Subscribe for a FREE Daily Dose of
greer's OC
Despite popular belief, it is actually not the end of the road for ‘90s R&B male vocal group sensation, Boyz II Men But this time around, they’ve left the matching cable-knit sweater vests, sticky sweet love songs and coordinating pastel outfits at home.
Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman and Wanyá Morris first formed Boyz II Men in Philadelphia (of course!) in 1988 and signed to the legendary Motown Records two years later. During their ‘90s heyday, the quartet was an unstoppable juggernaut, stealing hearts and sailing to the top of the Billboard charts with semi-ridiculous but totally memorable hit singles like “Motownphilly,” “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “End of the Road,” “On Bended Knee,” “Thank You” and much, much more.
Though the foursome is now a trio (the deep bass-voiced Michael McCary left Boyz II Men in early 2003 due to complications with scoliosis) the group still trudges on. In 2007, the band released a tribute album dedicated to Motown’s most classic tracks, including tunes by the Temptations, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and the Commodores, titled Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA. Their latest, simply titled Love, is also a covers album to be released on Nov. 17. Songs covered range from classics like “Love” by Sam Cooke to “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind & Fire and still catering to that old-school R&B fan base.
All right, fine, we’ll admit it: Boyz II Men’s newest material isn’t exactly as celebrated these days as it was a decade or so ago—not much of a market for R&B or boy groups in mainstream music anymore. But it’s their early discography that really makes them memorable or even worth seeing.
Boyz II Men: Thurs., Nov. 5, 7 p.m. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Though he may only be 27 years old, Andrew McMahon already has a lifetime of tales to tell: McMahon, who attended Dana Hills High School, first rose to mainstream consciousness with the pop punk (or “emo,” as some of you insist on calling it) success of the Orange County-based band, Something Corporate. After signing to Geffen Records, the band hit it big, touring everywhere, appearing on MTV and even reaching the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart with its major label album debut “Leaving Through the Window,” which featured singles you might remember like 2003’s “I Woke Up in a Car” and “Punk Rock Princess.”
A year later, Something Corporate was put on temporary (or so they say) hiatus—McMahon went on to to form his first side project, Jack’s Mannequin. In a similar fashion, Jack’s Mannequin was met with equal amounts of positive response but on June 1, 2005, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia—which has an approximate 50% survival rate in adults. Thankfully, the disease was caught in its early stages and McMahon has experienced a full recovery. McMahon has embarked on an intimate West Coast solo acoustic tour, partially in support of the release of his new documentary, “Dear Jack,” on his battle with leukemia, set for a Nov. 3 premiere.
Andrew McMahon: Tues., Oct. 27, 6 p.m., $22.50-$25. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Riding off the electronic indie pop wave of success as previously set by the now defunct Postal Service, 23-year-old Adam Young, better known as Owl City, has reached new heights with his own version of synth pop.
Though we’re sure the Postal Service comparisons being drawn left and right are getting boring, it’d be ridiculous to not point it out: It seems everything from the overtly cutesy lyrics to even the careful enunciation of Ben Gibbard’s words have materialized in what Owl City has to offer… and kids are loving it.
Owl City first started up in 2007, with Minnesota native Young making music in the basement of his parents’ house. The adorable name? A result of his insomnia, supposedly. Young’s first single, “Fireflies,” paints a dreamy landscape with some seriously adorable imagery: “‘Cause I get a thousand hugs/From 10,000 lightning bugs/As they try to teach me how to dance/A foxtrot above my head/A sock hop beneath my bed/A disco ball is just hanging by a thread.”
Owl City gained notoriety and popularity by, what else, posting his songs up on MySpace page, where he’s racked up his total plays to over 52 million. Universal Music took notice and signed him right away—and all that online popularity has paid off: Album Ocean Eyes has sold over 100,000 copies, a number nearly unheard of from a newcomer in this age of online piracy.
Owl City: Thurs. at 8:30 p.m., $12. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Fact: The Charlatans UK? They’re just known as the Charlatans everywhere else in the world. Not to be confused with the 1960s San Francisco-based psychedelic band the Charlatans, the Charlatans UK are stopping by the Detroit Bar today.
Known mostly for their contributions to Britpop and the Madchester scene, the Charlatans UK have been going strong under lead vocalist Tim Burgess since 1989. Though, truthfully, the Charlatans UK probably wouldn’t mind being confused with their 1960s namesakes—the band claims that they were actually heavily influenced by the ‘60s Californian psychedelia… and that, of course, includes Syd Barrett.
Though it’s true that the other bands that emerged from the same Britpop era in England got most of the attention—the Stone Roses, the Happy Mondays, et al—it has to also mean something that the Charlatans UK are also the last band of the era that’s actually still around.
The Charlatans UK’s driving rhythms, memorable bass lines and swirling melodies you can get lost in and barely distinguishable, slurred vocals (for a contemporary example, just turn to the brothers Gallagher) have lasted them a lifetime. They might have never outdid the Stone Roses in terms of legacy but the band most definitely disproves the old saying about the lack of rockstar-talent longevity.
The Charlatans UK: 9 p.m., $25. Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.0600. 21+.
Hold on, Orange County: You’re in for a treat. Legendary American rock band Little Feat is on tour and the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano is just one of its stops. The six (sometimes seven) piece band has an ever revolving cast of characters, but the sometimes-country rock, sometimes-R&B, sometimes-boogie woogie, sometimes-blues, sometimes-gospel group is still keeping the tradition alive.
Though Little Feat founding member/vocalist/leader/amazing slide guitarist Lowell George passed away in 1979 at age 34 of a heart attack, Shaun Murphy (known best for her work with Bob Seger and Eric Clapton—not a bad résumé, if you ask us) has taken the reigns.
There may be many many ways to describe Little Feat’s hybrid sound, but we just like to stick to good ol’ southern rock. Loving Wilco, My Morning Jacket and all those alt-country bands that are reigning audiophiles’ iPods today? Then you can thank bands like Little Feat (and the Band, and Lynyrd Sknyrd, and…) for paving the way.
Bonus factoid: George is the father of one-half of indie rock outfit the Bird and the Bee—Inara George. It’s the genes.
Little Feat: 6 p.m., $32.50. Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930. All ages.
