Publication Date September 5, 2026
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September 3, 2026UncategorizedLive from The Pinnacle | Nashville
September 3rd, 2026 Review by Traci Turner
Social Distortion brought their Born to Kill World Tour to Nashville this week as they made their way across North America on their massive trek. The boys from Fullerton had some help from fellow SoCal natives, Descendants, and from the land down under, The Chats.
In February of this year, Social Distortion teased new material via a short video on their socials. The tease led to the May release of their eighth album – their first in 15 years – titled “Born to Kill.”
They dropped the title track as the first single and announced the tour, which runs through October.
The evening kicked off with The Chats politely walking onto the stage, announcing just as politely, “We’re from Queensland, Australian and it’s very nice to be here in Nashville.” The trio then burst into a loud and fast set that did not slow down until it was over.
With Eamon “Flamin” Sandwith on vocals and bass, Matthew Boggis on drums, and Josh Hardy on guitar, they began with “Billy Backwash’s Day” and “Dead on Site” before Sandwith announced, “Here’s a song about a broken ATM called ‘Paid Late.’” The track featured an incredible shredding solo from Hardy on his Flying V Gibson.
The Chats flew through their songs at breakneck speed, making the most of their time. The early crowd was into it, enjoying “Panic Attack,” “Nazi March,” “Temperature,” and “Ticket Inspector.”
Sandwith spoke up once more to introduce the next song with, “Here’s a song about a car” before “6L GTR.” They then took us through “Ross River,” “Drinking for Two,” “Struck by Lightning,” “Identity Theft,” and “Smoko,” before a quiet, “We are The Chats. Bye,” and closing out with “Pub Feed.”
The Descendants bounded out when it was their time and frontman Milo Aukerman proclaimed, “Hey Nashville! Did you like The Chats? We’re the Descendants and we’re here to tell you how much everything sucks!” which led into “Everything Sux.”
Two things I must admit: I have never seen Descendants live, and I love a good guitar face. Stephen Egerton gave THE best guitar faces, so I admit to enjoying his performance, but seriously, the whole band was incredible. How these guys – a tad older than I – could have so much energy and put on such a fantastic show…. well, they rule.
Besides Egerton’s guitar faces, seeing Aukerman healthy and performing without a hitch was wonderful, and I was equally impressed with Karl Alvarez (bass) and Bill Stevenson (drums). They also went fast, hard, and loud, blasting through “Hope” and “I Don’t Want to Grow Up.”
The crowd – which very much felt like being back in California – included many Mike Ness lookalikes. There were fans as young as 10 and as seasoned as 60+. In fact, during “I Don’t Want to Grow Up,” a 10-year-old boy at the rail was being taught how to “dance like a punk” by a bald gentleman with a long grey beard. It was a very cool scene to watch unfold – one generation teaching another the ways of the pit.
The crowd was very into “Clean Sheets,” singing loudly and pointing back to the band with the “so are you!” The pit now had crowdsurfing going on and people were ending up in the photo pit, then running right back out to hit the big pit once again.
Descendants flew through several songs that the crowd really loved, including “I Like Food,” “Nothing With You,” and a huge reaction came for “Rotting Out.” The fans and the band seemed to be trying to match each other’s energy levels and both were insane.
“Myage,” “Victim of Me,” and “When I Get Old,” led to Egerton and Aukerman joking about taking a Weinerschnitzel order, with Aukerman asking for a coronary bypass instead. Obviously, they then played “Weinerschnitzel.”
After “No, All!” and “’Merican,” a “Fuck Donald Trump!” got cheers from the crowd. “I’m Not a Punk,” “Good Good Things,” and “Coffee Mug” were a few more crowd pleasers. Aukerman then said, “I wanna be stereotyped and classified,” then left the stage to enter the photo pit and stand on the barrier for “I’m the One.”
Descendants’ blistering set concluded with “I Wanna Be a Bear,” “Thank You,” “Bikeage,” and “Smile” and the venue let out huge whistles and cheers for them as they left the stage.
At last it was time for our boys! David Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” began playing and the crowd sang along. As the gents – Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham (guitar), Brent Harding (bass), and David Hidalgo Jr. (drums) – walked out onto the stage, the fans began yelling and hollering. Then frontman Mike Ness strode out and the roar of the audience was insane!
Kicking off with the new album’s title track, Social D sounded outstanding and was firing on all cylinders. The packed venue was already amped up, but the energy continued to shoot up.
After “Born to Kill,” Ness said his voice was giving him trouble so we may need to sing along, which had no one complaining. Everyone jumped in on “Ring of Fire” and the cover that helped make them was sung loudly and proudly from the floor.
“Untitled” brough a toned-down vibe, but in between songs, the whistles and cheers would not stop. “Tonight” was followed by “No Way Out” which made the crowdsurfing ramp up again.
While “The Creeps” went over well, things escalated for “Mommy’s Little Monster.” In addition to the fans going insane over it, I loved Wickersham’s guitar solo and got chills when he, Ness, and Harding were at the front of the stage, singing together.
Ness asked for the house lights to be turned up so he could “have a look at this crowd.” He said his voice gave out around 7 p.m., but he “could not cancel this show.” He discussed growing up loving gangsters and guitars, Bruce Lee, “Bonnie and Clyde,” and “Easy Rider.” He said he watched the two movies at 10 or 11 years old and cried at the endings (“I was a sensitive kid.”), and how he always fought for the underdogs.
He said the next song would be dedicated to Dolly Parton, which drew a huge cheer. Parton’s death last week devastated so many, and Nashville has been especially mournful. He said, “You better name that fucking airport after her!” which is a proposal from the governor at this time. Ness said he never met Parton, but felt like he knew her, “as we all do.” His song of choice, “The Way Things Were,” which featured another fantastic Wickersham solo.
After calling “Machine Gun Blues” an “old time family song,” Ness said the next song was originally written for “the White record,” but sat on the shelf 30 years. They brought it back to life for the new record, the song being “Don’t Keep Me Hanging On.”
Ness talked about the early days, back in 1979, when art “especially punk rock, was met with violent reaction.” He went on, “People told us we couldn’t do this. We don’t listen to what they tell us.” “Partners in Crime” was followed by a song he introduced with, “You definitely know this one,” and started “Ball and Chain.” After his own sweet guitar solo, Ness asked for help singing, however he did not need it for that epic ending.
After “Through These Eyes,” Ness spoke again, thanking The Chats and Descendants, making a joke that with their peers in Descendants, “We were not supposed to live this long.” Lucky for us, both singers survived their 2023 battles.
He continued to speak, discussing the early days and how “in 1987 or 1988 I wrote this, and I was 100% certain no one would like it.” He went through his history of crime, drugs, jail, and the band itself – “Hank Williams meets the Ramones, Sex Pistols meets The Stones. In the middle is Social Distortion.” He concluded with, “I was writing about my life, or the story of my life.” The actual “Story of My Life” closed their set with a raging crowd cheering them on.
After a brief moment away, they returned for an encore with “Reach for the Sky,” which once again had the three at the front of stage singing together, sounding awesome. It also featured a beautiful piano solo from touring member, David Kalish.
Alas, it was time to go and “Bad Luck” wrapped things up, adding another epic Ness guitar solo. As they have since last week, Social Distortion walked off stage to the Dolly Parton classic, “Jolene.”
Social D will traverse North America and then hit the hometown region for two sold-out shows at the Hollywood Palladium October 1st and 2nd. The October 3rd San Diego show at Gallagher Square still has tickets available. Get your tickets and see living history!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Stephanie Pepper Photography
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September 3, 2026UncategorizedTHE WOW! SIGNAL Tour
Live from Chula Vista
September 2nd, 2026 Review by Jimmy Alvarez
As the Saturday sun began to set over the warm Pacific Ocean, droves of music fans poured into North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista.
They were all there to see a music powerhouse, a band from London called Muse. Soon enough everyone would feel the power of having great openers on a bill.
Truthfully, it’s been a minute since I caught the Wasalia wonders – Portugal. The Man, and for some inexplicable reason, I had not seen Aussie / Londo alt rockers, The Temper Trap. I was eager to see the two openers, and the crowd was more than ready to get the show going. Before we knew it – it was showtime!
It didn’t take long for the capacity crowd to fill the venue, the sun wasn’t all the way down just yet so the light show wasn’t a factor.
First out to the stage were bassist Jonathan Aherne and lead guitarist Joseph Greer.
They waved to the crowd as Toby Dundas took his place behind the skins. Then, sporting a red hat, out came lead crooner, Dougy Madagi.
Despite their indie rock billing, immediately their sound was electric and packed a punch. They opened with “Love Lost,” and a quick segue into “Fader.” Honestly, I was impressed on how powerful a sound they had, and Madagi had a very booming voice. He thanked everyone for coming out early and dove into “Lucky Domes,” then “Into the Wild.”
Both Greer and Aherne put out a sonic boom with their guitars; it was really impressive, and when Madagi dove into their uber-hit “Sweet Disposition,” the crowd came to life. The voice was subtle, then he recited a scale that only masters can do and delivered an opus. The crowd responded with an enthusiastic roar.
As we were all getting settled for more, The Temper Trap left with “Giving Up Air.” It was an abbreviated set, what you expect with openers, but the crowd would have loved to have heard more. That’s when you know the night was destined to be epic – when the opener sounded like that!
By now, the moon had come out and overtaken the jealous sun as Portugal. The Man was now front and center. The crowd was ready as lead guitarist Liv Slingerland and bassist Tilley Komorny were first out. Then they were joined by Ryan Wiggans on trumpet, and drummer Vincent LiRocchi. And of course, guitarist and lead singer John Gourley took his place behind the main mic.
Gourley was stylin’ in cool threads capped off with a black Suicidal Tendencies bolero hat.
Gourley gave the crowd a wink and a smile and opened with a bang with their enormous hit, “Feel It Still.” It was as if their immersive video had somehow come to life and the crowd erupted, it was almost deafening, and it sounded magnificent.
PTM also sounded larger-than-life and they powered through their set in almost no time. Featuring other hits, “Creep in a T-Shirt,” “Purple, Yellow, Red and Blue,” “Dummy,” and “Modern Jesus.”
Backup vocalist David Marion served as an old-fashioned ska themed toaster; he was fun and all over the place, while Komorny and Slingerland showed off their guitar hero skills. Before we all knew it, PTM was closing with “Live in the Moment.” I know it’s been a minute since I last saw them live, but wow, they killed it.
Hats off to the road crew because they got the stage ready in no time. After a very brief intermission, the lights went down and we saw the silhouette of Dominic Howard behind the drums, bassist Chris Wolstenholme, and guitarist / lead singer Matt Bellamy. From the jump, they did not hold back opening with “Hysteria,” which sent the crowd into hysteria.
If you have never seen Muse before, trust me when I tell you this – their sound is soul piercing. It is hard to believe that three dudes can make so much noise! As evidenced by their next segue going into “Cryogen,” with a slide into “Supermassive Black Hole.” I literally saw concertgoers (both men and women) screaming at the top of their lungs to that one.
The show was electrifying with their light show, coupled with the music, vocals and their pounding sonic vision with “Hexagons,” and “Map of the Problematique” sent the crowd orbital. Bellamy was volcanic to say the least as the hit parade continued with “Psycho,” “Madness,” “Time is Running Out,” and “Uprising.”
Wolstenholme can slap bass, he was on fire, and their collective musical madness was highlighted when Bellamy launched us into “Undisclosed Desires” and “Starlight.”
This show really was something to behold; just when you think Muse can’t get any better, they prove you wrong. This night, they appropriately closed with their aptly named closing song, “Take a Bow.”
Muse is intense, hypnotic and simply put – they are utterly unforgettable.
Catch them on their Wow! Signal tour while you can; it really is out of this world.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Green-Eyed Blonde Photography
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September 1, 2026UncategorizedCRETIN FAMILY
Celebrate RAMONES 50
Live from Hollywood Forever
September 1st, 2026 Review by Bruce R. Kilgour
On a beautiful Sunday evening in Hollywood, the founders of punk rock were honored with a grand 50th anniversary celebration of their historic first album. Released in April of 1976, “RAMONES” remains one of the most important and influential debut albums of all time.
Since 2005 – one year after the passing of Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone – Hollywood Forever Cemetery has been the site of an annual charity event hosted by his widow, Linda Ramone.
That same year, the eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Johnny was unveiled, and the memorial has been visited by hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world.
After a decades-long legal battle between Ms. Ramone and the late Joey Ramone’s brother Mickey Leigh, Ms. Ramone acquired 100% of Ramones Productions Inc. earlier this year, paving the way for what will hopefully be an annual tribute to the entire band and not solely to her late husband.
Sunday’s program, hosted by acting legend John Travolta, was truly a star-studded affair both on stage and off. Among celebrities I spotted in the crowd were John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Priscilla Presley, Tony Kanal (No Doubt), Slim Jim Phantom (Stray Cats), John 5, and Billy Zoom (X).
Travolta was also on-hand to present a double-feature screening of his directorial debut “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” followed by the 1976 film “Carrie” (his first significant film role). Legendary contemporary artist Shepard Fairey (of OBEY fame) served as the special guest DJ for the early part of the evening.
The band – dubbed Cretin Family – assembled for the musical portion of the night was certainly a supergroup. Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day handled lead vocals and guitar, Travis Barker of blink-182 was on drums.
CJ Ramone – who replaced Dee Dee Ramone in Ramones for the band’s final seven years – played bass and provided additional vocals, and Tim Armstrong of Rancid served as musical director in addition to playing guitar and sharing lead vocals.
The promise of “special guests” on events such as this can bring mixed results these days, but appearances by Fred Armisen, Jason Freese, The Linda Lindas, and Billy Idol certainly added to the festivities. Idol and Armisen have notably appeared at previous years’ tributes.
Cretin Family kicked off their 50-minute set with the instrumental “Durango 95,” just as the actual Ramones did for most of their post-1985 career. “Rockaway Beach” and “Cretin Hop” followed with both Armstrongs and Ramone trading vocals.
“Do Ya Wanna Dance?” got the crowd singing along, and Billie Joe stated that “the Ramones wanna see all the kids dancing,” so they played it again. “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment” was followed by two songs sung by Ramone – “The Crusher” and the Motörhead song “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” The first special guest vocal was next with Armisen handling “Danny Says.” One of the Ramones’ biggest songs – “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” – was next, followed by “Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?” featuring Freese on saxophone.
Los Angeles punk band The Linda Lindas took the stage next to perform a raucous “California Sun” and then appeared to ask Cretin Family if they could also sing the next song, the immensely popular “I Wanna Be Sedated,” which whipped the crowd into a huge pogo party. Next was the classic one-two punch of “Havana Affair / Commando” sung ferociously by Tim Armstrong.
Billie Joe took over lead vocals for “Oh Oh I Love Her So” followed by a faithful version of the garage rock classic “Surfin’ Bird,” then announced that “coming up next is my idol… Billy Idol!” The excitement level in the crowd went up quite a bit as they launched into “Beat on the Brat,” followed by the only non-Ramones song of the night, “Ready Steady Go,” by Idol’s pre-solo career band, Generation X.
Idol commented that this was “like the Roundhouse in 1976, that’s what this feels like!” (The London debut of Ramones was at that legendary club on July 4, 1976, with many future punk band musicians in attendance.)
Idol stayed on to sing the iconic “Blitzkrieg Bop”, with The Linda Lindas adding to the “hey ho, let’s go” chorus. After 20 songs in just under 50 minutes, the concert wrapped up with smiles and hugs all around.
Many attendees stuck around for the showing of Travolta’s new film, followed by a visit to Johnny Ramone’s statue, which had been specially decorated for the evening.
The 50th anniversary show was a major triumph for Linda Ramone, and all the talent and crew should be commended for putting on an incredible tribute to possibly the greatest punk band of all time.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by John Gilhooley Photography
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August 30, 2026UncategorizedINDUSTRY REPORT # 71
Catching up with Public Image Ltd
A Conversation with Lu Edmonds
August 30th, 2026 by Traci Turner
The unmistakable, unapologetic, and defiant frontman of the Sex Pistols, John Lydon became a punk pioneer and music history legend. Post-Sex Pistols Lydon has continued to be a legendary pioneer – and still defiant – with Public Image Ltd (PiL), giving us solid tracks such as “Rise,” “Seattle,” “Disappointed,” “Don’t Ask Me,” “(This is Not a) Love Song,” and “Public Image.”
PiL released a new live album this year, appropriately titled “Alive,” which was recorded during last year’s tour. The band has also been in the studio recording an album of new material for release in early 2027.
With Lu Edmonds (guitar), Scott Firth (bass), and Mark Roberts (drums) by his side, the crew will undertake an extensive North American tour dubbed This Is Not… The Final PiL Tour. The trek begins September 3rd and closes out October 9th, but the gents have already mapped out another block of dates that kick off in February 2027.
We figured someone needed to clue us in on all things PiL and the man of many musical talents, Lu Edmonds was game to help us out.
Photo by Paul Heartfield
Traci: Hey Lu! Happy belated birthday! Did you do anything fun?
Lu: Well, it was fun! We were in Porto in Portugal and we’re finishing off the new album of Public Image Ltd. It is a lovely studio – it’s called Arda – and we just worked all day.
Traci: Oh, that’s awesome for us!
Lu: Cake in the evening, drinks, something nice to eat. All good.
Traci: Did you always want to be a musician, even from a young age?
Lu: I don’t think I ever wanted to. I didn’t know I did. It’s just what happened. I always wanted to play. I don’t know why. I don’t think I ever made a choice. I don’t know how it happened, but that’s all that I’ve ever done.
Traci: You play instruments that I’ve never heard of! I saw that they’re all kind of stringed, lute, guitar-ish shaped, so that made me wonder, is a guitar boring to you now?
Lu: No, no, nothing boring. No, you know, you have to look at guitars and think that the Fender Telecaster, which is a great instrument, is just the latest great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandchild of some other instruments that have come to us over millennia, really.
Traci: Do you remember the first song that you fell in love with?
Lu: Oh my goodness. Yeah. I grew up with The Beatles, but before that, we had all these Fats Domino records, like “My Blue Heaven,” you know, and all the Ray Charles, What’d I Say.” We had Fats Waller – all these great old jazz records. It was like jazz and I guess the more kind of commercial end of the blues, you know. Fats Domino, for me, I loved the sax and, you know, what’s not to like?
Traci: I love reading about your history, your variety of musical styles, your variety of bands. You can do so many things and you’re involved in so much, do you ever slow down? I mean, do you ever sit, still besides for interviews? (laughing)
Lu: Well, I don’t know. (laughing) Yeah, I mean, you know, the world is so interesting, it’s so fascinating, and music is the key. It’s like a little key that you can use to go and find, find so much about other shockingly different people and the way they live and the way they hear harmony and rhythm. It’s not that I deliberately go out and look for anything; it’s just that if you open your ears and open your eyes, it’s all around, especially these days in London.
Lu went on: I remember being in a taxi in 1982 and this Pakistani guy was driving and he had a cassette, but he didn’t have it going. I said, “Put the cassette,” and he went, “Are you sure?” I went, “Yeah.” He put it on. It was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the great qawwali singer. It just blew my head off because it’s punk, Sufi poetry. I’m not looking for it, or I’m just in the back of a cab, and you hear that stuff and that gets into you and you feel connected with the world. I think it’s a positive thing.
Traci: When you come to the US and North America, is there something in particular that you like to go see or like to do?
Lu: Well, to be honest, we really don’t get much time. I mean, just have a look at our tour and you know, play the gig and then we get something to eat. Then we get in the bus and we travel. We like to conserve our energy.
Traci: Do you guys all travel on one bus?
Lu: Yeah, yeah, just on one bus all together with John, everyone. He likes it. John is like me; he likes all kinds of music. And he’s got incredible taste in music. We’ve actually been talking a lot to him recently about the gigs that he went to see as a young child when he was 9 or 10 or even earlier. And then after he had the meningitis, his parents were like, “Look, John, anything that makes you reintegrate with society” – because he lost his memory – “is fine by us.”
Lu continued: So he had this incredible life prior to the Sex Pistols. The stories he tells us, they’re 10 times more interesting than anything that you see in “The Great Rock and Roll Swindle.” That’s all just pretty much manufactured. We’re trying to get him to write that up, about his stuff and all that. But he just loves traveling. He’s like staring out the windows. You go across the Rockies and the Salt Lake City. We’re all together, we got quite a small crew, just the four people in the band, and then we have really good crew who’ve been with us now, some of them over 16 years.
L to R: Lu Edmonds (guitar), Scott Firth (bass), Mark Roberts (drums), & John Lydon (vocals)
Photo by Paul Heartfield
Traci: What can we expect with the show? I know you have “Alive,” the live album that is available now, and you’re recording that new one.
Lu: We’ve recorded it. It’s all really fun. Yeah.
Traci: Are you going to share some of those on this tour?
Lu: Well, probably not the songs. We might, as they say, deploy some of the bits of the things that were used to help record it. We got this funny Russian drum machine. It’s just totally bonkers, and it’s not digital in any shape or form, but it makes noises we don’t understand. We might use that a bit on a couple of tracks. And, you know, we improvise quite a lot…
Traci: When the song is done and you’ve released it, are you still wanting to tweak it, “I wish we had done this or that?”
Lu: That’s the problem, it’s never done! Whatever you hear on a record is a freeze frame of the point at which the manager came and said, “Right guys, that’s it, you’ve had enough time, stop it.” I have to say, John is absolute master, or he’s a genius improvisation of pulling things out of thin air, you know. He just hears things. It’s so interesting working with him because he’s so quick as well.
Lu paused and went on: On the new record, we went to the studio and he got ill very quickly, had like a cough, so he didn’t come in for a couple of days, by which time we’d laid down 12 tracks already, just stuff we made up. He came in and he had a mic in front of him, at the back of the studio with, you know, you’re hearing all on the speakers, and then he had a button that he could press if he wanted to record himself as we were listening back, and we secretly pressed it and he immediately started singing these things. And that’s mainly first take, first time he ever heard anything. Half the album is just his first reaction, having never heard anything that we did, and it’s fantastic! He’d make up the words on the spot.
Traci: Is it a spring 2027 release? Or no date yet?
Lu: I think that’s the idea. I think that’s what we’re aiming at, but we’re so busy. John is so busy; I think John’s probably done 160, 170 shows in the last year. We’ve done like 85, 90. The band is pretty well-oiled, if you like, but well-oiled in a way that we’re not afraid to peel off and start doing different things. It’s not the same every night. I mean, there’s some things we play, you know, because people want to hear certain songs.
Lu went on: But then increasingly we’re beginning to sort of branch out and do new things. We’re trying to integrate some of this new gear and then hopefully by next year when we come back to the States, we’ll have quite a few songs. We just played the songs that we think fit nicely, like a narrative or something, a telling story. We play stuff from new albums and the old albums. So we’ll see, there’ll be a lot of the oldies and goldies and newies. You have to keep yourself, otherwise if you fall to bits. I’m nearly 70, so I can’t deal with that.
Traci: You have this busy fall tour, then in 2027, Australia and Japan…
Lu: Then we come back to the States and there’s going to be a whole bunch more dates coming up all the way through ‘27. We do a lot of festivals and then there’s a lot of other things afoot going all the way into 2028. There’s a lot of stuff planned!
We are going to have plenty of PiL for the near future and that is absolutely fine by me. Thank you to Lu for the incredible chat!
The tour kicks off September 3rd in Pioneertown at Pappy & Harriet’s, hits Santa Ana and The Observatory on September 8th, jets up to LA on September 10th for a show at The Belasco, drops back down to San Diego on September 11th for a House of Blues show, then travels North America until the closer October 9th in Nashville. Another leg will launch in February 2027. Special guests Plague Vendor are slated on all dates and tickets are running low at many venues, so you better act fast – you don’t want to miss these legends live!
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August 27, 2026UncategorizedLive at Hollywood Palladium
August 27th, 2026 Review by Todd Marrkel
I may be the only one who geeks out on stuff like this, but whenever I go to an old venue in Hollywood, I often find myself thinking about the history of the place. Tonight was no exception as I walked into the Hollywood Palladium.
The venue opened on Halloween in 1940 with none other than crooner Frank Sinatra. It was featured in “The Blues Brothers” movie and is probably best known in punk circles as the site of the infamous Black Flag/police riot in 1984. Being aware of all of that as I walked through the doors makes it feel a little more special.
First up was Sullvn, a band made up of some pretty seasoned musicians. James East joined singer Robert “Sully” Sullivan on bass, Brian Jordan on guitar, Mark Hattersley on keys, No Doubt’s Stephen Bradley on trumpet, along with Dan Regan from Reel Big Fish. They opened with “Chasing the Echoes” and worked through a set that mixed their own material with some familiar favorites.
Their cover of “Tears of a Clown” was a nice surprise, but “Oh California” was possibly the most meaningful song of their set as Sullivan dedicated it to the firefighters who battled the Palisades Fire.
They regularly include The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ hit “The Impression That I Get” in their set, so hearing it wasn’t a surprise. The surprise was when Dicky Barrett appeared onstage to help sing it.
Moments later, Aaron Barrett of Reel Big Fish joined them onstage as well. Having both Barretts up made it clear this just might be a special night. Dicky stayed around to introduce a song that he recently recorded with Sullvn, “Raise a Glass,” before they wrapped up their set.
Next up was Simi Valley’s Pulley, featuring Scott Radinsky on vocals. They wasted no time getting things going with “A Bad Reputation,” which immediately saw some slam action going on in the pit.
Pulley has always been one of those bands that fits right in here in the Southern California punk scene, and they sounded great. They dedicated “One Shot” to the legendary Cathay de Grande, the now-defunct punk venue that had been located just down the street from the Palladium back in the day.
It was another reminder of just how much punk history is packed into this part of Hollywood. They closed their set with “Working Class Whore,” leaving the crowd ready for what was coming next.
Although they hail from Detroit, The Suicide Machines have always had a very loyal and enthusiastic fanbase here in Southern California.
As promised, they played their entire 1996 debut album, “Destruction by Definition,” from beginning to end. This was the album that established the band and has meant so much to fans over the years.
The crowd knew every word to every song, and the pit was going in a massive circle on the old wooden dance floor. At one point, Charlie Paulson of Goldfinger ran onto the stage and gave singer Jason Navarro a congratulatory hug before running off again. The Suicide Machines delivered exactly what the fans came to hear, from “New Girl” to “I Don’t Wanna Hear It.”
Then it was time for the kings of punk rock irreverence, The Vandals. Anyone who follows the band knows that Josh Freese is their regular drummer, but when Freese is busy, the band has some very capable drummers ready to fill in. Little did I know that when one of my favorite bands, NOFX, broke up, one of the benefits would be getting to see their former drummer, Erik “Smelly” Sandin, playing drums with The Vandals.
They opened with the classic “NIMBY,” or “Not in My Backyard,” followed by a fan favorite, “People That Are Going to Hell.” Before playing their mega hit “Oi to the World,” singer Dave Quackenbush asked if anybody wanted to hear a Christmas song. Given that it was a hot summer night in August, the answer was an obvious yes. The band has always had a sense of humor about what they do, and that was on full display throughout their set.
Quackenbush then suggested they mess up a NOFX song before launching into “The Moron Brothers.” He even turned to Smelly and asked, “Isn’t this about you?” which got a pretty big chuckle from the crowd.
The Vandals finished as usual with their irrepressible guitarist Warren Fitzgerald out front, singing his heart out, while Quackenbush took his turn on guitar for “My Girlfriend’s Dead” and “I Have a Date.” It was a great way to close out their set.
Then the mighty Goldfinger took the stage and immediately blasted into the bangers “Spokesman,” “Get Up,” and “Counting the Days” without giving anyone much of a chance to catch their breath.
The band was filled out by Mike Herrera from MxPx on bass and Philip Sneed, formerly of Story of the Year, on second guitar.
The all-star guest appearances continued as Hefe from NOFX came out to play guitar on “Open Your Eyes.” And since Hefe was already there, Goldfinger decided to pay a little tribute to NOFX by playing their signature song “Linoleum.”
At this point, it almost seemed like there was a running contest to see how many special guests could be brought onto the stage in one night.
The horn section backing Goldfinger tonight was none other than Reel Big Fish’s Dan Regan and Scott Klopfenstein, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to bring Aaron Barrett back onstage to perform Reel Big Fish’s “Sell Out.” Goldfinger and RBF have a long-shared history of joint tours and split seven-inch releases.
Then came “Superman,” which is, of course, my personal theme song. Hearing it live was every bit as good as I had hoped, and with everyone still on stage, it turned into one of those big, chaotic moments that you want to remember.
But Goldfinger wasn’t done yet. Feldman announced that tonight was especially significant because it would be the first time in 29 years that the original version of Goldfinger would perform together onstage. Original bass player Simon Williams and original drummer “Dangerous” Darrin Pfeiffer came out to join the band for a few classic songs from Goldfinger’s debut album, including “Anxiety,” “Answers,” and “Mable.”
All night, hanging above the stage, was a large net filled with red balloons. I think most of us had a pretty good idea what was coming next. To close out their biggest headlining show, they finished with their beloved cover of “99 Red Balloons.” As all the balloons fell to the floor and confetti cannons shot red confetti into the air, the night came to a brilliant but fitting conclusion.
Looking back at the whole show, it really did have everything you could have asked for. Great bands, a packed venue, a good pit, songs that brought back a lot of memories, and more special guests than anyone could have hoped for. Having members of NOFX, Reel Big Fish, and the original Goldfinger lineup all show up throughout the night made it feel like more than just another punk show.
Maybe that’s why the Hollywood Palladium felt like the perfect place for it. You could look around and realize that you were standing in a building that has been hosting important music events for more than 80 years while watching another night that people will probably be talking about for a long time.
For a fan of Southern California punk and ska, it was pretty hard to ask for a better show.
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by Todd Markel Rock Images
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August 26, 2026UncategorizedLive from Brookside at the Rose Bowl
August 26th, 2026 Review by Kevin Gomez
In May of last year, fans gathered for Just Like Heaven on one of the hottest days of the year. This year it was pushed to August, and fans once again braved the heat – a scorching 94 degrees – for the annual indie fest at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The parking gods were not on my side, and I unfortunately missed the opening half of Matt & Kim’s set. I could hear the energetic duo opening with “Block After Block.”
They did a fiery rendition of “Now” that had the whole crowd bouncing along frenetically. Lead singer Matt Johnson introduced “Silver Tiles” as the first song they ever wrote and even included a snippet of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes.”
They played “Daylight,” which saw drummer Kim Schifino jump on top of her drum set, and they closed their very fun set with the radio-friendly, “Let’s Go.”
Next on the Orion Stage was the highly-anticipated set from STRFKR. The electronic indie pop band opened with “While I’m Alive,” which had glimpses of Kavinsky’s “Nightcall.” “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” featured spaced-out hypnotic music as two masked figures in gold danced behind lead singer Joshua Hodges.
I saw Schifino enjoying their set side stage. While the band played “Boy Toy” and three astronauts danced on stage, a fourth came from the back of the crowd and crowd surfed to the stage. STRFKR also did a trippy cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”
Vancouver’s Ekkstacy opened with “if I had a gun” followed up with the rocking “i just want to hide my face.” He played the breezy “Walk This Earth All by Myself,” and there was a gnarly bass intro on the last song of his set, “I’m So Happy.”
Dayglow had a laid back, enjoyable set. Often described as indie pop, I got beach vibes from his performance. They started out their set with lead singer-guitarist Sloan Struble singing about “False Directions” and how they were “leading me away from you.”
“Hot Rod” was giving me pop punk tendencies, feeling like something Jim Adkins would write. They did “Everything Little Thing I Say I Do” and “Crying on the Dancefloor,” then finished up with “Listerine” and “Close to You.”
TV Girl took over the Orion Stage and were joined by Jordana Nye on guitar for their entire set. Lead singer Brad Petering said, “We did an album together ,” so they decided to make it a one big family affair. On songs like “Pantyhose” and “Louise,” Petering almost had a laid-back freestyle rap flow.
“Hate Yourself” featured quiet male vocals from Petering backed by powerful female vocals from Jordana and bassist, Zoe Zeeman that reminded me of The Rentals.
Jordana played two of her solo songs from the EP, “Sweet to Dream” and “Better in the Dark.” They brought out George Clanton to do their big duet, “Summer 2000 Baby,” before closing with “Lovers Rock.”
A huge turnout gathered for the night’s co-headliners, LCD Soundsystem. They immediately jumped into “Tonite” highlighted by Nancy Whang futuristic keyboards.
“Tribulations” dripped with synthesizers and sweet ass solo from guitarist Al Doyle. Lead singer, the charismatic James Murphy, joked that they wouldn’t talk much between songs, “because we write really long, dumb songs.”
And, boy he wasn’t kidding. I swear “Losing My Edge” seemed to go on for 10 minutes in a jam session meltdown culminating in Murphy repeating “I was losing my edge” endlessly. Somewhere during that madness Whang even snuck in a snippet of Yaz’s “Don’t Go.”
Personal highlight of their set for me was “Dance Yrself Clean,” launching the entire crowd into a dance party when the beat dropped. Not only a special moment for nostalgic purposes but I really feel like the crowd came alive after roasting in the sun all day and reminding everyone what a great dance act LCD Soundsystem is. They closed their set with a heartfelt rendition of “All My Friends.”
Off to the Stardust Stage to catch synth-funk duo, Chromeo. As they always do, they opened with “Intro (Chro-me-o…o…o).”
Lead singer Dave 1 was dapperly dressed in a silver sequined sports jacket, while keyboard and multi-instrumentalist P-Thugg sported a black, leather vest.
The duo nailed a sexy version of “Bonafied Lovin.’” They played the smooth “Must’ve Been / Momma’s Boy” back-to-back.
Chromeo probably had one of the most high-energy sets of the whole day, second only to Matt & Kim. The crowd cheered as the band led into the über-cool “Jealous (I Ain’t With It),” ending with “Needy Girl.”
Just before The Strokes came out fashionably late, the crowd began singing “Happy Birthday” to celebrate lead singer Julian Casablancas’ 48th birthday. A huge ovation began as The Strokes led off with “Lonely in the Future,” with fans singing along with every word. From a new single to an old classic, they followed up with “Hard to Explain.” They played a gritty rendition of “Juicebox,” led off by Steve Schiltz on guitar, filling in temporarily for Nick Valensi.
Uncharacteristically Casablancas talked a lot in between songs. At one point he referenced the Rose Bowl as “soon to be abandoned,” referring to the UCLA Bruins, currently attempting to switch their home games to SoFi Stadium.
At one point he called James Murphy of LCD “the Brett Favre of indie rock,” jokingly referring to how the band has previously come out of retirement. To their credit Casablancas said Just Like Heaven was, “kind of like a better Coachella, to be honest.”
There’s been a lot of talk, some criticism even, on The Strokes’ latest album, “Reality Waits,” and its heavy use of AutoTune. But this is nothing new for them, and they seemed to embrace this new era playing “One Way Trigger,” one of their earliest forays into AutoTune from 2013’s “Comedown Machine.” From their latest effort, “Dine N’Dash” kept the same vibe going, allowing Casablancas to hit new falsetto highs.
After closing their set with “Automatic Stop” and “The Adults Are Talking,” the band returned and Casablancas stated due to “technical difficulties” their encore was being cut from four songs to two.
They reserved one of those to play a new song, “Going to Babble On” for the first time live. The indie rock icons closed Just Like Heaven with the heavenly viral, “Selfless.”
Once again Just Like Heaven proves to be the gold standard for showcasing classic indie of the 2000s, and modern day indie music.
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by Highway One Photography
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August 25, 2026UncategorizedDirty Heads & 311
Bring the Boom to Long Beach
August 21st, 2026 Review by Jimmy Alvarez
It was a warm Tuesday night in Long Beach; the night was billed as a sort of homecoming, but it was much more than that.
The show was dubbed the summer’s best homecoming show featuring local sonic heroes, Dirty Heads. Truthfully, as soon as doors opened, you could tell the night would be electric.
August 18th, 2026
It was evident that the capacity crowd covered all demographic groups. In short, there were a boatload of true music fans that turned up for this one.
The buzz was in the air – given the lineup, each set would prove to be epic.
(aka ROME)
Opening the night was fan favorite, Rome Ramirez (aka ROME). It wasn’t lost on the crowd that Romie helped keep the Sublime legacy alive for years fronting Sublime with ROME. You could tell the early crowd loved him for that.
As expected, ROME stormed the stage with a high-energy set that delivered on the mastery of his guitar hero skills. With his infectious smile and cherub-like vocals, Romie wove in and out of a few original solo songs and a few Sublime / Sublime with ROME tunes.
The crowd loved, loved, loved his delivery of “Take It Or Leave It” and “Garden Grove.”
But, it was his take on “Badfish” that got the largest reaction of the night. Ramirez gave tribute to Bradley for what he meant to Sublime fans, including himself. He also gave tribute to Eric, Bud and Bradley’s son, Jakob. That tribute nearly caused a sonic boom it was that well received. Needless to say, he left the stage to a standing O!
After an extended intermission, out came Minnesota hip-hop marvels, Atmosphere.
Lead singer Slug was wearing his # 5 Minnesota b-ball jersey that gave tribute to the Mayo Clinic, which is right on cue for how cool this dude is. Everyone with a heartbeat could see, Slug was amped. DJ Ant was as entertaining as ever and that’s saying something!
What makes their music stand out in addition to the kick-ass production Ant pumps out are the lyrics and rhymes that tap into the souls of their fans. Slug is a legit entertainer, and he has demonstrated over the years he can command an audience and do stand-up all in one.
Slug had the crowd rolling in between songs. Songs like “God Loves Ugly,” “Puppets, “Scapegoat,” “Okay,” and “Trying to Find Balance” reminded all in attendance why Atmosphere remains one of the premiere artists – they bring energy, reflection and soul piercing production to every show they play.
With the sun dipping into the Pacific and the lights from the Queen Mary providing an incredible backdrop, it was time for 311! Shortly thereafter, the lights dimmed and out came out the cats from 311!
Nick Hexum was front and center, with SA Martinez right behind him on keys the band led off with their catalog of hit-after-hit with “Beautiful Disaster.”
That guitar riff sounded incredible, and Hexum’s vocals has the crowd screaming at the top of their lungs.
With SA Martinez adding the dance track and vocals, P-Nut and Tim Mahone were booming with their setlist, “All Mixed Up,” “Come Original,” “Sunset in July” gave that crazy light show some competition, because you could feel the vibration from the bass!
Notable moments included their Cure cover of “Lovesong,” and a drum solo by Chad Sexton. The band came out with a kick-ass drumline set that would make any college drum corp jealous beyond belief.
311 delivered the tunes their fans were screaming for, “Creatures (For a While),” “Amber,” “Feel So Good,” and “Down” brought the house down. 311 definitely gave the crowd what they wanted.
By now, the crowd was ready for the closer. Since it was a hometown show, it was time for HB’s Dirty Heads! The crowd lost its mind when Jared Watson (aka Dirty J) and Dustin Bushnell (aka Duddy B) took the stage.
The duo traded vocal duties as they do and it is mesmerizing. This band makes every show feel like a family and backyard BBQ, very reminiscent of Grateful Dead or Phish gigs.
Just like 311, Dirty Heads also has a hit catalog they were about to unleash. “Seven Seas,” (personal favorite!) – “Burn Slow,” “Bum Bum,” and “Heavy Water” had the crowd on their feet and doing an old fashion sing-along.
With an energetic crowd, the hot night was only overcome by the heat from the stage. “Oxygen,” “Rescue Me,” “My Sweet Summer,” “Life’s Been Good,” and “One of Those Days” had the crowd in a craze.
Then, they went into “Lay Me Down,” which had ROME come out for it and the crowd ate it up.
Then they segued into new song, “Better,” then back to some old school hits, “Vacation,” “Island Glow,” “Medusa,” and then they called it a night with “My Sweet Summer.”
A perfect ending for a perfect night of music in this newly crowned jewel of a venue.
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by Green-Eyed Blonde Photography
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August 24, 2026UncategorizedSantana + The Doobie Brothers
Live at Hollywood Bowl
August 24th, 2026 Review by Amaris Becker
When I first saw the announcement of Santana and the Doobie Brothers at the Hollywood Bowl, I knew this was a tour I could not miss. Two bands representing vastly different sounds of the ‘70s: the Doobie Brothers embodying the American country-rock spirit, and Santana blending blues, rock, and jazz with a Latin flair, redefining what a lead guitarist could be.
The Doobie Brothers were, by the strictest definitions, the openers, only because they went on first. But the Oneness Tour summarizes something deeper. This wasn’t your classic tour format of an opener warming up the crowd followed by a headliner. Instead, it was one event in two acts: the Doobie Brothers and Santana.
As I walked through the Hollywood Bowl gates that August evening, I was struck by the crowd. These bands represent different genres, and the audience reflected it beautifully. People wore everything from cowboy hats to vintage t-shirts to ironed button-downs.
The weather was perfect for an outdoor show, and the sun was just beginning its descent into dusk. My parents grew up on the music of these incredible artists and decided to attend as well. My mother had a lovely picnic packed, and The Doobie Brothers took the stage. They came out swinging with immediate energy and chemistry that felt both lived and earned.
No introduction was needed as they opened with “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” followed by “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” then “Little Darling (I Need You),” flowing into “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” and Walk This Road.”
Two of the founding members performed: Tom Johnston, who played guitars and sang vocals with ease, and Patrick Simmons, who came out with a bright pink Fender guitar that set a nice contrast with the rest of his outfit, a wide gambler’s hat and long hair. If I knew nothing of The Doobie Brothers and had to pick a member out of a lineup based on vibes alone, he’s who I’d choose.
“It Keeps You Runnin’” was one of my personal favorites of the night. Michael McDonald, who wrote the song, and his husky voice cut through the evening air and seemed to touch my soul. There’s also something about a great saxophone solo that takes a moment from great to unforgettable and Marc Russo, one of the musicians joining them on tour, delivered that magic
From there they went into “Minute by Minute,” “Without You,” “Jesus Is Just Alright,” “What a Fool Believes,” and “Long Train Runnin.’” John McFee was center stage with his guitar and fiddle. He may not technically qualify as a founding member, but he may as well be, as he’s been with the band for about 40 years collectively.
Joining them as the touring lineup were John Cowan on bass, Marc Russo on saxophones, Ed Toth anchoring with the drums, and Marc Quiñones on percussion and backup vocals. This collection of talent, many with notable careers themselves, created a cohesive unit that felt more like a family than hired musicians.
“China Grove” was next, but when they played “Black Water,” the crowd belted back every lyric. I was out of my seat – this is how I found the band.
One of their concert classics, “Amazing Grace,” played next, then “Takin’ It to the Streets.” They ended with “Listen to the Music,” which made everyone jump out of their seats and we truly listened to the music.
When Santana took the stage, the energy shifted entirely. They got the band order right. The Doobie Brothers are a daytime band, all sunshine and singalongs. The night belongs to Santana.
The members of Santana began taking the stage and the atmosphere transformed. Where the Doobie Brothers traded in storytelling, country-rock grooves, and harmonies, Santana brought movement and groove, so that when you listen to them you can’t help but dance.
Carlos Santana strode out and took his seat, but do not let the chair fool you. He was the center of everything that followed. Santana is not about the lyrics, it is about Santana himself, the way his guitar seems to speak a language only he could translate.
The band opened with “Soul Sacrifice,” and from the first note the crowd was on its feet. The entire front section stood and practically never sat back down.
Andy Vargas handled lead vocals, and he was electric onstage. Beside him, Ray Greene doubled on vocals and trombone with real stage presence, while the rhythm section did the heavy lifting that makes Santana, well, Santana.
Karl Perazzo and Paoli Mejías traded percussion, David K. Mathews colored everything from the keys, and Tommy Anthony added guitar and vocals. Behind an enormous drum kit sat Cindy Blackman Santana, Carlos’ wife, attacking each hit like the whole show depended on it.
They rolled through the classics, “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” “Maria Maria,” each one making it harder and harder to stay still. Even a cover of “She’s Not There,” by The Zombies, was unexpected but somehow blended perfectly in the set.
The visuals matched the sound, trippy and dreamlike. African dancers swayed across the screens, and the trees of the Hollywood Bowl became the backdrop for a laser show that swept over the crowd like water. They projected videos of themselves playing as younger men, connecting across generations as different eras of the same band shared one stage.
This concert was amazing in many ways. I got to watch the show not just through my own eyes, but through my parents. Being with my mother as she sat in awe at the Hollywood Bowl and my father, who could not stay in his seat once Santana started playing, I understood why they also did not want to miss this show.
Some music does not age, it just waits for the next generation to catch up.
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by Randall Michelson / LN-HS
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August 23, 2026UncategorizedINAUGURAL
Summer Ska Classic
at The Garden Amp
August 23rd, 2026 Review by Todd Markel
The prospect of a small festival at one of my favorite venues, celebrating ska music, was more than I could have hoped for. While ska may have had its mainstream heyday in the ‘90s, for many of us – myself included – it never really went away.
That was pretty clear at the inaugural Summer Ska Classic Alive & Skankin’ 2026 at The Garden Amp, which featured 10 bands spread across two stages.
If you’ve never been to The Garden Amp, there’s the larger outdoor amphitheater, and then there’s the smaller, more intimate Locker Room in the back. The Locker Room is standing room only and gives shows a completely different feel. I’ve been to a few events here that used both spaces with staggered set times, and my usual routine is to bounce back and forth between the main stage and the Locker Room, trying to catch as much as possible.
The day started early, with the sun still high in the sky as the doors opened. Before the music got going, attendees were treated to a live, in-person version of the ska podcast “On the Upbeat.”
The discussion covered our shared love of ska music, along with some of the bands and people who helped shape the scene. Karen Roberts from Chase Long Beach joined the conversation as a special guest.
Rebels in the Yard got the music started in the Locker Room with a laid-back reggae sound. They even played my favorite Bob Marley song, “Three Little Birds,” which was a great way to begin the day.
Over on the main stage, The Guilty Parties brought a completely different energy. The California/Texas ska band showed up looking sharp in matching but differently colored sequin jackets and delivered a high-energy set. They played their newest single, “(In)Famous,” and closed with “Room Service (Kobe’s Song).”
San Diego’s Late for Life kept things moving with plenty of upstrokes and trombone. They opened with the catchy “To My Friends” and finished their set with an older fan favorite, “AWOL.”
Orange County’s own Hooray for Our Side kept the crowd moving with a fun cover of The Zutons’ “Valerie,” made famous by Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson.
Next up was The Marijuana Brass, a name that is obviously a play on Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Their music had a laid-back Latino ska sound, helped along by the sultry vocals of their female lead singer, who performed in clown makeup.
They even opened with the Tijuana Brass classic “Lady Fingers.”
Swigfoot came all the way from Tucson and was a lot of fun to watch. During “Six Foot Bigfoot,” a guy dressed in a Sasquatch costume hopped onto the stage, bounced around, and eventually made his way into the crowd. They followed that with a fun and very “sexy” version of the Bloodhound Gang’s “Bad Touch.”
The Odd Advantage from Hemet were next. Their lead singer asked the crowd if they were ready for some punk rock before jokingly reminding everyone, “We’re a ska band.” Their sound definitely pushed beyond traditional ska, mixing in punk and even some hard rock. They also put their own ska spin on the dance hit “Better Off Alone.”
Skariginals were one of those bands that were just a lot of fun to watch. They kicked off their set with “Just Anything” and later brought out Ed, the lead singer of The Originals, to help them cover Reel Big Fish’s “The Kids Don’t Like It.”
Aaron Barrett and Scott Klopfenstein of Reel Big Fish also joined them for the song’s outro, giving the crowd one of the festival’s bigger moments. Skariginals closed their set with the ever-popular and danceable “Josephine.”
In the Locker Room, Phoenix’s The Originals, “a Reel Big Fish cover band?” that originally started as something of a joke, were getting ready to play their own set. The band has recently received a lot of attention after possibly being the catalyst that persuaded Reel Big Fish to get back together, an event many of us witnessed firsthand at the Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach last month.
The Originals’ lead singer, Ed, explained that they would be playing just “the B-sides” to avoid overlapping with Reel Big Fish’s recent Warped Tour set. They started with the deep track “Punisher” from Reel Big Fish’s 2012 album “Candy Coated Fury,” followed by “Your Guts (I Hate ’Em).” They eventually called Barrett and Klopfenstein to the stage to help sing their cover of Lita Ford’s “Kiss Me Deadly.”
Before closing, Barrett asked Ed to “hold his beer” as someone handed him a guitar, and he busted out the intro to Reel Big Fish’s signature song, “Beer.” Barrett then played the guitar solo behind his head, bringing a tremendous cheer from the lucky crowd.
Having to follow such an epic performance could have put the next band in a slightly awkward position, but East LA’s Matamoska was more than up for the task.
They are an established name in the Latin ska scene and took over the main stage to close out the festival. They began their set with “De Verdad” from their 2017 album “M Is for Murder,” and they also paid tribute to Riverside ska legends the Voodoo Glow Skulls with “Band Geek Mafia.” They finished the night with their classic “Flan.”
For a first-year event, the Summer Ska Classic felt like it got a lot of things right. Having two stages made it possible to keep the music going while giving the crowd two very different settings. The main stage had the room to let the bigger bands spread out, while the Locker Room had that small club feeling where you could get right up close to the performers.
More than anything, it was just good to see a day built around ska music. The genre may not get the same mainstream attention it did decades ago, but the fans are still here, the bands are still playing, people are still skanking, and Reel Big Fish is a band again. If this was the beginning of a new annual tradition at The Garden Amp, I’m already looking forward to next year.
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by Todd Markel Rock Images
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August 20, 2026UncategorizedLive at Pacific Amphitheatre
August 20th, 2026 Review by Amaris Becker
It’s been 15 years since The Head and the Heart released their self-titled debut album, and they brought all of it to the Pacific Amphitheatre on August 14th. They played the entire record front to back, and I was fortunate enough to experience it, and then some.
I honestly thought the Pacific Amphitheatre would be an odd venue at this time of year. It sits on the OC Fair grounds, which means the show doesn’t exist in a vacuum like it would in other parts of the year. I was concerned about the fair noise – games, rides, farm animals, and food stands – bleeding into the amphitheater and drowning out the bands, especially considering the genre of music, but I was completely immersed in the show and the overall experience.
Wilderado went on first and opened with “Stranger.” Max Rainer (lead vocals and guitar) spoke about the band’s touring and playing a venue located inside a fair, tying it back to the fairs he grew up around in Oklahoma, where the band got its start.
Rainer was joined by founding member Tyler Wimpee on guitar, Justin Kila on drums, and Aaron Boehler playing bass.
As the crowd filled in, I got the feeling that many people were hearing the band for the first time.
While not everyone knew Wilderado, the ones who did really knew them and were singing the lyrics along with the band.
The band truly connected with their audience through both crowd work and overall stage presence.
By the time they gathered around one mic to close with their hit “Rubble to Rubble,” which Rainer explained is about finding out his wife was pregnant, the crowd was singing it back to them.
When I think of the audience that would come to a Head and the Heart concert, I picture flower crowns, long flowy skirts, and, to put it simply, stereotypical hipsters. But I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of this audience. A good number were millennial couples now taking their kids to experience the band they listened to in college, but there were people at all different stages of their lives and in all different aesthetics.
As the band took the stage, all dressed in different styles, I realized that this was the point. It was a family and friends show. Anyone could come and everyone would enjoy.
Due to this being the 15th anniversary tour, a celebration of their certified platinum self-titled debut, I was not surprised when the first track “Cats and Dogs” opened the set, followed by “Coeur d’Alene” and then “Ghosts.”
The setup of the stage was perfect. A couch, a lamp, and boxing gloves as decor, which gave the whole thing a homey, grounded feel, like we had wandered into someone’s living room instead of an amphitheater.
By the time “Down in the Valley” played, nobody was sitting and everyone was singing along.
The Head and the Heart’s music isn’t the kind you jump around to. Instead, you sing under the stars and sway as you let the lyrics take you somewhere. That was the energy of the night.
Then came “Rivers and Roads” and cheers went up from the crowd. But when Charity Rose Thielen (violin, guitar, piano, and vocals) stepped up to the mic, anyone still making noise went quiet. When she sang out those first few words, everything stopped. She didn’t get far into the song before the crowd could no longer hold their excitement and sang it back to the band.
“Honey Come Home,” “Lost in My Mind,” “Winter Song,” “Sounds Like Hallelujah,” and “Heaven Go Easy on Me” closed out the album. But what set the night apart wasn’t the album itself. It was the crowd work and the context they put the album in.
Jonathan Russell (lead vocals and guitar), one of the two founding members, gave real background on the songs and how they were created, the kind of context that makes you hear something in a different light after a decade of listening to it.
He told the story of how kismet the formation of the band was. He and Josiah Johnson, who stepped away from the band in 2016, met after an open mic night in Seattle in 2009, and everything followed from there.
Thielen, Chris Zasche on bass, Kenny Hensley on piano, and Tyler Williams on drums rounded out the lineup that recorded the debut. When Johnson stepped away, Matt Gervais, who is married to Thielen, took over filling out the live lineup on guitar and vocals.
Grassroots is how I would describe their rise. It wasn’t built on a record deal, but in a free room you could reserve at a public library in Seattle. This wasn’t a band in a hurry to end the concert or get through their set, and nobody wanted them to be.
Their hit album may have ended, but the set kept going with “All We Ever Knew,” “Fire Escape,” and “Another Story.” Wilderado came back out to join them for “After the Setting Sun,” which was a nice touch and brought a new level of energy to the stage.
Hensley on piano and keys was THE crowd favorite, with his name chanted back to him multiple times that night.
He had apparently gotten off a cruise that day and had his equilibrium thrown off, which he informed the audience was very important for playing piano.
The crowd wouldn’t have noticed even if he had messed up.
Gervais was the most fun to watch by a wide margin, with big stage energy, skipping around, clearly thrilled to be there. He was interacting with his bandmates, the fans, and the crowd as a whole. At one point he was simply chilling on the couch, playing his guitar, enjoying the night
Somewhere before “Tiebreaker” the energy settled and some people sat down for the first time all night. It did not last long. “Honeybee” started playing and brought everyone up again, and “Arrow,” “Virginia,” and “Missed Connection” played next. They ended with “Shake,” with nearly the entire amphitheater clapping along.
The crowd cheered for an encore and got one, but not the one anyone expected. Instead of a big finish, only Gervais and Thielen came back out for a piano version of “Beg, Steal, Borrow.”
It was just the two of them, and it felt raw and intimate after a night of harmonies and crowd-led sing-alongs. It was quiet, a departure from everything that came before it. We could feel the love the couple had for each other and for the music that they make.
The Head and the Heart’s music was built for the outside, and outside is where it lived. Where people could hug, sway, and sing. The Pacific Amphitheatre on that August evening met that need perfectly. An open-air amphitheater, in late summer, and I’d like to point out almost nobody was recording – they all were just too busy being there.
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by Todd Markel Rock Images
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August 20, 2026UncategorizedThe Sixth Annual
ROCK 2 FREEDOM BENEFIT SHOW
August 20th, 2026 by Stuart Karpel
As all of us music lovers know, instruments can act as a universal bridge that unites and inspires people to find connection. Communally supported artists can use their platform of expression to provide safe spaces for those whose voices aren’t heard enough.
This is exactly why The Offspring and .48 Special are coming together to present a show unlike any other.
Slave 2 Nothing, the World Famous KROQ, and In-N-Out are presenting the sixth annual Rock 2 Freedom show this November as a benefit concert to support organizations providing healing for people suffering from substance abuse.
In order to reduce the stigma surrounding this topic, it takes compassion and collective action, and as said by the In-N-Out President/Owner Lynsi Snyder, “Addiction destroys lives, shatters hearts and changes families forever.” Evermore the reason to hold this event.
Since 2016 Slave 2 Nothing, also owned by Snyder, has raised more than $23,000,000 to fight against substance abuse in our communities, as well as those affected by human trafficking. You can join in the cause by purchasing tickets for this event, which will take place at the Wiltern in Los Angeles.
The headliner of the night, The Offspring is the perfect band to cover this show and represent such an honest cause. While the band members themselves have not publicly reported anything regarding a personal history of drug use, their lyrics on songs like “The Kids Aren’t Alright” and “The Opioid Diaries” are representative of their knowledge towards the toll of addiction.
In times of crisis and concern it’s important to raise awareness of those who may feel trapped without any resources. Unfortunately, there’s people dying every day from substance abuse but with the creation of resources and new pathways to help those in need, we can all make a difference.
In addition, the host for the event will be KROQ’s Megan Holiday, she is also the founder of Life of the Party, whose dedicated advocacy for recovery and sobriety is portrayed through her own accomplishments, celebrating a decade of sobriety herself.
In a recent conversation with Megan, she said she is thrilled to be working with KROQ and In-N-Out on this. What makes it even more meaningful for her is the support of the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation, founded by Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson and Sean Elingson.
Holiday said they are two of the most compassionate and inspiring people she knows. She went on to say that she has known Sean since high school, so this is like a full circle moment for her.
Holiday highlighted that this year would spotlight the importance of extending a hand to those in need of help. Everyone knows someone who is battling this affliction. Buying a ticket or donating to one these charities is a way to help someone who needs a helping hand.
She ended by saying that not long ago that person was her, and it was scary to ask for help. But if she didn’t, she wouldn’t be where she is today. It is very important for those going through addicting feel comfortable asking for help. It’s that first step in recovery for the rest of your life.
If you or a loved one suffers from substance abuse, or you just want to enjoy some great music while helping an even greater cause, get your tickets – they go on sale Friday, August 21st at 10a.m. (local time).
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August 19, 2026UncategorizedLive at The Rady Shell
August 19th, 2026 Review by Fatima Kelley
The city was full of PDA tonight as a sold-out crowd welcomed Interpol back to town at the gorgeous Rady Shell located downtown on the picturesque San Diego Bay.
It was a perfectly crafted evening where moody and melancholy music danced hand in hand to the glittering downtown skyline reflecting on the water; an evening so perfect even the moon seemed inclined to offer a slither of a smile.
The night started off with Julie, a Noise rock trio from Orange Country. Their balance of ethereal soundscapes, grinding guitars, and skull-pounding drum beats were the perfect musical appetizer for the evening. This was my first introduction to the band, and the performance was impressive. Their nine-song setlist definitely piqued my curiosity and left me wanting more.
While I could pick up some influences from Sonic Youth and the Breeders, Julie managed to create a sound that is truly their own and seemed like a perfect fit to Interpol’s style.
Watching the opening band capture the attention of a sold-out crowd and turn them into new fans was truly a testament to their remarkable stage presence. I left the show curious and where to hear more of their music.
After a brief stage changeover, Interpol was introduced by San Diego’s own skate legend and longtime fan, Tony Hawk, who stated he will only retire once Interpol stops touring. Neither I nor the crowd that cheered the speech is ready for either of them to call it quits anytime soon!
Interpol took the stage as it was infused with fog, instantly allowing fans to be submerged in the music. The shell shaped stage perfectly cradled the atmosphere, creating an intimate discourse between stage and crowd. The lights warmed up as the music intensified, then switched back to cool shady blues while the music eased up, all magnifying the beautifully rhythmic dynamics that Interpol’s music offers.
They opened with “This Mirror Weights a Ton,” one of the four new songs from their upcoming studio album of the same name and due out August 28th.
I loved this song immediately when it was released a few months ago, but hearing it live made it much more special. It slowly builds up, dragging you further in note after note. Its rhythm steadily forcing your feet to march while eloquent guitar riffs undulate your body, leaving you lulled as if by surrounding waters until you find yourself completely buried in the sound.
They played “C’mere” from 2004’s “Antics,” which proved to be a crowd and pit favorite. The steady repetition of its guitar riffs is so hypnotic, and its bass line holds you captive. It was followed by “No I in Threesome” from “Our Love to Admire,” which I still consider one of their best albums, although possibly the most underrated.
They followed this with “All the Rage Back Home” and it was very difficult to walk away from the pit while this song was playing. I think I fall in love with Interpol a little more each time I hear this song and kudos to Matt Barrick of The Walkmen who is filling in on drums for Sam Fogarino. Fogarino’s shoes are really tough to fill but Barrick infused this song, and the entire evening, with his own magic.
“Rest My Chemistry” was another fan favorite of the night, its bass line forcing everyone’s feet to dance and its guitar riffs moving you.
Paul Banks’ voice felt particularly haunting and rich in this song. They followed this with two new songs, “See Out Loud” and “Wings on Fire,” from the upcoming album.
The band took us back to 2014 with “My Desire” from “El Pintor,” then back to 2004 with the always crowd pleasing “Evil” where Brad Truax’s haunting bass lines seems to echo from within. Then they jumped to 2007 with my favorite, “Pioneer to the Falls.”
This is one of the most musically eloquent songs I think I have ever heard. Daniel Kessler’s guitar twinkles of interstellar magic, strategically mimicked by the light design where mini spotlights floated across the back stage and roof of the shell.
Interpol’s music is so exquisitely baroque, rich, and full of layers and movement. Tonight’s set lists a continuous progression of crowd favorites where you could easily hear fans singing along to old and new tunes alike – a crowd that was screaming for the encore, and after the encore was left wanting even more.
“Narc” and “Obstacle 1” took us all the way back to the beginning to pull us straight into the future with “Iron City,” another from their upcoming release.
They ended the show in full magic with “Roland” and “Slow Hands,” which always gets the entire crowd dancing. The band came back to the stage with an encore that somehow just seemed to top it all – “NYC” followed by “Take You on a Cruise,” and then “PDA.”
If you have a chance to catch Interpol live, do so because they certainly won’t disappoint. Be sure to pick up their album when it drops later this month as well, plus visit the band’s website for details on listening parties for “This Mirror Weights a Ton” to be held August 20th.
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by Kelley Photography
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