A Long Beach record store is chugging on with live music despite hurdles from the city to allow the business to open a proper music venue. Toxic Toast Records will present Epic Beard Men on May 5; PEARS, Fireburn, HIGH and Vultures United on May 19; and MC Chris and Bitforce on May 26 at […]
Seal Beach Label Awfully Good Records Helps Local Bands Blow Up Again
Eric Walden started going to shows about a decade ago because the Two-For-Tuesdays concerts at the original House of Blues Anaheim were “cheaper than seeing a movie.” Getting his first taste of live music inspired Walden to take it upon himself to help such smaller, local bands flourish. The 23-year-old began his mission by writing reviews […]
Starpool Celebrate Their Skanniversary With Two Shows
Fifteen years ago, eight friends and former members of big-name ska acts like Save Ferris and No Doubt came together to help re-invigorate the Orange County ska scene and their own dedications to the scene. Today, the Anaheim-based Starpool – comprised of vocalist Alan Meade (ex-No Doubt), trumpeter Oliver Zavala (ex-Six Feet Deep, Los Superspies), […]
Warped Tour’s Final Lineup Announced
The Vans Warped Tour’s token red sign will be inflated for the last time this summer when the long-running festival takes its final bow. The 24-year-old, summer-long, Kevin Lyman-led event — which once boasted acts like No Doubt, NOFX, Eminem, Bad Religion, Sublime, Blink-182, My Chemical Romance and Katy Perry — will span 28 dates, […]
311 and Sublime With Rome Headline Back to the Beach Fest
What do you get when you combine thousands of ska and reggae fans on the beach with performances from some of the top bands in the scene? Well, probably a lot of sand kicked up from all the skanking. Goldfinger’s John Feldmann and Travis Barker, of Blink-182 and Aquabats fame, as well as Synergy Global […]
Kylie Hughes’ Songs Are Video Concepts Come to Life
An LA-based singer/songwriter will make her OC debut next week. Kylie Hughes — who sings poppy, original songs a la Michelle Branch and Sheryl Crow — will perform at Casa in Costa Mesa on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. The songstress’ musical career began when she was a teenager and picked up a guitar for […]
Steven Page Dresses Up Pop Songs With Classical Music
We may never get answers from Steven Page about the inspiration behind lyrics like “Chickity China the Chinese chicken.” However, the former frontman of The Barenaked Ladies will perhaps teach his Orange County fans about a different music genre on Feb. 11 when he performs alongside the Art of Time Ensemble at the Musco Center […]
OC’s Ska Scene Goes On Tour With This Year’s Skacademy Awards
Soon, San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Fresno and Berkeley will get a taste of Orange County ska — and all the goofy puns that come along with it — when Pocket Entertainment’s third annual Skacademy Awards skank into the (ghost) towns for the first time ever. And No Doubt it’s going to be pure […]
