​A decade since Christopher Lawrence released anthem after anthem on seminal trance labels like Hook Recordings and Fragrant Music, the genre's popularity has ebbed and flowed with the fickle tastes of a domestic dance market hungry for the next European import. None of that, though, fazes American-born DJ and producer Christopher Lawrence in the slightest. 

Still one of the world's most popular turntablists, he's elaborated on his bedrock sound with traces of prog-house and techno, but he still bleeds trance music, and he's about to drop a dime on Orange County this Thursday at Sutra Lounge in Costa Mesa. We caught up with him to talk about his forthcoming artist album (his first solo/studio release since 2004), living halfway around the world, and why Southern California is the new home of the electronic music renaissance.

OC Weekly (Rich Thomas): When and why did you decide to move to Australia?

Christopher Lawrence: About three years ago. My wife is from Australia, and we have a son and daughter who were at the age where they were going to start school. Melbourne is a really great city to raise a family, but since I'm on tour most of the year and gone most weekends, my wife can have the support of her family there and it won't just be her left with the kids every weekend. That was the main reason. When I lived in LA I could just go out for a weekend and come back, but now I have to plan things a bit more differently. I go out on three-week mini-tours, then I come back and take a weekend off at home. You have to plan out the tour ahead of time, but it works out really well, and I like where I live.

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This Tuesday marks the release of Visceral Games' Dante's Inferno, a game loosely based on Dante Alighieri's epic poem Divine Comedy. This video game perversion "re-imagining" of the fourteenth-century poem features a bad-ass, scythe-wielding badass who battles hordes upon hordes of demons and the undead as he traverses the nine Circles of Hell in order to find his lady, Beatrice. With such a controversial use of its source material, Dante's Inferno without a doubt will be the subject of a lot of headline news, which is exactly what publisher Electronic Arts wants. There is no such thing as bad publicity, they say.

In order to get as much attention as they can onto what they hope is their next cash cow, publisher EA Games won't stop at anything to get people talkin'. They have recently spent $2.5 million in order to secure an ad during this year's Superbowl. They've given away women as prizes for contests. They've staged protests against the game's release. The list goes on and on!

However, controversial marketing schemes aren't new to the world of video games. Game publishers have done some ridiculous things in the past in order to grab the attention of potential consumers. Here, we look at some of the most outrageous (and often silly) things that game publishers have done in order to publicize their game.



1. Headless Goats and Topless Women During a Party for God of War II

dailymail.co.uk

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In order to celebrate the release of God of War II, Sony organized a Greek mythology-themed party for members of the press. The theatrical party had a decapitated goat as the centerpiece, along with topless women who fed grapes to party goers. A few reported that party guests were even offered to dine on entrails and organs directly out of the goat's carcass. The bloody display outraged numerous animal rights groups, criticizing the act as a representation of the industry's lust for blood.

Sony has issued a press release, apologizing for falling short of their "normal high standards of conduct." Bad call, Sony!
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The Hype: It's only been a month since popular San Diego quartet the Soft Pack released a highly sought-after 12" EP. Now they're giving fans a full bite of their distinctive take on hand-me-down rock & roll. They've also earned a Sunday slot on this year's Coachella Festival. Yay for them!
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​The OC Music Awards takes place today at OC Tavern in San Clemente. Local artists Skee, Carly Layne, Parker Macy Blues, Christina Dietz and Allensworth will be competing in the Best Live Acoustic category. 

The first performance is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. (so far, pretty much every week they've started exactly on time) and the event ends at midnight. This showcase is free--like all the rest--but only open to fans 21 years of age and older. It's the second to last live showcase of the 2010 series. Check out this clip of Huntington Beach-based sunshine soul band Allensworth performing "Back in a Second."

The Awards countdown continues with weekly showcases culminating at the Best Live Acoustic Finals Feb. 26 at Yost Theater in Santa Ana and the Best Live Band Finals at Samueli Theater/Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa Feb. 27, where the finalists from both categories perform and the winners are announced on stage at the end of each night. The OC Music Awards take place March 6 at the Grove of Anaheim.

After the jump: 2010 OC Music Awards Nominees; showcase schedule.

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• "The Flaming Lips playing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Weezer, Phoenix, Baroness, John Fogerty, the Black Keys, Wale, and Neon Indian," among artists confirmed for Bonnaroo, reports Pitchfork. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival takes place June 10-13 in Manchester, Tenn. At the Bonnaroo website and MySpace they're announcing the lineup from noon to 9 p.m. Eastern time today. Good luck logging on! We had no success this morning. 

• "Joe Jackson: Dr. Murray 'a fall guy' in Michael's death," reports CNN. Let the conspiracy theories begin! Seriously, has an iconic pop star ever died without creating conspiracy theories? How long before: "Michael Jackson spotted in line at Disneyland"?

• Lil Wayne, expected to enter a New York City jail Wednesday for sentence that could last a  year, spent hour last night saying goodbye to fans via live video stream.  

• "White Stripes threaten 'strong action' over Air Force's 'Fell in Love With a Girl' Super Bowl ad, reports Rolling Stone. Jack White vs. Air Force. Go White!

Beach House, Teen Dream

​Editor's note: Matt Buga is a Music Director at KUCI.

KUCI is the last bastion against sound-alike radio in Orange County and the voice of freedom for all the independent music that gets snubbed by the major labels. From the edge of University of California Irvine, KUCI brings you the latest in all forms of independent and underground music.

1. Beach House, Teen Dream (Sub Pop). 

2. Crown City Rockers, the Day After Forever (Gold Dust).

3. Surfer Blood, Astro Coast (Kanine)

4. Cold Cave, Love Comes Close (Matador)

5. Tan Dollar, Your Body As A Temple (Life's Blood)

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​What's better than an all girl band? A HOT all girl band! For the past four years Irvine-based Apocalipstick has been rocking shows all over California with their power pop/punk songs and  motto of "stealing hearts and breaking them along the way."  

Apocalipstick makes their mark with wonderfully snarky lyrics, sugary hooks and amazing stage presence. Looking at singer Abby Lipstick, drummer Jeannette Gloss, and bassist Wendy Shadow, it's easy to see why guys want them--and girls want to be like them. 

But they're much more than just pretty faces! Click here to listen. And see for yourself why Apocalipstick are on their way to the top when they a play a free show Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton. 

OC Weekly (Ali Lerman): We love the band name, how did you come up with it?

Abby Lipstick: Before we even started the band my best friend and I were at the bookstore around Valentine's Day. Where all of the "chick lit" was displayed we saw a book called "Apocalipstick" and thought it would be a perfect name for a girl band!

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Dr. Conrad Murray

​Michael Jackson's Doctor Death has finally been charged. 

"The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office on Monday morning filed its long-awaited case against Conrad Murray, the Houston physician who was with Michael Jackson during the pop star's last hours in June," reports Dennis Romero of our sister paper LA Weekly.

Romero notes, "Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter and was expected to appear Monday afternoon for arraignment at the LAX courthouse."

Click to read entire story.

The Hype: Thanks to a recent string of successful Orange County/Long Beach shows, local audiences are becoming more acquainted with drum/guitar duo the Littlest Viking (of Whittier/San Pedro) and their frazzled blend of post-hardcore, math rock bad assery. People are also snatching up copies of the band's pretty much sold out 2009 release Labor & Lust. The Littlest Viking's Saturday show at the Tropics Lounge was the first in a weekend of back-to-back dates in Fullerton that concluded with a Sunday performance at the Continental Room.  More >>

Today we're checking out another multitalented Etsy crafter--Brie of BKD Signature crochets, makes glass pendants, and still finds time for school and giving back to the community!

Love in Bloom pendant by Brie of BKD Signature

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After the jump, learn more about how BKD Signature got started and where it's going. Oh yeah, and enter this week's Gettin' Made giveaway!

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