Tag Archives: Live Music

TURNSTILE! What a Night in Ventura!

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I went to see my favorite band live in Ventura! TURNSTILE! OMG, what an incredible show!

I was standing stage left, right next to the mosh pit, surrounded by an insane amount of energy. I seriously need to upgrade my iPhone because my camera sucks. I was hoping to share some concert footage here, but apparently I’d have to upgrade my WordPress plan just to upload videos. Ugh! So much for that! I found these videos from the Ventura concert on Reddit, though, LOL.

The stage seemed surprisingly small for Turnstile, and a huge speaker unfortunately blocked my view of drummer Daniel Fang. But at the end of the show, he came offstage and walked along the barricade, just a couple of feet from where I was standing! Unfortunately, someone’s head blocked my direct view, but I managed to capture a few seconds of footage. He seems so genuinely down-to-earth, as do all the members of the band. There’s something so refreshing about that, especially given the tremendous energy they bring to their performances.

Afterward, I walked back to my hotel alongside other concertgoers, about a 15-minute walk. I was still buzzing from the experience!

Turnstile puts on an absolutely electrifying show. I’m hoarse from screaming, a little exhausted, and still riding the high of it all. I pretty much jumped and danced for the entire set, and when I finally returned to my hotel, I was far too wired to sleep 😂

What a fun adventure! I’m so glad I made the trip and experienced this for myself. I’d love to see them again, perhaps next time with a better view of the entire stage!

Until next time, TURNSTILE! 🤘

Monday Music Notes

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Happy Monday to y’all! It was my birthday last Saturday, which means I’m another decade older 😳 It was a quiet day spent doing some of the things I love most: listening to music, making art, and drinking coffee, lol! I headed to one of my favorite coffee spots, Reinne’s Place, on Retro Row in Long Beach. It’s a local favorite, especially within the Filipino community. The owner experienced a profound loss, and the coffee shop was born from that grief. Seriously, some of the best coffee in LB. And right next door is San & Wolves Bakeshop, a Filipino bakery that makes a variety of irresistible treats. They were down in Orange County at a huge festival, Daisy Chain, so I’ll have to wait until they reopen tomorrow to grab my bakery fix!

I visited my daughter in Hollywood on Sunday, and she baked me a homemade pot pie. Delish! It was altogether a quiet birthday, as my birthdays have been for the past couple of years.

I also facilitated my first sound bath, a Sturgeon Full Moon Sound Journey, on Friday night. There were eight attendees, including a good friend and former coworker, as well as a former student. I was thrilled to see them both! It was hot, unfortunately, but other than that, I think it went pretty well. Sound therapy is still very new to my skill set, so there’s obviously room for improvement. I’m learning with each experience and will keep honing my skills along the way.

I think the highlight of my weekend was listening to Turnstile. A guy I knew a couple of years ago introduced me to them, and I’ve been hooked ever since. They’ve been redefining the boundaries of modern heavy music, successfully bridging the gap between traditional punk and mainstream alternative rock. Seriously, if you don’t get up and groove when listening to their music, there’s something amiss! 😂

The songs currently on repeat are Seeing Stars, Birds, and Slowdive from Never Enough: Versions (Disc 2).

Turnstile is currently on tour, and they’ll be making their way to Southern California in October and November, playing a couple of different festivals. One is at the Observatory Festival Grounds in Orange County, and the other is Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. I’m seriously considering going to the Orange County show. Tickets are already almost sold out! I’ll be in Taiwan visiting my birth family in November, so October may be my window. I’d be perfectly okay going solo, as none of my friends are really into hardcore punk, but we’ll see 😎

In the meantime, here’s a live performance so you can get a taste of what I’ve been listening to. Fair warning: you may find yourself getting up to groove 😉 I know I do!

What music are you listening to these days? Leave a comment and let me know! 🎶

Blackout and Birds performed live at Lowlands 2026