Publication Date: January 30, 2026
OTHER GREAT STORIES
January 29, 2026Uncategorizedand the BFG Band
Live at Grove of Anaheim
January 30th, 2026 Review by Amberlee Meyer
Billy Gibbons and the BFG band brought down the house… well, the Grove of Anaheim. Diehards and new fans alike could not have been more pleased with a tour like this one; focused on intimate venues like this one, there’s no bad seat in the house!
The Texas blues rock trio features Billy Gibbons (co-founder, lead vocalist, guitar player, primary songwriter of ZZ Top) on guitar and lead vocals, Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin on bass and organ, along with Chris “Whipper” Layton (of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble) on drums. Let me tell you, these boys came to play!
Gibbons and Flanigin adorned the stage in sparkly, bedazzled pink and brown cowboy-themed suits reminiscent of the iconic Nudie suits of the 1970s, complete with crystal Bolo ties and boots!
The set, a smattering of ZZ Top’s albums, was stacked full of hits and heavy-hitting, down-home Texas blues-rock. Opening with “Waitin’ for the Bus,” then jumping into “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” they got the crowd going with “Gimme All Your Lovin’” from the massively popular ZZ Top 1983 release, “Eliminator.”
The songs blended into one another like a heavy blues jam session, which went over famously. As they broke into another one of ZZ Top’s many radio hits, “Cheap Sunglasses,” Gibbons and Layton did those slick, coordinated moves ZZ Top was famous for. The audience loved it, singing along and shouting out the chorus.
Gibbons’ laid-back vocal technique on “Blue Jean Blues” highlighted his ability to dig down into that soulful place. His versatility and guitar ability were front and center for this one. Then, their rendition of Slim Harpo’s “I Got Love if You Want It” was a perfect example of Louisiana old-school, swamp blues – it did not disappoint. Flanigin was on fire with his Hammond organ; this top-shelf performance was mind-blowing.
They come runnin’ just as fast as they can…‘Cause every girl crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man!
Ever the raconteur, the formidable frontman knows how to tell a story, and he shared an incredible one about how a call from England in 1968 landed them a tour with the legendary Jimi Hendrix. As they blasted into a cover of “Foxy Lady,” the audience was left gob smacked!
“Brown Paper Bag,” the only new song performed from a yet-to-be-released studio album for Gibbons, was “south of the belt buckle” guitar-driven Texas blues at its finest.
After “Just Got Paid,” radio hit “Sharp Dressed Man” had the crowd cheering for more guitar, which they got with the hard-hitting songs “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” and “Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.”
“La Grange” was the perfect closer and earned the gents a standing ovation. Thankfully they returned for an encore of “Thunderbird,” a Texas shuffle, which was received with thunderous applause!
This performance was something else; the musicianship was over the top, and if you have never experienced a Billy Gibbons show, you won’t want to miss out on the next one!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Highway One Photography
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SID 260127 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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January 28, 2026UncategorizedTHE HUMAN LEAGUE
Returns to Southern California
January 27th, 2026 by Shane Pase
It’s been a long time coming, but The Human League is finally heading back to the States. The Sheffield synth-pop pioneers haven’t done a proper coast-to-coast American tour since 2011, and they’re making up for lost time with the Generations Tour, which stops at the Hollywood Bowl on June 4th.
And they’re not coming alone—Soft Cell and Alison Moyet are joining them for what might be the most perfectly curated bill of British new wave royalty you’ll see this year.
For those keeping track, The Human League has only played about a dozen US shows in the past decade. That’s it. So, this tour is kind of a big deal for anyone who’s been waiting to hear “Don’t You Want Me” live again or hoping to catch those classic “Dare” tracks in person.
The band—still anchored by Philip Oakey alongside vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley—has spent recent years doing festival circuits in the UK and Europe, but American fans have been mostly out of luck. Until now.
The Generations Tour isn’t built around new albums or reinventions. It’s a celebration of the music these three acts created in the early ‘80s, when synthesizers stopped being experimental noise and became the sound of pop radio.
The Human League practically wrote the playbook for synth-pop with “Dare” in 1981, turning futuristic sounds into massively catchy songs that still hold up today. Expect the hits—“Human,” “(Keep Feeling) Fascination,” “Love Action”—plus probably some deeper cuts for the faithful.
Soft Cell brings a different kind of energy to the bill, though the show will carry extra weight this year. Instrumentalist Dave Ball passed away in October 2025, just days after completing the duo’s final album “Danceteria,” which is set for release this summer.
Marc Almond is continuing under the Soft Cell name as a tribute to his collaborator of nearly 50 years.
You’ll get “Tainted Love,” “Memorabilia,” “Sex Dwarf,” “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” and if we’re lucky – “It’s a Mugs Game,” and “Tears Run Rings.” Obviously, but there’s something poignant about hearing these songs now, knowing the story behind them.
Alison Moyet rounds out the lineup, and unlike the other two acts, she’s actually touring behind recent material.
Her 2024 album “Key” reimagined 40 years of solo work alongside two new tracks, and her powerful voice—still one of the most distinctive in pop music—sounds as commanding as it did during her Yazoo days.
She’s been on the road throughout 2025, so expect a well-honed set that balances Yazoo classics with solo highlights.
Three legendary acts, one night, all at the Bowl. It’s the kind of show that doesn’t happen often, especially for artists who’ve been largely absent from American stages. If you’ve been waiting 15 years for The Human League to come back, this is your moment, and it’s going to be a great one!
Get your tickets for this one, tickets are on sale now.
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SID 260124 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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January 25, 2026UncategorizedALTerEGO’26
“On The Red Carpet”
January 23rd, 2026
After being cancelled last year due to the CA wildfires, ALTer EGO returned in a big way and it was definitely worth the wait. Green Day, Twenty One Pilots, Cage the Elephant, Sublime, Good Charlotte, Gigi Perez, Mt. Joy, and Almost Monday all gave incredible performances onstage, which we have already shared a review of. But OCMN was also hiding backstage to capture some intel from the artists – and some surprise guests – before they went into rock show mode.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Green Day had an amazing 2025 headlining Coachella, releasing a deluxe edition of their latest album, “Saviors,” and the 25-year celebration of “Warning.”
For 2026, the trio of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool will give us “New Years Rev,” a “coming-of-age” movie that follows a band of three teenagers traveling to LA expecting to open for Green Day.
Of course, it was also announced last week Green Day will open the Super Bowl on February 8th. With the game being played in their hometown area Santa Clara, the guys are sure to keep things free from the “MAGA agenda.”
Also, congrats to Mike Dirnt on being honored with a lifetime achievement award from Bass Magazine last week at The Observatory!
Twenty One Pilots is another band who had a monster huge 2025. Their worldwide, sold-out tour is still headed towards Europe as they promote their albums “Clancy” and “Breach.” Fans will get an inside look at the tour thanks to their upcoming concert film, “More Than We Even Imagined,” which hits theaters February 26th and features their Mexico City show.
Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun – who became a first-time dad last month – are also still getting praise for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” which they performed at ALTer EGO to the delight of the crowd.
Cage the Elephant… I mean, they opened for Oasis in 2025, so what more could be said? Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, Nick Bockrath, and Matthan Minster have just finished up their album cycle for “Neon Pill” with their own tour, Ohana Fest, and those little shows with Oasis – including the Rose Bowl. The guys will play a few festivals in 2026, but have earned some time off.
Perhaps one of the busiest bands of 2025 that will likely be busier in 2026 is Sublime. Jakob Nowell, Eric Wilson, and Bud Gaugh had a number one hit last year with their new track, “Ensenada,” and a new album, “Til the Sun Explodes,” is due this year. Nowell confirmed it is still on track: “Yeah, it’s the plan for sure. We’re going in and doing some finishing touches this next week. And we’re really excited about the material.” Then he laughed and said, “We’ve heard from scientists that it will happen one day.”
The guys have also announced their Me Gusta Festival, launching May 9th in Texas, and “accidentally” let it slip about their cruise with Nowell shouting, “Can we talk about the cruise yet, Joe, or no? We’re not doing a cruise. If we were, it probably would happen this year, and it would be rad. I told them we’re not doing it, Joe. They don’t suspect it.”
(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Fortunately, they have since “officially” announced it: The Sublime Reef Madness Cruise will set sail November 15th through the 19th, depart from Miami and head to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas on Norwegian Jewel.
The cruise will include two headline performances from Sublime, including “a front-to-back performance of their iconic self-titled album and a greatest hits set.” There will also be performances from Yelawolf, The Elovaters, Common Kings, Amigo The Devil, Long Beach Dub Allstars, DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, Codefendants, Jakobs Castle, Strange Case, and more. The first round of presale sign-ups are available now and the general on sale begins February 17th.
Good Charlotte appeared at ALTer EGO and it was surprisingly their first LA show in 10 years. Joel Madden has his various jobs (podcast, “Inkmaster”), as does his twin brother Benji (artist management), but they have made time for new music. The gents were joined by Paul Thomas and Billy Martin onstage to play tracks off their 2025 album, “Motel Du Cap,” their first album in seven years.
In addition to their own album, they recently collabed with Yellowcard on a new version of their number one song, “Bedroom Posters.” After an Australian tour, Good Charlotte will be back in the US this summer as they take on a co-headline tour across North America with Avenged Sevenfold.
If you have not heard of Gigi Perez, you must acquaint yourself pronto. Perez began releasing music in 2018, but after the devastating loss of her sister in 2020, her song “Celene” went viral, leading to an opening slot for Coldplay in Florida.
I asked Perez about the first song she fell in love with and she said, “I have a vivid memory of hearing ‘Turning Tables’ by Adele. I think it was one of the first CDs that my dad had bought. That, and I really remember the Hilary Duff CD, ‘Metamorphosis.’ It was the ‘Let the Rainfall Down,’ and the Adele ‘Turning Tables.’ I remember being 12 and being like, I fully thought I could feel the weight of heartbreak as a 12-year-old. (chuckling) It’s crazy that Adele could do that to me.”
But as some of her Perez’s own songs are written from real adult heartbreak, I asked if it was therapeutic to go through it via songwriting. “Absolutely. I think all of the songs that I’ve written, no matter how insanely difficult a feeling may be, when I’m able to articulate it, the way that I feel,” she stated. “A lot of my emotions feel like, even though I can understand them through words and just overall, unpack them, it’s something different when I can do it through a song.”
Perez went on, “It’s almost like it satisfies, and it’s like a certain puzzle that unlocks my brain. I think even just with the really hard songs from my album, ‘Fable’ was a song that honestly, I can’t believe I even could describe it into a song. I could have probably a two-hour conversation about it. How do I take something that literally takes up all of my time and my whole entire thought? And how do I concise that? And it just happened. And so, absolutely, I think that there’s a healing element of that, of just being able to do that therapeutically for me and then getting to share it with others is also the aspect of community. It changes everything and how I cope with.”
Last year was insane for Perez. She released her debut album, “At the Beach, in Every Life,” her “Sailor Song” went mega viral, she rocked the stage at Lollapalooza, appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and collaborated with Mumford and Sons, Alex Warren, and Mt. Joy. The insanity will keep up in 2026 as she heads to Australia next month (and will perform with her friends in Mt. Joy), and returns to the US as one of the acts at Coachella.
Perez’s friends in Mt. Joy have a busy year ahead as well. Yes, they are headed to Australia, then a whole mess of US festivals this summer, including Bonnaroo and Bottlerock, plus two nights at the iconic Red Rocks, and two nights at the legendary Greek.
Matt Quinn, Sam Cooper, Sotiris Eliopoulos, Jackie Miclau, and Michael Byrnes dropped “Hope We Have Fun” last summer and will spend 2026 celebrating 10 years of being a band. Quinn is excited because, “We’re just starting. I’m excited to get back out and play music with these guys because I’ve been sitting in my basement staring at the wall,” he joked.
Mt. Joy said they are working on some new music before hitting the road and when I asked about their first song loves, answers ranged from “Gravity” by John Mayer to “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead to “Brain Stew” by Green Day.
Perhaps the most energetic and nicest bunch on the red carpet was Almost Monday. Dawson Daugherty, Luke Fabry, and Cole Clisby exclaimed that it was their first red carpet and they seemed the revel in it. The guys admitted they were in disbelief about performing at ALTer EGO as they had covered most of the bands when they were in high school.
Almost Monday’s debut studio album, “Dive,” did the standard release in 2024, with a deluxe release in 2025. They toured the globe in support and are headed off to China next, then will “finish up some music.”
I asked what item they HAD to have on tour and they agreed headphones and AirPods. As for what the wildest event over the past year had been, Daugherty said, “Honestly, tonight. Really, tonight. We were sitting there and the spinning after Cage the Elephant is just so crazy. So we’re just really stoked.”
There were several surprise guests in the press area, including two of our favorite OC legends. Tony Kanal and Adrian Young from No Doubt would introduce Green Day to the stage later in the evening, but before that, they chatted with us.
I asked the two what it was like to work on songs for so long to complete albums, and then release those songs for us to love. Can they still love and enjoy them too? Kanal answered, “I think we get to enjoy it through our kids. Our kids are growing up and they’re learning about all the albums and stuff. Now they get to see us play live. That’s a whole different thing; seeing it through their eyes is amazing. I never thought that would happen in my life with our music.”
Young added, “It’s beautiful. There’s actually points where I need to tell them I can’t listen to this anymore.” He chuckled and continued, “I need to take a break because it’s just over and over and over again. I appreciate it. I’m glad that the kids like it, because if they didn’t, I would be a farmer.” This drew laughs from us all.
We discussed their upcoming May and June residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas and I asked about the details they could share. “We’ve been preparing for three or four months. We’re deep in it,” Kanal explained. “We’ve been rehearsing. I found myself in the basement just getting ready. But we’ve been working on this amazing thing with team, putting the show together. And I can’t wait to see what’s going to be the rest of the conversation,” he went on.
“It’s such a different way to build a show compared to the tour,” Young said. “And I won’t give up song titles, but there are going to be a couple… I’m looking forward to playing a few of the old ones that we haven’t played in decades.”
The gents brought their kids and wives to the show and said it felt odd since their lives are very suburban now. I asked, with such famous faces, can they just pop over to a store like Target or go shopping without being recognized. Kanal laughed, “Not in Vegas in May and June!”
Finally, we spoke to Sugar Ray frontman, Mark McGrath, who jumped into some No Doubt photos and personified joy in human form.
After making sure to introduce himself and ask my name (which is not common for press), McGrath took my ribbing in stride. I said he had a career in music, TV, this, that, and the other thing, so I wondered if he ever just sat down and relaxed.
McGrath laughed and said, “If you talk to my wife and kid, she’s like, ‘Dad’s always in his robe and hanging around and lying in the bath.’ I move around a lot. It’s probably what the public sees and what dates are out there, tours are out there. When I’m at home, my dog, a rope, Lakers on TV, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He chuckled and went on, “I’m a lot lazier than you think I am, but I do enjoy every opportunity. I’ve just been so lucky in this business to do things I shouldn’t really be doing – hosting TV shows, hosting radio shows. I think I’ve spread myself thin and where people will have me, at least. I try to walk through every door in every new opportunity, try and check it out. Challenging yourself is a good part of this business, too. Staying around, the more things you do, the more people you meet, hopefully that’ll help with your longevity.”
We joked about parenting teens and I asked if his kids understand how cool he is or is he lame because he is dad? In his energetic manner, he said his kids will say, “Drop me off a block away. Drop me off three streets away with your frost tips.” Again we laughed about some current trends, and he continued, “It’s a whole new dialect and language, but they’re really cool. I caught my son singing a Sugar Ray song the other day, and I’m like, ‘Got you.’ He said, ‘I love your songs, dad.’ It hit me in my heart. They’re good kids. I’m trying to raise good human beings, and they’re both there.”
I asked if there was any Sugar Ray new music on the horizon since I heard someone mention it nearby and McGrath explained, “I think if you’re in a band, you do two things. You play live and you’re always writing songs. If you ever want to ask someone, if they say they’re a songwriter, then let me see your voice memos on your phone. If they don’t have 1,000 bad ideas on their voice memos, they’re not a songwriter.” We laughed and he continued, “I’m always writing songs. Now, we’ve been fortunate to have some hit songs, so we’ll put them in the set. We try to introduce new songs every now and then and if they’re good enough, we stack a couple, we’ll put out something there. But you know, people want to hear the hits, and so do I.” He summed it up with, “We know why people are showing up, and if you want to hear the hits, you’re going to hear them.”
What an absolute delight McGrath – and really, everyone at ALTer EGO – was to speak with. How can ALT 987 top it in 2027? I’m sure they are already working on it…
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SID 260122 | JIMMY ALVAREZ | EDITOR [...]
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January 23, 2026UncategorizedMore Electricity in 2026 From
January 24, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know! Sure, that’s a great name for an album title; but it’s also the best way to describe one of the most prolific punk bands of all time. The band from Hermosa Beach California that wears that moniker goes by the name of Black Flag!
Here’s the skinny on the band name – believe it or not, they were first called “Panic.” A bandmate suggested another name consideration. As the story goes, the social and political aspect of the band’s core values were considered. The discussion bled into a black flag compared to the white one. Clearly, they are polar opposites in every way possible. Instead of surrender and futility, the black flag symbolizes the contrast to the vanilla banner, their name symbolizes anarchy and a push back in the name of punkers worldwide; and thus, the band name was suggested then adopted; and the rest is history.
As for the band itself, it was formed in 1976 by guitarist / songwriter Greg Ginn along with lead singer Keith Morris (now with Circle Jerks). From day one, they took the punk rock world by storm; and life has never been the same. Since then, this band has had ebbs and flows that has seen a few lead singers including lightning bolt Henry Rollins back in the day.
With licks that challenged bands like Ramones, The Velvet Underground, MC5, New York Dolls, the Stooges and Social D, Black Flag rose quickly in the eyes and ears of the legions of their fans that flocked towards the new sound that was taking over the music landscape.
Sure, there were bands from across the pond that made significant noise in the early days of punk rock. Bands like The Damned, Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Buzzcocks were making monumental music that could not be ignored.
Truth is that era was very-very special, the collective efforts from both sides of the Atlantic was retrospectively historic. Their music is literally the soundtrack to our lives. Movies, television, commercials punk rock is literally everywhere; after all The Clash’s “Should I Stay, Or Should I Go” was even part of the soundtrack to season one of “Stranger Things.”
That said, there was just something raw and powerful about the music coming out of the States. Black Flag tapped into that angst and developed a sound and following that has never looked back.
The hits we love include “Rise Above,” “Fix Me,” “Six Pack,” “Revenge,” “Slip It In,” “Depression,” “In My Head,” and of course, “TV Party.” In the end, this band has blown up and Blackflagdom has taken off with a life beyond their music.
The name, the logo, the t-shirts and every bit of merch is just as popular today as it was when they first took to the stage.
Bottom line, Black Flag’s reach and influence on other bands, fans and society in general is far reaching and puts them at the top of the “influence” totem pole with other era-defining and epic bands.
Black Flag today consists of founding member Greg Ginn on guitar and backing vocals, lead vocalist Max Zanelly, David Rodriguez on bass, and Bryce Weston bangs on the skins. Their collective energy is simply electrifying.
Their onstage antics don’t fall short, ask their fanbase who to this day still can’t get enough of this band. I have been fortunate enough to cover them over the years, and the 2026 iteration of the band is just as dynamic as ever. Even after all these years, Ginn looks forward to taking the stage to play the music that has defined a generation, a genre and a movement.
As for their 2026 tour, so far, they have several dates set nationwide. The big festival will be the Coachella on weekend number one and two. In between all that, you can catch them in San Francisco, Fresno, Murrieta, Tucson, Pioneertown, Santa Ana, Fontana, Houston, Glendale, Flagstaff, and Sin City. Trust me, the show will be loud, then it will get louder before insanity and mayhem breaks out.
If you’re looking to spend some time taking in living history, mark your calendar and go out next week and see this band in the OC with the Dickies and Angry Samoans.
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SID 260119 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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January 21, 2026UncategorizedALTer EGO’26 Takes Over Kia Forum
January 21, 2026 Review by Kevin Gomez
ALTer EGO, the annual alternative music festival presented by iHeartRadio, returned to their home of the Kia Forum in Inglewood Saturday night. With one of the greatest lineups yet, they couldn’t have found a more explosive way to the start the show.
One of the best live acts today, Cage the Elephant welcomed the fired-up crowd by kicking off with “Spiderhead” as flames blew up behind them. Brad Shultz switched to acoustic guitar for “Neon Pill,” the title track from their latest album, while Nick Bockrath nailed a trippy guitar solo.
Lead singer Matt Shultz led the “ooh ooh-oohs” and falsettos for “Trouble,” before the band switched to Southern rock on “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked.” “Shake Me Down” was perfect, highlighted by Jared Champion’s thundering drums. Matt, all swagger and strut, must be what it was like for teens watching Mick Jagger in the ‘60s.
“Cigarette Daydream” nearly brought me to tears with Matt’s pleading voice as the band’s music brings nostalgia for ancient memories. Cage the Elephant put an exclamation point at the end of their set with “Come a Little Closer” that brought the house down.
Following the song’s conclusion, as he usually does, Brad smashed his guitar on the floor and handed the destroyed body to a lucky fan in the audience.
The crew from “The Woody Show” on Alt 987 was on stage to bring up almost monday. From “right down the street in San Diego,” as Woody introduced them, they kicked off with “jupiter” (this band really likes to stylize in lower case).
This was a really big opportunity for the youngest band of the night, and it was obvious they were grateful and making the most of every minute. Lead singer Dawson Daugherty got the crowd to clap along to the intro of “cough drops.” In between songs Daugherty admitted, “These are all the bands that we used to cover in high school.” They played “lost” and closed with what Woody called “one of the biggest hits of 2025,” “can’t slow down.”
Booker and Stryker from Alt 987’s afternoon show introduced Mt. Joy (Mt. Joy was a late addition to the festival as they were a last-minute replacement for Myles Smith). They opened with the indie-folk “Lucy.”
For “In the Middle,” they welcomed Gigi Perez, who also performed later that evening. Perez lent her powerful, sultry vocals which really elevated the entire song. Mt. Joy gave me Lumineers vibes as they played the spacey “Astrovan.”
They finished up with their big indie hit, “Silver Living” as lead vocalist Matt Quinn sang, “drink your wine, smoke your weed.”
Woody, Menace, Gina and Greg of “The Woody Show” returned to introduce the wildly popular Good Charlotte. Woody mentioned that the band just released their eighth studio album after a long hiatus.
I severely underestimated how popular Good Charlotte is, but these fans have stuck by them, even as it seemed like they may never play live again. And yet, here we are and the band is set to kick off a summer co-headlining tour with Avenged Sevenfold. They opened with “The Anthem,” which got the entire building singing.
“Girls & Boys” was followed by “Reject,” their single from last year’s “Motel Du Cap” as images from the album’s artwork played on the screen behind them. They performed the disco pop hit, “Dance Floor Anthem.” Lead singer Joel Madden said, “Thank you, Los Angeles for having Good Charlotte back. It’s been a very long time. We’re just a little band from Maryland but Los Angeles has been our home for many years now.”
If the crowd had been a bit timid up until their set, Good Charlotte invigorated them by ending with “Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous,” which got the entire arena jumping along.
DJ Christen Limon brought out Nicole Alvarez, “the latest addition to the Alt 987 family.” Alvarez said, “Most of you know me, and for those that don’t, I look forward to getting to know you.” They then introduced the immaculately talented Gigi Perez.
Fans got a sneak preview of her talent from her duet earlier with Mt. Joy, but that was just a taste of what was to come. She’s nothing short of a powerhouse, blessed with an incredible voice, and is also a talented guitarist.
She opened with “Please Be Rude” playing acoustic guitar. She swapped for an electric guitar for “Chemistry,” featuring a nice solo from her lead guitarist. She played “Sugar Water” and welcomed Bella, her younger sister to provide some beautiful two-part harmony. She finished a great set with one of my new favorite discoveries, her mega hit, “Sailor Song.”
As Sublime took the stage, drummer Bud Gaugh, in black cowboy hat, hammered the intro for “Date Rape” as lead singer Jakob Nowell wheeled in on a Rascal scooter.
He alternated his time on stage between riding on the scooter and walking around with a single crutch. Nowell announced, “I broke my fucking ankle at the last festival we played.” Most guys in his situation would just take a seat on a stool, but Nowell was going to strut and work the stage one way or another.
Nowell asked for a moment of silence for Bob Weir (Grateful Dead guitarist who passed away last week) before Sublime played “Scarlet Begonias.” Nowell was able to balance long enough to play guitar for “Wrong Way” and then afterward laughed, “That’s about as long as I can stand and sing.”
When discussing what song to play next, Nowell said, “This is a big radio show, we should do a big radio hit,” leading them to play “Doin’ Time.” After, Nowell said, “Last year we had a number one song for eight weeks in a row because of you guys,” and they went into that hit, “Ensenada.” They played the ‘90s anthem “Santeria,” and closed with “a fast punk-rock song,” “Same in the End.”
Booker and Stryker returned to introduce Twenty One Pilots, who Stryker mentioned have an upcoming live concert film called “More Than We Ever Imagined.”
Drummer Josh Dun – wearing a mask completely covering his face with two red-lit eyes – began pounding away and as an explosion on stage hit, singer Tyler Joseph jumped up over his piano, completely covered up like a ninja. For “Promises and Contracts” Joseph stood on a platform that was behind held up by audience members in the front row.
After both men had shed their masks and costumes, Joseph said, “This is a very special show – this is the first ever show Josh has played as a father.”
For the big drum outro of “DRUM SHOW,” Dun walked off stage and played drums on a set that was balanced on a platform that fans held above their head. For “RAWFEAR,” Joseph hopped off the stage and began walking through the floor, eventually singing on a set of stairs, before continuing to walk across the entire first tier of the arena.
Joseph played bass and sang while continuing to walk back toward the stage for “Ride.” As he returned to the stage, he brought Stryker out and said, “ was the first person to ever play us on the radio” and Stryker sang the song’s finale chorus.
A short video on the screen featured Jack White saying, “I give Josh and Tyler permission to do this song” and the duo kicked into their bodacious cover of “Seven Nation Army” (as performed at White’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction). Twenty One Pilots closed out their set with “Stressed Out.”
Special guests Tony Kanal and Adrian Young of No Doubt took the stage to bring out their longtime friends, Green Day. The usual pink bunny hyped the crowd up as “Blitzkrieg Bop” played on the PA.
The band exploded into “American Idiot” while pyro and fireworks launched behind them. Billie Joe Armstrong changed the lyrics to, “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda” and if you thought that’s all he had to say about current politics, you’d be wrong.
During the breakdown of “Holiday” Armstrong said, “This song is anti-fascism. This song is anti-war. We stand up for our brothers and sisters in Minnesota” gaining a huge ovation of cheers.
The representative from California has the floor!
Tre Cool started the steady drumbeat for “Know Your Enemy,” which during the song’s breakdown Armstrong invited a female fan on stage to sing along with him as 17,000 fans jumped in unison.
That’s what struck me about Green Day’s set – after a long festival, you would expect many fans to leave, not necessarily because they weren’t fans but because it was a long show and a lot of people came out for different acts.
And yet, I didn’t see a single person leave or try to beat traffic; every single seat was packed.
Jason White had a couple of really nice guitar solos during “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” supported by guitarist, Kevin Preston. Mike Dirnt led the iconic bass intro to “Longview,” while Jason Freese had excellent keyboards on “St. Jimmy” and the following song, “21 Guns.”
Armstrong laughed during the first verse of “When I Come Around” and he laughingly admitted, “I fucked up the lyrics.” The band left and Armstrong came back to play solo acoustic on “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” as Dirnt and Cool returned by his side for the song’s finale. Armstrong ended with the sage advice, “Please look out for your neighbors. Make sure you take care of each other. Make sure you love one another. Protect each other. Chinga la migra!”
There’s no better way to kick off the new year than ALTer’ EGO and iHeartRadio seemed poised to continue making ALTer’ EGO bigger and better every year. Until 2027, y’all.
FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY
by Highway One Photography
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January 19, 2026UncategorizedCOMING SOON
The OC Super Show! Music & Beer Festival
January 19th, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
Brew Ha Ha Productions (the team behind Punk in the Park and Lucky Punks) announced Friday that their next big event will be The OC Super Show Music & Beer Festival on March 14th at Great Park Live in Irvine.
Headlining the big festival will be Orange County ska superheroes, The Aquabats! The band played last year’s Lucky Punks for St. Patrick’s Day and just came off a slew of shows in October and November to finish off 2025.
For a festival showcasing Orange County’s best, you can’t find a better representative of the Orange County punk and ska scene over the last 30 years.
Also playing will be the pop punk/emo band Story of the Year. Last year was a hell of a year (no pun intended) for them with shows at Warped Tour and When We Were Young. They are fresh off of a national tour that ended 2025 with a pair of shows in Southern California.
Although brothers A. Jay and Jeremy Popoff have since relocated to Nashville, Lit will always be a band that I associate with Orange County, where they first had their roots. I’ve seen them a handful of times in the past few years, and they sound as incredible as ever, and will no doubt be playing all your favorite hits.
If you grew up a fan of pop punk in the late ‘90s, you were probably a fan of Fenix TX. With a sound that emulated bands like blink-182 and Home Grown, they had some radio success with “Speechless” and “Threesome.” They played a long-awaited pair of shows in Pomona and San Diego this past November.
Although originally from Illinois, Mest has called Southern California home for the past two decades. Longtime friends and collaborators with Lit, Mest has carved out their own path of pop punk catchy tunes since the mid ‘90s.
Tunnel Vision hail from San Clemente and blends together rock and reggae, bringing to mind bands like Sublime and Pepper. They recently played the Coach House and will be supporting 311 on their upcoming The Road to 311 Day 2026 tour.
The band 84 Days has only played three shows and there is so much buzz about them already. Fronted by Pennywise bassist Randy Bradbury on lead vocals and guitar, their shows opening for The Vandals last month sounded really tight. Erik “Smelly” Sandin of NOFX filled in on drums last year, but no word yet if he will also be supporting them at this festival.
Rounding out the lineup (for now) is Riverside’s Sailor’s Songbook. What I would describe as pop punk that wears its heart on its sleeve, the band has frequently toured with longtime friends The Aquabats and Voodoo Glow Skulls.
The flyer for the festival lists “and more,” which suggests that more bands will be revealed as the show gets closer. In the meantime, general admission and VIP tickets are available now with tiered pricing. The show is all ages with food vendors and trucks, and for guests 21 and over, they can elect to purchase the Craft Beer Tasting Package.
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January 18, 2026UncategorizedReturns with an Epic Lineup
January 18, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
There are so many over-the-top shows coming to SoCal in 2026, but only a handful exist that personify what music is about, and it’s coming back to Redondo Beach. Beachlife returns May 1st through the 3rd.
This edition has a little bit of everything for everyone. It will cause a migration of the masses; a pilgrimage is the best way to describe it. Music fans from everywhere imaginable will invade Redondo Beach to have some fun under the sun while creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Day one features one of the biggest names in music, Duran Duran. They remain favorites no matter where you call home. Other bands to share the stage will be The Chainsmokers, Grouplove, Fitz and the Tantrums, and a few other kick-ass bands.
Day two has a little something for those who like their music a little louder. The Offspring will be the headliner, but other bands will be bringing the wood, Slightly Stoopid, Ben Harper, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Sugar Ray, and Switchfoot will make this day very memorable. These bands are set to electrify the crowd.
As for day three, James Taylor, My Morning Jacket and Sheryl Crow among others will close out the festival. As always there will be side stages, and the food will be insane.
Tickets are on sale now – Ready, set and go… This one will be special, so get your tickets before you do anything else!
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January 15, 2026UncategorizedTour Coming to SoCal
September 15th, 2025 by Jimmy Alvarez
They say there is two sides to every story. On one end, we have a legendary artist who whose contribution to Boston’s Pixies was gigantic. On the other, this an artist who went on to form a band that has become a legend in its own right.
So, who exactly is the artist and the band that has captivated a legion of fans? It’s Kim Deal and The Breeders, and they are coming to SoCal!
Coming off last summer’s Last Splash tour, Deal has been very-very busy playing some of the biggest venues and festivals. Throw in her solo release “Nobody Loves You More,” and boom… the fan base has gone nuts once again for The Breeders.
Of course, they are best known for their mega-hit “Cannonball,” “Divine Hammer,” and “No Aloha,” “Wait in the Car,” and now they are making a big splash with fans with “Nervous Mary.” The video is quite entertaining to say the least. It has a quirky Sparks vibe.
The Breeders today feature frontwomen Kim Deal who remains dynamic behind the mic and on rhythm guitar and sister Kelley on lead guitar, Josephine Wiggs is on bass, and Jim Macpherson bangs the drums and keeps the band in time.
If the band’s latest appearances in the Southland are any indication of how vibrant they are, be prepared to be electrified. This tour will hit Los Angeles on August 25th at The Hollywood Palladium before it heads south to play The Sound in San Diego. Tickets for these local shows are on sale now.
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SID 260110 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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January 13, 2026UncategorizedSKA SMACKDOWN II
Live at Garden Amp
January 13th, 2026 Review by Kevin Gomez
Mustard Plug helped host the first ever Ska Smackdown nearly one year ago to the day at the Garden Amp in Garden Grove. They brought along a few returning friends, but mostly an all-new star-studded lineup of ska that took over both stages.
The first band of the day was Calypso’s Curse, which got things going in the Locker Room. The band has a ska with Caribbean feel to their sound.
The youngest band on the lineup, the group has only been touring for less than a year. They opened with “Lead Me” and “Drive,” then closed with “Death,” the last track on their self-titled EP.
The Goodwin Club showed up dressed like a bunch of elderly women with singer Tami Demaree joking, “We’re The Golden Girls!” Local legends that they are, “Everything” and “Sorry Not Sorry” got the whole crowd skanking and singing to every word.
Charles Grey – who looked like he could win a Mrs. Roper lookalike contest – had a nasty guitar solo to close out “Little Girl.”
They nailed a skankified cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” and closed with “Turkey Tit,” featuring a brief cover of Op Ivy’s “Sound System” as Chris Graue played trumpet walking through the pit and through the stands.
Hooray for Our Side was another returning favorite, once again showing up in the Locker Room.
They played “Devil in the Details” and “Better Off Gone,” the title track from their EP, which drops next week. They did their cover of Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville,” and finished with “Outatime.”
The Iron Roses featured Mustard Plug’s Colin Clive playing double duty as he’s also the group’s guitarist. Vocalists Nathan Gray and Becky Fontaine came out to Chumbawumba’s “Nazi (The Day the Nazi Died).”
They opened with “Old Guard” and “Soldier of Fortune.” Gray said, “Fuck ICE! Fuck Trump!” before starting the next song with the opening, “1-2-3-4, I declare a class war!” before “Rebel Soul Sound” Gray introduced the song by saying, “This is about kicking all the Nazis out of your scene by any fucking means necessary.” They closed a fiery and impassioned performance with “Fight Back” and “Screaming for a Change.”
Chencha Berrinches had one of the most intense sets all day. Mixing together ska and heavy metal bringing to mind bands like La Pobreska and Voodoo Glow Skulls, who played last year’s Smackdown. The horns blared with Latin Flair and lead singer Chris Suicide spit lyrics at a rapid pace in a devil luchador mask. It was ska-core en español, yet their message seemed to transcend language barriers and the crowd was amped to mosh and skank in unison.
Orange County’s sweethearts, Half Past Two played to a packed crowd of loyal fans. The band started with “Proximity” and went into fan favorite, “Scratched CD” featuring a brief breakdown cover of “A Message to You, Rudy.”
They shared a new, unreleased song, “Nightmares of You.” Singer Tara Hahn mentioned that 2026 is 20 years of Half Past Two. She welcomed out her daughter, Neely to help her sing the chorus on “Dominoes.” They closed out with the hardest song of their set, “Curse The Universe” which saw several stage divers and crowd surfers, including members of the band Chudson.
Moving back to the Locker Room where Lo(u)ser had started playing. Think of a video game about ska music that came to life and formed a one-man band and you’d have the brainchild of Chris Graue. He’s accompanied by an 8-bit video game character on screen named Looty as Graue played guitar while various video game graphics show on a projector.
He did “Set it All on Fire” followed by “Overtime,” which featured a montage of sports games. He played “Me vs. Me” as a video shows clips featuring Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi.
The night’s co-headliners The Toasters graced the main stage. They got things going with “2-Tone Army” that formed a huge skank pit. Robert Hingley said one of the best things about growing up in England was the pirate radio, which of course lead into them playing, “Pirate Radio.”
They were then graced by the legendary Angelo Moore of Fishbone on saxophone as they played the aptly titled, “Weekend in L.A.,” which featured a blazing hot solo from Moore. The Toasters played “Talk is Cheap” and brought the house down with their performance of “Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down.”
I’ve heard a lot of buzz in the past year but this was my first time seeing Chudson, who closed out the Locker Room. I can see what all the hype is about.
A blistering set from a band that feeds off its fans’ energy and vice versa that packed in this tiny room. Later that evening Mustard Plug’s Brandon Jenison said, “I have seen the future of ska and it is Chudson.” Playing “Batman” and “Off the Hook” as well as new tracks, “Apathy” and “Freedom.” Their live performance will do more than I ever could writing here, please go check them out immediately.
Mustard Plug played a set as tight as any I’ve seen at the Garden Amp. Launching into “Someday, Right Now,” and “Vampire” with Dave Kirchgessner warning, “There are vampires out there… who will apparently shoot you in the face. But they will be defeated.”
Kirchgessner introduced “Hit Me! Hit Me” by saying, “This is about the power of music to get you through the good times and the band times.” He introduced “You” as their big ‘90s hit.
It was cool to see Moore and Voodoo Glow Skull’s Eddie Cassillas catching their set from the side stage.
Greg Witulski kicked of the bass intro to Fugazi’s “Waiting Room” as the band absolutely demolished that cover.
Colin Clive had incredible vocals on “On and On” and “Mr. Smiley” as Kirchgessner wielded a toy meat cleaver.
Clive’s iconic ska guitar paired beautifully as the band closed out their set with “Beer,” while being joined by members of Half Past Two, Chudson, and the Iron Roses.
Once again, Ska Smackdown ruled the Garden Amp and I certainly can’t wait for next time.
FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY
by Todd Markel Rock Images
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January 12, 2026UncategorizedNew Album and Tour
January 12th, 2025 by Amber Meyer
New York’s pop-punkers State Champs just launched their celebration of 10 years of “Around the World and Back” tour and they are bringing it to SoCal. In other words, mark your calendar for the LA show on February 6th at The Wiltern.
You could call State Champs a love letter to the bubblegum pop-punk of the 1990s. Citing influences like Canada’s Sum 41, Green Day, and Fall Out Boy, it’s easy to see why. State Champs’ songs are full of hyped-up pop guitar riffs, awesome drum parts, and sing-song vocals to match.
Formed in Albany in 2010, the band released their first album, “The Finer Things,” in 2013. It did incredibly well, landing them a spot on the 2013 Warped Tour – which made it a full circle moment when they were back on the bill for the 2025 dates.
The current lineup features founders Derek DiScanio (vocals) and Tyler Szalkowski (guitar), along with Ryan Scott Graham (bass), and Evan Ambrosio (drums).
In their 15 years together, State Champs have continued to release solid material, including their latest, 2024’s self-titled album.
While the tour does include “Around the World and Back” played in its entirety, hopefully they will slip us some extras like “Everybody but You,” “Outta My Head,” “Just Sound,” “Elevated,” “Stick Around,” and “Hot and Bothered.”
Don’t miss this 10-year celebration with State Champs! See you at the Wiltern!
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January 11, 2026UncategorizedOne More Epic Show at The Observatory OC
January 9th, 2026 Review by Todd Markel
For a number of years now, the early January shows by T.S.O.L. have become a local tradition. They were usually the first show of the year for many people, including myself, and because of this, I always looked forward to it to start the year off right.
This year, though, that tradition felt a little heavier and perhaps a little somber. In the weeks leading up to the shows, Jack Grisham had been posting messages online that just stopped short of a formal announcement but landed hard all the same. No farewell tour, no definitive declaration, just a repeated, matter-of-fact statement that “46 years is enough.” The years have been taking their toll, and perhaps it was time to call it a day.
It was a wet and rainy afternoon, and it was clear this might be more than just another January ritual as people filed in with the clear understanding that this night could carry some real significance. It was also completely sold out.
In the Constellation Room, Long Beach’s Cheeseball kicked things off the right way. They tore straight into a song called “Buzzballin” and closed with the tune “16 Bit,” delivering a loud, fast set that felt tailor-made for an early-year punk show.
Over on the main stage, Loose Trucks followed with some Skate Punk, opening with “New Normal” and “My Wife” before wrapping it up with a charged “Hate the Police.”
They absolutely pushed the energy up another notch.
With so many great bands playing tonight, the show had an indoor festival feel to me. If you were inclined to follow the action, you could just bounce between rooms and have an epic evening as I did.
Back in the smaller room, Noise Agents originally from the UK, but now calling themselves “a Californian working-class Streetpunk band,” leaned hard into punk and Oi, ripping through a song appropriately called “Punk and Oi!” and “Scarred Generation.”
Back on the main stage, Sam King and Ceschi Ramos of The Codefendants kept the momentum rolling on with hard-hitting numbers like “Def Cons” and “Fast Ones.”
Digging even further back into punk history, The Zeros, whose roots stretch all the way back to 1975, as they closed the night in the Constellation Room by absolutely tearing it up; a reminder of just how deep Southern California’s punk lineage runs.
Then it was time, T.S.O.L. took the stage to a roaring reception. Jack Grisham was front and center alongside Ron Emory, Trevor Lucca, Val Hernandez on drums, and Greg Kuehn playing keys.
The room felt packed with history, both onstage and off. Members of The Offspring, Bad Religion, The Last Gang, Gary Tovar, and Rikki Rockett were all spotted backstage, adding to the sense that this wasn’t just another show but a must-attend event.
Grisham’s recent comments lingered over their set. He’s been open about what it takes to keep T.S.O.L. going: the physical wear, the mental grind, and the fact that they still do things the hard way, no buses, no big crew, just a van, long drives, and cheap hotels.
With Emory dealing with ongoing health issues and Lucca stepping in and holding things down impressively, the future feels uncertain. Grisham has said plainly that when Ron is done, that may be the end of it all, if it doesn’t come sooner.
The band opened with “Beneath the Shadows,” the title track from their 1982 sophomore album, immediately setting a dark, urgent tone before jumping back even further with a song from their debut, “Sounds of Laughter.” From the start, Grisham looked genuinely happy, grinning, mugging for the crowd, and sticking his tongue out like a kid who still can’t believe he gets to do this.
What followed was a set that felt like a guided tour through the band’s entire history. “Darker My Love” hit with the kind of weight only years of shared experience between the band and audience can give it.
“World War III” brought one of the night’s most memorable moments, with Emory and Lucca swapping instruments, as Ron said, “I’m filling in for Mike Roche,” as he grabbed the bass, while Trevor handled guitar duties. It felt spontaneous, natural, and perfectly in step with the night’s spirit.
Between songs, Grisham joked, “I guess I have to threaten to end the band to get my friends to come to a show,” a line that drew laughter but also had a bit of truth, given the circumstances.
The big songs kept coming: a ferocious “Fuck You Tough Guy,” the undeniable sing-along of “Dance with Me,” and a tight, driving “Low-Low-Low,” each met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd.
As is the norm, they closed with the ever-popular “Code Blue,” a song that felt less like a goodbye and more like a final exclamation point. There was no farewell speech, no emotional wrap-up, just T.S.O.L. doing what they’ve always done.
Whether these early January shows truly mark the end remains to be seen. But if this really was the final chapter, T.S.O.L. closed the book the only way they ever could: on their own terms.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Todd Markel Rock Images
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SID 260107 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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January 11, 2026UncategorizedReady for a Pound of Feathers
January 11th, 2026 by Traci Turner
Rock legends The Black Crowes have big plans for 2026 that include a brand new album, “A Pound of Feathers,” due out March 13th. The boys have already given us a tease with singles “Profane Prophecy” and “Pharmacy Chronicles.”
The highly anticipated new studio album “pushes their iconic blend of blues, soul and rock into electrifying new terrain.”
“We made this record in eight to ten days,” says frontman and co-founder, Chris Robinson. “Bringing the high and inspiration from ‘Happiness Bastards’ into this album, it was a natural progression. We experimented more, we wrote on instinct and how we were feeling in the moment. Rich brought a spontaneity to the record that I can’t describe, but it’s the best shit he’s ever done.”
Band co-founder and guitarist – and of course, Chris’ brother – Rich Robinson explained further, “This album feels transformative to us. Going back to our roots, we felt that spark in the studio and how we work together. Lighting a fire that hits harder, more jagged but is still true to our musical essence.”
“A Pound of Feathers” aims to marry “the rugged swagger of their early classics with fresh perspectives and dynamic, hard-hitting rhythmic textures.” The brothers wrote the record together, then recorded the new album in Nashville with Grammy-winning producer, Jay Joyce.
As for the released singles, “Profane Prophecy” “sets the trajectory for the whole album” as the lead off track, while “Pharmacy Chronicles” urges “people to face their vices, as freedom comes with recognition.”
The band’s last album, 2024’s “Happiness Bastards,” was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, while they also earned a nomination for the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class.
A new album will surely bring about a tour, and no doubt they will give us the classics we love like “She Talks to Angels,” “Hard to Handle,” “Jealous Again,” “Remedy,” “Thorn in My Pride,” “Twice as Hard,” and “Black Moon Creeping.”
They have dates in Australia, Japan, and Europe listed. And just added, the Southern Hospitality Tour is coming to the Hollywood Bowl on August 17th!
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SID 260108 | JIMMY ALVAREZ | EDITOR
Footer Photo by Ralph Halfin [...]
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