‘Hacks’ Star Christina Hendricks Takes Over the Decks in Pasadena with DJ Side Hustle

Some celebrity second acts are reinventions, while others are simply cool hobbies that gain public attention. Christina Hendricks appears to fall into the latter category, much to the delight of her fans. The ‘Mad Men’ star has become a regular on the vinyl-spinning scene, and her recent DJ set only adds to her growing legend.

Best known for her role as Joan Holloway on ‘Mad Men,’ which earned her six Primetime Emmy nominations, Hendricks has also starred in ‘Hap and Leonard’ and appeared in the first two seasons of ‘The Buccaneers.’ However, her latest passion is far removed from scripted performances.

This past weekend, she returned to the turntables in her own backyard, performing a DJ set at Sid’s Bar in Pasadena on Saturday night. The event was billed as a “dream pop, shoegaze, indie” evening, running from 7 PM to 11 PM. Videos from the night quickly circulated online, showcasing her at the decks in a red-lit room adorned with crimson curtains, dressed in a dark polka-dot jacket and layered necklace, while an enthusiastic crowd watched.

Christina Hendricks spinning ln in Pasadena…mother of all mothers https://t.co/DLhCD1GUER

— alexa (@alexadoingstuff) October 11, 2026

It’s easy to overlook how recent this venture is for her. According to her social media posts, Hendricks only began DJing in November 2025, when musician Mary Lattimore taught her the basics at Part Time Lover, a listening bar in San Diego. She performed alongside Lattimore during that initial experience and later returned to play solo.

Her solo debut took place on April 1, and many fans initially thought it was an April Fools’ prank. It wasn’t. She delivered a four-hour, all-vinyl set of what she describes as “shoe pop dream gaze,” with her husband, camera operator George Bianchini, cheering her on as the crowd sang along.

Her musical taste leans toward indie, shoegaze, and dream pop. The 46-song set from April featured artists like Spiritualized, Wolf Alice, The Knife, Cocteau Twins, St. Vincent, Lana Del Rey, Tori Amos, The Stone Roses, and Beach House. Other notable names included Chromatics, Sky Ferreira, Warpaint, Mitski, and Japanese Breakfast.

This mix reflects Hendricks’s long-standing indie credentials. She has expressed her love for bands like The Dead Milkmen, Kate Bush, The Cure, and Erasure. Additionally, she identified as a goth and punk in her youth, making her shoegaze inclination feel like a natural fit.

The online reaction has been warm and somewhat astonished. When she first announced her San Diego show, many fans admitted they had no idea she DJed at all. Others joked about her transition from ‘Mad Men’ to mad beats, and the Pasadena audience embraced this spirit.

There’s something refreshing about a well-known actress engaging in something purely for the love of it. The Pasadena gig was free, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis and a waitlist, giving it a neighborhood feel rather than a publicity stunt. It also started at 7 PM, a detail that one local newsletter dubbed the best part.

The DJ sets are part of a broader nostalgic trend for Hendricks. In May, she reflected on the tenth anniversary of the ‘Mad Men’ finale in a heartfelt Instagram post and attended the Cruel World festival in Pasadena, enjoying some of her favorite 1980s and 1990s bands. It seems music has become a significant part of her life beyond the camera.

For fans, this is great news. Hendricks has shown she can captivate an audience, whether through scripted performances or a collection of records. If the crowds continue to show up, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more Southern California dates added.

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