Assuming We Survive performs at Localpalooza at M15 on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (Rob Inderrieden/Freelance Photographer)
Anyone who doubts the thriving music scene of the Inland Empire wasn’t at M15 in Corona for the Localpalooza competition on Saturday, Nov. 2.
I was fortunate enough to be a judge for the second year of the competition, which is put on by San Bernardino-based radio station X103.9, an outlet that has been waving the flag for local music for a very long time.
RELATED: See photos from X103.9’s Localpalooza
After 11 energy-filled performances that had fans waving homemade signs, bouncing balloons and partying in the pit, Assuming We Survive took home the crown. The band, whose members live all around the Inland region (Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Riverside, Chino and Upland), will open X103.9’s Merry Meltdown show on Dec. 14 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario with Korn, Stone Temple Pilots, Sick Puppies and Big B. Tickets for the show are on sale via www.axs.com and at the arena’s box office. They are priced from $29.50 to $59.50, before fees.
Assuming We Survive performs at Localpalooza at M15 on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (Rob Inderrieden/Freelance Photographer)
It’s been a big year for Assuming We Survive. The rock group, which has elements of punk and metal in its sound, released a new EP, “Get Busy Living,” earlier this year and has earned spots on a number of prestigious shows around the region, including a recent stint opening for The Used at Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare attraction in Pomona.
The title track from the new EP was among the highlights in the band’s set, which had the audience chanting “Hey!” in unison and singing along at various points in the set.
Assuming We Survive and Rancho Cucamonga’s As You Were were the only bands in the competition that also performed at the 2012 Localpalooza competition. As You Were also got a lot of crowd reaction, as they blazed through a nu-metal set and fans volleyed homemade balloons–decorated with the band’s logo and name in black magic marker–in the crowd.
Other highlights of the evening included a set by Riverside’s El Robo, which is making truly original music and is a band to watch in the Inland scene, and The Rebel Noise, a new band out of Palm Springs.
The other burgeoning talents that performed included Pandemic Unleashed, Slivir, The Red Level, T4P, The Action Potential, Slowfall and Star Off Machine.
Congratulations to all of the bands for making it into the competition. I look forward to hearing more from you in the coming months.
Check out the photo gallery from Localpalooza over at the iGuide.