The evening began perfectly with dinner at Bacari Silverlake in Los Angeles. The menu, bread and house-cured olives, the vibrant beet salad, and the Mediterranean street corn a delightful mix of fire-roasted corn, toum crema, crispy shallots, hazelnut-chili oil, feta, and lemon. For the main course, we savored the pan-seared sea bass, complemented by charred shishito peppers, corn, tarragon aioli, pomegranate molasses, and grilled lemon, alongside the scallop medallions served with carrot-parsnip purée, melted leek, crispy capers, beet chips, and a drizzle of white truffle oil.

After this culinary indulgence at Bacari Silverlake, where the dishes beautifully honored tradition while embracing creativity, we made our way to Pomona.

Stepping back inside the imaginary fence at the Glass House in Pomona, There was a palpable excitement in the air, that surrounded everyone in the building as we all prepared to ring in the new year. The venue was full of anticipation as Los Tranquilos electrified the crowd while LA LOM, the Los Angeles League of Musicians, prepared to take the stage. I’d heard their dynamic music while sitting at a red light scrolling through Instagram stories and I thought to myself this on some next level shit like Cumbia with a doctorate degree, but to experience them live was something entirely different.

As the lights dimmed and the first notes of my favorite song “Café Tropical”, it filled the room, and I felt the crowd lean into the music, shit, I even leaned into the music trying to video and record them playing trying not to dance, but we were all drawn together by the soulful energy radiating from the stage. It was impossible not to feel the warmth and nostalgia in that opening number. Zac Sokolow’s guitar had a way of telling stories without words, while Jake Faulkner’s bass provided a groove you could feel in your chest. Nicholas Baker’s percussion tied it all together, grounding the music with an infectious groove.

What was captivating was how effortlessly LA LOM blended musical styles. One moment I was swaying to the hypnotic beats of Cumbia Sonidera, feeling like I was in a bustling dance hall. Next, I was transported to a different era with the soulful tones of 60s ballads and romantic boleros. Then came the unexpected: psychedelic waves of Peruvian Chicha seamlessly woven with hints of country. Each transition felt natural, as if the band were painting a sonic portrait of Los Angeles itself, a city where cultures collide and creativity thrives.

The crowd at The Glass House was electric, and I couldn’t help but feed off the energy around me. At one point, I noticed security flashing their lights, gently encouraging everyone to concert dance within spaces behind the designated taped lines which looked like a 1980s school elementary playground. Instead of dampening the mood, it added kind of a quirky charm to the night. It was as if even the logistics of crowd control became part of the celebration, kind of.

Outside, the sporadic sound of fireworks and distant gunshots in the air reminded me, and the sounds of sirens from either an ambulance, paramedic, and or the po po. To me, this wasn’t just a concert, it was New Year’s Eve in Southern California, where every sound contributes to the atmosphere. The band played on, unfazed, as if they were in sync with the city’s pulse.

As the countdown to midnight began, LA LOM’s rhythms reached a crescendo, providing the perfect soundtrack to our collective anticipation.

LA LOM’s performance wasn’t just a concert, it was an experience.Their ability to honor tradition while pushing creative boundaries was truly inspiring. I walked away that night not only excited for 2025, but also deeply appreciative of the cultural richness and innovation that bands like LA LOM bring to life. Stressing the word innovation, umm Pomona.

Catch them live when they are back in P-Town or take a drive or catch a plane to catch them live as they will continue touring abroad to Paris, France, Amsterdam, and Scotland. La Lom’s music is a definite reminder of why Los Angeles is one of the most vibrant cultural hubs in the world.

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, a purveyor of books, and writer, but mostly a photographer. Don’t ever ask him to take photos of weddings or quinceaneras, because he will charge you a ton of money.