If you’ve never heard the phrase “Primus sucks,” allow us to formally educate you. Primus is the oft-bizarre prog-rock trio from the Bay Area who dazzled alt audiences in the ‘80s and ‘90s with songs about sturgeon fishing and big brown beavers. Earning the ironic... More >>

New York natives Alex Frankel and Nick Millhiser have hit it big in '80s synth pop wonderland as Holy Ghost!, a duo whose music features futuristic disco beats and club remixes of top-40 hits by MGMT, Moby and Phoenix, among others. Since their breakthrough hit "Hold On," Holy Ghost!'s... More >>

Dillinger Escape Plan, the New Jersey mathcore band (that's mathrock-meets-hardcore for those who were wondering) stops by the all ages venue Chain Reaction this Monday night, giving hoards of angsty teenage boys something to yell and thrash and freak out about. A Dillinger Escape Plan live... More >>

Youngblood Hawke’s music emanates a youthful sort of charm—a charm worthy of stoplight sing-alongs and impromptu dance parties. The Los Angeles-based five-piece furthers Silver Lake's strong musical reach, thriving on indie-inspired pop beats, catchy lyrics and kindred spirit. Last... More >>

Behold the return of the Infamous! Queensbridge's Mobb Deep were the two “killer kids who just don’t care” whose bleaked-out, stripped-to-the-bones hip-hop ruled the middle '90s and cast a shadow that reached all the way to a 2000s revival (in part on 50 Cent’s G-Unit)... More >>

Slap on some thick eyeliner and break out the Creepers because seminal punk band The Damned is playing House of Blues Anaheim. Known as the fathers of the Goth genre, The Damned has been fundamental in the punk music scene since 1976. While the band’s members have transformed over time,... More >>

Like parasites on a large whale, cover bands thrive in any city with bars. But with so many choices out there, it's hard to know which is worth risking alcohol poisoning and a DUI for. Take our word for it, the premier performer of cover jams is the self-proclaimed one-man legend Phil Shane.... More >>

Karaoke—that glorious bar sport where liquor actually improves your performance and even the most un-athletic types become champions with a well-timed high note. Nadine's Irish Mist in Sunset Beach offers the spotlight-hungry a chance to take center stage and revel in all those... More >>

Have you seen that cell-phone commercial in which the guy wants to rent a hotel room, but the clerk is all, “You don’t want that room. It’s a dead zone”? Well, the restaurant at the Prospector is sort of like that. Rumor has it the menu includes steaks, chicken and... More >>

Beth Fitchett Wood toured in a few acts throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, and now she's back home in Laguna, trying to spotlight new talent. Every Tuesday, she plays for 45 minutes, then starts the showcasing of other talented acts. More >>

Because you're never too old for a good ol' booze cruise on a 140-passenger boat: Secure that baby sitter and enjoy a live reggae band, plenty of food and a full bar as you view the waters of Long Beach. More >>

So you play an instrument. But maybe you're not sure if you're talented. Or you think you are and want other people to know it, too. Or you want to show off a song you just wrote to that cute girl who works behind the counter. Whatever the reason, come to Musician's Open Mic Night every... More >>

In a world of musicians carrying the rap/rock torch, DJ Souless leads the pack, expertly blending rock's angular sound elements with smooth turntable grooves. He is also a member of the rap/rock band Low Life Music, who perform a song about a girl from Fontana--classic. Souless spins regularly... More >>

The $2 Corona drink special is just an excuse for Tuesday nights to be the night to show up to this newly opened South County bar. The real attraction: those dueling piano. The dudes who play them take requests all night -- buy em a beer and they're more likely to play yours -- and they don't... More >>

Some party people get tired of overcrowded bars, pricy drinks, and DJs that don't deserve the drink tickets they're getting paid with (we swear, if we hear "Pumped Up Kicks" one more fucking time...), so it might be worth your sanity to check out iPod Sundays. The Pike Bar in Long Beach is... More >>

Those in search of a cozy locals only atmosphere need look no further. Hell, come on down, even if you aren't. Just don't expect to get a discount on drinks. Board Night kicks things off with a friendly game of Pub Trivia and then livens up by showcasing local surf bands and videos throughout... More >>

If you are tired of the same old music and non-rhythmic movement, then Monday nights may be a night for change. Come to the Shore Ultra Lounge where people will be coming together for some good, old-fashion, fancy foot-work and hip shaking to the salsa beat. Newcomers welcome. More >>

Calling all jazz aficionados, virtuosos and wannabes. Every Sunday at Steamer's, it's a free-for-all jam session for enthusiasts of all skill levels. Led by drummer Evan Stone and his trio, you are invited to join the veterans onstage. A particularly warm welcome has been extended to Cal State... More >>

With weekly drag shows (sometimes featuring the occasional gal from RuPaul's Drag Race), go-go dancers, two-dollar shots and "cheap ass" drinks, Wednesdays are starting to feel a lot more like Fridays thanks to Hamburger Mary's in Long Beach. The LGBT hot spot presents Wild Wednesdays, and it's... More >>

Focus Tuesdays, the mid-week house music dance party at Tapas in Newport, might just the most underrated club in OC. With years (years!) of experience bringing in some of the best deep house DJs in the business, Focus attracts a young, beautiful crowd of house fanatics and party people each... More >>

Nothing like getting totally sauced on a fine Sunday afternoon with a couple hundred of the hottest boys in Long Beach. Starting at 3 p.m., Ripples pours the ever-flowing beer, provides tasty little tacos on the patio and pumps up the music. You're sure to make (several) friends. More >>

Let's all get drunk and sing! Every Sunday night, Detroit Bar, one of OC's most prominent venues for stylish, up-and-coming musical acts, frees its stage for less talented hacks to come up and belt it out. At Sunday Karaoke, the alcohol is flowing, the mic is open and MC extraordinaire Bobby... More >>

Just because this club specializes in grooves of the Samba, Soul and Hip-Hop variety doesn't mean it's incapable of putting on a stellar indie show every Monday night. This week, The Commonwealth will host, among other proprietors of the indie sound, Let's Drive to Alaska. This band features... More >>

Open-mic events always bring out the aspiring teenage folkies, workaday closet emo crooners and ill-conceived joke bands, but OC's best open mics—Gypsy Den's included—come with a cadre of older, more experienced, more awesome amateurs in addition to the twentysomethings. There's a... More >>

You know you want to and who's gonna stop you? There's no better day than a Monday night to belt away those weekday blues. Possible song choices: -Living on a Prayer -Here Comes the Sun -Major Tom -Bohemian Rhapsody Now, knock 'em dead. More >>