Royal Oakie Roadshow comes to Healing Force of the Universe

Donald Beaman is a Northern California-based songwriter, singer, and guitarist with four albums to his name. He performs solo and with a backing band, sharing stages with artists like Jonathan Richman and Sharon Van Etten. Previously, he was part of The Double, a prominent act in New York City's early 2000s music scene, releasing three albums on Matador Records and touring with notable bands like Feist and Interpol. Beaman’s fifth album Fog On Mirror Glass is slated for release on Oakland, CA based Royal Oakie Records on June 14th 2024.

Building on his experience as a journeyman musician, Jeff Moller writes slacker anthems that sound like a fog-pop Tom Petty - full of his trademark sardonic humor, catchy melodic hooks, and colorful arrangements.

Gold Star Gold Star is the home-recording project of Adam Miller and Adam Obermeier. Conceived shortly after the recording of their debut effort as members of , the duo began work on their first record: Introducing... Gold Star Gold Star. Four years later, the pair returns with their sophomore effort: Sunday's Fine.

$15 adv/$18 at the door

Nicole McCabe is an alto saxophonist, composer and educator from Marin County, California who works and lives in Los Angeles. A rising star in the city’s interdisciplinary scenes, she recently released Mosaic, her fourth album as a bandleader, on Ghost Note Records. The LP follows Landscapes on the Spanish label Fresh Sound and her 2020 debut Introducing Nicole McCabe on Minaret. What Is My Porpoise?, the latest album from her electro-jazz duo with bassist and partner Logan Kane, is forthcoming on Dox.

Alto Saxophonist Devin Daniels has performed in many different configurations of bands in the jazz idiom since 2010. Hailing from Inglewood, California, Daniels has worked to become one of the newest and most exciting voices in the modern jazz scene. He has studied with some of the leading educators/players in America including Keisha Potter, Rusty Higgins, Josh Johnson, Shannon LeClaire, and George Garzone.

Henry Solomon is an American saxophonist, composer, and producer living in Los Angeles, California.

$15 adv + DICE fees / $18 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Worthitpurchase are an art pop outfit from Los Angeles, CA.

Jake and Fia = Jia*

Sunset music for the summer of love = Devon Earth

Doors at 8 PM

$10 adv/$12 at the door

Dave Harrington's latest album, Skull Dream, captures the essence of ephemeral dreams with its psychedelic and unpredictable soundscapes. A surreal fusion of drone, abstract jazz, post-rock, and ambient, it feels like a cinematic journey through the mind's labyrinth. As the first release on his new label, Maximum Overdub, it marks a new era for the New York-raised, L.A.-based guitarist and producer. Harrington, known for his work with DARKSIDE and Taper’s Choice, continues to push boundaries and solidify his place among experimental music's greats.

Featuring Spencer Zahn, CJ Camerieri, Raky Sasiri, Seth Ford-Young, Dr. Nate Sloan, Matt Stubbs and Darius Christian.

$15 adv + DICE fees / $20 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Jonie, joined by Frail Talk + Alexander Biggs, will play her debut LA show Nov. 20th at Healing Force of the Universe.

Jonie, half of folk duo Companion, brings the heart of Oklahoma folk to her new roots in LA, with a distinct emphasis on songwriting that feels at once lighthearted and fiercely vulnerable. Her lyrics draw from the well of open-hearted honesty, humor, and community that defined her Midwestern upbringing, creating songs that flow like conversations with a friend.

Formed in the foothills of Northern Colorado in early 2020, Alex Woodchek and Cor Wright of Frail Talk are creating a blooming universe of squiggly indie music for squiggly people. Like the kind surprise of a backyard garden, their songs spring up from the dirt with folk roots, soft pop colors, and burgeoning lyricism ready to welcome every listener with daydream-love.

Since the release of his debut album Hit or Miss, Alexander Biggs continues to unfold his eclectic take on bedroom folk. Earnest, sardonic, and sometimes cheeky in their delivery, Biggs offers condolences and perspective of life truly lived. Far away from the blanket forts and back room studio set ups of the last record, Biggs’ attitude to self-recording is still apparent in their pursuit to find the words in our shared experience.

$12 adv + DICE fees / $15 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Hi!

We turn one on November 19! We're throwing a party!

Free beer from simpatico brewery, Solarc!

19% off store-wide!

Karaoke!

Crash DJs!

7 PM

Free with RSVP! RSVP HERE!!!

Hope to see you!

Thanks for being here!

Peace and love,

Healing Force of the Universe

Isaac Watters has been busy dreaming up new ideas. He’s forever been a creator, whether via visual or musical mediums. In recent times, the soft-spoken innovator’s output has blossomed in a new and exciting way. Funky, minimal and brooding in the most inviting way possible, Watters’ music stops you in your tracks. Armed with a booming baritone that recalls one of his greatest influences, Tom Waits, the singer injects his music with a loose and enticing aura — it draws you in with its moving melodies and sensual grooves.

French-American singer/songwriter Sydney Wayser released three albums of breezy yet sophisticated indie folk-pop under her own name before adopting the moniker Clara-Nova during the mid-2010s. Her Clara-Nova material is just as complex and introspective as her earlier work, but it's a bit more pop-minded, with catchier hooks and more electronic arrangements.

Ivy Meissner, known as Little Mystery, has a voice that captivates and commands attention. Her resonant, bluesy delivery blends smoky warmth with crystalline clarity, while her songwriting fuses the storytelling of Tom Waits and Joni Mitchell with Bonnie Raitt’s attitude. On her debut album, she weaves ‘60s pop, ‘70s folk-rock, and more into timeless pop-rock anthems, exploring dark pasts and the quest for connection in an anxious world. Her music is a powerful, triumphant call for healing and chasing dreams.

$10 adv + DICE fees / $13 at the door

Doors at 7 PM

Soft Spot Co-Write Group: Writers Round

Come to our end of session Writers Round where songwriters will be sharing songs they’ve written over the past 10 weeks. Soft Spot hosts songwriting groups several times a year where songwriters write a song a week for 10 weeks.

Songs from Ashley Desiree, Dyon Dawson, Eliana Rosen, Hannah Moroz, Hillary Reynolds, Mike McClellan, Nikki Kelly, Sarah Bresn, Stephen Ettu, Tim Van Aelst

Free to attend / 2-4 PM

New Zealand-born, Texas-bred and California-beckoned Austin Leonard Jones (solo) has moseyed his way through all shades of lo-fi music, pop and otherwise, but on his latest album — Dead Calm (Perpetual Doom 2022) — he fully commits to authentic jukebox honky-tonk.

With woebegone vocals up-front, Flying Burrito Brothers-esque backing, high lonesome pedal steel hovering above, and the occasional bright spots of sonic color, Jones and producer Jesse Woods have crafted a classic western movie of an album. Taut lyrics sketch out the songwriting protagonist as uncertain leader, puzzled outsider, and, ultimately, a pure artist confronting middle age on his own terms. Captured in old-style tape warmth and with Panavision storytelling setting the mood, Dead Calm is your new favorite summer blockbuster.

Jones releases his latest album, Famous Times, on November 5, 2024.

Cooper Kenward (full band) writes warm feel-good-even-if-you-feel-bad songs. Hailing from a small town in Northern California, he explores the odd backroads of the heart. He has a mix of songs that could be blasted from a barn, giggled from a ferris wheel, or hummed in a rainstorm. By day, Kenward makes films. Some say that's why his ballads smack of vivid details. He honed his skills playing in the infamous garage band Nature's Vegas in San Francisco, and now resides in LA with his pitbull Bonnie Raitt A

Eliot Eidelman (solo) and Rowan Newby (full band) on as well.

$12 adv + DICE fees / $15 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Single release show for Cat Matthews’ single "Kaleidoscope Eyes" coming out November 15, 2024.

$12 adv/$15 at the door.

Phoggy Jeph Presents…

The Ticks, Pink Dolphins, and Expose, live at Healing force of the Universe.

$10 adv + DICE fees / $12 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Johanna Samuels and Tyler Ballgame are Lomaland.

Performing live for the first time with an all-star band at Healing Force of the Universe.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

$20 adv + dice fees / $25 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

We're celebrating Joni Mitchell's 81st birthday with a tribute show from Christina Galisatus, Michael Blasky, Ethan Sherman, Eliana Athayde and John Fatum.

$15 adv + DICE fees / $18 at the door

Doors at 8 PM, All ages.

Dougie Poole blends experimental pop and outlaw country in his unique sound. He debuted with the EP Olneyville System Special in 2016, followed by the acclaimed album Wideass Highway in 2017, which was praised for its fresh take on classic country. The track "Don't You Think I'm Funny Anymore" was highlighted as an under-appreciated gem. Poole’s sophomore album, The Freelancer's Blues, released in June 2020.

Merce Lemon, a confident Pittsburgh native who changed her surname in high school, released her album Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild, which earned a 7.7 from Pitchfork. This work combines folk and country, featuring her warm, unhurried vocals. Inspired by a story about a singer howling at dogs, Lemon's lyrics explore nature and introspection, balancing whimsy with deeper emotions.

Al Menne, the former lead singer of Seattle's Great Grandpa, delves into life’s chaos in their debut solo album Freak Accident. Reflecting on vulnerability and connection from driving experiences, the album offers soothing insights in under thirty minutes across nine tracks.

Greg Freeman’s debut LP I Looked Out highlights his powerful voice and urgent storytelling, featuring a 7-piece band. With themes of deluge and malaise, the album’s standout tracks range from the momentum of "Tower" to the singalong "Palms."

$15 adv / $17 at the door.

Doors at 7:30.

This compilation of footage from the Grateful Dead's Canadian train tour depicts the height of the band's music and fame for five days in 1970, along with that of performances from Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band and the Flying Burrito Brothers. However, there is also a dark side shown alongside the seminal concerts, as when the train stops, the musicians are often confronted with worried promoters, inquisitive reporters and protesting students who can't afford ticket prices.

Festival Express will be screened at Healing Force of the Universe on November 11th, 2024. Grab some free popcorn and come watch.

$10 adv + DICE fees / $12 at the door

Doors at 6 PM, film at 6:30

Born in 1988, Rob Magill is a Composer/Improviser/Multi-Instrumentalist/Singer-Song Writer/Concert Promoter/Photographer/Painter/Poet from Ojai, CA. Label owner of Weird Cry Records, founded in 2013. Magill started recording solo material in 2010. Playing in the band Dreamcolour from 2007 - 2015. Collaborating with many local and world renowned musicians.

Marc Merza is a Filipino-American artist and musician based in Los Angeles, California. His recordings are at times improvisational and spontaneous, and other times, heavily crafted, sculpted and reworked. He has spent the past fifteen years performing and collaborating with other musicians in Brooklyn, Oakland, Tokyo, Taipei, Porto, Manila and beyond. He often composes on guitar, clarinet and Kulintang (a Filipino gong set) to speak to others, but the use of tape loops, field recordings and electronic equipment are not foreign in Marc’s music.

No Translation is the solo project of Emma Palm, a Los Angeles based musician and multimedia artist with Taiwanese roots. Emma’s audio and visual work reflects on the specificity of relationships between the self and environment, location and memory, relationships and communication. Her music often collages vocals, synths, and field recordings to create personal and meditative soundscapes while her visual art includes digital and analog collage, drawing, painting, photography and video.

Free show! 2 PM.

Gill Landry is a two-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist. A Louisiana native, he started as a busker living out of Volkswagens on the streets of New Orleans and the Pacific Northwest. After immersing himself in the rich tapestry of American folk music he joined the Nashville group Old Crow Medicine Show, whom he worked with from their early van-and-trailer days to Grammy wins and induction to the Grand Ole Opry. In 2015, Landry left the band to pursue his solo creative endeavors.

A seasoned road dog with thousands of shows under his belt, Gill’s shared stages with Laura Marling, Justin Townes Earle, Brandi Carlile, Ben Howard, Mumford & Sons, The Felice Brothers, Bruce Hornsby, Ben Harper, Warren Haynes, Nathaniel Rateliff, to name a few.

$22 adv + DICE fees / $25 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

An afternoon of Astral Travel Made Simple with

Ruthann Friedman, an American folk singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for writing the hit song "Windy" for the American sunshine pop band The Association, and her band the Jewish Space Lasers

and

The Illustrious Ancestors: John Kruth, Willie Aron, Dave & Carolyn Soyars, Perry Ostrin

2 PM

Free afternoon show

"a slice of starlit jazz-funk that proves that sunking cram more into two minutes than most bands can say in a whole album.”

– Record collector

The band is wildly inventive and utterly hypnotic while filtering the pair’s bold vision and virtuosic musicianship through the brash, DIY ethos of an underground punk band. Seattle based genre-defying drum and keyboard duo of bobby and antoine from high pulp (their forthcoming record features mononeon, daedelus, kurt rosenwinkel, & more). Getting press love from Record Collector, Rolling Stone (Germany), The Stranger, etc.

Local support from Sensei Bonus and Shrimpnose

Philip Krohnengold is a composer and multi-instrumentalist. He's regularly toured with Sara Bareilles, country music's Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland), as well as guitar, keys and sound design for Madison Cunningham. Krohnengold is currently holding down a first Thursday residency at Healing Force of the Universe in Pasadena.

Julianna Zachariou is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. She is also a contributor the band Echobaby. She lives in San Diego, CA with her dog, Goose, and her wife, Becka.

$20 adv + DICE fees / $25 at the door.

Doors at 8 PM

Inara George is a versatile vocalist and singer/songwriter known for her unique blend of jazz, Tropicalia, and indie pop. Growing up in Topanga Canyon, surrounded by musical legends, she initially pursued theater, studying classical acting in Boston. A summer band project with high-school friends led to the formation of Lode and their EP, Legs & Arms. She later partnered with Bryon Atkinson, releasing two albums before embarking on a solo career. Her debut, All Rise, showcased her love for old jazz and Tropicalia, and her latest album, Dearest Everybody, reflects on grief and transformation, emphasizing her growth as an artist.

$20 adv + DICE fees / $23 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Outside Air is Charlie Glick (vocals, guitar, bass) and Kevin Farzad (drums, piano, studio). The LA-based duo spent their 20s recording & touring with their former band Sure Sure. Then the shockwaves of covid pulled the bandmates in different directions, and Charlie & Kevin found themselves lost.

Like many people who are lost, Kevin tried taking up rock climbing. Like so many others, Charlie applied to grad school for poetry. Charlie was living in Washington, burnt out after 13 grad school applications, ready to move to Syracuse to write + teach for 3 years when he was like wait, making music with Kevin sounds more fun. He called Kevin & said “let’s start a band." Kevin said “oh god.” Charlie promptly returned to LA, and Outside Air was born.

The debut album, Forever, is due fall 2024. I could describe the sound to you. I could throw around words like "intimate" and "piano" and "major III chord" and "I cried,” but I’m not here to waste your time. You'll just have to hear it for yourself. 

$19 adv + DICE fees / $23 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Leeann Skoda & friends celebrate Tom Petty's album Wildflowers turning 30.

$15 adv + DICE fees / $18 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Alan Hampton, multi-instrumentalist and sideman for Andrew Bird and others, returns to Healing Force of the Universe on October 30, 2024, with friends Anna Butterss, Gretchen Parlato, and Mark Guiliana.

$20 adv + DICE fees / $24 at the door.

Doors at 8 PM

Mara Connor's LA roots shine through her songs, which are drenched in the sound and spirit of Southern California and harken back to a bygone era of music. Her debut EP “No Fun” was lauded by Rolling Stone, the Chicago Tribune, American Songwriter...the EP’s title track was named Buzzbands’ No. 1 Favorite Song of the Year.” Her duet “Someone New” with Langhorne Slim debuted via Consequence, was named one of Rolling Stone’s “Best Country and Americana Songs to Hear Now” and KCRW’s “Top Tune of the Day.” At her SXSW debut, Chicago Tribune called her one of the "12 best up-and-coming artists at SXSW.” She has lots of new music in the pipeline, including a forthcoming duet with Margo Price.

In her timely new single, Mara examines the “American Dream” that so many spend their lives chasing but never attain. The accompanying video was directed by Mara and filmed around Pasadena, including at Healing Force. Flood Magazine said "LA native Mara Connor has sharpened her political sword on new single 'American Dream,' cooking up a timely thriller that takes aim at those who prey on the vulnerable. The jangling folk-rock cut shimmers with organ melodies and drum clicks that explode like fireworks."

$10 adv + DICE fees / $13 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Olivia Kaplan is an LA-based musician whose work delves into the connections between grief, time, and memory. Her debut LP, Tonight Turns To Nothing (2021) on Topshelf Records, was met with critical acclaim. Olivia has toured North America with Billie Marten and performed with artists like The War on Drugs and Courtney Marie Andrews. A McGill and UCLA alum, her sound echoes influences such as Cowboy Junkies, Sheryl Crow, and Cat Power.

Welcome to the alternate universe of Rose Droll as she unveils her first new music since the genre-defying journey of her debut album Your Dog. Crafted amidst the cities of Oakland and Los Angeles, A List Of Things To Do showcases her virtuosity across a diverse array of instruments and electronics, weaving an intricate sonic tapestry that reflects a profound exploration of the human experience.

Meernaa pairs songwriter Carly Bond’s dusky, dexterous vocals with sensual, technically refined compositions that reference neo-soul, classic R&B, and the passionate side of indie-pop, with influences as diverse as Sade, Cate Le Bon, Minnie Riperton, and Talk Talk. Throughout Meernaa’s work, Carly Bond has viewed heavy themes like addiction and loss through the lens of love

$20 adv + DICE fees / $23 at the door

Doors at 6 PM

SADFAM album release with J Camden and Alex Wand.Song A Day For A Month (SADFAM) is a community of musicians with a shared creative practice of composing original songs every day for the months of January and July on songadayforamonth.com. SADFAM Records is a music cooperative that releases music by members of the Song A Day community

$15 adv + DICE fees / $18 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

Formed in Rio de Janeiro, Oruã is a key player in the Brazilian lo-fi music scene. Led by acclaimed guitarist and producer Lê Almeida, the band features João Casaes (synths), Bigu Medine (bass), and Phill Fernandes (drums). Their unique blend of lo-fi indie rock, krautrock, noise, afrobeat, and Brazilian styles, from Luiz Gonzaga to classic psych rock, gained attention from indie legend Doug Martsch. After touring the US and Europe, Oruã will return in 2024 with their new album, PASSE, on Transfusão Noise Records, promising high-energy shows and entrancing grooves.

$10 adv + DICE fees / $12 at the door

Doors at 8 pm

Olivia Kaplan is an LA-based musician whose work delves into the connections between grief, time, and memory. Her debut LP, Tonight Turns To Nothing (2021) on Topshelf Records, was met with critical acclaim. Olivia has toured North America with Billie Marten and performed with artists like The War on Drugs and Courtney Marie Andrews. A McGill and UCLA alum, her sound echoes influences such as Cowboy Junkies, Sheryl Crow, and Cat Power.

Quinnie is a New Jersey based bedroom pop artist who makes “bedroom pop 4 the too sentimental soul”. Her music often has a dreamy, effortless feel to it. This can be heard through the lyrics and instrumentals, as well as seen through album covers which seem to have a scrap book quality to them.

$20 adv + DICE fees / $23 at the door

Doors at 8 PM

For the first time ever, Will Guthrie plays in Los Angeles.

The Australian drummer/ percussionist, who has been living in France for a long, toasty, croissanty spell, performs a duo with dj sniff, a recent relocatee from Tokyo to LA.

The duo premiere of local boundary-pushers Breana Gilcher and David Kendall rounds out the evening.

Will Guthrie (drums) & dj sniff (turntables)

Breana Gilcher (oboe, English horn and sem-modular synth) & David Kendall (guitar)

Guthrie started in jazz then took a long detour away from the drum kit through junk electronics, extreme amplification and electro-acoustic techniques, documented on a series of solo and collaborative recordings released on exquisite labels like Black Truffle, Editions Mego, Erstwhile, Ipecac and Clean Feed. Alongside continuing his electro-acoustic work, in the last decade, Guthrie has returned to the drums with a vengeance, developing a series of solo works marked by a radical single-mindedness, from relentless rhythmic workouts to earth-quaking explorations of the bass frequencies of gongs and other metal percussion instruments. Guthrie’s work is distinguished from the delicately pointillist approach of many European improvisers by his rhythmic sophistication, unashamed virtuosity and undeniable physicality, touching on aspects of world musics from Javanese gamelan to South Indian Carnatic music.

Takuro Mizuta Lippit, known as DJ Sniff, is a prominent figure in experimental electronic arts and improvised music. His innovative practice blends DJing, instrument design, and free improvisation. Over the years, he has collaborated with renowned artists like Evan Parker and Otomo Yoshihide. His diverse musical works have been released by labels across the globe, including in Lebanon, the UK, and Japan. Recent projects, such as Parallel Traces of the Jewel Voice (2022) and The Inverted Listening of Explosive Enemy Aircraft Sounds (2023), explore the impact of phonograph records in WWII Japan. Additionally, his DJ mixes for Global Pop Culture Magazine showcase collaborations with Japanese musicologists. From 2007 to 2012, he served as the Artistic Director at STEIM, guiding its research and concert initiatives.

Breana Gilcher is an oboe/English horn player and Certified Massage Therapist. She performs throughout California in a variety of musical settings, playing classical orchestral music with groups such as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, LA Opera, Santa Barbara Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, and Hollywood Chamber Orchestra; new music with wild Up contemporary music collective and Jacaranda Music; and historic performance with Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra. An avid improviser, Breana holds reverence for the unique way improvised music guides both musician and listener into the present. As a licensed massage therapist Breana helps musicians prevent and recover from injuries using Myofascial release therapy.

From the Inland Empire, David Kendall has been producing noise and musical raw sound for over 25 years. In past years, he has performed across the United States in collaboration with an international cadre of improvisers, composers and sound artists. Kendall represents a commitment to a hermetic, private deconstruction of specific aspects of sound performance.

$15 adv / $17 at the door

Doors at 8 PM