10th Annual Law Rocks Los Angeles (2021)

Law Rocks Team

September 21, 2021

Concert Recaps

QUICK LINKS: Bands / Nonprofits / Photo / Video

Friday, September 17, 2021
Whisky A Go Go
$64,000 Raised

It was nothing short of epic to be at the Whisky for Law Rocks, celebrating a decade in Los Angeles! Not only that, it was Law Rocks’ first in-person concert in 18 months and it was awesome to be back. The night featured an all-star lineup of incredible bands from the last ten years and having them all take the stage on the same night was the perfect way to celebrate.

A special shout out to top fundraisers: Matthew Umhofer who rocked for Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and raised over $18K and Attractive Nuisance who rocked for Law Rocks (thank you!) and raised over $15K.

Huge thanks to everyone who made the night possible - our sponsors, bands, firms, and audience.

Screen Shot 2021-09-27 at 2.22.22 PM.png

MEET THE BANDS

Bands / Nonprofits / Photo / Video

Featured

Matthew Umhofer

Special guest and 10-time Law Rocks participant

Starring legal talent from Spertus Landes & Umhofer
Rocking for Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

“Matthew Umhofer is unencumbered by knowledge or experience and is refreshingly unconcerned with others’ opinions of his work.”

This morsel from a letter of reference written in 1995 serves as a fitting encapsulation of Matthew Umhofer’s ten-year Law Rocks career—a career that mercifully comes to a close on September 17, 2021.

For the last 10 years, Matthew’s colleagues at Skadden Arps and partners at the mighty litigation juggernaut of Spertus, Landes & Umhofer have abided Matthew’s Law Rocks obsession with the same energy as a parent praising the toddler for the poop that didn’t quite make it into potty. When informed that this would be Matthew’s last Law Rocks outing, his partners were like, “Ohhh noooo!!” and “That’s so tragic!” and “You won’t be doing awkward white guy covers of hip hop classics anymore? No more painful renditions of 90s hairband hits? Sad!”

It has truly been an honor to sully the stage at the Whisky for the last decade. Shout-out to the plastered big firm paralegal who shows up every year, sloshes Red Bull & vodka on her neighbors like a boss, and screams at me like I’m Jon Bon Jovi. You complete me.

But it is time for me to ride on to my next adventure: I’m teaming up with Nick Cage. We’re going to steal the Declaration of Independence … and then have a three-way with the Constitution. Cuz what’s more Law and Rock than the nation’s founding legal documents and erotic experimentation? And don’t you dare question my math. I’m a lawyer, dammit.

Umhofer out.

Attractive Nuisance

2016 Judges' Choice, 2017 Winner & Judges' Choice, 2019 Judges' Choice, 2020 Winner & Judges Choice

Starring legal talent from Allen Matkins and Buchalter
Rocking for Law Rocks

Attractive Nuisance roared onto the Whisky stage in 2014 for its inaugural Law Rocks set. The Nuisance has played gigs all over Southern California, from Agoura Hills to Hermosa Beach. Law Rocks is thrilled that the Nuisance is bringing its mosh-inspiring sound back to the Whisky.

Lodestar

2019 Winner & Judges’ Choice

Starring legal talent from Glancy Prongay & Murray
Rocking for Kids In Need of Defense (KIND)

Lodestar is a hard rock band that took first place and the Judge’s Choice Award at the 2019 Law Rocks concert in Los Angeles. In 2018 they took third place in the Banding Together to End Domestic Violence charity concert at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Most recently, in 2020, Lodestar took first place in Law Rocks “Best Performance Ever” contest.

Marc Godino, guitarist for Lodestar, is a senior partner at Glancy Prongay & Murray, and along with bassist Daniel Cubert have been playing music together for over 40 years. Combined with drummer Tom Zevin, percussionist/backup vocalist and attorney, Michael Ackerman, background vocalist Caly Bevier, and lead vocalist Oren Pfeffermann, Lodestar promises to deliver a high energy, guitar driven rock experience.

MSK Rewind

2017 Judges’ Choice

With legal talent from Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp
Rocking for Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS)

MSK’s band will again be playing to support Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS), an organization dedicated to providing free legal services to those with mental health disabilities.

Privileged Communications

2016 Winner, 2017 Winner, 2018 Winner, 2019 Winner

Starring legal professionals from Perkins Coie
Rocking for City of Hope

Four-time Law Rocks champion Privileged Communications formed in early 2013 to represent Perkins Coie in the Law Rocks competition in Hollywood, California against other firms such as Latham & Watkins and DLA Piper. Privileged Communications comprises partner Michael Wise on lead vocals, partner Joe Hamilton on guitar, partner Lara Dueppen and counsel Oliver Gold on keyboards and drums, respectively, and non-Perkins attorney Niall Fordyce on bass. 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 Super Bowl Halftime Show within the next few years.

Run DLA featuring Baker & the McKenzies

2013 Winner, 2016 Winner

Featuring talented legal professionals from Baker McKenzie; Constangy Brooks, Smith & Prophete; UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
Rocking for LA Family Housing

Run DLA, winner of the 2013 Law Rocks Los Angeles, is back to rock, roll, rap, dance, and funkify your minds. Not to be mistaken for your typical law-firm-charity-classic-rock-cover band, Run DLA has discovered its musical destiny by covering artists like Run DMC, Tina Turner, Coldplay, Janis Joplin, Adele, Def Leppard, and Justin Timberlake. The band is known to bring sexy back, roll in the deep, and pour some sugar on you, while curing fevers with the only prescription – more cowbell.