LIVE ROCK GIG

Bearcoon's "El Guapo" - Album of the Year

2015-12-20T18:57:00.000-08:00

Bearcoon have created a truly remarkable debut record that is, in our opinion, this year's best album. The acoustic folk duo consists of Solange Kaye Marie Igoa on lead vocals and Andrea Walker on guitar and vocal harmonies. Their album titled El Guapo is a collection of poetic lyrics combined with spellbinding harmonies. Like all great recordings, several themes run through and bind the overall sentiment of relationships, love and loss. The redemption of hope is the silver lining in this profoundly heartfelt collection of recordings.

The theme of loss runs from the beginning track through to the end of the album. The tracks run the gamut from beautiful laments to intense anger. Cold Steel of Night, Darkest Corners, End of Days, Waking Eyes and Whiskey are sonic parallels to the emotional roller coaster ride that loss creates.

The silver lining is love compensating for loss. The redemption of love and hope can be found in the tracks It’s Just You and Me and Walk With Me. The latter includes the lyric, "I’m going nowhere but if you like, you can walk with me." A great metaphor of the formative steps in a new relationship.

Buffalo is the hopeful, dark horse track. A premonition track for the band as they keep the dream alive by taking the music on the road. The beautiful, earwig melody sticks in your head. It's our favorite track on the record. For us it pinpoints hope as the catalyst to fulfillment.

The album was produced and recorded by Anthony "Antoine" Arvizu at The Compound Studio in Long Beach, CA. The recording session was a prize that the band received after winning Buskerfest (music festival) in 2014. The record's success lies in Andrea showcasing her well rounded skills as both a classically trained guitarist and amazing picker, coupled with Solange's strikingly beautiful vocals. The two are authentic and highly skilled in creating some of the most spellbinding harmonies you'll ever hear.

After appearing live in front of a worldwide audience on Geek & Sundry's Twitch TV channel, the band sold out of physical copies of their music on the CD Baby website and also achieved the #1 position on Amazon's New Folk Releases chart. The band was so popular on the Twitch channel that they became the first act ever to be asked back for an encore performance.The band is currently on a west coast tour and are headed back to Long Beach to record their second album. They have already previewed some of the amazing new tracks in live performances. Bearcoon may very well have another Album of the Year contender.

FATHERS & SUNS TALK ABOUT NEW MUSIC, NEW BAND MEMBERS AND THE POWER OF THE NUMBER THREE

2015-08-25T19:54:00.000-07:00

Live Rock Gig) You released three new songs back on June 16th. Can you tell us about those three songs and the strategy of releasing three tracks at a time?

Arturo Bandini) It sparked from the idea of simply sharing a song we each wrote (Arturo, Jesus and Luis). We agreed on just focusing on 3 at a time, that way there is no pressure of dealing with a whole album at once. In a way the concept of the album is to just do 3 songs at a time.

Benjamin Chadwick) I don't know if it's a strategy. I presume we are letting new ideas be heard in advance, in order to maintain interest among fans. The album is not complete and we get to hear feedback from the people who are looking forward to our complete release. It may even help sway which songs ultimately appear in the completed collection. Okay...maybe that is a strategy...

Luis Renteria) Much like our band name. I feel "3ness" implies a sense of spirituality. I don't know. At the time the concept was being thrown around, there were only three members in Fathers & Suns. Gabotron, who'll be directing all the artwork for the supposed vinyl release let me in on a lot of the concepts he's been absorbed in, which coincidentally are triangular in thought, and he'll be expressing this in his art. I'm really stoked on what he's done so far. So, as it goes, there will be 3 parts to "tRy", so to speak...tRy 1/3, tRy 2/3 tRy 3/3.

LRG) Can you tell us when we can expect the next three songs and when the complete album will be released?

AB) We haven't had much time in the studio to track the follow up but we are not over thinking things so it should get done fast next time we are in, I'm guessing late September.

BC) The next three songs are close to being released. I'm the new guy, so I don't have all the secrets. But as soon as I find out, I'll let you know..But you will probably find out before me!

LR) We've got a couple in the can but I'm not sure if those songs will be in the next batch of songs. It has been such a weird time for the band. We've all been really focused on our day jobs and trying to make sure we're happy with the financial side of our lives. Also, for the most part, we've needed a break from the band, from each other, perhaps. We've been spending more time together recently and luckily, we have a really great sounding studio and really do work fast once the ideas start flowing.

LRG) What format will the new record be available?

AB) Digital for sure, and there is the idea of pressing it on vinyl or cassette but for now for sure digital.

BC) We're toying with the idea of releasing these songs in bold print. Really dark like the future.

LR) I definitely want to do vinyl. Gabotron art in 12 inches, muy bueno!

LRG) Can you tell us the meaning of the new album "tRy"?

AB) I'm afraid that I can't put it into words.

BC) I suppose it's open to interpretation. I've decided to me it means, "don't give up."

LR) Initially, word play for Tri. But tRy really gives it much more meaning, doesn't it?

LRG) Where are you recording the new tracks and who produced the record?

AB) We are recording it ourselves at the little studio we like to call FatSun Studio. Luis is taking the lead on producing, recording, mixing and mastering.

BC) We've been recording in our rehearsal space. Ideas seem to flow freely there. From my perspective, it's all new, but I feel as though it's a good atmosphere for everyone. Arturo and Jesus are a great team and probably could come up with interesting melodies and songs, anywhere they went.

LR) I used to record a bunch of death metal bands about 10 years ago on the east side of Long Beach. After that experience, I hated anything to do with production. Recently I got the bug again. It's been a lot of fun. A lot of learning...continual learning.

LRG) Tell us about the newest member of the band.

AB) Luis has known Benny for many years and we've played alongside his other band New Maximum Donkey several times and we've gotten to know him well. I actually recall seeing him a few years ago perform with Luis and he was on keys and I asked if he wanted to join the band, he turned me down in the nicest way possible, but all is good, he's with us now and he's been great, Extremely talented, get's along with everyone, Benny is great!

BC) What do you really want to know..I mean he's a real nice guy...'
That's usually what comes out of one musicians mouth to another, when they're trying to tell you that someone is a lousy musician. "How's Steve as a guitar player?"
"Oh, he's a really nice guy..."

LR) Benny's a really nice guy.

LRG) Since your lineup has changed a little has your songwriting changed from past recordings?

AB) I don't think so, it seems we still have the same approach. Luis has been experimenting on drum machines and stuff but I don't believe that had to do with the lineup.

BC) I think it's safe to say my influence on songwriting thus far, is very minimal. For me personally, the idea is to stay out of the way. I try to keep things as simple as possible unless the song calls for something more. I just want to be part of the solution, you know?

LR) Different from the "Mama Provides," our first album, was written. We rehearsed a lot back then. We enjoyed the wafting breeze that came through Arturo's apartment at The Chestnut House. However, it is pretty much inline with the way we wrote "&"...half idea, or fully formed ideas come in, then a song is churned out. Recently, I was playing with the drum machine and Arturo just kicked in with some chords and a fully formed vocal melody. It's very Kid A ish. Can't wait to get that one complete.

LRG) You recently won the battle of the bands in Costa Mesa; Did that help spark or fund any new projects?

AB) It helped us pay our studio rent that funds our album and everything else we do as a band in that space. It was a blessing.

BC) It helped fuel my addiction to gasoline! I just can't stay away from that stuff! My family tried to host an intervention, but I never showed up because I was at a gas station spending my winnings!

LR) Yes, typically any money we make goes to rent and gas. We've been really lucky. I can only remember once, maybe twice, that we've had to pay for gear, or studio rent, out of pocket. A blessing indeed.

LRG) Can you tell us about any new shows or appearances in the near future?

AB) Nothing booked now, just focused on recording these new tunes.

BC) Maybe...

LR) We love Wade and The Prospector. I'm sure each time we release a batch of songs, we'll have a little get together with our friends there, Hopefully when the vinyl is pressed, we'll bug Rand, yet again, and he'll let us play at Fingerprints at the end of the year.

LRG) Where can people buy your new songs?

AB) Our website at www.fathersandsuns.com
That is best, it directly supports us.

BC) I don't know, but if someone tells you, can you tell me?!

LR) You can also stream it there. tRy before you buy! ;)

TOP 10 LOCAL SHOWS OF 2014

2015-01-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

2014 was a fantastic year for live music in Long Beach. From large festivals to small club shows there seemed to be something for everyone. Here's our list of the 10 best shows of the year in alphabetical order.

Jay Buchanan & Derrick Brown - Expo Arts Center -10/24

This is our pick for the best show of the year. The entire night felt like a dream that you never wanted to end. Derrick Brown opened the show with his rock star brand of poetry that sent the crowd into a frenzy. By the time Jay Buchanan took the stage the place bursting at the seams with a standing room only crowd. Jay hadn't performed a solo show in several years and this was a genuine treat for his hometown fans. Here's a video we shot of Jay's opening song "Post Coital Kiss."

Buskerfest - East Village Arts District - 9/6

Now in it's 6th year, Buskerfest just seems to get better with age. This year featured another incredible lineup of the best local talent including Jesse Daniel Edwards, Thy Squid, The Ziggens, So Many Wizards and the winners of Buskerfest, Bearcoon. The evening ended with an amazing finale jam session with Fathers & Suns and Riot Stage.

THE REST OF THE BEST

Chrissie Hynde at Fingerprints Music - 9/29

Dancing In The Streets- Downtown Promenade 6/28

Folk Revival Festival - Rainbow Lagoon Park - 9/27

Live After 5 Kickoff Event - Federal Bar - 11/13

Rival Sons-New Years Eve on Pine Avenue -1/1

Tijuana Panthers - Live at The Pike & Bixby Park - 7/26

Twisted at the Pike - The Pike at Rainbow Harbor - 7/11

Weezer at Fingerprints Music - 10/8

AN EVENING WITH JAY BUCHANAN AND DERRICK BROWN - SWOON + CROON - RECAP WITH VIDEO - LONG BEACH - 10/24/2014

2014-10-25T21:09:00.001-07:00

Attempting to write about the experience of listening to Jay Buchanan on stage is a daunting task. It's like trying to explain metaphysics. Intensity, pristine tone and profound power are the closest descriptors for the incomparable musician who performed last night at the hidden gem that is the Expo Art Center in beautiful Bixby Knolls.

Derrick Brown, who is fittingly touted as one of the top five poets in America, wrangled a boisterous crowd into submission with his poems that defy labeling...Poetry? Comedy? Rock N' Roll? Although it's not the first time he has been on the bill with a musician(s), this particular pair go way back to the early beginnings in their art forms. During the evening, Jay Buchanan credited Derrick for supporting and inspiring him to perform his solo music again (also not the first musician to credit Derrick with being inspirational).
Although we've watched the two artists perform repeatedly over the past 2 decades, tonight would be different. They've successfully traded up to a large clamoring crowd in contrast to the distant past of having small venues filled like The Hub in Fullerton, The Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest or Linda's Doll Hut in Anaheim.

Jay Buchanan on stage

After a comedic introduction by Derrick, Jay took to the stage. He lit what we would suspect was a smudge stick and carefully crafted the ambiance that would result in pure musical ecstasy by the end of the evening. The tone changed in the room. The collective energy in the room was palpable, then began the beguine with "Post Coital Kiss."

With sage hanging in the air, the intensity grew soul with "Roll with Me."

"Thankful" was both the song and sentiment that ended an euphoric night of pure art. We began the evening with thought provoking laughter and ended

the evening spellbound and spent. What began with the beautiful power of words ended with a collective euphoria that clearly affected even Jay Buchanan, himself. A night no one in that room will soon forget, if ever.

Left to Right - Jody & Judy (of Live Rock Gig) with Poet Derrick Brown

RIVAL SONS - GREAT WESTERN TOUR TRIFECTA - ORANGE COUNTY, LA & VEGAS - PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND SETLISTS

2014-10-12T19:09:00.000-07:00

We have never been shy about our love for the Long Beach band Rival Sons. We have written about them on this blog more than any other artist. Their new album "Great Western Valkyrie" was released back on June 10th in the US and since then we have been waiting patiently for an American tour. Once the dates went on sale we decided to see as many shows as possible. Here's a recap of the three shows that we were lucky enough to catch.

The Observatory - Orange County, CA - 9/19/2014

The first stop on the west coast tour was at The Observatory in Orange County, California. The 500 capacity venue sold out the night of the event with all the walk up patrons. The opening acts for all the west coast dates were the rock duo Sir Madam and San Francisco psychedelic rockers The Soft White Sixties. Check out the videos that we shot of The Soft White Sixties and Rival Sons rocking the OC. It was a really unforgettable night.

SIR MADAM

THE SOFT WHITE SIXTIES

Singer Octavio Genera of The Soft White Sixties

RIVAL SONS

Jay Buchanan of Rival Sons

Jay and Scott of Rival Sons

Rival Sons - Orange County Set List

The Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA - 9/26/2014
The legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood hosted the sold out Rival Sons show exactly a week after the Orange County show. The enthusiastic audience was unlike anything that we've seen at an LA concert. The Los Angeles crowds are generally very reserved until they see something that really impresses them. Tonight's show gave them exactly what they had been dying to see. Please check out the video below of the unreal performance of "Burn Down Los Angeles."

Marquee Outside The Troubadour

Rival Sons Rocking LA

Dave, Mike and Jay

Jay on stage in LA

Los Angeles Set List

Electric Man

Good Luck

Secret

Play The Fool

Good Things

Torture

Jordan

Manifest Destiny Part 1

Burn Down Los Angeles

Tell Me Something

Get What's Coming

Rich and the Poor

Face of Light

Open My Eyes

Pressure and Time

(Drum Solo)

Keep On Swinging

Vinyl - Hard Rock Hotel - Las Vegas, NV - 9/27/2014
Just one day after the Troubadour show, the band crossed the desert to play in Las Vegas at the iconic Hard Rock Hotel. This was the third time that the band has played at Vinyl, the hotel's newest concert venue. Check out the video we shot below of their ballad Jordan.

Standee Outside Vinyl in Las Vegas

Jay and Scott

Dave and Mike at Vinyl

Rival Sons on stage in Vegas

Vinyl - Las Vegas Set List

WEEZER - LIVE AT FINGERPRINTS MUSIC - LONG BEACH, CA - 10/8/2014

2014-10-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

We have witnessed an array of incredible in-store shows at Fingerprints Music over the past 20 years or so. Heck, just two weeks ago we were lucky enough to be in the crowd for an intimate acoustic performance by Chrissie Hynde. That was a night that neither of us will ever forget. Where do you go from there? Bam! The email hit our mailbox announcing an all acoustic performance by a little band named Weezer. Are you kidding? We thought for a minute that we were dreaming. We knew we had to act fast since Weezer has legions of devoted fans that would do anything to get into this show. After an afternoon of dialing the store non-stop, we finally got through on the phone lines and secured our spots by purchasing their great new album "Everything Will Be Alright In The End."

Weezer had originally booked one show at 8pm, but a second show at had to be added at 7pm due to the overwhelming demand. About 250 fans packed each show to a cozy capacity. We were lucky enough to get a nice spot on the side of the stage for the late show. The band played a short set which included 5 powerful songs from their new release "Everything Will Be Alright in the End." Weezer invited their fans on stage during both "Go Away" and "Foolish Father" to act as the backing chorus. It was an impressive testament to the band and their passionate fan base. Many had already memorized the music and lyrics within the 24 hours of their record being released. The best thing about attending the late show was the fact that the band stuck around for over an hour to sign autographs and chat with their fans. It really made for another unforgettable night at Fingerprints.

Their latest record has critics and fans agreeing that it is a return to their garage rock sound that established them as one of the most influential bands of the 90's. As the lyrics to the new song "Back To The Shack" say "Take me back, back to the shack. Back to the Strat with the lighting strap. Kick in the door. More Hardcore. Rockin' out like it's 94'. Turn up the radio." Weezer is back!

INAUGURAL 1ST SATURDAYS MUSIC AT BIXBY PARK RECAP- 8/2/2014

2014-08-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

What a great day for local music in Long Beach! The long dormant Bixby Park band shell received new life with the inaugural 1st Saturdays Music at Bixby Park. The shows are put together by local residents Eric Gray & Melissa Escalante in partnership with Friends of Bixby Park. In addition to bringing the band shell back to life, the shows also give Long Beach musicians another venue to perform in front of their hometown crowd.

BEARCOON

The first act to kick-off the new music series was the acoustic folk duo, Bearcoon. This pairing includes powerful lead vocals by Solange Kaye Marie Igoa and the fierce guitar slinging of Andrea Walker . The spellbinding tone of their harmonies are so entrancing that you hope they never stop. If you haven't had a chance to catch a live show, find one. In the meantime you can catch their performance at 2013's Folk Revival Festival here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDEebesuskQ..

SECOND WIND

The quartet Second Wind took the stage next and delighted the crowd with a combination of folk, bluegrass and pop. The band consists of the husband and wife team of Pattie and Marc Davidson on vocals and guitar, David Noferi on accordion and Tom Gallo on drums. The band's playlist covered music from the 1930's to present and included many well known standards.

MOVE

The last band to take the stage was the Long Beach musical collective known as Move. They have a rotating list of band members that is a whose who of local music talent. Today's version of Move included Jon Zell on guitar and vocals, Freddie Joseph Dilworth on guitar, Michael Malinowski on drums, Greggory Moore on percussion and vocals, Rachel Star Albright on vocals, Brendan Vasquez on bass and Steve Rice on organ. The band is known for their musical spontaneity and tight musicianship.

Be sure to catch the next 1st Saturdays Music at Bixby Park on Saturday, September 6th from 3pm-6pm.

THE PALADINS CONCERT REVIEW - THE OBSERVATORY - SANTA ANA, CA 6/13/2014

2014-08-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

Formed during the rockabilly revival of the early 1980's, The Paladins have built their reputation on their incredible live shows. After taking a hiatus for a few years, the band is back together and have hit the road to do what they do best. The show at The Observatory in Orange County was one in a series of "homecoming" shows in Southern California.

The band is centered around the blazing guitar work of Dave Gonzalez who seamlessly blends elements of blues, soul and rockabilly into his style. The backbone of the band's sound is the ferocious stand up bass playing of Thomas Yearsley and the blues grooves of drummer Brian Fahey.

We shot the video below of "Going Down to Big Mary's" which Dave Gonzalez mentioned was the band's first single. The video highlights Gonzalez's incredible guitar playing.

The band's two hour set included a nice selection of songs from all nine of the band's records. As a special treat for the packed house, rockabilly musician Kim Lenz got up on stage and performed with the band toward the end of the evening. Check out the performance with Kim Lenz below.

TIJUANA PANTHERS CONCERT REVIEW - THE FEDERAL UNDERGROUND - LONG BEACH, CA-7/10/14

2014-08-02T22:20:00.000-07:00

We have been waiting patiently for almost a year for a Tijuana Panthers show in Long Beach. The band's last hometown appearance was at Fingerprints Records last August for a record release party for the album, Semi-Sweet. A lot has happened to the band in the past year. Back on June 10th they released the fantastic new album Wayne Interest on LA's Innovative Leisure Records.

TIJUANA PANTHERS LIVE ON STAGE

The band has also been touring all over Europe this summer playing large music festivals with some of the biggest names in rock. When the Federal Underground show was announced we were looking forward to seeing the band play in this intimate, cozy venue. The Federal Underground, which is under The Federal Bar on Pine Ave., is one of our favorite new music venues in town. We were also looking forward to hearing the band perform their new songs live.

Once the band took the stage it was easy to see that they were in top form. They hit the ground running with the song "Four Horseman" which is the opening track from their new record. After that, they ripped right into "Cherry Street" which we were lucky enough to capture in the video below.

The band's sound is a combo of garage, surf and punk rock which translates to an incredibly powerful live show. The unique thing about the band is that all three members share lead vocal duties, each adding different vocal nuances to round-out their energetic sound. The amount of contagious energy that they create always sends their audience into a frenzy. Tonight's show was no exception. By the time they got to the song "Torpedo" the crowd was going absolutely nuts, slam dancing and crowd surfing.

The band mixed their 21 song set list with tunes from all three of their records: Max Baker, Semi-Sweet and Wayne Interest. This was the kick-off of what would be 3 local, Long Beach shows. The latter 2 pop-up shows happened on July 26th at the Pike Bar and at Bixby Park as part of the Summer and Music Concert Series. The series of shows was a nice treat for their hometown fans that have missed them during their increasing success abroad.

TIJUANA PANTHERS FEDERAL BAR SET LIST

BURGER RECORDS REVUE AT THE OBSERVATORY- SANTA ANA, CA - 7/1/14

2014-07-07T23:33:00.002-07:00

Over the past few years Burger Records has been putting together some really amazing shows at the the Observatory in Santa Ana. Tonight's show was called the "Burger Records Revue" and once again featured an eclectic mix of bands off the Burger roster, as well as some other great artists invited by the label. The show was an all ages event and a huge amount of people lined-up to get in before the doors even opened. Both the Observatory and Constellation rooms were scheduled with bands at alternating times which meant the entertainment was non-stop throughout the evening. The transitions from band to band were done quickly, which gave the night the feel of a Rock N' Roll road show from the 1950's.

CUTTY FLAM
The show got off to a high energy start with the San Fernando Valley rockabilly band, Cutty Flam. The band is self-proclaimed "Prom Punk" and describe themselves as the "Rock n' Roll sound track to a 1950's B-Movie starring Ritchie Valens opposite Betty Page and directed by Quentin Tarantino." The band played their half-hour set which included tracks from their recently released recording "Robot Heart."

SUMMER TWINS

We are huge fans of this band, having just caught a show at Alex's bar in Long Beach a few weeks prior. We were really excited to see them live, again, blending flawless harmonies into their sweet, dream pop style. The Riverside based band mixed songs from their debut album, EP and threw in a few excellent new songs for good measure. We caught a cool surprise on video toward the end of the evening in the Constellation room. The Brown sisters took the stage with Vicky and the Vengents and played a cover of "Baby That's Me" from the 1960's band, The Cake.

MYSTIC BRAVES
Mystic Braves are a quintet of psychedelic retro rockers based in Echo Park, Los Angeles. They played a half-hour set of 1960's inspired sounds with big harmonies, jangly guitars and a garage rock sensibility.

NICK WATERHOUSE
Nick Waterhouse's performance was easily one of the highlights of tonight's show. He took the stage looking a little like Buddy Holly and seamlessly mixed blue-eyed soul with 1950's guitar rock. He is an excellent musician, songwriter and vocalist on his own, but what makes his live show even more spectacular is the collection of top notch musicians that he surrounds himself with. At one point in the evening the Huntington Beach native mentioned that early in his career he would have been happy to play in front of 50 people. He went on to say that he could have never imagined playing in front of the packed house that was there to witness this show tonight.

RONNIE SPECTOR
The act that everyone was waiting for, including the bands on this night's roster, was the incomparable and legendary Ronnie Spector of the famed 1960's, Doo-Wop trio, The Ronettes. The exhilarating 45 minute set included highlights such as Ray Charles' "What'd I Say," a dedication to Joey Ramone, "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory," "Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love" and the crowd favorite, "Be My Little Baby."

VICKY AND THE VENGENTS
The Colton based band, Vicky and the Vengents, have been receiving heavy airplay from legendary LA Disc Jockey Rodney Bingenheimer on his KROQ radio show. Vicky and The Vengents describe themselves as a "Psychedelic Maltshop Punk/Pop/ Rock n' Roll group" which is a perfect description of the band's sound. They are fronted by the powerhouse vocals of Vicky Tafoya and the punk rock guitar of Matt Beld. The band played a a 12 song set which included their new single "Sha Na" out now on Groovers Records. The band also played an amazing cover of "Baby That's Me" by the band The Cake. Sisters Chelsea and Justine Brown of Summer Twins joined them on stage for the song. Click on the link below to view this performance.

KING KHAN & THE SHRINES

One of the last acts to take the main stage wound the crowd up instead of down. King Khan is a James Brown style stage spectacle. Adorned with large Vegas-style head dresses and capes, the fun never ends with the party getting started on stage and infecting the crowd. The audience went into a frenzy, stage diving and crowd surfing to show their enthusiasm. King Khan one-upped the crowd stripping down to his skivvies.

THEE OH SEES

The evening closed out with a loud and furious bang when the San Francisco band Thee Oh Sees took the stage. The sonic power of the band seemed to channel an early Nirvana. The crowd was going absolutely nuts during their set and moved up and down as one huge mass that was collectively in sync with the band.

INTERVIEW: FATHERS & SUNS TALK ABOUT THEIR NEW ALBUM "&" DUE SEPTEMBER 9TH

2014-07-06T21:44:00.000-07:00

The Long Beach quartet Fathers & Suns recently announced the release date of the follow up to their acclaimed 2012 debut album "Mama Provides." Their new album titled "&" (pronounced "Ampersand") is set to be released on September 9th. We had a great pleasure of interviewing the band about all the details of the new album as well as their new single "The End is the Beginning" which drops July 7th.

(Live Rock Gig) Your new album is titled "&" (pronounced "Ampersand"). Can you tell us a little about where the title came from? Does it have any kind of a special meaning for you guys?

Arturo (guitar, lead vocals): Early on, when we deciding on a band name, it boiled down to just "Fathers And Suns" or "Fathers & Suns." We all were obviously, in the end, more attracted to the ampersand as a part to our name. Now it is, in my eyes, the correct way to write our band's name. As we were halfway through recording this album without an album name, it just came to me. I thought it would help to finally make a sort of statement with "&". It is, after all, the correct way to write our band's name and we have dealt with many friends and fans still spelling it as "Fathers And Suns." I hope it simply sheds some light on this subject. Jay was the first one that I told about the album title, he really dug it, so them I started to share with Luis and Jesus. The more I learn about history and the meaning of the logogram "&" and its usage, the more it brings a special meaning to me. Did you know that in film and credits for stories, screen plays etc., it indicates a closer collaboration than "and"?

Luis (drums): I just saw the album art placeholder that Jay put up on our private Bandcamp page, where he's been uploading our current mixes, and I just fell in love with the simplicity of it - a black fancy ampersand, on a white background.

Jesus (guitar, lead vocals): To me, the significance of "&" is the constant evolution and the change that brings us together.

Jay (bass, vocals): Most obviously, the ampersand solidifies the stylization of our band's name, with the "&" rather than with "and." I think it's up to every individual to make sense of what it means to be them, as the ampersand also carries the undercurrents of our band's music, lyrics, ideas and intentions with itself. I like the idea that since the symbol represents the word "and", for this record, it also signifies inclusiveness and openness. Openness to the world, to alternative ideas, to always seeking and striving to grow and be better.

The first single from the album "The End is the Beginning" is being released on July 7th. Can you tell us a little about the song and what made you guys choose it as the lead single?

Arturo: I enjoy playing the song and always see positive reactions when we play it. It's the first song Jesus and I wrote together. It has become a favorite for many of my friends and so it just was a natural for it to be first on the list when we thought of releasing it as a single.

Jay: The song just has a very spiritual feel that makes it pretty epic. It's a highlight of the Jesus-Arturo chemistry: the unison vocals, the interlocking guitar parts. It puts you in a trance and it's such a beautiful piece of music, yet so simple. I think it's a great first representation, sonically and lyrically, of what people should expect from this album.

Luis: I think this is the first song I heard the guys perform, when I was thinking of joining the band (Program Love). I thought it was so cute, sitting at The Ultramegazone indie book store, oh so many years ago, listening to the Art and Jesus' dynamic. Yes, a simple, but effective song. And, lyrically, it beckons the "don't be scared of change" theme I felt at the time, whenever I hung out at the Chestnut House with those guys.

Jesus: As the title says, "The End is the Beginning" is just the point where the ultimate truth of the end will ultimately reveal a true beginning into something mysteriously beautiful and frightening.

You have also announced that a second single called "The Beat" will be released on August 8th, about a month before the album is released. What was the thought process behind releasing two singles before the album drops? Is it to build a steady buzz? We've noticed that many bands have been having a lot of success with this release pattern lately.

Jesus: When it comes to other bands and their methods of accumulating their successes, we're not really focused on the patterns of what makes someone else successful. We're genuinely trying to improve and commit ourselves to the love of the craft.

Jay: As Jesus said, I don't think we paid particular attention to any pattern. The play on numbers just came out of thin air. There was talk to release two singles and we voted and decided on these two. Given that we have about three months before the album release, we figured we'll release one single a month for the first two months and then the complete album.

Arturo: I guess it was about creating a buzz, I like the idea that you can send singles out into the world and give people a taste for what is cooking.

Luis: At the time we decided to release the singles, I was enthralled with the way way Lana Del Rey had been releasing her singles. So, I was pushing quite a bit. It wasn't calculated, per se. But, I did want to create the same kind of excitement I was feeling, in anticipation to her "Ultraviolence" album.

In our last interview we talked a little about the evolution of the band's sound since your first album. Now that the new album "&" is just about finished can you tell us a little more about how the sound has evolved?

Arturo: The album is not 100% finished. New guitars, amps and recording equipment has really helped our sound evolve.

Jesus: In general, most artists don't want to be condemned to their past works, but embrace the faults and successes of our previous record. So we build upon it to further develop the fundamental layers and grow from our past experiences.

Luis: Something we didn't touch on before, either, is acquiring our rehearsal space (Fat Sun Studio). When we put together the songs for the last album, we were at the Chestnut House trying to be quiet for the neighbors - bongos and acoustic guitars, mostly. Now with our own rehearsal space, we can rock out quite a bit. That's definitely had an effect on the feel of the songs. Also, the album is a bit darker, musically and lyrically. I think it's important to acknowledge that side of life; hopefully we're not dwelling.

Jay: Rather than just focusing on the sound evolution, I think it's worth mentioning that we have become an even tighter, better-communicating and more cohesive unit. To me, that's the evolution taking place. Yes, the sound is definitely evolving due to the aforementioned reasons as well, but the true evolving lies in how the individuals, their present psychological, emotional and spiritual states, and their instruments all come together to become the sound of Fathers & Suns.

We know that you have been playing several songs from the new record at your live shows. How have the fans been reacting to the new songs? Do you guys have a favorite song from the new album that you like to play?

Arturo: Reactions to our new songs have been positive, I've had several people come to me after shows and ask for song titles as they sing the melodies to them. It seems they are catching on. Nothing but positive reactions, no tomatoes on stage. I really enjoy playing "Don't Let Me Slide."

Jesus: Well, the audiences are certainly not throwing bottles or tomatoes, they enjoy the songs and remember them and sing along. My favorite song to play is "The Beat". It's still pretty fresh to the audience and I love to play it 'cause I always wanna dance to it. It livens me up and then I don't wanna stop.

Luis: When we premiered "Abstract Bear" at the inaugural night for The Getdown at the Federal Bar in Long Beach, the crowd had a genuine reaction to it.

That song is my favorite to play, for sure. It's weird, it's quirky, it's dark. People have been requesting "Shimmering On" quite a bit, too.

On what formats will the new album be released? Where will the album be available?

Arturo: Digital and CD. There is talk of doing a vinyl too, but we have yet to see if we can cost it out according to our budget.

Jay: The album will mainly be available through our website, http://fathersandsuns.com/, and also several independent music stores, namely Fingerprints. As far as a vinyl release, we will have to decide whether the vinyl version will contain all the songs, because as is, the album will have to be pressed on two separate vinyls because of logistical issues, such as play time and a higher fidelity. That's aside from having to re-master it separately and specifically for the physical restrictions of vinyl. And since it's all a little more complicated, it'll likely take longer to see "&" on vinyl.

Luis: We're also pressing skin-implantable RFID versions, for the lull before The Kurzweilian Singularity.

What are you plans after the album is released? Any more thought given to a local record release party or a tour?

Jay: There is already something in the works for a local record release, but we cannot share any details yet. But we will make an announcement once it's finalized.

Jesus: There are no plans for a tour, however we're open to the possibility of it.

Luis: We've talked about doing a local record store "tour" and possibly doing some local book shops, in and around: Long Beach, L.A., the Inland Empire and Ventura County, perhaps.

DANCIN' IN THE STREETS: ALLAH-LAS, CALIFORNIA LIONS AND GREATER CALIFORNIA ROCK THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH - 6/28/2014

2014-06-30T22:44:00.002-07:00

Long Beach's Summer and Music concert series got off to a sensational start tonight with the Third Annual Dancin' in the Streets event. The free SAM kick off show moved to a new larger location on the Downtown Promenade just a few steps from the building that once housed the legendary Blue Cafe. An estimated crowd of over a thousand people packed the area to see Greater California, California Lions and the LA psychedelic rockers Allah-Las. DJ Lithuanian Prince provided the soundtrack for the dance party that took place throughout the evening and continued after the bands finished their sets.

GREATER CALIFORNIA
Greater California kicked off the live performances with an impressive set that seamlessly mixed together both folk and psychedelic rock. The Long Beach band was celebrating the release of their new 7" single "Long Shadows" which is being released by local record label Porch Party Records. They chose to close their set with the new single and were joined on stage by an all star roster of local musicians including members of Bobby Blunders, The Humpers, Wild Pack of Canaries as well as three members of California Lions. It was a great start to an awesome evening of music.

Terry Prine of Greater California

CALIFORNIA LIONS
The Long Beach band took the stage and played a lively set of folk meets California dream pop. The inclusion of a horn section tonight added a soulful, high energy dance feel to several of their songs and kept the crowd dancing throughout their hour long set. The band mixed the set list with songs from their fantastic 2013 debut EP as well as songs from their soon to be released new record. Carina Downing and Daniel Perkins share lead vocal duties and they both have a quality to their voice which makes their music the perfect summer soundtrack.

We have been big fans of California Lions since we caught them at last year's Folk Revival Festival back in November. Click here to see our complete recap with video:
http://liverockgig.blogspot.com/2013/11/long-beach-folk-revival-festival-great.html

CARINA DOWNING OF CALIFORNIA LIONS

ALLAH-LAS
We have to admit that we were already huge fans of the Allah-Las. Once the announcement was made that they were playing this event we were counting down the days like a kid counts down to Christmas. The band is signed to Innovative Leisure Records which is also home to local retro rocker Nick Waterhouse and the Long Beach surf trio, Tijuana Panthers.

Allah-Las' sound is a mix of garage, surf and psychedelic all rolled into one. You can hear a little bit of early Stones, Beach Boys and Love in their mesmerizing, hypnotic music. Lead Singer/Guitarist Miles Michaud has always reminded us of a young, Animals-era Eric Burdon. His vocal style comes across as effortless and laid back but he can reach back with intensity just in the right spots. Lead guitarist Pedrum Siadatian, bassist Spencer Dunham and drummer Matthew Correia provide the exceptional Byrds-style harmonies which give their music a cool ethereal quality. Tonight's Long Beach show was the last stop on the band's US tour that started June 11th and featured a spot at the legendary Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee.

THE ALLAH-LAS

The band's excellent self-titled debut album was released back in September 2012. Tonight's set list was a nice mix of songs from the debut album as well as six songs from their new album Worship the Sun which is being released on September 16th. Drummer Matthew Correia took the lead vocal duties on a few songs toward the end of the band's set. Below is a video of Matt singing vocals on "De Vida Voz" which is the first track on their soon to be released new record.

We have to give credit to the organizers and sponsors of all of these great SAM events. They have given the residents of Long Beach great shows featuring amazing bands at no charge. After talking to some of the people in the crowd it was apparent that these shows are starting to become more of a regional draw by pulling in people from LA and OC. This bodes well for establishing Long Beach as a destination for music fans and in turn, driving the local economy. Don't miss Summer and Music's next event, Twisted at the Pike, which takes place July 11 featuring Fartbarf, De Lux, Free Moral Agents and Wild Park of Canaries.

ALLAH-LAS SET LIST

THE EARWIGS REUNION SHOW #1 AT TKO RECORDS - RECAP WITH PHOTOS AND VIDEO - 5/2/2014

2014-05-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

Some people say "you should never look back" but those people have clearly never seen an Earwigs show. Sometimes it feels great to go back again. The classic 1981 Earwigs lineup have come together for two shows that they have dubbed the "Welcome Back, Farewell Tour." The first show of the two stop tour was May 2nd at TKO Records in Huntington Beach. The crowd was mix of both old and new fans and the hot, sweaty punk rock record store was the perfect venue for an Earwigs reunion show.

Reunion Tour Poster at TKO Records

Frontman Michael Ubaldini took the stage with original members Ashton Rands (guitar) and Dave Reed (drums). Guest bassist Jerry Adamowicz was filling in for original bassist Tom Hughes who will be joining the band for the next show at Fitzgeralds on May 9th.

The Earwigs "on stage" at TKO Records

Not only are The Earwigs performing these two reunion shows but they are also finally issuing a full length CD of previously unreleased music that was recorded back in 1981. The only music that the band had ever released was a 7" inch single of "She's So Naive" with the B-Side of "Here Come The Earwigs." The original single is a collectors item which sells for over $400 on EBay. Below is a video of the band performing "Here Come The Earwigs" which is one of our favorites.

From the opening chords of the song "US Invasion" it was easy to see that the band still have incredible chemistry and they really seem to enjoy playing together. The amazing thing about their music is that it seems as timeless and fresh today as it was when it was originally recorded in 1981. It's also incredible to note that Michael Ubaldini was only 15 when he wrote this amazing collection of songs for his first band. Pairing well with the band's great chemistry was Michael's witty sense of humor which added to the fun. When he introduced the song, "Do You Wanna Be My Girlfriend?" he joked that in the end, "it actually worked" on the girl he wrote it for.

The band played the majority of the new full length CD and even managed to mix in a few Johnny Thunders covers. Ubaldini described Thunders as "a fellow Italian American" before ripping into "Chinese Rocks." After "Born To Lose" he joked that "All my heroes are dead I guess........except for Keith Richards" which led to some laughs and comments from the crowd about Richards current state of well being.

Tonight was a really great night of music. Even though the Earwigs reunion seems to be a brief one, they have left us with an incredible set of songs that captures the universal theme of what it's like to be young and carefree. Who knows what the future holds for the band. For now we've got one more show to look forward to on May 9th at Fitzgeralds; And as we've said before...get you're ass to the show. You won't regret it.

Earwigs Set List from TKO Show

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MASKS WE MADE

2014-05-03T01:41:00.000-07:00

We recently had the great pleasure of interviewing the Long Beach band Masks We Made. The duo features the vocals and lyrics of Andrea Sepulveda and the guitar and bass of Nando. The DIY band released a 3 song EP back in 2011 and are set to release their new EP Front Lines at the end of May. We are big fans of the band’s transcendent sound which combines alt rock and dream pop.

Masks We Made - Nando and Andrea

Can you tell us how the band came together?

Andrea: Our former drummer used to work with my brother-in-law and one day he shared that I wrote songs. He contacted me and suggested we jam sometime. Nando was there to play bass. We all clicked, we became friends and the band formed. This was in 2009.

Nando: During the winter months of January/February of 2009 my friend Silver and I would jam out and exchange random musical ideas. At one of our sessions he mentioned that his co worker’s sister in law played guitar and was writing her own music. He would be jamming with her soon and I asked him if they needed a bass player. A few weeks later we met up and had our first practice in my living room.

How did you come up with the name of the band?

Andrea: Before the band formed, I had my folk-y acoustic songs on Myspace and wanted to think of a stage name. So I spent some days thinking about it and one night during a bout of insomnia, I found myself working on an art project at 2 am making paper mache masks. I thought up the Masks We Made. I liked that it could be representative of people and identity. When the band formed, they liked the name and so it stuck.

When you play live do you add any other players or do you tend it to keep it to just the two of you?

Andrea: For a long time we had a drummer but now it's just the two of us though we were just recently discussing adding other players to help us out live. We love jamming out.

Who are the artists that influenced you to become musicians?

Andrea: I first started out learning acoustic guitar and I wanted to play and write like Johnny Cash. I was influenced by Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt. I also started attending a lot of concerts around that time and was deeply impressed with Conor Oberst and Jenny Lewis. Their songs and stage presence really made me think, 'I want to do what they do'.

Nando: One of my earliest memories of wanting to become a musician was seeing my cousin’s band play in my backyard in the early 90s. Bands like Operation Ivy, Tijuana No, Sonic Youth, Raul X and Marcus Pablo are some of the artists that influenced me. Watching Trent Reznor break keyboards on stage and swing from cables sealed the deal.

In your band bio you describe your music as having an ethereal quality. We would agree. When we first heard your music it reminded us of many of the great shoegaze bands of the 80’s and 90’s such as Mazzy Star, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Galaxie 500. Are you fans of the shoegaze movement?

Andrea: Thanks! We have heard of these comparisons before and find it a big compliment. We are fans of those bands though there is no intention to sound shoegaze or fit into a certain genre.

Nando: Mazzy Star is just soothing. Love her. I remember back in high school my sister did a dance performance to "Fade Into You". Indeed a staple in my upbringing. Darklands is on my morning commute playlist to work. I dig the Mary Chain.

Can you tell us about your new EP?

Andrea: Our upcoming release is a three song EP titled Front Lines . We plan to release it at the end of May so it will be released soon! We'll have it available online through our social media sites and we hope to have some physical cds ready soon after to sell at shows.

Are you planning on having a record release party?

Nando: No plans on a record release party but we would really like that.

What do you like about being a Long Beach band?

Nando: We like being a Long Beach band because there is a vast diversity of cultures and acceptance. We really like how the community has different events for local artist support. We also like how mostly everything is walking distance. We can run our errands and not leave the city. Lastly we like being a Long Beach band because it's a musical whore.

What is the very first record that each of you bought with your own money?

Andrea: My first music purchase was TLC's Waterfalls. It was the single. I obsessed with that song and the video! The first record I bought was Romeo and Juliet: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack. I damaged the cassette from listening to it so much.

Nando: Green Day Dookie (Ha Ha)

http://themaskswemade.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/themaskswemade

TIJUANA PANTHERS RELEASE BRAND NEW VIDEO FOR "CHERRY ST."

2014-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

The Long Beach surf rock trio Tijuana Panthers have just released a brand new video for the song "Cherry St." The song is the first single from their brand new album Wayne Interest that will be released June 3rd on Innovative Leisure Records. The band will start a European tour a few days later that will run June 6th through June 20th. We would love to see them play a Long Beach show this summer!

PAUL RODGERS & LONG BEACH INDEPENDENT KEEP THE GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH ROCKIN'

2014-04-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has always been about more than just car racing. It has a tradition of ending it's Saturday festivities with a headlining musical act. This year not only was it an action packed weekend but it included a ton of live music everyday of the event. Paul Rodgers of Bad Company fame provided Saturday's main stage entertainment while The Long Beach Independent also had a stage that included six local bands over the course of the three day event.

Paul Rodgers- "Rock-N-Roar" Concert

Saturday April 12, 2014

Paul Rodgers, iconic singer, songwriter and founding member of Free, Bad Company and The Firm kicked off his tour in support of his latest solo effort, "The Royal Sessions." The recording was released on February 4, 2014. It is a collection of Blues and R & B songs that inspired Rodger's in his early years.

Jamming alongside one of the greatest voices in rock for twelve scheduled tour dates ending on June 26th are an equally impressive line-up of musicians like Howard Leese on guitar and Todd Ronning on bass.

Rodger's didn't hold back as he belted out 6 decades of legendary music. The set list included classic rock greats such as "Rock n Roll Fantasy," "Shooting Star" and "Bad Company." Encouraged by Rodger's, the crowd was up and singing along from start to finish of his hour long set. Once again, the Long Beach Grand Prix did a stellar job in providing great entertainment for the race and music fans alike.

The Long Beach Independent Stage

Friday 4/11/14

Local Long Beach favorites Surburban Serfs and Bearwulf opened the entertainment on the Long Beach Independent stage on Friday.

Surburban Surfs recently released a new self titled album back on February 22 and have been gigging around So Cal the past few months. Their sound is alternative rock with a 90's vibe.

Bearwulf have a new live EP coming out later this month and are playing a Battle of the Bands gig at DiPiazza's coming up on April 22nd for a chance to gain a spot on the Warped Tour.

SUBURBAN SERFS

BEARWULF

Saturday 4/12/14

The Long Beach Independent stage featured The Fallen Stars and Paper Houses on Saturday.

The Fallen Stars are a three piece band from Huntington Beach that play alternative country. The band is getting ready to go on tour.

Paper Houses is a pop punk band from Long Beach. Their debut EP "Life Goes On" is out now.

THE FALLEN STARS

PAPER HOUSES

Sunday 4/13/14

The Long Beach Independent stage featured Space Waves and Redeye Redemption on Sunday.

Space Waves is a three piece band from Long Beach that just released their new EP titled "Sing My Song." They have a shoegaze sound with a little psychedelic mixed in for good measure.

Redeye Redemption is a 5 piece band from Long Beach that mix Reggae, Ska and Rock into a very cool laid back California sound. The band has an EP out now titled "Sample This."

SPACE WAVES

REDEYE REDEMPTION

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO RECORD STORE DAY IN LONG BEACH - SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2014

2014-04-13T20:34:00.000-07:00

Now in it's seventh year Record Store Day has become somewhat of a national holiday for record junkies everywhere. It's a celebration of brick and mortar stores that have become community hubs for local music lovers. In Long Beach we are lucky enough to have a large list of diverse record stores where you can find all kinds of hidden treasures. Here's a list of record stores in Long Beach and what they have planned for this year's edition of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 19.

Fingerprints Music

420 E. 4th St. 562-433-4996

http://fingerprintsmusic.com/

Fingerprints has an incredible history of some of the most memorable Record Store Days the past few years. The Fingerprints stage has hosted Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Best Coast among many others. Owner Rand Foster has once again assembled an incredible lineup of talent for this year's Record Store Day. The store will be opening at 6:00am and will stay open until 10pm. They will have a large selection of the Record Store Day exclusives. Here's a list of all the activities that Fingerprints has in store for April 19th:

6:00 am - Open
1:00 pm - Dream Theater (signing)
3:00 pm - Mayer Hawthorne / 14kt (DJ Set)
5:30 pm - Wayne Kramer (Performance)
10:00 pm - Close

In a recent update Fingerprint's owner, Rand Foster said, "This is shaping up to be our biggest RSD yet. The releases are crazy, there are over 600 this year. Plus all kinds of extras, some of the biggest name artists appearing at any store in the country, and a sale to boot. In addition to the already announced artists we're hearing rumors today of another possible drop in, so definitely keep an eye on our social media stuff for all the last minute updates." Most of the events on RSD require a purchase to get on the guest list so be sure to call the store ahead to check the requirements.

Dyzzy On Vynyl
3004 E. 7th St - 562-438-8928
dyzzyonvynyl@facebook.com

Nearing it's 15th anniversary in business, Dyzzy on Vynyl has some of the best prices on records, Cd's, tapes, 45's and DVD's. The store offers record to CD conversions, which is what sets this record shop apart from others. Dyzzy is one of the nicest owners and he will take the time to chat about his love of music. He also wholeheartedly supports local musicians. He recently converted his 3 room business space into 2 large rooms to accommodate performances. Dyzzy's will be open from 12pm-6pm on Record Store Day. If you stop in on Friday's you may also catch an in-store performance. Stay tuned for a big celebration including live music on May 22, 2014 to commemorate 15 years since their doors opened to the public.

Third Eye Records

2701 East 4th Street - 714-415-9814
http://www.thirdeyerecordshop.com/

Third Eye Records will officially be part of Record Store Day this year and will carry a variety of RSD exclusives. The store will be opened from 10 am-7 pm on April 19th and owner Gary Farley will be offering 20% off on used vinyl. The store carries a great selection of new and used vinyl, t-shirts, posters and other memorabilia.

Bagatelle Records
260 Atlantic Ave. 562-432-7534
http://www.bagatellerecords.com/

Bagatelle Records will be opened from 11 to 5:50 pm on Record Store Day and owner Steve Mintz is offering select "Various Artist Compilation Albums" for $1.00 Each. The store is a vinyl lovers paradise and is a great place to crate dig for all those special finds.

Durty Mick Records
403 E. 3rd St. 562-437-3590
http://www.durtymickrecords.com/

Durty Mick's carries a great selection of t-shirts and vinyl in punk, metal, hardcore and all things underground. They will be open at 6am on Record Store Day and plan to stay open as late as midnight. They will have a variety of the Record Store Day exclusives in limited quantities.The store is undergoing some construction expansion right now so they aren't planning on doing any in store performances for RSD.

Make Collectives
430 E. 1st Street - 562-612-008912
http://makecollectives.tumblr.com/

Make Collectives in the East Village Arts District will be opened from 11am-7pm on Record Store Day. The store carries a great selection of reasonably priced used vinyl. They have great selection of classic rock, new wave as well as soul and R&B.

Big Ed's Rockabilly Records (Inside Liberty Vintage)
2146 E 4th St - 562-433-8601

Big Ed's Rockabilly Records is located inside of Liberty Vintage in the Retro Row area of 4th Street. The store will be opened from 12pm-7pm on Record Store Day. They carry a great selection of CD's and Vinyl from all your favorite rockabilly, early rock & roll, western-swing and all other types of "roots" music.

Retro Stereo

3 Locations: (Inside-Inretrospect-2122 East 4th Street, Inside-Urban Americana-1345 Coronado Ave, Inside-Long Beach Vintage Etc.-737 Pine Ave.)

https://www.facebook.com/RetroStereorocks

Retro Stereo sells inside three vintage store locations in the city. Owner John Karros stocks a huge variety of used vinyl as well as retro sunglasses and other music related memorabilia.

Inretrospect (Opened 11am-8pm on Record Store Day)

Urban Americana (Opened 10am-6pm on Record Store Day)

Long Beach Vintage Etc. (Opened 11am-6pm on Record Store Day)

JAMES INTVELD CONCERT REVIEW & VIDEO- ALEX'S BAR - LONG BEACH, CA- 3/29/14

2014-04-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

To call James Intveld a multi-talented artist would be an understatement. Not only is he an incredible singer, songwriter and musician, he also dabbles in acting and film making when he’s not busy making music. After spending last year touring with John Fogerty’s band, Intveld is once again hitting the road as a solo artist and his legion of fans couldn’t be happier. We have been fans of his music for over 25 years but never had the opportunity to see him play live until tonight. This evening’s show at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach was billed as “James Intveld Performing Two Sets.” Intveld and his band decided skip the break and played one incredible four hour set of live music. We both got the sense that they would have played all night if the bar would have let them. There is nothing better than seeing someone play music simply for the pure joy of performing.

James Intveld on stage at Alex's Bar

Many know Intveld as the singing voice behind Johnny Depp’s 1950’s rocker character in the John Water’s film Crybaby. If you categorize him strictly based on the rockabilly performance in the film you would be missing the bigger picture. Intveld is a “roots” musician in the truest sense. He is a self proclaimed country artist but his music also touches on rock & roll, western swing and honky-tonk as well. He encompasses everything that is considered traditional “American” music.

Intveld’s bread and butter has always been his live shows. His body of recorded material is sparse at best, having only recorded three records in the past 17 years. Tonight he played a nice mix of songs from his three solo records. “Perfect World” is one of our favorites from his self titled 1997 debut album. The band played the tune early in the set and it brought all the “cowboy” couples to the dance floor. We were lucky enough to capture the performance of “This Place Ain’t What It Used To Be” from the 2000 release Somewhere Down The Road (2000). It’s a sweet country song about a bittersweet homecoming.

The band also played some excellent covers tonight including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Heartbreak Hotel” and Buddy Holly’s “Modern Don Juan” which was included on his 2008 release Somewhere Down The Road. We captured his performance of the Holly song in the video below. He seems to be able to stay true to the original while putting his own modern spin on the song.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Intveld since he grew up in Compton and went to high school in nearby Garden Grove. He had several friends and family in attendance including his sister who was running his merchandise table while simultaneously dancing to his performance. At one point he even gave a shout out to his chiropractor who was also in attendance. He thanked him for giving him the ability to stand up and perform in front of all of his fans. We had a chance to speak to Intveld briefly after the show and we can safely say that he is one of the nicest musicians we have ever met. He's one of those rare people that can do it all.

Vicky and The Vengents - "Sha Na" Official Music Video

2014-04-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Vicky and the Vengents honor all the great women in Doo-Wop bands of the past, as well as present day record stores, in their newly released video "Sha Na." The single has been a recent favorite of Rodney Bingenheimer's, as he's played it several times on his iconic radio show "Rodney on the ROQ."

The Psychedelic Maltshop Punk/Pop/Rock n Roll group, hail from the Inland Empire where the newly released "Sha Na" video was shot. Filming was done on location at Groovers Physical Music Record Store, whom also released the single. The single is available at Groover's, CD baby (online) and on the band's own website at http://www.vickyandthevengents.com/.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH FATHERS & SUNS

2014-03-08T14:14:00.000-08:00

The Long Beach-based band Fathers & Suns is on a roll. After releasing their critically acclaimed debut album "Mama Provides" they went on to win last year's Buskerfest with an unforgettable live performance. Now they find themselves with an ever increasing fanbase that is eagerly awaiting their next record. We had a chance to talk to them about the past, present and future of the band.

Can you tell us how the band came together?

Arturo Bandini (guitar, lead vocals): "Luis, Jesus and I played together for a few years in a band called Program Love. Jay auditioned as a bassist right as he moved to Long Beach and joined the band. Several months later, we decided to start Fathers & Suns. We are long-lost brothers."

Jay Penev (bass, vocals): "We off-shot from Program Love and branched out as a new band to pursue a different direction and a different sound."

Jesus Lara (guitar, lead vocals): "And we always wanted to play in a cumbia band."

Jay: "I guess we haven't gotten there yet. [laughs]"

Luis Renteria (drums): "I grew up in East LA, Arturo is from a place near the Grapevine, Jesus was born and raised in Long Beach and Jay is from Europe by way of Portland, Oregon."

The music that you guys create is so unique. Can you tell us a little about the band's influences?

Jesus: "Well a good amount of influences for me would be a lot of oldies, Bob Dylan, The Talking Heads. The former two are very influential for me. Obviously, The Beatles, too. They were pretty easy to catch up to [meaning, to learn all the songs]."

Bandini: "I grew up with a lot of oldies, 50s and 60s rock 'n roll, and jazz has really changed my life but I'm also influenced by a lot of authors, such as Alan Watts, Jack Kerouac and Lao Tzu. Authors, writers, free thinkers, whatever you want to call them."

Jay: "The beautiful thing about this band is that our main individual influences are so far apart from each other stylistically, yet there are many points of overlapping in terms of the artistic intention. For example, we could be mashing African rhythms and The Everly Brothers with reggae and the occasional odd meter all within the same song. But we never really spend time to hyper-analyze what we're blending and why. It just works and we keep going. When we write, we just respond to each other and write parts that resonate with us, individually and collectively. And since we're very open in our writing style, we give creative feedback to each other and so, the resulting sound is a cohesive collaborative collage. Now, there's an alliteration."

Luis: "Lots of caffeine, my personal favorite, spicy Micheladas, and of course, great music. In the beginning, I always described our sound as Fleet Foxes meets The Flaming Lips. From the days of Program Love, I took pride in being the softest band at the party, but as of late, I'm taking pride in being the loudest. My drumming is mostly influenced by Lars Ulrich (seriously) and Ringo. I like the idea of playing with the music and finding that soul in between them notes. Math and technicality try to describe an object. But, they ain't the object. Also, Alan Watts died of liver disease. I respect that."

Where does the inspiration for your songs come from? Are they autobiographical? Do you tend to write songs fast or is it a process?

Bandini: "I can't tell you exactly where they come from. It's just from inspiration itself. The songs are not exactly autobiographical, some are and some aren't. Some will happen really fast and some are definitely a process."

Jay: "We definitely run everything through the Fathers & Suns arrangement machine, but it's mostly Jesus and Arturo that write the skeleton of the songs. They bring them in and we each add our own twist and flavor to them."

Jesus: "Most of them are semi-autobiographical, but a lot of them have surreal dream characteristics and themes."

Luis: "We also credit our songs as written by "Fathers & Suns." Like Jay said, the songs are run through the F&S arrangement machine. I'd shudder to think of what the songs would sound like with even just one of us not putting in a little input as to where a melody, or arrangement should go. However, Jesus just brought in a song I ended up code-naming . . . well, "Code." When we heard the main guitar melody, we all looked at each other, pulled out the iPhone recorder and jammed it. That impromptu arrangement, that jam, is what we ended up keeping and recording on the new record. No F&S machine there. Just pure inspiration."

We really love your first record "Mama Provides." Can you tell us a little about how you came up with the title?

Bandini: "After sitting down thinking about our name and band members and realizing how masculine it all was, I wanted to also represent a feminine side to our debut and I saw a Facebook post that said "Mama Provides" and I asked the guys about naming the album that. So we did and it became an homage to our mothers…"

Jay: "…and everything maternal. Loving, nurturing and all. I also saw it as a nod to the environment and Mother Earth."

Luis: "Since the very beginning, I've always felt that we needed a female presence in the band. I actually asked some female musician friends of ours to jam, and possibly join. Nothing ever panned out. I do remember asking Lisa Narinian (Panther Heart) at the time. She declined with, "But you're my favorite Long Beach boy band." So, when Arturo introduced the concept, I thought it a no brainer. A little ying for that yang? Yes, please."

Tell us about the experience of winning last year's Buskerfest.

Jay: "That was an amazing experience! When we got on stage, a switch flipped. It no longer mattered that there was a prize to be won. The crowd had grown immensely and all that mattered anymore was rocking that hell out of all these people. Wooden nickels flew everywhere and dance circles erupted. It was spontaneous and I felt so alive and overwhelmed at the same time. It was very surreal how it all happened in a flash. I just remember surrendering to the moment. With Buskerfest, even though we had been a band for almost two years at that point, I feel that we officially introduced our musical presence in Long Beach."

Luis: "There was a lot of love being projected at us. Gosh, that was so nice! I remember really feeling it when the crowd was singing along to the refrain, "Well you're here and that's alright with me," during the song "It's A Change." And, also when they were humming along to the vocal intro of "Realize (Real Eyes)." Wow!"

We shot the video below at last year's Buskerfest.

You mentioned at your recent show that the new album is 2/3 complete. Do you have a title or has a release date been set?

Jay: "Currently, we are still focused on completing the recording process. Afterwards, we'll begin mixing and then, spending time on the sequencing and final selection of the songs. Then, artwork, formats (CD, LP, digital) and packaging."

Bandini: "There are some titles/concepts in the air but nothing settled yet."

Luis: "I'm actually all done with my drum tracks. I got my feets kicked up and I'm enjoying the mixes Jay is sending us. We're shooting for a June release date."

How do you feel like your sound has evolved since "Mama Provides?"

Luis: A lot of the songs from "Mama Provides" were Program Love songs. There was definitely more of a folkie vibe to those songs. The evolution started when Jay joined the band, actually. A lot of the songs on "Mama" we're molded into rock songs, with a certain reluctance. As we supported "Mama," a lot of the reluctancy started fading away. We once, very briefly, discussed, early on in the tracking process for the new album, if we should pay any mind to sounding like "Fathers & Suns." I think we shrugged and I continued tracking a real crazy song called "On The One." The drums sound as if Rick Rubin produced them.

Bandini: "My approach to writing/playing music hasn't' changed at all. I would say our music has evolved through all the better recording gear and new instruments we've been using."

Jay: "I remember the moment Luis was describing. I always strive for a balance, so I wanted to make sure we were all on-board with the new sound. The preamps we are using for the new record definitely give everything a big, impactful sound. We concern ourselves only with whether the sound and the songs resonate with us and are a true artistic and musical representation of who we are collectively at the moment.

You guys have been playing a cover of the Talking Heads song "This Must Be the Place" at your live shows? Are you guys big fans of the Talking Heads? Will this track be included on your new album?

Jesus: "No, it won't be included, but we are really big fans.

Bandini: "However, there is a free download of a live version of the song on our webpage, FathersandSuns.com."

Luis: "We actually used to play "(Nothing But) Flowers." Maybe we'll bring it back."

What are your plans after the album is done? Do you have plans for a record release party or any plans to tour?

Jesus: "We'll have an album release party, but the date is yet to be determined."

Luis: "We've discussed a listening party, too."

Bandini: "No plans to tour. I guess we will tour when people want it. It's definitely not on my mind."

Jay: "The real plan is to release this record to the world and see where it takes us."

Check out Fathers & Suns latest video for "All My Friends Are Animals" from the album "Mama Provides."

ECHO SPARKS' MONTHLY GIG AT THE PIKE BAR-LONG BEACH- PHOTOS AND INTERVIEW

2014-02-04T20:27:00.000-08:00

Echo Sparks create extraordinary music by mixing folk, country and rockabilly into something truly original. Their eclectic sound is hard to categorize. They layer their music with beautiful male and female harmonies delivered by singer/guitarist D.A. Valdez and singer/guitarist C.C. Kinnick. Bassist Cindy Ballreich rounds out their sound with a ferocious Doghouse Bass. The band has been playing a regular monthly gig, the last Tuesday of the each month, at the Pike Bar on 4th Street. We had the great pleasure of interviewing them recently about their beginnings as well as what's in store for 2014.

Echo Sparks Live At The Pike Bar

Can you tell us about how the band came together?

DA: I started writing with the Pontiac Brothers, a national touring and recording band, on Frontier Records. When the band broke up, I kept performing in different bands (playing bass, drums, and guitar). I started the Echo Sparks band as an outlet for some original music that I had been writing. I ran an ad to start an original band, looking for a singer to harmonize with (in the Craigslist 'musician wanted' ads) and CC showed up one night to audition. She did not know any songs that I did, so I played some campfire type songs so I could hear her sing and she won me over. We immediately started working together and learning original songs and working on harmonies. We were performing as a duo and looking for a bass player, when D.A. heard that Cindy B. (ex bass player for the Jackpot Club) was looking for a band, I invited her to a show that the duo was performing and Cindy showed up with her bass. And after listening to one set, she agreed to sit in with the duo, without ever having played together before. It was a perfect fit! We have been together ever since with various other musicians sitting in from time to time with the band.

CC: Craigslist! I was really just looking for someone to jam with - I was a hideously bad guitar player and was looking for other terrible guitar players to hang out and be awful with. I answered DA's ad on a whim, and for some crazy reason he was willing to give it a try with a shy girl who had no solo singing experience at all. I was honestly thinking about giving up on it just before our prior bassist quit on us, but Cindy came in like a tattooed fairy godmother, waved her wand, and it's just been pure fun ever since.

Cindy: I first met Dave when he was playing drums with The Rayford Brothers. The morning that I quit The Jackpot Club I came home to find an email from him telling me about Echo Sparks and saying that their bass player had just left. He asked me to come listen and maybe sit in on a few songs. I wound up playing two sets with them. That was August 2011 and I've been playing with them ever since.

Who are the bands/artists that influenced you all to become musicians?

DA: Basically the radio and pop music formed my background. I grew up listening to commercial radio, in a time when they played a huge variety of music on just one station. It was fortunate, because to have records, meant you had to have money, and I didn't, so the radio was my first inspiration to play music. As I started to collect records I dug deep into pop music history, like listening to B sides, and my favorite artist's influences. Anything off the beaten track. Even today, I still listen to all kinds of indie music and local artists, because they are what inspire me to play. It's has always been my dream to play music!

Cindy: Dee Dee Ramone and Mike Mills got me started playing bass. I love listening to music and I learn from almost everyone I hear. I started playing double bass about 6 years ago. It's a very physical instrument, but there's nothing that sounds like it. I haven't played electric bass yet with Echo Sparks, but that might happen some day.

CC: I grew up in Chino, which was this wonderful mix of old-school ranching and Mexican-American culture. My mother raised me on the Beatles and light opera, but then I'd go to friends' houses and hear Hank Williams or Vicente Fernandez. I learned to sing by copying Linda Ronstadt in The Pirates of Penzance. There are so many more amazing singers I've learned from - Siouxsie Sioux, Ella Fitzgerald, Paula Fraser (Tarnation), Melora Creager (Rasputina), Chan Marshall (Cat Power). DA gave me a Nellie Lutcher collection for Christmas and I'm head over heels in love with her right now.

What we really love about Echo Sparks is that it's hard to categorize your sound. We hear so many diverse styles in your music. It really makes for a great listening experience at your live shows. Did you guys make a conscious decision to do this or did it just kind of happen that way?

D.A.: Being the main song writer, I am always influenced by all styles of music, so it really just came out that way. We love 'Roots Music' of all kinds, and the more primitive the better. The three of us all lean toward Punk Rock, Classic Rock, Country Roots, Rockabilly, Bluegrass, Gospel, Soul, R&B Music, Glam, Goth, early Jazz, and just plain old ordinary Pop Music. So why not play songs in those styles? However, the same way it can help, it can also hurt us too, if people don't know what to make of it. One thing is for sure, we are all particularly drawn toward strong melody and harmony, and any style of music with heart. CC's vocals are amazing and her creative style and flair add so much character to the songs and our live shows. She is not your typical lead singer. She is creating everything as she goes along. She is very brave to hang in there. We do a lot of improvising on stage! Cindy B. also has a great style and feel with her bass playing, she is very technical about gear and plays different instruments. She also is starting to write songs too. We call her "our secret weapon". She is like the glue that keeps it all together. Each one of us have many different influences, and so I think it shows in our songs. Our talent as well as our limitations help to create our sound. We are musical, but we still don't even really think of ourselves as typical musicians, but as a band of friends that love to express our selves through art and music.

Cindy: We never sat down and decided to be eclectic. I think our style comes from just appreciating and enjoying a lot of different kinds of music dating back hundreds of years. It does get frustrating when people insist on having a category before they even listen to us. "Oh, you have a stand up bass - you must be Rockabilly." CC came up with the genre "Mexifolkabillyjazzbluesrock" which I think is perfect!

CC: As noted already, such a double-edged sword. People really don't know what to make of us, and it's always so great when somebody GETS what we're doing. But yes, it just happens that way. DA or Cindy will introduce a song, and we just kind of decide what it feels like. Sometimes they have an idea, but sometimes they'll play it for me and I'll just know what the phrasing has to be, what that song is just asking for vocally.

You mentioned that you are working on a new album. Can you tell
us a little about that?

DA: We are about 3/4 of the way into the recording process. We are working with Walter Clevenger, recording and mixing tracks at his home studio, in Costa Mesa. We have recorded 9 songs for the next album, and have many more, to go on the album after that. We play all the instruments ourselves on the recordings, except for keyboards, we have my old band mate, and LA studio musician, Danny McGough recording the keys. He has played with dozens of artists as well as keyboards with Tom Waits, Randy Weeks, Social Distortion, and most recently on Jonny Two Bags solo album. Not sure of a release date yet, hopefully this year (2014). We plan to have it out on a CD, as well as access to download the tunes. We would love to press some vinyl copies too.

Song titles for the next album are:
Princess of Fresno
Torch Song
Bandit
End of the Line
Mexican Moon
Small Change
I Think It's You
Broken Arrow S
Hallow Water
Rolling Sixties

CC: I know what I want the title to be, but I'm outnumbered. I'm just hoping we can settle it without fisticuffs!

Can you tell us about your monthly gig at The Pike in Long Beach?

DA: I contacted Chris, the owner and we were lucky he gave the band a try. It's been a great experience for the band. Like Chris, I also have a deep connection to the old, original Doll Hut, in Anaheim, (The Pontiac brothers named an album after it). I was performing there in different bands since it first started as a live music venue till when it finally closed. The Pike has the same kind of vibe, they treat musicians with respect and support local artists and bands. The Pike has wonderful energy, friendly people, and some colorful characters for good measure, not to mention great food! I was also, like Chris, playing in bands in the Fullerton music scene back in the 80's and got to do shows with the early line up of Social Distortion, so when I heard Chris owned the Pike, I thought, it would be a great honor to play there. From the first time we walked in, we felt right at home. We are always thankful for the opportunity to play our original music for such fun and receptive audiences, in one of the best venues around town! We are proud to be a part of it. We have been playing since April 2013, and it has been the last Tuesday of the month.

Cindy: The staff is amazing and we also love the food!! I start drooling for lobster tacos about a week before the show!

What do you like about playing in Long Beach?

DA: The people we meet are open to new things and are very friendly. They have no problem walking right up to you and telling you what they think. We feed off that energy!

Cindy: The people are so much fun! And it's true, they'll come up and start a conversation with you after the show! We love that.

CC: Long Beach has a lot of style. People-watching while we play is fun. And the Pike really has an amazingly diverse clientele, which I really enjoy. It's like the perfect neighborhood bar. And OH! When people come up after a set and want to talk about music!?!? Heaven! I'm actually a pretty shy person, but it's really wonderful to talk to other music lovers.

We like to have some fun from time to time and ask people the following question: What is the first record you ever bought?

DA: My first record purchase was a stack of 45's at a yard sale. It included a bunch of songs from the 60's and 70's. It was like a jukebox in a shoe box!

Cindy: The first record I bought with my own money was "The Monkeys." I probably bought it at TG&Y. Papa Gene's Blues is still on my iPod, and is still in my top 50 all time favorite songs.

CC: Oingo Boingo's "electric cat" EP, on vinyl. I may still have it!

RIVAL SONS LIVE CONCERT FOOTAGE-NEW YEARS EVE-DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH 2013-14

2014-01-02T00:11:00.000-08:00

Rival Sons closed-out 2013 with a bang and ushered in the New Year among all of their hometown fans. This night was especially meaningful for us, in particular, as the night began and was sponsored by The Federal Bar in downtown Long Beach. The Federal Bar stands directly across the street from the meeting place of what would, 15 years later, become LIVE ROCK GIG.

Long Beach has a long history of being a music centric town. The Downtown Long Beach Associates whom organize the New Years Eve celebration, made a brilliant move when deciding to feature a band right from their own backyard. In a quote featured in an article by the Long Beach Post, Gina Dartt, the events DLBA's marketing and events manager said, "We thought it'd be a good reflection of Long Beach to have original artists this year. It's what Long Beach is all about." The DLBA reports upwards of 10,000 attendees annually according to this article. We would have posted the setlist we managed to get after the show, but it didn't make it home with us. It's probably still somewhere in The Federal Bar where the night ended as well. Happy 2014, may you rock all year long!

Rival Sons Live Concert Footage at Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas 12-28-13

2013-12-31T00:42:00.000-08:00

Since we've written about Rival Sons on many previous posts, we simply wanted to share video of their Saturday, December 28th show at the Vinyl Venue inside the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. This marks the 5th and most soul scorching and epic Rival Son's show we've witnessed to date.

During the show, Rival Sons shared the news of their return to the recording studio next week to lay down tracks for the next album.

Although we often post set lists, this time we were unable to obtain one. Listed is what we can remember, in no particular order, other than the first 6 songs include the video footage for this post:

You Want To

Get What's Coming

Tell Me Something

Until the Sun Comes Down

All Over the Road

Young Love

Manifest Destiny Part I

Keep On Swinging

Wild Animal

Jordan

Soul

Torture

Memphis Sun

We anxiously await the sixth show, New Year's Eve in our hometown of Long Beach.

ROSE WINDOWS CONCERT REVIEW - FINGERPRINTS MUSIC - LONG BEACH, CA 12/9/2013

2013-12-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

We sure wish all of our Monday nights were like tonight. We were fortunate enough to catch an amazing performance by the Seattle band Rose Windows when they stopped by Fingerprints Records in downtown Long Beach. This in-store show was wedged right between two sold out performances at the Wiltern Theatre. The band is currently touring in support of their excellent album The Sun Dogs which is out now on Sub Pop Records.

Guitarist Chris Cheveyo and lead vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi

Rose Windows had plenty of hype coming into tonight's show and we can definitely tell you that they deserve all of the acclaim and more. It would be easy to label them a psychedelic band but that doesn't even scratch the surface of the septet's sound. While they do infuse 60's influences into their music, the sound that they create is completely original and often times inspired. Somehow they are able to mix traces of folk, eastern music, rock and even a little heavy metal into their music. Check out the video below of their performance of the song "Wartime Lovers."

Lead vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi has drawn comparisons to Grace Slick but we thought she sounded a little more like a young Sinead O'Connor. Her powerful, distinct vocals mixed with the poetic lyrics of lead guitarist Chris Cheveyo create an unforgettable listening experience. The band will be heading back out on the road in January playing more intimate venues. If you have a chance to see them live, don't pass it up.

Set List

Walkin' With A Woman

There Is A Light

Wartime Lovers

Season of Serpents

Heavenly Days

Indian Summer

Native Dreams

The Sun Dogs II - Coda

Rose Windows on stage at Fingerprints

Lead vocalist Rabia Shaheen Qazi

VICKY AND THE VENGENTS RELEASE A NEW SINGLE "SHA NA"

2013-11-25T23:28:00.000-08:00

From the very first time we saw Vicky and the Vengents play live we knew they were something special. The band call themselves "A Psychedelic Maltshop Punk/Pop/ Rock n' Roll group" which is the perfect moniker for a band that draw influences from many different genres and eras. The song "Sha na" has been in a staple of their live setlist the past few years but they had never recorded or released it. We're happy to say that the wait is finally over. Not only is it their new single but they decided to release it as a 7 inch vinyl much to the delight of record collectors everywhere.

The song starts with Matt Beld's electrifying punk rock guitar then with Vicky's powerful vocals coming in a few seconds later, delivering a one-two punch of in-your-face rock n' roll fury. Bassist Vinny Malachi and drummer Dusty Watson keep the back beat at Ramones-like speed for the unforgettable 2 minute and 53 second song. The songwriting team of Tafoya and Beld have a knack for writing songs with memorable choruses that get stuck in your head after just one listen. This song is sure to become an instant classic and it's easily one of our favorite records of 2013. The single was released by Groovers Records and is available now directly from the band and will soon be available at CD Baby on vinyl as well as digital download. The band is playing a special record release show on Saturday December 14th at Loaded in Hollywood. Copies will be available at the show.