Café Canela, Giselle Woo & the Night Owls, and The Divines at Pappy and Harriet’s
Café Canela had their first* show at Pappy and Harriet’s on June 29, 2025. It was great night for the desert music scene. Everyone involved in the scene came out to support Café Canela and the other two local bands that performed.
Giselle Woo and the Night Owls have been a staple of the Coachella Valley music scene since I moved out here in 2015. They put on fantastic set with a special guests from The Divines and Café Canela sitting in on a jam of Santana’s Soul Sacrifice.
The Divines are the young upstarts with most of the members being recent high school graduates. They had a great performance that set the mood for the evening.
Shout-out to Dunes Booking for putting everything together.
In order of appearance.
The Divines
The CV Collective Is Here
The CV Collective is a new venue in Coachella, California opened by musicians in the local hardcore scene to have a place to put on shows how they want to put on shows. They put on their first show on Thursday, June 27th with a great line-up of local and Southern California hardcore bands.
Built to Break
It’s been a minute.
I need to remember to take advantage of this blog / new work page. I haven’t done anything here in nearly 2 years. It’s time to change that.
While I was away, I got my first cover.
Tropa Magica and Calmala at Pappy and Harriet’s 08/03/23
Tropa Magica and Calmala at Pappy and Harriet’s 08/03/23
Calmala
Calmala, featuring former members of Ocho Ojos, got the party started with their danceable take on cumbia. James and Rafa are one of the best rhythm sections going; and Danny, on keys and guitar, ties the band together.
Tropa Magica
Tropa Magica was a surprise. I had never heard of Tropa Magica until tonight. I came to the show to support Calmala ( a fantastic local band), and I came away a Tropa Magica fan. These guys put on a killer show. They managed to get mosh pits going at a cumbia show. If you have a chance to catch a Tropa Magica show, make it happen.
Coachella Bar: Town Troubles, Bronca, Tourists
Town Troubles, Bronca, and Tourists at Coachella Bar on Friday July 21, 2023.
Coachella Bar in Coachella, CA had an awesome night of loud and fast rock n roll on Friday July, 21. Opening the evening was Tourists, followed by the punk rock sounds of Bronca, and closing out the evening was Town Troubles.
Tourists
These cats are putting in the work and getting on all the local shows. This was my second time seeing them and they brought their usual high energy set to the East Coachella Valley.
Bronca
Bronca plays old school punk rock. They don’t play pop-punk. They don’t play emo. They play loud fast political punk rock music. Bronca brought me back to going to punk shows at Showcase Theatre when I was in high school. They got the crowd moving.
Town Troubles
Town Troubles closed out the night strong. You would think it would be difficult to for a two-piece band to follow two heavy music bands, but Town Troubles can do it. Bolin and Bryan create a massive sound together.
Town Troubles EP Release Show
Town Trouble EP release show at Flat Black Shop in Palm Desert, CA on Friday, June 30, 2023.
Town Troubles celebrated the release of their new EP “Love Overrides Beauty” at Flat Black Shop in Palm Desert, CA. on June 30th. They invited two fantastic Coachella Valley bands to open the show for them, Toursits and Caña.
Tourists are an energetic pop-punk band from Palm Desert. You can hear the late 90s early 200s emo influences in their material.
Caña are a five piece rock band from the Coachella Valley. I can hear jazz influences and influences from psychedelic bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Town Troubles, the band every one came to see, closed out the night with a powerful set. Town Troubles is a two piece rock band from Indio. They make a powerful noise with only a guitar and drums. Bryan gets a huge sound out of his beautifully minimal drum kit and Bolin slays the guitar.
Jamie Oliveri Family Benefit
The Jamie Oliveri Family Benefit took place at The Hood Bar and Pizza in Palm Desert, California last Saturday, Feb. 25. It was a great night of music to celebrate the life of a member of the Coachella Valley music scene. Here are a few photos from that night.
