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Soundcheck ~ Orange County music news, OC concert announcements and more from Orange County Register critic Ben Wener.

New shows: Patty Griffin, BRMC, Cobra Starship, Bonnaroo slowly reveals 2010 lineup

February 9th, 2010, 5:19 pm by BEN WENER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

pattycropTwo weeks ago critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Patty Griffin issued Downtown Church, her first album in three years, a collection of gospel-infused tunes recorded at the same-named Presbyterian house of worship in Nashville.

Now the 45-year-old Americana torchbearer (right) has announced one of her biggest SoCal performances, April 10 at the Wiltern. Buddy Miller, who produced Griffin’s new album and has a noteworthy discography himself (with and without wife Julie), will open … and presumably join in during Patty’s set. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. exclusively at LiveNation.com.

Also at the Wiltern and on sale via that site: Tears for Fears, who will support a reunited Spandau Ballet on a Down Under tour in April, will play the venue March 21, with Wainwright (just Wainwright, not Rufus or Martha or Loudon) opening … and that previously mentioned gig from the National, May 21. Both of those go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

We already knew that Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC to you and me) would play three shows (March 11-12 and 14) at the Echoplex in L.A., not long after releasing its fifth album, Beat the Devil’s Tattoo, on March 8. Now the group has added a March 16 stop at House of Blues Anaheim, in addition to a March 13 show at House of Blues San Diego. Tickets are $17.50-$40.

Also at the Mouse House: a late show (10 p.m.) from Arabs Gone Wild, Saturday, $17.50-$32.50 … Locally Grunge featuring tribute bands Vitalogy (Pearl Jam), Nearvana (you should be able to figure that one out), Plush (Stone Temple Pilots) and Everlong (Foo Fighters), March 5, $10-$27.50 … Tainted Love, March 25, $10-$30 … the Bronx with its Latin-influenced alter ego Mariachi El Bronx, April 22, $17.50-$40 … and teen pop star Emily Osment, May 7, price tba.

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Posted in: Concert Announcements • L.A. • O.C. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Orange Pop: Busy days for the Dear & Departed

February 9th, 2010, 1:35 pm by KELLI SKYE FADROSKI, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Dan Smith has been pulling double duty lately. The 29-year-old is both vocalist for the Orange County-based band the Dear & Departed (where he’s known as Dan Under) and a new talent on TLC’s popular show LA Ink, centered on the happenings at Kat Von D’s High Voltage Tattoo shop in West Hollywood.

All of that hard work comes to a head this month as the band sets out on a two-month nationwide tour with Alkaline Trio and Cursive, kicking off Tuesday at the Glass House in Pomona. Meanwhile, new episodes of LA Ink featuring Smith will air Thursdays starting next week; his band will be seen performing on the show in March.

Yet, even amid all this excitement and exposure, Smith (second from left, above) doesn’t have much time to sit around and let it soak in. As soon as the Alkaline tour is over, the Dear & Departed will hop on a plane to Europe to support AFI on tour. That overseas jaunt also serves as a bit of a homecoming for Smith as well as guitarist Darren Parkinson, both originally from England.

“It’s so awesome to be able to travel the world again,” Smith says, “and with such an amazing band like AFI. They’ve helped us in a huge way in the last few years and we’ve become pretty close friends.” Smith sang backup vocals on the band’s last two albums, Decemberunderground and Crash Love, while AFI guitarist Jade Puget helped produce the Dear & Departed’s 2007 debut, Something Quite Peculiar.

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Coachella lineup changes: Grace Jones falls off but Bad Lieutenant, Sigur Ros’ Jonsi added

February 8th, 2010, 3:51 pm by BEN WENER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

badlieutenantJust got word that Bad Lieutenant, the new project from Bernard Sumner of New Order (to the left in that pic), has been added to Coachella’s Saturday lineup, as the group is finally headed stateside for the first time since issuing its debut, Never Cry Another Tear, last October.

Further enhancing their set will be Joy Division/New Order drummer Stephen Morris, who played on the album and is part of the touring unit. Also, Sumner says to expect some songs from his earlier groups “and a few other surprises.” Could be very interesting.

But when I went to check the Coachella site to see which day the band was playing, I noticed several other changes to the event’s poster.

Biggest disappointment of all: Grace Jones is no longer in the mix.

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Vivian Girls, Best Coast charm the Detroit Bar

February 8th, 2010, 12:40 am by ANGELA POTTER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Girls didn’t drink free Friday night at Detroit Bar, but it was lady’s night on stage.

After first appearing earlier in the day further down the 405 at UCI, Brooklyn trio Vivian Girls bantered and giggled their way through a speedy 45-minute set Friday night at the Costa Mesa club. Their energy was contagious: an abridged version of “He’s Gone,” a Chantels cover, was fitting, as the band’s surf ‘n’ shoegaze sound is influenced by nothing so much as ’50s and ’60s girl bands like the Shangri-Las.

Singer/bassist Kickball Katy’s voice is softer and sweeter than her fierce name and fiery red hair let on. The bouncy rhythm of “Can’t Get Over You,” punctuated by Katy’s and guitarist/co-vocalist Cassie Ramone’s jumps, was a standout in a show dominated by tracks from Everything Goes Wrong, the band’s sophomore release from September.

The Girls once again showcased their musical skills, switching up instruments and playing a tight (if not flawless) set. The only thing lacking from their performance, actually, was some of the rawness and ferocity that comes across on their self-titled first release, from 2008. Vivian Girls, like too many other bands, are quickly smoothing out their punk edge as they mature. Their softer, more melodic music is blissful — it’s just missing a little something.

The intimate venue suited Best Coast perfectly in the evening’s middle slot … Read the rest of this entry »

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Rhett Miller impresses sans Old 97’s in Santa Ana

February 5th, 2010, 11:12 am by ROBERT KINSLER, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

rhett

It’s too bad the Galaxy Theatre wasn’t packed Thursday night. More people should have indulged an outstanding evening of alt-country-rock courtesy of Rhett Miller and the Serial Lady Killers, as well as solid performances from countrified folk-rockin’ upstart Leslie and the Badgers and singer-songwriter Tim Whalen.

Featuring songs from his solo efforts -– notably his excellent self-titled 2009 album –- as well as choice tracks from Old 97’s (don’t worry, that band is still together, they just played here last summer), Miller performed two dozen tunes in a loose, authentic rock ‘n’ roll style that served as a flip side to the recent Grammy Awards, where image, slick production and shock ‘n’ awe attire completely overwhelmed music-making at every turn.

Sonic shades of Buddy Holly, Uncle Tupelo and early Elvis Costello came to mind at various times during Miller’s 100-minute set, but there’s no doubt that he has found a well-marked corner of the music universe, especially when he gives tours of it as part of a boisterous show. Adding to the magic: Miller has found a cast of great players to back him now. Bassist Greg Beshers, lead guitarist Tommy Borscheid and drummer Angela Webster played with every bit as much power as their ringleader this night in Santa Ana.

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