There was no shortage of tiki-themed events in Orange County on Saturday. For those who hovered about the Garden Grove area, there was the Original Tiki Marketplace; and for those who gravitated towards Santa Ana, there was first the Tiki Island Expo, a marketplace with live music at Original Mike’s, and then Escape to Tiki […]
Music
Thrice Break The Mold On New LP and Primed For a National Tour
Irvine’s favorite post-hardcore band is back in the spotlight. Thrice, who began in 1998, and includes the same four original members will release their tenth record, Palms, Sept. 14th. Now signed to Epitaph Records, the group is looking to push the boundaries with the LA-based indie label’s support. Speaking with guitarist/singer Dustin Kensrue and drummer […]
Baja Bop, a Rockabilly Weekender Cruise, to Set Sail From the Port of Long Beach
Rockabilly fans of the world….do you hear that sound? It’s tequila calling from the Blue Iguana Tequila Bar aboard the Baja Bop musical cruise sailing southbound for Ensenada this October. Titans from the retro roots music genre are going south of the border, down Mexico way, and they’ll be serenading fans aboard the high seas […]
Epic Beauty Reigns at Love Long Beach
Peace on Earth and good will toward mankind still exist; you just have to look in the right places. While many people’s lives are dominated by the dark realities of the Information Age, other people make it their goal to promote and celebrate the spirit of the continuing Age of Aquarius. This weekend, in Long […]
7 Things To do at Agenda Show 2018 in Long Beach
In the hyper-paced world we live in, by the time a new phenomenon is sprung upon us, another wave is in the queue, waiting to wash that one away and recapture our imaginations all over again. It can be elusive. Events like Agenda Show bring to a halt, if just for a second, the essence […]
The Road to Nowhere Begins and Ends in Fullerton
The Road to Nowhere begins at Ford Park* in Fullerton, California. The inaugural foot parade started with a small but mighty, plucky group of 20 or so of Fullerton locals, artists, journalists and even a bonafide ancient parade historian. The rag tag group met organizer Tim Johnson (of Fullerton’s infamous Fourth of July bike parade […]
Travis Barker’s MUSINK Festival Returns With Diverse Lineup
As the premier festival bringing together the best of music, tattoos, and cars, Travis Barker’s MUSINK, presented by KROQ, returns in 2018 to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. The 11th annual event is set to take place Friday, March 16th through the 18th. The lineup feature hundreds of world-renowned tattoo artists, […]
The Best Concerts in OC (Feb. 23-Mar.1)
Friday, Feb. 23 Invisibl Skratch Piklz, 9 p.m., $20, The Wayfarer. 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa (949) 764-0039, www.wayfarercm.com 21+. Peace, Love and Doors–A Groovy ‘60s Party, 6 p.m., Free, House of Blues Anaheim, 400 W. Disney Way, Anaheim (714) 778-2583, http://www.houseofblues.com/anaheim All ages. DVBBS, 9 p.m., $20-$30, Time Nightclub, 1875 Newport Blvd B245, […]
On What Would be His 50th Birthday, Bradley Nowell’s Spirit Finds Sublime Reincarnation
In the south end of Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary, a scrawny sapling on Shakespeare Lane sticks out like a sore thumb among tall, aging oaks. It’s a hint that you’re close to finding Bradley Nowell’s grave. Years ago, so many fans carved messages into the original tree that it died and had to be replaced. […]
Quiz: Musician Movie Cameos
Not all cameos are equally coveted: a good cameo creates an undeniable rush (I know that person!) that widens the eyes and forces the viewer to blurt out the musician’s name when he or she appears on the big screen, like Anthony Kiedis in Point Break. An even better cameo, in which the musician is […]
NAMM Ushers In The Future of Music (And Gear So Good It’s Invisible)
For those who have never been to a NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show, it is an epic trade show for the music industry. Picture a university-sized Mecca for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors wanting to expand their business, as well as a place where musicians can get up on the latest toys. Naturally, tourists […]
Bright Blue Gorilla Travel the World Making Musically-Minded Art House Films
Robyn Rosenkrantz and Michael Glover are the consummate traveling art machine. For nearly 30 years, they have been traveling the world as Bright Blue Gorilla, performing concerts, showcasing their independent films, selling their CDs and DVDs, and maintaining their operation with the aid of the people they’ve met along the way. As Bright Blue Gorilla, […]
Squirrel Nut Zippers Revisit the Swinging ’90s at The Grove
Squirrel Nut Zippers City National Grove of Anaheim 3/31/2017 It’s always nice to see a cult band performing at a respectable venue like the Grove. For Friday evening’s entertainment, the retro Jazz stylings of Squirrel Nut Zippers drew a conservative but devoted crowd of would-be speakeasy patrons to swing the night away. Many a guest […]
Almalafa, Los Chiles Verdes, and Libertadores Bring Mexican Ska to Downtown Fullerton
Almalafa, Los Chiles Verdes, and Libertadores Slidebar 3/9/17 Folks wearing mostly black formed lines to show their IDs to the bouncer at The Slidebar in Downtown Fullerton last Thursday to see Almalafa, Los Chiles Verdes, Libertadores, Almalafa being the most anticipated of the trio. The flier said 8 p.m. but ska music didn’t start bubbling out […]
Pete’s Music Closing After 39 Years in Anaheim
After 39 years of supplying instruments and gear to Orange County, Anaheim music shop Pete’s Music will be closing it’s doors. Rising rent, and better business at their Riverside County locations has drawn an end to the Anaheim store, which is unfortunate in an era of harder to come by mom-n-pop music shops. The entire […]
Five Reasons Why Being a Music Journalist is a Hazardous Job
Many people think that life as a music journalist is all fun and games. Sure they get to interview musicians and get paid to go to concerts, but there is — unseen by most — a host of traps, which lie in wait for the unsuspecting scribe to fall into. These traps come in many […]
Reasons Why It Is NOT Okay for Music Journalists to Drink and Do Drugs on the Job
Yesterday, the Weekly ran a list of reasons why it is permissible for music journalists to drink and do drugs on the job. While the intent behind this article was to compose a work of humor that may or may not have presented legitimate reasons to vindicate such practices, there are certainly solid counterpoints to […]
Why It’s Okay For Music Journalists to Drink and Do Drugs on the Job
Almost everything that carries a negative connotation can be vindicated given the proper circumstances. For example, killing another human being is generally regarded as a sin; however, certain governmental jobs not only make it permissible, but a requirement. Additionally, when soldiers kill enemies in a battle, their families and countrymen celebrate. But let’s take a […]
Dan Jacobs of Atreyu Teaches Us How To Hang Our Keys Like a Rockstar
You don’t have to be a badass guitarist and songwriter to hang your keys like a rockstar thanks to Pluginz keychains. In February of 2015, Atreyu guitarist Dan Jacobs and his brother Joe Jacobs were approached by Mike Stricklin with a prototype for a key rack. The idea was simple– a logical remedy for never losing […]
Costa Mesa's Legendary La Cave to Start Last Sunday Service This Month
La Cave in Costa Mesa has been open for over half a century now, but the legendary steak house / music venue has never really operated on Sundays.. until this month. Starting June 28, the restaurant will begin service on the final Sunday of each month, complete with musical accompaniment by Virginia-born singer/songwriter Matt Commerce. […]
Five Songs In Memory of Ravi Shankar
On December 11 in San Diego, the world lost a great musician, spiritual leader, and sitar player — Ravi Shankar. Most known in the United States for his relationship with The Beatles, Shankar helped introduce Indian music to the west, opening minds and ears to new tuning systems and instruments. The Beatles, however, were not […]