On March 19th, after dinner at the Russian House, we hustled over to the Aquarium On Sixth to catch a few songs from the LA band The Shakers. As we entered the venue, the four-piece was tucked in the corner on a tiny stage, but people were tuned in from both inside and out. This band is heavily guitar-driven, hearkening to a traditional classic rock sound while complementing front woman Jodie Schell’s feminine yet aggressive vocals. As The Shakers’ set wound down, we realized we needed to scram to our next destination.

Once we made the trek to Icenhauer’s on Rainey Street, we immediately spotted a small line forming. But our wristbands proved to be useful, and we quickly entered a rather contemporary venue, despite the exterior shell of an old-fashioned house.

Before long, Emily Wolfe took the stage, diving right into guitar leads. I was impressed by this, given that most vocalists on guitar stick to rhythms. The music was pretty upbeat, straightforward rock, but included some dreamy, shoegazing moments. Emily’s vocals were simultaneously powerful, airy, and delicate; during much of the set she performed with her eyes clenched shut, lost in the moment.

Again, we realized we were tight on time, and quickly hustled to The Parish to catch the start of electronic trio Lolawolf, which features Zeo Kravitz (Lenny Kravitz’s daughter) on vocals. The group battled sound issues but weathered it well. The electronic beats and keys, sprinkled with a live cymbal and floor tom, helped to craft a very stripped-down, urban feel, reminiscent of ’90s R&B and hip-hop. Each member played their role, but Zoe’s dancing and floor tom bashing became the focal point.

Lastly, we scrambled to Cheer Up Charlie’s for the Polyvinyl Records Showcase. Our luck had finally run out as we were greeted by three massive lines. By the time we finally made it in, the place was packed elbow-to-elbow and the distant stage, where Alvvays was wrapping up their set, was impossible to view.

Fortunately, I found a spot in the front to catch the next band, The Dodo’s, a San Franciscan duo that hit me with a wall of sound. Meric Long’s guitar loops, vocal effects, and frequent guitar changes created a lot of texture and was well accompanied by Logan’s fast and furious drumming. Logan’s style kept him predominantly focused on his toms, kick, and snare which I really appreciated.

After this, we tried to catch Ho99o9 at The Main, but were again plagued by a nasty stagnant line. In hindsight, though, I’m happy to have ended the night on such a high note with The Dodos.
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Chad Elder is a Los Angeles-based photographer who focuses on live music and band portraits. Cassie Purtlebaugh is a writer and musician in Los Angeles.