South by Southwest Festival

The Five Must-See Shows in OC This Week

Monday, April 1 The Originalites Gallagher's Pub 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 Fou ... More >>

Air Dubai

Constellation Room at the Observatory

The Big Mistake Bands Are Making With Facebook

By: Jessica HopperAre you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls' Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is ... More >>

Robert Jon & the Wreck Feel the Rhythm of the Road

By: Heidi Darby [Editor's Note: Spare Notes is a Weekly music feature highlighting outtakes and personal stories from bands who just finished working their asses off to put out new music.] Robert Jon & the Wreck generate a southern-infused, classic rock sound that's both authentic and infectious. ... More >>

Aston Matthews and Joey Fatts Get Graphic on New Track, "Nina"

Lakewood rapper/gun-enthusiast Aston Matthews and Long Beach's new hope Joey Fatts (two-thirds of the Cutthroat Boyz) link up once again for their brand new record, "My Nina." And no, this is not a sentimental track with someone waxing poetic about their sweet, kind-hearted "Nina," this is an a ... More >>

How I Ended Up In He's My Brother She's My Sister's New Music Video

Sarah Dougherty Los Angeles buzz band He's My Brother, She's My Sister joined the ranks of True Blood and Tenacious D and filmed their new music video for "Same Old Ground" at Alex's Bar in Long Beach on Tuesday. The song from their latest album "Nobody Dances In This Town" came to life thanks to a ... More >>

Hometown Heroes Enjambre FINALLY Return to LA this Weekend

The last time Enjambre performed locally since leaving OC for Mexico City in 2008 was three years ago, on July 18. The band, whose move propelled them to greater success as accomplished musicians, assembled in the humble quarters of SanTana's now defunct Breath of Fire Theater space for an intimate ... More >>

Hellogoodbye Says Hello, Long Beach, Goodbye, Huntington!

[Checking In On . . .] Singer Forrest Kline talks about moving (slightly) north and the band's upcoming album

Five Local Bands Who Should Be Huge in 2012

​Young The Giant wins the prize for the breakout band of Orange County in 2011. Turn on an alt-rock station, google the word "young," and ask Morrissey who his favorite new band is and you'll have your answer--2011 belonged to Young the Giant. "Cough Syrup" was probably only second to Foster the P ... More >>

Lovely Bad Things: 'We Almost Got Murdered In Washington'

Facebook​The Lovely Bad Things are featured in this week's print edition in our Local's Only column. You can read the article here, but to catch you up to speed: the quartet based out of La Mirada are known for their rowdy shows and infectious surf pop sounds. They will release a 45 via Volcom Rec ... More >>

The Joy Formidable Last Night at Detroit Bar

Stacy Schwartz/Minn. City PagesJoy Formidable at SXSW this year​The Joy FormidableSept. 11, 2011Detroit Bar, Costa MesaI feel bad for youngsters whose first experience with live music is UK power trio The Joy Formidable. After watching these guys (and gal) do their thing on the Detroit stage last ... More >>

Duran Duran: Still Hungry

For too long, John Taylor and the boys have been a pop group without a hit. They mean to change that

Nate Dogg Funeral Service on Saturday; Snoop Announces Tribute Show on Same Day

Elektra Records​Today, Nate Dogg's family announced that there will be a funeral service on Saturday at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, the former Spruce Goose Dome adjacent to the Queen Mary. Pamela Hale-Burns, his sister, says the 10 a.m. Saturday service will be open to the publi ... More >>

Wild Flag, Wu-Tang, Erykah Badu and Yelawolf: What Went Down at the Village Voice/Frank 151 SXSW Party

Shannon Cottrell/Houston PressWu-Tang Clan​Village Voice/Frank 151 SXSW PartyMarch17, 2011Austin Music Hall Of course you wish you were there. According to Houston Press, the all-night line-up for the 2011 Village Voice and Frank 151 Showdown at SXSW  was one of the festival's most anticipate ... More >>

Missives From SXSW: Exene Cervenka (of X) Blogs On the Road

Most famous as a punk rock icon and artist, Exene Cervenka (front woman for X, Knitters and Original Sinners) is documenting her adventures for Heard Mentality on the way to Austin's South By Southwest, the country's biggest music festival. Read Day One here. Raven LorthosArizona!​I'm in Texas ... More >>

Getting Exene Cervenka

The approachable punk-rock icon is one of several OC acts off to Austin for the South By Southwest festival

Five Reasons We Miss Le Tigre. A Lot

​Today Oscilloscope Laboratories announced that the  film Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre On Tour will be out on DVD June 7. The film, premiering at the SXSW Film and Music Festival, documents the original electro-femmes Le Tigre on their last tour supporting the album This Island ... More >>

Circa Survive's Guitarist Colin Frangicetto Shows off His Ink

Emily ShurColin Frangicetto, far left​Circa Survive is co-headlining at tattoo and music festival MusINK, at the OC Fairgrounds this Saturday (along with Thrice, interviewed in this week's print edition). In keeping with the theme,  guitarist Colin Frangicetto sent over a couple of photos of ... More >>

The Big Chill

The mysterious world of mumble-noir in Cold Weather

The Growlers at the Detroit Bar Last Night

Rebecca Aranda​The Growlers June 27, 2010 Detroit Bar The Hype: The Growlers specialize in summer anthems with a minor key, or as they call it, "beach goth"-perfectly suited to the recent string of hazy days and chilly nights. They might also be the greatest band named after a shit. As the b ... More >>

With New, Local Bassist, The Like Do The Unexpected and Play House Parties

www.myspace.com/thelike​L.A.'s the Like have just released a brand-new video, and it's nothing like the old videos. In fact, it's nothing like the old Like, and it's at least three planets away from the big-budget Busby Berkeley routines of 2005's "What I Say And What I Mean."

Beyond the Headliners

[Coachella 2010] Nine acts that stand out from the sweaty, dusty crowd

Videos: Local Bands play SXSW

We know how much you wanted to go to SXSW last week. But for those not willing to take a week off work and spend a butt-load of cash to get there, here's an entertaining set of live videos from Austin showcasing some of our hometown talent on stage, spreading the gospel of rock & roll in a varie ... More >>

Avi Buffalo to Play Free In-Store at Fingerprints, Long Beach

Jeff AntebiSub Pop band Avi Buffalo to hold hometown record release bash at Fingerprints in Long BeachFresh off successful SXSW showcases, Avi Buffalo, led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg, has booked a free in-store homecoming/record release performance at Fingerprints on Apri ... More >>

Alex's Bar and John Reis Team Up For SXSW

Flickr user BenGoettingJohn Reis performing with the Night Marchers at Alex's Bar, Long Beach, Feb. 10, 2008.​Long Beach and Orange County bands aren't the only locals headed to the cheerfully soul-trying SXSW music-biz death march in Austin this week. 562-ers Alex's Bar and owner Alex Hernandez w ... More >>

The Like on British TV's 'Popworld'

Ask any fan of retro indie pop band the Like (the LA act featured in the recent Weekly Mental Notes column) and they'll probably have no problem telling you how irresistible they are. Even sleazy radio jocks can't get enough of them. Back in 2006, band members Elizabeth "Z" Berg, Tennessee T ... More >>

Listen To This: "Big Foot" Soul Mix

​Dennis Owens has been doing funk/soul club Good Foot at Que Sera in Long Beach for almost twelve years now and I think I was lucky enough to peek inside maybe by year two. The DJs who've climbed in and out of that back booth have been some of Southern California's best, and I was pretty honored ... More >>

[Sound Guy] The Jakes Rack Up Local Accolades and Seek National Fame

First Crop of SXSW Acts Announced, OC/LB Bands Conspicuously Absent

A certain music festival and conference held annually in the sleepy hamburg of Austin, Texas announced their initial slate of performers this year, and there's not an Orange County or Long Beach band among them. We had several acts in last fall's CMJ Music Marathon, so this is kind of a bummer. Keep ... More >>

OC, LB Acts Ready to Rock NYC, CMJ

Sorry, I was trying to set a record for most abbrev. in a blog title. The schedule for NYC's CMJ Music Marathon was announced today, and Long Beach's Crystal Antlers (pictured), Costa Mesa's Japanese Motors and Laguna Beach's Donavon Frankenreiter are among the performers ready to entertain music i ... More >>

Pitchfork Lavishes Love on Crystal Antlers

Long Beach's Crystal Antlers received a coveted “Best New Music” recommendation from popular webzine Pitchfork today, along with a lofty 8.5 rating for their self-released EP (produced by Ikey Owens). Expect the stormy rock quintet to enter a new tax bracket any minute now. (Check out Erin DeWit ... More >>

Coachella, Day 2

Recovering from yesterday’s illness forced me to miss 120 Days, MGMT, Little Brother and Boys Noize. Bah. But I arrived in time to see some Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks. Their loose rock jams slash sea shanties were adorned with much proggy filigree. It was nice big-sky music for a big-sky setting ... More >>

A Thousand Knives At Detroit 3/5

Review by Jeff Phifer A Thousand Knives is the band that you haven't heard yet, but you will. The group’s very first show in LA resulted in an offer to play a party at the prestigious South By Southwest festival this coming week. A Thousand Knives brings a new sound that captures what's happeni ... More >>

Last Night: Coco B's, Gran Ronde, Brookline at Detroit Bar

Coco B's, Gran Ronde, Brookline At Detroit Bar February 8, 2008 Better than: Accordion lessons with Weird Al Yancovic. Download: On and On by Gran Ronde. About 30 minutes after parking myself at stool at Detroit Bar, I had downed a Whiskey Sour, a Vodka Cranberry and a glass of Guinness. Usually ... More >>

Brothers Grim

Wendell Baker is a dysfunctional Wilson family affair

Gin and Chronic

Gin Blossoms

Mysterious Light

Fortunes Flesh fed and ready

Western Soul

Everyones hot and bothered about the Hacienda Brothers

Live Previews

Live Previews

Comeback Players of the Year

The Trashcan Sinatras

Who Wants to be a Pendejo?

Station to Station

Kick Some Emo Ass!

MarahKids in PhillyE-Squared/Atemis

CD REVIEWS

Tramps Reunite! Life Good Again!

This Year's Album That Saved OC Rock