Publication Date October 1, 2026
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October 1, 2026UncategorizedOctober 1st, 2026 by Amaris Becker
102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball will return to Intuit Dome on December 4th, and the lineup makes the drive to Inglewood feel worth it. Olivia Rodrigo, Hilary Duff, RAYE, OneRepublic, The Beaches, SIENNA SPIRO, Freya Skye, Bella Kay, and Stella Lefty are all on the bill.
Jingle Ball has been around longer than some of the acts in this year’s lineup. It was founded in 1995, and KIIS FM has been running the Los Angeles version since 2000, bouncing between the Shrine Auditorium, Staples Center, and the Honda Center before settling at Intuit Dome in 2024. Since 2011 it has been a national tour, and this year it hits nine cities; LA will be second on that list.
Is there anyone hotter than headliner Olivia Rodrigo right now? The 23-year-old has had an extremely productive year. In addition to releasing her third album,
“You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” she launched Daisy Chain Fields, her all-women festival, which drew 45,000 people to Great Park in Irvine and raised $20 million for organizations supporting women and girls.
She just kicked off her sold out Unraveled tour and fans are losing their minds over the staging and setlist.
In the three years since “Guts,” she has built a name for herself as a genuinely great live performer with her own creative and personal vision. I remember watching her on Disney channel and I am constantly in awe of all she has and will continue to accomplish.
Hilary Duff is a fellow Disney alum and she spent roughly 15 years away from music before returning to it. For anyone who grew up on “A Cinderella Story” and “Lizzie McGuire,” this performance is going to be somewhere between nostalgia and pure excitement.
RAYE might be the most interesting name on the list. The British singer spent years signed to a major label, went independent, made “My 21st Century Blues,” and then swept the BRIT Awards with a record haul.
“Escapism” was inescapable for a reason and “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND” has resonated with so many fans – old and new. She is a genuinely amazing vocalist in a lineup built for pop radio, and I suspect she will steal the night.
OneRepublic rounds out the heavy hitters. Ryan Tedder has written a frankly unreasonable portion of the last 20 years of pop music for other people and is once again going to take the spotlight.
The Canadian girl band, The Beaches, along with SIENNA SPIRO, Freya Skye, Bella Kay, and Stella Lefty fill out the rising artist slots, which is where Jingle Ball earns its reputation, showcasing the new faces of pop and radio hits.
One dollar from every ticket sold will go to Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which builds media studios centered around creative expression inside pediatric hospitals.
Jingle Ball is not a subtle event. It is loud and built for the roughly 18,000 people Intuit Dome can hold, and it’s completely aware of what it is: The unofficial start of the holidays in Los Angeles. A lineup like this one makes it worth braving what Southern California views as cold to kick off the holiday season right.
Presales are happening now for Capital One cardholders, but all other tickets go on sale tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time.
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October 1, 2026UncategorizedAnnounces (sic)est Stadium Tour
October 1st, 2026 by Derek Tobias
Slipknot has officially announced the (sic)est Stadium Tour, a massive worldwide stadium production set to dominate 2027.
The tour launches July 3rd at London’s historic Wembley Stadium and spans the globe with North American, South American, and European dates, marking one of the most ambitious tours in the band’s nearly three-decade career.
To make this tour even more insane, Slipknot has recruited Bring Me the Horizon as direct support on all North American dates, a massive partnership that underscores the scale and prestige of this production.
BMTH’s inclusion signals the caliber of this tour: two of modern rock’s most innovative and dynamic bands sharing a bill across the continent’s biggest stages. The tour also features a rotating cast of special guests including Acid Bath, Lamb of God, Motionless in White, Lorna Shore, Kublai Khan TX, Polyphia, Loathe, and Vended.
Slipknot has promised a brand-new set, revolutionary staging, and a setlist spanning their entire career.
This is positioned as the ultimate Slipknot experience to date, nearly three decades of crushing performances distilled into an unprecedented live spectacle.
For Southern California fans, Slipknot brings the spectacle to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on August 13th, 2027, with Bring Me the Horizon on direct support and Loathe as a special guest.
But LA fans had something even more special on September 28th: an exclusive launch event where they celebrated the tour announcement in real time.
Hundreds of fans gathered at SoFi Stadium for early ticket access and a once-in-a-lifetime moment, witnessing a 30-foot-high flaming Slipknot tribal S symbol ignited against the sunset.
It was a visceral, unmissable celebration of the band’s return to the biggest stages. More importantly for eager fans: they secured tickets before the rest of the world, getting first dibs on the best seats before artist presales and general on sale went live.
The LA event reflected what makes Slipknot unique in heavy metal. They didn’t just announce a tour via press release or put up a few billboards; they brought fans together in person to light the fire, literally and figuratively.
For those who were there, it was a reminder that this band still commands the loyalty and excitement they’ve built over 28 years, and that the (sic)est Stadium Tour is going to be unmissable.
General ticket on sale is tomorrow at 10 a.m. local time. Grab your mask and get ready to rock – loud!
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September 29, 2026UncategorizedBringing Antmusic Back to SoCal
September 29th, 2026 by Shane Pase
On November 13th, Adam Ant takes the stage at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside for one of the final dates of his current tour. For fans who have been following the reports coming in from his recent shows, there is plenty of reason to be excited about this one.
Ant has been back on American stages throughout 2026, and the response has been enthusiastic. Recent reviews have praised both Ant and his band for delivering a show with plenty of energy, driven by the pounding dual-drum sound that has always been such an important part of his music.
This isn’t a night built around a handful of familiar songs surrounded by filler. Ant has been reaching across his career and putting together sets that remind you just how much incredible music he has to work with.
Recent performances have included “Dog Eat Dog,” “Vive le Rock,” “Friend or Foe,” “Prince Charming,” “Desperate But Not Serious,” and “Kings of the Wild Frontier.” Then there are the songs practically guaranteed to get the entire theater involved: “Antmusic,” “Goody Two Shoes” and “Stand and Deliver.”
It’s an impressive collection of songs from an artist who never sounded quite like anyone else.
Adam and the Ants came out of London’s late-’70s punk scene, but Ant quickly created something entirely his own. Punk and glam mixed with pop hooks, Western-style guitar, theatrical style, and those unmistakable drums. By the early 1980s, Adam Ant had become one of the biggest British artists of the era and one of the defining faces of the emerging music-video generation.
But the reason to see Adam Ant in 2026 isn’t simply to revisit that history. These songs work live. “Kings of the Wild Frontier” still has that huge rhythmic attack. “Antmusic” remains wonderfully strange and ridiculously catchy. “Stand and Deliver” has the kind of chorus that seems designed for a packed theater to sing back at the stage. And if he brings the later hit “Wonderful” that will be an extra special treat.
The Riverside date also comes at an interesting point in the tour. The Fox show is currently scheduled as Ant’s second-to-last appearance of 2026, followed the next night by Darker Waves in Huntington Beach.
That makes Riverside one of the final opportunities of the year to catch the full Adam Ant show in a theater setting. And the Fox should be a great room for it.
There is something different about hearing songs you’ve known for decades played live, surrounded by hundreds of people who know every beat and every word right along with you. With a deep catalog, a powerful live band and a tour that has been earning strong reviews along the way, Adam Ant’s November 13th stop has all the pieces for a fantastic night.
Get ready, Riverside. Antmusic is coming to town.
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September 28, 2026UncategorizedReady to Trick or Treat to the Beat
September 28th, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
All systems go! The Aquabats are back to haunt your October and this time on a much larger scale. Last year the OC ska-punk superheroes hosted the inaugural Trick or Treat to the Beat – four concerts that were “a Halloween costume party freak out.” With two shows in October and two in November, they featured support from Home Grown, Left Alone, and Mike V and the Rats.
This year the boys decided to triple that number playing nearly a dozen shows through October around the West Coast. Openers will be shifting each night, with three chances to catch this tour in Southern California.
The tour kicks off October 1st in Chico, California with openers CJ Ramone and the Fast Movers and Sullvn. The Aquabats will be stopping by The Glass House in Pomona on October 16th with Sullvn and an opener to be determined. They will stop by The Observatory North Park in San Diego with Mariachi El Bronx and Mrs. Magician on October 23rd. The tour will conclude October 24th at the House of Blues Anaheim with Manic Hispanic and Mrs. Magician.
It’s really a lot of fun – the usual incredible live show from The Aquabats with even more people decked out in costumes than normal. With support CJ Ramone, Mariachi El Bronx, and Manic Hispanic – all three legit headliners on their own – this is going to be one spooky event you don’t want to miss.
And yet, perhaps the one special show I’m most excited about is not one of the Trick or Treat to the Beat shows.
The band also announced that just days before the October 16th Glass House show, they will be performing at The Glass House on October 10th, but this show will be specifically The Aquabats! Tribute to the Cure!
I’ve been fortunate enough to catch this act a few times before, most recently this past May when they supported Sweet & Tender Hooligans. The normally cheerful and bouncy Aquabats do a dead-on gloomy impression note for note tribute to all your favorite Cure songs. At the conclusion of the performance that night, lead singer MC Bat Commander announced how much fun the band has when they play these shows and promised they would be playing them more.
Tickets are on sale now, so grab them and then start planning your own costumes!
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September 27, 2026UncategorizedAnnounce First Album in Nine Years
CARNAVAL DE LUZ
September 27th, 2026 by Traci Turner
U2 is back, baby! The Irish rockers are ready to blast our ears with some Spanish flair this time when they deliver “Carnaval De Luz,” their 16th studio album and the first album of new material in nine years.
The release drops November 13th, and they gave us a taste with “Silencio,” an all-new track that kicks off with solid bass and throws in some f-bombs.
It has been 50 years since the lads – Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. – joined forces in Dublin to become the voice of Gen X and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Twenty-two Grammys and more than 170 million albums sold… yes, they are kind of a big deal. They were even named Persons of the year by MusicCares!
As for the new album, the band said it was “recorded all over the place” and the 12 songs explore “themes of spirituality, friendship, freedom and endurance in the face of dark, encroaching forces.” I mean, it’s U2, it won’t be bubblegum. But judging by “Silencio,” it will be fantastically rock, perhaps with some surf punk?
In July, they released “Street of Dreams,” the first song from the new album. But U2 also gave fans two EPs this year: “Days of Ash” and “Easter Lily.” “Carnaval De Luz” was recorded during the same era but falls “before them in timeline.”
In their words: “Carnival, a celebration of the flesh, ‘carne,’ before the denial that is Lent, a period of reflection, and the rebirth of Easter. The song connecting the album and two EPs is the final track on the new album, ‘Torn,’ a duet between Bono and the late, great Dolly Parton, in what has sadly turned out to be her last recorded vocal performance.”
CARNAVALDE LUZ
The Edge said, “It’s a messy, provocative, sacred collection of songs — and features the first-ever use of flat-wound strings on a U2 recording. Just saying.”
Bono said, “Roll up, roll up, roll up! Bring your purple socks, your broken hearts, your rose-tinted naivety… oh be amazed in the hall of mirrors. There will be loud guitars, deep bass, some ecstatic rhythms and, yes, some silver tears will make an appearance!”
He went on, “‘Cause in the near distance just outside our carnival of light there are all kinds of creatures… the same imagination that brings us our creativity can also bring us monsters. So we make the drums louder. We build a bigger fire. We make our stories wilder and funnier. We make the melodies sweeter and the songs, they better shine, because if the world is in darkness we better not be.”
As usual, U2 is too smart for little ole me, but damn if “Silencio” isn’t a bop.
“Carnaval De Luz” will be available in multiple formats including limited edition sets and “Coloured & Bespoke Vinyl,” plus the standards. Preorder now and count the days until November13th.
Now… will we see a tour in 2027?
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September 24, 2026UncategorizedGODSMACK & STP
Delivers The Rise of Rock Tour
September 25th, 2026 Review by Jimmy Alvarez
September 17th, 2026 will be a night I remember for a while. It’s been a minute since I got to see Sully Erna and the cats from Godsmack wreck a stage.
It’s been an even longer minute since I saw Stone Temple Pilots on any stage. Needless to say, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but whatever is would be – it would be.
As I rolled in, the near capacity crowd was filled with the type of fans you would expect, 40-something year olds up to 70-something year olds.
Then I started to notice something I did not expect, 20-something year olds and teenagers. Then it dawned on me – the opener, Dorothy!
Dorothy Martin is a fairly new face to the scene, but not too new. I caught her once before, and she definitely is a force with many, many years of sonic domination in her future. As the lights dimmed, she took the stage with command.
The teens sitting next to me lost their minds. She opened with “Down to the Bottom,” and followed with an electrifying set of her “Flawless” catalog.
My takeaway from her performance was she had pipes, wow, that girl could belt out a song. She certainly would “Raise Hell,” as everyone got “Whisky Fever,” “After Midnight,” before she ended her short set with “Rest in Peace,” and “Medicine Man.”
I give the road crew much credit because it took no time to get the stage ready for STP. As mentioned, it’s been a very long minute since I saw them last – Scott Weiland was behind the mic, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. As the light dimmed, Eric Kretz got behind the drum kit, out came the DeLeo brothers, Robert on bass and Dean on lead guitar followed by lead singer, Jeff Gutt.
The crowd cheered and got to its feet, Gutt walked up to the front of the stage and belted out an all-familiar verse… “I am smelling like the rose that somebody gave me on my birthday deathbed!” Holy shit, the crowd exploded – it went absolutely nuts as STP was back with “Dead and Bloated” with a segue into “Wicked Garden.”
The band sounded as live as ever, and Gutt definitely had the vocal chops for the gig. As the song ended, he thanked everyone for coming out, Dorothy for opening and Godsmack for having them on the tour. He then introduced the band and then himself. He said, “and I’m Jeff Gutt.” But he said it phonetically … “goot.” He then said, “So das goot!” That made everyone laugh, and Gutt even laughed at what he said.
Then, the hit parade took off, “Vasoline,” “Big Bang Baby,” “Big Empty,” and “Plush” sounded simply amazing.
The DeLeo brothers were in fine form and it felt like it was the ‘90s again – they sound that good. “Plush” and “Interstate Love Song” made even the teens sitting next to me scream!
What happened next was classy and brought a sense of community to the entire arena. Gutt paid homage to Scott Weiland and said he wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for him and thanked him. The crowd felt the sincerity and applauded as “Crackerman” took over Honda Center.
Truth be told, the vocals were spot on, but the onstage wasn’t Weiland, and I think that was the point. Gutt wasnlt trying to mimic Weiland, he was being himself, and that was “goot!”
We could have been there all night, STP was on fire, they sounded great and Gutt was classy as he was the right guy to lead this band behind the mic. STP was loud, electric and very memorable.
They closed the night with two crowd favorites, “Trippin’ on a Hole in a Paper Heart” and a final blast, “Sex Type Thing.” I wasn’t sure what to expect, what I got was a very-very good surprise.
Again, hats off to the road crew because almost immediately the Godsmack curtain came down and they started working on the stage. Once it dropped the lights dimmed, it was a simple stripped-down set with an epic light show.
As soon as the Massachusetts rockers took the stage, everyone came to their feet.
Erna stood front and center and launched us into his own form of bedlam with “Surrender,” “You and I,” “1000php,” and “Cryin’ Like a Bitch!”
Sporting his standard black ensemble, his bandmates were on fire, Robbie Merrill was slappin’ the bass and Sam Koltun was shredding on lead guitar. They launched into more chaos with “Awake,” and “When Legends Rise.”
Erna then introduced the band – and then it was back to the mayhem. “Keep Away,” “Come Together” and “Speak” were booming, you could feel the percussion throughout your body.
Other notable moments included their delivery of “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain,” and then the moment that nearly brought the house down…. Those words: “I’m not the one who’s so far away when I feel the snake bite enter my veins.” A creepier opening to a song has never existed. The crowd went off to “Voodoo.”
You would think that was it, right? No, there was more – “Batalla de los Tambores,” featured melodies from songs we all know, “Back in Black,” “Walk this Way,” “Enter Sandman,” “Moby Dick” and “Tom Sawyer.” The crowd just ate that up. Then, Erna and the gang blew the roof off with their megahit “Whatever.”
That was as loud, booming and bone-crushing a delivery of any song I have heard in some time.
It was a perfect end to a perfect night of really loud music!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Green-Eyed Blonde Photography
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September 24, 2026UncategorizedGet Ready for
Ska-Punk from Panama!
September 24th, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
There are bands that are part of history, then there are the bands that make history. This story is about one that IS history. They are lean, they are mean, and they pack a punch – they are Los Rabanes, or as their fans love them – Rabanes!
We cover stories that circle the world of rock, punk, and ska, and this story will be all that and a little more. Bands like The Specials, Madness, Sublime, Reel Big Fish, and the Bosstones all made music history. Rabanes is part of that pantheon of kick-ass ska and punk bands. The twist – these cats are my fellow countrymen; they are a Panamanian, Latin Grammy Award-winning ska-punk band. That’s right, ska-punk and a little bit of a few other things.
Like all the greats, they deliver the recognizable ska and punk elements in their sonic vision, and their tunes come to us in English and Spanish – that’s the twist that makes them special and beloved worldwide.
Rabanes has been around for over two decades and with seven albums to their credit, the emergence of Latin ska-punk and ska-core has elevated their standing with fans of the genre everywhere on the planet.
Rabanes features Emilio Regueira Pérez (vocals, guitar), Christian “Pipón” Torres (vocals, bass guitar), Javier Saavedra (drums), and Randy “Salsa” Cuevas (keys). Their collective energy and electro-boom is unreal. Collectively, they are the personification of electricity and high octane!
The tunes their fans love to love and scream for include, “Señorita a mi me gusta su Style,” “My Commanding Wife,” “Perfidia,” “Te Jodiste,” “Bam Bam,” “La Vida,” “Ella Se Mueve Cruel,” “Latin Ska,” there is their boombastic cover of Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue” and then there’s my personal favorite, “La Granja!”
The Panamanian Homies of ska-punk are coming to SoCal on a West Coast tour. The run kicks off with a massive home-turf celebration on November 5th at El After Social Club in San Diego. Then, they head up the I-5 on November 6th to skank the night away. Where you ask? At The Top in Long Beach.
Tour support for Rabanes will be Marujah, the locals will love, love, love them as their sound is very reminiscent of Boingo – in fact John Avila produced their hit single, “Dia de Los Muertos.”
If you want to have the time of your life, and see what all the fuss is about, Latin rock, ska and punk en español – check out this tour!
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September 24, 2026UncategorizedGet to Know
September 25th, 2026 by Stuart Karpel
What makes a musician stand out, becoming more than just someone who fundamentally makes music, but rather an icon? You could say it’s their flair, or writing lyricism and composition intricately. You may even believe it’s all based on views/listens and how high a song hits on the charts.
In reality we’ve seen time and time again that the biggest musicians end up as the ones who aren’t afraid of change, and they know that they aren’t like the rest. Individual artists or bands that we call “rockstars” completely destroy what we know as the norm, whilst appealing to the masses with tracks that can only be produced by someone with their talents.
Artists like Prince, Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne and Kurt Cobain are just a few more than just musicians. They confidently took the stage as humans-turned-legends, switched the narrative of their genre, and often yet unintentionally created subgenres from their craft. As a result, bands from newer generations bloom, and the cycle restarts.
As for the band name, well… Fontaines was inspired by Johnny Fontane, which is often misspelled as “Fontaine,” (so why not Fontaines). Fontane, if you recall, was the lead singer in the band from the 1972 feature film “The Godfather.” As for the D.C., that’s simple – it stands for Dublin City. The lads never forgot their roots, you could say.
We first caught a glimpse of the Irish rockers with a tune off their 2019 debut album, “Dogrel.” The song that introduced them on this side of the pond was called “Boys in the Better Land.”
Then, their hit parade began, which got them a couple Grammy nominations last year. Their mega-hit “Starburster” has taken on a life of its own on alternative radio stations worldwide.
The Irish rockers have landed. They play Hollywood Forever tonight, and they will be on stage at Ohana Fest this Sunday. If that’s not enough Fontaines DC for you, they are pulling up to the In-N-Out KROQ Sound Space studios September 28th.
The matinee performance is sure to be a blast and a fantastic way to get through the week. There’s nothing better than enjoying an In-N-Out burger and listening to a great mix of live music. You can expect to hear KROQ conducting a brief interview with the band as well as a performance from D.C. performing tracks from their unreleased album Dopamine Chamber.
The album releases on October15th but if you’d like a sneak peek at the upcoming project, the group dropped a single on the album called ‘Marianne’.
Unfortunately, the event is invite-only but if you were a lucky winner of the Audacy KROQ Contest, congratulations and we’ll see you there. Not long after the show, the station will broadcast the event through their socials and stream.
I highly recommend you check out this band wherever you can. That ay you can say you saw them before they blew up!
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September 23, 2026UncategorizedPETER HOOK & THE LIGHT
Live from The Hollywood Palladium
September 23rd, 2026 Review by Shane Pase
There is something powerful about hearing music that once sounded like the future now carry the weight of history. At the Hollywood Palladium on September 19th, Peter Hook and the Light managed to make both sides of that equation work. The songs felt familiar, sometimes deeply nostalgic, but they did not feel stuck in the past.
The Palladium was packed, loud, and ready from the start. There was no opening act and no wasted time. Hook and the band split the night into two long sets, beginning with something unexpected for many: New Order’s 2001 album “Get Ready” played in full, in order.
From the beginning, Hook looked like he was having a great time. He never stopped moving, crossing from one side of the stage to the other, playing directly to the crowd, making eye contact, and smiling often.
Even his outfit had personality: red Dr. Martens Chelsea boots, tall socks, cargo shorts, and a bright Lady Madonna-themed button-up shirt.
It was an odd mix on paper, but somehow completely suited him. It was most certainly not a typical dark wave uniform.
The first set opened with “Crystal” and moved straight through “60 Miles an Hour,” “Turn My Way,” “Vicious Streak,” “Primitive Notion,” “Slow Jam,” “Rock the Shack,” “Someone Like You,” “Close Range,” and “Run Wild.”
“Get Ready” is not the New Order album most casual fans would name first, but many in the crowd knew it.
Concertgoers danced, sang along, and seemed more than willing to follow Hook through it.
The set also showed how much Hook still enjoys performing this music. He was in motion, leaning into the songs, turning toward different parts of the room, and feeding off the response in front of him. That energy kept the first half from feeling like a simple front-to-back album exercise.
The second set moved through both sides of Hook’s history, mixing Joy Division songs with New Order favorites. “No Love Lost,” “These Days,” “Digital,” “Isolation,” “Disorder,” “She’s Lost Control,” “Shadowplay,” “Transmission,” and “Atmosphere” gave the middle of the show a darker edge.
Hook dedicated several songs to Ian Curtis, and those moments never felt forced. Curtis was part of the night simply because he is part of the music.
The most memorable moment came during “Ceremony,” one of those songs that sits directly on the bridge between Joy Division and New Order. Hook brought out Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as a special guest.
Before Been took the stage, I had noticed a thin young man in a black trench coat pacing behind the stage. I remember thinking, “Man, someone is giving off Ian Curtis vibes.” A few moments later, that same man walked onstage.
Been was excellent. He brought a different energy to “Ceremony,” but it fit the song perfectly. There was something in his movement and presence that briefly echoed Curtis without feeling like an impersonation. At the end of the song, Been and Hook embraced for several seconds while Hook stood there with a huge smile.
As Been left the stage to loud applause, Hook joked that he had done a pretty good job at his “audition,” which got a laugh from the crowd. Then the mood changed. Hook looked across the stage and said, roughly, that for a moment he could have sworn he had just seen Ian there.
That hit differently because I had thought the same thing before Been ever stepped onto the stage.
There was another family connection running through the show. Hook’s son, Jack, was on bass, and watching the two of them together was genuinely fun. Jack resembles his father not only physically, but in the way he plays. More than once he dropped the bass low around his knees in that instantly recognizable Hook style. Every so often, you could catch Peter looking over at him with the kind of smile that had nothing to do with putting on a show. It was just a father enjoying the chance to share a stage with his son.
From there, the second set turned into a run of New Order and Joy Division songs that transformed the Palladium into a giant new wave dance floor.
“Regret” and “Vanishing Point” helped shift the mood, but once the band hit “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “Temptation,” “The Perfect Kiss,” “True Faith,” and “Blue Monday,” the room seemed to move as one. “Temptation” was especially huge, with the crowd singing loudly enough to compete with the band. “Transmission” had already created one of the strongest responses earlier in the set, and “Blue Monday” delivered exactly the kind of release you would expect.
Through all of it, Hook kept working the room. He moved constantly, smiled at people in the crowd, and clearly enjoyed the exchange. There was nothing detached about his performance. He looked like someone who still loves being onstage and still enjoys seeing what these songs do to people.
Still, there was really only one way to end the night.
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” remains one of the defining songs of the post-punk and dark wave eras, and at the Palladium it became a full-room singalong. Everyone was on their feet, dancing. The crowd sang every word, and for a few minutes the distance between 1980 and 2026 felt very small.
It would be easy for a show built around music this important to become overly sentimental. This one never did. Hook talked about Curtis, honored the history, played with his son, and brought out a guest whose presence connected past and present in a surprisingly moving way. But the night worked because the songs worked, and because Hook remained such an active, generous performer at the center of it.
There were songs I wanted to hear that never came. “Warsaw” and “Age of Consent” were both high on my list, especially knowing they had appeared at the previous show. But with a full album, two sets, and nearly 30 songs, something had to be left out.
That may be the best complaint to have after a concert: the set was long, the crowd was exhausted and happy, and I still wanted more. Maybe that means I need a road trip to catch another one…
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Shane Pase Photography
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September 23, 2026UncategorizedAnnounce 2027 North American Tour
September 22nd, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
I remember the day as if it happened last night. I believe it was August 5th, 2014 when my friend Mike Berault called me to let me know there was a cool show happening that night in Fullerton. At The Slidebar to be exact and he said I should come out for this one.
When asked who was playing, he said a band called The Interrupters were the band to check out. It was their album release party; he went on that it was one of Tim Timebomb’s bands so I really should go check them out. That’s right, that Tim – Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Operation Ivy and Transplants fame. I thought to myself, I might want to see this one.
It was a cool breezy night and as I rolled up, I recall seeing some of my pals from a band called Hooray for Our Side. Right away I knew I was at the right place – it was a local ska show. Then I saw my friend Tazy Phyllipz and I realized it was the Ska Parade Lounge show I had heard about, so I knew immediately the bands would be very good!
As the show began I found myself doing the media thing, shaking hands and talking to the bands that were in the crowd. I recall having my back turned to the stage when the feature band went on. It took less than five seconds and I knew whoever that was, they were tight and I was instantly drawn to them. It was The Interrupters, and they started off the show with “A Friend Like Me.” I was like “Wow, wow, wow.” I spoke with the band after the show, and I knew immediately that they had what it took to blow up.
Being in media I normally get music sent to me, but I was not going to wait, I bought their CD that night and played it that weekend on my radio show and sent a copy to every friend in radio that I knew. I have continued to be inspired by their hard work and dedication, and their music speaks for itself. The fact that they stand for the things they believe in only makes them stand out even more.
Since then, they began a hit parade that is beyond impressive, “By My Side,” “She Got Arrested,” “Gave You Everything,” “She’s Kerosene,” “Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” and they do covers! By far one of my favorites is their Bad Religion reprise of “Sorrow,” that too is a wow cover!
It didn’t take long for the world to get a glimpse of what and who was coming. The trailer to Season 5 of the Showtime series, Shameless featured the soon to be ska-punk icons, The Interrupters and “Take Back the Power.”
If that wasn’t enough, their Bille Eilish cover of “Bad Guy” made its way to the big screen as well as the Trailer to the Umbrella Academy 2. By this time it was clear, this band was destined to blow up!
Fast forward to 2026 and The Interrupters have done it all. They’ve played the biggest shows at the biggest venues, and their music is heard everywhere on the planet.
Yesterday, their fans got the news they were waiting for; a 2027 tour was happening!
Before we get to ahead of ourselves, you can catch them October 18th at Mission Bayfest in San Diego. Then after a short break, you can catch them at The Fox Theater in Pomona March 17th.
Then, a festival – on March 20th they will venture over to play The Extreme Fest in Sin City (Las Vegas). Finally, they take off on their North American tour.
The L.A. -based Fuorth Wave Ska Juggernauts will play The Wiltern April 30th, 2027 then they will slide on over to Orange County and they will play the House of Blues in Anaheim.
Depending on when you catch them, you’ll have some kick-ass openers. Support will be provided by Doom Regulator (a Tim Armstrong band), The Aquabats!, Rat Boy, The Mainliners, The Chin Chins, and The Bandulus.
If you want to have a skankin’ good time and dance your ass off, seriously, get your tickets to see this band. No matter where you see them, you will have a very-very good time!
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TICKETS TICKETS TICKETS
SID 250924 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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September 22, 2026UncategorizedRemembering
CHAD GILBERT
September 22nd, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
The very first story I every published for OC Music News was a concert review for New Found Glory with Less Than Jake, Hot Mulligan, and LØLØ at the House of Blues Anaheim on September 8th, 2021.
It is with great sadness that just over five years later I’m now writing a tribute to New Found Glory founding guitarist and lead songwriter, Chad Gilbert. Chad was incredibly lucky and lived an amazing life – as longtime friend and bandmate, bassist Ian Grushka wrote in a tribute, “ our dreams become a reality together.” And yet, you can’t help but feel saddened at such a tremendous loss.
Chad Everett Gilbert was born March 9th, 1981 in Coral Springs, FL. In 1996 he got the call to step up and take on lead vocals for the metalcore-hardcore band Shai Hulud. Already an established band in the Southeast Florida region with a large fanbase, Gilbert proved he was more than ready to take the reins often cited as many fans’ favorite era of the band. No stranger to hardcore music, Gilbert grew up listening to bands like Sick of It All (sadly, lead singer Lou Koller passed away this past July) and Madball.
In 1997, lead singer Jordan Pundik and Grushka invited Gilbert to play guitar for their new band, A New Found Glory (which would later get shortened to just New Found Glory). You might think the leap from metalcore to pop punk would be tremendous, but Gilbert once listed both Rancid’s “Let’s Go” and Green Day’s “Dookie” as part of the 10 albums that changed his life.
As lead guitarist for New Found Glory, Gilbert found he had a gift for crafting catchy riffs and melodic hooks. While their first effort, “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” would start attracting a larger fanbase in their hometown, it was their follow-up, self-titled album that really put them on the map with the help of the radio hit, “Hit or Miss.”
That iconic guitar riff became synonymous with ‘90s pop punk. But it was their follow-up album, “Sticks and Stones,” that would make them MTV and “Total Request Live” superstars. Their video for “My Friends Over You” is just as big a part of the late ‘90s as “All the Small Things” or “Fat Lip.”
For nearly three decades Gilbert and New Found Glory continued to put out successful albums while touring around the world playing sold out shows and festivals like the Vans Warped Tour and Riot Fest. In October 2020, Gilbert married the love of his life, Lisa Cimorelli (a singer in the band, Cimorelli). Their daughter Lily was born in 2021, the light of Chad’s life.
With his career and personal life at an all-time high, his health began to take a turn for the worse. Gilbert made a social media post detailing that on December 19th, 2021, he was found unresponsive at home and credits his wife for saving his life by calling paramedics who rushed him to the hospital. He underwent emergency surgery in the ICU to remove a rare cancerous tumor called a pheochromocytoma.
On August 15th, 2022, he reported that he had been diagnosed with cancer again and would undergo surgery the next day after another pheochromocytoma tumor was discovered in his spine. He announced on February 11th, 2023, that he would begin intense chemotherapy after additional pheochromocytomas were found in his lungs and back. During these times he began to tour less and less with New Found Glory, at first with Yellowcard lead singer Ryan Key filling on guitar, and most recently Four Year Strong singer Dan O’Connor.
Through it all Gilbert would continue to post on social media, often looking weakened and gaunt from treatment, and yet always optimistic, laughing, and just enjoying life and staying positive.
When he would play again with the band, he made it a point to tell everyone how grateful he was despite his health troubles. While on tour in 2023 he told audience members, “Give yourself a break and try to just live every day and enjoy it.” Even in his sickness, he wanted to spread positivity and help others.
Tragically, Chad passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, September 20th while surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by his wife and daughter, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian. The impact Chad and New Found Glory had on an entire generation of pop punk kids is evident from just bands like All Time Low and The Story So Far, both named after NFG songs.
From the song, “Sonny” about Pundik’s grandfather who passed away:
For now, we’ll say goodbye
We know it’s not the last time
I’ve lost the best part of my day
But it’s better where you’re going anyway
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SID 260924 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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September 22, 2026UncategorizedFINAL FRONTIER TOUR
Coming to Honda Center
September 22nd, 2026 by Stuart Karpel
When it comes to progressive rock bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s, we’ve seen countless amazing talents who’ve not only touched the hearts of millions, but also those who continue to pursue their passion.
We are lucky to have witnessed the incredible careers of some of the best rock stars to ever take the stage, but if you’re a music fiend like me, you can’t get enough of seeing those artists live.
One of those legendary bands is headed our way soon; a band known by everyone who has listened to rock music in the past half-century. “Don’t Stop Believing” this is happening because Journey is on tour right now!
The Hall of Famers are celebrating the Final Frontier of North America tour with a grand farewell to their loyal fanbase.
November 24th, Neal Schon, Arnel Pineda, Johnathan Cain, and their long-tenured bandmates are heading to the Honda Center in Anaheim. What a show this is destined to be!
While there, expect to hear some of their most famous tracks, including “Any Way You Want It,” “Oh Sherry,” “Wheel in the Sky,” “Faithfully,” “Open Arms,” “Touchin’, Lovin’, Squeezin’,” “Lights,” “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” “Stone in Love,” and many more songs from “Escape,” “Frontiers,” and their most recent album, “Freedom.” Songs that defined a generation.
While their shows are known to be legendary and forever memorable for super-fans and newer listeners alike, the group has refurbished their setlist and plans to rock the roof off as they get set to perform in SoCal.
Make sure you catch these icons of rock this November, and act fast because this night is going to be electric. There’s no telling just how amazing you’re going to feel after seeing this incredible group of talented artists.
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SID 260923 | TRACI TURNR | EDITOR [...]
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