Category Archives: TVD Los Angeles

The House of Blues in Anaheim vibrated with raw energy on a frosty night as guitar legend, activist, and father Tom Morello took the stage for a gripping 21-song set in front of a near capacity crowd on the Gardenwalk in Anaheim. The packed venue raged with anticipation and were all drawn together for an evening of fiery riffs, thunderous percussion, and unapologetic passion. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a seismic experience, a sweaty, joyous communion between performers and crowd that turned the intimate venue into ground zero for pure musical resistance.

Seven Hours After Violet kicked off the night with a bang, their haunting yet hard-hitting sound laying the foundation for what was to come. This up-and-coming band (led by legendary System of a Down Bassist Shavo Odadjian) brought a fascinating mix of dreamy, reverb-soaked melodies intertwined with grittier, alt-rock rhythms.

Lead singer Taylor Barber held the crowd’s attention with soaring vocals and raw emotion, while the tight rhythm section brought songs like “Sunrise” and “Radiance” to life. Especially memorable was their closing track, an anthemic “Feel” that crescendoed into a wall of sound, leaving the crowd begging for more. The band’s chemistry was palpable, and their energy super contagious, making them the perfect warm-up for what was about to come.

The roar that greeted Tom Morello as he stepped onto the stage was deafening, and for good reason. The living legend wasted no time, launching into “Soldier in the Army of Love” with the kind of precision and power that only years of mastery can bring. More incredible was watching his son Roman playing alongside his pops for what can only be described as memorable and jaw-dropping. This guy is amazing, and well on his way to his own incredible success in the family business as his career takes off. It was so fun watching him play with a reckless abandon that and reminded me of Tom’s start 30+ years ago here in So Cal. Watch out for Roman Morello, this young man is definitely going places!

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

It’s cold outside / And the paint’s peeling off of my walls / There’s a man outside / In a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette

Now the light fades out / And I wonder what I’m doing in a room like this / There’s a knock on the door / And just for a second I thought I remembered you

So now I’m alone / Now I can think for myself / About little deals and S.U’s / And things that I just don’t understand / Like a white lie that night / Or a sly touch at times / I don’t think it meant anything to you

Finally, the dark days of winter have hit LA. Our floorboards are cold, but I guess we needed it. Our Jonah was home much of the week fighting the flu. Honestly, LA feels like a struggle right now, but all said, the sun is peaking out.

A few old songs to keep hope alive, mixed with a grip of new releases. After all the show…must…must…

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Love will call / When you’ve got enough under your arms / Oh oh, mah-mah / Love will call / Love will make you fit it all in the car / Oh oh, mah-mah / Something will take you by your pants and / Swing you over its head and kick you back and forth

Watching the bells, watching the lights / What I want is far away / Talk to the moon, flatten her down / And make her watch the wind all night / She can wait

I’m still thanking the lucky stars it rained last weekend. In fact, it hailed like crazy. Every time I see hail I flash to back to a teen moment sitting with friends around those stone chess tables in Central Park as the sky turned a charcoal gray. We bolted to the east, just making it to the shelter of Baskin Robbins on Madison Ave.

Oh man, the “golf balls” from the sky will fuck a kid up.

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On January 23, 2025, the walls of the House of Blues shook under the force of pure heavy metal mayhem. Metal Allegiance, the ultimate supergroup of metal luminaries, delivered an unbelievable performance that set Anaheim ablaze on a chilly Thursday evening in downtown Disney. The air was electric as a near sold-out crowd was ready to immerse itself in a night of unrelenting energy, metal fellowship, and sonic thunder. From the first crushing riff to the final encore, this wasn’t just a concert—it was a communion of metalheads paying tribute to the genre that defined a generation.

The evening began with three heavy hitters that each brought something different to the Metal Allegiance bill. Lost Legacy opened and immediately roared to life with raw power, delivering a set packed with fiery intensity and booming riffs that reminded me of classic ’80s metal, reminiscent of bands like Krokus and Accept. Wicked was up next, and they didn’t just take the stage—they owned it. Their sound and look took me back to Poison’s early days, and I just couldn’t get enough of it. Ottto wrapped up pre-festivities and shook the House of Blues with a crunchy metal that was a perfect segway to the night’s main attraction. By the time their final note rang out, the crowd was whipped into a frenzied storm of headbanging, fully primed for the spectacle that was about to unfold—the mighty Metal Allegiance.

When the lights dimmed and Metal Allegiance stormed the stage, the energy in the room surged to another level. Opening with the ferocious “Pledge of Allegiance,” they immediately set a tone of unrelenting aggression and technical brilliance. The chemistry among the lineup of seasoned legends was impossible to ignore—each member brought their unique talents to the forefront, creating a synergy that no single metal band could replicate.

Alex Skolnick was a runaway highlight, his guitar wizardry leaving the crowd utterly spellbound. Whether shredding through face-melting solos or locking into chugging rhythms, his performance was a masterclass in guitar heroics. There were jaw-dropping moments during tracks like Van Halen’s “Light up the Sky” where his dexterity and fluidity had the audience scrambling to capture videos of his epic EVH solo. I love the passion Skolnick plays with—simply an incredible guitarist and even better person off the stage.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Your toy balloon has sailed in the sky, love / But now it must fall to the ground / Now your sad eyes reveal just how badly you feel / ‘Cause there is no easy way down

The view from the cliffs must have been exciting / And up to the peaks you were bound / Now you’re stranded alone and the past is unknown / And there is no easy way down

The wind is down and there’s clear sunny skies in our canyon. I’ve been told our prayers for rain might be answered this weekend.

My second installment of the Idelic Hour for ’25 starts with a fair amount of dreamy favorites from a playlist I often listen to while riding my beloved bicycle.

I’m still thanking my lucky stars and beaming from Laurel Canon. Bless you and this groovy city of angles.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

You were the moon and I was a windy child / You left too soon but my mind kept growing wild / You were always bigger, you were always wiser than me / You were the sun and I was the morning dew / You had your fun and I know I had mine too / You were always bigger, you were always brighter than me

Welcome to the first Idelic Hour of ’25. Last week was crazier than last year. Like most canyon dwellers, we were evacuated.

All I can say is that I’m thanking my lucky stars in all directions to present this episode of the The Idelic Hour from our groovy canyon pad.

When times are rough, sad or happy, I turn to song. I hope this set of music brings you comfort and inspiration.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Hot stuff, can’t get enough / Hot stuff, play it rough, yeah / I gave you love / Because music is want I want / To keep my body always moving / Yeah, shake it up, hot stuff / Every day, I get another dose / I can’t stand it when the music stops / Hot stuff / Everybody out on the dance floor / You know what I’m talking about / Music make you forget all your trouble / Make you sing and make you tell the whole wide world / So what? Hot stuff

Hot, hot, hot. This planet, town, and our canyon is getting too hot. It’s a bit scary and a drag. So why not find some other “hot stuff” to get excited about? Like a hot record or two or three?

And mom got a hot new red car…ok let this music do the talking and jump in a lake.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Ba ba-blah / Blah blah / Blah blah / Blah blah / Something about books / Did you see see the petrol prices, I am totally shook / We don’t care about that / We don’t care about that / Stop talking / Shhhhh-shut up

And yes, the final Idelic Hour episode of 2024. What a year, what a life, what a rock ‘n’ roll journey! A good amount of new wax and song. I’m thanking my lucky stars in all directions.

Thanks to Jon Meyers. I believe 2025 might be year 15? Fuck me! But thanks Jon for allowing me to share music. My years on this planet have taught me music connects me to my “soul,” and a lonely soul is… lonely.

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The Helping Hands Concert & Auction held at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood on Friday night, was a truly unique benefit show infused with musical brilliance and heartfelt generosity. This year’s event, MC’d by none other than Jimmy Kimmel, honored two incredible charitable organizations—Montana Pool Service, founded by Pearl Jam’s very own Jeff Ament, and Homeboy Industries, led by Father Greg Boyle. Those lucky enough to attend this star-studded event were treated to live sets by Metallica, Sammy Hagar & Friends, and SistaStrings. The crowd, a mix of rock purists and charity supporters, was electric, creating an ambiance charged with insane energy and a one-of-a-kind communal spirit.

From the moment the first note rang out from SistaStrings opening set, YouTube Theater immediately proved its reputation as one of the most state-of-the-art venues on the planet today. With its impeccable acoustics and sleek design, every sound resonated by sisters Chauntee and Monique Ross immersed the ever growing crowd into the very core of their performance that evening. While only playing five songs, their set was just what the doctor ordered as the theater began to fill. It included a number of their hits including “Beautiful Reckoning” and Goodbye,” along with an incredible cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Next up was Sammy Hagar & Friends and they immediately kickstarted the night with an ass-kicking performance that was nothing short of brilliant. This “Best of All Worlds” lineup featured bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Joe Satriani, and drummer Kenny Aronoff. True to form, Sammy Hagar cranked up the energy to eleven as he worked through a dynamic selection of his hits that spanned his legendary 50+ year career.

The 10-song set opened with Van Halen’s “Good Enough,” and it was immediately clear that this band was ready for business on Friday night. Renditions of Montrose’s “Rock Candy” and Hagar’s 1982 classic “Heavy Metal” were sheer perfection, while Chickenfoot’ s “Big Foot” and “Oh Yeah” were jaw droppers for sure. The performance ended with “I Can’t Drive 55,” and capped off arguably one of the best Hagar shows I have seen in years. This guy is legend.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

After a millennia of good times / God said “Hey now, let’s have a dream” / Where we raise the stakes a little / Come on let’s make things interesting / Parachute into the Anthropocene / An amnesiac, a himbo Ken doll / I guess time just makes fools of us all

This is the day! Well, my day anyway. The 13th yep, and once in a blue moon it comes on a Friday. So I will continue to indulge my magical taste in music discovery and share my favorite 25 Idelic Hits of 2024.

Thanks again to all of these great artists for making and performing cool shit in 2024.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

It’s a losing battle, tryin’ to be sane / It leaves me tired and listless / If I’m gonna jump in front of a train / I’ll wait till after christmas / don’t wanna overstay my welcome / don’t wanna overstay my welcome 

It’s a brilliant day in LA today. Hope you all had a warm and safe turkey weekend.

As tradition dictates, bloggers hand out their year end “Best of” lists. Yes, I know this is pretty much the same rap I’ve spewed year after year on the same Friday. Yes, and pretty much everyone reading this has their Spotify Wrapped. Yep, I’m fascinated by my own magical taste in music discovery.

Does anything going into 2025 matter? As a matter of fact, some shit really does and hopefully these songwriters will help me figure it out. So for the next couple weeks I’ll be celebrating the songs of those musicians I felt inspired to listen to.

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Some bands crank out hits, and others create memories—Night Ranger does both. With their recent high-octane performance at the City National Grove in Anaheim, the legendary rockers delivered a show packed with energy, nostalgia, and musical precision that left fans screaming for more after the final bow on Thursday night. From the moment the lights dimmed and the first chords blasted through the venue, it was clear this wasn’t just a replay of past glories; it was a celebration of timeless rock done right. Simply put, it was Night Ranger at its finest.

Launching into the set with “You Can Still Rock in America,” Night Ranger immediately set the tone for the night—a love letter to ’80s rock, but with a vitality that felt very much alive in the here and now. The crowd, a mix of die-hard fans and new generations experiencing the band for the first time, roared their approval as the anthem filled The Grove’s intimate, yet electric atmosphere. You could tell that this show was going to be something special, as each band member was all smiles from ear to ear the moment they took the stage. It was the quintessential definition of stage presence, and one mastered over countless decades of touring around the world.

Jack Blades, the band’s charismatic frontman and bassist, worked the crowd masterfully, balancing powerhouse vocals with playful banter that made everyone in the room feel like part of the show. I’ve always been a fan of Blades incredible vocal range, and it was on full display and in perfect pitch all night long. Brad Gillis, Night Ranger’s original guitar wizard, was also in top form, shredding in ways that were both technically breathtaking and emotionally charged. His solos throughout the evening were a jaw-dropping highlight, an electrifying exchange of skill and passion that underscored why he is so beloved by so many, all around the world.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Oh, when you’re smilin’ / When you’re smilin’ / The whole world smiles with you, baby / Yes, when you’re laughin’ / Oh, when you’re laughin’ / The sun comes shinin’ through

But when you’re cryin’ / You bring on the rain / So stop your sighin’, baby / And be happy again

Yes, and keep on smilin’ / Keep on smilin’, baby / And the whole world smiles with you

I love how a song can absolutely transport me to a moment in time. I was driving the other day and The Dream Syndicate came on the radio. Hearing Steve Wynn’s voice went straight to my veins. It’s wasn’t long before I was digging through crates for my copy of The Days Of Wine and Roses.

I hadn’t heard “When You Smile” in many, many moons. It was a like the chords opened up a little cubby in my mind. Out popped a girl. A crush from when the album came out in 1982.

She was a rich girl from the upper east side. Her dad’s sprawling Park Avenue apartment. I could see her smile as she gave me a light kiss and pushed me away.

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Greetings from Laurel Canyon!

Woke up this morning with an ache in my head / Splashed on my clothes as I spilled out of bed / Opened the window to listen to the news / But all I heard was the Establishment’s Blues.

Gun sales are soaring, housewives find life boring / Divorce the only answer smoking causes cancer / This system’s gonna fall soon, to an angry young tune / And that’s a concrete cold fact.

The pope digs population, freedom from taxation / Teeny Bops are up tight, drinking at a stoplight / Miniskirt is flirting I can’t stop so I’m hurting / Spinster sells her hopeless chest.

Adultery plays the kitchen, bigot cops non-fiction / The little man gets shafted, sons and monies drafted / Living by a time piece, new war in the far east. / Can you pass the Rorschach test?

It’s a hassle is an educated guess. / Well, frankly I couldn’t care less.

I think I can officially say summer has left the canyon. I’m grateful for these past couple of Indian summer months: the warm mornings spent meditating by the pool, Mr. Ha’s apples, George Yemetz almond butter, and, of course, family and their milestones.

Mom’s turning 89, Zoe’s courage, Jonah’s fastball, and Susan’s tenacity and laugh.

This week feels cold and dim. I stayed busy and tried to shake it. My first remedy is always “song.” The friends and artists. You guys have helped.

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Unmatched vocals paired with a dose of powerhouse energy, Tori Kelly left it all on stage as she wrapped up the US leg of her Purple Skies tour on Saturday at The Wiltern.

Gaining initial recognition by posting covers on Youtube as a teenager, Kelly went on to appear on American Idol in 2010. Rising to fame as a household name in the music industry and beyond, listeners were captivated by her soulful range, original lyrics, and girl next door persona.

Announcing that the LA performance would be live-streamed on VEEPS, fans from Brazil, Indonesia, and beyond shared their excitement on Instagram, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to experience the show from afar. The global reach of Tori Kelly’s music was evident as messages poured in from all corners of the world, showcasing her widespread impact and the loyalty of her diverse fanbase.

Throwing her signature curls as she belted out 2016 hits “Should’ve Been Us” and “Nobody Love,” the Grammy Award winning artist energized the sold out crowd to dance and sing along. Transitioning effortlessly into moments that showcased her raw talent, it was just Kelly and her guitar as she asked the audience for song requests, performing “Unbreakable Smile” and “Paper Hearts,” two fan favorites.

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