A wonderful look back: Coachella 2010

Photo information: I was in the VIP area on Sunday, April 18 when I ran into singer-songwriter Jónsi.

Although it was just a week ago when I was beginning my Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival experience for 2010, it really does seem like a lifetime ago.

Although I posted several video blogs from the Empire Polo Club and the Orange County Register published a series of four posts on my experience at the three-day event earlier this week on the Soundcheck blog, I wanted to offer up a final rundown of my trek to Coachella here.

Friday, April 16
Coachella for me got started with a roar. Indeed, New York's As Tall As Lions was the first artist I caught and ultimately proved to be the biggest surprise of day one. Performing in the Mojave tent, the Long Island quartet focused on songs from 2009’s excellent You Can’t Take It with You, including its excellent title tune and the lead-off track “Circles.” The band clearly is ready to make that leap to the Big Leagues, with singer-guitarist Dan Nigro leading his mates through an undeniably powerful 45-minute set. It can be exceedingly difficult for a young band to make an impression in the early and hottest part of the day, amid an overwhelming and conflicting schedule of Huge Names. But As Tall as Lions stood out all the same.

Hockey is an energetic quintet whose sound recalls '80s dance rock. The Portland, Oregon band's strong 40-minute set (played out in a very hot part of the day) included "Work," "Wanna Be Black" and several other standout tracks from 2009's "Mind Chaos" album.

Although I can't recall any day at Coachella in my previous years of attending the fest that I didn't catch at least one set on the main stage, this day was different. After Hockey finished up around 5:10, I headed over to the Outdoor Theatre and ended up spending the rest of Friday afternoon and night there. She & Him delivered a breezy, fun and memorable set of retro-'60s tunes from the duo's releases. As good as the two albums from singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel and multi-instrumentalist M. Ward are, I wondered how the music would go over in a spacious outdoor setting. No worries; songs such as "Over It Over Again" (from "Volume Two") and "This Is Not a Test" (off "Volume One") sounded great. The duo's 45-minute set was among the most fun I saw all weekend.

Passion Pit also had success here. The Boston-band ensemble definitely impressed in its Coachella debut. Lead singer-songwriter Michael Angelakos noted playing at the festival was a “Dream come true” and noted the Massachusetts band had never played a show with this many people.

Passion Pit featured songs from the band’s impressive 2009 debut “Manners,” including a riveting “To Kingdom Come.” The group’s mix of ‘80s synthesizer, techno and other dance-pop styles was a great fit as the sun dropped down over the mountains and cooling temperatures were taylor made to get the huge crowd to move to the music.

After the high-powered set delivered by Passion Pit on the Outdoor Theatre stage on Friday night, it appeared that someone took a gigantic broom and swept everybody away. Indeed, at 8 p.m., it seemed that Echo and the Bunnymen might well be performing in front of a sparse crowd despite the ideal time frame.

However, Ian McCulloch (pictured above) and his band mates had no cause for concern. By the time the ‘80s hit makers took the stage just after 8:30 p.m., a large crowd was on hand to hear the outfit play many of its greatest songs in the magical setting at Coachella that seems to make even classic rockers sound like they have plenty to prove.


The biggest cheers came for Echo & the Bunnymen’s fantastic “The Killing Moon” and “The Cutter,” however the band scored early and hard with “Do It Clean” (an older song that was a hit for the band in England) and “Nothing Lasts Forever” (a medley that included bits of Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” also came in that song). McCulloch sounded strong and his voice hit all the notes like it was 1985 again.

Although many artists come to Coachella to define and validate their status as an up-and-comer, Echo & the Bunnymen’s 50-minute set offered up a chance to see this band – as well as its songs – still matter.

Mission accomplished.

Vampire Weekend drew the lively response from the audience that Passion Pit had several hours earlier. I have to admit to having not yet fallen under the spell of the band, but there is no doubt that just about everyone else crowded in front of the Outdoor Theatre couldn't get enough of the troupe.

Day one ended with a strong set from Public Image Limited. My favorite performances proved to be of the songs I knew from radio airplay ("This is not a Love Song," "Rise"). John Lydon is an interesting and outspoken frontman and made good use of his late-night platform to rant, rave and rock.

Saturday, April 17
Although I had caught a mind-bending seven full-length sets from seven artists on day one, I was in for an even longer day of music listening on day two.

But pity those who didn’t get to Coachella early on day two.

Two of the best performances I caught on Saturday amounted to a one-two punch on the Outdoor Theatre stage, thanks to Seal Beach-based Rx Bandits’ 55-minute set and Porcupine Tree’s near hour-long foray on the same stage that was to follow.

Rx Bandits made the most of their early showtime (12:30 p.m. is early, especially with the sweltering early afternoon sun), performing in front of a relatively small but rabid fan base that was here to see “their” band.

When the band originally formed in Orange County in the late 1990s, Rx Bands (then billed as the Pharmaceutical Bandits, the group was part of the popular ska movement (think No Doubt, Jeffries Fan Club, etc.). No more.

The band now plays a masterful blend of folk, blues, jam rock and doses of just about everything else. Master chops and strong song selection were key to RX Bandits’ solid outing at Coachella, including several tracks where singer-guitarist Matt Embree and lead guitarist Steve Choi would dual on electric guitars. Bassist Joseph Troy and drummer Christopher Tsagakis were part of the well-armed outfit.

Porcupine Tree proved to best several more high-profile hard rock bands that I also saw perform on Saturday, including buzz trio Band of Skulls and main stage rockers Coheed and Cambria. Indeed, I thought the relatively-unnoticed English group performed one of the most impressive sets of day two, with several concert-goers coming up to me and asking “Who are these guys?”-styled queries.

The nuance of the British folk-meets-progressive rock of Porcupine Tree was a revelation, notably the beautiful and reflective “Lazarus” featuring lead singer Steven Wilson seated at the keyboard and singing one of the key songs from “Deadwing.” Later in the set, he set out with his bandmates on the ambitious “Time Flies.” One of the featured tracks on 2009’s “The Incident,” “Time Flies” featured him playing both acoustic and electric guitar and showcased the natural comparisons that can be drawn between this band and genre pioneers such as Pink Floyd.

Although the quartet has been around since the late 1980s, it’s nice to see Porcupine Tree getting some well-deserved accolades. Count me among the group’s newest fans.

Next, I headed over to the Gobi tent to check out Girls. The San Francisco outfit played its loose Big Star/Brian Wilson/Lou Reed mix of neo-psychedelic power-pop to an enthusiastic crowd. Although I enjoy the band's disc "Album" more than the show itself, versions of the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream" and the group's own songs provided plenty of thrills to keep me parked in the hot tent for all of the band's 45-minute set.

Maybe the second biggest disappointment of the fest for me was the set from English trio Band of Skulls. I am a big fan of the outfit's 2009 disc "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey." The group struggled early to get its sound and/or equipment working well and they didn't seem to be geared toward connecting with the packed crowd in the Gobi tent. "Death By Diamonds and Pearls" definitely got the headbangers going, but the set fell flat for me. In fact, after four songs, I bolted in search of an early dinner.

Americana quintet Old Crow Medicine Show made its first-ever appearance at Coachella over the weekend, performing on the main stage on Saturday at 3 p.m. Because I was waiting to see Girls, I missed the group. Well, not entirely.

Wanting to make the most of the day, Old Crow Medicine Show decided rather than simply do interviews in the VIP area, they would actually play an unannounced acoustic performance for fans gathered to meet and greet the band. I caught the end of that short set.

After watching the fiery Nashville, Tennessee-based troupe perform “Jimmy Sutton” (a traditional square dance-minded classic), lead singer-guitarist Willie Watson talked about coming to Indio to be a part of the legendary festival.

“It went over great,” Watson told me. “It was an enthusiastic California crowd ready to dance and shake to old-time fiddle music.”

With Old Crow Medicine Show’s two performances complete, Watson said he was hoping to catch a few of the other acts performing later on Saturday.

“I am really looking forward to seeing Devo,” he said.


I grabbed something to eat (a burger I think) and then decided to watch Coheed and Cambria. The first act I was really able to see on the Coachella Stage, the band displayed good chops, but the music itself is simply not that original. I felt as if I had heard all the hard rock chops before. Sorry guys.

Although a reunited Faith No More proved to be much stronger than Coheed and Cambria, it were Saturday's headliners that delivered the goods. Muse simply rocked Coachella in the way you want it to happen. Opening with a powerful "Uprising" and "Supermassive Black Hole," the band never looked back. The group's bigger-than-big sound reminded me of the Queen shows I caught when I was a youngster, and there is a powerful blend of classical music and arena rock that really works. Count me as impressed.

Day two ended and merged into day three as I watched Devo thrill the masses not afraid to keep the party going as long and late as possible. Sure, Devo has been performing its artsy mix of new wave, punk, alternative rock and art damage since the early ’70s. But how wonderful to see the band pack the Mojave tent late Saturday night and generate the kind of excitement that usually greets newer acts playing the fest. What’s more, Devo’s new material — notably the infectious rocker “Fresh” — was just as powerful as the group’s big 1980 hit “Whip It.” The outfit still sounds timeless and modern, and the creative use of video juxtaposed with each song provided something magical that will surely (and quickly) become part of Coachella lore.

Sunday, April 18

By day three, I was pretty tired. The long days of standing in the blazing sun and getting up early to email posts to my editor had started to take their toll. But the good news, I saw some incredible performances on Sunday. Singer-songwriter Kevin Devine kicked things off just after noon with a politically-charged set in the Gobi tent and things only got better from there. L.A.'s Local Natives, Mutemath, Deerhunter and Sunny Day Real Estate all performed fantastic sets. But it were the trio of sets from Jónsi, Phoenix and Thom Yorke (with his outfit Atoms for Peace) that I will long remember.

Jónsi – This Icelandic singer-songwriter’s solo album go is already one of my favorites this year, and the chance to see him showcase cuts off the newly-released nine-song disc drew me to the Outdoor Theatre early on Sunday. My expectations were high, yet the Sigur Rós frontman’s potent set exceeded them handily. When Jónsi closed with an extended and emotive “Grow Till Tall,” it was as if the desert sky had been shattered by his tenor voice soaring high into falsetto amidst the layered backdrop of percussion, keyboards and other instruments.

One of the most original artists of the modern rock era, his blend of world music, rock, classical and experimentation continues to challenge, thrill and touch listeners on levels that defy most writers (this one included) to adequately convey it in words. If you haven’t seen Sigur Rós or Jónsi, please do — it’s a must.

In terms of the sets from Phoenix and Thom Yorke's supergroup Atoms for Peace, these were also fantastic. Phoenix was upbeat and fueled a dance-styled craze on the field, while Yorke's show was intense and artful.

I did check out some of Gorillaz' night ending display on the Coachella Stage, but truthfully I was so exhausted from the weekend that I headed for my car early. Coachella continues to be one of the strongest concert events on my calendar and I hope to be able to make it an annual event.

Coachella: Day 2 highlighs

Coachella Day Two: Rx Bandits, Porcupine Tree get it going

Pity those who didn’t get to Coachella early on day two.

Two of the best performances I caught on Saturday amounted to a one-two punch on the Outdoor Theatre stage, thanks to Long Beach-based Rx Bandits’ 55-minute set and Porcupine Tree’s foray on the same stage that was to follow.

Rx Bandits made the most of their early showtime (12:30 p.m. is early, especially with the sweltering early afternoon sun), performing in front of a relatively small but rabid fan base that was here to see “their” band.

When the band originally formed in Orange County in the late 1990s, Rx Bands (then billed as the Pharmaceutical Bandits, the group was part of the popular ska movement (think No Doubt, Jeffries Fan Club, etc.). No more.

The band now plays a masterful blend of folk, blues, jam rock and doses of just about everything. Master chops and strong song selection were key to RX Bandits’ solid outing at Coachella, including several tracks where singer-guitarist Matt Embree and lead guitarist Steve Choi would dual on electric guitars. Bassist Joseph Troy and drummer Christopher Tsagakis were part of the well-armed outfit.

Porcupine Tree proved to best several more high-profile hard rock bands that I also saw perform on Saturday, including buzz trio Band of Skulls and main stage rockers Coheed and Cambria. Indeed, I thought the relatively-unnoticed English group performed one of the most impressive sets of day two, with several concert-goers coming up to me and asking “Who are these guys?”-styled queries.

The nuance of the British folk-meets-progressive rock of Porcupine Tree was a revelation, notably the beautiful and reflective “Lazarus” featuring lead singer Steven Wilson seated at the keyboard and singing one of the key songs from “Deadwing.” Later in the set, he set out with his bandmates on the ambitious “Time Flies.” One of the featured tracks on 2009’s “The Incident,” “Time Flies” featured him playing both acoustic and electric guitar and showcased the natural comparisons that can be drawn between this band and genre pioneers such as Pink Floyd.

Although the quartet has been around since the late 1980s, it’s nice to see Porcupine Tree getting some well-deserved accolades. Count me among the group's newest fans.

Video post from Coachella - Day 2

Crazy Coachella: day 1

I got to bed around 3 a.m. this morning and I'm realizing I won't be able to post any in-depth accounts of my music experience at Coachella until I return to The OC next week. I just don't have the energy and I want to process what I've seen.

However, I will tell you I saw many fantastic performances and Coachella lives up to its legacy yet again.

As Tall As Lions, Passion Pit and Hockey were among the newer artists I had not seen before that delivered fine performances, and it was fantastic to finally see Echo & the Bunnymen for the first time.

I'll have more to share for sure in the days ahead, including news, reviews and photos!

I'm off to day two of the fest now...

Cramming for Coachella

What have I been listening to lately?
A bunch of new discs ranging from the latest disc from Thom Yorke ("The Eraser") to Jonsi's "Go." But the list goes on and on: As Tall As Lion's "You Can't Take It With You" and Band of Skulls' "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey." You get the idea. Lots of music from bands set to perform at Coachella this weekend.

I always look forward to heading east out past the wind farms and Palm Springs, and to Indio, where cutting-edge artists perform in the most amazing of settings amidst a sea of music fans ready to brave the scorching sun during the day and unpredictable weather at night. I hope to update this blog on a daily basis with mini-reviews of the music, artwork and overall experience that is Coachella.

My hope is the three-day concert is worth the lack of sleep, aching feet, stench of humanity and lackluster food that come with a huge music fest.

Some of the artists I plan to see (if things line up since there are five stages and many of the performances overlap) include Muse, Phoenix, Porcupine Tree, Jonsi, Girls, Band of Skulls, Grizzly Bear, Hockey (whose 2009 album "Mind Chaos" is very good), She & Him (I love the duo's latest disc), aforementioned As Tall As Lions, Thom Yorke, DEVO and many, many more!


I'll check in with you on Friday or Saturday this week. To be continued.

Eddie Money to perform at benefit concert on April 10

Friends of Arts Education at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts presents 17th Annual Gala Benefit Concert Two Tickets to Paradise on Saturday, April 10

CERRITOS, CA - Two Tickets to Paradise is the theme for the 17th Annual Friends of Arts Education Gala on Saturday, April 10. The event, to be held at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, will benefit arts education outreach programs. Each year this event benefits arts education outreach programs and offers guests two ways to support the cause - guests can purchase a concert-only ticket for Eddie Money's performance - or enjoy the full-evening festivities which includes cabaret seating for the performance, an elegant dinner by Choura Event Catering and silent and live auctions. Full-evening Gala tickets are $185 and are available from the Friends of Arts Education at (562) 916-1272. Concert-only tickets are $52 and $37. Tickets are available at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office, by calling (562) 467-8818, or at www.cerritoscenter.com. All proceeds support Friends arts education programs.

For more information on this event and how to get tickets, please visit www.cerritoscenter.com or www.friendsofaecc.com.

The Church concert is one to remember

The Church may be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2010, but after catching the Australian quartet deliver a dynamic and wide-ranging performance before a packed house at the Coach House on Friday night, April 2, fans can certainly be thankful this is no farewell tour.
The band kicked off its self-dubbed “The Church: An Intimate Space” 30th Anniversary American Tour” at the Coach House with a fantastic show that included a few technical glitches in the early minutes, but quickly evolved into a dramatic and wide-reaching celebration of the outfit’s distinctive sound and approach.
As promised in the promotion of the tour and the free colorful program passed out to everyone as they stepped inside the venue (what a contrast to the $30 necessary to purchase a program at the Paul McCartney concert earlier in the week), bassist-lead singer Steve Kilbey, guitarists Marty Willson-Piper and Peter Koppes and drummer Tim Powles started the show with a song (“Pangaea”) from their latest album (Untitled #23) and proceeded to offer other songs from earlier albums in reverse chronological order as the night went on.
Although the group didn’t follow that formula perfectly, it was hard to argue with a set list that allowed the band to play songs that showcased its dreamy neo-psychedelic alt-rock in all its various shades.
There was edgy rock (“Space Needle”) with Kilbey (seen above in a picture I snapped on Friday night) kicking off the song singing to the accompaniment of his bass guitar, which he strummed like a guitar before the rest of the group kicked in. And the Church offered up a reworked version of its hit “Reptile” like a jazz song – except for the classical-styled solo that Willson-Piper added with his acoustic guitar.
While many casual fans likely counted the band’s “Under the Milky Way” as a favorite performance of the night, there were other selections that easily equaled that hit thanks to the enthusiasm of the band and lush arrangements offered up by the Church. Indeed, all four members of the troupe played a variety of instruments throughout the two-hour concert.
The beautiful “Ionian Blues” and “Invisible,” the Americana-tinged “Louisiana” with Koppes adding some textured mandolin and the up-tempo rocker “Comedown” came in the first set, while the second half of the show surprised at every track thanks to the momentum of the performance.
“Metropolis” allowed Willson-Piper to display his talents playing flamenco guitar, while the use of 12-string guitars, keyboards and harmonica gave added life to the big hit “Under the Milky Way.”
During the first of the group’s several encores, Kilbey explained that because Smashing Pumpkins had once covered a Church song, now the Church was going to return the favor. The band then proceeded to offer up a powerful and haunting cover of “Disarm.”
This was truly a night to celebrate a great band whose music and songs still resonate. It’s no wonder that relatively few in the near-capacity crowd left before the concert came to a close at midnight.

Paul McCartney fires up the Hollywood Bowl

Paul McCartney, as photographed on the video screen. The shot of the Hollywood Bowl and fireworks were taken during "Live and Let Die."

I still can't believe that it has been more than 40 years since The Beatles broke up, and nearly 50 years since the Fab Four arrived on the international stage.

Watching 67-year-old Paul McCartney tear through a mind-boggling set of material dating from the early 1960s to the dawn of this century in a sold-out show at the Hollywood Bowl last night (Tuesday, March 30) was worth the ticket price for sure. But what is even more impressive is how McCartney and his music (whether performing his own songs, or gems penned by John Lennon and George Harrison) defy the "here today, gone today" mindset of modern-day celebrity and pop culture.

Although I was seated way in the back of the gigantic venue (I purchased my tickets through American Express pre-sale and despite getting online immediately, got terrible seats), McCartney and his strong four-man band delivered magic for close to three hours.

While McCartney's best-known staples were all delivered in fine form ("Let It Be," "Hey Jude," "Yesterday"), it were many of the alternative choices that delighted me most. I first caught McCartney live with his band Wings back at the Forum in the late 1970s (I think it was in 1976) and he played few Beatles songs at that show. Nowadays, McCartney raids music's most illustrious catalog and we fans can only shout (and sing along) at our good fortune.

On Tuesday night, McCartney offered up a two-tier take on Harrison's "Something." He began the song alone accompanied by the actual ukulele (a small four-string musical instrument) given to him by Harrison before the rest of his band came in with an arrangement resembling the version on Abbey Road. Lead guitarist Rusty Anderson provided the wonderful solo.

A few songs later, McCartney noted that he was going to perform a song he had not played on tour in America until this current one; what followed was a lively, feel-good "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" that pleased kids of all ages.

He also performed Lennon's haunting lines in "A Day in the Life" (as well as his own), before going into a crowd-rousing "Give Peace a Chance" in tribute to his old bandmate.

But what made this show particularly memorable for me was the inclusion of more rare stuff.

When it came to choice Beatles tracks, there was "Two Of Us" and an extended "Paperback Writer."

One of my favorite songs from the Wings era is a great soulful rocker "Letting Go" from his Venus And Mars album. And while the original recorded version boasts a horn section and had a slight funk groove, the guitar-anchored take offered up at the Hollywood Bowl was fantastic.

Sir Paul and company even kicked off the night with the title track from that great disc, a song that boasts the apt lyric "rock 'n' roll at the Hollywood Bowl." And there is no doubt that the Bowl's incredible outdoor setting was the perfect place to stage the dazzling fireworks that soared into the cold night as the band rocked out playing "Live and Let Die."

It takes a lot to drag me up to the Hollywood Bowl on a weeknight, to fight the gridlock and fork over $21 to park (no kidding! I paid just over $11 for my ticket to see McCartney & Wings 35 years ago!), but this was a concert experience I'll always remember. A Magical Mystery Tour indeed.

Here is the setlist from Tuesday (the concert began at 8:13 p.m. and ended at 11 p.m.):

1) Venus and Mars

2) Jet

3) All My Loving

4) Letting Go

5) Got to Get You Into My Life

6) Highway (The Fireman)

7) Let Me Roll It

8) Foxey Lady (a short instrumental jam of the Jimi Hendrix classic)

9) The Long and Winding Road

10) Nineteen-Hundred and Eighty Five

11) Everything's Fine

12) My Love

13) I'm Looking Through You

14) Two Of Us

15) Here Today (a moving tribute to John Lennon)

16) Dance Tonight

17) Mrs. Vanderbilt

18) Eleanor Rigby

19) Something

20) Sing the Changes (Fireman)

21) Band on the Run

22) Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

23) Back In The USSR

24) I've Got a Feeling

25) Paperback Writer

26) A Day in the Life

27) Give Peace a Chance

28) Let It Be

29) Live and Let Die

30) Hey Jude

31) Day Tripper

32) Lady Madonna

33) Get Back

34) Yesterday

35) Helter Skelter

36) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Reprise

37) The End

Orianthi, Piebald and others standout at Bamboozle

Photo credit: Drew A. Kelley

This story was originally published earlier today on the Orange County Register Web site in the Soundcheck blog.

With any kind of festival featuring so many artists spread across a trio of stages, there are sure to be hits and misses. Fortunately, there were a number of highlights strewn throughout Sunday's (March 28) second half of the Bamboozle California to make the even worthwhile.

Strumming awy on the side stage was Bobby Long, a British singer-songwriter with a rick, authentic baritone, who delivered his songs to the lone accompaniment of an acoustic guitar. He got a small but enthusiastic crowd to listen to winning songs such as "Penance Fire Blues."

Following Long on the side stage was San Diego-based We Shot the Moon, a gifted quartet that performed a 30-minute set highlighted by the infectious "Miracle," the driving "Red Night" and the piano-anchored "The Brightside." Singer Jonathan Jones' voice (notably his use of a distinctive falsetto) and inventive keyboard playing provided the extra element to bring depth to the group's mix of indie, Britpop and modern rock, blended into a sound all its own.

Although Orianthi (pictured above) has performed or appeared on recordings with the far-flung likes of Michael Jackson, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana and Carrie Underwood, there is no doubt the 25-year-old Australia native is rapidly becoming a star on her own. Performing on the main stage, the virtuoso may not yet have found the ideal way to combine AC/DC-esque riff-rock ("Think Like a Man"), 1980s-mining Van Halen ("Feels Like Home") and commercial pop (her biggest hit, "According to You had everyone dancing around). But she can sure shred on the guitar.

Her half-hour appearance was noteworthy simply because it was such a break from so many of the other alt- and indie-styled rockers. With her mix of blues and metal sensibilities, Orianthi wound up one of few truly alternative acts of the festival. And on song after song she provided dazzling and stylish guitar work, whether in quick licks or extended solos.

Not every act was so convincing, however. I grew bored with the Ready Set, out of Fort Wayne, Ind., and walked away after two songs. The quartet worked hard to involved the audience and played its alt-pop with zeal, yet their songs and music just weren't strong enough to sustain my interest.

The same can't be said, though, of the powerful reunion set from Piebald. The four-man outfit, celebrating a number of upcoming reissues this spring (as well as a live DVD, Nobody's Robots - A Farewell to Piebald), the group rocked hard, immediately connecting with a fanatical crowd positioned in front of the side stage. The band's mix of hardcore, emo, Americana and Devo-ish quirkiness continues to be a winning formula.

And this post wouldn't be complete without a nod to the amazing performance by Something Corporate. The headliner took the stage right on schedule (8:30 p.m.) and proceeded to play 14 great songs over the course of 65 minutes. It was great to see one of Orange County's best bands back in action again. Writer George Paul reviewed their set at length and you can read that in the Soundcheck blog at www.ocregister.com.

Reunion of Something Corporate a wonderful thing

Photo credit: Drew A. Kelley

The timing couldn't be more perfect. Last night, I caught Orange County's own Something Corporate in a glorious reunion show on the Main Stage at The Bamboozle at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The band was great and the crowd packed in front of singer-pianist Andrew McMahon, lead guitarist Josh Partington, bassist Kevin "Clutch" Page and drummer Brian Ireland was enthuasiastic. Big time.
Today comes a press release with more exciting news about Something Corporate, a band I have covered dating back to the mid 1990s when all of the members were attending high school in South Orange County:

The Reunion of Alt-Rock favorite Something Corporate includes concerts, new recordings and retrospective "Played in Space: The Best of Something Corporate"

LOS ANGELES, March 29, 2010 -- After a multi-year hiatus, Something Corporate has reunited, marking the occasion with a return to the studio and the stage, as well as a retrospective 2-CD collection. Played in Space: the Best of Something Corporate (Geffen/UMe) will be released April 27, 2010 and brings together 14 highlights from the acclaimed Orange County, California band's career to date. The first disc contains alt-rock favorites "I Woke Up In A Car," "If You C Jordan," "Punk Rock Princess" and "Space." The bonus CD includes a new recording, "Wait," an exclusive remix of "Forget December," the fan-favorite rarity "Konstantine" (played with power in Anaheim last night too!), the previously-unreleased in the U.S. "Watch The Sky," and a new remix of "I Woke Up In A Car" by Owl City's Adam Young. A version exclusive to iTunes also includes a new recording, "Letters To Noelle."

Just having played Bamboozle Left, the performance at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on March 28 was a homecoming for singer-pianist Andrew McMahon, lead guitarist Josh Partington, bassist Kevin "Clutch" Page and drummer Brian Ireland. They will also play Bamboozle Chicago on May 15 and Bamboozle East on May 1. To coincide with the announcment of these shows, the Something Corporate online merch store, http://www.somethingcorporate.com/soco/store is also relaunching. The new store features both new T-shirt designs as well as a few classics.

Since going their separate ways in 2004, McMahon founded Jack's Mannequin, released two critically acclaimed albums and defeated leukemia, while Partington formed the band Firescape. Only a brief appearance at Bamboozle Left in 2006 had brought them together until January 2010 when they re-entered a studio to "revisit a couple of demos ("Letters To Noelle" and "Wait") that," said McMahon in an interview with the Orange County Weekly, "we still loved and that we always wanted to get to."

Something Corporate's piano-driven punk-pop tunes debuted with the indie release Ready...Break in 2000 before its widely-avaiable 2001 EP Audioboxer, which included "Walking By" via Drive-Thru. The band made its major label debut with 2002's Leaving Through The Window. Played in Space: the Best of Something Corporate culls eight of that album's tracks: "I Woke Up In A Car," "Hurricane," "Fall," "I Want To Save You," "Cavanaugh Park," "If You C Jordan," "Punk Rock Princess" and "The Astronaut." 2003's North contributes "Space," "She Paints Me Blue," "Mee and the Moon," "Down" and "Ruthless."

At the dawn of the new millennium, Something Corporate was hailed as one of rock's most promising new forces. A decade later, Something Corporate is back.

Laurence Juber to perform in O.C. twice this weekend

This article was posted on the Orange County Register Web site on March 25, 2010. I took the photo seen here a few years ago at the NAMM show in Anaheim.

One of the world's best-known acoustic guitarists is returning to south Orange County for two performances this weekend.

Laurence Juber will appear in Dana Point on Friday, March 26 and in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 27 as part of the Lord of the Strings Concert Series. Juber's latest album, "Wooden Horses," released in October by Seal Beach-based Solid Air Records, features the two-time Grammy-winning guitarist performing instrumental works that showcase his technical virtuosity and artful arrangements.

The 14 tracks on "Wooden Horses" allow the composer and fingerstyle guitarist to showcase acoustic guitar on the Latin-tinged "Guitar Noir" and the tender "Being Here with You" while delivering a "wow" factor with speedy fretwork on the jazz-minded "Maple Avenue Strut" and the ragtime-mining title track.

"Wooden Horses" was released a few months after another album featuring Juber's guitar work. "Poppin' Guitars: A Tuneful of Sherman" features instrumental guitar arrangements of songs by the Sherman Brothers. Juber's take on "A Spoonful of Sugar" (originally featured in the movie "Mary Poppins") is part of that 15-song collection.

Juber, a member of Paul McCartney and Wings in the late 1970s and early '80s, earned a Best Rock Instrumental Grammy for the track "Rockestra" (featured on Wings' 1979 album "Back to the Egg"). During Juber's solo career, he picked up a second Grammy for his guitar arrangement of "The Pink Panther Theme" featured on the "Henry Mancini - Pink Guitar" collection released in 2004. Juber has released more than a dozen full-length discs since hsi debut, "Solo Flight," in 1990.

Highlights of his solo discography include "LJ Plays the Beatles" (2000), "I've Got the World on Six Strings" (2006) and "PCH" (2007). Juber will perform at the Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point, at 7:30 p.m. on March 26. He will also perform at Mission Viejo Civic Center, 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, at 7 p.m. on March 27. Tickets are $25.

For more information, call 949-842-2227 or visit www.LordOfTheStringsConcerts.com.

The Rolling Stones ink DVD deal with Eagle Rock Entertainment

This arrived in my box today. For fans of The Rolling Stones '70s-era gems, this news is epic.

New York, NY (March 18, 2010) - Eagle Rock Entertainment are delighted to announce that they have signed a deal with the Rolling Stones to release two DVDs this year. The Rolling Stones have long been viewed by many as Britain's most important rock 'n' roll band and these releases, concentrating on some of their finest work laid down in the 1970s, will certainly cement that reputation.

The first of the releases Stones In Exile is the story of the making of the classic album Exile On Main Street, which was released in 1972 as a double LP and is considered by many to be their masterpiece. This title is due to be released in June 2010 with substantial bonus material and follows the boradcast of the main show by the BBC in late May, and the reissue of the album at the same time.

The second of the releases is Ladies And Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones, the legendary Rolling Stones concert film from 1972. Fully restored from the original film, it will be released nationally in cinemas and then receive its first ever authorized DVD release. The title will also be released in high definition on Blu-ray in the Autumn of 2010.

The Rolling Stones line-up featured on both Stones In Exile and Ladies And Gentlemen...The Rolling Stones is: Mick Jagger (vocals), Keith Richards (guitars) Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums) and Mick Taylor (guitars). NOTE: Mick Taylor is scheduled to make a rare live appearance here in Orange County, CA when he headlines at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday night, May 13, 2010.

Geoff Kempin of Eagle Rock commented, "We are delighted to add a band of such unparalleled caliber as the Rolling Stones to our catalogue and are delighted to bring to consumers a pair of such important and high quality titles."

Music of Ireland celebrated on 'Welcome Home' collection

'Music of Ireland - Welcome Home'

With the arrival of St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, now is the perfect time to celebrate the music of the Emerald Isle.

A new collection Music of Ireland - Welcome Home was released March 2, with both CD and DVD/CD versions of the release serving as companion media for the two-part Public Television (PBS) special aired this month. Ireland is a small island in the north Atlantic, but its musical influence is as mighty as any nation on the planet. While U2, Van Morrison, Bell X1, The Saw Doctors, The Corrs and The Cranberries are among my favorite of Ireland's musical exports in the rock era, there are countless more artists worth embracing that draw on the traditional Celtic roots of Ireland.

Music of Ireland boasts more than a dozen selections showcasing the authentic spirit of a sound that has influenced Americana folk, bluegrass and modern rock. When those mostly unfamiliar with traditional Irish music have asked me why I enjoy it so much, I tell them it is a combination of the rousing sing-alongs, jigs and haunting ballads performed courtesy of a palette of fiddles, mandolins, banjos and various other instruments that magically blend with the voices and melodies that are seemingly part of the DNA of those who come from Ireland.

The Music of Ireland features new material from Grammy Award-winners Moya Brennan, The Chieftains and Sinead O'Connor, as well as Academy Award-winner Glen Hansard (The Swell Season), Damien Rice, tenor Ronan Tynan, Damien Dempsey, Andrea Corr (who is the lead singer and plays tin whistle with The Corrs) and more. From O'Connor's fusion of traditional Celtic and world music styles in her "Song to the Siren" to the gorgeous blend of Uilleann pipes, fiddle, flute and Irish harp that enhance a collaboration between The Chieftains and Moya Brennan ("Lullaby for the Dead"), this fine disc serves as both an introduction for the uninitiated or a welcome addition to long-time fans of Irish music.

There are several ways to get either the CD or DVD (which features a bonus music CD of material not included on the regular CD release) version of Music of Ireland - Welcome Home. Shoppers can get them at Barnes and Noble stores that sell music, and can also purchase the tracks digitally via Amazon.com. And they will be bundled as a bonus gift for those who donate to their favorite PBS station during pledge drives.

For more information, visit http://www.musicofireland.com/.

And Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Toad the Wet Sprocket impresses in show at The Galaxy

Although Toad the Wet Sprocket hasn't released an album of new material since 1997's outstanding Coil, the quartet still performs a few dates every year to the delight of the band's enduring fan base.

On Friday night, the outfit proved that there are few acts better to revisit the past without being buried by it. While the majority of songs in the band's 21-song set came from TTWS's trio of best-known '90s releases (Fear, Dulcinea and the aforementioned Coil), the group offered up some rare music from its earliest days with a shimmering "Way Away" from the band's 1989 debut Bread and Circus the uptempo pop-rocker "P.S." (unreleased until 1999 when it was included on a retrospective) and the evolving ballad-to-rocker "Torn" from 1990's Pale.

Although there was a looseness to the set (notably singer-guitarists Glen Phillips and Todd Nichols having to frequently tune their own guitars), Toad continues to use the power of its songbook and its ability to perform those songs with precision to please audiences like the large one that filled the Galaxy on Friday.

Phillips' voice continues to marvel, whether singing the haunting lines of "Something's Always Wrong" or fiery folk rock of "Fall Down," and Nichols' guitar work was displayed in all ways subtle ("Crowing") and straightforward ("Brother") over the course of 90 minutes. And the use of spot-on two- and three-part harmonies added power to many of the songs, especially on the country-folk of "Windmills."

The set list included all the band's best-known hits ("All I Want," "Whatever I Fear," "Good Intentions" and the night-ending "Walk on the Ocean"), but was clearly lifted with the inclusion of Toad's line-up (including original members Randy Guss on drums and Dean Dinning on bass and backing vocals) backing Phillips as he sang his solo material (including a wonderful "Everything But You" from his album Mr. Lemons).

As time marches on, these Toad outings become more precious. And as Phillips sang so movingly as the concert moved to its inevitable conclusion: "And somebody told me that this is the place / where everything's better, everything's safe."

Area band Whalen opened the show with a solid mix of country-styled rock in the tradition of the Eagles and Poco. The highlight of the band's set were the catchy "Better All the Time" and "Live Like a Daydream."

Watch DEVO on TV's 'Yo Gabba Gabba' on March 11

It's about time that the influential band DEVO returned to the well-deserved spotlight. Here is the latest news about the band and how you can tune in/Tivo/DVR to catch the group play a new song on Thursday, March 11, 2010:

Burbank, CA – Oh No, it’s DEVO! That’s right, D-E-V-O performing a new song on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.’s YO GABBA GABBA this Thursday, March 11, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.

Mark, Jerry, Bob 1 and Bob 2 will perform “Watch us Work It,” on the YO GABBA GABBA show this coming Thursday carried on both Nickelodeon at 10:30 a.m. and again on Nick Jr. at 1 p.m. PST. Check local listings in your time zone for details. Can also check www.nickjr.com for further info.

Once again, go directly to http://www.clubdevo.com/colorstudy to be part of a public color study to help determine the outcome of necessary and important data to be used by DEVO! It’s fun and you’ll help make history before history is made!

Spud Fashion never dies! Display your allegiance with new DEVO merchandise @ www.clubdevo.com/shop. If you haven’t already, hear “Fresh” now at: www.clubdevo.com

The Bird and the Bee's tribute to Hall & Oates

John Oates, guitar in hand, made a surprise guest appearance with The Bird and The Bee on March 5.

Anybody that is a frequent reader of this blog or my music coverage in The Orange County Register knows I am a long-time fan of Hall & Oates.

So it's no surprise I'm pleased with The Bird and The Bee's Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall and John Oates, set for release by EMI's Blue Note Records on March 23, 2010.

Here is the release from EMI that landed in my inbox earlier today:

The Bird and The Bee, the duo of singer Inara George and multi-instrumentalist/producer Greg Kurstin, kicked off a musical scavenger hunt for their fans today by premiering all nine songs from their new album Interpreting The Masters Volume 1: A Tribute To Daryl Hall and John Oates on nine different Web sites: AOL Spinner, BrooklynVegan, Entertainment Weekly, Idolator, MySpace, PerezHilton, Prefix, and SPIN, and USA Today. The acclaimed band's third full-length album, which will be released March 23 on EMI's Blue Note Records, is a love letter to famed "rock and soul" duo Hall & Oates that features eight classic covers along with one new (and awesome, I might add) original song "Heard It On The Radio."

The Bird and The Bee played a once-in-a-lifetime concert on Friday night (March 5) at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles to celebrate the album release, and were joined on stage by very special surprise guest John Oates for performances of "Maneater," "She's Gone" and "I Can't Go For That." In a rave review in today's Los Angeles Times, writer August Brown wrote that Oates "couldn't have asked for a more articulate love letter than the one the bird and the bee just gave him." The entire concert was webcast live at Livestream.com, and will be archived on the site starting on Monday, March 22.

I know I was at writer Whitney Matheson's popular Pop Candy blog on USA Today earlier today and they were streaming "Private Eyes." It sounded so great that I had to go back and listen to my digital advance of the full tribute album. I'll have more to say about this wonderful The Bird and The Bee tribute the week of its release.

Upcoming shows aplenty: BugGiRL, The Church & more

BugGiRL will be in Huntington Beach on March 2, 2010.

For those of us who live in Orange County, the good news is that bands going on tour that land in Los Angeles increasingly offer up shows behind the OC too.

March and April 2010 offer up plenty of great shows. While we'll have to drive to Hollywood to see Sir Paul McCartney or head east to see Muse, Devo, Band of Skulls and tons of others at the Coachella fest in Indio April 16-18, there will be plenty of concert choices in our own backyard.

Things kick off tomorrow, March 2, when the Australian sister/brother duo BugGiRL (Amber and Clinno) perform at Fitzgerald's Pub, 19171 Magnolia St., Huntington Beach. Since forming in 2004, BugGiRL has performed throughout Europe, North America and their native land Down Under. They are touring in support of their latest release, the five-track EP Blood, Sweat & Beers. This record, the band's third, is described in a press release as "a blast of fearless rock 'n' roll."

If you don't catch the band in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, they play in Banning, CA on March 3.

Information: http://www.buggirl.net/.

One of my favorite power-pop bands of the '90s, the Gin Blossoms, will return to The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday night, March 27. Also on the bill is one of OC's best Americana outfits, The Fallen Stars.

Also coming to the Coach House is Australia's The Church. The legendary band, which formed in 1980 and is best known for its 1988 hit "Under the Milky Way," is kicking off its tour of the U.S. as part of the band's celebration of its 30th year together with this special acoustic-styled show.

Finally, for those not making the trek out to Coachella next month, Canadian singer-songwriter-guitarist Bruce Cockburn is headlining at the Coach House on Friday, April 16.

For more information on any of the upcoming concerts at The Coach House, visit http://www.thecoachhouse.com/ or call the venue at 949-496-8930.

Doves' 'The Places Between: The Best of Doves' coming April 6

I received this earlier today. The Places Between: The Best of Doves is set for release on Astralwerks/Heavenly Recordings on Tuesday, April 6.

Here is the text of the exciting news (if you don't know about this exciting trio, make plans to get this release!):

So here we are, 12 years since Doves formed in Manchester and released the Cedar Room EP on the Casino Records imprint, and 10 years since Doves epochal debut, Lost Souls was released on Astralwerks/Heavenly Recordings. In that time we have been privy to a catalogue of genre-warping singles and a quartet of albums that have forced writers to go back to the thesaurus in search of new superlatives. These are The Places Between, a multi-format Best Of that has cherry picked the best from UK number one albums: The Last Broadcast and Some Cities, last year's critically acclaimed masterpiece, Kingdom Of Rust and their generation defining debut Lost Souls. Indeed, from UK number 3 hit "There Goes The Fear" to the Motown thump of "Black and White Town" and the anthemic morning-after glow of "The Cedar Room." The Places Between has been painstaking sequenced by Jimi, Andy and Jez themselves in the way they want you to experience their last decades work, in short this is the definitive Doves Best Of.
Furthermore, in addition to a host of B sides, rarities, and unreleased tracks that make up the second disc there is asmattering of brand-new recordings, "Blue Water," "Drifter" (featuring Cherry Ghost's Simon Aldred) and the brilliant new single "Andalucia."
The album comes in single disc and multi-disc versions. The tracklistings are as follows:
DISC ONE - The Best Of
1. There Goes The Fear
2. Black and White Town
3. Snowden
4. Here It Comes
5. Words
6. Kingdom Of Rust
7. Sea Song
8. Pounding
9. 10:03
10. Catch The Sun
11. Jetstream
12. The Man Who Told Everything (Summer Version)
13. Andalucia
14. Caught By The River
15. The Cedar Room

DISC TWO - Rarities, B sides and alternate versions
1. Blue Water
2. Eleven Miles Out
3. Rise
4. Darker
5. Push Me On
6. Willow's Song (Bury Version)
7. Valley
8. Northenden
9. M62 Song
10. Drifter
11. Friday's Dust (Capitol Tower Session)
12. Almost Forgot Myself (Demo)
13. Your Shadow Lay Across My Life
14. The Last Son
15. The Sulphur Man
16. At The Tower (Instrumental Edit)
17. Reprise
18. Ambition
19. Firesuite (Noise Version)

DISC THREE (DVD) features the videos for:
The Cedar Room
Sea Song
Here It Comes
Catch The Sun
Man Who Told Everything
There Goes The Fear
Pounding
Caught By The River
Black and White Town (directors Cut)
Snowden (Live Edit)
Sky Starts Falling
Kingdom Of Rust
Winter Hill

For more information, visit http://www.doves.net/ or www.myspace.com/dovesmyspace.

Rocking Weekend: Pat DiNizio, Steve Miller Band

Pat DiNizio, seen here on the right, as seen through my camera lens on Thursday night, Feb. 18 at an outstanding show at The Coach House.

As concert-going treks go, I have two wonderful ones to report since I last checked in. On Thursday night, Feb. 18, I caught Smithereens singer-songwriter Pat DiNizio in a wonderful performance at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Let me begin with my most recent show. Although I have caught the Steve Miller Band in concert a few times since the mid-1990s, I have to say that the classic rock troupe's show at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday night, Feb. 20, was definitely my favorite of the times I have seen singer-songwriter-guitarist Steve Miller & company.

The headliner at Cal State Fullerton's Front & Center 2010 fundraising event, the Steve Miller Band was featured in a role to help support education and university scholarships. Miller was more chatty than he has been in the past and talked at length about the importance of education and music in the lives of children and children of all ages throughout his 110-minute set. Indeed, when he closed the concert with a rousing version of "Jet Airliner," he brought up more than a dozen of the university students who had performed a "Glee"-styled song and dance show earlier in the night to sing with him. During the night, Miller also noted that he was donating $25,000 of his own money to Saturday night's cause.

The show itself boasted most of his best-known hits ("Fly Like an Eagle," "Rock'n Me," "Jungle Love," "Take the Money and Run"), but Miller - always a proponent of the blues - offered up so deeper moments courtesy of several Jimmie Vaughn covers (including "Sweet Soul Vibe") and a tribute to Bo Diddley with a version of the late rocker's "Pretty Thing" where Miller used a Gibson Flying V to help get the reverb sound used by Diddley. And for those who love "The Joker," Miller offered up the song once as an acoustic number and later on in the night with the whole band. Nice.

The most heartfelt tribute came to longtime Steve Miller Band member Norton Buffalo, a great harmonica player who died of cancer in October 2009. Miller noted that he still can't believe Norton is gone before playing a solo acoustic version of the wonderful "Wild Mountain Honey." Miller's vocals and guitar playing were wonderful throughout the night, and accolades to his entire band (Joseph Wooten on keyboards and backing vocals, drummer Gordy Knudtson, bassist-sometimes guitarist Kenny Lee Lewis and fantastic lead-backing vocalist Sonny Charles).

Here is my review of the Pat DiNizio show that ran on the Register's SoundCheck blog on Feb. 19th:

Rock fans wanting to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of rock 'n' roll's most enduring -- if unsung -- bands were in the right place if they were at the Coach House on Thursday night. The Smithereens technically weren't on the bill, but that band's principal songwriter and lead singer Pat DiNizio had returned to the San Juan Capistrano venue. And while the show was billed as a solo acoustic appearance from the New Jersey rocker, fans got the best of both worlds.

First came an hour-long set of songs to the accompaniment of his acoustic guitar. Then DiNizio brought up Smithereens bassist Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion, Orange County-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Kenny Howes and legendary drummer Rafael Gayol (formerly with BoDeans and currently Leonard Cohen's touring timekeeper) to back him for a full-blown 70-minute electric set of Smithereens classics, plus material from DiNizio's recent self-titled effort and wonderful covers of classics from Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Monkees, even Black Sabbath. The long night proved to be a casual affair, with DiNizio offering up funny and detailed insights into how many of his songs were written before performing them. For example, he revealed that while the Smithereens' 1986 breakout Especially for You had been written over the course of five years dating back to the band's formation at the dawn of the 1980s, the equally strong follow-up from 1988, Green Thoughts, was written in a mere five weeks.

The Smithereens remain one of the hardest-rocking bands to emerge from the power-pop scene, yet DiNizio's songs are generally so tuneful and well-crafted, they work just as well when delivered as folk numbers. He noted in the first half of his show that when artists run out of ideas, they often put themselves in a mode of writing as if they were someone else. That was his approach in writing "Especially for You," for which he admittedly immersed himself in the style of composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David.

His performance of that song was among his acoustic-set highlights, as was the decidedly more original "She's Got a Way," an uptempo rocker from the Smithereens' 1999 disc God Save the Smithereens that proved to be a touching song about his young daughter.

One of the best cuts off Pat DiNizio is the intoxicating "Any Other Way," a track that recaptures the theme of so much of DiNizio's style. Indeed, many of his best songs ("Behind the Wall of Sleep," "Blood and Roses," "Drown in My Own Tears," "Room Without a View") perfectly capture romantic despair, the music built out of dark, heavy, haunting riffs positioned around big, cruncy, instantly-memorable choruses. And yet there was a celebratory spirit to this show, as DiNizio, a guy known to tour fans' living rooms coast-to-coast, joked with admirers seated at tables near the stage, often thanking them for their support of him and his band (this show marked the first time this lineup of four musicians had shared the stage together; impressive).

The rock set was particularly fun, with DiNizio leading the musicians through a breathtaking version of Buddy Holly's "Well Alright." He also paid tribute to the Beatles with a singalong of "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and a slow, introspective version of Lennon's masterpiece "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)," featuring Howes' delightful textures on Rickenbacker guitar.

The whole thing came to a close with a hearty version of "Blood and Roses," the band tearing the roof off just as the Smithereens have in countless appearances here, dating back to the '80s.

The night's two openers offered up well-received sets, with the New Wave-tinged pop-rock of Huntington Beach's the Victors decidedly stronger than the reggae-meets-jam-rock of Hair of the Dog. For those who want to catch the Victors perform "Rocket High" and other infectious original songs, the quartet will perform a free show from 7-10 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Gian Wheel Court at the Irvine Spectrum, 71 Fortune Dr., Irvine.

Set List: Pat DiNizio at The Coach House

Yesterday Girl / Especially For You / She's Got a Way / Blue Period / Something New / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Any Other Way / Since You Went Away / Time and Time Again / Well Alright (Buddy Holly cover) / Maria Elena / I Don't Want to Lose You / You've Got to Hide Your Love Away (Beatles cover) / Last Train to Clarksville (Monkees cover) / Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (Beatles cover) / Top of the Pops / Cigarette / Paranoid (Black Sabbath cover) / Blood and Roses

Sad news about The Knack's Doug Fieger

I was sad to come back from a weekend vacation to hear that The Knack's Doug Fieger had passed away after a long battle with cancer. I met Doug in the mid-1990s while we were both checking out a show at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

I also had the fortune to finally catch the band in concert on Dec. 31, 2006 at the Orange County New Year’s Eve - better known as OCNYE - at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

Here is a cut-and-paste of that part of my review that ran on the Register's Web site on Jan. 1, 2007 that focused on the strong set from The Knack:

Indeed, those only catching the action on the main stage missed the best performances of the seven-hour event. Although Tommy Tutone (in a mostly acoustic showcase, with the “867-5309/Jenny” singer-guitarist accompanied only by a drummer) disappointed in the first 10 minutes of his set, a short walk to a nearby stage rewarded with an amazing full-blown performance by the Knack.

Despite the death of the band’s original drummer, Bruce Gary, earlier in 2006, the Knack soared across the last 35 minutes of its set. Singer-guitarist Doug Fieger, who underwent surgery for the removal of two brain tumors only five months ago, led the group in a set that worked the audience near the stage into a festive frenzy.

Performances of their best-known songs (“Good Girls Don’t” and “My Sharona”) were not the only tunes that got the crowd moving. A medley that began with a cover of the Champs’ “Tequila” morphed into a strong mostly-faithful take on the Doors’ “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” that may well have been the single-strongest performance of the night.

A Star for Starr

Photo credit: Rob Shanahan

Ringo Starr, center, is seen with (left to right) Ben Harper, Don Was and Joe Walsh, and Starr's wife Barbara Bach, after he received the 2,401st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 8, 2010.

It's about time is what I say! Ringo Starr finally gets his world famous name cemented into Hollywood Walk of Fame. Here, in part, is the media release that went out earlier today:

The event, watched by thousands of fans, took place in front of Capitol Records at 1750 Vine in Hollywood, where Ringo's star - the 2401st on the walk - was placed in line with fellow Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon, as well as dear friend Roy Orbison. In fact, Roy Orbison's star was celebrated just last week. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a special evening event, and it was full-on Hollywood style celebration, closing off Hollywood and Vine and using search lights to emblazon the night sky. Ringo applauded the change, encouraging the Chamber to continue these in the evening, "I don't know how it is where you come from," he said, "but where I live, the stars come out at night." Leron Gubler, CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, welcomed everyone. On hand to induct Ringo was fellow "mocker" and now brother-in-law Joe Walsh, as well as Don Was and Ben Harper. On hand were Ringo's wife Barbara Bach Starkey, Barbara Orbison and son Roy Jr., Olivia Harrison, David Lynch, Benmont Tench, Jeff Lynne, Gary Wright and others.

Ringo Starr and the All Starrs will tour throughout June, July and early August of 2010. They conclude their tour with a concert at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 7, 2010.

For more information, visit http://www.ringostarr.com/.

Michael Ubaldini Benefit Concert coming Sunday

On Sunday afternoon, Jan. 31, I hope to see you all at the Michael Ubaldini Benefit Concert. The fundraiser, set to be held at Tumbleweeds Saloon, 21094 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., will raise money for Fountain Valley-based singer-songwriter Michael Ubaldini.

One of Southern California's most acclaimed and influential artists, Ubaldini was rushed to the hospital shortly after enjoying a Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 26, 2009. He didn't get out of the hospital until mid-January 2010. He is now at home recovering from a rare infection surrounding his heart valve; the condition is known as Endocarditis.

The condition has left Ubaldini weak, and forced the hard-working rocker to cancel all shows until he completes his rehab.

The benefit show will featuring a number of well-known area acts, including the Tricia Freeman Band, West Coast Strayz, Girls Nite Out and singer-songwriter TJR. All of those artists will perform Ubaldini-penned songs. In addition, Norwegian Wood will also make a highly-publicized reunion at the benefit show; the group was considered among the best Beatles tribute bands of the 1980s and featured a trio of future heroes who got their start in the Fab Four-minded band. Walter Clevenger (who heads the Dairy Kings), Danny Walker (of Handsome Devil) and Brian Martin (who went on to play with power pop giants The Tickets) will all play a set of Beatles music at the show.

For those who can't make it out to the show, mail a check payable to the Michael Ubaldini Benefit Fund care of US Bank, 17150 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708.

If you see me at the show, please come say "hi"!

Forthcoming Releases: Music for all

Not a day goes by without me receiving tons of media releases about new music.
I don't post many of those releases, but occasionally I get stuff that is worth sharing. Here is news about two notable commercial collections set for release on March 2, 2010 that look especially promising.

Flogging Molly is set to release Live at the Greek Theatre, which comes as both a DVD and double CD of the band's performance on Sept. 12, 2009 at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Directed by Kevin Custer, Live at the Greek Theatre is a "must have for all Flogging Molly fans and a uniquely-special introduction for those music fans that have yet to experience Flogging Molly's uniquely powerful show," according to the SideOneDummy Records press release dated Jan. 26, 2010. Playing songs from all of Flogging Molly's albums across a 90-minute set, the event was shot with eight high-definition cameras and the audio was mixed by Grammy Award-winning engineer Ryan Hewitt. Live at the Greek Theatre will be available on March 2, 2010.

Three of my bona fide musical heroes are set to appear on the Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey soundtrack. Set for release in connection with the Universal Studio Home Entertainment DVD (which also comes out March 2), the soundtrack features great songs from Brian Wilson (a cover of The Riveiras' hit "California Sun"), as well as several new songs from Virginia's Carbon Leaf ("The Friendship," "On A Roll" and more) and a special title track recorded by 429 Records' artist Jackie Greene ("Follow That Monkey").
Here is the track listing for the Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey soundtrack:
1) "Life Less Ordinary" Carbon Leaf
2) "The Friendship" Carbon Leaf
3) "California Sun" Brian Wilson
4) "On a Roll" Carbon Leaf
5) "Heart of the Day" Carbon Leaf
6) "Let Your Troubles Roll By" Carbon Leaf
7) "Walking in the Sun" Carbon Leaf
8) "Follow That Monkey" Jackie Greene
9) "Moon Man" Heitor Pereira
10) "Going East" Heitor Pereira
11) "Giving a Hand" Heitor Pereira
12) "Zoo" Heitor Pereira
13) "Friendship" Heitor Pereira

Awesome Weekend: Radiohead, Mindy Smith shows

Photo of Mindy Smith I shot at The Coach House on Jan. 22.

Shouldn't every weekend be great? After a week of non-stop rain and plenty of chores at work and home, the skies cleared and I was able to attend two great shows.

On Friday, I caught Mindy Smith, Landon Pigg and Alice Wallace at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, while I caught a special Radiohead benefit concert at the Music Box at the Fonda in Hollywood.

Both shows were fantastic, with the Haiti benefit show featuring Radiohead performing before a capacity crowd (my wife Kim and I were squeezed in on the floor about 50-60 feet from stage) obviously spilling over with the "wow" factor. Indeed, neither of us had ever had the chance to see Radiohead live, so we jumped at the chance to have our first encounter with the legendary band be a good one.

Although there will be those who know the band's music and history much better than me opine on the performance, my general impression is that Radiohead continues to be unique in the modern rock landscape. Thom Yorke is the kind of artist who demands you keep your eyes glued on him. The band hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. and performed about two hours, and the show truly flew by.

What struck me about the intimate show is how Radiohead didn't need any special video or fancy lighting effects. Indeed, it was the power of the music, the songs and performers - and the intensity of the crowd - that made the night so special. Is Radiohead the greatest band in the world today? I wouldn't doubt it.

Rewinding back to Friday night, Mindy Smith's performance was equally simple. The Nashville critics' favorite just played a clutch of her potent material in a sparse, scaled-back setting that showcased both her songs and a voice that never fails to bring added power to them.

Performing an 80-minute set that spanned from her impressive 2004 debut One Moment More to her astonishing 2009 effort Stupid Love, Smith and lead guitarist Lex Price (who sat in for most of the show) conjured up enchantment in every song. Things began with a heartfelt cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" (included on Smith's first disc) and only got better as the New York native delved into her own catalog of probing and introspective songs.

While her debut often looked at issues of faith in pieces such as "Come to Jesus" (one of her most popular tunes) and "Angel Doves," last year's effort is a serious and thoughtful study of the different phases of romance. Naturally, songs from Stupid Love formed a large part of her 14-song set on Friday night, each selection proving every bit as affecting as they are on the album.

Rarely has the study of relationships been tackled with such depth, shades of regret ("What Went Wrong"), understanding ("high and Lows"), loss ("What Love Can Do") and the mystery of it all ("If I Didn't Know Any Better") all delivered in Smith's genre-blurring mix of alt-country, folk, pop and bluegrass, held tightly together by her beautiful soprano.

Other highlights of her well-paced performance included the pretty "Tennessee" and a beautiful acoustic version of "One Moment More," a song Smith wrote for her mother, who died of breast cancer in 1991.

Smith's superb set was reason alone to brave the driving rain to get down to the Coach House this night, but that good news got even better thanks to a couple of solid openers.

Landon Pigg, also from Nashville, served up a 40-minute set of inventive, tuneful songs drawing from '60s pop-rock, '00s Britpop and the modern-day singer-songwriter movement. There's no doubt that songs such as the Beatlesque "A Ghost," the shimmering "Blue Skies" and the uplifting "Take a Chance" are the work of a young artist who crafts songs as accessible as they are listenable. He closed with his biggest hit, "Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop," an irresistible bit that masterfully demonstrated his strong vocals and songcraft.

Local singer-songwriter Alice Wallace turned in a 35-minute set that served as kind of a sequential tale of her recent move from Florida to Orange County. Armed with a voice capable of impressive vocal gymnastics (including an aptly-titled closer about teaching herself to yodel that would impress Jewel), Wallace used effective storytelling and straightforward songs to entertain. A reworked cover of the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand," the original power-pop arrangement transformed into reflective longing, was a crowd favorite.

Mindy Smith to perform at Coach House tonight

Photo credit: Traci Goudie

A longer version of this story was originally posted on the Orange County Register Web site on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.

Mindy Smith's wide-ranging musical style blends pop, alt-country and Americana across her discography.

She'll bring those sounds to the stage at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano tonight (Jan. 22).

Smith is a lyrical songwriter armed with an emotive style, as evidenced by the 13 original songs on her latest album, 2009's excellent "Stupid Love." The material includes the thoughtful "What Went Wrong," the straightforward "What Love Can Do" and the shimmering "Out Loud," as well as the upbeat first single, "Highs and Lows."

Smith co-produced "Stupid Love" with Ian Fitchuk and Justin Loucks at Fiarground Studio in Nashville, Tenn. Fitchuk and Loucks performed many of the instrumental parts on the album, while Smith focused mostly on singing.

Among the notable guests on the album are Leigh Nash (of Sixpence None the Richer), singer Amy Grant and singer-guitarist Vince Gill.

I will be covering the show tonight for The Orange County Register, so make sure to check the newspaper's Web site at www.ocregister.com sometime late tomorrow to read my review. Smith's music is terrific and I'm looking forward to catching her in concert.

Orange County music highlights: Part 1

Ben Wener at the Orange County Register has put together an ambitious and strong list of the 50 best and most influential releases of the first decade of the 21st century. When Ben approached me about helping provide input for the project a few weeks ago, I started going through my big collection of local releases. Here are some overlooked albums I wanted to highlight for those who want to explore the area scene a bit more.

Artist of the Decade: Michael Ubaldini

Fountain Valley singer-songwriter Michael Ubaldini has released a number of great albums since the mid-1990s, with many of his strongest discs coming in the last half of the last part of the past decade. Since 2005's excellent "Avenue of Ten Cent Hearts," he has been on an incredible roll with the subsequent release of "Storybook," "Street Singin' Troubadour" and 2009's "Portable Record Player." Incredible.

Artist: Dana Parker (singer-songwriter-keyboardist)
Album: "Eclectic" (release was in 2005) - amazing jazz-pop. One of the most original and overlooked artists to emerge in O.C. I wrote a big feature on him after I happened to be at a Border's and caught him performing. I was blown away at the power of an artist playing in a bookstore. Great artist and great songs.

Artist: August Burning
Album: "Zero" (release date 2001). This was the final of three strong albums released by August Burning, a band formed in the mid-1990s by several Chapman University students. Singer-songwriterJohn List and multi-instrumentalist James Wagner wrote and produced some of the most articulate and affecting songs I heard while writing Orange Pop.

Artist: Color Theory
Album: "The Thought Chapter" (2008) - Long-time Huntington Beach singer-songwriter-producer-keyboardist Brian Hazard is Color Theory. Although Hazard's sound draws natural comparisons withDepeche Mode, his artful and intelligent songs fused with skillful studio production are his own. His most recent full-length album is also his strongest.

Artist: Beyond 7
Album: "Smoke" (2006) might have marked the end of the 10-year journey featuring singer-songwriter Greg Stoddard and guitarist-songwriter Brian Stewart dating back to their Warner Bros. Records deal as members of Psychic Rain in the '90s, but the independent release of "Smoke" in 2006 proved the talented team still could deliver a winning mix of strong songs and commanding performances that appealed to fans of power pop, alt rock and classic rock.

Artist: Dusty Rhodes and the River Band
Album: Palace and Stage (2009) - If members of Yes and The Band had formed a band with Gram Parsons, it might sound a bit like Dusty Rhodes and the River Band. The Fullerton outfit's powerful live performances really translated well with the studio recordings that comprise 2009's "Palace and Stage" too. The title track is one of my favorite songs of 2009.

Artist: Wonderlove
Album: "Getting Off the Revolution" (released 2001) - Recalling the sound of early '90s-launched Huntington Beach outfit Altered State, Wonderlove blended tuneful and well-crafted rock with powerful performances. And like Altered State, Wonderlove is missed. And if you don't know the music of Gregory Markel's great Altered State, seek it out via Amazon.com or YouTube.