Rilo Kiley, back when they existed

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Shannon Nehls / OC Weekly

Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano at Sutra

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Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano @ Sutra

Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano have carried on the Dutch legacy as house music's elite producers and DJs, with gigs all over the world, after practically being discovered by Swedish House Mafia's Steve Angello in 2011. The duo stormed through Orange County this weekend for a highly anticipated return to Sutra in Newport Beach. Thanks to the guys at the Social, Creative Source and Till Dawn Group, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano managed to transform Sutra's usual Top 40 Friday night spot into an EDM heaven (let's cross our fingers this is a trend we will see more of). We spoke to the fast rising stars who emerged on the EDM scene in 2009 after their Feb. 8 show to find out what it's like to party with the Swedes, why Chuckie is one of their biggest influence, and more about their track being released this week.

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Courtesy of Robert Sorey Photography

Shane Vikus and Daniel Minaya

OC's very own Minaya & Vikus will hit another milestone in their careers today as their long awaited original track "Overdrive" hits Beatport courtesy of Boiler House Records. Already having a remix released in September on INTOTHEAM Records which reached #4 on the Progressive House Top 100 Release Chart, "Overdrive" is much bigger than their Archie's "Desire" remix. They collaborated with fellow Orange County producer Spiro to create something that is a lot more electrifying with an in-your- face punch of big room progressive house sure to rock dance floors everywhere.

"It was great getting in the studio to work with Spiro," says Daniel Minaya. "Our sounds are very similar in a way so once we all got together the ideas came about naturally. We knew exactly what kind of track we wanted and just went for it." Minaya & Vikus have been on fire this year after being hand-picked from a DJ contest to open for Swedish House Mafia's Steve Angello at the Hollywood Palladium. Since then they have headlined their own shows all over OC, LA and Las Vegas. Besides being recently signed to AOC Talent Agency, just last weekend Minaya & Vikus played another Insomniac Event featuring the legendary Pete Tong with Eats Everything and Audrey Napoleon at Exchange LA.

See Also:
*Minaya & Vikus' Blockbuster DJ Double Team
*Steve Angello's Size Matters Party - Hollywood Palladium - 5/12/12
*Eats Everything is Pudgy, But Gets a Better Onstage Workout Than the Average DJ

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Courtesy of Bjorn Jonas

Alexander Ridha, aka Boys Noize

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*HARD Summer vs. Nocturnal Wonderland--Which One is Better?

*Insomniac Donates $115,000 From EDC Sales

*CD Review - Boys Noize, Oi Oi Oi (Boys Noize/Last Gang)

Today Boys Noize premiered it's remix of "XTC" by MMM in the UK a couple hours ago and now in the US here. The remix amplifies the classic Boys Noize old school disco house sound elongating the intro and allowing for a more electrifying banging in-your-face punch when the robotic "ecstasy, one for me" lyrics surface. The remix gets even more delightfully strange as it goes on and is sure to rock dance floors everywhere.

The original song "XTC" was released as a preview two days ago and will be officially released on August 6th on Boys Noize Records. The song was first heard as he opened his sets at last years Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Electric Zoo in New York and apparently at the festivals all around the world. A year later, the techno gem has finally surfaced and the German DJ/producer fans couldn't be happier.

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There's something geographically astounding about a Costa Mesa-based record label putting putting out a band from France who specializes in the fiery polyrhythms of Ethio and Nigerian funk. That's pretty much the situation when it comes to Ubiquity Record's latest signee, Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra. Aside from packing every almost every awesome musical adjective they could muster into one band name, ALVO is equally adept at the kind of rhythmic alchemy that fits more flavors of the world into one one song than most bands could do in an entire album. Having already heard their debut Ubiquity release Last Odyssey (released today), we can say that those in need of hot, sticky percussion and jam band virtuosity from half way around the globe have enough conga-fied goodness here to keep them satiated for a while. 
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Vincent Malvaez

Brosefs for life: (from left) Chris Egger, Ryan Smith and Jeremy Hanna

For years, local brands such as Volcom and RVCA have cashed in on the link between music and fashion, endorsing hoards of nationally touring bands, presenting showcases and releasing compilations. These days, Sullen is also looking to get in on that action with its new record label, Sullen Musik, releasing its first 22-track compilation album, Sullen Musik Vol. 1, on Tuesday. While the sound is decidedly bro-centric, the album does take a few unexpected turns that could bode well for those seeking multiple avenues of aural aggression. But does a local brand known more for selling shirts than singles have a real shot at longevity when it comes to supporting bands?

Rob Burnelle of the Slow Forward thinks so. His band are the first to sign with Sullen Musik. "I'd be lying if I said that issue didn't come up," Brunelle says. "We had been speaking with a few more established labels at the time, but we loved the purely artistic direction that Sullen was headed with the label and the collective."

Sullen founders Ryan Smith and Jeremy Hanna say they want their pool of artists to be diverse--which doesn't necessarily mean innovative. The compilation's opening track, "Straight Subliminal" by Huntington Beach's John "Johnny G." Gillespie is a Sublime-esque blend of hip-hop and pop written just for Sullen that sports a predictably promotional hook: "Rollin' with my Sullen family."

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Jon O'Brien Recording

Producer Jon O'Brien's portfolio is busting at the seams, having produced and engineered OC's most prominent indie acts, from Nicole Vaughn and Her Lovely Band, Moostache, Parker Macy, The Gromble, to Young the Giant. Working out of his home studio in Irvine, Jon O'Brien Recording is quickly becoming the go-to studio for local musicians.
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​Local thrash heroes Hirax announced last week that they are hitting the studio in June to record the band's fourth full-length album. Joining the five-piece will be producer/engineer Bill Metoyer, whose resume includes working with Slayer, Morbid Angel and Armored Saint.



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Orange County hardcore/metal hybrid Bleeding Through just posted a new song titled "Goodbye to Death," a track from the band's latest, The Great Fire, slated for a Jan. 31 release.

As you might expect, the song is heavy.

Recently, I interviewed Bleeding Through guitarist Dave Nassie and asked him specifically about this song, which I assumed was a reference to Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (sure, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a classic, but in my humble opinion, Bogus Journey is one of the greatest and most underrated sequels in film history). I won't give away Nassie's answer, but I will say this: Sadly, it's not about that hilarious scene in which Bill S. Preston, Esq., and Ted "Theodore" Logan play the Grim Reaper in Battleship, Clue, electronic football and Twister.

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