Author Archives: Vanessa

The Blasters will perform at M15 in Corona on Friday, Jan. 31. (Contributed Image)

Southern California rock ‘n’ roll icons The Blasters will land at M15 in Corona on Friday, Jan. 31.

The band, which formed in Downey 35 years ago, takes the best elements of classic rock ‘n’ roll and the blues and puts a sun-soaked California spin on it.

Formed by brothers Phil and Dave Alvin (Phil is still in the group. Dave went on to be part of X and The Knitters), The Blasters helped define the sound of Southern California alongside acts such as Los Lobos and X in the early 1980s.

The Chop Tops will open the show.

7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, M15, 9022 Pulsar Ct. Suite H, Corona, 951-200-4465, $20, all ages.

Visit www.m15concerts.com for tickets and more details.

Murs will perform at It’s the Common Ground in Riverside on Feb. 2. (2008/Contributed Image)

It’s the Common Ground has been THE go-to place for Inland Empire hip-hop to thrive and flourish in recent years and now the night will feature its biggest star yet.

Los Angeles-based rapper Murs will headline the show on Sunday, Feb. 2 at The Vibe in Riverside.

Also performing will be 3D Beats, Fredo, Mod, Cash Lansky and Marley B and Loklas Taji and Gilly.

Cam Archer will host the night and Calligraphy is the resident DJ.

8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, The Vibe, 1805 University Ave., Riverside, $15 in advance, $20 at the door, 18 and older only.

Visit www.bricktoyaface.com and http://murscommonground.eventbrite.com for more information.

Crystal Bowersox will perform at M15 in Corona. (Contributed Image)

Former “American Idol” contestant Crystal Bowersox, known for her husky voice and bluesy, soulful tunes, is headed to M15 in Corona.

Even though she was runner up to Lee DeWyze, Bowersox made history as the first “Idol” star to perform her own original music on the show.

Bowersox released her sophomore album, “All That For This,” in March 2013.

Bowersox is also doing a VIP meet and greet at the show for an additional charge.

7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, M15, 9022 Pulsar Court, Corona, 951-200-4465, $20 for general admission, additional $50 for the VIP meet-and-greet add-on. .

Visit www.m15concerts.com for more information.

Fair Struggle, a band from Sacramento, will perform at Mission Tobacco Lounge on Friday, Jan. 24. (Contributed Image)

Sayonara Tokyo’s CD release show at Mission Tobacco Lounge isn’t just a celebration of the up-and-coming band, it’s a welcome home party for a longtime member of the scene.

Fair Struggle, a Sacramento band, is coming down to the area for the NAMM convention and the group’s bassist, Miles Daniels, will return to an Inland stage for the first time since moving up north a while back.

He was part of Riverside rock band Lunch Line Jones, with singer Dan Davis.
Davis’ new project, Trapping John Doe, is also on the bill. Inertia will also perform.

It’s just a big happy Inland Empire musical family over there this weekend.
8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, Mission Tobacco Lounge, 3630 University Ave., Riverside, $5, 21 and older only.

For more on Sayonara Tokyo, visit www.sayonaratokyomusic.com and visit www.fairstruggle.com for more on Fair Struggle.

Robin Thicke will perform at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio. (AP Photo)

UPDATE 11:42 a.m.: The Riverside date has disappeared from Thicke’s website.

When Live Nation took over operations of Riverside’s  Fox Performing Arts Center at the end of 2013, the company pledged high-quality entertainment.

So far, the company has already added multi-platinum stars including Willie Nelson and Trace Adkins to the calendar, as well as  household-name comedians such as Wayne Brady and Bill Engvall and prog metal band Dream Theater.

Now the  singing star with the biggest hit of 2013 may be visiting Riverside.

Robin Thicke, he of “Blurred Lines” fame, had originally posted on his website that he will be at the venue that he would perform at the Fox on Wednesday, March 26, but by late morning on Jan. 21, the date has since disappeared.  Live Nation hasn’t posted the event on its ticketing site yet, and it’s unknown when tickets would go on sale.

However, it is confirmed that Thicke will perform at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio on Friday, March 28. Tickets for that go on sale Friday, Jan. 24 and are priced from $49 to $109.

What do you think of Live Nation’s bookings at the Fox so far? Is it a step up? Are they finding the right mix for Riverside?

Trace Adkins will perform at the Riverside Fox on May 18. (2013/File Photo)

Whether you loved him on “Celebrity Apprentice” or have an appreciation for his hit “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” country star Trace Adkins is headed to the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside.

He will perform at the Fox on Sunday, May 18, and tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 24 at noon.

Adkins, who has visited area casinos and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in recent years, recently entered a rehab program for alcohol after an incident on the “Country Cruising” cruise in the Caribbean last week.

The author and actor is best known for hits such as “You’re Gonna Miss This,” “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and more.

Adkins’ appearance marks the second major country music show announced for the venue since new operator Live Nation took over. Willie Nelson will perform at the Fox on April 1.

Tickets for the show are $33.50-$76, before fees.

You can purchase them via www.livenation.com or at the box office of the Fox Performing Arts Center at 3801 Mission Inn Ave. in Riverside . The box office is open Monday through Friday noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on show days until show time. You can also call the box office at 951-779-9800.

Illnoise will perform at The Dial in Murrieta on Monday, Jan. 20. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Looking for something to do on a Monday night?

The Dial in Murrieta is hosting a schedule of music to chase away that case of the Mondays.

Temecula rapper Illnoise will perform, as well as Chuuwee, Cadillac Freeze, EPonym, Love Anwar and Apex Realm.

7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, The Dial, 41679 Date St., Suite B, Murrieta, $3 for members, $5 for non-members, all ages.