Friday, April 12
Coachella
Empire Polo Club
This year's granddaddy of Southern California rolls into Indio for weekend one of an insane three-day sprawl of sound, now in its 12th year. Friday's lineup topped by Britain's revived rock legends The Stone Roses and features other marquis acts likeTrent Reznor's new project How to Destroy Angels, Jurassic Five, Passion Pit and Yeah Yeah Yeahs that we can't wait to cover in between sprints to the DoLab and the insane amount of half-naked people watching, which is half the reason we show up anyway. Stay tuned for our full coverage this weekend. You can find the full list of artists and set times here. (Nate Jackson)
]
House of 80s
House of Blues Anaheim
House of Blues in Anaheim is about to take a totally awesome trip back in time to become House of '80s, a music showcase celebrating one of the raddest decades in modern music. Legendary KROQ DJ Richard Blade has been a music fixture since he made his career in the '80s playing New Wave and rock hits, later hosting his own MTV-like video program for KTLA (most recently he hosts the '80s music show First Wave on Sirius Radio); tonight he will be spinning New Wave (Rock Lobster, anyone?) and '80s alternative rock hits, alongside '80s tribute bands Past Action Heroes, One Hot Mess, Neon Nation and The Reflexx. (Aimee Murillo)
Saturday, April 13
Chicano Batman
Soulful synthesizer, funky guitar riffs, and the flavor of '70s Latin psychedelia; these are just some of the elements that make up the sound of Chicano Batman. Don't let the name fool you, there's no tribute to the caped crusader here, only tributes to the sounds of '60s and '70s
Latin rhythms like cumbia and Brazilian bossa nova mixed in with surf rock and those vintage threads your parents probably wore at their prom. Watch them lay down some epic grooves with a full line up of groups, featuring Wild Pack of Canaries, Bobby Blunders, Gorgeous and DJ Dust Digg. (Aimee Murillo)
[
Sunday, April 14
Arlo Guthrie
Somehow
Arlo Guthrie makes being Woody Guthrie's son and heir to his profound
cultural legacy seem easy, even fun. Pop star, folkie, serious musician,
storyteller, and actor, he's also official booster of Woody's America
by way of his dad's grassroots people's politics. Arlo both pays tribute
to his famous old man in this concert celebrating Woody's centennial
and gives musicologists, fans, and sing-alongers more of his own warm
and distinctly original voice. The apple did not fall far from the
tree–and got only sweeter. Woody might advise you pick it up and eat it!
This birthday concert is your concert, my concert, made for you and
me. Very, very family friendly! (Andrew Tonkovich)
HB Surround Sound
The rock genre has become such a broad term that most music fans don't
use it much anymore, especially with all the subcategory genres. But in
rock & roll's early days, it meant musicianship and a stronger
emphasis on live performance when compared to other genres. HB Surround
Sound embodies modern rock & roll with their dedication to live
performances by wearing matching attire that illustrate their united
musicianship. Although some songs tread into genres that might classify
them as ska or reggae, the core is pure rock, with repeated snare-drum
beats and lyrics that touch upon love and breaking down during certain
moments in life–the same shit Elvis and Johnny were singing about back
in their Sun Records days. (Erin DeWitt)
Follow us on Twitter @OCWeeklyMusic and like us on Facebook at Heard Mentality.
