Publication Date: February 8, 2026
OTHER GREAT STORIES
February 5, 2026UncategorizedJOHNNY MARR
The California Calling Tour
February 5th, 2026 by Amberlee Meyer
For those of you with inquiring minds, it can be argued that the ’80s and ’90s delivered some of the greatest guitarists of all time. Truth is, there are a few still touring, and one of them is coming to Southern California. It’s been a minute since we saw him last, but the legend that is Johnny Marr will be back to entertain us next month.
The UK-born son of Irish immigrants would become the singer-songwriter man behind the jangle-pop guitar of the unforgettable band, The Smiths. Marr was paired with Steven Patrick Morrissey, together they put out their signature sound as The Smiths.
Morrissey’s haunting vocals along Marr’s signature guitar riffs electrified the world. Songs that became an era-defining moment in time included “Ask,” “This Charming Man,” “Panic,” “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now,” “London,” “Sheila Takea Bow,” “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “What Difference Does It Make?,” “Is It Really So Strange,” “Girlfriend in a Coma,” and perhaps a top five song of the decade, “How Soon Is Now?”
Unfortunately, growing tension between Morrissey and Marr ultimately led to the band’s breakup in 1987. Both went their own way and found success in their solo careers.
LOS DARKS FESTIVAL
Santa Ana Stadium
March 28th, 2026
After disbanding The Smiths, Marr had a short stint in The Pretenders, formed supergroup Electronic with New Order frontman Bernard Sumner, produced albums, worked as a session musician, and of course, toured as a solo artist.
His solo work has created a new fanbase, songs like “Hi Hello,” “Armatopia,” “Spirit Power and Soul,” “Walk into the Sea,” and more recently, “Somewhere” has created a buzz that is uniquely Johnny Marr.
Marr’s latest release, “Look Out Live!,” includes original songs by Marr, a host of Smiths songs that he co-wrote, and a variety of covers including David Bowie’s hit “Rebel Rebel,” and Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger.” It’s a fantastic live album worth listening to!
No matter where Marr plays, he gives it his all and delivers on that mastery of his guitars in a manner you just have to see and hear to believe.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see him on the California Calling Tour! These SoCal dates will be shows to remember!
Catch Marr at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown on March 26th, Los Angeles on the 27th at the Lodge Room, and in Santa Ana on March 28th as part of the Los Darks Festival at the Santa Ana Stadium (also featuring Caifanes, The Growlers, Twin Tribes, The Adicts, and more!).
If you want to see living history, then get your tickets now!
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February 5, 2026UncategorizedJOHN 5 & LIVING COLOUR
Live at NAMM JAM
The Observatory Santa Ana
February 5th, 2026 Review by Bruce R Kilgour
The annual John 5 NAMM Jam returned to The Observatory in Santa Ana and this year, the addition of the legendary Grammy-award winning Living Colour as headliner resulted in an incredible sold-out show during the busy NAMM Show weekend.
Opening the evening was The Violent Hour, a hard-rocking female quintet fronted by former Butcher Babies vocalist Carla Harvey.
Their intense and fun six-song set was comprised of tracks from their self-titled EP, with the addition of a cool cover of the Rose Tattoo classic “Nice Boys,” which the band has modified to “Nice Girls.” The Violent Hour certainly primed the crowd for the rock pyrotechnics that were to follow.
John 5 hit the stage and he and new drummer Joey Aguirre launched into the customary show openers “First Victim / Season of the Witch.” Next up was “The Ghost,” the first of seven songs that 5 is performing from his latest album, followed by fan favorite, “Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Pickers in Hell, CA.”
An extended three-song segment from the “Ghost” LP was next, with 5 donning a cool mask for the shred-heavy “Fiend.” Another new song, “LA Express,” featured 5 playing his mandolin style “mini guitar.”
“Crank It – Living with Ghosts” and the jazz standard “How High the Moon” were next, the latter showing off 5’s Les Paul inspired picking skills. It should be noted that John 5 performs these days as a duo, and Aguirre was a powerful force on drums throughout the set.
John 5 rarely says much during his shows, and when he stepped up to the mic he jokingly said his voice sounded funny, and that is why he doesn’t sing. He instead turned the microphone toward the audience and asked them to sing along to the next song, Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”
“I Am John 5” featured an appearance by a dancing roadie sporting an oversized John 5 head, complete with a crazy blonde wig. Two more songs from “Ghost” followed, “You Me and the Devil Makes Three” and “Deviant.” “Que Pasa” – from the popular 2021 album “Sinner” – was next, followed by “The Black Grass Plague,” a track that Guitar World magazine once called “country-metal thunder.”
Prior to performing the final song of the main set, “Moon Glow,” 5 told the audience that he had made a special gift for them.
He then paid tribute to his late friend, the legendary KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, and his guitar tech David Vela passed out dozens of custom guitar picks adorned with Frehley’s likeness while 5 played.
The set closed with 5 joined by Vela on bass for a medley of snippets from 10 Mötley Crüe songs (5 is the current guitarist for that band, having replaced Mick Mars a few years back).
He asked the audience during the “Home Sweet Home” segment to illuminate their phones, as he would be sending the video to Crüe drummer Tommy Lee as a prank. John 5 continues to push boundaries on the guitar, and the audience clearly approved of this incredibly exceptional performance.
New York City-based hard rock legends Living Colour are currently preparing for their South American Best of 40 Years tour.
The band spent the latter part of 2025 appearing at a few festivals after a short run celebrating 35 years of “Time’s Up” (their second LP, released in 1990).
Having not played Southern California since supporting Extreme in 2024, anticipation was high for some funky, politically charged, Living Colour anthems.
Taking the stage to a recording of (Darth Vader’s Theme) “The Imperial March,” the band started with “Leave It Alone” and “Ignorance Is Bliss.”
Next up was what seemed like an impromptu cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” in which vocalist Corey Glover read lyrics from his phone.
“Pride” and “Funny Vibe” followed, and then we were treated to a song they’ve been performing since 2023, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The Prince song was dedicated to “the people of Minneapolis.” Next up was their (still timely) classic from their debut LP “Vivid,”“Open Letter (To a Landlord),” which highlighted the brilliant riffs of guitarist Vernon Reid.
The medley that followed showcased songs that bassist Doug Wimbish recorded in his pre-Living Colour days with Sugarhill Gang, “White Lines,” “Apache,” and “The Message.” After a brief drum solo from Will Calhoun, “Type” morphed into a cover of “Police and Thieves,” the reggae staple popularized by The Clash in 1977.
The song “Time’s Up” was next, and this became a prelude to their cover of the Funkadelic classic “Get Off Your Ass and Jam.” However, on this evening Glover replaced the lyric “shit, goddamn” with “fuck ICE,” much to the delight of (most of) the audience.
Next was the band’s signature Grammy and MTV award-winning 1988 hit, “Cult of Personality,” another song that certainly resonates with many these days. This was the last song on the band’s printed set list, but the crowd wanted more and were rewarded with a rousing cover of The Clash’s hit “Should I Stay or Should I Go” followed by a snippet of “What’s Your Favorite Color? (Theme Song).”
Living Colour remains one of the most important and dynamic rock bands of the last four decades, and this Orange County performance during NAMM weekend proved that their loyal fans still adore them. The band has no North American dates currently scheduled but tentatively plans to tour later in 2026.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Shane Pase Photography
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February 5, 2026UncategorizedAnnounce New Album “LIFERS”
February 5, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
One of the most unique and groundbreaking bands right now, Codefendants blend together elements of punk, hip-hop, and overall hooliganism.
The band came about as the friendship between three very different personalities: Sam King, the colorful lead singer of Bay Area’s Get Dead, folk-rapper, singer-songwriter Ceschi Ramos, and former NOFX frontman “Fat Mike” Burkett.
Bad Cop/Bad Cop’s Stacey Dee once confessed that King was “just a hip-hop boy” when she met him and introduced him to punk music. His influences are not surprisingly still very grounded in underground rap. I first saw Ramos open for Get Dead and he blew the audience away.
Often hard to pigeon-hole, his music is part folk, part hip-hop, part punk rock, brilliantly weaving together multiple genres. His high-energy live shows from solo acoustic to full band are equally engaging. Fat Mike has mostly contributed to behind the scenes and producing, providing his insight from over four decades of making records. He played bass on a few songs for the band’s debut, “This is Crimewave,” and for the first time ever sang lead vocals for the follow-up album’s debut single, “Right Wrong Man.”
Last week the band announced details on the highly-anticipated follow-up to 2023’s “This Is Crime Wave.” The title of the new album will be, “LIFERS,” which fans of OC Music News read here first last October.
I caught up with King and Ramos backstage at October’s Punk in the Park where they spilled the beans on some of the upcoming details for the album that went public this week. At the time they had no definite release date but now we know the album will be dropping April 3rd.
Last week Codefendants also dropped their latest single, “Rivals,” their second time collaborating with hip-hop legend, The D.O.C. Best known for his collaborations with N.W.A. (having co-written most of their lyrics along with Ice Cube and MC Ren), Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, The D.O.C. first did guest vocals on Codefendants hit single, “Fast Ones.” As he did on “Fast Ones,” The D.O.C. brings a dark, heavy theme to the record lending equal parts street and music cred.
Fat Mike said D.O.C. was telling him about gangs he grew up with in Compton and Mike told him about the punk gangs of the ‘80s. Not believing him, “ told him about FFF and LADS and Suicidals… then he wrote his verses to ‘Rivals.’”
D.O.C.’s vocals got noticeably raspier following a 1989 car crash, in which he was ejected from his car and required 21 hours of surgery. Speaking to that effect he said, “Being a Codefendant is one of the best parts of making music today. They don’t give a shit what my voice sounds like as long as it’s on beat.”
To support the new album Codefendants are taking their show on the long road to Australia, as well as a date supporting Sublime at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. California patiently awaits their return.
Stay tuned for tour details coming very soon, I am sure.
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February 5, 2026UncategorizedINDUSTRY REPORT # 56
Catching Up with Marci Wiser
February 5th, 2026 by Traci Turner
While we do not hear her beautiful voice on the LA airwaves daily anymore, we thankfully can hear the amazing Marci Wiser online, sharing her wealth of rock knowledge and interviewing our favorite artists.
When we last spoke, Wiser had exited KLOS, moved up north to San Francisco to join Live 105 for mornings, and was launching a podcast with fellow KLOS alums, Kevin Ryder and Doug “Sluggo” Roberts. Since then, Ryder and Roberts returned to their old KROQ stomping grounds, and schedules became ridiculous. Wiser has since departed the podcast’s regular schedule but will return as a visitor when time allows.
Despite handling the demanding life of a morning show host (seriously – those hours!) on Live 105, Wiser is also keeping busy catching up with our favorite rock stars and sharing new rock on Marci’s Playground. We figured we should catch up with the one and only Wiser ourselves.
Traci: Marci! It’s been a while! I think you’ve been in San Francisco a year, year and a half now?
Marci: Yeah, I got here in October, so a year and three months?
Traci: How does it compare to Los Angeles?
Marci: Well, I mean, it’s beautiful! Where I’m living is a little less city because I was in it in Los Angeles, but I’m in North Bay. Then I just drive into the city every day. It’s beautiful; it’s very green and very lush. A lot of rain. I’ve seen a ton of rain!
Traci: I’m glad you’re doing well up there. I miss you on the podcast, but at the same time, I understand life is crazy.
Marci: Those guys are awesome. I love those guys.
Traci: They still talk highly of you all the time.
Marci: They’re sweethearts. They’re very understanding.
Traci: How long were you at KLOS? I know it was quite a while.
Marci: Yeah, 10 years.
Traci: Was is hard going from the classic rock station to the alt rock? Or is it pretty much the same thing, you just dropped some of the old songs?
Marci: Not really for me. I mean, my sweet spot, what I gravitate toward is a really healthy mix of rock, classic rock, new wave, ‘80s. All of that mixed in. I think it’s really cool what we play here at Live 105 because we do a lot of new music, and it’s stuff that becomes popular, and it’s like, “I knew that before it was cool.” (laughing) It’s important to keep that going, I think.
Traci: What are some of those new bands or new songs that you think, “This is going to be something?”
Marci: Well, sombr is huge right now. He’s on a roll. You got Lola Young, I appreciate her. I mean, she puts it out there. Her song, “Messy,” she’s telling a story. You don’t get a lot of it where you’re telling a story, old-school Johnny Cash stuff. But I think she’s pretty cool. She’s just raw. Very raw.
Marci paused and then went on: Geese is an interesting one. “Cobra,” that’s the song we’re spinning, and I think that one’s a really unique song. You got to love Yungblud. He’s not super new on the scene, but he’s great. I think he’s gaining steam for sure. And I definitely love putting on my favorites, Depeche Mode and The Cure, Ramones pop up.
Traci: Live 105 is being honored by the Bay Area Radio Museum Hall of Fame as the 2026 Legendary Station of the Year. In their words, “The station launched in 1986 and pioneered a modern rock format that built a loyal audience and left an indelible mark on the music and broadcasting industries.” That’s incredible to not only influence a genre, but to still be here as a radio station.
Marci: Yeah, 40 years. It’s pretty cool.
Traci: I know they veered off format for a bit, but went back….
Marci: When we signed back on as Live, everybody in the Bay Area embraced it… it’s palpable. It’s cool. Everybody’s so excited. It’s comforting. It’s that comfort and familiarity that people especially need now, today.
Traci: So true. Now, at this awards show, do you get a tiara or anything? Because I think you should!
Marci: I don’t know. (laughing)
Traci: I’m voting for that. Maybe bring that up. Now back in the old days, new bands got to have that amazing moment of their song being on the radio for the first time. I feel like bands now don’t get that so much, thanks to so many platforms. What is your opinion on that?
Marci: It’s just really hard because there’s so much out there. It’s actually great to get the radio play, so that’s why local radio shows are important. Like Aaron Axelsen on Live 105, he has Soundcheck on Sundays with all the new music.
Traci: Do you remember the first song you fell in love with?
Marci: Yes. Cliff Richard. “Devil Woman.” I had that on repeat so hard. It wasn’t even funny. I loved that. My dad loved Johnny Cash and Jimmy Dean, and that flavor of music, so I grew up on that. I loved that. Those are some early memories. Who was it who sang, “Tammy?” Was it Debbie Reynolds?
Traci: Oh, I think so, because wasn’t that her character, Tammy?
Marci: I think so. I remember that one at a really, really early age. I loved that song. “Southern Nights” by Glen Campbell.
Traci: Well, I know Foo Fighters are somebody you love. Are you excited about seeing them at BottleRock?
Marci: I am excited! I’m glad that the Foo Fighters are getting out there a lot. Their new album is complete, I just heard, so I’m looking forward to hearing that. Just glad to see that they’re putting dates on the calendar for 2026; going to be a good year for them.
Traci: Who else is playing BottleRock besides Foo that you’re excited to see?
Marci: Lorde is great. Papa Roach will be there. I love Papa Roach. I love Men at Work and Backstreet Boys are going to be there. I think it’s so great that they’re bringing so many, it’s like a boy band time warp. Backstreet Boys are back, baby! So that’ll be fun. The lineup is so good. I’m really excited. That’s my birthday weekend, too.
Traci: They should make it Marci’s Birthday Weekend Festival!
Marci: That’s why the Foo Fighters are playing!
Traci: I’m glad they organized that for you.
Marci: Yeah. Dave is really good that way.
Traci: On Marci’s Playground, you’ve had some good guests lately with Matt Pinfield and John Corabi. Where can people watch those?
Here’s a small taste of the Playground. In this segment Marci catches up with Matt Pinfield.
Marci: They are on my YouTube channel, so subscribe, subscribe away!
Get your Marci fix on her YouTube channel and Live 105, which you can of course listen to via the magic of the interwebs.
FOLLOW THE PLAYGROUND on YouTube
As always, thank you to the badass that is Marci Wiser! For your daily Marci fix, catch her mornings at Live 105 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
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February 4, 2026UncategorizedNOTE: For quicker search results, use the search function at the bottom of each page and enter the band name or event.
ARTICLES 2026
FEBRUARY
JOHNNY MARR | THE CALIFORNIA CALLING TOUR
by Amber Meyer
February 6, 2026
JOHN 5 | LIVING COLOUR Live at NAMM JAM
Concert Review
by Bruce R Kilgour
February 6, 2026
CODEFENDANTS ANNOUCE NEW ALBUM “LIFERS”
by Kevin Gomez
February 5, 2026
INDUSTRY REPORT # 56
Catching Up with Marci Wiser
by Traci Turner
February 5, 2026
GOLDFINGER
NINE LIVES IS COMING TO THE PALLADIUM
by Kevin Gomez
February 3, 2026
GODSMACK | THE RISE OF ROCK WORLD TOUR
by Jimmy Alvarez
February 2, 2026
YELLOWCARD
BRINGS THE UP UP DOWN DOWN TOUR TO SOCAL
by Joey Clark
February 1, 2026
JANUARY
BILLY F. GIBBONS AND THE BFG BAND
Live at Grove of Anaheim
Concert Review
by Amberlee Meyer
January 30, 2026
THE HUMAN LEAGUE
Returns to SoCal
by Shane Pase
January 27, 2026
ON THE RED CARPET at ALTerEGO’26
by Traci Turner
January 23, 2026
MORE ELECTRICTY FROM BLACK FLAG in 2026
by Jimmy Alvarez
January 24, 2026
ALTerEGO’26 Takes Over Kia Forum
Festival Review
by Kevin Gomez
January 21, 2026
COMING SOON: THE OC SUPER SHOW!
by Kevin Gomez
January 19, 2026
BEACHLIFE FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH EPIC LINEUP
by Jimmy Alvarez
January 18, 2026
THE BREEDERS TOUR IS COMING TO SOCAL
by Jimmy Alvarez
January 16, 2026
SKA SMACKDOWN II | LIVE AT GARDEN AMP
Festival Review
by Kevin Gomez
January 13, 2026
STATE CHAMPS | AROUND THE WORLD AND BACK TOUR
by Amberlee Meyer
January 12, 2026
T.S.O.L. | ONE MORE EPIC SHOW AT THE OBSERVATORY
Concert Review
by Todd Markel
January 11, 2026
THE BLACK CROWES
Ready For a Pound of Feathers
by Traci Turner
January 11, 2026
DURAN DURAN LIVE at VIEJAS ARENA
Concert Review
by Amberlee Meyer
January 8, 2026
MERCY! Billy F Gibbons
Coming to The Grove of Anaheim
by Joey Clark
January 6, 2026
NEVER MIND THE ANARCHY
Here’s Gary Numan
by Jimmy Alvarez
January5, 2026
IRATION SET TO TOUR THIS SUMMER
by Bruce R. Kilgour
January 1, 2026
MADE IN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA [...]
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February 3, 2026UncategorizedNine Lives is Coming to The Palladium
February 3rd, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
We’re barely into 2026 and Goldfinger is already having a stellar year. Just a few weeks ago the Los Angeles ska-punk band released the cleverly titled “Nine Lives,” their ninth studio album.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of their game-changing self-titled debut album. The band got their start as lead singer and guitarist John Feldmann was working at a shoe store in Santa Monica and handed the band’s demo tape to an A&R executive.
It’s crazy to think that the band’s first effort could launch some of the biggest anthems of the ’90s including “Here in Your Bedroom” and “Mable,” which would become radio hits on 106.7 FM KROQ in Los Angeles.
However, it was their follow-up album, “Hang-Ups,” that would launch them into superstardom, with a little help from a skateboarding legend.
Tony Hawk included Goldfinger’s song “Superman” in his Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game in 1999, becoming one of the biggest video game franchises of all time. Although the game would spawn a series of hit sequels each with legendary soundtracks, Hawk himself called “Superman” the “unquestionable theme to our video game soundtrack.”
Internationally, their cover of Nena’s “99 Red Balloons” set their trajectory into the stratosphere. The combination of alt rock, punk rock and that third wave ska undertone really hit a chord with their ever emerging fanbase.
Today the band’s only two founding members are Feldmann and the incredibly talented Charlie Paulson in guitar and occasional backing vocals. However, they’ve picked up some pretty recognizable faces to round out the band including MxPx bassist and lead singer Mike Herrera, Moon Valjean on guitar, and Nick Gross on drums.
Last summer the band released the first sneak peak of the album with the first single, “Freaking Out a Bit” featuring blink-182’s Mark Hoppus on vocals (the song was co-written by Hoppus and band mate Travis Barker).
On November 7th, the band released their second single, “Chasing Amy.” “Nine Lives” also features appearances from Ice Nine Kills’ Spencer Charnas, Pennywise’s Jim Lindberg, and El Jefe, formerly of NOFX.
To support the new album Goldfinger just announced a huge hometown show at the Palladium in Los Angeles on August 22nd.
They’ll be bringing along Orange County punk legends The Vandals, fresh off their 30th Christmas Formal in December.
The band is always up for a rowdy party. Also playing will be fellow ska-punk pioneers Suicide Machines. The boys from Detroit will be tearing things up in Europe before joining Goldfinger in August.
Joining the stacked lineup will be Southern California’s Pulley. The band just played a stellar set this past weekend with Guttermouth in Rancho Cucamonga. Kicking things off will be relative newcomers Sullvn, led by Robert “Sully” Sullivan. The California band is currently set to support Goldfinger on a string of upcoming shows.
Get your tickets for this one, it will be a skankin’ good time!
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February 2, 2026UncategorizedThe Rise of Rock World Tour
February 2nd, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
As the calendar turns to February, the summer concert season is starting to take shape with a few announcements. For those who like their music loud, welcome news was dropped on us as Godsmack announces their The Rise of Rock World Tour.
The tour will kick-off in North America on May 7th in Daytona Beach and will make stops throughout the country including a few stops in California.
As for the tour, the band had some news for the fans. Through their socials, the band informed everyone that Tony Rombola and Shannon Larkin have retired from the band in favor of a lifestyle away from touring.
Sully Erna remains the power behind the mic that gave Godsmack mega hits “Voodoo,” and “Whatever” while “Sweet Leaf” is doing very well among the Godsmack faithful.
For this tour they will be joined by Stone Temple Pilots. That’s right, STP will be on this tour as well.
They too have era defining hits, “Plush,” “Interstate Love Song,” “Creep,” “Vasoline,” “Crackerman,” “Wicked Garden,” and “Sex Type Thing.” Robert and Dean DeLeo remain core members of the band while Jeff Gutt has proven to be a solid lead vocalist.
Rounding out the tour will have Dorothy opening on select events. The band stated on their Instagram page “Join us for a full night of rock n’ roll!”
Locally you can catch the tour on September 15th in Chula Vista at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre and on September 17th at Honda Center in Anaheim. General sale tickets go up February 6th at 10 a.m. local time. Get ready for a tour that will knock your socks off!
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February 1, 2026UncategorizedBrings The Up Up Down Down Tour to SoCal
February 1st, 2026 by Joey Clark
SoCal pop punk fans rejoice! Yellowcard will be returning this summer with a tour that cannot be missed! After releasing their record “Better Days” last year, the band has been gearing up for a tour that will showcase their new material, while paying tribute to their incredible back catalog.
Fans of the band have embraced this new era wholeheartedly as they’ve made the titular track Yellowcard’s first single to chart at number one on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay.
Joining in on the fun as supporting acts will be fellow Florida natives, New Found Glory, as well as the Plain White T’s. Both bands are longtime friends of Yellowcard, so this is sure to be an epic tour.
New Found Glory will be hot off the heels of a new release, “Listen Up!” (slated to drop on February 20th). On the flipside, the Plain White T’s will surely provide a strong foundation for the tour with an outstanding set that covers over two decades of material.
The Up Up Down Down tour will stop off at the Observatory Festival Grounds in Santa Ana on May 31st.
Undoubtedly, the night will flash us back to those hallowed earlier years at Warped Tour.
If you’re looking to reclaim a bit of your angsty, lovestruck adolescence, this is the show to do it!
Yellowcard frontman Ryan Key put it best as he explained his excitement for the tour, “We already know this will be one of the most special tours we’ve ever been a part of. Ocean Avenue, My Friends Over You, AND Hey There Delilah at the same show?!”
Locally you can catch the tour May 31st at the Observatory Festival Grounds. No matter where you call home, get your tickets now before they sell out! This is definitely a must-see event!
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January 29, 2026Uncategorizedand the BFG Band
Live at Grove of Anaheim
January 30th, 2026 Review by Amberlee Meyer
Billy Gibbons and the BFG band brought down the house… well, the Grove of Anaheim. Diehards and new fans alike could not have been more pleased with a tour like this one; focused on intimate venues like this one, there’s no bad seat in the house!
The Texas blues rock trio features Billy Gibbons (co-founder, lead vocalist, guitar player, primary songwriter of ZZ Top) on guitar and lead vocals, Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin on bass and organ, along with Chris “Whipper” Layton (of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble) on drums. Let me tell you, these boys came to play!
Gibbons and Flanigin adorned the stage in sparkly, bedazzled pink and brown cowboy-themed suits reminiscent of the iconic Nudie suits of the 1970s, complete with crystal Bolo ties and boots!
The set, a smattering of ZZ Top’s albums, was stacked full of hits and heavy-hitting, down-home Texas blues-rock. Opening with “Waitin’ for the Bus,” then jumping into “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” they got the crowd going with “Gimme All Your Lovin’” from the massively popular ZZ Top 1983 release, “Eliminator.”
The songs blended into one another like a heavy blues jam session, which went over famously. As they broke into another one of ZZ Top’s many radio hits, “Cheap Sunglasses,” Gibbons and Layton did those slick, coordinated moves ZZ Top was famous for. The audience loved it, singing along and shouting out the chorus.
Gibbons’ laid-back vocal technique on “Blue Jean Blues” highlighted his ability to dig down into that soulful place. His versatility and guitar ability were front and center for this one. Then, their rendition of Slim Harpo’s “I Got Love if You Want It” was a perfect example of Louisiana old-school, swamp blues – it did not disappoint. Flanigin was on fire with his Hammond organ; this top-shelf performance was mind-blowing.
They come runnin’ just as fast as they can…‘Cause every girl crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man!
Ever the raconteur, the formidable frontman knows how to tell a story, and he shared an incredible one about how a call from England in 1968 landed them a tour with the legendary Jimi Hendrix. As they blasted into a cover of “Foxy Lady,” the audience was left gob smacked!
“Brown Paper Bag,” the only new song performed from a yet-to-be-released studio album for Gibbons, was “south of the belt buckle” guitar-driven Texas blues at its finest.
After “Just Got Paid,” radio hit “Sharp Dressed Man” had the crowd cheering for more guitar, which they got with the hard-hitting songs “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” and “Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings.”
“La Grange” was the perfect closer and earned the gents a standing ovation. Thankfully they returned for an encore of “Thunderbird,” a Texas shuffle, which was received with thunderous applause!
This performance was something else; the musicianship was over the top, and if you have never experienced a Billy Gibbons show, you won’t want to miss out on the next one!
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Highway One Photography
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January 28, 2026UncategorizedTHE HUMAN LEAGUE
Returns to Southern California
January 27th, 2026 by Shane Pase
It’s been a long time coming, but The Human League is finally heading back to the States. The Sheffield synth-pop pioneers haven’t done a proper coast-to-coast American tour since 2011, and they’re making up for lost time with the Generations Tour, which stops at the Hollywood Bowl on June 4th.
And they’re not coming alone—Soft Cell and Alison Moyet are joining them for what might be the most perfectly curated bill of British new wave royalty you’ll see this year.
For those keeping track, The Human League has only played about a dozen US shows in the past decade. That’s it. So, this tour is kind of a big deal for anyone who’s been waiting to hear “Don’t You Want Me” live again or hoping to catch those classic “Dare” tracks in person.
The band—still anchored by Philip Oakey alongside vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley—has spent recent years doing festival circuits in the UK and Europe, but American fans have been mostly out of luck. Until now.
The Generations Tour isn’t built around new albums or reinventions. It’s a celebration of the music these three acts created in the early ‘80s, when synthesizers stopped being experimental noise and became the sound of pop radio.
The Human League practically wrote the playbook for synth-pop with “Dare” in 1981, turning futuristic sounds into massively catchy songs that still hold up today. Expect the hits—“Human,” “(Keep Feeling) Fascination,” “Love Action”—plus probably some deeper cuts for the faithful.
Soft Cell brings a different kind of energy to the bill, though the show will carry extra weight this year. Instrumentalist Dave Ball passed away in October 2025, just days after completing the duo’s final album “Danceteria,” which is set for release this summer.
Marc Almond is continuing under the Soft Cell name as a tribute to his collaborator of nearly 50 years.
You’ll get “Tainted Love,” “Memorabilia,” “Sex Dwarf,” “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye,” and if we’re lucky – “It’s a Mugs Game,” and “Tears Run Rings.” Obviously, but there’s something poignant about hearing these songs now, knowing the story behind them.
Alison Moyet rounds out the lineup, and unlike the other two acts, she’s actually touring behind recent material.
Her 2024 album “Key” reimagined 40 years of solo work alongside two new tracks, and her powerful voice—still one of the most distinctive in pop music—sounds as commanding as it did during her Yazoo days.
She’s been on the road throughout 2025, so expect a well-honed set that balances Yazoo classics with solo highlights.
Three legendary acts, one night, all at the Bowl. It’s the kind of show that doesn’t happen often, especially for artists who’ve been largely absent from American stages. If you’ve been waiting 15 years for The Human League to come back, this is your moment, and it’s going to be a great one!
Get your tickets for this one, tickets are on sale now.
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SID 260124 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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January 25, 2026UncategorizedALTerEGO’26
“On The Red Carpet”
January 23rd, 2026
After being cancelled last year due to the CA wildfires, ALTer EGO returned in a big way and it was definitely worth the wait. Green Day, Twenty One Pilots, Cage the Elephant, Sublime, Good Charlotte, Gigi Perez, Mt. Joy, and Almost Monday all gave incredible performances onstage, which we have already shared a review of. But OCMN was also hiding backstage to capture some intel from the artists – and some surprise guests – before they went into rock show mode.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Green Day had an amazing 2025 headlining Coachella, releasing a deluxe edition of their latest album, “Saviors,” and the 25-year celebration of “Warning.”
For 2026, the trio of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool will give us “New Years Rev,” a “coming-of-age” movie that follows a band of three teenagers traveling to LA expecting to open for Green Day.
Of course, it was also announced last week Green Day will open the Super Bowl on February 8th. With the game being played in their hometown area Santa Clara, the guys are sure to keep things free from the “MAGA agenda.”
Also, congrats to Mike Dirnt on being honored with a lifetime achievement award from Bass Magazine last week at The Observatory!
Twenty One Pilots is another band who had a monster huge 2025. Their worldwide, sold-out tour is still headed towards Europe as they promote their albums “Clancy” and “Breach.” Fans will get an inside look at the tour thanks to their upcoming concert film, “More Than We Even Imagined,” which hits theaters February 26th and features their Mexico City show.
Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun – who became a first-time dad last month – are also still getting praise for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” which they performed at ALTer EGO to the delight of the crowd.
Cage the Elephant… I mean, they opened for Oasis in 2025, so what more could be said? Matt Shultz, Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, Nick Bockrath, and Matthan Minster have just finished up their album cycle for “Neon Pill” with their own tour, Ohana Fest, and those little shows with Oasis – including the Rose Bowl. The guys will play a few festivals in 2026, but have earned some time off.
Perhaps one of the busiest bands of 2025 that will likely be busier in 2026 is Sublime. Jakob Nowell, Eric Wilson, and Bud Gaugh had a number one hit last year with their new track, “Ensenada,” and a new album, “Til the Sun Explodes,” is due this year. Nowell confirmed it is still on track: “Yeah, it’s the plan for sure. We’re going in and doing some finishing touches this next week. And we’re really excited about the material.” Then he laughed and said, “We’ve heard from scientists that it will happen one day.”
The guys have also announced their Me Gusta Festival, launching May 9th in Texas, and “accidentally” let it slip about their cruise with Nowell shouting, “Can we talk about the cruise yet, Joe, or no? We’re not doing a cruise. If we were, it probably would happen this year, and it would be rad. I told them we’re not doing it, Joe. They don’t suspect it.”
(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
Fortunately, they have since “officially” announced it: The Sublime Reef Madness Cruise will set sail November 15th through the 19th, depart from Miami and head to Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas on Norwegian Jewel.
The cruise will include two headline performances from Sublime, including “a front-to-back performance of their iconic self-titled album and a greatest hits set.” There will also be performances from Yelawolf, The Elovaters, Common Kings, Amigo The Devil, Long Beach Dub Allstars, DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, Codefendants, Jakobs Castle, Strange Case, and more. The first round of presale sign-ups are available now and the general on sale begins February 17th.
Good Charlotte appeared at ALTer EGO and it was surprisingly their first LA show in 10 years. Joel Madden has his various jobs (podcast, “Inkmaster”), as does his twin brother Benji (artist management), but they have made time for new music. The gents were joined by Paul Thomas and Billy Martin onstage to play tracks off their 2025 album, “Motel Du Cap,” their first album in seven years.
In addition to their own album, they recently collabed with Yellowcard on a new version of their number one song, “Bedroom Posters.” After an Australian tour, Good Charlotte will be back in the US this summer as they take on a co-headline tour across North America with Avenged Sevenfold.
If you have not heard of Gigi Perez, you must acquaint yourself pronto. Perez began releasing music in 2018, but after the devastating loss of her sister in 2020, her song “Celene” went viral, leading to an opening slot for Coldplay in Florida.
I asked Perez about the first song she fell in love with and she said, “I have a vivid memory of hearing ‘Turning Tables’ by Adele. I think it was one of the first CDs that my dad had bought. That, and I really remember the Hilary Duff CD, ‘Metamorphosis.’ It was the ‘Let the Rainfall Down,’ and the Adele ‘Turning Tables.’ I remember being 12 and being like, I fully thought I could feel the weight of heartbreak as a 12-year-old. (chuckling) It’s crazy that Adele could do that to me.”
But as some of her Perez’s own songs are written from real adult heartbreak, I asked if it was therapeutic to go through it via songwriting. “Absolutely. I think all of the songs that I’ve written, no matter how insanely difficult a feeling may be, when I’m able to articulate it, the way that I feel,” she stated. “A lot of my emotions feel like, even though I can understand them through words and just overall, unpack them, it’s something different when I can do it through a song.”
Perez went on, “It’s almost like it satisfies, and it’s like a certain puzzle that unlocks my brain. I think even just with the really hard songs from my album, ‘Fable’ was a song that honestly, I can’t believe I even could describe it into a song. I could have probably a two-hour conversation about it. How do I take something that literally takes up all of my time and my whole entire thought? And how do I concise that? And it just happened. And so, absolutely, I think that there’s a healing element of that, of just being able to do that therapeutically for me and then getting to share it with others is also the aspect of community. It changes everything and how I cope with.”
Last year was insane for Perez. She released her debut album, “At the Beach, in Every Life,” her “Sailor Song” went mega viral, she rocked the stage at Lollapalooza, appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and collaborated with Mumford and Sons, Alex Warren, and Mt. Joy. The insanity will keep up in 2026 as she heads to Australia next month (and will perform with her friends in Mt. Joy), and returns to the US as one of the acts at Coachella.
Perez’s friends in Mt. Joy have a busy year ahead as well. Yes, they are headed to Australia, then a whole mess of US festivals this summer, including Bonnaroo and Bottlerock, plus two nights at the iconic Red Rocks, and two nights at the legendary Greek.
Matt Quinn, Sam Cooper, Sotiris Eliopoulos, Jackie Miclau, and Michael Byrnes dropped “Hope We Have Fun” last summer and will spend 2026 celebrating 10 years of being a band. Quinn is excited because, “We’re just starting. I’m excited to get back out and play music with these guys because I’ve been sitting in my basement staring at the wall,” he joked.
Mt. Joy said they are working on some new music before hitting the road and when I asked about their first song loves, answers ranged from “Gravity” by John Mayer to “Ripple” by the Grateful Dead to “Brain Stew” by Green Day.
Perhaps the most energetic and nicest bunch on the red carpet was Almost Monday. Dawson Daugherty, Luke Fabry, and Cole Clisby exclaimed that it was their first red carpet and they seemed the revel in it. The guys admitted they were in disbelief about performing at ALTer EGO as they had covered most of the bands when they were in high school.
Almost Monday’s debut studio album, “Dive,” did the standard release in 2024, with a deluxe release in 2025. They toured the globe in support and are headed off to China next, then will “finish up some music.”
I asked what item they HAD to have on tour and they agreed headphones and AirPods. As for what the wildest event over the past year had been, Daugherty said, “Honestly, tonight. Really, tonight. We were sitting there and the spinning after Cage the Elephant is just so crazy. So we’re just really stoked.”
There were several surprise guests in the press area, including two of our favorite OC legends. Tony Kanal and Adrian Young from No Doubt would introduce Green Day to the stage later in the evening, but before that, they chatted with us.
I asked the two what it was like to work on songs for so long to complete albums, and then release those songs for us to love. Can they still love and enjoy them too? Kanal answered, “I think we get to enjoy it through our kids. Our kids are growing up and they’re learning about all the albums and stuff. Now they get to see us play live. That’s a whole different thing; seeing it through their eyes is amazing. I never thought that would happen in my life with our music.”
Young added, “It’s beautiful. There’s actually points where I need to tell them I can’t listen to this anymore.” He chuckled and continued, “I need to take a break because it’s just over and over and over again. I appreciate it. I’m glad that the kids like it, because if they didn’t, I would be a farmer.” This drew laughs from us all.
We discussed their upcoming May and June residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas and I asked about the details they could share. “We’ve been preparing for three or four months. We’re deep in it,” Kanal explained. “We’ve been rehearsing. I found myself in the basement just getting ready. But we’ve been working on this amazing thing with team, putting the show together. And I can’t wait to see what’s going to be the rest of the conversation,” he went on.
“It’s such a different way to build a show compared to the tour,” Young said. “And I won’t give up song titles, but there are going to be a couple… I’m looking forward to playing a few of the old ones that we haven’t played in decades.”
The gents brought their kids and wives to the show and said it felt odd since their lives are very suburban now. I asked, with such famous faces, can they just pop over to a store like Target or go shopping without being recognized. Kanal laughed, “Not in Vegas in May and June!”
Finally, we spoke to Sugar Ray frontman, Mark McGrath, who jumped into some No Doubt photos and personified joy in human form.
After making sure to introduce himself and ask my name (which is not common for press), McGrath took my ribbing in stride. I said he had a career in music, TV, this, that, and the other thing, so I wondered if he ever just sat down and relaxed.
McGrath laughed and said, “If you talk to my wife and kid, she’s like, ‘Dad’s always in his robe and hanging around and lying in the bath.’ I move around a lot. It’s probably what the public sees and what dates are out there, tours are out there. When I’m at home, my dog, a rope, Lakers on TV, and I couldn’t be happier.”
He chuckled and went on, “I’m a lot lazier than you think I am, but I do enjoy every opportunity. I’ve just been so lucky in this business to do things I shouldn’t really be doing – hosting TV shows, hosting radio shows. I think I’ve spread myself thin and where people will have me, at least. I try to walk through every door in every new opportunity, try and check it out. Challenging yourself is a good part of this business, too. Staying around, the more things you do, the more people you meet, hopefully that’ll help with your longevity.”
We joked about parenting teens and I asked if his kids understand how cool he is or is he lame because he is dad? In his energetic manner, he said his kids will say, “Drop me off a block away. Drop me off three streets away with your frost tips.” Again we laughed about some current trends, and he continued, “It’s a whole new dialect and language, but they’re really cool. I caught my son singing a Sugar Ray song the other day, and I’m like, ‘Got you.’ He said, ‘I love your songs, dad.’ It hit me in my heart. They’re good kids. I’m trying to raise good human beings, and they’re both there.”
I asked if there was any Sugar Ray new music on the horizon since I heard someone mention it nearby and McGrath explained, “I think if you’re in a band, you do two things. You play live and you’re always writing songs. If you ever want to ask someone, if they say they’re a songwriter, then let me see your voice memos on your phone. If they don’t have 1,000 bad ideas on their voice memos, they’re not a songwriter.” We laughed and he continued, “I’m always writing songs. Now, we’ve been fortunate to have some hit songs, so we’ll put them in the set. We try to introduce new songs every now and then and if they’re good enough, we stack a couple, we’ll put out something there. But you know, people want to hear the hits, and so do I.” He summed it up with, “We know why people are showing up, and if you want to hear the hits, you’re going to hear them.”
What an absolute delight McGrath – and really, everyone at ALTer EGO – was to speak with. How can ALT 987 top it in 2027? I’m sure they are already working on it…
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SID 260122 | JIMMY ALVAREZ | EDITOR [...]
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January 23, 2026UncategorizedMore Electricity in 2026 From
January 24, 2026 by Jimmy Alvarez
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to know! Sure, that’s a great name for an album title; but it’s also the best way to describe one of the most prolific punk bands of all time. The band from Hermosa Beach California that wears that moniker goes by the name of Black Flag!
Here’s the skinny on the band name – believe it or not, they were first called “Panic.” A bandmate suggested another name consideration. As the story goes, the social and political aspect of the band’s core values were considered. The discussion bled into a black flag compared to the white one. Clearly, they are polar opposites in every way possible. Instead of surrender and futility, the black flag symbolizes the contrast to the vanilla banner, their name symbolizes anarchy and a push back in the name of punkers worldwide; and thus, the band name was suggested then adopted; and the rest is history.
As for the band itself, it was formed in 1976 by guitarist / songwriter Greg Ginn along with lead singer Keith Morris (now with Circle Jerks). From day one, they took the punk rock world by storm; and life has never been the same. Since then, this band has had ebbs and flows that has seen a few lead singers including lightning bolt Henry Rollins back in the day.
With licks that challenged bands like Ramones, The Velvet Underground, MC5, New York Dolls, the Stooges and Social D, Black Flag rose quickly in the eyes and ears of the legions of their fans that flocked towards the new sound that was taking over the music landscape.
Sure, there were bands from across the pond that made significant noise in the early days of punk rock. Bands like The Damned, Sex Pistols, The Clash, and Buzzcocks were making monumental music that could not be ignored.
Truth is that era was very-very special, the collective efforts from both sides of the Atlantic was retrospectively historic. Their music is literally the soundtrack to our lives. Movies, television, commercials punk rock is literally everywhere; after all The Clash’s “Should I Stay, Or Should I Go” was even part of the soundtrack to season one of “Stranger Things.”
That said, there was just something raw and powerful about the music coming out of the States. Black Flag tapped into that angst and developed a sound and following that has never looked back.
The hits we love include “Rise Above,” “Fix Me,” “Six Pack,” “Revenge,” “Slip It In,” “Depression,” “In My Head,” and of course, “TV Party.” In the end, this band has blown up and Blackflagdom has taken off with a life beyond their music.
The name, the logo, the t-shirts and every bit of merch is just as popular today as it was when they first took to the stage.
Bottom line, Black Flag’s reach and influence on other bands, fans and society in general is far reaching and puts them at the top of the “influence” totem pole with other era-defining and epic bands.
Black Flag today consists of founding member Greg Ginn on guitar and backing vocals, lead vocalist Max Zanelly, David Rodriguez on bass, and Bryce Weston bangs on the skins. Their collective energy is simply electrifying.
Their onstage antics don’t fall short, ask their fanbase who to this day still can’t get enough of this band. I have been fortunate enough to cover them over the years, and the 2026 iteration of the band is just as dynamic as ever. Even after all these years, Ginn looks forward to taking the stage to play the music that has defined a generation, a genre and a movement.
As for their 2026 tour, so far, they have several dates set nationwide. The big festival will be the Coachella on weekend number one and two. In between all that, you can catch them in San Francisco, Fresno, Murrieta, Tucson, Pioneertown, Santa Ana, Fontana, Houston, Glendale, Flagstaff, and Sin City. Trust me, the show will be loud, then it will get louder before insanity and mayhem breaks out.
If you’re looking to spend some time taking in living history, mark your calendar and go out next week and see this band in the OC with the Dickies and Angry Samoans.
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SID 260119 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR [...]
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