Billy
Joel @ the Anaheim Pond
+ Anaheim, CA
The Piano Man hits
the road for another US tour.
Originally published: January 2005
If you’ve read
the reviews, it’s obvious that Billy Joel has never been the music
critic’s favorite (scribes have long called his music “generic”
and “homogenous”), but this hasn’t kept the public away. Every
solo release since 1974 has gone platinum several times over and rabid
fans have been known to follow him on tour not unlike the Grateful
Dead’s Deadheads.
The Piano Man: Billy’s most well known song, ‘Piano Man’
was written about a fairly depressing point in his life. After a few
financial disasters and a bout with clinical depression during the
release of his debut album, Billy retreated to Los Angeles until the
dust settled. During this time, he performed at various low-end bars
under the name Bill Martin. Months later, he signed to Columbia
Records and released ‘Piano Man’ -- his first Top 20 hit.
Kinder and Gentler: Now that he’s well into his 50’s expect
a far more subdued performance from Billy these days. When he started
out in the ‘70s, he always considered himself a rock star -- the
days of jumping off his piano, stomping on the ivories with his feet
and pushing baby grand’s off the stage into the orchestra pit in a
fit of rage are in the past. Now he treats each show with a bit more
elegance: count on humorous antidotes in between songs and a more
symphonic take on his old rockers like “Big Shot” and “It’s
Still Rock & Roll To Me.”
A busy year for Billy: Although he hasn’t released a proper
pop album since 1993’s ‘River of Dreams,’ Joel is currently
dealing with one of the busiest periods of his career. Besides his
much publicized wedding to 23-year-old television host, Katie Lee,
Joel’s is now authoring children’s books based on his songs as
well as overseeing ‘Movin’ Out’ -- a touring Broadway musical
also based on his classic tunes. Add his recent star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame to the fray and you’d think he was on top of the charts
again.
Interesting Fact: During his brief time at his Long Island, New
York high school, Billy had to take jobs playing piano at bars to
supplement the meager income his recently divorced mother was bringing
in. The late nights kept the piano-tinkling teen from making it to
school. All of his absences and suffering grades kept him from
graduating with his class.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists @
the House of Blues + Anaheim, CA
Unsung indie hero finally
reaps his rewards.
Originally published: July 2005
Although unknown
outside of the mainstream music press, Leo has been a major player
within the east coast indie scene since the late ‘80s. It wasn’t
until 1999 when he went solo with his backing band, the Pharmacists
that he became the poster boy for every glossy music magazine.
The Songs: Whereas
Leo’s early sound in the ‘80s and ‘90s was raw and loud (his
early music wavered between hardcore punk and minimal mod/garage
revivalism), his current music is a complete turnaround. Critics have
described his band’s 2004 release (‘Shake the Sheets’) as a
record full of soulful folk with literary brilliance and a touch of
humor that until now, has only recently been produced by the likes of
Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock and Elvis Costello.
Influences: Leo seems to have an undying love for older British
pop music and it’s woven in his music. He says that Paul Weller and
the late Joe Strummer are major influences and admits that he’s
always made it a point to purchase Morrissey and Smiths albums the day
they’re released.
Interesting fact: Wondering what Leo’s up to? He religiously
keeps a journal on his website in which he ponders everything from
recent political hot topics to unofficial band dates to life on the
road in his tiny tour van which Leo says always “smells like French
fries."
Fish
Fest @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
+ Irvine, CA
Originally published: April 2005
Think
Perry Farrell’s Lollapalooza, and then switch his Lollapalooza’s
typical alternative rock bands for modern Christian rock bands and you
get the idea of what Fish Fest is all about. Much like Lollapalooza,
Fish Fest is a non-stop music festival with several stages, dozens of
merchandise booths and an enormous selection of food vendors. The
artists names might escape you if you’re not familiar with
contemporary Christian music, but rest assured, the music is not like
the gospel songs you might think this festival is all about. Bands
like Kutless, Hawk Nelson, By the Tree and Audio Adrenaline actually
sound a little like Green Day or Good Charlotte, but with slightly
more wholesome lyrics. The music’s not all edgy though -- there are
a few pop artists as well: Michael W. Smith, Watermark and TobyMac
give the rest of the day a softer edge. It’s going to be a long
afternoon with unpredictable weather so dress for warm or cold
weather. Blankets and sunscreen are highly recommended for this event
as well.
The
Killers @ the Galaxy Theater + Santa Ana, CA
Originally
published: December 2003
This
concert is the perfect example of an unknown band booking a tour right
before they break in popularity and success. One day, this small Las
Vegas quartet is playing tiny clubs in its hometown, the next minute
it releases its debut “Hot Fuss” and plans a tour of small venues
to promote the album. All of a sudden, the record (thanks to its
infectious single, “Mr. Brightside”) gains immediate critical
praise and the band starts opening for the likes of Morrissey and
headlining British festivals (consequently, the UK’s influential
music magazine, the NME first championed the band). But it’s no
surprise as to why the Killers gained such an immediate positive
response -- its blend of slick synth-pop, German-influenced disco and
stark minimalism has captured the hearts of older music fans in their
late 20s/early 30s who were there for the first wave of bands (such as
Depeche Mode and Roxy Music). This is one of the Galaxy’s highest
profile shows of the year so expect a packed house with fans milling
around the venue looking to purchase scalped tickets.
The
Big West Basketball Semi-Finals @ Anaheim Convention Center
Originally
published: March 2004
As
legendary college hoops announcer Dick Vitale famously puts it,
“It’s March madness, baby!” and the Anaheim Convention Center
the hub of the west coast activity. The top eight Big West division
teams battle it out round-robin style to advance to the Nationals and
once again, Pacific has dominated the west with an awesome 23-2 season
so look for them to go on to the national playoffs. Of course, you
can’t count out Cal State Fullerton (with a third place ranking and
a strong finish during the regular season, these OC favorites have an
excellent shot at upsetting the tourney). Besides televising each
game, ESPN is also hosting a number of related events such as the Team
Mascot Challenge, the Fan Fest Party at the Anaheim House of Blues and
the Battle of the Big West Bands -- look to your official tournament
schedule for the times and specific locations of these and several
other extracurricular activities.
7
Seconds @ Chain Reaction + Anaheim, CA
Originally
published: February 2004
The
early ‘80s was a strange time for American music -- the country was
in a recession, nuclear war loomed on a daily basis and the music
industry was stagnating with fluffy bands like Journey, Styx and REO
Speedwagon. Then the second wave of American punk emerged and Reno,
Nevada’s 7 Seconds became a voice for kids who looked for an
alternative to popular top 40 music. Formed in 1980 by singer and
guitarist Kevin Seconds, 7 Seconds was one of the few punk bands of
the era to make politics and social
consciousness the focal point of their existence. The band promoted
clean living, political awareness and racial tolerance (completely
unheard of within the punk community at the time). Now over 25 years
after the its formation, 7 Seconds’ message of the youth of America
is still prevalent as much today as it was when Reagan became
president. If you thought Green Day’s “American Idiot” was a
politically epic album, thank 7 Seconds for paving the way for the
fusion punk rock and politics. Tip: a typical 7 Seconds show is going
to get a little show enthusiastic so prepare for some very physical
mosh pits.
Meet Newt Gingrich @ the Nixion Library + Yorba Linda, CA
Originally
published: March 2005
Whether
you agree with his politics or not, you have to admit that Newt
Gingrich can really take command of a room -- his booming tenor and
articulate vernacular draws listeners in like a beacon (he’s one of
the country’s most sought after public speakers). Gingrich hasn’t
been in office since 1998, but that doesn’t mean he’s taken a
break from politics -- he just finished writing his
eleventh book: “Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract With
America.” It’s a bold, Republican stance on winning the war on
terror, restoring religion to public life, reforming Social Security,
restoring patriotism in our schools and making our health care the
global standard. In this rare Orange County appearance, Newt reads
excerpts from the books as well as expounds on some of its theories.
If you buy the book at the event, he’ll even sign it for you (ask
nice and he’ll pose for a photo with you as well. Why not? How often
does one get their photo taken with a former Time magazine Man of the
Year?
T.S.O.L. @ the Galaxy
Theater + Santa Ana, CA
Originally published:
September 2005
Formed
in Huntington Beach in 1978, True Sounds of Liberty (a.k.a. T.S.O.L.)
hit the west coast punk scene in 1981 with the critically acclaimed
‘Dance With Me.’ While T.S.O.L.’s American contemporaries were
singing about beer, girls and politics, the quartet melded dark,
romantic gothic imagery with a subtle pop edge. With white face paint,
ratty hair and a haunting stage presence, T.S.O.L. soon became one of
the pioneers of the “Orange Invasion” a nod to their Orange County
roots. After flirting with the glam rock scene in the late ‘80s,
numerous lineup changes and the inevitable breakup, the core of the
original band reformed and has toured on a limited basis around the
country. The band’s last album (2003’s ‘Divided We Stand’)
seems like ancient history and there are no foreseeable studio
recordings in the future, but this show at the Galaxy is part of a big
promo push for its DVD release, ‘Live in Hawaii.’ Note: you might
want to make this show if you’re a fan – even though tickets close
to selling out, it’s the final gig of the tour and rumors of a
breakup have been making the rounds again.
The
Trashcan Sinatras @ The Coach House + Santa Ana, CA
Originally
published: November 2004
When the
Trash Can Sinatras broke onto the scene in 1990 with the single
‘Obscurity Knocks,’ music journalists worldwide dubbed the
Scottish group the next Smiths. Sure, every British band that utilizes
jangly guitars is crowned the next Smiths, but the Sinatras were
actually the one band that deserved the
honor. Unfortunately the grunge rock movement of 1991 rendered
this band’s Brit-pop sound obsolete and they were quickly forgotten
in the US. More than 11 years after the release of the band’s last
American LP, the Sinatras have released ‘Weightlifting’ which is
surprisingly being heralded by critics as their greatest album ever.
But has the decade-long absence affected this quintet’s once
mesmerizing stage show? Absolutely not -- glowing reviews of their
summer 2004 concerts reveal that the band’s upbeat and playful stage
presence is still intact. Because this is the first US Sinatras tour
since 1993, expect a full house of rapturous fans fighting for space
at the front of the stage -- get to the venue early or spend the night
peering over everyone’s head.
Core
Tour
Extreme BMX Bike & Skate Competition @ Huntington Beach Pier
Originally
published: September 2004
Think
of the Core Tour as a small-scale version of the X-Games -- even
though it’s only been in existence since 2001 (as opposed to the
X-Games which practically invented the extreme sports genre in 1994).
The Core Tour is a traveling circus of internationally renowned
skateboarders, BMX bikers, in-line skaters and mountain boarders going
head-to-head for big fat checks but more importantly, Tony Hawk-level
name recognition. Although this event doesn’t officially begin until
Saturday, the Huntington Beach Pier will be transformed Friday
afternoon so the athletes have a chance to get a feel for the course
(event organizers encourage fans to come out on this low-key afternoon
and meet the athletes.) The excitement picks up tenfold Saturday
morning as the official games begin at 9AM and continue on three
courses throughout the weekend. And don’t forget about the live
music stage: local punk bands will play back-to-back for the duration
of both afternoons, which should make for a great soundtrack to the
weekend.
Things to bring: sun block, a hat, a camera and extra cash for parking
(since this is a pretty big event, street parking is going to be near
impossible to find so your best bet is the city-run parking garages).
Hank Williams, Jr. at the
House of Blues, Anaheim
Still cooking up his brand of southern-fried rock.
Originally
published: September 2004
When he
first took the stage at eight years old, Hank Williams, Jr. was
essentially a cutesy cover act. In his late twenties, he rose above
the novelty tag, composed his own country-tinged rock and became one
of the earliest bad boys of the music scene. Think of him as the
original Kid Rock.
The Cowboy: Hank Jr. will always be thought of as an American
cowboy. Such hits as ‘Long Gone Lonesome Blues’ and ‘Standing in
the Shadows’ made him a country-western superstar. He was never
comfortable with being a country singer though -- he hated the
constant battle of living up to his dad’s legacy.
The Rockstar: When
Hank Jr. hit his 30s he made a major decision. He stepped away from
his father’s shadow and became an artist unto his own. He dropped
the country tunes in favor of Southern rock 'n' roll. Recording with
Charlie Daniels and Johnny Cash, Hank Jr. emerged as the king of
outlaw country rock.
The Songs: With a career that began in 1964 and spawned over 70
albums, Williams has created one of the most extensive catalogues of
original music. His concert set lists are rarely the same and he’s
not above taking requests from fans that scream for his classics.
Strange fact: Hank should be dead. While vacationing in Montana
in 1976, he fell from a 500-foot cliff during an afternoon hike.
Besides breaking most of his limbs, he suffered a split skull which
exposed his brain and brutally damaged his face. After major
reconstructive surgery and a lot of rehab, Hank recovered. His
recovery lent to a more positive outlook within his music.
The Secret Affair @ Memphis + Santa
Ana, CA
Originally
published: June 8, 2004
It’s
a specific and extremely obscure genre and it rarely gets a dedicated
club night, but true ‘70s-era mod music finally has a home --
unsurprisingly, the Memphis Cafe in Santa Ana (home of obscure club
nights). So what’s northern soul music? Mostly ‘60s-era American
soul (think Motown, Stax and Tamla records), English bands like The
Jam and the first few years of the Who as well as dub artists like
Peter Tosh and Bob Marley before they turned to reggae. Look for this
club night to be hipster central among Orange County’s artists and
music snobs -- that isn’t a bad thing either -- it’s just that mod
music attracts a very specific, well-dressed and knowledgeable crowd.
There might be some dancing, but this club night will mostly attract
closet mod fans who are going to show up to sip a few cocktails and
appreciate long lost and forgotten music rather than work up a sweat
on Memphis’ small dance space.
Super
7 Paintball World Series @ Huntington Beach Pier
Originally
published: February 11, 2004
Referred
to as ''the greatest paintball event on earth'' by the National
Professional Paintball League, the Super 7 Paintball World Series
draws professional and amateur paintballers from around the world to
Huntington Beach. Yes, you read that correctly: professional
paintballers. Don't mistake paintballing as a recreational hobby for
kids: this three-day round-robin tournament has a $437,500 purse at
stake, and ESPN is broadcasting the entire event. Each squad consists
of 10 to 12 players who maneuver through an obstacle course on the
sand just south of the pier and shoot at competing squads in an effort
to advance to Sunday afternoon's finals. Besides the surfing
competitions, this is Huntington Beach's most popular sporting event,
so get there early to stake your claim to a bird's-eye vantage point
on the pier or find a spot on the temporary bleachers -- the seats
always go fast for this immensely popular event.
Mellowdrone
@ Detroit Bar + Costa Mesa, CA
Originally
published: April 2004
You
may not have heard of this Los Angeles pop act yet, but you will very
soon. Jonathan Bates (who makes up the band along with the occasional
backup musician), is the brains and brawn behind Mellowdrone. He
crafts simple, layered songs using guitar sequencers, samplers and
effects pedals to create haunting soundscapes that usually end with
him screaming the final lyrics as he pounds away on a vintage guitar.
His sets are so subtle and cathartic, audience members usually just
stare in silence for fear of ruining Bates' seemingly private moment.
But soon, Bates will have to learn how to play to louder, larger
crowds because Johnny Marr (former guitarist of the Smiths) has asked
Bates to open up for his band's first American tour. It's exposure
like this that will take Mellowdrone out of the tiny clubs and into
the big theater gigs it deserves.
