QUICK LINKS: Bands / Music Matters Grant / Nonprofits / Judges / Photo / Video

Thursday, March 20, 2025 - The Roxy Theatre
Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22, 2025 - Whisky A Go Go
Over $483K fundraised - our highest event record yet!

Thursday Overall Winner and Hustle and Heart Award: Baker & the McKenzies (Baker McKenzie; Lynberg & Watkins) for Violence Intervention Program
Thursday Judges’ Choice Award: Jimmy’s Brother (Winston & Strawn; A&O Shearman; Kirkland & Ellis; The Trade Desk; San Diego D.A.'s Office) for LAFD Foundation

Friday Overall Winner and Hustle and Heart Award: Privileged Communications (Perkins Coie) for The Access Project
Friday Judges’ Choice Award: 5 Feet Under (Bradley Gmelich & Wellerstein; Pope & Gentile; X1) for Rotary International District 5280 Charitable Foundation - Wildfire Relief Fund

Saturday Overall Winner: The Nuisance (Buchalter; Doll Amir & Eley; Allen Matkins) for Ketchum-Downtown YMCA
Saturday Judges’ Choice Award and Hustle and Heart Award: The Gee Gees (Greenberg Glusker) for TreePeople's Wildfire Resiliency Fund

It was a truly epic weekend for the 14th Annual Law Rocks Los Angeles! The three-night showdown smashed all previous Law Rocks fundraising records, raising over $483K. 18 bands featuring legal talent from over 34 law firms/companies battled it out over 3 nights on the iconic Sunset Strip. Rocking the Roxy Theatre for the first time, and then returning to where it all began, the Whisky a Go-Go. The event packed both venues, bringing the community together to rock out in support of 18 outstanding nonprofit organizations.

In an exciting moment for Law Rocks, we were honored to have West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers take the stage along with to present a proclamation officially welcoming our organization to West Hollywood and recognizing our accomplishments since being founded in 2009.

West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers presents a proclamation officially welcoming Law Rocks to WeHo.

Each band that took the stage delivered an incredible performance! The energy throughout the entire weekend created an unforgettable experience for everyone. From the diverse setlists to the bedazzling outfits, we were blown away by the talent and dedication that made this event a success.

Valerie Ojeda, front woman for the wildly successful national cover band, “Anthem Road”, returned as emcee, effortlessly ushering the evening along with infectious enthusiasm that kept the crowd engaged and waiting for more. The Rock Panel of Judges featured 15 notable area industry leaders and creatives including notable area industry leaders and creatives.

Thursday’s Rock Panel featured Jason Achilles, touring multi-instrumentalist; Zadie Butkiewicz, singer-songwriter, and Assistant Director of Amplify Arts Project; Shawn Dailey, Artist manager with over 20 years in music and film and former bassist for Hole; Rita George, Chief Program Officer for the GRAMMY Museum; Brian Meegan, freelance drummer, and Director of Sales and Marketing at ProSearch; and Matthew Umhofer, Partner at Umhofer, Mitchell & King, and musician who raised over $100K for charity during his decade-long run as a solo act on the Law Rocks stage.

Friday’s Rock Panel featured Calmatic, a self-taught director known for his creative collaborations with artists such as Lil Nas X, Donald Glover, Kendrick Lamar, The Rolling Stones and more; Gustavo Galindo, Grammy nominated artist and musical explorer straddling two cultures and languages; Myka Miller, Executive Director of The Guitar Center Music Foundation; and Stacey Anne, singer, performer, and owner of The Platinum Beat – a boutique live entertainment company.

Saturday’s Rock Panel featured Stuart Brawley, JUNO nominated music producer, songwriter, composer, and pianist whose work includes Michael Jackson, Don Henley, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, and many more; John Lonsdale, writer and commerce editor for Rolling Stone, where he’s covered shows from Joni Mitchell to Willie Nelson and reviewed albums by Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon; Faith “Dutchie Dutch” Roberts, attorney, small business owner, and independent artist, who in addition to writing and performing her own music, provides consultation services to entrepreneurs and independent artists; and Jayne Trimble, CEO and Founder of World Peach Records, a boutique record label and publishing company for women out of Venice, CA.

We were thrilled to award Music Matters grants to three local organizations with a focus on youth music education - Amplify Arts Project; Guitar Center Music Foundation; and Ketchum-Downtown YMCA.

MAJOR THANKS

Law Rocks wouldn't exist without the support of all the bands and firms - major thanks to every participating band! Thanks also to the teams at The Roxy Theatre and Whisky a Go-Go, our amazing Rock Panel of Judges, and our nonprofit guests. None of this would be possible without our sponsors - thank you to top sponsors Aptus Court Reporting; Buchalter; Perkins Coie; Baker McKenzie; Lexitas Legal; Pillsbury; Winston & Strawn; tour sponsor Secretariat; and additional sponsors Allen Matkins; Foley & Lardner; Glaser Weil; Greenberg Glusker; Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp; Nossaman; Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan; Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks; AON; Bionova Scientific; Connect CRE; Crispy Trades; Fisher Philips; Gibson Dunn & Crutcher; IST Management Services; Planet Depos; Realterm; US Legal Support; and Veritext.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support us this year. We are constantly blown away by how hard you all rock and can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Please consider making a contribution to support Law Rocks World Tour and ensure we keep rocking the globe for years to come!

Support Law Rocks Tour

OUR SPONSORS ROCK!

Featured

Special Guests - Ocean Park Sound System

Featuring legal talent from Raines Feldman Littrell

Ocean Park Sound System creates analog, organic groove music. Think retro-funk, reggae and dance rock for your head and your body. A decade ago, OPSS came together out the surf lineup at Ocean Park to create a true community vibe. With members from Raines Feldman Littrelll LLP, OPSS plays out all year at events, dive bars, festivals, and parties. OPSS loves supporting Law Rocks.

www.oceanparksoundsystem.com

Baker & The McKenzies

Featuring legal talent from Baker & McKenzie and Lynberg & Watkins
Rocking for Violence Intervention Program

Baker & The McKenzies has two decades of collective Law Rockin’ experience, including past champions. They are back to rock, roll, groove, dance, and funkify your minds. Not to be mistaken for your typical law-firm-charity-classic-rock-cover band, it discovered its musical destiny by covering artists like Guns N' Roses, No Doubt, and The Black Keys. The band is known to rock you steady, take you down the street of dreams, throwing in some sparkle while taking you away to that special place….

Meet the Band:

Nancy Sims – Vocals

Rick Russell – Vocals, Bass

Perrie Weiner – Drums

Michael Boardman - Guitar

Jared Shahar - Keys, Guitar

Guthner and the Nossamites

Featuring legal talent from Nossaman
Rocking for Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Canyon Fire Relief & Recovery Fund

Guthner and the Nossamites are the unparalleled maestros of music! For this event, the band has taken a break from wowing clients and judges to spend an entire afternoon practicing and honing their sound. Their legal acumen is matched only by their musical genius, making them the ultimate double threat. Prepare to be mesmerized by a night of flawless melodies, electrifying energy, and sonic precision.

Jimmy's Brother

Featuring legal talent from Winston & Strawn; A&O Shearman; Kirkland & Ellis; The Trade Desk; San Diego D.A.'s Office
Rocking for LAFD Foundation

JIMMY'S BROTHER is an LA-based rock n’ roll band. No gimmicks, no nonsense. Just vocals, guitars, and attitude. Formed in 2009 after a chance meeting around an old hotel piano in downtown LA, the band is known for its high energy mix of originals and cover songs, late night impromptu concerts at the Omni, and their legendary 2019 show at the Viper Room on Sunset Strip. Some boldly claim that Jimmy's Brother is one of the best acts to emerge from Winston & Strawn's Los Angeles office in recent years.

Instagram

The Sea At Midnight

Featuring legal talent from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP
Rocking for LA Food Bank

The Sea At Midnight is the creative endeavor of Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Vince Grant. Originally conceived as a studio project, Vince collaborated with producer Chris King (known for his work with Cold Showers and Kai Tak) to craft the band’s evocative, atmospheric sound. The result was the self-titled debut album, released in 2020, a collection of moody, introspective tracks that resonated deeply with fans of post-punk and darkwave music.

In 2023, The Sea At Midnight returned with their sophomore release, Too Close To The Sun, further exploring themes of longing, vulnerability, and resilience, all underscored by haunting melodies and layered production.

Although initially a studio-only project, Vince decided to bring the music to life on stage in 2024, assembling a live band to perform throughout the Los Angeles area. Among theband members is drummer Michael Rendon, a long-time friend and colleague of Vince’s from their day jobs at Quinn Emanuel. Together, they have created a live experience that mirrors thehaunting, cinematic quality of their recordings, drawing enthusiastic crowds to their performances over the past year.

With their evocative sound and heartfelt lyricism, The Sea At Midnight continues to carve out a unique space in the post-punk and darkwave genres. As they look ahead, the band is excited to expand their reach and connect with audiences far beyond their Los Angeles roots.

https://linktr.ee/theseaatmidnight

FRIDAY BANDS

Featured

5 Feet Under

Featuring legal talent from Pope & Gentile; Bradley, Gmelich + Wellerstein; X1 Discovery
Rocking for Rotary International District 5280 Charitable Foundation - Wildfire Relief Fund

This 501(c)(3) non-profit unites 63 Rotary Clubs across Greater Los Angeles to provide vital aid to those impacted by the devastating wildfires. Join us in making a difference and bringing hope to our community.

Returning to defend our Judge’s Choice Award, 5 Feet Under Band from Glendale, CA, brings electrifying energy to timeless classic rock hits. Our high-octane performances revive legendary tracks, combining unique skills and captivating stage presence to create unforgettable shows.

Meet the Band:
Randy O’Malley – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Chas Meier – Lead Guitar, Vocals
Dan Gentile – Bass
Steve Millington – Drums
Barry “Oso” Bradley – Keys, Vocals

5 Feet Under Band: not six feet under yet, and we play every gig like it's our last. Let's rock the night away for a great cause and leave it all on the stage!

Website

Castle of Rock

Featuring legal talent from Cox Castle & Nicholson and Mitchell Silberberg and Knupp
Rocking for United Friends of the Children

A Los Angeles Law Rocks institution since 2013, Castle of Rock returns to the Whiskey a Go Go with legal talent from Cox Castle & MSK, including attorneys Adriana Vesci, Kenny Kupers and Tyler Dockins from Cox Castle, and attorneys Andrew Spitser and Chris Elliott from MSK. Castle of Rock is rocking out in 2025 in support of Los Angeles’s United Friends of the Children, which provides housing and education to current and former foster youth in LA County. Support United Friends of the Children in its efforts to help LA County’s foster kids by buying a ticket or making a donation in the name of Castle of Rock. We can’t wait to play some music for you!

The Doughboys

Featuring legal talent from Pillsbury
Rocking for Slave 2 Nothing Foundation

Don’t let the name fool you. The Doughboys rock it hard. Mashing millennial pop and spitting OG lyrics, they are as deft with a mic as they are with a memo. The Doughboys are nine strong, and ready to rock with quality you can taste for In-N-Out Burger’s Slave 2 Nothing Foundation.

Privileged Communications

Featuring legal talent from Perkins Coie
Rocking for The Access Project

Privileged Communications is comprised of partner, Michael Wise leading vocals, partner, Joe Hamilton on guitar, partner, Lara Dueppen playing the keyboard, partner, Oliver Gold banging the drums, with firm friend Niall Fordyce playing bass guitar and Amanda Campos on the saxophone. While Privileged Communications does not have any available recordings currently, the group is in contract discussions with several large record labels and expects to perform at the opening ceremony of the 2028 Summer Olympics within the next few years.

Click below to follow or learn more:
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Rust

Featuring legal talent from AGS Law; Buchalter; Foley & Lardner
Rocking for Los Angeles Food Bank

Coming straight outta Salt Lake City, Rust is a group of veteran rockers who are saving the world, one song at a time. Featuring Ashley Smith (vocals/keys), Blake Cooper (guitar/vocals), Jared Braithwaite (drums), Mitch Goff (guitar) and Scott (Bass), Rust covers the hits that electrify you the way only live music can! Rust is rocking for the Los Angeles Food Bank to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

Side Hustle

Featuring legal talent from Latham & Watkins; Doll Amir Eley; Russell Law
Rocking for The Posse Foundation

Side Hustle brings high energy covers to venues throughout Southern California, across a variety of genres — rock, pop, country, disco, 80’s, and more. You name it - we play it!

We cover everything from the Rolling Stones to Lizzo; Chris Stapleton to Dua Lipa; Donna Summer to Blondie. Songs that you love. Songs that will get everyone up and moving on the dance floor.

Come check us out at our upcoming shows and follow us on Instagram at @SIDEHUSTLEBANDSOCAL.

Website

SATURDAY BANDS

Featured

Fauxly

Featuring legal talent from Foley & Lardner
Rocking for Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club

Based primarily in Chicago, but with roots across the nation, Fauxly is a no-compromise rock band, ready to bring the party to you. As repeat Hustle and Heart Award winners, Fauxly are hitting the road to bring Los Angeles a set of modern classics from the 1990’s and 2000’s that will get everyone off their feet and on the floor.

Fauxly features:
• Chris Ward – Vocals and Guitar
• Kevin Jackson – Guitar
• Zack Sikora – Guitar
• Mike Noonan – Bass and Backing Vocals
• Matt Winthers – Drums

We’re ready to let what’s left of our hair down and rock out for a great cause. The money we’re raising goes to the Boys and Girls Club, but the spirits we’re raising will be yours!

Instagram - Foley & Lardner

The Gee Gees

Featuring legal talent from Greenberg Glusker
Rocking for TreePeople's Wildfire Resiliency Fund

Made up of Greenberg Glusker lawyers, the Gee Gees (get it?), are excited to return to the legendary Whiskey to defend their Judge’s Choice Award! Their repertoire spans the decades, with a sound featuring vocal harmonies, shredding guitar solos, and a dynamic on-stage chemistry. The players are: Graham Fenton (vocals/drums); Ryan Webb (drums/vocals); Ricardo Cestero (guitar/vocals); Ira Steinberg (bass); Noah Perch-Ahern (guitar/vocals); Pete Nyquist (drums) and James Hill (keyboard), with special appearances by Linda Debella and Doug Webb.

The Grind

Featuring legal talent from Grindr; Domb & Rauchwerger; Given Law Offices
Rocking for Safe Place International

The Grind is committed to the full expression of our most authentic selves, including all sexual orientations, gender identities, and genres of music. The Grind (ver. 3.0) is Bill Shafton (VP, Business & Legal Affairs, Grindr), Zack Domb (Partner, Domb & Rauchwerger Employment Law Group), John Given (environmental law solo practitioner), Nancy Cotton (Vocals), and Till Richter (Drums).

Guilty As Charged

Featuring legal talent from Wolf Greenfield; Wheeler Bio
Rocking for Emily Whitehead Foundation

Guilty As Charged, comprised of Law Rocks veterans assembling from all over the country, are thrilled to be supporting the Emily Whitehead Foundation at this year’s LA Law Rocks benefit concert on March 22, 2025 at the Whisky a Go Go. This amazing 501(c)(3) non-profit’s focus is finding effective and curative treatments for childhood cancer by funding scientific research aimed at developing cancer immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapies. The inspiration behind the organization is the life and personal journey of Emily Whitehead and her parents, Tom and Kari, all three of whom run the organization which is inspired by Emily’s successful treatment as the first-ever pediatric CAR T-cell therapy recipient over a decade ago – a story which has gained worldwide attention in the news, film, and books. Inspired by this incredible organization and Emily’s story, the band has worked hard at crafting a fun, loud, and energized set of rock music that it will bring to West Hollywood, with long-time Law Rocks bandmates who collectively have played over 21 Law Rocks concerts in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Law Rocksapalooza, raising well over $500,000 for various non-profits over the years. The band is supported by legal talent from Wolf Greenfield & Sacks of New York/Boston/DC, Allen Matkins of Los Angeles, Wheeler Bio of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Bionova Scientific of The Woodlands, Texas, as well as veteran Law Rockers from both coasts. Prepare to rock with Guilty As Charged and help the Emily Whitehead Foundation find more breakthrough cancer treatments to end childhood cancer once and for all!

The Nuisance

Featuring legal talent from Buchalter; Doll Amir & Eley; Allen Matkins
Rocking for Ketchum Downtown YMCA

The Nuisance has participated in Law Rocks since 2014 and this year takes the stage with numerous Law Rocks veterans and long-time supporters of the Law Rocks mission. The Nuisance puts a new gritty spin on rock classics, from Neil Diamond to U2.

Instagram

Papa Gibson & The Writs of Replevin

Featuring legal talent from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Rocking for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)

Papa Gibson & The Writs of Replevin is made up of a delicate balance of youthful millennials on one side and seasoned boomers on the other end.

The band was established in 2014 to compete in the Family Violence Appellate Project’s LA Battle of the Band to raise funds for survivors of domestic violence. They’ve been extremely successful in supporting that organization. In recent years, Papa Gibson took to the road and airways for the San Francisco event. Papa Gibson has won for outstanding performance one year and they have been the top fundraiser multiple years – most recently in 2024!

This is their first appearance in Law Rocks and they are pleased to name Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) as their charity. KIND is one of Gibson Dunn’s longest standing pro bono partners. Over the past decade, lawyers across nearly all Gibson Dunn’s domestic offices around the country have worked with KIND to represent unaccompanied minors seeking safety and refuge in the United States. They have represented hundreds of these individuals in partnership with KIND and successfully obtained grants of asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, legal permanent residence, and even citizenship for vulnerable migrant children. It would not be possible for Gibson Dunn to do this critical, lifesaving work without the mentorship and guidance from our immigration law expert partners at KIND.

Papa Gibson will perform songs from Stevie Nicks, Delfonics (Todd Rundgren, Darryl Hall), Bob Dylan, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ghost Town DJs and Earth, Wind and Fire, all in 25 minutes!

Meet the band

Christian Faulkner, Vocals/Guitar
Jayde Garduno-Perret, Vocals
James Graham, Drums
Alvin Hernandez, Bass
Lidia Meza, Vocals/Sax
Dylan Noceda, Vocals/Guitar
Rod Wilson, Keyboards

Shadow Docket

Featuring legal talent from Reed Smith; Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete; Seals Phillips; Glaser Weil
Rocking for LACBA Counsel for Justice

Back in the day, the members of Shadow Docket (f/k/a Down by Law) used to play fast and live hard, but with age comes wisdom, and now they play hard and live fast, delivering eclectic song sets from the 1960s through the 2000s that create a sense of palace intrigue. To quote one critic: “Owing to their unpredictable timing, lack of transparency, and usual inscrutability, this band plays both literally and figuratively in the shadows.” Though band member firm affiliations have changed, the players remain the same to protect the innocent. No longer obsessed with convincing their kids that they really are cool—their kids are now adults and know better—Shadow Docket remains committed to answering the age-old question, “What’s so Funny ‘bout Peace, Love and Understanding?” Shadow Docket rocks to benefit Counsel for Justice (www.counselforjustice.org).

Since 2023, as part of our initiative to increase giving in support of music education, particularly for underserved youth, Law Rocks awards a Music Matters grant to a local nonprofit in each city they visit. At this year’s Los Angeles event, we awarded a grant each night! To learn more, click a graphic below to read our Nonprofit Spotlight interview with each recipient.

2025 Law Rocks Los Angeles Night One Music Matters Grant Recipient: Amplify Arts Project | Photo courtesy of Amplify Arts Project

2025 Law Rocks Los Angeles Night Two Music Matters Grant Recipient: Guitar Center Music Foundation

2025 Law Rocks Los Angeles Night Three Music Matters Grant Recipient: Ketchum-Downtown YMCA | Photo courtesy of Ketchum-Downtown YMCA

Featured

Host - Valerie Ojeda

This proud Chicago native is best known for her vocal versatility, boundless energy and magnetic charisma on stage.

During the week, Valerie Ojeda travels the country, working as an On-Camera Host, Event Emcee, Trade Show Presenter and Automotive Product Specialist, representing top companies like Panasonic, Microsoft and 3M and Honda, just to name a few.

On weekends, she manages and sings lead vocals for the wildly successful cover band, “Anthem Road,” playing in casinos, resorts, conventions, wineries, private parties and outdoor festivals, throughout the country. Anthem Road has shared the stage with such iconic 80’s bands as Berlin and Warrant, as well as some of the top tribute bands in the world. Valerie’s favorite musical moments to date were meeting rock legends Pat Benatar, Kip Winger, Jerry Dixon and Billy Ocean, as well as singing with Terri Nunn at The Canyon Club and singing the National Anthem before a Slaughter concert.

For Valerie, being of service is the highest form of consciousness, so being able to give back to the local community, by being a part of Law Rocks, is an absolute dream come true!

https://www.atradeshowpresenter.com
https://www.anthemroadband.com

THURSDAY ROCK PANEL OF JUDGES

Featured

Judge - Jason Achilles

Touring multi-instrumentalist JASON ACHILLES divides his time between studio production, live performance, and inspiring public speaking events with his story of life in music leading to working with NASA to capture the first sounds of the planet Mars. Recently he toured with Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) and has been featured prominently in WIRED Magazine, as well as LA's KTLA morning news & KCRW radio.

Judge - Zadie Butkiewicz

Zadie Butkiewicz is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Southern California with a deep passion for fostering inclusivity in music. With experience as both a recording artist and a program manager at Syryn Records, she has consistently been an advocate for emerging talent. She values the importance of supporting female and gender-expansive artists. Through her work with Amplify Arts Project and other community initiatives, Zadie has been dedicated to creating spaces where young artists can express themselves freely. Whether performing, mentoring, or teaching, she remains committed to helping others explore and grow through music.

Judge - Shawn Dailey

Shawn Dailey is an artist manager with over 20 years in music and film. He started his career as a bassist, most notably with Courtney Love and Hole. As a manager, Shawn represents Grammy winners, Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, award winning filmmakers and best selling authors. He has also produced multiple award winning documentaries.

Judge - Rita George

Rita George is Chief Program Officer for the GRAMMY Museum®. In her role, George provides leadership, strategy and managerial oversight to the curatorial, community engagement, education, production, digital media and operations teams, connecting internal and external partners to scale the Museum’s diverse programming to reach a broader audience both locally and nationwide. George continues to lead new business development efforts, expand DEIA initiatives, and help oversee the Museum’s offsite locations. As part of the leadership team, George provides support to the Museum's President and Board of Directors, policy development and HR initiatives.

Previously as Chief Operating Officer, George oversaw day-to-day business and operations for the Museum, led new business development efforts and museum renovations, and managed the strategic planning and curatorial content development for more than 100 exhibits, as well as the Museum’s traveling exhibits and curatorial services business. George also managed the development of numerous national museums and galleries, including the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Okla.; the Ray Charles Memorial Library in Los Angeles; and several GRAMMY Museum licensees in the eastern United States.

Prior to joining the GRAMMY Museum, George served as director of visitor services, security and operations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

George graduated from Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Judge - Brian Meegan

Director of Sales and Marketing at ProSearch, AI Evangelist, & Freelance Drummer

Brian Meegan has 25 years of executive management experience in the legal services industry and is recognized as a thought leader in the field of eDiscovery. Brian has been instrumental in designing cutting edge solutions for law firms and corporations seeking innovative cost modeling and excellence in evidentiary service delivery. Today Brian leads a team of sales and marketing professionals at ProSearch, a technology enabled eDiscovery service provider, for the sole purpose of new business generation and account retention.

Like many from his generation, seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show was life changing. By the age of 15 Brian was playing drums professionally in rock bands, show bands, teaching privately, and performing in the pit orchestra for musicals. Brian has worked with countless songwriters, bands and solo artists including famed producer Bob Margouleff (Stevie Wonder, Devo), Jack Lee (Hanging on the Telephone, Blondie, Come Back and Stay, Paul Young) and many others. Brian joined the LA band Felony (The Fanatic) a very popular band in Los Angeles during the new wave era. Brian recorded their follow-up record with the single going to #1 on KROQ and a remix also in heavy rotation remixed by famed producer Arthur Baker (Sun City, Bruce Springsteen, New Order).

As well as continuing to hone his craft daily, these days Brian freelances playing in clubs, festivals, and private events in and around Southern California. Brian is also the drummer for Psychedelic Summer, a Woodstock tribute band.

ProSearch
Youtube
LinkedIn
Facebook

Judge - Matthew Umhofer

In 2021, Law Rocks announced that Matthew Umhofer would enter the Law Rocks Hall of Fame … in order to get him to stop performing. After 10 years of acoustically mutilating hip-hop and pop hits on one of the most hallowed stages in the world, he has retreated to his basement where he frustrates his teenage daughters with cringe renditions of Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter tracks. He raised over $100,000 for charity during his decade-long run as a solo Law Rockstar. An ex-AUSA and Skadden alum, Umhofer can now be found at the intergalactic megafirm of Umhofer, Mitchell & King, where he handles business litigation, white collar criminal defense matters, and fights for shelter and services for those experiencing homelessness on the streets of LA. This is the only opportunity Umhofer will ever have to a be a judge of any kind, so he’s really psyched about it.

FRIDAY ROCK PANEL OF JUDGES

Featured

Judge - Calmatic

Raised in South Central, Los Angeles, Calmatic is a self-taught filmmaker who discovered his passion for telling stories at a young age. As a director, he seeks to stretch the limits of viewers’ reality while highlighting the beauty in the mundane. His creative curiosity has allowed him to solidify a place for himself in a constantly evolving industry.

Calmatic’s video collaborations span some of music’s most influential artists. Perhaps his most well-known project is Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, which won the Grand Prix Entertainment Lions for Music at the 2020/2021 Cannes Lions as well as a VMA for Best Director. The video currently has over 1.3 Billion views. He has also collaborated with Donald Glover, Kendrick Lamar, The Rolling Stones, Tyler, The Creator, Zayn Malik, Lizzo, Anderson .Paak, and more.

In 2020, Ad Age named Calmatic “Director of the Year.” The year prior, he was recognized in a national ad for AT&T’s “Codes of The Culture” campaign as one of the leading filmmakers in the new Black Hollywood.

He has successfully transitioned into directing commercials for global brands including Apple, Target, NBA, Sprite, Chase, Geico, Ad Council, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, McDonald’s, and TurboTax. Throughout his career, he has directed five Super Bowl spots: Turbo Tax in 2020, Michelob Ultra in 2021, Crypto in 2022, and both Popeyes and Silk in 2024.

Calmatic made his feature directorial debut in January 2023 with the remake of the 90s cult classic House Party. His sophomore film, the remake of White Men Can’t Jump, was released in Spring 2023.

Judge - Gustavo Galindo

Grammy nominated artist Gustavo Galindo has always been a musical explorer straddling two worlds, two cultures and two languages. His music is filled with passion, wisdom and honesty which transcends borders and genre. Born in Mexico and brought-up in the United States, Gustavo has created a unique musical vocabulary which will establish him as a major new force in modern music with his about-to-be-released album: “ Between Two Worlds”.

His new recording “Between Two Worlds” finds Gustavo as a fully realized artist where his life a husband, father and performer have come together in a collection of deeply personal songs. “Gustavo’s music is about putting everything on the line” says two-time Emmy Award winning composer, recording artist and label executive Michael Whalen. “Gustavo doesn’t know how to hold anything back. Wonderful.”

Gustavo has shared the stage with artists such as: Zoe Enrique Iglesias, Ely Guerra, Gloria Trevi, Juanes Los Amigos Invisibles, Babasonicos, Alejandra Guzman and Ximena Sarinana, Debi Nove, Alex Cuba, Maroon 5, Natalia Laforcade, Leonel Garcia and Alec Syntec. He lives in Los Angeles with his family preparing the release of this new music and creating the next chapter for this dynamic artist and performer.

Judge - Myka Miller

Myka Miller, Executive Director of The Guitar Center Music Foundation, has put musical instruments into the hands of tens of thousands of children and adults. She has more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, program design, board development, fundraising, and performance management. Myka most recently served as Executive Director/CEO at Harmony Project, a music education organization in Los Angeles. She has emerged as a leader in the field as a board member of El Sistema USA, Friends of the Compton Youth Activities League, Extera Public Schools, and co-founder of Armonia Cuscatleca, a music and social program in El Salvador.

Myka received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Texas at Austin and earned two master’s degrees in Music and Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Myka has many musical talents - is a tap dancer and plays oboe and English horn professionally. She spent four years in Mexico playing in orchestras, speaks fluent Spanish, and has a love of Latin culture and music. She continues to perform locally in classical, jazz, salsa, world and popular music groups.

Judge - Stacey Anne

A veteran singer and performer, Los Angeles native Stacey Anne is the owner of The Platinum Beat, a boutique live entertainment company that supplies top-shelf musical talent to corporate, private, wedding, and city clients throughout Southern California and beyond. When she's not managing The Platinum Beat, Stacey is also an in-demand freelance vocalist who performs in a variety of styles, and fronts "Stacey Anne & The Master Plan," a popular tribute to today's top country hits. Stacey Anne has shared the stage with a number of illustrious musicians, including Monte Pittman, Madonna's longtime guitarist; and Tony Franklin of The Firm and Whitesnake.

In addition to her musical exploits, Stacey Anne is a seasoned lawyer with over 18 years' experience working in-house at Fortune 100 companies (including, most recently: Disney, and 20th Century Fox), specializing in technology and commercial transactions and content distribution.

To learn more about The Platinum Beat, visit:
Web: http://www.theplatinumbeat.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ThePlatinumBeat
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ThePlatinumBeat"

SATURDAY ROCK PANEL OF JUDGES

Featured

Judge - Stuart Brawley

Stuart Brawley is a JUNO nominated music producer, songwriter, composer, and pianist. His work includes Michael Jackson, Don Henley, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, NSYNC, Lenka, Foo Fighters, and many more. With over 1.3 Billion streams, Stuart’s music is truly worldwide. Stuart runs the fundraising at the non profit Pasadena Waldorf School and teaches music production at the high school.

On January 7th, Stuart lost his home and recording studio to the Eaton Fire in Altadena. He is honored and thrilled to be a judge for this fundraising event.

Judge - John Lonsdale

John Lonsdale is a writer and commerce editor at Rolling Stone, where he’s covered shows from Joni Mitchell to Willie Nelson and reviewed albums by Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon. He’s based in Los Angeles, California.

Judge - Faith “Dutchie Dutch” Roberts

Faith “Dutchie Dutch” Roberts, Esq. is an artist and attorney originally from Washington DC and currently living in Los Angeles. A small business owner and independent artist, Faith has published two EPs, and four albums in addition to writing and performing her music, trademarking and distributing merchandise, and providing consultation services to entrepreneurs and independent artists.

Faith has a long history in the music business – her parents’ record company MarSil Productions created and nationally distributed soul music compilations, and she began performing in GoGo bands at age 15 as a bassist. Faith attended DC Public Schools, graduated Trinity Washington University magna cum laude, and earned her law degree from the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law.

Faith has been a member of the DC Bar since 2021 and is pursuing certification as registered in-house counsel in California and New York as she continues her work serving as a passionate advocate for entertainers and entrepreneurs. She currently serves as a General Attorney for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Capital Access and is detailed to the Office of General Counsel for disaster loan assistance duties and litigation.

Judge - Jayne Trimble

Jayne Trimble is the CEO and Founder of World Peach Records which is a boutique record label and publishing company for women out of Los Angeles. Artists have appeared at SXSW, Folk Alliance International, Canadian Music Week, NXNE, Tallinn Music Week, and many more. Artists have had songs placed in NBC, MTV, Oxygen and The CW Network TV shows and achieved top ten charting on international college campus radio charts across the US & Canada, iHeart radio and CTV News. Songwriters have been crowned winners of Best in Rock, as well as finalists in the USA, International Songwriting, SongUniverse and Intercontinental Music Awards Competitions, as well as finalists in the California Music Video and Film Awards. Notable performance collabs include American Cancer Society, The Lost Church (San Francisco). World Peach Records is proud to be a voting member of The Recording Academy, as well as the Association of Independent Music Publishers, Guild Of Music Supervisors and Women In Music. After securing a distribution deal with Downtown/XLP in 2023, the label has supported the release of 20 singles and 12 albums within the last 2 years, cumulating in over 1M streams on Spotify and a staggering 500K+ reach on socials. We established key partnerships with fellow Indie Labels Spirit House, Tiny Kingdom, and Neon Moon, as well as Planetary Group (Lou Reed, Brian Eno) and Nice Marmot (PJ Harvey, Alabama Shakes). World Peach Records co-founded a showcase for women called VENUS, which had its inaugural performance at The Lost Church in San Francisco featuring GRAMMY and EMMY nominated musicians on 2024’s International Women’s Day. The World Peach Records studio has produced work for many artists including the platinum selling indie artist Amy Kirkpatrick and many more.

Judge - Janet Valerie

Los Angeles-born songwriter Janet Valerie has spent over 15 years collaborating with independent and major-label artists, shaping songs that capture the rawness, beauty, and complexity of human connection. With a deep love for storytelling through music, she thrives on crafting lyrics that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Outside of the studio, Janet brings that same passion for impact to her work as a physician in clinical research, advocating for health equity and literacy in underserved communities.

Www.glittermindmusic.com

Instagram: @iamglittermind