Publication Date October 12, 2026
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October 11, 2026UncategorizedLive from Gallagher Square at Petco Park
October 10th, 2026 Review by Shane Pase
There are some concert bills that really don’t require much of a sales pitch. Social Distortion. Descendents. The Chats.
Put those three bands together on a Saturday night in San Diego, add nearly 10,000 people, a giant outdoor stage and just enough humidity to remind everyone they were still technically in Southern California in October, and you’ve got a damned solid way to spend an evening with punk rock icons.
Gallagher Square at Petco Park turned out to be a great setting for it. The stage was massive, closer to what you would expect at a festival than a typical outdoor concert, with a huge floor area in front and a grassy slope rising behind it.
As someone who has been going to punk shows for a very long time, I was perfectly happy to embrace my status as an old head and watch much of the night from that grass rather than cramming myself into the mass of bodies on the floor when I wasn’t in the photo pit. I’ve done my time down there. The old body ain’t what it used to be. It was warm and surprisingly humid, but otherwise about as good a night as you could ask for to see three punk bands outside in downtown San Diego.
The Chats had the unenviable job of going first, but apparently nobody told them they were supposed to ease the crowd into the evening. This was my first time seeing the Australian three-piece live, and they were ridiculously fun.
There’s nothing particularly complicated about what The Chats do, which is part of why it works. Fast songs. Big energy. Bass, guitar, drums and a healthy amount of Australian attitude. They came out swinging and stayed there for the entire set.
What impressed me most was how genuine they felt. There wasn’t any effort to manufacture a punk-rock persona or convince anyone how dangerous they were. They were fun, engaging and looked like they were having a blast.
The crowd picked up on it immediately. Songs like “Smoko” and “Pub Feed” already have that shout-along quality, but live they become something else. Even on a stage that big, The Chats managed to make their set feel like the kind of sweaty club show where everyone is in on it. They were one of those opening bands that leave you wondering, “How the hell have I not seen these guys before?”
Then came the Descendents. OMFG, the Descendents.
There are certain bands where objectivity becomes a little difficult, and I’m perfectly comfortable admitting the Descendents are one of those bands for me.
I’ve seen them many times over the decades, but Saturday night was the first time I had the chance to photograph them. That alone would have made the set special. Then they went out and absolutely crushed it.
More than four decades into this thing, Milo Aukerman, Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton still make Descendents songs sound exactly like Descendents songs are supposed to sound: fast, loud, funny, occasionally ridiculous, and incredibly tight.
Maybe even better is how much fun they still seem to have doing it. Aukerman was constantly smiling. The rest of the band was smiling. They laughed with one another throughout the performance. Nothing about it felt like four guys dutifully reproducing songs they’ve played thousands of times because that’s what the audience paid to hear. They looked genuinely happy to be there.
One of the coolest moments happened almost immediately. As Aukerman walked onto the stage, he spotted a young girl along the rail holding a sign saying it was her birthday. He stopped and wished her a happy birthday. She started crying.
Not disappointed crying. The kind of uncontrollable happy crying that happens when you’re young and someone from one of your favorite bands suddenly acknowledges that you exist.
Aukerman smiled, the crowd loved it, and then the Descendents went to work.
The set was loaded with “Everything Sux,” “Hope,” “I Don’t Want to Grow Up,” “Myage,” “Clean Sheets,” “‘Merican,” “Coffee Mug,” “Good Good Things,” “Suburban Home,” “Bikeage,” and plenty more.
And yes, thousands of adults enthusiastically yelling along to songs about coffee, food, girls, parents, and refusing to grow up remains one of the great things about a Descendents show. Particularly since a decent percentage of us yelling “I Don’t Want to Grow Up” have now very clearly grown up. Physically, anyway. Guilty as charged.
Aukerman still delivers these songs with the personality that made them work in the first place, and the band behind him remains ridiculously good. Stevenson is still a monster behind the drums, and the entire set moves with almost no wasted time. When they finished, my immediate thought was simple: that was one of my favorite sets I’ve seen in 2026.
Then it was time for Social Distortion. There really isn’t much mystery about what people want from a Social D show at this point. They want Mike Ness. They want Jonny “Two Bags.” They want those guitar tones. They want the songs they’ve been listening to in cars, bars, bedrooms and garages for decades. And Social Distortion still delivers.
Ness was upfront about not being at 100 percent. He was recovering from a respiratory infection and occasionally needed a little extra time between songs. That led to several extended conversations with the crowd, although anybody who has seen Ness over the years knows talking between songs is hardly unusual for him. If anything, it made the show feel a little more personal.
He talked about his appreciation for the fans who have supported Social Distortion for decades and about the support he received during his cancer treatment. There was obvious gratitude there after everything he has been through over the past few years. But this was still Mike Ness, so things never got overly sentimental.
Before “Lude Boy” came the obligatory public-service announcement: Don’t do drugs, kids.
At another point, Ness played a riff from a song he said he loves and is still working on. It was a cool little unscripted moment, the kind of thing you don’t necessarily get every night. Then there’s Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham.
Dapper as always and seemingly incapable of not looking cool while playing guitar, Wickersham remains the perfect counterpart to Ness. The two have played together long enough that nothing feels forced. Wickersham just locks in and does what he does. And what he does is very, very good.
The set pulled from throughout Social Distortion’s history, including “The Creeps,” “Mommy’s Little Monster,” “Prison Bound” and, of course, “Story of My Life.” There are certain songs where the audience takes over almost automatically, and “Story of My Life” is one of them. Ness barely needs to invite anyone to sing. The opening guitar hits and thousands of people already know their assignment.
That’s the thing about Social Distortion. They came out of that first wave of Southern California punk alongside bands like the Descendents, but eventually carved out a sound completely their own. Punk was always the foundation, but Ness mixed in rock and roll, country and blues until Social D stopped sounding quite like anybody else. More than four decades later, you can hear a few seconds of one of their songs and know exactly who it is.
The Chats may have been the young guys on this bill, but there was no need for some forced “passing of the torch” storyline Saturday night. Nobody was passing anything. The Chats showed why a younger generation is still finding ways to make simple, loud punk rock incredibly fun. The Descendents reminded everyone why they remain one of the best punk bands ever to come out of Southern California.
And Social Distortion closed the night doing what Social Distortion has been doing for more than 40 years – playing songs people still give a shit about. No grand statement was necessary.
It was three really good punk bands playing to nearly 10,000 people on a warm Saturday night in San Diego. And on this night, it was more than enough.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Shane Pase Photography
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October 11, 2026UncategorizedLUCAS MUSEUM
Of Narrative Art Comes to L.A.
October 10th, 2026 by Randi Lavik
Well, aren’t we lucky? I love L.A. We love it!
After negotiating with San Francisco and Chicago, George Lucas and Mellody Hobson invested a decade of their lives and a billion dollars-plus, to build their dream, right in the middle of Exposition Park, in downtown Los Angeles.
Dreamers achieve glorious results.
The museum is a marvel. The building resembles the workplace of George Jetson. Literally. Its massive white structure hovers like a tarantula, with an observation window smack dab in the middle.
Glass elevators in the sweeping lobby, staffed by friendly attendants, resemble the postmodern bays in the nearby Bonaventure, and they move just as quickly. I defy anyone to find an angle in the building. Curved glass, curved walls, and stark white smooth paneling is all around.
The inside features something for everyone. A museum of storytelling and storytellers. Much of the collection is housed on the fourth floor and visitors are given a three-hour window to see everything.
I confess I had to skip the massive archives of Normal Rockwells (His) in favor of the Maxfield Parrish gallery (Hers). The art spans from the turn-of-the-century to today.
If you are a Star Wars fan, come on down. Everything is there and I mean everything. Original costumes, vehicles, set pieces and artistic renderings.
I especially enjoyed seeing vintage comic book art, including Kelly Freas from MAD Magazine, Howard the Duck #1, and Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor comic. Keep on Truckin’!
The manga and Japanese illustrations are extraordinary. A treasure trove of African-American and Latin-American pieces are represented as well. I recognized many commercial artists (that one might not see in a traditional gallery), and they hold an astonishing children’s book illustration collection as well.
Galleries and galleries, 1,500 pieces are on display. Interestingly, the art is categorized by theme rather than artist or a specific time period.
On the fifth floor, Banksy. Just Banksy. That’s pretty great, it just is.
A museum docent informed me that the Lucases hold 40,000 works, so it’s a safe bet to expect revolving exhibits.
The Lucas Museum includes an attached research library, a futuristic Starbucks, a cafe and a hot-ticket restaurant, The Skywalker Grill, that I’m still trying to get into.
The gift shop has a lot of Star Wars collectibles, a fab book collection, good prints, and interesting clothing and accessories featuring the collection. A Swarovski Darth Vader necklace, a lovely Frazetta tote – for the fashionista who has everything, it’s a great place to browse.
The park and grounds feature sculptures of Rosie the Riveter and a wonderful Henry Moore in the center of the garden, alongside Star Wars creatures.
Outdoor spaces are open to the public during operating hours and worth visiting as well. I noted many plants and trees that are native to Northern California; a homage to Skywalker Ranch up north, indeed.
Tickets for the general public are available, however, you need to become a supporting member of the museum to purchase tickets currently.
Thank you Lucas family for the gift of imaginative, user-friendly art and a fantastic space to enjoy it in.
MUSEUM PHOTO GALLERY
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October 9, 2026UncategorizedAnnounces CALIFORNIA DREAM ON
October 9th, 2026 by Stuart Karpel
As there are an endless amount of incredibly talented musicians these days, it makes it almost impossible for anyone to not have a favorite artist. But there will always be those with a veteran presence in the game. While it is almost entirely customary to see these seasoned talents perform alongside other artists within their genre, we don’t often get to see shows where the headliner joins together with the best of the best.
From Boston and formed in 1970, and the five founding members of Aerosmith are reuniting to perform this special show. Aerosmith is still led by vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Their sonic vision was transcendent and to the masses it became music personified and led Aerosmith to the musical promised land: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band has done it all in the five decades – record breaking albums, sold out stadium tours, movies, commercials and they have played the biggest stages on the planet. Their music is literally the soundtrack of our lives.
They feature era defining songs, “Sweet Emotion,” “Walk This Way,” which they later reprised with RUN DMC, “Janie’s Got a Gun,” “Dream On,” “Cryin’,” “Come Together,” “Love in an Elevator,” and a slew of other songs that mean everything to a whole lot of humans.
Dubbed California Dream On, Aerosmith ‘& Friends is heading to the top of the Hollywood Bowl marquee along with Guns N’ Roses, Billy Idol, RUN DMC, Billy Idol, The Black Crowes, Heart and friends who are more than ready to make this event the talk of the town October 29th and November 1st.
From Aerosmith’s decades of legendary albums like their self-named record, Toys in the Attic, Get a Grip and Just Push play to name a few, to the astounding catalog of the artists who plan to share their stage including Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses, Little Queen by Heart, Rebel Yell by Billy Idol and Shake Your Money Maker by The Black Crowes.
Concertgoers can expect nothing less than timeless tracks in a setting that is a picture-perfect stage for rock music. The venue has seen over a century of Hall of Famer’s and is one of the most notable landmarks in all of Los Angeles. Aerosmith and company couldn’t ask for a better time and place to be at the front and center of the SoCal spotlight.
Whatever it is that you need to do to get that time off from work, whether that means using some PTO, calling out of work sick, or maybe you just have a day off already—— an even better reason that you should get your tickets ASAP.
Other artists listed so far are Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Eric Church, Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell and bassist Mike Inez, Train singer Pat Monahan, Sammy Hagar, Rage’s Tom Morello, Marcus King, Godsmack’s Sully Erna, Adam Wakeman, Steve Stevens, Audley Freed, Don Was, Kenny Aronoff, and Nuno Bettencourt.
Tickets go on sale October 10th at 10 a.m. local time. Make sure to get yours quickly because they are going to sell out quick, but I promise no matter what day you end up choosing to go, it’ll be sure to be worth every bit of your while.
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October 9, 2026UncategorizedComing to Observatory Santa Ana
October 9th, 2026 by Christina Sanchez
The Ramones remain a symbol of American punk rock, decades after their 1974 start in NYC.
While honors like induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys may not seem punk enough for them, they indeed well deserved.
Sadly, with the four original members now gone, young punk fans will never catch a Ramones show, but they can come close to experiencing the punk rock legends live.
Ramones X is the best tribute band you may have never heard of. Fronted by AFI lead singer, Davey Havok, this little super group packs a punch performing Ramones classics.
Along with Havok, Josh James (Eighteen Visions, Stick to Your Guns) is on guitar, Brian McGee (Kill Your Idols) handles bass, and drummer Valeriano Saucedo (Loma Prieta) play blistering renditions of “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Teenage Lobotomy,” “Judy Is a Punk,” “The KKK Took My Baby Away,” “Pet Sematary,” and “We’re a Happy Family.”
The band already has a cult following that anxiously awaits the yearly announcement of their handful of shows. Each holiday timed show features the band belting out your favorite Ramones tunes in an intimate venue.
For 2026, the gents are invading Casbah in San Diego on December 12th, and Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on December 11th and 18th. They will also hit San Francisco on December 19th and 20th at The Chapel. As of now, all shows are sold out, so hopefully they will add some more because we demand more Ramones X!
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October 8, 2026UncategorizedIt’s a Nice Day to… Have a Billy Idol Day!
October 8th, 2026 by Traci Turner
The sneering punk we all love and adore will have a day dedicated to him and his longtime collaborator next month. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2026 inductees Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens will be honored by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez and the City of Los Angeles on November 13th, which will be known as Billy Idol Day.
After a City Council session with a presentation, Los Angeles City Hall will host a free acoustic performance by Idol and Stevens on the steps of City Hall Park in Downtown Los Angeles.
Of course, Idol and Stevens will have some special surprise guests appearing – I suspect our favorite ‘80s icon, Richard Blade, will be there.
Fans are welcome to attend the free City Hall performance, and tickets are still available for the pair’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction the following day.
Whether acoustic or plugged in, we can’t wait to hear “White Wedding,” “Rebel Yell,” “Dancing With Myself,” “Eyes Without a Face,” and “Cradle of Love” live.
The gents have had a busy year – wrapping up Idol’s It’s a Nice Day To… Tour Again! trek in support of 2025’s “Dream Into It,” receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Music Awards, and they will join Aerosmith at the latter’s Hollywood Bowl show on October 29th.
There is also a new documentary about Idol, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead,” which covers his life and career extensively. And there was an electrifying performance at this year’s Ohana Fest!
It sure seems like 2026 is the year of Idol, and quite frankly, we are ok with that!
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October 8, 2026UncategorizedTo Spend 2027 with Goo Goo Dolls & The Struts
December 8th, 2026 by Traci Turner
The tour schedules foNr 2027 are coming in fast and furious these days and this one packs quite a punch. Def Leppard will return to the road and bring Goo Goo Dolls and The Struts along for the ride.
The extensive North American tour kicks off March 2nd in Allentown, PA, makes 45 stops, and then closes out July 2nd in Indianapolis. The trek makes one stop in SoCal on May 1st at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.
Def Leppard dropped a new single, “Rejoice,” earlier this year and have been wrapping up their new album when time permits – Vegas residencies tend to get in the way. The new record is expected to arrive in 2027.
According to frontman Joe Elliott, they have plenty of material – at least 18 songs were on the list – but not all of them will survive the cut. “We’ve kind of got nearly two albums,” he explained. “We’re gonna pick and choose which 10 or 11 we think are the right ones… we’ve got some great songs – very varied.”
Of course, they – Elliott, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, and Vivian Campbell – don’t even need a new album for next year as they have decades of hits ready to go – “Love Bites,” “Photograph,” “Rocket,” “Let’s Get Rocked,” “Foolin’,” “Animal,” “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” for starters.
But Goo Goo Dolls? I confess I did a double take. While their music is drastically different than Def Leppard, their fans do overlap – I mean, all of use have varied musical tastes, right? But John Rzeznik and Robby Takac will get the crowd ready for Leppard with “Black Balloon,” “Name,” “Dizzy,” “Slide,” “Long Way Down,” and “Iris.”
As for The Struts, the British glam rockers have had a lot of attention on them the past few years. They will NOT be boring, so do arrive early for Luke Spiller, Adam Slack, Jed Elliott (no relation to Joe), and Gethin Davies.
They do some incredible Queen covers, but are sure to share their originals “Kiss This,” “Could Have Been Me,” “Primadonna Like Me,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Pretty Vicious,” and “Put Your Money on Me.”
An artist presale begins October 12th at 10 a.m. local time followed by Citibank and Verizon presales at noon. Additional presales will run throughout the week and the general onsale launches October 16th at 10 a.m. local time.
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October 7, 2026UncategorizedINDUSTRY REPORT # 73
Who Is, This Is?
October 7th by Jimmy Alvarez
Someone somewhere once said that the entire idea of forming a band was to play music you love. Whoever said that must have known the Casillas brothers. They are the founders and core members to local legends, Voodoo Glow Skulls.
In our ongoing Industry Report series, we catch up with the legendary ska-core band from Riverside. The band formed in 1988 when second-wave two-tone ska was blowing up with the likes of Madness, The Specials, Selecter, English Beat, Bad Manners and from this side of the pond, there was America’s first ska band: The Untouchables.
It was near the latter part of the ‘80s that we all got introduced to a sub-genre of ska, ska-core, a version of ska that featured heavy guitar riffs with electrified horns. From the east, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones blew up and put a spotlight on the emerging musical trend.
Meanwhile on the left coast, out at Spanky’s Café in their hometown of Riverside, the band had the essentials in place to make a run at greatness. Voodoo Glow Skulls was and is set with three brothers at the core: Frank, Eddie, and Jorge Casillas. The guys grew up listening to all the ska bands that were being exported from England and played alongside other budding bands like Fishbone.
With that as the backdrop to the beginning, they guys launched in ’88. In 1990, they released their first 7-inch EP “The Old of Tomorrow.” In 1991, the band added a horn section and did that pay off. The following year they released their debut album “Who Is, This Is?” for Dr. Strange Records and boom, they were off with their mega-hit “Insubordination.”
Then, ’95 gave us “Firme” – their hit parade saw them drop “El Coo Cooi,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “Charlie Brown,” “Shoot the Moon,” “Livin’ the Apocalypse,” and a little known cover of Sublime’s, “Caress Me Down.”
Their catalog has them traveling the world, playing on the biggest stages to enormous crowds that are devout Voodoo fans! All the shows start off with the chant, “Who Do Voodoo, We Do!” Which is followed by a very enthusiastic crowd response of “FUCK YOU!”
This is all in good fun, but the tunes are as serious as a heart attack. Their music has captured the hearts and souls of fans everywhere on the planet – and Voodoo is over-the-top popular in Latin music scenes everywhere.
Voodoo today is simply electrifying! Frank Casillas remains behind the mic, Eddie on guitar with Jorge on bass. The band rounds out with Adam Chavira on sax, Ian Baroni on trombone and Steve Reese on drums. They are loud, volcanic and bring the boom no matter where they play.
Recently, I had a chance to chat with longtime friend Eddie Casillas about all things Voodoo. I asked how he and the boys were doing, he said, “Hey Jimmy, all good. We’ve been busy as always, doing a few things at the studio and always getting ready for a show.”
One of the questions we often ask is what bands were that you were listening to that inspired you guys to do what you do. Eddie said, “I grew up to listening to everything you would expect. But, when we were doing our own thing, I thought The Bosstones were killing it – “The Impression That I Get” was a monster.”
He continued, “And, I loved Operation Ivy, anything Tim Armstrong really … Rancid, Transplants and then Angelo was killing it. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing Fishbone’s “Party at Ground Zero,”
I asked, “You guys travel a ton, and you have an enormous following in the Latin music community. What do you attribute that to?” He said, “There are so many good scenes everywhere – but the Latin community really comes out for us. I think it’s the way our music can make you jump out of your skin. I mean you can’t salsa to us, but you can mosh, it’s amazing to see how much crowds get into it. You can’t help but to feed off that, and the guys get pumped and thing go sideways very fast: but in a good way” as we both laughed to that.
I said that I hadn’t seen them on stage in a minute, but I heard they are just as electric as ever “Did you all find the fountain of youth or something?” Casillas laughed and said, “I don’t know about that, but things are good, probably as good as they have been in a while… and I think when you feel good about life in general, people can tell and maybe that’s what people are feeling from us these days.
I mentioned the band has a full schedule over the next few weeks, and he said,” Yeah, most definitely… locally we’ll be playing a Halloween show, so yeah October 31st at Garden Amp with The Bronx. We play Day of the Dead in Downton Riverside November 7th. And if you’re in Europe next summer, we’ll be there and we’re finally going to Japan, so we’ll be there and a lot of other places, we’re going to be busy.”
Voodoo also has a newly announced festival on March 20th, 2027, it’s in Vegas – it’s dub bed Extreme Thing Fest; it includes The Interrupters, Aquabats!, Aurorawave among others.
In the end, there are bands that have fans that follow them, and then there are the bands that have fans worldwide that love them for all the right reasons. Voodoo is an experience you have to see to truly appreciate. If you have a chance, go out and see this band whenever they come to your neck of the woods.
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October 6, 2026UncategorizedMIKE D 5D
Live from Observatory Santa Ana
October 6th, 2026 Review by Christina Sanchez
It’s not every day that you get to photograph a Beastie Boy, especially one of the founding members, but tonight was my lucky night.
The rap / hip hop / rock legends known as Beastie Boys formed in New York City in 1981 and frequently played the iconic club, Danceteria. It was there another legend – the one and only Madonna – discovered them and took them on the road in 1985. And yes, Danceteria is the same club her latest single is named after.
Back to Beastie Boys… While there have been other members, the core group we’ve known and loved consists of Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Michael “Mike D” Diamond.
The Beastie’s graced us with some amazing – and Grammy winning – tunes through the years, including “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!),” “Sure Shot,” “Intergalactic,” “Ch-Check It Out,” “No Sleep till Brooklyn,” “So What’cha Want,” and “Sabotage.” They would go on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Sadly, in 2012 Adam Yauch passed away from cancer and the group disbanded with Diamond and Horovitz deciding they would no longer create any music under the band’s name. While there was no longer Beastie Boys, Mike D wanted to continue to create music and formed a new band called Mike 5D. Which is what brings us to tonight…
As I entered the Observatory, I could see it was completely packed. It was mostly a mature-aged crowd, many of whom were decked out in Beastie Boys apparel. The show began with LED screens flashing pictures and text of Mike D and 5D as the applause and anticipation grew.
As soon as Mike D walked out and took the stage, I knew he still had the goods. His timing and vocals were still on point, and they took me right back to the last time I saw the Beastie Boys play a show – Brisbane City Botanic Gardens in Australia back in 1999. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
“Thank You” is Mike D’s first solo record, although he has been busy working as a music producer since the Beastie Boys disbanded. It is a solid record from front to back and I think fans of the Beastie Boys really missed his music and creativity.
Several singles from the album were released before the show, including “Thank You,” “Switch Up,” “What We Got,” and “Crypto.” It seemed like the crowd was already familiar with the new music and was enthusiastically singing along.
Up first in the set was a Beastie Boy’s song, “Hello Brooklyn.” I think it was a really smart move to come out of the gate with a familiar banger and the crowd erupted in response.
The rest of the set had a few Beastie Boy’s songs sprinkled in between his solo material.
For Beastie tracks, we had “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun,” “3‐Minute Rule,” and “Body Movin.’”
Then he gave us his own songs, “What We Got,” “Crypto,” “Make It Stop,” “That’s Right,” “I Don’t Care,” “Switch Up,” “It’s Time,” “Secrets,” and “Thank You.”
When it was time for the encore, it was some more awesome tracks: “Mind Your Own Business,” a Delta 5 cover, and “So What’cha Want.” Hearing “So What’cha Want” as the last song definitely made everyone leave on a high note, still buzzing with energy.
Mike D solo, or with Beastie Boys – it was all incredible. What a fantastic night of music with an actual legend.
Mike D is still touring the US now and will spend the remainder of the fall in Europe. If you have the chance to see him, I cannot recommend it enough that you do!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Tiny Toyland
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October 6, 2026UncategorizedReturns with RADIO RADIO!
October 6th, 2026 by Traci Turner
Last year Andy Bell told us the new Erasure album was nearing completion. That wonderful man did not lie because it is ready! Erasure will drop their 20th album, “Radio!! Radio!!” on vinyl, CD and digitally March 12th, 2027.
The duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke gave us a tease of the new record with “Wings of Love.” They also announced a European arena tour in the spring of 2027 with North American dates to follow.
This will be Bell and Clarke’s first album together in six years – they have each released solo projects in the meantime. Bell dropped “Ten Crowns” last year and Clarke delivered “Songs of Silence” in 2023. Yes, I own both. Yes, both are excellent.
The 40-year partnership between the two has produced incredible synthpop dance music paired with hopeful and powerful lyrics. While we can expect more of that on “Radio!! Radio!!” the years since the last album have been filled with loss for the duo.
Photo by Travis Shinn
“Some of the songs are quite reflective of stuff that’s been going on in my life, but not all of them,” explained Clarke. “We didn’t have to think about it or talk about it – it just happened that way.” (Clarke’s wife, Tracy Hurley Martin, passed away in 2024 after a two-year cancer battle.)
The album is described as “uniquely personal,” coming out of “the devastating period of grief that the band faced in the years prior to its creation and the incredible bond they have created over 40 years of unbroken time working together.”
“When something traumatic happens, there’s a profound shift in the way you relate to each other – the respect you have for each other,” Bell said. “Vince has helped me through some terrible times, and so I always wanted to be there for him. I think that’s what this album is about.”
Erasure will kick off their European tour in Cardiff on April 25th, then close it out May 28th in Stockholm. North American dates are planned for next year as well.
Things will be slightly different in that Clarke will be Musical Director for the tour, but will not be appearing onstage. “I recently moved to California from New York, and I travelled from here to London,” Clarke explained. “The travelling took a toll – it really messed me up. I never seemed to recover from it. I just thought ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ I told Andy, and he made me musical director, and I thought, ‘How fantastic is that?’ I can do all my work and all my direction from here, but I don’t have to leave sunny San Diego.”
I am hoping the local dates will have some Clarke sightings, but either way, we will gladly take new Erasure!
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October 6, 2026UncategorizedINDUSTRY REPORT # 72
The New Sonic Experience
October 6th, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
In our ongoing Industry Series, we turn the story towards one of the most successful independently owned venues in the country – Orange County’s very own Garden Amp!
The Garden Grove venue and its management have a storied history. They didn’t just land where they are; this story goes back a way – 25 years+. The best way to start this story is by going back to the beginning, and I mean the beginning.
The Amp itself was built in the 1970s and was originally built as a home for community theater. For decades it also put on events aligned with the City of Garden Grove’s Strawberry Festival. Over the years it has gone through a few name changes before it settled with The Garden Amphitheater. For example, it was previously known as the Festival Amphitheater and the Strawberry Bowl.
In February of 2017, the Garden Grove City Council approved a 10-year facility use agreement with its current ownership group, LFA Group. This group is not comprised of newbies; they have run venues such as The Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, and The Observatory – previously known as The Galaxy – and The Shark Club, also in Costa Mesa.
Other members of the ownership group were in Kevin Lyman’s orbit and did time with the Warped Tour. In other words, with the experience the team brings, it is no wonder The Garden Amp is a legit player in the music industry.
Within weeks of receiving the proverbial keys to the musical soul of the area, Garden Amp management jumped on a festival that featured Dirty Heads and Sublime with Rome for a concert in the park, which brought in an estimated 20,000 fans.
Since 2017, concerts at Garden Amp have brought in welcome foot traffic and customers to local businesses. In today’s economy, that makes venues like this vital hubs to any community.
Situated in the heart of the area, the venue has brought some of the biggest names in music, including The Adicts, Dramarama, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendencies, Turnstile, Stephen Marley, Warren G, DJ Quick, Too Short, Corey Taylor, Face To Face, New Found Glory, The Joy Formidable, Missing Persons, and Bow Wow Wow – just to name a few!
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to chat with Garden Amp’s Talent Buyer, Chris Lisk, about the Amp’s past, present, and very bright future.
I started the chat by congratulating him on the big shows they have put on, and the shows slated to hit the Garden Amp in the coming weeks. Lisk was gracious when we spoke, he thanked me for taking interest in the venue and what they have been building there.
We discussed the inner workings of the venue and I was very pleasantly surprised to hear how loyal they are to their staff, and that many of them have been part of the vision for decades. Twenty-five plus years in existence, and there are employees that have been with them over that time. He explained, “Treat your people right, and they will do your company right. We are a close-knit family and we make sure that we provide the best experience for concertgoers we can.”
I asked how important it was that they do right by fans that come to their shows. He said, “It’s everything. It’s not rocket science; you treat people right at shows, even when they can get lively. It is a good business model that will pay off.”
I then asked about the facility and mentioned its improvements over the years. He said, “Thanks for noticing. We regularly invest money back into the venue, sometimes it’s not the big things – it’s a lot of little things that mount and makes the fans experience better each and every time they come here.”
When asked about future projects, he laughed and said, “Well, we are looking at a way to increase capacity – maybe another deck. That’s still in the works. But if it makes sense, and it makes a show better to take in for fans, we are going to look at it and see how we can make it happen.”
I jokingly said, “You know that the House the Mouse Built was founded on a theory that it will always be a place in development. Is that the same for Garden Amp?” Lisk again laughed and said, “I know what Walt said and we get that vision. We are always looking to see what we can do better and bigger.”
“Speaking of bigger,” I continued, “you guys have managed to bring in great shows that keep fans coming back and are centric to many of local music scenes. How are you able to hook some of these big-name bands?” Lisk laughed and said, “Jimmy it’s like any business; you build relationships. We’ve been doing things a while and it’s important you keep your word, that’s most important. Honoring riders for bands, and let’s say even if we lose money in any aspects of a show, keeping our word matters, making sure that bands are happy is important, and making sure fans have a great time is very, very important to us. Do that consistently and you get a reputation that helps bring in the bands you see playing here.”
Back to the topic of bigger and better, I asked about the concerts in the park, and if that will happen again. Lisk responded, “We would definitely like to do that again; everyone had such a great time. There is nothing set in stone, but we hope we can do something in 2027. Maybe one or two, who knows maybe more. But we definitely would like to do it. There are a lot of moving parts on that type of show. Luckily the city of Garden Grove is a good partner; if there’s a way to do it, with their help, we just might see a show or two there in 2027.”
Speaking of some of the bands coming to town, Lisk added, “The show we are very proud to be a part of is the benefit for Mike Roach of T.S.O.L. He’s battling health issues, and the community has rallied for this one. Bands taking part, The Offspring, Pennywise, Circle Jerks, The Adolescents and a slew of other great bands.”
He continued, “We have Black Flag and The Adicts headlining two back-to-back punk shows on October 17th and 18th. We have The Bronx and Voodoo Glow Skulls on Halloween night. Then Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong with his other band, Pinhead Gunpowder, coming on November 11th and we are ecstatic to have Reel Big Fish coming back home to Orange County and play here on December 4th.”
He finished with, “We’re part of a music community that has allowed us to provide a home for many bands, and they continue to get support from their fans and they come to see their heroes. I can’t think of a better place to see a show than Garden Amp.”
Bottom line, the music industry is an extremely tough business. Every week we hear stories about music venues and the challenges. It’s good to see that Orange County remains a place where music is a piece of the soul of our communities and Garden Amp is a place where you can see your sonic heroes up close and personal while having the time of your life. The future of music in The OC looks very bright!
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October 5, 2026UncategorizedSOMBR
YOU ARE THE REASON TOUR
Comes to SoCal
October 5th, 2026 by Amaris Becker
Sombr brings the You Are the Reason Tour through Southern California, and he is hitting three big stops in the span of five days.
Check off Honda Center in Anaheim, October 9th. The Kia Forum in Inglewood on October 10th. Pechanga Arena in San Diego on October 13th.
Born Shane Michael Boose, his stage name represents both his initials and, perhaps the mood he was in when he chose it at 16, writing and producing by himself in his bedroom on the Lower East Side of New York City.
The masses really got a taste of his music from his cover of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You,” and things just blew up from there.
Add in another larger-than-life cover, The Cranberries “Linger” made believers of critcis on both sides of the pond.
More recently his sound has shifted into dealing with the fame and criticism that crashed onto him at 19, now 21.
His June release “My Body Isn’t Ready” exposed his insecurities with his own body dysmorphia, often under discussed among men in the industry. Before that “Homewrecker,” which I will only speculate on.
“Undressed” and “Back to Friends” catch every feeling you have and every feeling you are left holding afterward. When you cannot tell whether you are allowed to call it a breakup or just something that ended, because to quote the title of another one of his songs: “We Never Dated.” Sombr sits with you in your feelings while you are both stuck in emotions that do not justify your relationship title.
In 2025, everything happened to him all at once. “Back to Friends” and “Undressed” both climbed into the top 20 of the Hot 100, his popularity soared with the help of TikTok and Instagram, and “I Barely Know Her,” his debut album, landed in August and charted top 10 in more than a dozen countries.
In September he won Best Alternative Video at the VMAs, and in February he played the Grammys as part of the Best New Artist segment. His evolution is the thing I am most curious about. This is an arena tour, and it ends November 23rd at Madison Square Garden, which for a kid from Manhattan will have a different energy from the rest.
The California dates come with strong support. Tom Odell opens, and if SoCal residents were disappointed at him dropping out of Ohana Fest this year, now is your chance. He is the one behind “Another Love,” which, according to my algorithm, became an unofficial anthem of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Hellp open as well, an LA-based electronic duo working an electronic infused indie sleaze sound.
This is an artist whose whole catalog is about ambiguity, about the relationship you cannot name and the ending you are constantly left wondering about. I think a lot of people entering these arenas will have a specific person in mind.
I can’t say if it’s someone who cannot help but appear into your head the second a certain song starts or Sombr himself.
Three nights, three arenas, and thousands of people a night screaming about someone who probably has no idea, or about the young man on stage. I believe that will be the show.
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October 5, 2026UncategorizedLive from IN-N-OUT KROQ Sound Space
October 5th, 2026 Review by Stuart Karpel
The In-N-Out KROQ Sound Space has already brought us some outstanding performances. Last Monday was another incredible show – the only thing hotter than the SoCal afternoon was a live show from Fontaines D.C.
Before the band – who seems to be on everyone’s lips lately – put on an exciting show, attendees started their day off right by gathering near the studio, grabbing In-N-Out burgers, and enjoying the company of old friends and new. The band truly brought everyone together as fans who attended their performance created one of the largest crowds the In-N-Out KROQ Sound Space has ever seen.
As concertgoers began to gather shoulder to shoulder, the lights eventually dimmed masking the hundreds of artists listed on their studio walls.
This signified the spotlight would now be on D.C. KROQ’s morning show team of Klein and Ally introduced the show and from that moment on, there wasn’t one second of silence in that room.
From hoots to hollers, every fan’s excitement bounced off the corners of the Sound Space, making the room itself feel alive.
Once the KROQ legend’s introduction concluded, the Irish band strutted onto the stage with their dark sunglasses and streetwear outfits more than ready to put on an incredible performance.
Lead vocalist Grian Chatten pulled up to the microphone with his Rihanna t-shirt, and began to bounce to the melody of Carlos O’Connell’s synth-stringed guitar playing at the beginning of “Starburster.” The room instantly erupted, somehow louder than it was previously. As soon as the group’s drummer Tom Coll gave the eerie track its 4/4 kickstart, Chatten told everyone what he’d “wanna” do…
The capacity-filled room turned into a riot of headbangers and superfans who knew every lyric, practically throwing the words at the band. As soon as “Jackie Down the Line,” the second track of their eight-track setlist, rolled in, the roars of excited fans continued.
For a whole minute of the song’s introduction, fans didn’t just listen – they sang the track for Chatten. Fans in the crowd felt seen, like for this moment, they were part of the band. There were almost no phones recording during the majority of the song since everyone was more focused on how catchy the hook is and the quick pace of the tempo.
Once the group pulled out an acoustic guitar for the next track, “Bug,” it hit like a tidal wave of emotion through the song’s somber lyricism. It felt as if Chatten was directly singing to each person, forming a deep connection. “Big Shot” switched the vibe completely and showcased their incredible ability to control a crowd through sound.
The hard-hitting electric guitar strums, the slower drum beat and moody lyrics of this song had every attendee swaying their arms back-and-forth to the rhythm, reminding me of palm trees on a windy day.
But as the song ended and their next song queued up, we heard the iconic acoustic strum of crowd favorite, “Favourite.” The crowd pop that went along with the beginning of the song was so loud it seemed as if it could tear the roof off. First time D.C. concertgoers and super-fans alike knew their wish of hearing this track live had been granted. After listening to it over and over while stuck in LA traffic, everyone seemed to know every word as they belted their hearts out, harmonizing along with the band.
While there was well-fitting backup vocals from O’Connell and lead guitarist, Conor Curley, it was surprising to know the echoing crowd didn’t have their own microphone. Fans stayed in unison from the get go, but they didn’t know they were in for a treat as the band kicked off a single track released the morning before this concert.
From their upcoming album, “Dopamine Chamber,” “Tongue” uplifted the pace of everyone’s vibe with its strong snare strokes and speech-like lyricism. Fans in the Sound Space who may have missed their recent performances at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and the Ohana Festival in Dana Point were able to make-up for it by getting to hear both newly released singles live as “Marianne” followed right after.
Originally released in August, the dedicated reality-check of the song’s intention to cover themes of escapism and self-destruction has truly stuck with their fanbase. Its popularity has already garnered over 17 million streams on Spotify and well over 20 million across all platforms. When this new album officially drops, the tracks will take over the radio and AUX of every punk fan’s car.
D.C. then brought out the finale of the show, “I Love You,” which once again brought the crowd back to singing together in harmony. They not only controlled the energy of the room easily, they filled the atmosphere with chest-thumping, bone-rattling music that felt similar to the thrill of a rollercoaster.
As they wrapped up, the group thanked their fans for coming and walked off the stage with haste like they didn’t just absolutely kill onstage. It was a day filled with great vibes, connection, and somehow even better music that’ll be sure to make a mark in the memories of those who attended.
The new album drops October 16th across all platforms and the KROQ concert replay will be available the same day at KROQ.com and YouTube.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
Courtesy of KROQ | Photos by Skylar Barberio
@skylerbarberio on Instagram
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