The Chris Thayer Band is playing The Press in Claremont this weekend.
Redlands-based Thayer, frontman for Inland jump blues combo Big Papa and the TCB, takes a different tack on his solo material, which is driven more by jam bands and rock.
Thayer and his band have been working on a new album, too.
9 p.m. Saturday, June 16, The Press, 129 Harvard Ave., Claremont, free, 21 and older.
Visit www.christhayerband.com for more information.
I'm talking to Casey Abrams--Idyllwild's great "American Idol" hope from season 10--in about an hour.
He's releasing his diverse new album, "Casey Abrams," later this month and we will be talking to him about it later today.
However, he's also in this hilarious ad for Cafe Aroma's Spring Jazz Festival, which pokes fun at "American Idol" and Abrams' own audition. The jazz festival happens Friday, June 15, through Sunday, June 17.
There's a punk rock weekend on the horizon for Riverside.
The Maxies, Bonsai, Undercover Monsters (pictured), Benedict Arnold, The Kegels and Trash Monsters are on the bill.
The Maxies and Bonsai are both established local punk acts. Undercover Monsters is a new group out of Riverside featuring members of The Maxies and D.E.L.T.A., among others.
Benedict Arnold, from St. Louis, is playing the show. The Kegels are from the Bay Area and the Trash Monsters hail from Orange County.
8 p.m. Saturday, June 9, The Vibe, 1805 University Ave., Riverside, $7, 18 and older.
Check out Undercover Monsters at http://undercovermonsters.bandcamp.com and www.facebook.com/undercovermonsters.
It's been a while since we've done the Audio File Sessions where local bands stopped by P-E headquarters to play some music and answer some questions from yours truly.
Here's one we did with I Am Cassettes a while back. I Am Cassettes is playing at The Wire in Upland on Saturday, June 9, with Beta State. Check out http://www.facebook.com/iamcassettesofficial for more on the band.
Neon Trees recently announced details for its summer concert tour, sponsored by fashion mag Nylon.
I think this is a perfect fit for the band since singer Tyler Glenn and his wonderful mom Deb make his stage clothes before tour.
Neon Trees will be headlining, and Walk the Moon, Penguin Prison, JJAMZ, and Twenty One Pilots will be on the tour, too. Visit www.nylonmag.com/musictour for more information on the tour.
I'm still dying to see Tyler and guitarist Chris Allen come and do a hometown show in the Murrieta/Temecula area, but I'll settle for hearing the tunes of new album "Picture Show" in Los Angeles at The Wiltern on July 30. Penguin Prison and JJAMZ will be at the L.A. date.
See photos of Neon Trees performing at The Troubadour before the release of "Picture Show" in April.
Riverside Plaza has a slate of talented Inland artists scheduled to perform this weekend.
Shaye Taylor, Leandra Graves and The Moose Boys are performing Friday, May 25.
Graves recently released her new album, "The Cry," with a show in Lake Elsinore.
Taylor is one of the bright young talents on the Inland music scene.
7:30 p.m. Friday, May 25, Riverside Plaza, 3545 Central Ave., Riverside, free, all ages.
Visit www.facebook.com/leandragravesmusic for more information.
Inland Metal band Sangre has landed a spot on the stage at the Mayhem Festival at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Saturday, June 30.
The biggest touring metal festival around, Mayhem's headliners this year are Slipknot and Slayer and the bill also has Motorhead and Anthrax, too.
The last time the band played the festival, there were a lot of tortillas spray-pained with the band's name in green that went flying during the set. It was the first time I've ever seen tortillas land in a mosh pit at a metal show, that's for sure.
Sangre is one of the hard-working metal bands in the area and they have a national tour happening after Mayhem.
If you want to catch them for free, though, Sangre will be playing Liam's Irish Pub in Colton on Saturday, May 26.
8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 26, Liam's Irish Pub, 1087 S. Mt. Vernon Ave, Colton, free.
Visit www.facebook.com/sangremetal for more on Sangre.
The Saturation Arts and Music Festival returns to Riverside for a slate of workshops, music and art all celebrating the D.I.Y. aesthetic throughout Memorial Day weekend.
Some of the highlights include a show at back to the Grind in Riverside on Friday, May 25, with Brian Judson, Jon Harvey, Sun of May, Eva and the Vagabond tales, The Mad Marionettes, Son of Cecil and the Murky Water District.
This year is the first that the Mission Tobacco Lounge is getting involved, with 10 bands playing for free on Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26 with highlights including the Tic Tocs, Shark's Eyes and My Own Holiday on Friday and Jam Stain, The release and Mute Point on Saturday.
On Sunday, May 27, the Life Arts Building will host more music, including Castle Pines and Walter Cabal, among others. Back to the Grind also has an equally stellar local lineup that day, including Inner Prisms, Honest Abe, Francisco the Man and Naive Thieves.
Memorial Day Weekend, various locations around downtown Riverside.
Visit www.facebook.com/backtothegrind for more details.
Redlands rock band The Fingers (photo above courtesy of Marc Piron) will play three sets at the Redlands Fox on Friday, May 18.
The band is playing its original music (they have a full-length due out later this year), as well as do a set of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" in its entirety, backed by even more musicians, including the female backup singers, saxophones and synths.
Band member and filmmaker Chris Pepino has created a psychedelic music video to accompany the band for the "Dark Side" set.
It's also a masquerade ball, so costumes are encouraged.
Tickets to the show are $12. Dinner reservations can be made for an additional $10.
7 p.m. Friday, May 18, Fox Events Center, 123 Cajon St., Redlands, $12, all ages.
Visit www.TheFingersBand.com or www.facebook.com/thefingersband for more information.
The monthly grassroots RAWartists showcase is putting on its May installment, "The Blend" at Sevilla in Riverside on Thursday, May 17.
There will be live music, visual artists and a fashion show.
The live bands Celestial, Ghosts in Pocket and ZenToniC will perform.
6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, Sevilla, 3252 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, $10, 21 and older only.
Visit www.rawartists.org/riverside/theblend for more information.
It's going to be a ska-riffic Saturday on May 12 when a bunch of bands inspired by the genre take over The Vault in Temecula.
Orange County sextet Suburban Legends heads up the show. The band will be heading out on tour with Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger throughout the summer.
Also on the bill are bands including The Skank Agents, Save the Swim Team, Defunked and Farabee, among others.
6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, The Vault, 41607 Enterprise Circle North, Temecula, $10 in advance, $12 at the door , all ages.
Visit www.thevaultconcerts.com for more information.
Mission Tobacco Lounge has a Friday night of funk-filled grooves on tap.
On Friday, May 11, resident Inland groove band Shoppy takes the stage at the Riverside venue.
Also, the Mark Sexton Band, from Reno, Nev., is performing, as is smooth-playing Inland band The Truffles (pictured).
9 p.m. Friday, May 11, Mission Tobacco Lounge, 3630 University Ave., Riverside, 951-682-4427, $5, 21 and older.
Visit www.facebook.com/shoppymusic and www.facebook.com/thetrufflesmusic for more information.
Hit the Switch and Pour Habit have a show booked for Friday, May 11, at The Vibe in Riverside.
The show is the second in Hit the Switch's West Coast and Southwest tour that takes them up the coast through Washington and Oregon and east to Arizona. The Action potential is also on the bill.
8 p.m. Friday, May 11, The Vibe, 1805 University Ave, Riverside, $8, 18 and older.
Visit www.facebook.com/hittheswitch.music for more information.
I'm embarking on the project that I've been wanting to do for a while--create an Inland music family tree. If you're in a band or know someone who is, please send them the link to this page so they can enter their information. We're looking for bands that have released original music in some fashion.
Romano's in Redlands is getting some music and laughs on Thursday night.
Dan Arnold from A Static Lullaby and Joe Lawson from Assuming We Survive will perform acoustic sets and Don Hefty will do some comedy.
It's the first show for BellaKay Productions at the venue and the promoter is expecting to put on music, comedy and more for free every Thursday.
9 p.m. Thursday, Romano's Redlands, 330 Orange St., Redlands, free.
Lara Landon lives in Nashville now, but the Christian singer grew up here in Riverside.
After her acclaimed album "Beloved," she is releasing her new album, "Overcome," on May 1.
Mitch Dane, who has worked with Jars of Clay, produced the single "I See God You," which was inspired by Landon's mission trips to Haiti.
Landon raised the money to create her new album from her fans using Kickstarter.
Visit www.laralandononline.com for more information.
I've been loving Suedehead since I saw them open for Social Distortion in Irvine last fall. I love them even more because their horn section for that show and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival consists of Dave Sakover and Marques Crews of Riverside band The Debonaires.
If you're coming next week, get here early. Suedehead was the first band on the Outdoor Theatre stage and they killed it.
Singer Davey Warsop used to be in the most excellent punk band Beat Union and the fun mix of soul, punk and Elvis Costello-era power pop was a great way to start my Saturday.
Also, they get bonus points for doing the best cover ever of Fugazi's "Waiting Room" and I love Fugazi.
Funny story--back in 2007, before I took over as music reporter, I was sent to help the then-music reporter when the Coachella announcement came out. My assignment was to find local people and get their take on the lineup. Being new in Riverside (and California), I headed for the nearest record store and ended up at the now-defunct Red Planet Records where Dave was working and was awesome and talked to me. It's pretty funny that five years later I'm writing about him on the Coachella stage.
How about we get The Debonaires on next year?
Neon Trees is readying its new album, "Picture Show," for release on April 17 and they'll be on a TV near you soon.
The band's singer Tyler Glenn, and guitarist, Chris Allen, hail from Murrieta.
"Picture Show" is the follow-up to the Utah-based band's successful freshman debut "Habits," which spawned the hit "Animal." There will be both standard and deluxe editions and a new "Moving in the Dark" box set that are available for pre-order today. The box set includes a movie poster-themed box, the deluxe CD, a Neon Trees Viewmaster, a Viewmaster Reel with 3D Neon Trees images and an autographed poster for $40.98.
The band also has a bunch of television appearances lined up, including The Logo Awards on April 9, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on April 11, "The Ellen Degeneres Show" on April 16, "The Today Show" on April 18 and "Conan" on June 4.
I talked with Glenn and Allen last week about the new record, which Glenn revealed was inspired by an imaginary muse named Trixie. You might have already seen her in the video for the single "Everybody Talks."
Also--the heart-shaped sunglasses that have appeared everywhere from an accessory for Glenn in the Neon Trees Buick commercial to the cover of "Picture Show" are inspired by Stanley Kubrick's send up of the Vladimir Nabokov novel "Lolita." He said h has six pairs of them, too.
The writing process was a little bit different for the new album, too.
Glenn started demo-ing a lot of the new songs while the band was on the road as opposed to how 'Habits' came together when the band took a year off to write songs for their debut. Even though it was a different process, everyone still collaborated on it.
"We kind of work well together no matter how we do it," Allen said.
I'll have more with the band in the coming weeks about the new album.
There's going to be some ska at Stinger's in San Bernardino on Saturday. How's that for some alliteration?
Ska-inspired local favorites Buddha Bomb, The B-Sharps and The Penetrators are all on the bill.
It's also something free to go to on Saturday, if you get there before 8 p.m. It's $5 after that.
8 p.m. Saturday, Stinger's Bar and Nightclub, 194 W. Club Center Drive, San Bernardino, free before 8 p.m., $5 after, 21 and older.
Visit www.facebook.com/bombbuddha and www.facebook.com/ThebSharpsBand for more information.
La Vice is a new rock outfit that includes Chris Qualls, a Riverside native who is also a member of Electric Valentine, as well as Eric Straube and JP Robelot.
There are some fun screams, hand claps and a catchy guitar hook on the band's new single "It's a Nice Night to Die." Think about the hookiness of The Strokes and then make them angry, like Incredible Hulk angry.
You can download it for free at RCRD LBL.
Check out more from La Vice on the band's Facebook page.
The battle rounds started on "The Voice" Monday night, but we didn't get a chance to see local Lee Koch just yet.
The Temecula man, who is part of Christina Aguilera's "Team Xtina" charmed the pop star with his version of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone."
If you haven't seen it yet, here's a video with Koch.
"The Voice" is heading into battle.
The popular reality singing competition on NBC enters its "battle rounds" tonight, where members of the teams selected by celebrity coaches Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton battle each other.
Temecula musician Lee Koch is a member of Team Xtina. He snagged a spot on her team on last week's episode with his spirited version of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone."
Read an interview with Lee Koch about his musical history.
Here's a video with more on Koch. We're hoping to see him defeat all others in the battle round.
Inland metal band Sangre is ready to bring the fury tonight for a metal show at Marquis Lounge in San Bernardino.
Enrot, Impulsive Aggression, Mad Mama and more will be on hand for the show.
9 p.m. tonight, The Marquis Lounge, 1036 W. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, $5, 21 and older only.
Visit www.facebook.com/sangremetal for more information.
The Dear Hunter, project of Canyon Lake's Casey Crescenzo, comes to the Fox in Pomona Saturday night.
Crescenzo released a series of nine EPs called "The Color Spectrum" in 2011 and will be performing at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April.
Anthony Green, of Circa Survive, and Isadora Crane are also performing at the show.
7 p.m. Saturday, Fox Theatre, 301 S. Garey Ave., Pomona, 909-784-3671, $18.50 in advance, $20 at the show, all ages.
Visit www.thedearhunter.com or www.foxpomona.com for more information.
Set your DVR for "30 Rock" and check out the Summer Twins' album release show at Roller City 2001 in Riverside tonight.
$8 gets you in and gets you skate rental so you can relive your favorite childhood birthday party while gliding around to the tunes of the Riverside band's stellar full-length debut from 7-9 p.m. tonight.
The Summer Twins talk about their debut full-length.
Summer Twins will be going on its first U.S. tour in March, opening for Peter Case and Paul Collins, underground punk legends who fronted '70s power pop band, The Nerves.
My prediction is that Summer Twins are going to be the next band to remind people outside of the area that Riverside has a lot of talented musicians so see them now and remember to be careful if you're going to break out those backward skating moves from 1990.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Etta and her family a number of times over the years.
Back when "Cadillac Records" came out in 2008, I James had just been named No. 22 in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" issue, voted in by a panel that included famous musicians such as B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt.
I took some time back then to select some of my favorite performances from her career and I decided to revisit them today.
Here's a look at James' top moments.
"At Last"
This is the quintessential Etta James track. The orchestration is nice, but James packs a love-filled punch for this song that makes her big hit live on as the first dance at at least 328 weddings each weekend in the United States.
"I'd Rather Go Blind"
This song is about a woman who would rather lose her eyesight than see the man she loves leave. James' raw pain shines through in the final chorus, and it makes the listener instantly get a pang at the final "Baby, Baby, Baby" as James calls out to her lover.
Legendary singer and Woodcrest resident Etta James has died.
I shared a few of my memories of the great singer, famous for hits such as "At Last" and "Tell Mama" when I first interviewed her in 2008.
Did you ever have a chance to see her live? Did you go to her famous concert at the courthouse in Riverside?
Share your memories in the comments below.
Singing superstar Etta James has passed away.
James, who lived in the Woodcrest area next to Riverside, died from complications of leukemia, her manager told media sources this morning.
The first time I had the chance to talk to James, the venerable singer who recorded timeless classics such as "At Last" and "Tell Mama," it was when the movie "Cadillac Records" was coming out in late 2008. The movie was about Chess Records, and Beyonce portrayed James in the film.
I had tried contacting her via phone and through other outlets, but didn't have any luck. I decided to try in person. I knew it was a long shot, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to try.
I drove out there and taking my yellow legal pad, I wrote a letter by hand, explaining who I was and that I wanted to interview her about her thoughts on the movie and folded the sheet in half, putting my business card inside.
I went to the home and was just going to place the folded piece of paper in her mailbox when I encountered a man outside. I explained who I was and that I was a fan of her music and I'd like to ask her about the movie and I gave him my letter.
I didn't expect to hear back.
I was shocked the next day when I received a call from Ms. James herself.
Love pop-punk? Are you over 21? Looking for something to do on a Wednesday night?
Head out to Characters in Pomona for a special local show with City Mouse.
They are one of my picks for bands to watch in 2012 and they're going to be on new compilation "The Thing That Ate Larry Livermore," handpicked by Livermore, head of the now-defunct Lookout! Records.
Read my interview with City Mouse over at the iGuide.
Also, thanks to Denise Borders for the photos of the band at Riverside haunt Tio's Tacos.
Neon Trees (whose singer, Tyler Glenn, and guitarist, Chris Allen, are from Murrieta), just released its new video for the incredibly catchy new single "Everybody Talks."
Neon Trees is coming out with a new album this year. Allen was kind enough to take a break from the studio at the end of the year to recap playing Coachella in 2011, touring with Duran Duran and what's ahead for the band.
The video got the group a little bit animated for the video.
Neon Trees is in the studio working on its new album and as a teaser, released the single "Everybody Talks" today.
While the band, which features Murrieta natives Christopher Allen on guitar and Tyler Glenn on vocals, has been working away in the studio on its sophomore release, which is due out in the spring.
The band had a busy 2011, touring with Duran Duran and My Chemical Romance, as well as performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which Allen and Glenn both attended as music fans.
Read the interview with Allen reflecting on Coachella, Duran Duran and the band's upcoming album.
Hemet rockabilly band Sandbox Bullies is playing in the desert at The Hood Bar and Pizza on Saturday.
The group, which also melds blues and straight-up rock 'n' roll into its sound, recently released the album "Rock 'n' Roll Woman."
Richie and the Blue Jean Rebels are also scheduled to perform.
9 p.m. Saturday, The Hood Bar and Pizza, 74360 Highway 111, Palm Desert, 760-636-5220, 21 and older.
Visit www.reverbnation.com/sandboxbullies for more information.
It seems like just yesterday when the Divide the Day guys were here at The Press-Enterprise headquarters, doing an interview and performance for what was then known as PE Live (now known as the Audio File Sessions).
Look at them now--the song "Let It Roll" became the theme for wrestling show "WWE Smackdown" and it showed up in everything from NASCAR to football games, they rocked the heck out of SXSW and oh yeah, they just signed to Warner Bros. records.
Singer Joe Nichy sent me a message with the news and saying that we can expect some big things on the horizon for the band, whose members hail from all over Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
The band has been working with producer Mark Needham, who helped another Inland band get signed to a major label. (You might have heard of them--they're called Neon trees.)
Divide the Day had been signed to Universal a couple of years ago, but it looks like this might be a better fit, especially since Warner Bros. does a lot of work with their harder-edged artists (i.e. Mastodon, Serj Tankian, Taking Back Sunday).
Congratulations to Divide the Day and may they make an album even better than "Deadly Like the Snake," which I still listen to, years later.
If you've been watching "The Glee Project," a reality show that awards the winner a part on the hit musical TV show "Glee," you might have seen Murrieta's own Samuel Larsen.
Larsen, a former "American Idol" contestant, has been around the area's music scene as a solo artist and formerly was the front man for rock band 15 North.
On Sunday, the finale will air and Larsen is one of four contestants vying to win the audition series to land a part on "Glee."The show's finale airs at 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Check out Samuel's latest musical project, Bridges I Burn.
I don't know what I am more excited about this morning--the fact that Duran Duran is doing a fall tour through the U.S. or that Neon Trees is opening for them.
Yes, Duran Duran, one of my favorite bands and Coachella 2011 performances, is hitting the road this fall with dates at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. on Sept. 27 and Harrah's Rincon in Valley Center on Oct. 1.
Neon Trees, whose singer and guitarist, Tyler Glenn and Chris Allen, respectively, are from Murrieta, will be pretty close to home on that Oct. 1 date. They also gave a killer performance at Coachella 2011.
A few things I think should happen on this tour:
-Tyler Glenn and Duran Duran singer Simon LeBon are both fashion plates. In my mind there will be a montage set to "Girls on Film" where there is a big shopping spree involved.
-Neon Trees drummer Elaine Bradley and Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor talk about the best cymbals for pop music.
-Bassists Branden Campbell (Neon Trees) and John Taylor (Duran Duran) discuss syncopated bass lines and the impact the "Rio" album has had on pop music.
-Chris Allen needs to make a special appearance on stage with Duran Duran to play some sweet guitar riffs.
Here's the full list of show dates from Duran Duran.
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