Subscribe for a FREE Daily Dose of
greer's OC
Thrice remains as one of the biggest—and still active—success stories to come out of Orange County music history. The band formed in 1998 in Irvine, where guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and lead guitarist Teppei Teranishi first met while attending high school.
Eleven years later, the four-piece alt-rock (though some prefer “post-hardcore” or “post-punk”) band has put out seven full-length studio albums (which includes a quadruple album made up of two sets of two discs each), six EPs and one live album—all of which were gobbled up immediately by fervent fans.
Thrice’s sound is made up of a driving, aggressive rock sound, with heavy emphasis on guitar noise and riotous drumming.
Though the band is currently in the midst of a tour, Thrice has just announced that Teranishi will be heading back home to Orange due to an emergency—see our OC Music News section for more info.
Thrice: Tues.-Wed., Nov. 24-25, 7 p.m., $21-$24. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Snoop Dogg has come a long, long way from when we were first introduced to him when he was just a 22-year-old rapping from atop of Long Beach’s legendary VIP Records on Pacific Coast Highway to masses of fans below. Snoop had some of the best in the industry behind him—Dr. Dre, to be specific—which might just be one of the main reasons why he remains relevant in the hip-hop world today. Not to mention the most difficult endeavor yet: Remaining completely credible.
In addition to bringing us some of the most memorable rap tracks in the last two decades—“Gin and Juice,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Who Am I” and many others—Snoop is responsible for helping to introduce the masses to the hip-hop subgenre, G-funk, or Gangsta-Funk, a West Coast hybrid of funk, synthesizers… along with a good dose of sex, drugs and violence.
Seventeen years later, Snoop Dogg is now a household name—from his appearance on “The Martha Stewart Show,” where he offers Martha a lesson on “Snoopguistics” to his acting career.
Fresh off an appearance at The Grove of Anaheim, his latest full-length album, Malice n Wonderland, is set for release on Dec. 8. With tracks produced by superstar producers like the Neptunes, The-Dream and Nottz, the album is sure to be another chart topper—just like his previous nine.
You know what we love the most about the Santa Ana-based, four-piece Aushua?
They’re one of the few bands around—let alone a local band—not afraid to just go for it. And by go for it, we mean writing vibrant, anthemic, hooky pop/rock tracks that are standing out drastically amidst a sea of jangly Costa Mesa garage rock-a-likes.
The easiest, most noticeable comparison (not to mention the biggest compliment) to draw to Aushua would be well, the vibrant, anthemic, hooky pop/rock tracks of an early U2. Singer Nathan Gammill even has a tinge of Bono in his voice that rings out amidst the unforgettable riffs of songs like “No Harm Done,” but it’s hard to deny the similarities to other classic staples like English post-punk band Echo and the Bunnymen… who also was responsible for their own dosage of vibrant, anthemic, hook pop/rock tracks.
Aushua just played the Detroit Bar Thursday night. Be sure to check them out next time around.
There’s something to be admired about a band that willingly chooses to write an entire album all in one key—and not an easy one at that.
Danish rock duo the Raveonettes actually did that with their debut EP, Whip it On, which was made up of songs entirely written in B-flat minor. Sound gimmicky? You’re right—but this time, the gimmick was loud. Noisy. And not to mention: Actually good.
Fans of the Jesus and Mary Chain and the layered, swirly sounds of the shoegaze genre in general would be a natural fit for the Raveonettes. Consisting of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, the duo’s intense electric guitar provides a sharp contrast to the oddly calm co-ed duos. Throw in some pretty melodies and poppy hooks and you’ve got the Raveonettes. Enjoy.
The Raveonettes: Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m., $15. Glass House, 200 W. Second St., Pomona, 909.865.3802. All ages.
Not many bands these days bother putting on a stirring live show anymore—whether it’s ego or a lack of talent in the way—but Dusty Rhodes and the River Band is quite possibly the happiest live band we’ve ever seen. And that’s ever.
With dynamic vocalist Dustin Apodaca leading the pack, the six-piece band (including Andrea Bibinski on the violin) from Anaheim has a full sound reminiscent of Arcade Fire and yes, even the Polyphonic Spree when some of those harmonies kick in, but take their main influence from folk rock band the Band.
Oh, and by the way? Dusty Rhodes and the Riverband are looking for contributions to fund their short film written and starring the band. We can’t wait for the final product, which will feature original, brand new music. Chip in here.
Dusty Rhodes and the River Band: Wed., Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m., $13. Chain Reaction, 1652 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, 714.635.6067. All ages.
