Dahga Bloom, formerly the Living Suns, made a lasting impression on everyone at the House of Blues in Anaheim last Saturday at their album release party!

With a story that is one of a kind, but an interesting one at most, Dahga Bloom is definitely a band to check out. It began with some insight from an African god named Dahga and its Bloom that influenced the band towards the post garage, psychedelic scene. Not only did the band change their name, but they also changed their sound to a more psychedelic rhythm that even former Living Suns fans will to love.

Dahga Bloom’s live show’s are  mysterious and enticing. Bryan King, Lucas Drake, Matt Mason, Zach Nelson, Manny Lopez, and Sean Yakubovsky all kept the crowd alive. With the bands psychedelic, melodic (and rather catchy) songs. That left fans dancing and singing along to the entire set. Even the dark stage and mind warping lights from the show kept the whole performance flowing; but it was by far Dahga’s musicianship that everyone seemed to enjoy.

The self-titled Vinyl and a free digital download were available for purchase at the show, with tracks Dahga Bloom and Bemsha Swing. To hear music by Dahga Bloom check out their myspace here.

Dahga Bloom are by far a group of musicians that love what they do, and it’s very evident in their live show. In addition to Dahga Bloom’s release, Orange County locals, My Pet Saddle also released its first, self-titled album. The co-release show also included The Cosmonauts, Lumerians, The Growlers, and Free the Robots. All in all the CD release show was a complete sucess for everyone!

Photos taken by Will Te Yang

Orange County surf rock band, Hindu Pirates released it’s first full-length album Pelican Daze on Friday, July 9 at House of Blues Anaheim!

After recently graduating from high school these youngsters are not new to the Orange County indie scene. At the album release show the band shared the stage with Kiev, Pacific Hurt (formerly Aushua), The Union Line, and the Rye Douglas Band.

Hindu Pirates put on great show with the fun, surf rock tunes of its new album. Fans danced around and threw a beach ball in the air to the summer time beats of Pelican Daze.

Orange County watch out for the Hindu Pirates because give these guys a couple years and they will definitely go along way.

“I can see the band getting big when they are older, but they seem really nervous,” said Shayna Berry of Anaheim.

Whether it was the nervousness of playing House of Blues or just over excitement, Hindu Pirates is a must see. Shortly after the band played fans and friends rushed to the merchandise booth to pick up a copy of Pelican Daze.

Key songs to check out on Pelican Daze include:” Blue Eyes,” “Pretty Little Lady,” “Overtime,” “Choo Choo” and “Los Banditos.”

These surf rockers have played with many other great bands including Dahga Bloom (formerly the Living Suns), The Growlers, and Tijuana Panthers.

They have also played at great venues such as Costa Mesa’s very own Detroit Bar, The Lab, The C amp, Trash Pretty, and Yost Theater.

With a nomination for Best Surf in the 2010 Orange County Music Awards, Hindu Pirates are crashing waves with their impressive musical riffs.

Whether you are a fan of the Beach Boys or The Beattles, Hindu Pirates are a band to check out. Pelican Daze is the perfect album for a drive down the coast or a day at the beach.

All photos taken by Kyler Locke

The District at Tustin Legacy will host the Music for a Cure benefit along with a performance by special guest Sugar Ray on Sunday, July 11th.

The evening will begin with a silent auction at The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub, where attendees can socialize with supporters of Music for a Cure along with local rockers Sugar Ray. The auction will include items such as beach cruisers to various games tickets.

Once the silent auction comes to an end attendees can enjoy a special performance by Sugar Ray located at The District’s outside stage directly in front of Borders Books & Music.

Directly following the performance people can pick up their items and enjoy the after-party back at The Auld Dubliner.

According to President of Music for a Cure, Julie Karges, the organization is pleased to be holding the event at The District.

“We are honored to partner with The District for an evening of music and friends on a warm summer night and appreciate the contribution of the participating stores and restaurants in supporting our cause,” said Karges in a recent press release.

The event will support local non-profit organization, Music for a Cure with proceeds going toward music therapy services for referred patients and families with Children’s Hospital of Orange County Child Life Department.

Music for a Cure was founded by members of Orange County rock band, Sugar Ray in 2002. The organization was founded in the memory of teen Ryan Michael Bates, who lost his life to cancer at 16-years-old.

Music for a Cure and Sugar Ray bring music therapy to critically ill children by providing quality music instruments, supporting music therapists and music therapy programs at children’s hospitals.

Sugar Ray recently received this year’s Orange County Impact Award at the 2010 Orange County Music Awards. The band is known for hits such as “Fly” and “Every Morning.” Music for Cougars was the bands latest and most recent release.

The District Legacy is owned by joint venture Vestar/Kimco in which they are pleased to be holding the event.

“We are thrilled to be able to partner with Music for a Cure on this unique benefit event, bringing together Music for a Cure supporters, Sugar Ray fans and District shoppers in an intimate, unique setting,” said Kimberly Daskas, Director of Marketing & Strategic Sponsorship for Vestar in a press release.

Tickets for the Music for a Cure benefit will cost supporters $50 and only 250 tickets will be available for purchase.

Schedule of Events:

6 p.m. – Check-in/silent auction at The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub

7 p.m. – Event begins in front of The District Stage

8 p.m. – Silent auction closes

8:15 p.m. – Special performance by Sugar Ray

9 p.m. – Silent auction check-out/after-party at The Auld Dubliner Irish Pub

For more information visit here!

This Saturday, June 19 Downtown Incorporated of Downtown Santa Ana will present Posse on Broadway: A Santa Ana Block Party featuring six venues and six events. With sponsors by KCRW, LA Record, and OC Weekly, Posse on Broadway will bring live music and DJ’s to the streets of Downtown Santa Ana.

The third annual block party will showcase local and non-local talent on the 2nd Street Promenade along with live music at Proof Bar, Memphis Santora, The Crosby, Gypsy Den, and Lola Gaspar. According to Ashley Eckenweiler, each venue chose bands that would attract many listeners.

The Posse will begin Saturday at 6pm with Los Angeles folk group, The Watson Twins, local singer songwriter Barrett Johnson, and DJ Weird Beard to kick off the block party with performances on the 2nd Street Promenade (located between Broadway and Sycamore). Downtown Inc. chose great acts for everyone to enjoy a night out on the town.

“We chose the Watson Twins and Barrett Johnson because it fits the vibe of an outdoor concert,” said Eckenweiler. We wanted to attract a crowd for all ages and have bands that everyone would enjoy.”

Posse on Broadway will be an entertaining night for all as people from all over Orange County will gather in the Santa Ana Art District.

“We wanted to put something together that was like an open neighborhood event,” said Eckenweiler. “Something where venues open their doors to people on the streets… it’s neat to have an open event that people can enjoy.”

The block party has been more than successful over the past three years do to great music and consistency. According to Eckenweiler the event has always been once a month to keep everything consistent and draw in a bigger crowd.

Posse on Broadway is free to everyone and is held on the third Saturday of each month this summer. Catch the block party on July 17 with special guests Abandoned Pools (Tommy Walter of The Eels) and local group The Colourist as they perform live along with many other great acts. The final block party of the summer will be on August 21 at the same great place in Downtown Santa Ana with live music and entertainment (TBA).

This Santa Ana block party will definitely be returning next year and many years to follow. It is an exciting event and received great feedback.

“I think people are excited and we have gotten good responses through social networking and besides I think everyone loves a free show,” Eckenweiler said, “I think it will be positive.

Directly following the outdoor event, six venues will have live music, DJ’s, along with food and drink specials until last call. Each venue will have different acts for people to check out. The line-ups include:

PROOF BAR:

J. Logic

Evol

DCON

BOOTMACHINE5000

THE CROSBY:

TVD

TSC-1 & DIJON

Thomas PM

(Full Bar & Restaurant)

MEMPHIS at the SANTORA:

noMSG

Sean K

Cosmic Kids

(Full Bar & Restaurant)

GYPSY DEN:

Live performances

Food, Beer & Wine (Until Midnight)

LOLA GASPAR:

(Full Bar & Restaurant)

It’s hard not to smile while Kernkamp and company are around.  They have a relationship that is hard to compete with.  While most bands I know are comprised of friends, Billy Kernkamp’s band (including Justin Deckert, Brendan Murphy, Teddy Duran, Justin Morales and a cast of guest musicians that frequently include Justin Suitor, Dallas Kruse, Barrett Johnson, Andrew Corradini, Trisha Smith, and more!) act more like an extended family… with no shortage of love or musical talent.  His band and recording partners could possibly be the most talented group of artists in Orange County.  This makes for some extraordinary live performances; an opinion I know I don’t stand alone on since earlier this year Billy Kernkamp won for “Best Live Acoustic” act at the Orange County Music Awards. He also got to prove why his band earned such an award with a performance of the song “Black Blood” off his new record “1976.”  Speaking of new records… Oh yeah!  Kernkamp debuted his first full-length record “1976” on May 15th 2010 at Detroit Bar with a communal style round of opening acts that shared gear and at some points the stage.  If you missed this, well I would like to say it’ll happen again someday but I don’t want to lie to you… it will probably never happen again.  You missed out.  Seriously.

I got an informal chance to talk to Billy Kernkamp about “1976” while drinking some wine and listening to an oldies radio station. His usual child like excitement is always present, but when talking about his new record a very mature, serious tone swept across his face.  We talked about how every song projects a different style of music ranging between country, jazz, indie rock, and cute acoustic pop, like on “Calling It In.”  The result is an attended avoidance of making a record that pigeonholes him into one style.  He’s no one trick pony.  When listening to the entire record from start to finish (which is what I recommend you do!) these songs produce a series of vignettes dealing with love, heartbreak, self-destruction, and self-reflection.  Themes that are as timeless as they are relatable. This record reviles a side of Billy Kernkamp that is usually hard to see upon meeting him.  Kernkamp has put his trials and errors into a musical account on “1976” and the maturity it takes to be as honest as this record showcases exactly what I love about the art of music; the ability of an artist to translate his or her emotions into a moving musical experience.  This truly is a talent, and Billy Kernkamp does this with the style and the confidence of an artist who has found his voice.

“1976” has a total of 14 tracks on it, and every song stands alone, but together they make a solid album that you don’t want to stop listening to before the last song plays. Few tracks evoke such passion as the darker and haunting “I Still Love You.”  The melody and guitars linger like the ghost of an old love, a credit to guest guitarist Justin Suitor who, dare I say might be an expert at writing and playing such haunting riffs like this one. On “Calling It In” and “Tried And True” Kernkamp show’s he can write songs that sounds as personal as the darker “I Still Love You” but with a cheerful, upbeat composition even if lyrically he is tackling love and love lost. Another standout track is the infectious “Black Blood.”  It explodes with a wall of sound and doesn’t let up.  I’ve been hard pressed to find a single soul who doesn’t start singing along by the second chorus.  After tales of love and love lost Kernkamp caps off “1976” with the hopeful “Count Me In.” He may be  singing it with the inspiration of a young lady in mind, but when I hear him sing, “Count me in” I hear it as a proclamation.  It’s Billy Kernkamp’s turn, so pay close attention!  It’s the culmination of all these songs existing together on the same record that make this album something special.  Billy Kernkamp isn’t interested in the single; he is interested in this entire journey.

Artwork by Ryan Callis

Sporting stylish attire, OC natives flocked to the third annual Rock the Runway event at the Art Institute of California. Hosting a slew of new talent, the event served as a showcase for up and coming designers as well as a reason for the fashionable to see and be seen. Complete with a fashion show, awards ceremony, delicious food, and exciting live performances, this event was the place to be!

The focal point of the event was definitely the runway. Designs from Maggie Barry, Sterling Capricio, Dorsia Collection, and Michael Costello kept the audience’s full attention with leggy models wearing glamorous dresses and dapper dudes dressed to impress. Students competed in a scholarship competition by designing a look that was inspired by their favorite iconic designers. The winning ensemble by Daniel Magana’s was a short, ruffled royal blue dress inspired by Valentino. According to Magana the look was all about “very high glam. Stilettos, stilettos, stilettos…” The competition was made complete with a judging team fit for an episode of Project Runway.  Rounding out the judge’s panel were Project Runway’s very own Mila Hermanovski, Flaunt magazine Editor-in-Chief Luis Barajas, and top stylist Dina Cerchione. If all of this sartorial eye candy wasn’t enough for you, there was plenty more to see and do.

Also stationed on the premises was the famous Kogi BBQ truck. The hype surrounding their tasty tacos was justified after my first bite. Local DJs provided music while skaters wowed the crowd with their skills on the skate ramp. Live art by Michael Kershnar was on display along with the Nomad Printmaking Studio. Nomad even set up a screen printing station where you could make your own personalized shirt. Competing for creative domination, artists participated in an art war using their MacPros. The competition was fierce and so were the winning designs.

What is fashion without a bit of rock-n-roll? To complement all of the fashionable festivities, the ever-electric trio BLOK performed. Clad in a riot of color and bouncing with energetic sparks, the hip hop group set the tone for the rest of the evening.  All the way from Denmark, and fresh from Coachella, The Raveonettes also performed and did not disappoint. Their dreamy vocals topped over distorted guitars, complementing all of the gritty fashions that were seen on the runway that day. A perfect way to end the night.

Be sure to check out the next Rock the Runway. It is a great way to show your support for local designers, artists, and musicians. Did I mention all of this excitement and entertainment is free? If you missed it this time around check AIROCKTHERUNWAY.com for future updates!

Cover photo taken by Lance Perkins, photos in article taken by James Hickey

The Academy Awards aired Sunday March 7th, and the red carpet was abuzz with celebrities, media, and high fashion. The most talented people in the industry gathered to pat each other on the back and say “job well done babe!”

But seriously… who cares! We had our own awards show the night earlier!!! And our red carpet was abuzz with some of Orange County’s most talented musicians, industry professional, and friends. Oh yeah, a lot of interesting fashion as well.

The OCMA really kicked off on January 5th with the start of the season’s showcase series. The first of which was at Detroit Bar featuring Kiev, Melanoid, Yellow Red Sparks, The Union Line, and Make Moon. Through out the next 2 months 7 showcases, split between the Live Band Showcases and the Live Acoustic Showcases took up everyone of my Tuesday evenings. This year was a GREAT year for the showcases. Record attendance numbers, energetic and passionate performances, and some of the best venues in Orange County playing host made these showcases a success! Creating the buzz leading up to last Saturdays Awards at The Grove of Anaheim. The bands playing the showcases were actually playing for a nomination spot in the Best Live Band, and Best live Acoustic categories at the OCMA. Of course plenty of acts didn’t make it to the finals showcases, so I just wanted to quickly choose a couple performances that I thought were worth highlighting.

Make Moon: The last band to play the first night of the OCMA Showcase series, and as usual they put on an epic performance. When watching Make Moon you can sometimes feel as if you are being transported sonically to a different place and time. It’s psychedelic fun for the whole family, if your whole family does acid.

Barrett Johnson: The first night of the Acoustic Showcase series and Barrett Johnson captured everyone’s ears and probably most of their hearts with his touching portraits of love, life, loss, and redemption. Needless to say, I cry when I listen to Barrett Johnson, but isn’t music supposed to hit you that hard? The answer is YES.

Handsome G: I’ve seen Handsome G many times before and their set at The Continental Room was the perfect start to such an amazing night. Their blend of rock, pop, country, and fun makes them stand out on a bill usually soaked in take-yourself-too-seriously-indie bands.

Kurt Hunter: The talent Kurt Hunter possesses is amazing. I am convinced that Kurt could write just about any song for any occasion or mood. His vocal range is great and his presence on stage is charming. His set at the Gypsy Den only made me want to see him on a bigger stage.

Moostache: Opening up at this years only all ages venue until the finals you could see Moostache was in control from the start. To look around and see kids getting excited for a local band with such energetic performances and humor, but also sincerity makes me excited for the future, and excited for Moostache’s future.

Parker Macy Blues: To see Parker Macy for the first time is somewhat of an experience. The soul, depth, and conviction with which Parker plays with can catch you off guard, especially since you wouldn’t expect someone so young to play so powerfully. It’s one thing to sound big when you’re in a band with all those instruments, it’s much more impressive when you can achieve the same thing when it’s just you and your guitar taking on the world alone, and Parker Macy Blues does just that.

The New Limb: There is always a lot of talk going on about The New Limb, and it’s well deserved! People love them! In the past few months I’ve started to see them more than just a really good indie band. I see them as a really good experimental band. Their sound has become this great balance between indie rock, pop, and experimental. That element I’ve often felt was there, but lately it seems they have started to embrace it a little more. You could see it in their set at The Gypsy Den on the last night of the Showcase series (not including the finals.) Hey, New Limb… EMBRACE THE EXPERIMENTAL! WE LOVE IT!

All these showcase led up to the last 2 final shows. The Live Acoustic finals included Stacy Clark, I Hate You Just Kidding, Mike Vitale, Marc B Music, and Billy Kernkamp. Kernkamp played an amazing set at the downtown Santa Ana venue, The Yost Theater. This earned him 4 days recording time at Red Bull Studios, 2,500 bucks from Fender, and a spot to play the OCMA at The Grove! The Live Band Showcase was equally exciting with performances from some of my favorite Orange County bands, including The Steelwells, BLOK, The Union Line, The Colourist, and Dusty Rhodes and The River Band! Dusty Rhodes won the title of best live band, as well as 4 days recording time at Red Bull Studios, 2,500 bucks from Fender and of course a slot to play the OCMA! Both Dusty Rhodes and Billy Kernkamp deserved their respective achievements but to me, the showcases and the awards aren’t about the winning aspect or competition. It does something much more valuable. It brings people, music, and musicians together. It provides the opportunity for everyone to get to know each other a little bit better and makes the entire music scene in Orange County a little more cohesive and accepting. I think that is the real value in something like this.

But finally I’ll get to the actual awards themselves!

The OC Music Awards in all manners and respects takes itself seriously as an awards presentation, event, show, whatever you wanna call it.  but the mood of it all is more of a party.  It’s laid back, packed full of the best entertainment in Orange County, dare I say the entire west coast, and a ridiculous amount of fun!  Live performances included BLOK, Melanoid, The Steelwells, Dusty Rhodes and The River Band, The Dirty Heads, Lit, and Billy Kernkamp!  The nights all around winners were Dusty Rhodes, taking home 3 awards Best Live, Best Rock and Best Country/Americana.  Most of the winners were artists that have not yet experienced great commercial success, but are pushing the creative envelope forward.  Bands like BLOK, winning for Best Hip Hop, The New Limb, winning for Best Indie, and The Steelwells winning for Best Song – “El Capitan” and Best New Artist!  Artists like Atreyu, Thrice, and The Adolescents took home some big awards as well.  Atreyu for Best Metal, The Adolescents for Best Punk and Thrice with the notable Best Album for “Beggars.”

In execution the OC Music Awards were spectacular.  The performances were amazing, the artists enthusiasm and sense of unity felt within The Grove was inspiring.  It was a great night for Orange County music, with much of the credit going to Luke Allen and Ashley Eckenweiler.  This little team has managed to up the ante since they started working together on the OCMA last year.

Check out the complete list of winners below and check out all the bands nominated at www.ocmusicawards.com

Best album – Beggars, Thrice

Best song – “El Capitan,” the Steelwells

Best new artist – The Steelwells

Best rock – Dusty Rhodes and the River Band

Best country/Americana – Dusty Rhodes and the River Band

Best live band – Dusty Rhodes and the River Band

Best acoustic – Billy Kernkamp

Best folk – Yellow Red Sparks

Best punk – The Adolescents

Best indie – The New Limb

Best alternative – Stereofix

Best metal – Ateryu

Best hip-hop – Blok

Best pop – Stacy Clark

Best electronic – Electric Valentine

Best blues – Roman Alexander and the Robbery

Best surf – The Growlers

Best jazz – Translucent Ham Sandwich Band

Best world – The Dirty Heads

Best Latin – Boogaloo Assassins

People’s Choice Award – Duress

Lifetime Achievement Award – Jim Washburn

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Photography by Jennifer Vincent

Rain, the wonderful Beatles tribute band is coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center starting March 23. Their show is more than just a band playing–they offer a whole multi-media and multi-dimensional experience, a mix of historical footage, TV commercials, along with the band going through the Beatles’ repertoire, a history through song if you will. They look like them, sound like and is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles’ themselves (especially for those of us who weren’t around to witness it for ourselves.) Ralph Castelli, “Ringo”, took time away from his busy touring schedule to let me know more about himself, the band, and the whole experience.

Liesl Prentice: Where did you all meet?

Ralph Castelli: We all met in the broadway show, Beatlemania. We all decided to stay together since we made beautiful music, and all got along well,  and you have to get along to withstand the length of time together. It’s more than just a band, it’s a brotherhood.

LP: Where are you from originally and how did you get started with Beatlemania?

RC: I grew up in San Gabriel Valley and Pasadena during my childhood and teenage years. The show opened on Broadway and it was so successful so they decided to open up a second company. There were ads in newspapers, theatrical magazines looking for look a-likes and sound a-likes, so after 4 or 5 call backs I won the part for Beatlemnia and at 21 years old, was on the road to Broadway. We went on a world tour, starting in the west coast and Canada, then went on to Asia, Australia, and other countries.

LP: So tell me about your current tour and concerts.

RC: Well, we play the Beatles, and built sets that look like the album covers. There’s six costume changes and it’s a multi-media experience with theatrical lighting. Along with that we play TV commercials from the period, and news clips showing important events, such as JFK’s assassination, so it’s very nostalgic. We recreate the Ed Sullivan performance, even having it be in black and white, and eventually it progresses to color during the show, and when we get to Sgt. Pepper it’s really psychedelic, then after the intermission we come out on the All You Need is Love set, wearing flower power outfits, then we bring out the acoustic guitars, changing the mood a bit. It’s just a great night of rock n roll, with three generations coming to see the show, all singing and dancing having a good ol’ time. It began with parents taking the kids and now the kids take their parents.

LP: How has touring been?

RC: Touring has its ups and downs. There’s so many cities but we just pass through town so don’t see much because we’re so quick; have to get to the next city. But when you love performing, it’s part of what it takes to get there.

LP: How long have you been touring?

RC: Three decades; it’s a non-stop tour. Sometimes we take a break in the summer.

LP: How did you first get interested in music and specifically, playing the drums?

RC: I had three older brothers who were all musicians and my parents loved and played music all the time. Conveniently, there was a drum set in the house, and when I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show that was the night I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I put Meet the Beatles on, put on my headset and played along, and just went from there.

LP: Have you played in Orange County before?

RC: We played here last year, two nights in the OC and were at the Pantages also, where we did 8 shows.

LP: So I have to ask, who is your favorite Beatles? Ringo?

RC: Bottom line is that I’m a Beatles fan, and especially a Ringo fan. I’d like to thank the Beatles for playing such wonderful music and to thank Ringo Starr for teaching me to play an instrument. And to thank them for being the music for generations.

For more information on Rain please visit the Orange County Performing Arts Center here!

Meet LINKS. They are a group of four talented musicians ready to rock your world. Besides having the best hair in the business, they also have great music. Their sound is described as “soul with a twist of blues and a shout of rock.” With two albums already under their belt, debut EP “Tip Your Jester” and recently released “Echo Dogs,” there’s no stopping them.The band members are Robbie Arnett (lead vocals/guitar), Robby Barnett (bass guitar), Curtis Marrero (drums), and  Eric Frank (lead guitar). They took some time out to answer a few questions. Get on board, here comes LINKS!

Andrea Domoslai: How did LINKS form?

LINKS came about when two longtime friends from Northern California, Robbie Arnett and Eric Frank, met up in Los Angeles with two longtime Southern California boys, Robby Barnett (yes, that’s not a typo) and Curtis Marrero. The four musicians instantly found common ground and decided to get dirty in the studio and on the stage.

AD: Where did your band name come from?

One of our first shows was at a German themed pub. We were unnamed at the time, and after having a few beers, the owner came out and started yelling “LINKS” at us. We were supposed to load in our equipment on stage left, and instead, it was on the right. “Links” is German for left. For some reason, it stuck.

AD: Is there an OC connection? Are any of you from Orange County?

Robby (bass) and Curtis (drums) are both OC natives; Los Alamitos and Seal Beach, respectively.

AD: How would you describe your music?

Everything we do is rooted in soul music, but we like to drag it through the mud a little bit until it’s nice and filthy. We then bake at 450 degrees until moist in the center, and finish with an icing of the blues and some fancy sprinkles.

AD: What’s your song writing process?

It’s different every time. Every song has its own story. It’s entirely a collaborative effort, and every song comes out sounding like the four of us. Honestly, we really have no idea how this works.

AD: What’s the best part about being in a band?

The money. The gobs and gobs of money.

AD: Any funny show stories you’d like to share?

We once played a backyard party in Santa Barbara. It was a gigantic collegey rager, and when we had finished, the intoxicated party-goers simply did not let us leave the stage. We did our best to churn out a couple covers, but after a half an hour, it was clear we couldn’t last much longer. We ended up having to sleep on the lawn that night because we couldn’t even get our instruments back into the car, and didn’t trust drunk people to not destroy everything. It was quite the evening.

AD: Is your band a democracy or dictatorship?

Hmmm, tough question… oh wait a minute it’s not a tough question because this is AMERICA. Democracy.

AD: What sets you apart from other indie bands?

We have the best haircuts. And we don’t have a singer who plays an auxiliary tom at the front of the stage.

AD: What’s up next for LINKS?

We’re doing a big west coast tour in April with a bunch of our closest band pals. We’re also recording some bonus material for our latest EP “Echo Dogs” (released in January). Remixes, acoustic stuff, b-sides, you name it. Other than that… I don’t know, stickers? Anybody want stickers?

As you can see, these guys are lots of fun! Stay tuned for more exciting news and show announcements on LINKS at: www.linksband.com or www.myspace.com/linksband

Photos taken by Cooper Gross

Showcasing up and coming talents, RAW Natural Born Artists is on a mission to keep your community connected to local, independent artists in all creative disciplines.  So what exactly is RAW Natural Born Artists? I’m glad you asked. It is a collective movement started by Southern California’s own Heidi Luerra. The RAW team assembles and promotes artists through their online community as well as through their monthly events.  Their site features artists’ profiles, making it easier for you to get to know them and what they do.  Hosting four cites which currently include Los Angeles, Fullerton, Santa Monica, and Long Beach, RAW is able to freely promote Southern Californian artists to a waiting audience.

As a platform for up and coming visual artists, fashion designers, musicians, comedians, filmmakers, etc. RAW’s event nights make discovering new art and fresh talent more accessible to the public. RAW recently hosted a showcase at the Cherch Lounge in Fullerton. A veritable smorgasbord of creativity, the event highlighted standup comedian/magician Justin Rivera, music by Octavius Womack, fashions by Metevo Clothing, hair by Melissa McFadden, makeup by Yvette Mendoza, and the musical styling’s of DJ Martin Vidal. A pop-up gallery was on display with art from Kaleeka Bond, Patricia Cory, Shannon LeClair, and Raymond DeLuna. A short film by Luke Randall was screened for the audience to kick off the night’s events.  The festive occasion was an exciting experience and a fun way to discover something a little out of the ordinary.

When attending their showcase nights, you are exposed to great performances and art while also getting a chance to mingle and network with fellow art connoisseurs. Helping link artists to the public and professionals, RAW ultimately supplies the foundation for future harmonious collaborations. The team’s positive vibe is key to their message of “connecting independent artists with the tools, resources, and exposure to inspire and incubate creativity, productivity, and success.” The tools that RAW provides to their group of artists are given through workshops that coach them on the business side of their given industry.

Not only does RAW work to broaden your cultural horizon, but they are also good for you. And when I say “good for you,” I mean that they help out that planet you live on called Earth. By being completely green, RAW goes as far as making donations to the Carbon Fund to cancel the emissions of the cars that travel to their events. They also do the majority of their promotion via the web and texting. Only when paper is an essential marketing tool do they use only 100% recycled paper.  RAW also facilitates artists with giving back to the community by connecting them with charitable organizations. These simple contributions make a world of difference in the long run and make it a win-win situation for all parties involved in their movement.

Now that you know about RAW Natural Born Artists be sure to check their site and make your way out to one their showcase nights. Artists can also submit applications to become a part of the RAW team. To learn more visit www.rawartists.org.  Eco-friendly sensibilities and accessible art are what sets this organization apart from the rest. Looks like it’s time for you to go RAW.

Photos taken by Hiro Landazuri