Show Review: Madeline Goldstein & Secret Attraction @ Zebulon/LA

 Show Review

Madeline Goldstein

Secret Attraction

@ Zebulon in Los Angeles

   It has been a weird couple of years for local indie music scenes.  How are you supposed to develop as an artist if you can't play live shows?  It's essentially impossible.  Live shows are so important in the digital era because literally anyone can be a streaming artist with a billion streams but very few have what it takes to tour, sell tickets and create a real world fan base that the music industry actually respects.  

   For me, every band that started in 2019 or after (or was brand new in 2019) gets a pass, all of them, starting THIS year, 2023, can act like they are a "new band" for local music purposes.  In other words, there can be no demerits for failing to advance ones career in the years between 2019 and 2023.   Fortunately, the fog has begun to lift and I can see the return of lives music at the local level here in Los Angeles.  Take last night, a free record release party for Madeline Goldstein and More Ephemerol at Zebulon, which is one of the coolest venues in Los Angeles right now.  Maybe the coolest.  I'm biased, of course, because I live about 10 minutes away but I really do think they have got it going on at the Zeb- located on the edge of Frogtown near Silverlake and Atwater Village.

  I've been going to Zebulon for years for special events- world soccer matches actually have been the occasion the last couple of years.  I talk a lot about going to shows there but rarely do because they are typically booking either super-legacy type acts or niche stuff that isn't my niche.  I'd like to see them booking more bills like the Echo used to before it started sucking after Live Nation bought it- more local scene bands and middle-of-the-road indie rock type stuff. Yes, I get it, they are too sophisticated for that stuff, but there is a need and I'm sure it would make money for them.

    Secret Attraction opened- they are on my label Dream Recordings and Mario wanted to sign them (Derek, writer, Rachel, band member) because the songs are great.  I agree.   The live show is also very good- I saw him at Rubycon Records a couple months back but this was the first viewing in a club with a real sound system.  They sounded great and it was a big crowd for a Friday night in LA at 8:30 PM- an almost unconscionably early time for an opening act to play but the crowd was very much up for it.

   It was a free show so the large turnout isn't entirely surprising- I'm guessing that any random Friday night at Zebulon would be moderately busy these days.  The crowd was very goth-scene heavy- though not quite as young as the kids who were coming out to the Rubycon shows.  Plenty of black leather and severe make-up on the ladies, black for the men.  Goth crowds always make me giggle, but there is no denying their dedication to the scene. 

   It's funny, because Secret Attraction doesn't actually have a goth sound but I guess close enough.  The sound at Zebulon was really good- I think this was the first time I'd heard it full blast since before the pandemic.    I missed More Ephemeral because I was hanging out on the patio- sorry, if the band or fans is reading this, I apologize for missing the set. 

   I was intrigued to watch a few songs from Madeline Goldstein, I'd seen her name here and there, and she played a show down in San Diego that Mario, my partner in Dream, booked at the Whistle Stop. 

  The live show was very engaged- she is an eminently watchable performer.  I didn't love any of the songs I heard- and I'm listening to her new EP right now to confirm that.  Again, there is nothing wrong with not having amazing songs- I'm sure Madeline herself would disdain the idea of writing a "hit song," that she views herself as a member of an artistic avant garde, etc.   Which is great!  She had plenty of fans there last night- I don't think the phrase "sold out" really applies because it was a free show but the place was packed with fans- fans of all three acts- I might add.

  Also worth noting that she couldn't find the right label to put out this record- I know she talked to Mario about it but were committed through the end of the before she reached out.  But, the local record industry is in shambles.  Like, who is even putting out records right now in LA.  It's a wasteland out there BUT at least the local show scene is coming back.

   The next local event I've got on my calendar is this Rubycon Records 2 year anniversary show on July 15th at the Lodgeroom (Los Angeles).  Dream Recordings own Mvtant is second on the bill behind Plack Blague, who are a band from Lincoln, Nebraska (!).  Tickets to that show are twenty two dollars and it should be a real blast!  Viva Local Music!