Hip-Hop, Blues Rock and Power Pop

bar on Lankershim will kick off a new event series Wednesday evening with "The Dressing Room: An Industry Showcase at the Federal," a night of music that is set to take place the last Wednesday of every month. It will feature sets from new and established talents.

Hosted by Los Angeles talk-radio host Sheena Metal of the Sheena Metal Experience, it's a chance for bands to play live in front of music industry professionals (if you count yourself among that group, email the host for a comp ticket).

It's also an opportunity for locals to catch five bands: EME, two teenage hip-hop artists who perform with their father, who is also a musician; Blaze, a rock band; the John King Band, whose music Metal calls "kind of a modern urban blues rock." The 10 p.m. set will be Engine of Survival, which plays "power pop" and used to be a regular at Skinny's, Metal told Patch. Rounding off the night will be the Tommy Mora Band, with Southern Texas-style blues rock.

The bands were all selected by Metal, who has been impressed by their previous performances.

"It's not 'do I think they're good?'—for me, it's more about 'is their energy good, are they professional, are they nice people to work with?'," Metal said.

"The Dressing Room: An Industry Showcase at the Federal," the Federal Bar, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., music at 8 p.m. Email: sheena@sheenametalexperience.com.