Monday, April 29
The Originalites
Gallagher's Pub & Grill
Since coming together as teenagers (and later recruiting saxophonist Mike Belk after an impromptu jam session at a local gig), The Originalites have risen high in the ranks of Orange County's local music scene in the span of only five years. The Fountain Valley four-piece may remind you of mid-'90s ska groups like Sublime, however their mellow lyrics are more upbeat and family-friendly. After winning several battle of the band competitions at various high schools, they've moved up to venues like the Coach House, House of Blues and DiPiazza's, even winning the OC Music Award for Best Surf this year. Don't mistake their long hair for the laid-back surfer image–The Originalites also love to have fun through their high energy music, mixing ska with punk, dub and Latin music influences. As of late, they've held a residency at Gallagher's Pub in Huntington Beach every Monday night.(Aimee Murillo)
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Tuesday, April 30
Thicker Than Thieves
The Slidebar
A relatively chill, upbeat evening will be had by all tonight at the Slidebar with Thicker Than Thieves, a six-piece rock-reggae band inspired by earlier groups like The Clash, Bob Marley & The Wailers and surf music. The band swears by propagating a positive message about inspiring youth with their music, which features delightfully soulful vocals by member Jamin Hazelaar, colorful keyboard flourishes and the occasional brass accompaniment. With three albums out and a fourth on the way, it's hard to pick one favorite song, but their cover of “Guns of Brixton” is pretty superb; “Not Alone” is also highly recommended to make even the most stoic crowd member sway with rhythm. Currently the multicultural group are on the final stretch of their Spring Tour, making their way through California until May, so make your way down to Fullerton for some fun music and cool vibes. (Aimee Murillo)
Wednesday, May 1
The Killers
Honda Center
These days, acquiring the title “rock star” happens fairly quickly. With a catchy tune, a spike in YouTube hits, and a few festival slots, a band can earn praise at a rapid rate. But staying power–that's something different entirely. The Killers continue to grow their fan base and stay relevant in an extremely fickle music industry. Their full-bodied sound, soaring melodies, and memorable hooks keep them on fans' and critics' minds alike. Thanks largely in part to the distinctive voice of frontman Brandon Flowers, the Sin City natives continue to thrill the masses. After the release of Battle Born last year, the group perpetuates their “rocks star” titles with a headlining slot at Lollapalooza in August and a date at England's historic Wembley Stadium in June. This month, however, The Killers gear up to blaze through the US, hitting The Honda Center. (Heidi Darby)
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Thursday, May 2
California Guitar Trio
Coach House
Bert Lams of Belgium, Hideyo Moriya of Japan, and Paul Richards of Utah are the three guitar virtuosos that, somewhat ironically, make up the California Guitar Trio. After meeting at at New Standard Tuning class in the late '80s, they eventually banded together as the CGT in 1991. In addition to some pretty spectacular all-acoustic covers of rock classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and unique mash-ups like their version of “Ghost Riders on the Storm” (a blend of “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and “Riders on the Storm”), the California Guitar Trio also have an impressive catalogue of original songs. Catch them this week at the Coach House and prepare to get a serious case of guitar skills envy. (Erin DeWitt)
Friday, May 3
Basscon
Yost Theater
Friday night's alright for partying down, so make your way over to Santa Ana's historic Yost Theater for Basscon tonight. The Yost has been putting out great EDM and trance music nights for a while now, but Basscon looks like its going to be an intense night of hard dance music. Six DJs from around the world will be serving up the untz untz untz on the dancefloor, so get there early for what should be a great way to start the Cinco de Mayo weekend. Bring your friends! (Aimee Murillo)
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