‘The closest thing to church’: How Unusual Tuesday became L.A.’s home for misfit artists

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It is not just any Tuesday.

It’s 9 p.m. on a gloomy night in Shadow Hills, not far from the green foothills of the Verdugo Mountains. The gentle shimmer of a cymbal is the only sound escaping the thick walls of Sun Space, a hidden performance venue, and reaching the empty expanse of Sunland Boulevard.

You won’t find a sign, but just listen for the sound to find the Host. He appears on stage through a secret door hidden behind a vibrant, colorful light show. He’s quite a sight – a gold sequin jacket, a crisp polka-dot shirt, bright fuchsia bell-bottoms, and a yellow trucker hat, all paired with a full, Appalachian-style beard.

The Host is among the unusual performers brought to life by the imagination of Noel Rhodes and showcased at his unique venue, Sun Space. Rhodes, 63, started Sun Space in 2017 as a place for artists who don’t quite fit into the typical Los Angeles club scene. It’s more than just an open mic night, he explains, and welcomes a wide range of acts – from experimental music and jazz to comedy, science lectures, and even classic rock – with performances happening almost every day.

Tuesdays, however, are somehow more unusual.

A palpable tension fills the room as the audience looks up at the unique decorations: large, teardrop-shaped paper sculptures hanging like stalactites, and handmade, otherworldly formations on the ceiling. On stage sits a striking mask depicting a creature that’s part human, part goat. The audience for Unusual Tuesday is wonderfully diverse, ranging in age from teenagers to people in their seventies, all chatting and moving around as they wait for the show to begin.

The Host encourages everyone to work together as a unified group to achieve a single goal.

“Let’s figure out what this whole thing is!”

The house band drums intensify, a violin cries and guitar chords growl.

The choir sings, “It’s Unusual Tuesday!” and the congregation responds with a playful sentiment: “Every other day – Friday, Saturday, Sunday – feels like a total waste of time!”

Everything descends into disorder. Rhodes’ body becomes strangely flexible, almost boneless. Tonya Lee Jaynes throws all her energy into playing the drums, powerfully hitting the bass and snare. The audience joins in singing, their voices blending together in a raw, slightly off-key chorus.

Rhodes credits the inspiration for Sun Space and its signature event, Unusual Tuesday, to small fundraising shows his father organized in their Pennsylvania hometown when he was growing up. He remembers those shows being a bit like a mix of “The Little Rascals” and “Monty Python,” and that playful, quirky energy influenced the sketch-comedy style of Unusual Tuesday. Sun Space grew out of this as a place for other unique performers to showcase their talents throughout the week.

Rhodes explains that the initial plan was simply to use volunteers and existing equipment to cover the cost of rent. He believed it would be sustainable as long as they didn’t have to worry about personal expenses like rent and medical bills.

Even though the weekly show was held in an unlikely spot – squeezed between a cafe and an empty building – it quickly drew a unique and interesting group of artists and people.

Eddie Loyola, a regular attendee since 2017, describes the event’s core as being about creativity, self-expression, and above all, freedom. He says it’s a truly unique experience that encourages anyone to share their talents, unlike some other places that can feel exclusive.

Unusual Tuesday gives rising artist Bailey Zabaglio, who usually plays energetic electrocrash at small venues, a chance to try out different kinds of music. Last April, Zabaglio kicked off the night with a set of gentle, electric-infused indie ballads that the crowd loved.

Zabaglio describes the diverse crowd as amazing, saying everyone is a unique individual. He was especially pleased that so many people made the effort to attend an event on a typical Tuesday, leaving their phones and homes to be there.

Sun Space doesn’t use social media much, so most people find out about Unusual Tuesday by hearing about it from friends. Adding to the fun, Zabaglio’s brother Jamie flew in from Washington and gave a hilarious, spontaneous comedy performance shortly after his brother’s set.

Jamie shared that performing a variety show in Washington was a significant part of their past, and this recent experience has been incredibly therapeutic. They explained they once created and ran their own show, doing everything they could to make it work. After a long time feeling that opportunity had passed, they felt that same joy again tonight.

Scheduling shows at Sun Space is a bit tricky, explains Jamie Inman, who handles everything from booking to sound. He and Rhodes now co-own the venue, and they typically book performers two to three weeks out, choosing from artists who have already reached out expressing interest.

Each Tuesday session is unique. Some weeks focus on singer-songwriters, others on modular synthesizers, and often it’s a mix of everything. We occasionally invite guest speakers and experts, and we like to experiment with different combinations. Even if things don’t quite come together perfectly, that’s okay with us, too, says Inman.

The show had run for almost ten years without interruption until the COVID-19 pandemic. When artists couldn’t perform anywhere, Rhodes, Inman, and Chris Soohoo, who handles the show’s visuals, quickly created a Twitch livestream to keep the energy going.

Soohoo explained that while previous “Unusual Tuesday” events online were different, they helped people discover new interests – for example, he became more involved with the visual aspects. He was happy to hear that for some, the online stream was their first experience with the event, and now they were able to attend in person, knowing they’d done their best to create something worthwhile.

On the online show, Austin Drizzles, a quirky character known for his silly weather reports, would take calls from enthusiastic fans. Now that the show is part of traditional news programming, Drizzles receives photos from viewers and shares his thoughts on them during the Unusual Tuesday segment.

Drizzles shared a photo submitted by Rebecca, commenting, ‘What a cute little squirrel! I love how lively they are. I hope it gets a banana, like usual.’

The jazz and breakbeat duo Left Unsaid played their first live show at Unusual Tuesday’s event last April. Lucian Smith and Sander Bryce, who started the group this year, explained that finding a receptive audience in Los Angeles can be challenging, but Unusual Tuesday consistently offers a great space for unique and experimental artists.

Smith notes that while many performances feel like trying to win over a crowd, this one felt different. People here seemed genuinely eager and curious about what was going to happen. Having previously performed to empty rooms, Smith especially appreciated the enthusiastic audience.

Artist and regular attendee August Kamp says that ‘Unusual Tuesday’ is a welcome break for those who come each week, offering relief from the pressures and routines of the workweek.

She feels like there’s just too much ordinary stuff in life. Having one specific day each week where she feels particularly energized – a day not already filled with commitments – is something she really appreciates.

As a total film buff, I was really struck by how many people described Unusual Tuesdays as something almost…spiritual. They kept comparing it to church, even a cult! And the filmmaker, Rhodes, who grew up Swedenborgian – that’s a Christian group focused on divine love and the writings of this theologian named Emanuel Swedenborg – he doesn’t exactly disagree with that assessment. It’s fascinating, honestly, how strongly people felt about it.

Rhodes describes their Tuesday services as unique, explaining that they create a shared, immersive experience. They aim to connect with the musicians and the congregation, getting everyone into a collective energy and rhythm.

Shortly before midnight, after Austin Drizzles’ usual weather report, the church filled with the energetic sounds of “Unusual Tuesday” worship. A powerful feeling of unity swept through the room, as people from all walks of life seemed to connect spiritually – a group finally finding harmony. Some quietly followed along with the lyrics, while others sang with unrestrained emotion, releasing the feelings they’d held onto throughout the week. During this time, the leader, Rhodes, wasn’t seen as an individual, but as a vessel – simply the Host.

He’s made one sure promise: he’ll be back in six days and twenty-two hours for something he calls ‘Unusual Tuesday!’

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2026-05-18 13:36