In the eyes of talented local bands and many of their obsessed, merch buying followers, the fight for respect, recognition and a paying gig is a battle waged night after night.Whether it's on cramped stages in half empty bars or packed small-time venues in their stomping ground of choice, some wouldn't have it any other way. But hey, getting a sweet break or a little extra exposure always helps.

In the narrative of several hard-working OC bands, that's where the Anaheim House of Blues comes in. Though derided by many as a sterile, Disney version of what this venue franchise is supposed to be, most of us concede that there have been plenty of kick-ass shows here. And that includes some of the local bands we've grown to love. This week offers a unique opportunity to see three nights-worth of OC acts, including a few that have graced out pages and blogs from time to time.

Starting on Thursday, June 4 with Grateful Dead Tribute Band Cubensis (officially an "LA band" but spend most of their time out here), the House of Blues gives us some hometown bands a taste of the big leagues in almost back to back fashion. Friday night brings a showcase of strictly OC bands including the alternative, Slidebar-esque sounds of We Are the Arsenal, along with Sleep District, Bidwell and Love Hate Hero. All of which have graced the stages of some our most reputable rock venues.

And then last but not least, a band you never get tired of hearing about, Venus Infers is playing it's biggest gig to date the week after on Monday June 8 (so yeah, it's not all crammed into one full week, but close enough). The sharp dressed rockers are opening for legendary post punk crooner Peter Murphy. Not bad for some boys from around the way. So as advocates of native-born sonic wonders, do yourselves and us a favor and show local music some support in the coming days at the House of Mouse. 

For the last little bit, non-profit group Global Inheritance has set up shop at hippie-riffic shopping center the Camp in Costa Mesa in the form of TRASHed, putting on shows each Sunday as they "push for social and environmental change."

Today's their last show, as everything planned for June has been scrapped. So they're going out with the bay area's Blank Tapes (pictured), Big Whup, Land 'n Sea and D.A. Humphrey of the Flying Saucers. Things start at 7, and it's $5 or 10 cans of food.

I've written about the "Literal Version" videos before, and some of them are pretty great, and some of them are kinda lame--this one falls in the former category, yep yep. Sure, Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is pretty ripe for parody as it is, and I'm not crazy about the talking bits in the middle, but I laughed out loud at "a bunch of preppies making a toast," which is not bad for a Friday afternoon.

If you enjoy exchanging legal tender for concert tickets, consider this another successful weekend. We've got Pete Yorn, Frank Sinatra Jr. and some others going on sale tomorrow. Get to clicking!

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There's a show at Fitzgeralds in HB tomorrow night that is billed as a "tribute to Mike Conley." Conley was the former lead singer of M.I.A. and owner of Avalon in Costa Mesa. He passed away Feb. 28, 2008 in Chicago.

 

The lineup includes the aforementioned M.I.A., Love Canal, CH3, the Strangers, Anarchy Taco (original members of the Vandals), Plain Wrap, Fork Tailed Devils and the Outsiders.

 

Tickets are $15. Show starts at 8.  

The recent return of the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana means that there's another venue in Orange County--and a big one--to showcase local bands. One such showcase is tonight, and it may have a goofy name ("Planet Squared Presents: A.I.R. Music Fest," with "A.I.R." standing for "alternative indie rock"), but there are some nifty bands on the bill. Like OC's Entice, for whom tonight serves as the album release show for Let the Fire Come, their new record. Buy a ticket ($15), and you get a free digital download of the album--you can preview tracks "Who's Got Your Money" and "The Watchman" on their MySpace now.

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Yeah, big things are poppin' in P-town these days, especially with the recently reopened Fox Theater. The latest: an all-ages, weekly dance night called "Club Matinée." They're already calling it "Southern California's biggest weekly all ages dance club," and given a real dearth of competition, they're probably right.

OK, I know what you're thinking--all-ages dance night? Danger, Will Robinson! It just seems like Chris Hansen will be lurking somewhere in the shadows. But it definitely looks like they're going all out for the first one--three rooms of dancing, each with several DJs, all of which have various hilariously goofy names (Joe Dirt! Reid Speed! Sir Charles! Mantastique!). They're also quite proud of what genres they'll be spinning: "electro / nu rave / indie / Britpop / indie dance / house / dubstep / drum and bass / wobble / fidget / baseline," all helpfully spelled out on the flier. Because you know you were waiting for a chance to bust a move to some wobble.

All of these genres and DJs don't come cheap, though. It's an eyebrow raising $20, or $10--before 11 p.m.! with flier! Yow. It does go until 3 a.m., though, which is nice, and keep in mind the dress code: "fitted, fashionable and avant garde." All three, one would assume--two out of three IS bad in this situation.

The Glass House in Pomona has nothing to do with the 2001 movie The Glass House, starring Leelee Sobieski. Probably a good thing, I don't remember that movie being very good. Whatever happened to her, anyway?

Regardless, add three more shows to the venue's schedule, starting with Inglewood hip-hop duo U-N-I, playing the venue on Friday, July 3. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door and on sale now. They just released a free album, A Love Supreme (named after the John Coltrane classic, natch) online.

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Not sure if this has been reported here or not (but I don't think it has because I would have sat up in my chair and said, "woah"), but Dinosaur Jr. is playing Detroit Saturday, June 20. Tickets are $25. I know this sounds like promoter talk, but I'd buy tickets now. I can't see how this wouldn't sell out. 

It's the end of the month and for most of you college-types, that means no more school, no more books, etc.; at least for a while. For some, it means rent is due. For avid local show goers, Thursday sparks the age old question, "what the fuck are we going to do tonight?" Only this time, that question actually has an answer at the end of it, since you've got plenty of live acts to choose from all over the place. A speedy Google search of your favorite late night haunts should tell you as much. From tattooed hardcore to Golden Era hip hop, its all out there my friends, all you need to do is get off your ass. I've taken a second to list a few shows I'm definitely looking forward to choosing from, including a KUCI concert with Mothers Sons (pictured), Red Cortez and more over at The Yost. Here are some more after the JUMP. Anything I missed that's worth seeing? Feel free to plug away.More >>