered an energetic set of metal that mostly focused on their 2022 release, Awakening. The venue was packed early and the fans certainly were into each song Trauma delivered. Trauma is the perfect fit to open this show as they provided that perfect Sunday night spark to ignite House of Blues in preparation for Marty Friedman.
Marty Friedman is the quintessential guitar maestro and a huge international star not only in music but television as well. Friedman re-located to Japan 20 years ago and has become one of the country’s biggest stars. While he did release a few solo albums while he was a member of Megadeth he has released over a dozen since leaving the band in 2000 and has toured as a solo artist since. Out supporting his 2021 release, Tokyo Jukebox 3, this is the first time Friedman has toured the USA since 2019. The fans started a “Marty, Marty, Marty” chant as the lights dimmed and Friedman took the stage with his band, and they all huddled around the drumkit for a pre-show ritual and kicked off the night with the upbeat rocker “Stigmata Addiction” from 2006’s Loudspeaker. This kicked off a seven-song set that mesmerized Anaheim as he delivered some killer guitar tone resulting from his truly unique picking style on his new signature Jackson Purple fractured Mirror guitar.
Friedman’s live show is all instrumental, so the focus is 100% on his guitar playing but his band also displays some extreme talent most notably from his long-time drummer Chargeeeeee who is one of the most energetic, hard hitting drummers on the planet. This guy delivers a show within a show as he is constantly standing and sitting and pointing at the crowd – just an amazing spectacle behind the kit. Left-handed bassist Wakazaemon is a petite Japanese girl that delivers a fat sound from her 5-string bass while guitarist Naoki Morioka is a young shredder who complimented Marty Friedman’s playing perfectly.
Friedman addressed the crowd a few times, professing his love for the fans. He comes off as a very genuine human being and the “Marty, Marty, Marty” chants would startup in between each song. One of the highlights of the show was the brief part of Megadeth’s “Tornado of Souls”, one of Friedman’s most masterful songs while in Megadeth, that song certainly received one of the loudest cheers from the crowd. Additional songs played included “Paradise Express” and “Dragon Mistress” then Friedman invited someone from the audience up on stage to play with him and that someone turned out to be Frankie Lindia who is the guitar player for the World’s Greatest Van Halen Tribute band, The Atomic Punks. Friedman handed Lindia one of his guitars and the two traded off licks and jammed together onstage for about 10 minutes ending with a big hug. Friedman then ended the night with the upbeat “Kaze Ga Fuiteiru”. 45 minutes of truly mesmerizing guitar mastery – the USA needs more of Marty Friedman on its stages!!
Queensrÿche have been around for 40 years now having carved their own path in the progressive metal world. The band is currently headlining their 30 date Digital Alliance Tour supporting their 2022 release, Digital Noise Alliance. Yes, some members have changed in Queensrÿche, but the band remains a force to be reckoned with led by the amazing Todd La Torre on vocals. Opening the night with the driving force of “Behind the Walls”, a rocking up-tempo song from Digital Noise Alliance, the band changed up their setlist for this headline tour and have removed many of “the hits” and have focused their set on several deep classics such as “Child of Fire” and “EnForce” while also playing seven songs from their recent albums with La Torre on vocals. Kudos to the band for putting more emphasis on the current version of the band as the music they are releasing in recent years deserves to be heard live.
While guitarist Michael Wilton and bass player Eddie Jackson remain the two original members, the band continues to deliver in top form. Wilton with his iconic skull painted ESP guitar continues to be the driving force of the band. La Torre’s voice is a shrieking masterpiece as he nails every with extreme precision, it is beyond magical to hear and watch him perform. Previous guitarist Mike Stone is back on second guitar and holds his own with Wilton while Casey Grillo is a dynamic hard-hitting drummer that hammers out a huge sound from his kit. Queensrÿche in 2023 sounds better than ever and delivers a kick-ass show with each member having a high degree of technical proficiency on their respective instruments and Todd La Torre remains the perfect fit for this band with his piercing vocals.
The band ended the night with two additional masterpiece cuts from their epic 1984 debut album The Warning with “Deliverance” and “Roads to Madness”. The Digital Alliance Tour runs through mid-April as Queensrÿche crosses the country ending in St. Petersburgh FL taking the band back to the state of Florida where the tour started.
Memphis artist YNC Crashout just released his new single "Steady Knockin." This is an uptempo street record about money and Memphis politics. He has a cult following in the Mid South. It is unheard of for a kid to take over a whole market and he has done it!
When starting off learning an instrument or playing in a band, the first thing everyone does is start playing other bands music. It’s a great and fun way to learn your instrument, and it makes you feel like the rock star you are emulating. As bands develop, they will go onto writing their own music and finding their own sound. However, most bands will still perform a cover or two over their career. Finding someone else’s song that they love, but they want to transform it and make it their own. One band that took the idea of transforming some one else’s song and making their own is Our Last Night, who have self-designated themselves as the “World’s Best Cover Band.” Our Last Night is specifically known for taking pop songs, hip hop tunes, even Disney classics, and turning them into post-hardcore beats that metalheads can mosh to. After three years of not playing a live show, Our Last Night came to The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA on their Welcome Back Tour. Bringing with them Fame on Fire and Rain City Drive.
First up for the night was Rain City Drive. I was fortunate enough to see them last year and was very excited to see them again. Vocalist Matt McAndrew comes across as one of the most charming frontmen in the post-hardcore genre, and he has the pipes of an angel. Lead guitarist Weston Richmond and rhythm guitarist Felipe Sanchez work together perfectly to create melodies and drive in their guitar lines, that you can’t help but air guitar to. Bassist Colin Vieira and drummer Zachary Baker hold down the low end and maintain a solid beat that fans can head bang to. Even though it was raining and quite chilly this night, Matt got the venue all steamy as he tied off the top of his jump suit and bared some skin for the ladies. Rain City Drive played some of their best hits which included “Prayers,” “Talk to a Friend,” “Dreams,” “Heavier,” “Blood Runs Cold,” “Waiting on You,” “Dying For,” and ending their set with “Cutting it Close.” Rain City Drive continues to put on solid shows, and I hope to see them on their own headlining tour soon enough.
Up next was another band that developed a following doing a lot of covers, that is Fame on Fire. Even though they are known for a lot of their covers, Fame on Fire has started to make a name for themselves and their own music with their last album, Welcome to the Chaos. Opening the night with “Rotting Away,” vocalist Bryan Kuznitz stepped out into a dimly lit stage and just let the energy of the crowd simmer. This was a bit softer way to start the set than I had expected, but as the song built and guitarist Blake Saul started pulling out some of the crunchiest riffs, the lights came up and the crowd started going wild. Bassist Paul Spirou grooves along with drummer Alex Roman powerful double bass beats perfectly. Spirou and Roman’s beats let the crowd bounce to the rhythm of every song. Bryan Kurnits has a powerful voice that he uses to move between melodic clean singing, to more aggressive screaming, and busting out vicious roars when needed through songs like “Her Eyes,” “Welcome to the Chaos,” “Robbery,” “Emo Shit,” “Ketamine,” “Lost in Doubt,” “Cut Throat,” “Headspace,” “Signs,” and “Plastic Heart.” Fame on Fire prove they are more than just a cover band, as every original song that night had people singing band to the band and rocking out.
As the crowd awaited their headliner to hit the stage, a lighting rig was setup in the Observatory that made this 1,200 capacity venue feel like we were at a stadium show. Our Last Night hit the stage with the Masked Wolf song “Astronaut in the Ocean,” and their lighting rig lit up the stage. You could tell that co-lead vocalist Trevor Wentworth was eager to be on that stage that night, as his energy could not be contained. Multiple times jumping onto the back of the security barricade and singing right into the faces of the screaming fans, who ate up every second of it. Handling the other half of co-lead vocals and guitar was Matt Wentworth, who refused to be stuck behind the mic stand and would rock out across the entire stage. Drummer Tim Molloy was a bit lost visually in the back due to the massive lighting rig, but his playing was could not be ignored. Molloy finds the perfect balance of taking pop beats and making them metalcore. The night was filled with a good mix of both original Our Last Night songs and covers that included “Same Old War,” “BURIED ALIVE,” “Road to the Throne,” “abcdefu” originally by GAYLE, “Broken Lives,” “Flowers” originally by Miley Cyrus, “NO HELP,” “Common Ground,” “you broke my first” originally by Tate McRae, “Graveyard,” and ending their set with “Sunrise.” Our Last Night played a 17 song set that never let the energy die down or waiver.
The Welcome Back Tour was a unique one as Trevor explained. As when the pandemic hit, Our Last Night wasn’t sure what the future of their band was going to be, or even if there would be a tour in the future. Luckily for the fans, Our Last Night did decide to come back, and the fans showed up in waves selling out the Observatory. Reassuring that Our Last Night has a dedicated fan base that is ready to rock out with the band any time. Fame on Fire and Rain City Drive continue to build their fanbases and prove they can get a crowd jumping and going crazy. I can’t wait to be back at the Observatory, or seeing Our Last Night, Fame on Fire, or Rain City Drive next time they are in town.
The night started off with the doors opening at 9 with a DJ spinning old skool hip hop tracks. This was some of the best DJing I’ve heard in a long time, great songs, great mixing and great cutting and scratching. He was followed by two other DJs, equally as good. DOPE! They were all amazing and the crowd was so into it, rapping along to each song and dancing….so much dancing. I especially enjoyed the third DJ because he was from the Caribbean and played some old and new reggae/dancehall joints. I was one of the few in the crowd that knew everything he was spinning, but I didn’t care! Like the previous night with KRS-One, this crowd of 45-60 year olds started getting tired by the time midnight rolled around. The dancing slowed, the crowd getting a little antsy, wondering when Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick would hit the stage. As the clock hit 12:30 am we were all ready, so ready for them. Three DJs came out and started to get ready, yes they had three DJs up on stage with them. Around 12:40 Doug E Fresh (aka Human Beat Box, The Worlds Greatest Entertainer) comes running out on stage and the crowd went crazy! “Let’s have some fun tonight” he yelled. He started with “Keep Risin’ To The Top,” what a great way to start the night. Crowd dancing along with Doug. He then went into “I-Ight (Alright)" going back and forth with the crowd;
AiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiYO! I-IGHT?!
AiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiYO! I-IGHT?!
AiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiYO! I-IGHT?!
AiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiYO! I-IGHT?!
The crowd was feeding into what Doug E was giving us and everyone was loving it. His dancing was so sweet and picking up as he went into each song. As he went into “Let Me Clear My Throat” the crowd started jumping with Doug E Fresh and singing right along. "Everybody jump, jump, jump, jump, Jump, jump, jump, Everybody jump, jump, jump, jump, Jump, jump, jump!"
Now if y'all want to party like we do
If y'all want to party like us, lemme hear ya say
Ah ah ah ah ah (crowd)
If y'all want to party like we do
If y'all want to party like us lemme hear ya say
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah (crowd)
Now when I say uh, you say ah
Uh (crowd) Uh (crowd)
And now when I say hey, you say ha
Hey (crowd) hey (crowd)
Now when I say uh, you say ah
Uh (crowd) Uh (crowd)
Now when I say hey you say ha
Hey (crowd)
Now when I say freeze you just freeze one time
When I say freeze y'all stop on a dime
When I say freeze you just freeze one time
When I say freeze y'all stop on a dime
Freeze
The DJs flowed into “Teach Me How To Dougie” and Doug says, “This record “Teach Me How To Dougie,” if you have not known this yet, and you’ve been living someplace else in the world, I got to tell you….I AM DOUGIE, I made this dance up a long time ago, so what your kids are doing….I made that up a long time ago, so right now, for your looking pleasure, I gonna give you….you, the blueprint of the Dougie!” And he showed us all how to Dougie! He then took us back in time to “Da Butt” and “Candy.” He had everyone get out their phones (I think everyone already had them out) to turn their lights on for his next hit, “Shine A Light On Em.” And then the song I think the entire crowd came to hear came on…Slick Rick (The Ruler, MC Ricky D, Rick the Ruler) walked on stage with Doug E Fresh and we knew it was going to be amazing. I saw Slick Rick last summer without Doug and while it was so nice hearing the Show, it was missing the two together. They work so good together, the flow is perfect and the night just got so much better. “Hey Slick, where’s the party at? Is the party over here? Is the party over here? Is the party over here? Say Hoooo…….somebody, anybody, SCREAM!” Up until this point we didn’t get much of Doug E Fresh’s beat boxing, but he completely killed it during “The Show.” The crowd was so hyped listening to them together. They brought out Lil Vicious to perform the 1994 hit “Freaks,” and he sounded so good, Doug E Fresh beat boxing the entire song, this was one that got the crowd dancing. Then Slick Rick stepped back up for another song we were all waiting to hear….”La Di Da Di” no music just Doug E Fresh with the beat box and Slick with his flow. I can’t explain how sweet it was to hear the two of them doing their thang on stage. The crowd rapping right along with Slick Rick. He then went into “Hey Young World” as the crowd was all bobbin’ their heads. Slick then took it up a notch with “Mona Lisa”
Well, it was one of those days, not much to do
I was chillin' downtown, with my old school crew
I went into a store, to buy a slice of pizza
And bumped into a girl, her name was Mona, what?
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, so men made you (what?)
And what did we all want to hear from The Ruler? He flows into “Children’s Story,” the crowd rapping right along with Ricky D….
There lived a lil' boy (Rick) who was misled (crowd)
By anotha lil' boy (Rick) and this is what he said (crowd)
"Me and Ty, we gonna (Rick) make sum cash (crowd)
Robbin' old folks (Rick) and makin' the dash" (crowd)
He finished up the song with a nice little dance which made the crowd go nuts! Slick was done for the night as he strolled off the stage, but not before stopping at the end of the stage to sign an autograph for someone in the crowd. The night was finished off with a truly amazing beat box by Doug E Fresh. It must have gone on for a minute and a half and I have never heard anything like it. He held his hand up while beat boxing and counted to five with his fingers and then counted down, and back up, and back down for the entire time he was beat boxing. I have been to a lot of concerts through the years and that might be the most amazing thing I have ever heard live. We’ve all heard his beat box on his songs, we’ve heard video clips of him, but to hear it in person was simple crazy. And he was dancing like he was still 20 years old all night long. I cannot understand how he gets all those sounds, beats and noises to not only come out of him, but work so well. My wife and I, four days later, are still talking about it. We understand why Slick Rick is The Ruler and Doug E Fresh was dubbed The Worlds Greatest Entertainer by Chuck D while touring together.
-One Love, Todd
When you think of a typical EDM show, I bet you immediately think of a dark room, thunderous bass, smoke and lights, and a godly silhouette of a DJ perched on an elevated platform. Behind the boards, it’s expected that this DJ will mix tracks, turn knobs, mess with the levels, and clap their hands in the air as you lose yourself to the music. While that is the typical formula that has worked for hundreds of DJ’s, Steve Aoki’s live performances have kicked that up a notch. One of the reasons why Steve Aoki has gone onto become one of the biggest names in international dance music is he understood what it meant to put on a show and not just play a set. In addition to delivering great music all night long, Aoki has been known for over-the-top production, guest appearances, and on-stage antics like crowd surfing in inflatable rafts and (in)famously throwing full-sized sheet cakes into faces in audience. Steve Aoki’s HiroQuest Genesis Tour made a stop at the Shrine Auditorium on 3/10/2023 and I knew I had stop by to witness the mayhem. Let’s hop into it.
First up was Juuku. The bass-house DJ opened with a captivating set that swung from pulsating dark dubstep to slow emotional tunes. He absolutely killed it and proved why he is one of Dim Mak’s rising stars. Up next was Regard. I was not familiar with Regard’s music until this show, but I am now a certified fan. In 2019, Regard blew up when his song “Ride It” went viral on TikTok. Unlike other musicians who have blown up and fizzled away as one-hit-wonders, Regard stuck around because “Ride It” simply unlocked the rest of his catalog to the masses. From beginning to end, Regard pumped out high energy tracks that kept the crowd moving all set long. Second to last was Morten. The Danish DJ served the crowd with a heavy dose of “future rave” bangers, a term coined by both Morten and his close friend David Guetta. Bridging the genres of techno and house, Morten was the perfect layup for the final act of the night, Steve Aoki.
After a short intermission, the crowd erupted as Aoki appeared behind the boards. Diving right into his set, the music was accompanied by full blown animated visuals, smoke, confetti bombs, streamers, lights, and pyrotechnics. The Dim Mak founder simultaneously hit the crowd with a flurry of surprise guests. The crowd was treated to appearances by Dixie Damelio, Hayley Kiyoko, Kiiara, Moxie Raia, No Love For The Middle Child, Bok Nero, Grandson, and Snow Tha Product. Each of them were warmly greeted by the fans as they performed the vocals to their respective Aoki-produced songs. Near the end of the night, Aoki’s entourage came out with the sheet cakes. Bullseye after bullseye, Aoki nailed several fans in the face with a Dim Mak branded cake. The crowd (literally) ate it up as Aoki winded down his set with a few more jams and finally called it a night.
All in all, Steve Aoki absolutely surpassed all expectations in a carefully curated show. He dropped all his viral hits, brought out a star-studded lineup of beloved guests, took full advantage of grand level production, and interacted with the fans on a level that most DJs cannot. Go see this act next time he’s playing near you. You will not regret it. After seeing him kill it at the Shrine Auditorium, it became really clear to me: Steve Aoki is not just a DJ. He’s the life of the party.
Discovering and sharing new music can be one of the most joyous experiences in the world. Finding new bands and artists on your own can be one of the most exhilarating experiences. But one that can feel even more unique and powerful is when a friend introduces a new band or song to you. Maybe they played the song to you when you were hanging out, they made a mix tape for you to take home, they sent you some songs to listen to. It can be one of the best feelings that someone heard a band or song, and thought they had to share this with you specifically. Our own Hunnypot Live Executive Editor Matthew Belter saw this band called Hot Milk at Sad Summer Fest last year and thought I should check them out. And I am so glad he did, as they quickly climbed up on my daily listening music. When Hot Milk announced a short three-day SoCal tour, I was so happy to see the Constellation Room in Santa Ana was one of their stops. Having the bands Magic Whatever and Tiny Stills opening for them, it was time to see why Matthew Belter thought I needed to see Hot Milk live.
Opening the night was a Los Angeles native band called Tiny Stills, who were doing a stripped-down acoustic set with just lead singer Kailynn West on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, and having AJ Peacox on lead guitar and backing vocals. This duo brought a bit more of a softer edge to open the show as it was an acoustic set. Tiny Stills was still a joy to watch and experience with melodies and grooves that got the crowd vibing throughout the whole set. Kailynn was was so cheerful and charismatic on stage, her smile was infectious as she sang out to the crowd. AJ still managed to make those lead guitar lines sound powerful on an acoustic guitar. Tiny Stills played songs like “Schadenfreude,” “Craigslist Bed,” “Small Talk,” “Am I Dead Yet,” “Resting in Pieces,” “The Sad Year Katy Perry Saved My Life,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” and ending their set with “Everything’s Going Great.” Tiny Stills acoustic set made new fans that night, and I would be excited to see what a full electric band performance would be like.
Up next was a group known as Magic Whatever. With a name like this, I was very intrigued to see what kind of music they were gonna bring. Magic Whatever brought a type of funk rock to the Constellation room. Fronted by Trever Stewart who had the aesthetic and charisma on stage to rival Yungblud. Running from side to side, playing to the entire audience, and nearly stumbled across the stage throughout the whole show. Trever had the audience in the palm of his hand, getting them to jump and move to his music. Backed by a guitarist Josie Randle and drummer Derek Vautrinot filling in the instrumental side of Magic Whatever. Josie brought the funk rock guitar riffs that just made you bop your head, while the Derek kept a beat that not a single person could help groove to. Magic Whatever played songs like “I H8 Everything,” “Save This City,” “Chewing on My Tongue,” “Fuck the Silence,” “Feel Something,” and “Sentimental.” To end their set Trever asked the audience to since this next song with him. That song was “Speak of the Devil” and even though most of the audience were probably unfamiliar, the whole crowd could be heard singing the chorus with Magic Whatever.
Finally, it was time for the band that everyone had been waiting for, Hot Milk was about to take the stage. Fronted by Han Mee & Jim Shaw who trade off on vocal and guitar duty from song to song. We were blasted in the face with their brand of emo power-pop with their first song “Bad Influence.” Right off the bat Han Mee was already right at the foot of the stage singing and dancing in the faces of everyone in the front row. Jim Shaw held down the lead lines and was rocking out behind the mic but would also make sure to put in face time with the crowd. Han Mee was a force to be reckoned with on and off the stage, as she would constantly be shover her face and mic into the crowd to sing with the screaming fans. As well as jumping into the crowd to jump and mosh with everyone. Bassist Tom Paton was rocking out in the back switching up his style from finger picking to using a guitar pick, but always blasting some of the best bass grooves. Filling in on drums this night was local fan favorite session drummer Aaron Stechauner, who managed to learn the songs and set in only a couple days. And played the beats like he’s been doing it with the band forever. Hot Milk kept the energy high and the fans screaming along with songs like “ Wide Awake,” “Teenage Runaway,” “I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I’M DEAD,” “I Fell in Love With Someone I Shouldn’t Have,” “Glass Spiders,” “Horror Show,” “Candy Coated Lies$,” and “Awful Ever After.” We even got a treat of hearing Hot Milks new song “Bloodstream” played live for the first time! Ending their set with “Split Personality” Han Mee crowd surfed around the venue, getting up and close and personal with everyone.
This was a very special and unique show, as original drummer Harry Deller was unable to make the shows due to some unfortunate medical issues. Hot Milk had to sadly cancel their Los Angeles & San Diego shows to rehearse with fill in Aaron Stechauner. So, the people of Santa Ana were very fortunate to still get a Hot Milk show. We even had fans fly in from Philadelphia, New York, and Europe just to make it to this show, and Hot Milk showed their appreciation to the fans that showed up for this show. The night was filled with acoustic melodies from Tiny Stills, fun rock bangers from Magic Whatever, and Hot Milk brought the house down with their emo power-pop stylings. I patiently await the next time Hot Milk strolls into town.
Cuco is a Mexican-American songwriter and artist that has blown up in the indie scene. It is safe to say that Cuco has been a major influence for the exploding subgenre of Bedroom Pop. His mix of latin music, synthy electronic, and passionate blend of spanish and english lyrics all come together to make up the tone of Cuco.
Omar Banos, aka Cuco, has been making music since 2017 and quickly created an unparalleled sound. His music is for those looking to reminisce while chilling out. Cuco’s music is a pleasant trip and live, packed with an even greater punch. In-person Cuco sounded just as satisfying, if not more. Paired with his live instrumentals, Cuco and friends were able to bring the mellow vibes to each audience member. It became immediately clear how devout Cuco’s fans are. Once entering the stage Banos received a multitude of flowers, toys, and posters. Throughout the night fans continued to send material gifts his way. Cuco showed nothing but love and appreciation for his fans, and even stopped midway through the show to check in on a fan. Not only was love shown for his fans, but his team as well. At the end of the night, Banos brought up his touring photographer and had the entirety of the venue wish him a happy birthday, which was a charmingly wholesome way to conclude the night.
Cuco knows his audience and has done a wonderful job catering to his crowd. At the merch booth in the back of the venue, rolling papers and grinders were sold. The show was lit with tints of blue and purple which brought a psychedelic vibe which matched the discography delightfully. He played some of fan-favorites including “Lover is a Day”, “Lo Que Siento” and “Keeping Tabs”.
The show was a major hit and has been a highlight of my concert photography career. Years of being a fan of his has made watching his journey a gratifying rise to stardom. Hop on the Cuco train to watch this up and coming indie star become one of the greats of his genre.
Another unforgettable night, listen to the full podcast using the audio links above the playlist and laugh, sing, dance along.
We are getting closer to Hunnypot’s 500th show with #482! Guild of Music Supervisor’s Angela Sheik is our co-host and will bless us with a special performance. Also playing live are Migrant Motel hitting us with Bi-Lingual and Bi-Cultural awesomeness, Lexi Cline, one of pop’s most distinct new young voices and Primitive Heart, a synth-pop project by multi-genre producer & visual artist Dani Mari. 3/13/23
#WhereMusicLoversGoToPlay
Dubbed "a fierce musical force of nature" by BMI Indie Spotlight, Angela Sheik's work as an indie pop artist has led to features and interviews on international platforms including NPR, PRI, and Voice of the Nation. Her work is recognized by national and regional awards including a nomination for the 2022 Hollywood Music and Media Awards (HMMA's) and the 2nd Annual BOSS International Loop Championship. She has been twice voted Artist of the Year by Philadelphia's regional "WSTW Homey Awards" and was awarded Philadelphia Songwriter Contest winner before moving to the west coast.
Captivating listeners throughout the US and Europe with her live performances, Angela has opened for national acts including Meshell N'Degeocello, Joseph Arthur, Julia Holter, and Midge Ure. Music blogs have praised her work including Pancakes & Whiskey, Vents Magazine, and a nomination for "Album Of The Year" by Indie Music Digest.
On screen, Angela's work can be heard in films, ads, documentaries, and TV shows including Toyota and ADIDAS ad campaigns, feature films on Amazon and Netflix, and streaming series such as "Face's Music Party" (Nickelodeon), "All American" (CW), and Showtime's "Shameless" to name a few.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Angela regularly travels to the east coast. She is now focused on her third full length studio project, sibling, an 8-song study of personality traits and platonic relationships.
Migrant Motel combines modern Alternative Pop sounds with contemporary production techniques into a blend that is unique yet familiar. They have been making music and developing their sound since 2017 and the band has built their fan base in Mexico and throughout Latin America. They are now aiming their sites on the growing Bi-Lingual and Bi-Cultural youth movement in the United State to acknowledge the evolving culture.
Peruvian-American David Stewart Jr. and Mexican native Chava Ilizaliturri formed Migrant Motel in Boston while they were studying together at college. Becoming fast friends with shared musical tastes, the band was very active on the East Coast of the US, playing hundreds of shows in the New England and New York areas.
Seeking more opportunities and a bigger stage, the pair relocated to Los Angeles in 2020. The band has played multiple shows on the Los Angeles circuit, performing in legendary venues such as the Whiskey A Go Go, the Viper Room, the Roxy and the Troubadour. Chava has since moved back to Mexico City – while the band has continued to create music together remotely. In 2019 the duo began to function as a band with two scenes: the Mexican and the American. 2020 saw the band play its first shows in different parts of the Mexican Republic as well throughout California. 2021 saw the band play the main stage of the Lollapalooza festival, a major achievement for an Indie act. The pair have positioned themselves in both scenes through steady fan growth.
Quirky, magnetic, and honest to a fault, Lexi Cline puts a shamelessly vulnerable spin on pop music, her songs aren’t just open-book, they are lyrical diary entries. Layering deceptively snappy melodies with candid moments, Cline’s confession-inclined artistry manifests itself so seamlessly, it’s hard to tell whether she’s pulling from her diary or from yours. Admittedly staring anxiety in the eyes on a daily basis, Cline proclaims she wants to make music that inspires people to be exactly who they are. "Embracing yourself is the most powerful thing in the world, and if I can help somebody get there, I know I’m doing something right.”
Having already dropped a string of tracks that paved the way to her June 2020 EP ‘Better Late Than Never’ and two single releases (2022), Lexi Cline will take her next steps towards becoming one of pop’s most distinct, young voices with her upcoming release ‘Wake Up Call!’ Since the release of Lexi Cline’s first single ‘Better Late Than Never’ Cline has amassed over 26,000 streams on Spotify, released 3 music videos, 2 lyric videos, & reels totaling over 30,000 views on YouTube. On socials Cline has totaled over 111,000 likes on TikTok and over 2.2 million views, as well as over 3 million views on Instagram reels and 6 million views on FB reels.
Primitive Heart is a synth-pop project by multi-genre producer & visual artist Dani Mari. The sophomore album “Colours” was co-produced by Rosana Cabán (Psychic Twin, Cosas Cosas) and features remixes by Jorja Chalmers (Italians Do It Better) & Chasms (Felte). Audiences across the world have gravitated towards Dani Mari’s beautifully haunting voice and simplistic elegant lyrics. Dani Mari’s ethereal vocals "seemingly casting a spell" and transport listeners to an era of nostalgia which exists within the depths of her soul.
For fans of Sylvan Esso, Mazzy Star and Beach House.
Featured on DKFM, NPR, Post-Punk.com and Cold War Nightlife.