Release Party for Stephanie Sanditz-Directed Johnny Marfa and The Lights Music Video for New Song “Keep On L-I-V-I-N” at Desert 5 Spot Saturday, July 27
WHAT: Johnny Marfa and The Lights are having a release party for the music video of their new song “Keep On L-I-V-I-N,” directed by Stephanie Sanditz, at the filming location Desert 5 Spot on Saturday, July 27. The event will include two live performances by the band, who currently have a residency at the venue on Saturdays. This is the first single from their upcoming sophomore album Take Me Back to Texas, which follows their 2023 debut, The Name’s Johnny Marfa. Who are mere earthlings going to call when their Hollywood bar is boring, sad, and needs help? A direct line to charismatic savior Johnny Marfa, of course. Just pick up the phone, and he’ll be there in a flash to turn that frown upside down and get the crowd up and moving. He’s a honky tonk angel with one mission and one mission alone: to save the world a two-step at a time. So get on the dancefloor!
WHO:
Johnny Marfa is a “Southern-fried, Cali-fied, Texas tornado of a good time” character played by writer, actor, and musician Jonathan R. Freeman. Marfa was born in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. You know that story, but what you don’t know is that there were survivors. A handful of newly orphaned little baby aliens made their way out of the wreckage and took refuge in a nearby barn where they were discovered naked and shivering by a good-hearted old farmer. He took ‘em in. Raised ‘em. Fed ‘em barbecue in their baby bottles and showed ‘em who the hell Hank Williams was. Those miniature ETs knew right then and there why they crash landed on this little green planet: to save the world with country music. They grew up, learned how to play, and Johnny Marfa and The Lights was born. The rest, as they say in the biz, is history…in the makin’, that is. Watch out Earth, you ‘bout to get down.
Stephanie Sanditz is a filmmaker and actress who created, wrote, produced, and starred in the award-winning autobiographical television pilot The High Life; created, wrote, and produced the television series Chat. Like. Love, wrote the feature film PERFECT ADDICTION (2023) and has been featured in projects like 37 Problems, The Young and the Restless, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She is currently working on several films, including: the Catherine-Hardwick directed lesbian Viking epic HEATHEN, based on the series of the same name by Vault Comics; the Civil War petticoat solider biopic MY LAST SKIRT, which is an adaptation of the book by the same name, for Tony Award-nominated producer Arny Granat; and the action film HELL WOOD, alongside co-writer and co-producer Carsten H.W. Lorenz. Sanditz also recently optioned the drama series SHOW ME STATES to the studio Happy Accidents and is set to direct the feature film LEGENDS ONLY. She is an active supporter of Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the St. Louis Public Library Foundation, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA.
WHEN:
Saturday, July 27 from 7:00PM to 10:00PM PDT. First performance at 8:00PM and second performance at 9:30PM.
WHERE:
Desert 5 Spot at 6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028.
WHAT ELSE:
Desert 5 Spot is a Joshua Tree-inspired Americana bar serving cocktails, beer, and tacos and featuring emerging country artists, line dancing and two-stepping classes, and weekend DJs. Its New York City location is set to open in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on July 25.
“Keep On L-I-V-I-N”
Shot on Red Komodo in 4K with aspect ratio 16:9 (3840×2160). Advance screeners available for media.
Johnny Marfa and The Lights
