The people behind the scenes

Brandon Jay has been playing drums since he can remember. His mother would lay out pots and pans and other household items for him to bang on – similar items can be found in his percussion basket today! A giant comb, a bicycle wheel, a couple slide whistles, too. Having been the heart and soul of many bands through the years (Lutefisk, Miss Spiritual Tramp, The 88), his piano playing led him to begin writing music and ultimately fronting the circus-like Quazar and the Bamboozled. Shortly after he and Gwendolyn Sanford met and began writing and producing music for preschoolers known to many as Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang.  The Good Time Gang pioneered the tot rock music scene in Los Angeles which ironically, led Jay/Sanford to compose the score for the popular Showtime series Weeds. Weeds led to harder stuff (namely prison) in the Netflix original series Orange is the New Black. The two are taking to the stage as they’ve written music/lyrics for Romy and Michele the Musical opening this fall Off-Broadway at The Shubert Stage 42.

They lost their home and recording studio in the Eaton fire. In the wake of that, Jay started the foundation Altadena Musicians which has gotten over 1500 instruments and over 1300 albums back into the hands of those that lost theirs in the Eaton and Palisades fires.

When not recording or performing live, Jay enjoys listening to the ringing in his ears.

De Ivett is the CEO of 5D Spectrum, where she’s collaborated with leading music brands like Live Nation, Schecter, Daisy Rock, and artists including Tool and Allee Willis. As an early innovator in technology, she built her first website in 1994. She led the team that brought DVD technology to consumers in 1997. After the LA fires in 2025, she created “Instrumental Giving,” powered by the Altadena Musicians App, to support fire-impacted musicians. In August 2025, she became an advisor to the Women’s International Music Network and continues her volunteer work with the She Rocks Awards Show. A bassist and songwriter, De continues to create music while advocating for arts education.

Patria Jacobs is a prolific singer/songwriter in Los Angeles and performed with her band Rubyfish. She is an
accountant and business manager with a background in law, indie label publicity, and entertainment accounting management.

Liz Garo is a highly respected and influential veteran of the Los Angeles music scene, celebrated for her crucial work in fusing the business of music with artistic vision to create truly memorable live experiences. As a creative leader who thrives in the productive chaos of the industry, her philosophy is rooted in both sharp business acumen and genuine artist support—from making room on the guest list to securing the essential dressing room amenities, and most critically, knowing when to commit to a blossoming talent.

Liz honed her skills by booking the Knitting Factory Los Angeles for two years before becoming the lead talent buyer for Spaceland Presents, a role that has profoundly shaped the independent music landscape in LA. She also worked in the Music Programming Department for the Oxygen Network and served as the Talent Curator for the HBO live music series, REVERB, from 1998–2001.

Liz Garo’s lasting legacy is her commitment to the art of the discovery, making her an indispensable force in bringing compelling, cutting-edge music to the masses.