X's Exene Cervenka: Beyond X-Mas
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| Ali Smith |
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| Ali Smith |
OC Weekly: What can someone expect from a typical DJ Frankie set?
Frankie Alvaro: I play a lot of Northern soul. I like to play a couple of '60s hits as well, so people know what's going on--so it's not too obscure. A little bit of garage, a lot of Motown. Always '60s. When people come see me DJ, they know what to expect.
Featuring recently departed Chiodos singer Craig Owens as well as still-in-Chiodos keyboardist Bradley Bell, Cinematic Sunrise might have to prove themselves for some time to come, especially since their music is so much lighter than that of their gritty predecessors."It's the complete opposite of Chiodos," says Bryan Beeler, Cinematic Sunrise's founding guitarist. "That's what made it work. It wasn't like someone's ideas from one band could be taken and used in the other band. They're more hardcore/screamo. I like to think we're like Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers with a little more rock or balls. Less kidlike, but still happy and polished and fun."
The new It Group just might be the best of them all: La Santa Cecilia, six twentysomethings who synthesize the different strains of Latino life in Southern California into free-for-all tunes, firing off funk licks as easily as cumbia riffs. They really haven't done much professionally--just a self-titled, self-released, six-song EP last year, each individual case decorated by members and fans with glitter, ribbons, markers and original artwork. One of their songs, the melancholy norteña ballad "Chicle," found its way into an episode of the show Weeds. But La Santa Cecilia are still underground enough that you can catch them at the most intimate locations.Continue reading.