Orange County Music Blog

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Get out those heavy coats cuz it'll definitely be reigning blood when Slayer, Megadeth and Testament hit the Long Beach Arena Jan. 22 as part of the American Carnage Tour.

In my 30 years on this planet, I've been to my fair share of concerts, but never have I seen anything like what I saw the one Slayer show I attended. It was about four years ago -- ironically, at the Long Beach Arena -- and the group had an upside cross made of guitar amps hanging from each side of the stage. It was the most metal thing I've ever seen and totally worth the price of admission. For those planning on attending in January, I hope they do this again because it was pretty fucking awesome.

Oh yeah, tickets go on sale tomorrow.

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The S-N-double O-P is hitting the Grove of Anaheim tomorrow as part of the "How the West Was One" tour (which also includes performances by DJ Quik and Nipsey Hussle.) You know I'd be all over this if I wasn't down with the worst flu of all time, but since I can't make it, I thought I'd pass along some info that might sway some folks still on the fence.

Advertised, tickets run between $49.50-$60. But by following this link, your tickets are $25. You can thank me by leaving a comment and telling me what I missed.

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After the death of guitarist Ron Asheton, many hoped Iggy Pop and his bandmates would recruit former axeman James Williamson and keep the band going. Well, they did and by clicking this link, they'll get to hear a bunch of professionally shot videos from the new lineup's first show.

Of note is the band's inclusion of Iggy solo songs "The Passenger" and "Lust for Life," along with Stooges outtakes such as "I Got a Right," "Cock in My Pocket" and "Kill City."

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The Pixies are nice. If they weren't, would they be giving away a four-song live EP FOR FREE??? I think not.

Click here to get the tunes.

And if for some reason you're on the fence about this, the tunes are "Dance the Manta Ray," "Monkey Gone to Heaven," "Crackity Jones" and "Gouge Away." Now that you know, you shouldn't be on the fence.

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Tonight is week No. 2 of LA/Costa Mesa trio Pop Noir's Monday night November residency (aptly titled Noirvember) at Detroit Bar. If I wasn't busy washing my hair tonight, I'd be there for sure because the best band to ever come outta Signal Hill, On Blast, is opening. Also on the bill is Little Red Radio, an electro/dance group from Los Angeles. 

The best part? It's free!

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The Raveonettes are gracing us with their presence once again this year at the Detroit Bar. The Danish duo, consisting of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, makes music that can be described as a graceful, but highly destructive hurricane--a whirling sound with feedback and overloaded guitars... and all the while Sharin's melodic vocals cruise throughout their songs.

You could say their influences draw from the Ronettes, Buddy Holly, the Jesus & Mary Chain and the Velvets--just take a look at their band name, pulled directly from the Ronettes and Buddy Holly's "Rave On." With this tour, they are promoting their new record, "In And Out Of Control."

​Judge A. Howard Matz of the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California ruled Tuesday that original Sublime members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh cannot perform under the moniker that made them famous. This ruling, according to the Los Angeles Times, "will be upheld until the breach-of-contract/trademark infringement civil case goes to trial, or the parties reach a settlement," said Jeremiah Reynolds, the man who represents the estate of late singer/guitarist Bradley Nowell.

So what do this mean? Not sure, but more than likely, whatever Wilson, Gaugh and new singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez decide to do, it probably won't be called Sublime.

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I told you last Friday that Alex's Bar was the place to be this weekend. For those of you who didn't listen, here' s a recap.

San Diegan rock 'n' roll extravaganza the Night Marchers hit Alex's Bar on Friday night for a 45-minute set comprised of killer tunes, humorous banter and even a little bit of beer thrown into the crowd. The band - singer/guitarist John Reis, bassist Tommy Kitsos, guitarist Gar Wood and drummer Jason Kourkounis - opened with "Closed for Inventory" and "In Dead Sleep" before diving headfirst into "Jump in the Fire." Wood strummed the opening chords to "You've Got Nerve" while Reis instructed the crowd to put its thumbnails together to create a quiet rhythmic sound. This, he explained, came from his third grade teacher Mr. Slater, who would have hyperactive students do this act whenever they were getting out of line.

Reis later asked the audience how the band was sounding and said if anyone had any constructive criticism, they could leave it in the white porcelain suggestion box inside one of the tiny closets at the back of the room. By the end of the set, the singer/guitarist took a tall can of Tecate and sprayed the audience, then announced, "I hope you all get DUIs!"

Similar to any band Reis is in, the Night Marchers brought a big sound that most can't handle. Rumor had it, if Alex's Bar opened its doors during the set, the tunes would still be floating through the air, on their way to China by mid-Tuesday. Again, that's just a rumor, but as I stood five feet from Reis, I can attest that this might in fact be the case.

​Happy Halloween folks in Intranets land! We all know this is by far the best time of year and you know who agrees? Alex's Bar. The famed Long Beach venue has two shows this weekend that will absolutely rule.

Tonight is the Night Marchers. Fronted by former Rocket from the Crypt singer/guitarist John "Speedo" Reis, the San Diego quartet rocks, rolls, pops and shuffles for a killer sound that could come only from Reis.

For some reason, the bar is closed Saturday, but Sunday more than makes up for that. Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss are returning with their acoustic folk/bluegrass/soul hybrid that is pretty much the best shit I've heard in years. Seriously folks, they rule. Also on the bill is Jace Everett, who apparently sings the theme song to True Blood, which just so happens to be filmed at Alex's. But I wouldn't know: I don't watch soap operas.

So Halloween is my favorite day of the year and my two favorite bands are playing walking distance to my house. Needless to say, this is gonna be a good one for me. I hope it'll be a good one for you, too. Sorry kiddies, both shows are 21+.

​Former Gameface singer Jeff Caudill has been quite the productive artist since going solo a few years back. The OC native-- who now lives in LA--has a new EP titled Had To Be There available now. The acoustic five-track disc opens with a new version of the Gameface hit "My Star" and also includes a cover of "Let Go"... otherwise known as the song that plays at the end of the film Garden State. Also of note is the tune "Remember The Time," which features members of Gameface and fellow OC pop/punkers Farside.

Caudill's got a knack for writing catchy songs, the kinds that get stuck in your head for days. And I mean that in the good way, not the "I-can't-get-this-stupid-Lady-Gaga-chorus-out-of-my-head."

In case you didn't hear, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh reunited this weekend at the Cypress Hill Smokeout. And in case you really didn't hear, it wasn't with singer/guitarist Bradely Nowell, who passed away in 1996 from a heroin overdose. Nope, this reunion was with a new singer/guitarist -- an OC resident nonetheless -- named Rome Ramirez.

Well, like everything in the mdoern era, footage of the show has hit Youtube.com. Enter "Sublime Cypress Hill" and you'll come across all sorts of clips. And if you're too lazy, here's one for ya.

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We recommend seeing the Antlers on Nov. 3 at the Glass House.

No, not Crystal Antlers, the Long Beach buzz band. Just Antlers, the New York buzz band. You're puzzled. It's okay. Here, let's compare and contrast.

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With a flyer as detailed as this one, I guess I don't really have much to say.

Mosca Photography

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Lots of good stuff comes out of Portland. You got your Voodoo Doughnut, your Sweetpea Baking Company, your Hillstomp and your bike-friendly streets (notice no mention of the Trail Blazers--Go Lakers!). Well, add another item to Portland's awesome list because the Quick & Easy Boys, a trio from Rose City is hitting the Gypsy Lounge tomorrow night for a funk/punk blast of spaced out jams, a sound self-described as "honkadelic."

The group - guitarist/singer Jimmy Russell, bassist/singer Sean Badders and drummer/singer Michael Goetz - have been on the road since late September and are nearly home, where they can look forward to 200 consecutive days of rain. But all that moistness ain't all bad because it helped the threesome record a pretty sweet debut record, Bad Decisions With Good People. If you like the Minutemen, you'll dig this. We tracked down Goetz to get the real scoop behind these PDX dudes.

​Long Beach has a lot of bands, but none of them exemplify pure rock 'n' roll as well as D-Strutters. The group--singer/guitarist Joe Roads, guitarist George Velvet, bassist Tony and drummer Heath--leave all pretense behind for a straight-ahead bombastic blast like the Stones would be writing if they weren't 90 years old. 

If you don't know them, now you do, because here's an interview with Roads.

If you can't catch D-Strutters Friday at the Slide Bar, you're in luck because they're also playing Oct. 17 at the House of Blues, Oct. 18 at Alex's Bar and Halloween at Fern's. 

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We talked to On Blast earlier in the week, so the next natural step? Seeing their show at Alex's Bar last night.

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forgetters (yes, lower-case "f"), a Brooklyn trio comprised of former Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil frontman Blake Schwarzenbach, former Bitchin' bassist Caroline Paquita and former Against Me! drummer Kevin Mahon, are recording a few songs in October slated to be released for a 7-inch. No word on when said record will be available, but a new Schwarzenbach recording is always news to me.

For more forgetters news, check out this interview Schwarzenbach did with some website I'd never heard of.

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Long Beach (OK, technically they live in Signal Hill) quartet On Blast--multi-instrumentalist Andy Kiddoo, singer Josh Brown, guitarist Travis Raab and producer/bassist Tone Blair -- play Thursday night at Alex's Bar with Free Moral Agents and Mode and Friday night...at a bar mitzvah. After running into Kiddoo at a Long Beach grocery store, I caught up with him for a Q&A.

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There's not much to say about the Costa Mesa man/myth/legend that is Alfunction.that hasn't already been said, so I'll keep it at this. When he's not playing guitar in SiX, he's screen printing t-shirts, stickers and whatever else he can put ink on and currently he's the guitar tech for Maryland-based rockers Clutch. Oh, he's also got killer facial hair.

Alfunction's also my friend and I hadn't heard from him in a while. With the hectic world that is rock music, it's difficult to get him on the phone, so like the Y2K guy that I am, I emailed him. And now, for your reading pleasure, is the result of our techno-conversation.

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Yes, it's at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, but who cares? Devo is playing and if that ain't enough reason to get in your car and drive north, I don't know what is.

Oh, maybe the fact that one of my favorite bands of all time is playing its classic Q: Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! album in its entirety on Nov. 3 and Freedom of Choice on Nov. 4. Buy your tickets online and get rare demo versions of "Whip It," "Turn Around" and "Red Shark."

Folks, my birthday is in November (and it's the big 3-0) and if you want to get me anything, tickets to either of these shows would be welcomed.

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A lot of exciting developments are happening in the world of Long Beach folk rockers of Eugene and the 1914. Aside from the fact that you'll see their names in print very shortly, in a music feature penned by yours truly, they've also been invited to record some tracks at the historic Westlake Studios in Santa Monica, where anyone who is anyone in the music business has recorded...seriously, check out their credits.

Either way, it's all well and good except for one thing: their show tonight at The Prospector is going to be their one around here for a little while, as front man Eugene Owens and drummer JP Bendzinsky travel to New York at the end of the week for a brief outing with the Rosewood Thieves, joing up again w/ the 1914 for a show in Seattle. Though tonight may be bittersweet, Eugene fans should definitely come out of the wood work as Owens and his band, including Bendzinsky, guitarist Michael J. Salter, bassist Timmy Samorile and keyboardist Alfred Hernandez take to Long Beach's best cramped bar stage armed with their infections hybrid of pop, folk and inventive indie hooks.

They're also playing tonight with fellow  female folksters Red Sweater and the Seattle shoegazers of Levator. Oh, are you a new or soon to be fan of the 1914? Wanna see what they're all about? Follow me.... 

Johnnie Cluney/ Daytrotter

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So back in June, I mentioned that Long Beach singer/song writer Jessica Dobson (aka Deep Sea Diver) would be hanging out with her band in good ole' Rock Island, Illinois to record some tracks for Daytrotter during her summer tour with Connor Oberst and the Mystic Valley band. Remember how excited you were when I told you that? But after months of going back to the Daytrotter website in hopes of stumbling onto some DD tracks...I found nothing. Gradually, I started checking on it less and less, as if it were a grandma in an old folks home.

Then today, about three months later, I decide to check one more time for old times sake...and there it was: the cartoon copy of Dobson and her band (bass player Eugene Owens, and drummers Peter Mansen and Evan Trine). Their music was posted on AUG. 28. I guess following up pays off huh? Anyway, here's a link to their Daytrotter Session. You're welcome. But that's not even the best news for Dobson. Turns out she's landed a spot on another HUGE tour.

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Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month (and if you have been, is the rock renting? Cuz I could use a cheaper place), you know that today -- 9/9/09 -- marks the official release date of The Beatles: Rock Band.

That's right folks, the music industry sucks so hard that not only is it relying on the Beatles to generate some cash, it's relying on a freakin' video game with the Beatles in it to generate some cash.

As someone over the age of 25 with hobbies, I've never played Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Wanna know why? Because I know how to play real instruments. If I wanted to jam along with the Beatles (which I did many times as a teenager learning how to play guitar and bass), 
I'd do what us dinosaurs used to do: Throw on some headphones, put on the record and play.

Ah...but what do I know? These games are a bazillion dollar business and I recycle cans for lunch money.

And in case you were wondering...the game is available everywhere anything is sold.

It's Labor Day, the sun is shining and I'm on my way to the beach. And wouldn't ya know it? This song is stuck in my head. And now it'll be stuck in yours, too.

17 Hippies mashes up the torrent of sounds that flooded West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

​If Gogol Bordello is the Rolling Stones of gypsy punk, 17 Hippies must be their more literate Beatles counterpart. Berlin's "orchester spezial" plays a dizzying, high-energy mixture of French songs, English ballads and Eastern European rhythms that will you have you wondering what exactly you're listening to--as you tap your feet to it.

But before proceeding any further, we must confront the name. There are only 13 musicians in 17 Hippies and none are hippies in the peace, love and flowers in their hair sense. One is called a hippie in Germany for half succeeding at any idealistic pursuit--like forming an acoustic folk outfit six years after the Berlin Wall fell and setting out to change the world armed only with a banjo, ukulele, accordion, trombone, trumpet, violin, cello, woodwinds, mandolin, Irish bouzouki, guitar, double bass, Indian harmonium and, from the sounds of it, kitchen sink.

​Bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Bud Gaugh are hitting the stage as Sublime, just like they did in February. But unlike the previous gig, held at some tiny Mexican restaurant in a Nevada town no one's ever heard of, this show is actually pretty big.

It's part of Cypress Hill's Smokeout, a gathering of bands, booths and most importantly, weed. The Sublime reunion might get the most attention, but the lineup is actually pretty good. Scheduled to hit the stage on Oct. 23 and 24 is Slipknot (ok, not so great), Deftones, (again, not so great), Cypress Hill, the aforementioned Sublime, Pennywise, Method Man and Redman, Kottonmouth Kings, the Geto Boys (hells motherfucking yeah), Goodie Mob (booyah!), Bad Brains, Hieroglyphics, Living Legends, Devin the Dude, Mix Master Mike, Afrika Bambaata and more.

Oh, and did I forget to mention the shows, which are going down at the San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernadino, are hosted by Cheech and Chong?

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MCs Slug and Murs have released their third album under the moniker FELT. In 2002, the group issued A Tribute to Christina Ricci and followed that up in 2005 with A Tribute to Lisa Bonet. Then it comes as no surprise that the last offering is titled A Tribute to Rosie Perez.

On the real, straight up or however else rappers say it, I've never heard of FELT, but I gotta lotta love for them. Particularly the Rosie Perez tribute. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Christina Ricci, and to a lesser extent Lisa Bonet, but when I first saw White Men Can't Jump, I couldn't get Perez (or her naked boobs) off my mind for years. Please keep in mind, I saw this movie when I was about 12 and Rosie Perez's naked boobs can do damage to a 12-year-old boy. 

There's a new Alice in Chains song floating around the Intranets. Depending on what sort of music fan you are, you either A. think it's awesome that new singer William DuVall sounds eerily similar to the late Layne Staley or B. you think it's never a good idea for bands to replace dead members with musicians who ape the original sound.

Me? I couldn't care less. It ain't my band and the remaining members can do whatever they want with their music. Plus, as far as grunge is concerned, I always thought Alice in Chains wasn't some cookie cutter flannel-wearing group, so I'm open to hear any new tunes.

Maybe you disagree. Click below and find out for yourself.

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The original line-up of one of Southern California's first punk bands, the Zeros, is playing Alex's Bar in Long Beach Aug. 21.

Before punk became synonymous with mohawks and chains, the genre was like a sped-up version of '60s bubblegum rock (basically, what the Ramones did). The Chula Vista -based quartet was often called the Mexican Ramones and are credited as the first band from the San Diego area to play LA clubs.

The members have reunited in the past, but the last time that happened was more than a deacde ago, which means if you dig the Zeros, don't sleep on this show.

PS That's not a new pic. I think it was taken 7,000 years ago, but I assume they don't look much different.

PPS I got through this post without mentioning El Vez is in the band. Wait, damn it...