Publication Date: June 7, 2023
FEATURED STORY
by TRACI TURNER
OTHER GREAT STORIES
June 7, 2023SOCIAL DISTORTION
Tour & Health Announcement
June 7, 2023 by Jimmy Alvarez
Life doesn’t always go the way you think. Just like the lyrics from a Social D song suggest … sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. So many of the lyrics from Mike Ness have captured the human experience. That is one of a zillion reasons why so many people have endeared themselves to Social Distortion.
As their tour was getting ready to kick-off later this month, Ness was given some devastating news that caused him to make an announcement earlier today.
In a social media post Ness said, “We think that life is going to go according to our plan, but it has a way of saying I don’t think so! In the midst of pre-production, I was diagnosed with stage one tonsil cancer. I was feeling well enough to continue with recording in the studio up until the very day before surgery. The band and I were so inspired and excited to lay down these tracks, which by the way sound f-ing AWESOME!”
He went on to say… “The recovery from surgery is a day-by-day process and in three weeks we start radiation and that should be the last therapy I need. The team of doctors are certain that once finished with this course, I will be able to start the healing and recovery process. We expect a full recovery enabling me to live a long and productive life. It breaks my heart to postpone the Summer Tour, and this album release, but time is required to heal. I can’t thank our loyal fans enough who have been waiting so patiently for this. While it will take a little longer-I promise you that it will be delivered and it will exceed your expectations.”
He finished with … “I want you all to know that this has opened my eyes to a whole new struggle. I know it’s one that many of you or your loved ones have personally endured, and my heart goes out to you-because I now know what it’s like from this heavy experience. I’m surrounded by love and support from my friends and family ESPECIALLY my lovely wife and incredible boys (oh and don’t forget my 3 dogs and kitty) THANK YOU ALL in advance to our unbelievable fans for YOUR love and support right now – We WILL get through this.”
This news hits close to home for so many, and for Ness and his fans, we stand with him and wish him only the best in his treatment and recovery. Stay tuned as Social Distortion will return. When they do, we will be there to let you know all the details.
Good luck Mike!
TO FOLLOW
SID 2306098 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR
Photos by Green-Eyed Blonde Photography [...]
Read more...
June 6, 2023Live at Fremont Country Club
May 2, 2023 by Steve Allen
Around the craziness that was this year’s Punk Rock Bowling, there were several bands that played small club shows. It was a very pleasant surprise to see a band of the magnitude of L7 play one of those intimate venues.
Despite years of inactivity, Donita Sparks (vocals, guitars), Suzi Gardner (guitars), Jennifer Finch (bass), and Demetra Plakas (drums) reformed L7 in 2014. They released “Scatter the Rats” in 2019, their first full-length album in 20 years, and are touring for the 30th anniversary of “Bricks are Heavy.”
After a late start due to a barricade issue interrupting Rancid’s set at the main festival, all club shows got off to a late start. The delay ultimately pushed L7’s start to 1:40 a.m. meaning their set ended about 3 a.m. What happened in between, that is the kind of stuff legends are made of.
THE SVETLANAS
Formed in Moscow, although now based out of Rome, openers The Svetlanas came out and started their set as if they had so much pent-up energy from the wait. However, if you have ever seen them live before, you know this is a freight train that doesn’t stop. You have run alongside and jump to get on, or you’ll get run over.
Olga Svetlana was swinging her long blonde hair and each song from their set was delivered as a scolding to be a better person or they’d tell you to “fuck off.” Don’t be an asshole; I call it tough love with a shock stick. It was another energetic and entertaining performance.
As mentioned, L7 has been touring in celebration of their third and biggest-selling album, 1992’s “Brinks are Heavy.” They just played a fantastic show at The Glass House in Pomona, and on this leg of their mini-tour, L7 has been opening their shows playing the smash-hit album in full, start to finish.
When Sparks, Gardner, Finch, and Plakas walked out on stage, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd. Any fatigue from the late night was forgotten and everyone was ready to dig into L7’s classic album.
They blasted right into “Wargasm” and the crowd was into it from the get go. Into “Scrap,” and the monster hit that made them famous to the mainstream, “Pretend We’re Dead.” Sparks proclaimed “Mr. Integrity” was one of her favorites and the crowd was into “Shitlist” and “This Ain’t Pleasure.”
After “Bricks are Heavy,” they followed with a second set with different songs. Tonight had to be cut a little short, but we did get nine songs and quite a few other gems thrown in from “Hungry for Stink,” “Scatter the Rats,” and “Smell the Magic.”
The band was tight, energetic, loud, and seemed as happy as L7 can appear to be. After all, they are activists and serious about the causes they believe in with many of their songs reflecting their angst about such matters.
FREMONT COUNTRY CLUB
May 28, 2023
Some of the crowd favorites were “Wargasm,” “Monster,” “Stadium West,” “One More Thing,” “Shitlist,” “Dispatch From Mar-a-Lago,” and of course, “Pretend We’re Dead.” During all songs, the pit was a mixture of pogos and lots of side to side, back and forth moments of movement.
It was obvious the fans in attendance were longtime, truly-dedicated fans that were passionate not only for their music, but about the band’s history as well. They knew the songs by heart and sang along all night – well, morning.
As many artists honor album anniversaries, not all can keep up with their “youth.” L7 proved they can kick their 1992 version’s ass by putting on an incredibly energetic and powerful performance.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Steve Allen Photography
TO FOLLOW
SID 230609 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 5, 2023THRICE
The Artist in the Ambulance Tour
June 6, 2023 by Tim Markel
In an era where music constantly evolves and tastes shift, certain albums hold a timeless quality that transcends the passage of years. Thrice’s groundbreaking album “The Artist in the Ambulance” is undoubtedly one such masterpiece.
The alt-rock veterans will celebrate the 20th anniversary of this iconic release with a couple of hometown anniversary shows on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24th at the renowned House of Blues in Anaheim, California. With the band poised to perform the album in its entirety, these commemorative shows promise to transport listeners back to a pivotal moment in Thrice’s career, while solidifying their enduring legacy in the hearts of fans new and old.
Released in 2003, “The Artist in the Ambulance” propelled Thrice to new heights, showcasing their exceptional songwriting, intricate musicianship, and singer Dustin Kensrue’s thought-provoking lyrical depth. The album’s fusion of post-hardcore aggression, melodic sensibilities, and metaphoric storytelling struck a chord with listeners, garnering critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase.
It was the album that exposed Thrice to a mainstream audience with songs like “All That’s Left” and “Stare at the Sun” making their way into regular rotation on KROQ FM in Los Angeles.
Now, two decades later, Thrice seeks to honor this milestone by recreating the magic of “The Artist in the Ambulance” on stage.
The House of Blues in Anaheim, California, renowned for its intimate setting and impeccable acoustics, will serve as the hallowed ground for Thrice’s 20th-anniversary celebration. It was only six months ago that thousands of Thrice fans, myself included, swarmed The House of Blues Anaheim to celebrate 20 years since the release of the band’s previous album, The Illusion of Safety. These shows would serve to be the most memorable Thrice shows I had ever attended and I anticipate the same type of experience from these upcoming “Artist” anniversary shows.
From the infectious melodies of “Cold Cash and Colder Hearts” to the introspective lyrics of “Stare at the Sun” and the hauntingly dark outro of “The Abolition of Man,” each track on the album represents a sonic journey that still resonates with fans to this day. All killer, no filler, from start to finish. Thrice’s decision to perform the album in its entirety showcases their dedication to honoring their musical legacy and providing an immersive experience for their loyal supporters.
But these concerts are not merely a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The shows coincide with the release of an album that no Thrice fan could have ever seen coming. The band surprised fans everywhere earlier this year when they released the newly re-recorded “The Artist in the Ambulance – Revisited”.
The band had made it no secret over the years that they weren’t happy with how the original The Artist in the Ambulance’s mix turned out and saw an opportunity to re-record and release the album the way they wanted to hear it. The re-recorded album breathes new life into the songs the that we had come to know and love over the past twenty years and was also mixed such that it sounds much better on any stereo system I have had the pleasure to experience the album on. While remaining true to the original compositions, there are nuances that make this album so much better than the original release.
As the House of Blues Anaheim prepares to open its doors for these momentous shows, the anticipation is unavoidable. The convergence of Thrice’s powerful sound, the intimate ambiance of the venue, and the undeniable significance of “The Artist in the Ambulance” promises an unforgettable evening of music and emotion.
This celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary will undoubtedly reaffirm Thrice’s status as one of the most influential bands in alternative rock history while cementing their connection with their dedicated fanbase.
TO FOLLOW
SID 230608 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 5, 2023THE GETWAY TOUR
June 5, 2023 by David Jackson
They are bizarre, funky, and incredible to watch, and now with new music in tow, Gorillaz are bringing their four-date Getaway Tour to Southern California.
Being as they are one of my absolute favorite bands, I – along with a zillion other Gorillaz fans – was excited to hear this tour news.
The cartoon-infused, four-piece, electro-alt-funk stylings of Gorillaz will hit Los Angeles on their limited-run – yes, only FOUR shows – tour and launch their tour from Banc of California Stadium on September 10th. For this one, they will get opening support from KAYTRANANDA, Lil Yachty, and Remi Wolf.
Gorillaz are coming off an epic performance at Coachella and JKL with Beck. Despite being a virtually animated artist, the real band features actual humans. They have had a few lineup changes over the years, and studio-wise it’s a four piece, but on the road you get more Gorillaz.
Their starting road lineup reads: Damon Albarn (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Smith (keys), Jeff Wootton (guitar), Jesse Hackett (keys), and Seve Adelekan (bass). The percussion section is slammin’ with Karl Vanden Bossche, Remi Kabaka, Jr. and Femi Koleoso. These guys have a way of bringing all that animation to life on stage!
Over the last two decades, Gorillaz have broken the boundaries of live animation and the semi-sonic real life of animated characters that breathe life into every single song. Their music is era defining and has impacted us all with “Clint Eastwood,” “Dare,” “19-2000 : Soul Child,” “Rock the House,” “Feel Good Inc.,” “Stylo,” “Dirty Harry,” “Kids With Guns,” and their latest, “Cracker Island.”
This tour is characterized as “On the Run, One Band, One Bus, Four Cities.” Bottom line, they are mad, bad, and dangerous to know, so make their onstage presence a reality into your concert experience and check them out at Banc of California Stadium!
TO FOLLOW
SID 230607 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 5, 2023METRIC
Getting to The Greek
June 5, 2023 by Nancy Evans
Live from Toronto, they are deliciously loud, electrifyingly brash, and they pack the kind of sonic punch we love. They are Metric and they are headed to The Greek!
Formed in 1998, Metric includes the dynamic lead vocalist, Emily Haines (who also handles guitar and synth), James Shaw is also on guitar and synth and provides back-up vocals. Rounding out the band are Joshua Winstead slapping the bass and Joules Scott-Key pounding the drums. Together they put out a heart-pounding, seismic-shifting sound. Their live show is truly something special as Haines mesmerizes the crowd with her onstage persona and that amazing voice!
The Canadian rockers’ latest release, “Formentera,” dropped in 2022 and it has been well received well by their fans worldwide. The band is currently on their Doomscroller Tour, a 30-date trek that hits various parts of the US and Canada. They have also added another SoCal show at the Observatory North Park that will land October 3rd.
For their fans – old and new – songs that will make us smile at their live show shows include “Gold Gun Girls,” “Breathing Underwater,” “Black Sheep,” and “Gimme Sympathy.” Another song that fans have been screaming for lately is “All Comes Crashing.”
Depending on where you see them, you can also catch openers Bartees Strange, Interpol, and Spoon. And in a very classy move that is indicative of all things Metric, the band has teamed up with PLUS1 to donate $1 from each ticket sold to War Child’s efforts to empower children and their families in war-torn communities around the world.
If you are looking for a fantastic night of music and entertainment, check them out June 9th at the Greek! If you miss them there, you can roll on down the I-5 to North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre where they will play on June 10th.
TO FOLLOW
SID 230606 | TRACI TURNER EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 4, 2023PUNK ROCK BOWLING 2023
June 5, 2023 Festival Review by Kevin Gomez
For the past two decades, Memorial Day Weekend and Las Vegas have become synonymous with the gathering of nearly 15,000 punks from all over the world. After postponing the 2022 festival, Punk Rock Bowling (PRB) was welcomed back with open arms by the punk community.
The event was not without hiccups, but delays and an inescapable summer heat couldn’t defeat the punk spirit. However, the first delay meant The Dollheads played to a smaller crowd than anticipated because people were not allowed in yet.
The Venomous Pinks played a solid 30-minute set and made the most of their time. Bassist Gaby Kaos sounded great singing “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die.” They closed with the female empowerment anthem, “We Do It Better.”
Suzi Moon kicked things off with “Dumb & In Luv” and then the fun, catchy “99 Miles to Pasadena.” I was really impressed with guitarist Drew Champion, who scorched a killer solo on “I’m Not a Man.”
One of the biggest breakout moments of the weekend for me was watching Surfbort’s set. They immediately hit you with a fury of fast, loud punk rock as lead singer Dani Miller spit out “Pretty Little Fucker” followed by a cover of the Hollywood Squares’ “Hillside Strangler.” Guitarists Alex Kilgore and Matt Picola began playing the opening riff to “Lot Lizard 93,” a song infectious in both its lyrics and music. For “Back to Reaction,” Miller climbed off the stage and sang while standing on the barricade.
For “Cheap Glue” she walked into the crowd, before lying down on the hot gravel and then led the packed crowd into jumping along to the chorus with her. I imagine this was the performance most people were talking about Tuesday morning.
Two weeks ago, Lee Ving, lead singer of the seminal punk band Fear, released a statement that due to a recent medical diagnosis and treatment, the band may only be able to perform for a few more months.
They have plans to release an album soon, but for now, Punk Rock Bowling was the start of the FEARwell tour. They opened with Ving’s signature “1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4” before kicking into “The Mouth Don’t Stop” and “Fuck You, Let’s Rodeo.” Spit Stix is a beast at drums; while you might just hear loud, fast noise, there’s a precise method to his drumming madness and he is by far the backbone and soul of the group. They played “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones” with Ving playing harmonica in place of the sax, the ‘70s anthem “I Love Livin’ in the City,” and closed with “More Beer.”
The punk rock supergroup known as Me First and the Gimme Gimmes started their set with lead singer Spike Slawson playing Steely Dan’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” as one by one each member joined him, culminating in Strung Out’s Jake Kiley ripping a mean solo.
They played what Slawson called their “four for Friday (even though it falls on a Saturday)” of country hits including, “Jolene,” “On the Road Again,” “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky,” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” After asking each member, including bassist CJ Ramone what they were thankful, for it segued into their final number of the day, “Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp).”
I heard several people say the best set of the weekend was by none other than Los Angeles’s own, The Interrupters. As the band warmed up the crowd leading into their first song, lead singer Aimee Interrupter stormed the stage and they kicked into “Take Back the Power.”
A skank pit started that lasted their entire set. Clad in a black and white polka dot top and her signature leather jacket, Interrupter said, “This song is a true story, but it’s also about my fridge” as they played “Turntable.” I was really impressed by the band’s maturation in sound and lyrics with their latest release dealing with heavier subject material with an evolved sound. They played both singles from that album, “In the Mirror” and “Raised by Wolves.” They did an energetic rendition of “Family” before closing with “She’s Kerosene,” which had people loudly singing along.
As the sun went down and the desert breeze finally started to roll in, the crowd was aching for headliners, Bad Religion.
They surprised me by opening with “Too Much to Ask” before Brian Baker played the iconic guitar intro to “American Jesus.” Another deep cut was “Turn on the Light,” which they’ve only played a handful of times in the past decade.
The one drawback about seeing a band headline a festival is this usually means an abbreviated set due to time filled with typical fan favorites.
Well, Bad Religion is the exception to that rule, playing a 22-song, hour and fifteen-minute set. The band played their mega hit, “Sorrow,” but the crowd was treated to a nice surprise as Aimee Interrupter came back out and turned the song into a duet with lead singer, Greg Graffin. They closed their epic set with “I Want to Conquer the World” and “21st Century (Digital Boy).”
On Sunday, I made sure to get a good spot for Playboy Manbaby who I would say is like the MC5 punched MC Lars in the face. Lead singer Robbie Pfeffer is known as much for his satirical lyrics as his funny banter and explosive live performance. During “I Love Myself” and “Mermaid Pterodactyl” I noticed Youth Brigade lead singer and Punk Rock Bowling co-organizer, Shawn Stern standing side stage and recording Playboy Manbaby’s set. For their last song, Pfeffer climbed down and sang “You Can Be a Fascist Too” on the barricade to a crowd who sang back each word of the chorus.
Face to Face is a band that I’ve never seen disappoint live and Sunday was no exception. No introduction as they walked on stage, just lead singer Trever Keith playing the opening chords to “A-OK” and the rest of the band kicked in like a thunderstorm.
They played “old music for the old people” like “Walk the Walk,” and the gorgeous heartbreak song “Blind.” But they also showcased just how good their new songs are, such as “No Way Out But Through.” For my money there is no better punk rock bassist than Scott Shiflett – just watch his riffs on “Bent But Not Broken” or his solo on “It’s Not Over.” I’m biased for sure, but it was by far my favorite performance all weekend. They announced it was Keith’s birthday and passed out cupcakes to the crowd before the band played their biggest hit, “Disconnected,” to thousands of fans singing along to the ‘90s staple song.
There was some concern about whether UK legends, The Damned would perform Sunday as they had to pull out of a club show the night before due to lead singer Dave Vanian having a migraine.
However, from the opening notes of “Street of Dreams,” it was immediately apparent the boys were back in solid form. They even played songs from their album “Darkadelic,” released just a few weeks ago. Captain Sensible looked sharp as ever shredding on “The Invisible Man” and Vanian was clad head to toe in gothic black. He dedicated “Born to Kill” to founding member “BJ – Brian James.” Paul Gray began the familiar bass riff to “Neat Neat Neat” which eventually saw Sensible playing the solo with his guitar behind his head. After a solid set that had several people claiming this was the best set of the weekend, they finished up with “Smash It Up” and “New Rose” which had a giant pit going until they played their last note.
Arguably the biggest crowd all weekend long gathered around to watch Rancid headline Sunday night. They opened with the title track of their latest album, “Tomorrow Never Comes,” and eventually closed with its first single, “Don’t Make Me Do It.” I was front and center against the barricade and they got off to an amazing start when just a few songs in, the barricade begin to tip forward. Security saw and did their best to try and physically hold the crowd back but they were no match for 15,000 rowdy punks.
During “The 11th Hour,” the band was told to stop as a team of crew members began working to repair the barricade. Co-lead singer and guitarist Lars Frederiksen tried to fill time by telling jokes and doing a solo performance of “The War’s End.” Fellow lead singer and guitarist Tim Armstrong joined him and they did a stripped down version of “Ruby Soho.” It would ultimately be 40 painful minutes of patience before the band was cleared to rock again.
Fortunately, the crowd was more than willing to resume where they had left off as the band kicked off with “Journey to the End of the East Bay.” They played everything you expected, from “Out Come the Wolves” and some rarer gems like “I Wanna Riot.” If you’re talking about all-time great punk bassists, Matt Freeman is at least in your discussion if not at the top of your list, as you can see from his mind-boggling solo in “Maxwell Murder.” They played “Black and Blue,” “Tenderloin,” and “Rejected” and finished off with “Timebomb” and “Ruby Soho” (this time as a full band).
Infamous Stiffs were the first band I saw play on Monday and the five-piece hailing from SoCal came in playing punk rock that harnessed the classic Orange County punk sound. Their set consisted mostly of songs off of their album, “Kill for the Sound,” and they sounded great on “New Sensation,” particularly the guitar riffs and solo.
If I had to sum up lead singer Olga Svetlana of the Svetlanas in one word, it would be “intense.” She sings and dances like she is possessed, snarling every lyric like pure venom spitting out with anger and ferocity. The Russian band can channel that same aggressive spirit into a heavy hardcore sound on songs like “Jump” and “All I See is Red.”
There’s been a lot of talk lately about Ultrabomb, a sort of punk rock supergroup consisting of Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü) on bass, The Mahone’s lead singer Finny McConnell, and U.K. Subs drummer Jamie Oliver.
You can certainly hear the influence that each member brings from their own bands, while still creating music that sounds fresh. With as much experience as they have, I guess it shouldn’t have been surprising how great their live energy and presence is. Norton took lead vocals on “It’s Not Funny,” and for those concerned about his health scare last year, he looked terrific, jumping around several times throughout their set. They played Hüsker Dü’s “Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely” and the Subs’ “Tomorrow Girl.” McConnell said that more than once punk rock had saved his life and he was certain just about everyone in the crowd. He played “Punk Rock Saved My Life,” which featured impressive drumming by Oliver.
Since an unexpected reformation in 2014, L7 has remained active and is celebrating the 30th anniversary of “Bricks Are Heavy.” Their heavy grunge-punk sound was as fierce as ever and even from the very back of the festival grounds, you could feel the thumping of Jennifer Finch’s bass on “Fuel My Fire.”
The thunderous guitar from Donita Sparks against Suzi Gardner’s scowling vocals on “Andres” echoed throughout the night air. By the time they played “Pretend We’re Dead,” the crowd was amped and singing along leading into Sparks’ solo dripping with reverb and effects. Watching them perform in everything from their badass attitude to the music and lyrics, you see just how much they paved the way for bands like Surfbort and the Svetlanas.
There was a literal energy you could feel from the crowd anticipating Suicidal Tendencies’ performance as chants of “Su-i-ci-dal” began shortly before their set. It was announced last year that the legendary Los Angeles band would be performing their debut self-titled album in celebration of its 40th anniversary. As soon as lead singer Mike Muir rushed on stage and the band kicked into “Suicide’s an Alternative/You’ll Be Sorry,” a massive pit opened up and would not quit until the band’s last note.
By the time the band launched into “Institutionalized,” the pit exploded into a ball of visceral and aggression as the crowd could no longer contain itself. For the band’s final song, Muir came down and sang on top of the barricade as the band and crowd alike chanted along, “S.T.! S.T.!”
Finally, the time had come to wind down Punk Rock Bowling 2023 as bagpipes began blaring, announcing the Dropkick Murphys’ arrival. Lead singer Al Barr has been on hiatus and in his absence, co-lead singer Ken Casey has taken lead duties for all songs, forgoing his usual guitar.
This was kind of a different side than we usually see of Casey, allowing him to focus on lead vocals while moving about the stage and interacting with the crowd. After playing one of their sing-along anthems, “The Boys Are Back,” Casey announced they were playing the first song they ever wrote and went into “Barroom Heroes.”
For the last chorus and outro of “Worker’s Song,” Casey came down and sang to the crowd on top of the banister. After going back on stage, just two songs later Casey was back on top of the barricade singing, “Smash Shit Up,” letting people sing on his mic. Always one to champion for equality and harmony and never shying away from figuratively and literally fighting racists, Casey announced, “Here’s one I wrote about my grandfather.
Another guy who liked to fight fucking Nazis. His name was John Kelly, and it goes like this – ‘Boys on the Dock!’” They ended with “Shipping Off to Boston” to a sea of people chanting each word back, to the point where I even saw security singing along. It was a lovely way to put the kibosh on Punk Rock Bowling.
As always, I had an amazing time and am already checking the calendar until I can return next year. I have no doubt Shawn Stern will make things even better next year.
FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY
by Steve Allen Photography
TO FOLLOW
SID 230606 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 4, 2023Live at The Hollywood Palladium
June 5, 2023 Review by Fatima Kelley
A sold-out Hollywood Palladium was filled with adoring fans that had waited 15 years for the US return of The Sisters of Mercy, and the band delivered an iconic 22-song set that masterfully navigated through classic and newer songs.
I had never seen The Sisters of Mercy live before; it seems I have been playing a sort of intercontinental hide and seek with them, always finding myself in the wrong continent at the wrong time every tour! As such, I have been waiting a lot longer than 15 years to finally hear the songs that accompanied me into adulthood. I can concur with the saying, “The longer you have to wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives,” because tonight felt nothing short of perfection to me.
With a stripped-down stage featuring a red, warming light, heavy smoke added a layer of visual intensity that added to the extreme guttural punch delivered by their music
Andrew Eldritch’s commanding stage presence has withstood the test of time. His elusive stares, his baritone voice is still capable of turning you inside out with every note. The two amazing guitarists – Ben Christo and Dylan Smith – added dimension to the show, contributing a heavier, yet still melodic, side to each tune with rich, multi-layered guitar riffs.
Christo’s vocals also offered a little airiness to Eldritch’s depth, giving an extra dimension to each song. He also brought the stage closer to fans, constantly engaging the audience by leaning towards them every chance he got. Doktor Avalanche and its “guardian,” Ravey Dave Creffield, kept everyone stomping song after song, delivering a steady crescendo of heart-thumping beats that pounded the evening away.
While the entire evening was an unforgettable experience, there were clear highlights for me.
First of all, hearing the newer songs that have not been released as a studio recording yet was beyond exciting. I had only heard them through poor sounding recordings on YouTube, so experiencing them live was not only a better way to capture their musical richness, but completely changed the tone of the evening for me.
The show was no longer about reminiscing on the past of The Sisters of Mercy, but became a presentation of what they are right now as a contemporary, always relevant, incredible band. I can only imagine how fantastic “Crash and Burn,” “But Genevieve,” “Eyes of Caligula,” and “When I’m on Fire,” will sound on a polished studio recording.
The performance of “Alice” was another huge highlight as it is still my favorite song in their entire catalog. The entire audience seemed to explode with their performances of mega hits “More” and “Marion.”
The biggest surprise of the night came during the encores when Berlin singer Terri Nunn joined them onstage to perform “Temple of Love,” covering Ofra Haza’s part. I have to admit I was very skeptical.
Ofra Haza had such an amazing voice, which is truly irreplaceable and unmatchable, but while I acquired a whole new appreciation for Nunn. She performed the song beautifully and infused it with herself, making that moment another wonderful highlight of the night, and the room was filled with waving cell phones.
The band concluded the evening with full audience participation as everyone sang every word to “Lucretia My Reflection” and “This Corrosion.”
Tonight was a beautiful reminder that outstanding music remains untouched by the test of time.
The Sisters of Mercy still have a few stops on their US tour, and then they will hit South America and head back to Europe.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Fatima Kelley Photography
TO FOLLOW
SID 230604 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 2, 2023REBELUTION
Good Vibes Summer Tour
June 2, 2023 by M.B. Edwards
Rebelution is hitting all the hot spots this year with their Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023 and they are bringing their A-game with special guests Iration, The Expendables, Passafire, and DJ Mackle.
Rebelution is the king of good vibes. Their popular interpretation of reggae-rock style spans the old school roots to slower-tempo, island-sounding reggae. Whatever your vibe is at the moment, you’re sure to find a Rebelution song that suits your mood or one that can change it in an instant.
Formed in California’s Isla Vista back in 2004, Rebelution’s members were university students in Santa Barbara at the time. Eric Rachmany (vocals and guitar), Rory Carey (keyboards), Marley D. Williams (bass), and Wesley Finley (drums) have all been with the band since the beginning.
REBELUTION LIVE | PHOTO by The Corona Chronicles
Their first album, “Courage to Grow,” has an upbeat sound that’ll have your head bobbin’ with songs like “Ordinary Girl,” “Courage to Grow,” and “Feeling Alright.” Their debut album did well with iTunes Editors Choice naming it the Best Reggae Album.
They have only continued to succeed with their albums. Their fifth studio album, “Falling Into Place,” not only received a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album, but also debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae charts.
“In the Moment,” their seventh and most recent studio album, was created during the pandemic with each member being in a different location. This gave the album a different feel than the others and showcases all the different reggae sounds that is Rebelution. Bolstered by songs like “Satisfied,” “Free Rein,” and “Old School Feeling,” Rachmany said everything he wrote kept going back to time and that “you have to keep reminding yourself to be present and make the most of every moment.”
I think that is just what the band does – they make the most of their moments and give their fans a good vibe. The collaboration with their openers and the specials guests and band members they tour with add to their appeal. In fact, DJ Mackle accompanied Rebelution on their Good Vibes Summer 2022 Tour, so rejoining them for this one is a clear sign the artists have a great time together.
Rebelution will continue their Good Vibes Summer Tour 2023 through August and OC residents are treated with a trio of nights starting August 11th at the Pacific Amphitheatre.
Rebelution is a great concert to see in person and one that will leave you feelin’ good. Their energy is impressive and their delivery and on-stage performance has such an incredible feeling.
TO FOLLOW
SID 230602 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
June 1, 2023Live in Monterey
June 2, 2023 Review by Amber Crouch
For the 12th year in a row, Monterey County welcomed California Roots Music and Arts Festival to its world-famous fairgrounds, drawing crowds from near and far for the Memorial Day festivities.
Fans of reggae, hip-hop, ska, and music lovers in general, wait in anticipation as they voyage to share a weekend with some of their favorite musicians and friends. While some fans were able to partake last year, others have been unable to due to COVID.
As health precautions made it difficult to put on the festival during that time, organizers wanted to make it up to their loyal fans and added an additional day to the three-day festival. Now that concerts and festivals have resumed normal routines, 2023 will be the final year they do the four days. Make no mistake though; the fans have come out in full force the last two years, showing the Caliroots team how much this festival means to them.
Each morning fans lined up at the gates before they opened, ready to start the day. Thursday being the additional day didn’t stop people from taking the time off of work to partake in the first day of Caliroots. As festival attendees made their way through the doors, they filled the spaces at The Bowl to get a good spot for festival opener Mihali (who also happens to be part of Twiddle), and at the Cali Roots Stage for Mykal Rose and the Subatomic Sound System.
Bringing some roots to the afternoon we had Dub Inc. and Katchafire getting the crowds to shake off their work blues and get into the festival spirit. Paying tribute to the very first Caliroots is the OG Stage where Thrive! and Anuhea got the vibes going. Bringing some hip-hop to day one was Atmosphere with all the heavy hitters and rhymes, then Michael Franti and Spearhead bringing uplifting positive joyous jams for all ages to get down to.
The evening called for fans to fill up The Bowl for the final acts of the night. A very cool addition to Caliroots this year was the ASL interpreters that they had on stage for the night. Seeing the different interpreters sign to various SOJA and Rebelution songs while the crowd went wild under the lights was definitely something exciting to see.
Just like the day before, the Friday crowd was up early and ready to go. Day two started with the UK’s very own The Skints bringing a rad ska sound to the festival lineup, and Surfer Girl following up with some good summertime jams. Joe Samba hyped up the crowd in the afternoon with his interesting style of alternative reggae while The Interrupters literally had a circle pit going in The Bowl.
Down at the OG Stage you had Soulwise bringing the heat and the funky reggae beats while Chali 2na got down with some word flipping and lyric spitting. Following up with the two was some ska punk vibes from Kyle Smith as his fans brought the party to the OG Stage.
With the day turning into night, LAB from New Zealand, Steel Pulse from the UK, and Common Kings – whose members range from different regions of the Pacific Islands – closed out the night at the Cali Roots Stage with different sounds of international reggae. Crowds made their way to The Bowl as the final acts of the evening were taking the stage.
LA Legends, Cypress Hill took it back a few years and got a little loco with the fans as they amped up the night. Yeah, the crowd got what they came for – some “Insane in the Brain,” “Hits from the Bong,” “Dr. Greenthumb,” and a very cool House of Pain cover of “Jump Around.”
Trailing behind was Sublime with Rome’s taking the crowd down on a trip through memory lane, singing songs made famous by the late Bradley Nowell with a few originals mixed in.
The reflection hit parade included “April 29, 1992,” “Smoke Two Joint,” “Wrong Way,” “Pamic,” “Doin’ Time,” “Badfish,” “What I Got,” and “Santeria,”
Another standout moment was when the Los Angeles Fourth Wave Ska icons The Interrupters took the stage. Taking the crowd through a sonic journey of ska eras, Aimee Interrupter killed it with her dynamic vocals aside the band’s signature sound. Fans got an instance shot of an abbreviated set of solid hit after hit; “Take Back the Power,” “By My Side,” “Gave You Everything,” and “She’s Kerosene” kept the crowd skankin’ the night away.
AIMEE INTERRUPTER
The evening really got exciting when New York rap icons Wu Tang took the stage, paying respect to O.D.B. and performing some of their best songs that many knew word for word.
Ready to go for Saturday, fans ran to the stages to catch their favorite openers of the day. On the Cali Roots Stage, you had Cydeways bringing a unique mix of sounds with velvet voiced Jesse Royal following along who got the crowd moving and swaying. Showing more love for Sublime, all the way from Rhode Island, was tribute band Badfish, who woke people up with an early morning funky reggae party.
Back in The Bowl, while some fans started saving their spaces for the evening headliners, others were enjoying the talents of the openers. Kes and Ozomalti brought some Spanish-style reggae into the mix with a heavy horn and rhythm section. Collie Buddz went on right after and not only killed it onstage, but ordered 1,000 pizzas for everyone for the third year running.
The OG Stage on Saturday was a fun mix of alternative hip-hop with Shwayze and Little Stranger turning what supposed to be the small stage at Caliroots into a large house party. At the Cali Roots Stage for the latter half of the day, all the way from Italy was Alberosie, showing his true passion for roots reggae music while Hieroglyphs and Del the Funky Homosapien conveyed their lyrical skills and showed us how to chill.
Caliroots veterans Hirie serenaded the crowd as the moon hung in the sky, ending their set with Patrica Jetton’s famous dancing and a mini pyro show.
The Bowl was reminded that while Shaggy is Mister Bombastic, whatever happened, it wasn’t him, and Stick Figure capped Saturday evening off with a packed house and a wicked laser light show. A performance fans were talking about for the rest of the weekend.
Long Beach Dub All Stars got the ball rolling on Sunday as fans made their way in for the final day of Caliroots. Salinas locals The Rudians took stage in The Bowl and blew people away with their horns and sound that you can’t help but dance to. Thee Sacred Souls brought some rhythm and blues to the festival, almost making time stop with their slow, smooth vocals and perfectly-timed beats. Orange County local DEMN brought his laid-back surf-rock vibes to the crowd, while Matisyahu got people on their feet with his songs of sentiment and unity.
Traveling all the way from Massachusetts, The Elovators made sure to bring the heat and had a packed crowd for their set. Alternative reggae band The Movement had a large crowd, which was a good thing because they put their manager into an inflatable ball and crowdsurfed him while they closed out the final evening at the Cali Roots Stage.
After having not played since 2018, Iration made a comeback and really made the evening special, starting off our summer nights. Lead singer Micah Pueschel was virtually illuminating on stage.
Then it was time for the main event of the evening – Dirty Heads. Closing out the whole festival, Dirty Heads played old favorites and songs off their new album, “Midnight Control,” and they had every hand in the air and every person singing their words right back at them.
Their set had a little bit of everything for everyone. Fan favorites, “Burn Slow,” “My Sweet Summer,” “Lay Me Down,” “Stand Tall,” “Cabin by the Sea,” Rage,” “Medusa,” and “Heavy Water” were just a few of the songs delivered for this epic performance.
California Roots festival does a fabulous job at curating an eclectic mix of music (sub-genres) for its fans, providing a musical party every Memorial Day Weekend in Monterey, California. Needless to say, 2023 was majestic in scope and regal in delivery and it will be an event we talk about for some time.
Proactive in making this the best festival ever, Caliroots is already planning for next year and has set the dates for May 24th – 26th. As soon as they drop the lineup, we will let you know!
FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERY
by Cameron Schuyler Photography
TO FOLLOW
SID 230601 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
May 31, 2023Live at The Glass House
May 31, 2023 Review by Todd Markel
In the early ‘90s, producer Butch Vig was on a proverbial roll. After working on some of the biggest albums of the era, including Nirvana’s “Nevermind” and Smashing Pumpkins’ “Gish,” he went on to produce another album that was destined for greatness.
“Bricks are Heavy” was the third album by Los Angeles’ own, all-female rock band, L7. The album featured the catchy single, “Pretend We’re Dead,” which went into heavy rotation on alternative radio stations across the nation, and swiftly moved into the top 10 on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart.
After several years of inactivity, the classic lineup of Donita Sparks (vocals, guitars), Suzi Gardner (guitars, vocals), Jennifer Finch (bass, vocals), and Demetra Plakas (drums, vocals) reformed in 2014. In 2019, they released “Scatter the Rats,” their first full-length album in 20 years. The band is currently touring to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal album, “Bricks are Heavy,” and recently stopped for a show at The Glass House in Pomona.
Opening the show was an artist called I Speak Machine. They’ve described themselves as an audio-visual collaboration between musician Tara Busch, and producer/director Maf Lewis. Their show is very avant-garde performance art and features dark, theatrical elements along with some very industrial sounds. Busch is the only performer onstage, singing along to prerecorded tracks from her laptop, often giving some insight into the songs; for instance, while introducing “Dirty Soul,” she described it as a “dirty, dirty song.” After reminding herself not to “explain every song,” she introduced one called “Santa Monica” as an ode to the city of Los Angeles.
I Speak Machine have been described as “Nina Hagen meets Norma Desmond in a head-on collision with Lux Interior,” and I agree that is appropriate. Her songs had a wide range of styles, from an industrial dirty sound, to very melodic and angelic. She closed her set with the title track from their latest release, “War.”
As it became time for L7, the house lights went out and a musical collage of songs played out over the PA. Only in retrospect do I realize that they were all songs associated with, or produced by Butch Vig, starting with House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” flowing to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” It all set the mood for the era that we were about dive into. A large cheer arose as Donita Sparks, Suzi Gardner, Jennifer Finch, and Demetra Plakas strode onto the stage.
Smiling and acknowledging the crowd, Sparks said, “Welcome to the 30th anniversary of ‘Bricks are Heavy!’” They then busted into track one, the equally heavy “Wargasm.” I was happy to hear that they would be playing not only the album in its entirety, but in the actual order as found on the album.
With a count of “1-2-3-4,” “Scrap” was next. The band sounded fantastic; they were super heavy and played very tight and together. Sparks introduced the next song by saying, “We normally save this one for the end of the set, cause we’re assholes like that,“ before playing what is arguably their biggest hit, “Pretend We’re Dead.” The crowd all sang along to, “Come on, come on, come on,” and at one point, someone shouted “We love you Donita!” bringing an ever-so-slight smile to her face.
Between songs, Sparks would occasionally ask the crowd if they “like that shit,” to which the crowd would give an affirmative roar back to her. Sparks said, “God, I love this song” before playing “Mr. Integrity,” with its line, “Don’t preach to me Mr. Integrity.”
The chemistry between Sparks and Finch was evident as they would headbang, side by side, and in unison. The crowd was a nice mix of guys and gals who were all very appreciative of the music. I did notice a considerable difference in the way this crowd behaved, as opposed to the punk crowd that I’m used to. There were no large mosh or circle pits, no pushing or shoving. Everyone was more or less bouncing or lightly pogoing along, and having a good time.
Sparks announced that “Bricks are Heavy” wasn’t available on vinyl when it debuted in 1992, but that has since been rectified, and encouraged everyone to go out and get it. At the conclusion of “This Ain’t Pleasure,” Sparks announced, “And that completes ‘Bricks are Heavy’” to a large cheer.
The second half of their set started with 1994’s “Andres,” with its apology to a friend of the band named Andres. They played a nice career-encompassing set with an assortment of songs from just about every album of theirs, including “Fuel My Fire,” “Shove,” and from their latest album, “Scatter the Rats.” The songs “Stadium West” and “Fighting the Crave” were also incredible.
Other stand-out tracks were “War with You,” and the political satire, “Dispatch from Mar-a-Lago,” which imagines Donald Trump Tweeting from his country club in Palm Beach as it falls under attack.
To close the night, L7 went all the way back to 1990’s “Smell the Magic,” with the appropriately named “Fast and Frightening.” There’s been a trend lately with many bands celebrating milestone anniversaries of their classic or fan-favorite albums, and hopefully they are up for it.
L7 definitely proved that they can still rock as hard – if not harder – than they did in 1992. Unfortunately, L7 is now off the road, but crossing fingers they will be back sooner rather than later!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Todd Markel Rock Photography
TO FOLLOW
SID 230535 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
May 31, 2023DIRTY HEADS
ROQ THE BEACH
May 31, 2023 by José Corona Jr.
Earlier this month, the world famous KROQ began giving away tickets to see Dirty Heads at FivePoint Amphitheatre in September, with the bonus prize of tickets to their ROQ the Beach with the Dirty Heads.
With the exact time and location of the ROQ the Beach being kept secret until revealed to winners, we can now tell you May 25th, 2023 was that day!
By midday on May 25th, Huntington Beach was set afire with all social media channels abuzz with rumors of a “super-secret, private” KROQ beach show at Sea Salt Beachside Burger.
Growing up and being a Huntington Beach local, I can say there’s never been a shortage of three things here: surfing, skating, and music. With these musical rumors flying, we were pumped! Local dudes; local show! Epic! Plus, for those unable to win tickets, word on the street was out that fans were going to be able to catch the show from across from the venue on the sand, and fans were pumped.
As we got to Bolsa Chica State Beach, it was a breezy and overcast 66 degrees, but the vibes were nothing but summer! As we picked up our credentials, we could hear music being played and saw a large number of fans being congratulated by KROQ staff and handed their wrist bands. After passing through security, the massive stage came into view. This was not going to be a small, misleading acoustic set. This was “ROQ ON THE BEACH!” A super-secret hometown Dirty Heads KROQ show on the beach fits right in! We knew this was going to be amazeballs!
The party got underway with DJ Jeremiah Red, host of KROQ’s Saturday night mix show, ROQ ‘N’ BEATS. Red was spinning some mind-bending jams, and he mixed in just the right amount of new and old. Red was a man on a mission, stealing the hearts of the crowd one mix at a time. Fans danced their hearts out while they ate, drank, and partied. Sponsor Subaru provided mad fun with cornhole, a giant Jenga, and an opportunity to climb inside, explore the interior of, and push the buttons in their newest vehicle.
Beer Mug and Jeremiah Red
Delicious aromas filled the air courtesy of caterers Smoke and Fire Social Eatery. Music fans filled their bellies with some dank BBQ, and then washed it down with a cold island refreshment of Big Wave Liquid Aloha from Kona Brewing. Fans were cheering and cheersing with their Kona Big Wave brews!
We mingled with the crowd and it was completely clear: This is a summer party! From sand to the stage, Sea Salt was buzzing with a hyped up group. We chatted with other Dirty Heads fans, taking friendly bets on what the first song would be and what the setlist might offer.
The clock struck six and the music faded. Our host – KROQ’s Beer Mug – gets on the mic and gives thanks to the venue, the sponsors, and the fans. Then he introduces Dirty Heads and the intro begins…
Right off the bat, coming at the crowd like a bull in a china shop with “Heavy Water.” The crowd went ape shit! Crazy! Going straight into “Medusa,” seducing the crowd as they chant back “Medusa!”
The fun didn’t seem to stop with “Bum Bum” and bringer “Franco Eyed.” With arms raised and the ocean breeze blowing, fans sang each song word for word.
Dirty Heads played a great balance of older hits and new singles, so it was awesome to see what they played next. The crowd loved the set and fans were buying what the Dirty Heads were cookin.’
There was an incredibly positive response when Duddy brought out the acoustic for “Oxygen” and ended with “Island Glow.” Other fan favorites – and favorites of mine – included “That’s All I Need,” “Sloth’s Revenge,” and their newest song, “Rescue Me.” They had the crowd straight-up hypnotized with the new tune.
When the show ended, the crowd cheered for what seemed like 10 minutes; a long round of applause for this sick Dirty Heads show.
As we were leaving, we ran into Beer Mug and asked for his favorite moment from the show. He said, “It’s hard to pinpoint just one, but if I have to choose, it has to be that we got to see the Dirty Heads in their home town of Huntington Beach, on the beach, for the ROQ the Beach secret KROQ show!”
Final thoughts on this show: I thoroughly enjoyed the ambience; loved that it was a hometown Dirty Heads show at the beach. This felt exactly the way a Dirty Heads show should be.
Dirty Heads are touring through the rest of the year, so don’t miss your chance to experience them in person. SoCal fans can see them on September 23rd in Irvine at FivePoint Amphitheatre. If that’s not enough, set your sights on Waikiki Beach, Oahu in October!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by The Corona Chronicles
TO FOLLOW
SID 230534 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
May 31, 2023FOO FIGHTERS
ONWARD
May 31, 2023 by Jimmy Alvarez
There are moments in life that you will never forget where you were when you heard about them. I have had several of those throughout my lifetime. I don’t remember where I was when Armstrong landed on the moon, or when JFK was shot – nothing like that. For me, it has always been music related. I remember what I was doing when I heard the news about John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Chester Bennington, and Chris Cornell; I still get goosebumps just thinking about those. One that impacted me just as much was hearing about the passing of Taylor Hawkins – a modern day tragedy, but here we are.
The Foo Fighters’ latest album is adroitly named “But Here We Are,” and it simply fits the moment. We want to believe we all feel the same sense of loss for Hawkins, and for the most part we do. When you were as close as this band was – they are brothers – their loss is unimaginable. But as with everything in life, we must move forward. So was the task for the remaining members of the band.
What did the Foo’s embark on to pick up the pieces? They grieved and worked through it as best they could. From this heartbreak emerged their 11th studio album, “But Here We Are.” Along the way, the band went through the process of finding another gifted soul to sit behind the drum kit. There were lots of qualified and legendary drummers out there, but like in “Highlander,” there can only be one. The latest member to be added to this exclusive club is Josh Freese. With Freese as a Foo, and all that behind them, the Foo’s are set to play shows again worldwide.
Lead singer and guitarist Dave Grohl has had to deal with loss again. We know about Cobain, but he also lost his biggest fan – his mom Virginia passed in 2022 as well – and that in itself was a monumental loss. With the passing of Hawkins, the sense of darkness could have engulfed him into a sea of despair. In his book “The Storyteller,” Grohl described Hawkins as “my brother from another mother, my best friend, a man from whom I would take a bullet.”
That is the kind of kinship that goes beyond the mortal realm. Needless to say, it is a loss that a person will never really get over, but instead, you learn to accept it and live life and honor the past and your fallen friends.
Now we get to hear what the emotions that have engulfed our sadness and fueled our hope in the form of new Foo Fighters music. As expected, we have been teased over the past few weeks with singles from the album. “Rescued” is doing extremely well. Songs like “Under You,” “Hearing Voices,” “The Teacher,” and “Beyond Me” capture a moment in time we can all relate too. Of the 10 songs on the album, it is “Rest” that will move us all.
The album was birthed from tragedy, but will live in inspiration. Grohl, Pat Smear, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Rami Jaffee all found a way to capture their feelings, and wrap them up in a way so we can all grieve and our souls can move forward.
“But Here We Are” will be released this Friday.
TO FOLLOW
SID 230534 | TRACI TURNER, EDITOR [...]
Read more...
MUSIC FOR THE MASSES
EPIC SHOWS COMING SOON
KIA FORUM
December 10 & 12, 2023
Crypto.com Arena
December 15 & 17, 2023
READ | INSPIRE | LIVE
FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIALS!
ORANGE COUNTY’S SOURCE FOR MUSIC NEWS
Independently Owned & Operated Since 2019
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | ISSN 2692-6717 (c) 2019-2023
a BNG Marketing Company
