[Summer Guide] Summer Concerts, Festivals and Music Worth the Sweat

Perspiration Inspiration
Summer concerts, festivals and music worth the sweat

WHO: Hootenanny, featuring Mike Ness, Tiger Army, Dusty Rhodes N the River Band, Grant Lee Phillips and many others
WHAT: Annual gathering of the die-hard Americana-centric bands flaunting rockabilly, country-rock and rootsy punk moves, with tats a-flexin'.
WHEN: July 5, noon
WHERE: Oak Canyon Ranch, 5305 Santiago Canyon Rd., Irvine, (714) 563-9778; www.thehootenanny.com
HOW MUCH: $39.50

WHO: Jonas Brothers
WHAT: Cutie-pie Joisey boys whose saccharine, soaring, ultra-earnest pop may yet save the floundering music biz—or at least make millions of tween girls' panties flutter and hearts moisten.
WHEN: July 13-14, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, (714) 704-2500; www.hondacenter.com
HOW MUCH: $25-$75.50

WHO: The Zombies, Jefferson Starship
WHAT: The Zombies' sublime, ornate psych pop has aged marvelously (“Time of the Season” forever!); Jefferson Starship's pompous, LCD-pandering arena rock, not so much.
WHEN: July 17, 6 p.m.
WHERE: The Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, (714) 712-2700; www.thegroveofanaheim.com
HOW MUCH: $35-$45

WHO: Yaz, Psychedelic Furs
WHAT: Classy '80s flashback with hooky, soulful electro pop from Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke; emphysema-voiced new-wave rock from Richard Butler N co.
WHEN: July 24, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Pacific Amphitheater, Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, (714) 708-1870; www.ocfair.com
HOW MUCH: $59.50

WHO: Macy Gray, Seal
WHAT: Salty-tongued, raspy-piped R&B diva with much funk in her trunk; moderately talented British soul man, about whom we're not “Crazy.”
WHEN: July 27, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Pacific Amphitheater, Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, (714) 708-1870; www.ocfair.com
HOW MUCH: $39.50-$69.50

WHO: Tony Hawk's Boom Boom Huck Jamwith Mike Relm and many skateboarding, BMX and freestyle Moto-X athletes
WHAT: Relm's a hyper-dexterous “video turntablist” who synchs up audio with visuals to stunning, witty effect. Can you bust a move while busting a gut laughing?
WHEN: Aug. 24, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Dr., Irvine, (949) 855-8095; www.livenation.com
HOW MUCH: $30-$35

WHO: Stereolab
WHAT: Sophisticated, hypnotic, trés-chic pop that rolls several Euro/Anglo/Brazilian elements into a fabulous sonic croissant. Plus: Marxist lyrics sung in French!
WHEN: Sept. 20, 9 p.m.
WHERE: Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, (949) 642-0600; www.detroitbar.com
HOW MUCH: $15

SWEET RELEASES: ALBUMS AND DVDS TO GET STOKED ABOUT

Beck, Modern Guilt (Interscope)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Ten songs produced by Danger Mouse. That's all we know now, but we're tingling with anticipation. (Release date TBA) www.beck.com

Abe Vigoda, Skeleton (PostPresent Medium)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Fixtures at LA new-music incubator the Smell, Abe Vigoda put a caffeinated rush and chiming pop sensibility into their tightly wound post-punk attack. (July 8) www.myspace.com/abevigoda

Patti Smith/Kevin Shields, The Coral Sea (PASK)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Two discs of Smith's impassioned prose about the late artist Robert Mapplethorpe set to My Bloody Valentine leader Shields' ambient-guitar shadings. Moving and oceanic. (July 11)

Love, Love Story DVD (Start)
WHAT TO EXPECT: The mad saga of LA's greatest rock band (listen to Forever Changes and try to argue otherwise), featuring interviews with prime mover Arthur Lee (RIP) and surviving original members, plus testimonials from fellow musicians, studio accomplices and Elektra Records boss Jac Holzman. (July 22) www.myspace.com/lovestorydocumentary

Daft Punk's Electroma DVD (Vice)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Directorial debut by the French danse-musique duo depicting two robots striving to become human in the American Southwest—to a non-DP soundtrack. Not much happens, reputedly, but the scenery's gorgeous. (July 22) www.daftpunk.com

Pepper, Pink Crustaceans And Good Vibrations (Law/Controlled Substance)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Summery yet edgy ska-flecked rock from these Hawaii-based SoCal favorites. Produced by Butthole Surfer Paul Leary. (July 22) www.pepperlive.com; www.silverblackmusic.net

CSS, Donkey (Sub Pop)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Sassy, shaggy and tangy electro pop from CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy). Another reason why Brazilians rule. (July 22) www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy

Fiery Furnaces, Remember (Thrill Jockey)
WHAT TO EXPECT: Incredibly dynamic, bombastic and euphoric 51-track double-disc live set from the Friedberger siblings, modern masters of art-pop excess. (Aug. 16) www.thefieryfurnaces.com

The Dandy Warhols, Earth to the Dandy Warhols (Beat the World)
WHAT TO EXPECT: More catchy, cheeky psych pop and drone-y dirges, topped by this Portland group's patented blasé charisma. Even Anton Newcombe must acknowledge. (Aug. 19) www.dandywarhols.com

ds****@oc******.com

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