The Standard

Happy Boxing Day everyone. Did you get the servants a present as per the English Boxing Day tradition? No? Eggnog hangover bumming you out? Well, BUCK UP, New Year’s Eve is just around the corner. And since we’re here to offer our sage knowledge and advice we recommend you do a New Year’s Dry Run this Wednesday and check out The Standard, Hollywood’s weekly Desert Nights. Well it won’t be a complete dry run. Stay for a cocktail, listen to some live tunes. You know, baby steps towards the big night. Best of all, Spanx aren’t required. Save those for Saturday. See you soon.

Omar Velasco

”Deft hands and a keen ear for melody may describe the approach, but getting to the root of Omar Velasco’s musical mission involves digging a bit deeper. A multi-instrumentalist and guitarist for the L.A.-based band A Fine Frenzy, Velasco is all about the big picture, and his tunes consistently and cleverly buck the trends—and clichés—so often associated with contemporary singer-songwriters. For debut EP Sea Lion Run, powerful, immediate lyricism and nimble guitar work give way to a swirling landscape of worldly beats, history-drenched tones, and compositions that build even in their quietest moments…” - Aly Comingore, Pop Culture Editor, Santa Barbara Independent

Aimee Lay

”Drawing upon the sounds of the 60s & 70s, Los Angeles native Aimee Lay’s musical style moodily harkens back to the likes of Chrissie Hynde, Nico, PJ Harvey, and the Bangles, exploring the realms of longing, sadness, bright futures and redemption”.

Laura Meyer

Laura Meyer began in New York City, where she regularly performed at clubs like Pianos, Joe’s Pub, CBGB’s, and The Bitter End while attending NYU’s Gallatin School for Individualized Study. In the few years since graduating she’s performed over 500 shows across the US and Europe. Her intelligent songwriting and road-honed performances have earned her bills with artists including David Byrne, Ryan Adams, Tift Merritt, Josh Ritter, Elvis Costello, and Ani DiFranco. Having completed a whirlwind tour of nine countries in 2011, Laura settled in Los Angeles where she is working with a new band and editing a book inspired by life on the road. In October she returned to New York to record Golden Delicious, an album inspired by the Wall Street protests and the state of the American Dream.

What is Desert Nights?

Desert Nights is a weekly gathering at The Standard, Hollywood, hosted by KCRW’s DJ Valida. Every Wednesday, Valida curates three acoustic musical acts to perform a set in the Cactus Lounge. The vibe is warm and intimate, evoking an impromptu jam in a musician’s living room. The music begins at 7:30pm and it’s free.