Laser Angel’s favorite shows of 2023
By Rich Hayden
January 18, 2024
2023 saw no shortage of amazing shows in LA. From the Redwood Bar and Grill to Zebulon to Gold Diggers and others, we saw a ton of great music in 2023. There are many other amazing bands that could have been on this list but here is the best of the best.
Blood Wisdom at the Redwood, March 22
Night four of Blood Wisdom’s March residency at the Redwood was the highlight of the month. They shared the bill with So Vain, Roman Graves and Dave Dramedy. Lead singer Eaden Rosvein was in perfect form and gave it everything he had. It was a very fun night.
Deathchant at Permanent Records Roadhouse, March 24
This was our first time seeing Deathchant and they didn’t disappoint. They brought their brand of heavy doom-inflected rock to Permanent Records along with Kadabra. The crowd was wild and caused a few stoppages after falling onto some of the band’s pedals but the show continued into a blazing finale.
Terminal A at Non Plus Ultra, May 27
Terminal A headlined a show at Non Plus Ultra and scorched it. They had a Weimar Berlin type feel as they danced around the stage. Non Plus Ultra was the perfect place to see them as they filled the art space with an enthusiastic crowd. Rounding out the bill was Self Improvement, Shock Doctrine and Guilty Strangers.
Kool Keith with Ice-T at Zebulon, July 19
Kool Keith brought his crew to Zebulon in a return to his classic album Black Elvis. Towards the end of the set Ice T made a triumphant appearance on the stage back in his hometown. The night was full of old school hip hop flair.
Jesika Von Rabbit at Gold Diggers, August 16
Jesika Von Rabbit beamed down from Joshua Tree to play a funky desert set at Gold Diggers in August. She was joined by a crew of dancers onstage. Plasmic opened the night and by the time the last song played, Gold Diggers was covered in glitter and sweat.
So Vain at the Redwood, September 20
So Vain played a killer set that was marked by dance floor antics, a defiled mannequin and smeared ketchup everywhere. This was the third show of their September residency at the Redwood and their craziest. They shared the stage with Ghst Grl and Flasch. The Redwood was a beautiful mess when the lights finally came on!
Reckless Magazine Fourth Anniversary party at Permanent Records Roadhouse, September 23
Crazy night! Slaughterhouse, Chico and Suzie True came together at Permanent Records to celebrate Reckless Magazine’s fourth anniversary. Our founder Rich Hayden had a photograph exhibited that night and was there to capture it all with his camera. Slaughterhouse capped an evening of music and photography that was an excellent start to Reckless’s fifth year.
Raven Doth Cry at Magic Market, October 8
We have seen Raven Doth Cry play many times in clubs at night but this was our first time seeing them mid-day and bathed in California sunshine. They brought their witchy medieval melodies to the Magic Market in October and brought a new dimension to the goth-inspired event. We highly recommend seeing them when they play in the sun again!
Nu Godd at the Moroccan Lounge, November 4
Nu Godd headlined a blistering night at the Moroccan Lounge downtown. They were supported by Hurt Hawks, Fusion Babies and Boryoku. Their show was like a circus (in the best way) and different from anything else we’ve seen this year.
N8 No Face at the Lodge Room, December 1
This was our first time seeing N8 No Face live and he absolutely brought it to the Lodge Room in Highland Park. Knuckleheadz and Desmadre opened the evening and N8 brought it home. His solo electronic work is genuine and unique. We look forward to seeing much more of him in the future.