Subscribe for a FREE Daily Dose of
greer's OC
It’s a killer line-up as far as Orange County’s punk rock roots go: Bad Religion, in the middle of their five night juggernaut at the House of Blues, has invited local legends Agent Orange to open up their show on Friday. First formed in 1979, Agent Orange—yes, named after the code name for the deadly herbicide used by the U.S. government during the Vietnam War—mixes two signature Orange County sounds: Surf rock and punk. Though the band now consists of Mike Palm, Perry Giordano and Dusty Watson, and hasn’t released any new material since 1996, Agent Orange still carries on their influence on the surf/skate scene—until this day, some 31 years later, you can still see Agent Orange on the decks of even the youngest skateboarders. Agent Orange: Fri., April 2, 7 p.m., $25-$27.50. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583, hob.com. All ages.
To be honest, we’re not totally sure why Ted Leo and the Pharmacists aren’t more popular than they are now. They came out at the beginning murmurings of when indie rock as we know it today began to first make a splash, around 1999. They had it all: Jangly poppy hooks, the quirky looks, and, most importantly, the hype. Albums like The Tyranny of Distance (2001) and Hearts of Oak (2003) showcased a pop sensibility that’s rare, one whose sounds can draw comparisons to everyone from the Beatles to the Jam and Wire. But for whatever reason, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (sometimes referred to as Ted Leo/RX) dropped off the radar for a few years, while contemporaries like Death Cab For Cutie powered through to (somewhat surprising) mainstream success. (But in Ted Leo’s favor for this one, we’ve got to say that The OC did a major favor for Death Cab.) However, Ted Leo might just have another chance here, with their latest album The Brutalist Bricks—which received a 7.9 rating by the very snooty, very picky Pitchfork. The album has a throwback to those hooky hooks of their earlier work, with the clever lyrics, but this time has more of a win to Leo’s own punk roots. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Fri., March 26, 7 p.m., $14. Glass House, 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona, 909.865.3802, theglasshouse.us. All ages. $12.
The Morning Benders have an impressive resume, if that’s what you want to call it. In the five years the band has been in existence, they’ve toured and played with indie favorites like the Kooks, Grizzly Bear, Death Cab for Cutie, Ra Ra Riot, MGMT, We Are Scientists and Two Gallants. The quartet, consisting of Chris Chu, Jon Chu, Julian Harmon and Tim Or, started out in Berkeley—but of course are based out of New York City now. The Morning Benders’ whimsical sound with double-tracked vocals is indebted to the Shins, full of youth and charm. Like the Beach Boys? Lo-fi pop? Of course you do. Then you’ll love the Morning Benders. Sure it’s never good when you sound too much like any other bands out there—but good pop is good pop and the Morning Benders got that. As for whether or not they’ll be branching out into their own more original endeavors as the young, clearly talented band’s career progresses is another thing. The Morning Benders: 9 p.m., Sat., March 27, $10. Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.0600; detroitbar.com. 21+.
Bad Religion is celebrating 30 years of Bad Religion with five nights this month at the House of Blues Anaheim and a career-spanning setlist—and you’re invited.
Though the band formed in Woodland Hills, Bad Religion helped define Orange County’s punk scene along with other groups like TSOL, Social Distortion and the Vandals. With a current line-up of Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz (owner of Epitaph Records who later went on to sign the Offspring), Jay Bentley, Greg Hetson (Redd Kross, Circle Jerks), Brian Banker (a founding member of Minor Threat) and Brooks Wackerman, Bad Religion was many people’s “gateway” punk band in the ‘80s. Bad Religion introduced many to punk music, got them addicted to punk music and kept us there. It was the beginnings of melodic pop punk—that soon-to-be Southern Californian signature sound—but with a hardcore edge.
Suffer, released in 1988, is one of Bad Religion’s most critically acclaimed works, and while the band has some 14 albums to their chronology, it’s been three years since Bad Religion’s last, New Maps of Hell, which reached #35 on the U.S. charts. But rest assured: They may have 30 years under the belt, but there’s plenty more—Bad Religion is currently working on the 15th studio album to be released some time in 2010.
Bad Religion: Wed.-Thurs., 8 p.m., $25-$27.50. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club might sound like they’re from Manchester, but they’re actually just going to be visiting the House of Blues Anaheim on Tuesday from ... Los Angeles. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, or BRMC, is actually originally from San Francisco, and their Americana folk revival-influenced sound meets T. Rex, Sonic Youth and the Jesus and Mary Chain. The band definitely straddles the lines here: Psychedelia, distorted Shoegaze, some Dark Wave.
We first heard from BRMC in 2001 with full-length B.R.M.C.: It was gritty… loud. There were near indistinguishable vocals, raw guitar riffs—yet it still had the Brit pop catchiness of Oasis. This is really one of the best shows to come to the House of Blues in some time: Get ready for noise.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Tues., 8 p.m., $17.50-$20. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
