Review by Jeff Phifer. Photos by Fever Dragon.
First there was the Rock and Roll Circus (Cirque du Rock and Roll), then there was the Circus of the Sun (Cirque du Soleil) and now there is the Circus of the Moon (Cirque du Lune) a.k.a. “Lets Be Friends” at The Vault 350.
The bands on the bill were local and well used to playing in small, darkly lit dive bar venues. Yet on Saturday they planted their sneakers on a stage fit for The Wailers, Boz Scags, Chris Isaac and Death by Stereo. Perfo
I've been a Sirius Satellite subscriber (hello alliteration) since the night before Howard Stern broadcast his first censorship-free show. But in that time, I've come to love certain aspects of the other channels and have recommended this product to everyone from friends to my parents.Sirius and XM, its competitor, merged a few months ago after what seemed like an endless battle to turn two into one. To be honest, I didn't follow the merger as much as I should have because ultimately, I really d
The Grove of Anaheim will surprise you sometimes. They'll go a couple weeks without too many shows of note, then they'll come at you with a bunch of stuff all at once, and you're like "hey! Grove of Anaheim! alright!" This is one of those weeks: tomorrow, Taking Back Sunday. Friday, B-Real of Cypress Hill and Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Tonight? Neo-soul progenitor Erykah Badu, pictured. Badu has won over fans, critics and whoever the people are that give away Grammy awards for more than
Fathers, lock up your daughters: Alfunction's coming to town.It seems as if a little band named (hed) PE has upcoming shows and needs a bass player. Something about their regular bassist having work visa programs. I don't know... Anyway, like every smart set of musicians in Orange County, when stuck with this predicament, you call Alfunction.Best know as the guitarist in local rock band SiX, Mr. Function will be holding down the low end on this trip. He's got to learn something like 20 songs in
Whoa, it's like the Newport Beach Film Festival is all "I'll be bawck" and stuff. Huh? What we're trying to say is, the recently concluded NBFF will be presenting a special preview screening of the upcoming Terminator: Salvation -- tomorrow night!Tickets are $20, and proceeds go to the film festival and the student governments of Mater Dei, Corona Del Mar and Newport Harbor high schools. And Terminator: Salvation director and OC native McG -- yes, that's what he calls himself -- will be at the s
Kurupt, a solo rapper and one half of Tha Dogg Pound, released an iTunes-only mix yesterday. It's called Tha Penagon, Vol. 1 and based on the track list, it's sounds very promising.Guests include B-Real (from Cypress Hill), Gail Gotti, Killah Priest, Roscoe, A Dub, Gillie Da Kid, Teknizzle, Nas and Prodigy. For those who like to sample before they buy, there are a few tracks on Kurupt's myspace page. Click here for that.
To boring people, April 20 means two things: the anniversary of the Columbine massacre or Hitler's birthday. To stoners, it's something way cooler.Because stoners can't agree on anything other than, yes, they should smoke another bowl, the origins of 4/20 vary. Some say it's police code. Some say it has something to do with the Bible. But again, like only stoners can, they overlook the past and keep their eyes on the prize, ie getting stoned.Now, I have something to admit. This 4/20 will be the
For Chris Manak (aka Peanut Butter Wolf), the 90s will always hold a special place on his turntables. After starting his official career as a recording artist in 1990, this revered L.A. DJ/producer birthed Stones Throw Records, a premier source of eclectic hip hop culture, in 1996. Tonight, he kicks off his 999 Tour at The Glass House that pays homage to the era of G-Funk, New Jack Swing and those hip hop jams that still get the party going. It's the latest in his tradition of triple digit sh
Bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh are hitting the stage as Sublime, just like they did in February. But unlike the previous gig, held at some tiny Mexican restaurant in a Nevada town no one's ever heard of, this show is actually pretty big.It's part of Cypress Hill's Smokeout, a gathering of bands, booths and most importantly, weed. The Sublime reunion might get the most attention, but the lineup is actually pretty good. Scheduled to hit the stage on Oct. 23 and 24 is Slipknot (ok, no
Just one day before a newly reunited Sublime is scheduled to play its first announced reunion gig at the Cypress Hill Smoke Out Festival, the estate of late singer Bradley Nowell has issued a statement explaining their position on the matter.Basically, they ain't happy. Nowell's wife Troy, son Jakob and father Jim explain that they are very supportive of bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh performing Sublime music, but not under the Sublime name. And with Nowell gone and new singer/guit
In case you didn't hear, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh reunited this weekend at the Cypress Hill Smokeout. And in case you really didn't hear, it wasn't with singer/guitarist Bradely Nowell, who passed away in 1996 from a heroin overdose. Nope, this reunion was with a new singer/guitarist -- an OC resident nonetheless -- named Rome Ramirez. Well, like everything in the mdoern era, footage of the show has hit Youtube.com. Enter "Sublime Cypress Hill" and you'll come across all sorts of clips. And if