Yelp

With Record Store Day fast approaching, it's probably a good time to highlight a local house of wax that could use some saving. This month, Dr. Freecloud's Record Shoppe--one of the last OC dens of avant garde electronica--is hosting a pledge drive to help keep their doors open. The Fountain Valley store ripped a page from the public radio playbook and started an Indiegogo pledge drive on March 1 to help raise money for inventory, cover bills and enough rent to stay afloat for a couple months. So far, the drive--which ends on April 15--has garnered the business a little over $,4000 of its $14,500 goal. With less than two weeks to go, time is undoubtedly of the essence. More »

via Fundrazr

Frank Ruffino with his two sons

Frank Ruffino, guitarist for legendary punk outfit China White, is in trouble. Recently, the Weekly learned that the longtime Huntington Beach axe man is in dire need of a liver transplant. Currently in ICU, it appears that survival for this local father of two hinges on his ability to get to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. where he'll be able to receive the proper treatment. Though this option is the best chance at saving Ruffino's life, he and wife Ella are encountering one main obstacle: the funds to get there in time.

For the young, casual fan of OC punk, the name China White might not ring an immediate bells. But considering their impact (both literally and figuratively) the wild Huntington Beach band had on the local punk scene in the 1980s alongside T.S.O.L. and Social Distortion, there's no doubt that this cause is deserving of some Mike Atta-style support.

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Popcorn!

You've gotta hand it to the guys running Burger Records--whatever some animal activists may say about their undying taste for cow meat on a bun, the label definitely does their part to help any endangered house pets they come across. This week, the Fullerton garage label/record store announced via Facebook the release of a massive compilation to help cover the medical costs of one lucky wiener dog. The puppy's name is Popcorn. That's her above--can you feel your heart melting already?

See Also:
*Duane Peters Struck By Car, Postpones Slidebar Show
*Suicide Silence Seek Donations For Mitch Lucker Memorial Fund
*Left of the Dial Closes in Seal Beach, Opens Pop-Up Store in Los Alamitos

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Suicide Silence's Facebook page

Days after Suicide Silence frontman Mitch Lucker died in a motorcycle crash in Huntington Beach, the band have launched a memorial fund to provide assistance to the family of the late singer. All proceeds donated to the official Mitch Lucker Memorial Fund will go towards the education of Lucker's five-year-old daughter Kenadee Lucker. Those who donate $20 or more will receive a commemorative t-shirt.

The outpouring of support via Internet initially caused the band's server to crash immediately so they've also shared the link to the fund on their Facebook page for the time being. 

See Also:
*Suicide Silence Singer Mitch Lucker Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Huntington Beach
*Kottonmouth Kings' Pakelika Dies From Health Complications
*No Use For a Name Frontman Tony Sly Dead at 41
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Ride the barge

Calling all Star Wars fans in Huntington Beach. Have you ever wanted to set sail on Jabba The Hutt's barge, you know, the one featured in Return of the Jedi? Well, a replica version of it will be docking in Huntington Beach on July 8 as part of the Course of the Force lightsaber relay that begins the day before in Santa Monica and will end at ComiCon in San Diego on July 12.

The five-day relay will feature a replica of the sailing barge leading the relay down the coast. Hosted by comedian Chris Hardwick, Nerdist Channel's Alison Haislip and Her Universe's Ashley Eckstein, 300 lucky fans will be able to partake in the relay, but they have to sign up through the Course of the Force website here to have the opportunity to participate. They have to run a quarter of a mile and then pass the lightsaber to the next participant. Hopefully they'll be able to make it that far--if only child-like imagination somehow translated into athletic prowess. And we'd be remiss if we didn't remind you of the obvious: watch out for Stormtroopers.

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​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young Tuesday.

In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his passing (Dilla suffered from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, although is official cause of death is cardiac arrest) and his awesomeness, we are going to post one must-hear track every day until Friday.

Happy birthday J Dilla and rest in peace! More »

​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young yesterday.

In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his passing (Dilla suffered from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, although is official cause of death is cardiac arrest) and his awesomeness, we are going to post one must-hear track every day until Friday.

Happy birthday J Dilla and rest in peace!



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Andrew Youssef/OC Weekly

Morrissey at the Fox Pomona.

​Senate Bill 1070 architect Russell Pearce may have been recalled in Arizona, but the call for a boycott of the state remains. The latest manifestation comes in the form of Morrissey's Nov. 20 concert at Phoenix's Orpheum Theater. The singer once told an audience, "I wish I was born Mexican," and, as I've written before, had he been granted that request, in Arizona, he'd be putting up with all the revved-up xenophobia.More »

Andrew Youssef/OC Weekly

​"Coyote Song," which Bright Eyes recorded for the Sound Strike, is out today. Created to support the coalition of artists who are boycotting Arizona after it passed the controversial SB 1070 bill, the song is for sale on the Sound Strike site for $2.

Proceeds go to the Florence Project, a non profit organization that provides free legal help to immigrants in the Arizona detention and deportation system.
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The late Bobby Espinosa was a vital part of Chicano music history

​On Saturday, Chicano music lovers young and old (but mostly old--respect to my elders!) descended upon Santa Ana's Delhi Community Center for a concert teach-in. The lesson plan for the day was on the History of Chicano Music in Southern California--spanning four decades, the concert chronicled the musical history that helped shape and characterize life in Mexican American barrios and colonias. Organized by the good gente of the Orange County Mexican American Historical Society (OCMAHS), the afternoon event featured the talents of the house band The Recessions! (aptly titled for these hard economic times and the concert teach-in's five dollar suggested donation!) .  More »