Author Archives: Vanessa

COACHELLA 2014: Will Outkast reunion dominate lineup?

Will Outkast reunite at Coachella 2014? (2006/AP Photo)

The big buzz in the music world this morning is the apparent reunion of Outkast after a much-too-long hiatus and that the Atlanta hip-hop duo of awesomeness will top the bill at the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Billboard wrote yesterday about the likely reunion of Andre 3000 and Big Boi and said that a 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival spot was being talked about.

Then, everyone got all in a tizzy when Outkast collaborator Sleepy Brown posted a photo of screaming girls with the text “Outkast Headlining Coachella 2014” on top of it and Revolt has a story with virtually no sources saying that the reunion is happening.

I have three words: The Rolling Stones.

It was only a year ago when everyone got in a tizzy because The Rolling Stones were such a sure thing to be at Coachella, myself included. The band’s own app listed the dates and Rolling Stone magazine wrote about it.

How do we know that Sleepy Brown’s Instagram post wasn’t just his declaration for wanting the same thing the rest of us want–to see Outkast in the desert? It’s a little more blunt than a photo of a polo ball on a polo field, but it’s not concrete proof.

Of all of the sources spewing out information, I trust Billboard the most because I don’t think they’d run something like this without solid information from sources.

I do know that Outkast reunion has been on a wish list of Coachella gets, just like Bowie or the reunion ofThe Smiths, but I will tell you the one thing you have to keep in mind every year during Coachella prognostication season: The lineup isn’t final until the real poster comes out in January.

It’s seriously fluid up until that moment, something the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ manager confirmed when the Coachella 2013 lineup came out.

However, I think Outkast will be a great topic for our Coachella Live Chat, which is happening tomorrow, Nov. 21 at 5:45 p.m. Pacific.

If you’d like to chat or ask questions, please click on the widget to open a new window to participate in the live chat. Feel free to ask questions and add comments before we go live on Nov. 21, too.

You can also access the Coachella live chat directly at the Spreecast site.

Even if you can’t make it for the live chat, you can ask a question and watch it later. I’m hoping we can make this a semi-regular thing in the coming weeks and months as we go on the road to Coachella.

The 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will take place April 11-13 and April 18-20 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

What do you think about the Outkast possibility? Sound off in the comments below. Flip through the interactive timeline or click the links below to read my other predictions.

I’ve covered the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival since 2007. All of the Coachella prediction posts here are tagged with Coachellaology.

For more Coachella news, photos, interviews and information, visit the iGuide Coachella page. If you want to follow me on social media, I’m at @vanessafranko on Twitter, the Audio File on Facebook and on Google+.

Nov. 19, 2013: FLAG, Haim
Nov. 14, 2013: Can we all just agree that Arcade Fire will headline?
Nov. 14, 2013: Lorde, Flogging Molly
Nov. 5, 2013: Mogwai, The Dismemberment Plan
Oct. 25, 2013: Arcade Fire, The Naked and Famous
Oct. 7, 2013: The Pixies
Oct. 2, 2013: Paul McCartney, Luscious Jackson
Aug. 2, 2013: Neutral Milk Hotel
June 16, 2013: The Replacements

MURRIETA: Coffee, tea and acoustic tunes at The Dial

Brandon Thomas De La Cruz performs at The Press-Enterprise for a PE Live session. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Get comfy at The Dial in Murrieta on Saturday, Nov. 23 when an acoustic show takes over the lobby.

Guests will sit on blankets and pillows and can purchase coffee and tea and relax for an intimate show with some promising singer/songwriters.

Brandon De La Cruz, Ranger, Bazil of Baker Street and Chris Bidwell will perform.

7 p.m. Saturday, The Dial, 41679 Date St. Suite B, Murrieta, $5 with membership, $7 without, all ages.

Visit www.facebook.com/thedialcollective for more information.

De La Cruz was a guest at PE Live earlier this year.

Watch De La Cruz perform “White Roses.”

Watch an interview with De La Cruz about his album “Common Miracles” from PE Live.

HEMET: White Kaps, Walking Toxins play Friday

White Kaps will play Hemet on Friday, Nov. 22. (Contributed Image)

Huntington Beach skate punks and White Kaps head Inland to Hemet for a show at Little Louie’s on Friday, Nov. 22.

The band recently released a new album called “Anarchy Beach” and Friday’s show features support sets from some notable local bands.

Hemet’s own The Walking Toxins will be performing and they are working on new material for their first album in five years. Also, Idyllwild’s Throw the Goat will head down the mountain to perform.

San Diego band Civil Satans is also on the lineup.

9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, Little Louie’s, 43271 Highway 74, Hemet, $8, 21 and older only.

COACHELLA 2014: Lineup predictions with FLAG, Haim

FLAG (Dimitri Coats/Contributed Image)

You know how the artists of the 1950s/early 1960s have multiple touring versions, like The Drifters and The Temptations? Well, punk rock has its own version when it comes to Black Flag. Greg Ginn and Ron Reyes are touring as Black Flag, but Keith Morris, Chuck Dukowski, Bill Stevenson, Dez Cadena and Stephen Egerton are touring as FLAG.

FLAG is my pick for the classic punk band at the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (at Coachella 2013 it was the Descendents and that is still one of my favorite Coachella moments ever.)

Why? That lineup played the GV 30 show (which was put on and celebrated the 30th anniversary of Coachella promoter Goldenvoice) in Dec. 2011 and earlier this year the band played FYF in Los Angeles. Also, Coachella always has a nod to old school punk and this year it was the Descendents, who played FYF in 2012.

Please pause for a shameless self-promotional plug. If you love Coachella, and chances are you’re at least kind of into it if you’ve found this blog, we’ll be doing a live chat on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 5:45 p.m. Pacific to get together and talk about who we think will be in Indio this year.

You can also access the Coachella live chat directly at the Spreecast site.

Will the Haim sisters be at Coachella 2014? (Contributed Image)

Now, onto the next prediction.

I was convinced sister group Haim (not pronounced like Corey Haim) was going to be on the Coachella 2013 lineup. In the months since, the LA-based group has gotten even more buzzworthy.

I was sure of Haim at Coachella 2014 until one of my colleagues remembered that he had read an interview in GQ that they can’t do Coachella because of an annual family commitment.

However, Haim announced spring tour dates and reader Nate Hutchinson thinks they will be at Coachella, which takes place April 11-13 and April 18-20 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

The band has a tour date scheduled for April 9 in San Francisco, then April 17 in Las Vegas and then April 23 in Austin, Texas. The dates look like they point to Coachella, but I’m still wondering about that family commitment.

They are also going to appear on “Saturday Night Live” on Nov. 23.

Think I’m on the right track or totally off in my predictions? Sound off in the comments below. Flip through the interactive timeline or click the links below to read my other predictions.

I’ve covered the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival since 2007. All of the Coachella prediction posts here are tagged with Coachellaology.

Nov. 14, 2013: Can we all just agree that Arcade Fire will headline?
Nov. 14, 2013: Lorde, Flogging Molly
Nov. 5, 2013: Mogwai, The Dismemberment Plan
Oct. 25, 2013: Arcade Fire, The Naked and Famous
Oct. 7, 2013: The Pixies
Oct. 2, 2013: Paul McCartney, Luscious Jackson
Aug. 2, 2013: Neutral Milk Hotel
June 16, 2013: The Replacements

TEMECULA: Share your memories of The Vault

Strike Twelve performs at The Vault in October 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

With the news that Temecula’s all ages concert venue The Vault is closing at the end of the month, there will be a big hole in the Inland music scene.

Venues are hard enough to come by in the Inland Empire and those open to all ages are even more scarce. What makes The Vault even more special is that it is a place where the local scene thrived and it was born out of a community with talented young musicians who had nowhere to play.

Southwest Riverside County has been one of the most fertile areas for local music for the better part of the last decade. Inverse, Midnight Satellites, Illnoise, Fly By Night, 15 North, Sam Larsen, Lee Koch, Dark Haven, Strike Twelve, War Stories, The Infamous They, Service Interruption, The Coltranes, Indica Roots, On Being Human, Ana Kefr, Souljourners, Keenwild, My Last Revelation and Jupiter–not to mention Finch and Neon Trees–all have ties to the area and nearly all of them have performed at The Vault. (Apologies to anyone I missed–there’s so much talent coming out of there I can’t remember everyone anymore.)

The first time The Vault opened in 2007, it was filling a need in the community where teens and young adults were playing music and craving something to do. The protests from local music lovers in the wake of The Vault being shut down after not having the proper permits only a few months after opening were staggering.

Then, a dedicated team, led by James Messina, who had purchased the business, and promoter Ivan McClain, set to work to get the venue up and running with the proper permits.

I remember calling McClain, who has been the promoter of the venue since the beginning, about wanting to do a cover story for the Guide about the return of The Vault. When I arrived on that afternoon, I was floored by how many people had come out to tell me how important this venue was to local music. Even Ben Stewart (then of Conspiracy of Thought, now of SongHammer) had driven down from Riverside to talk to me about it.

Andrew W.K. performs at The Vault in Temecula on Oct. 18, 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

As the scene grew, so did The Vault, attracting larger bands from elsewhere in the Inland Empire, including perennial favorites The Maxies, and ultimately from reaches far beyond Southern California.

When I was most recently at the venue in October for the Andrew W.K. solo show, I was admiring the posters on the wall from shows over the years.

Voodoo Glow Skulls headlined five years of Skaloween shows at The Vault. It has hosted Japanese punk band Peelander Z, The Ataris, Reel Big Fish and a parade of metal bands just to name a few.

McClain is planning to open a new venue in the Temecula Valley with a larger capacity that can cater to the 21 and older crowd as well as those of all ages. With the absence of The Vault, it will be even more sorely needed.

There are a few more chances to catch music at the venue, including a show with Zebrahead on Friday, Nov. 22 and Band Wars on Nov. 30. There will be a special “thank you” show, dubbed “The Death of the Vault,” on Friday, Nov. 29, with The Maxies, The Infamous They, Indica Roots, Expulsion, Illnoise and more.

Please share your memories of The Vault in the comments below. Did you ever play there? Catch a memorable show?

REDLANDS: Terraplane Sun lands at Hangar 24

Swiss Alps is from Redlands. (Swiss Alps Facebook/Contributed Image)

Up-and-coming Los Angeles band Terraplane Sun is headed to Hangar 24 Brewery in Redlands on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The buzzworthy band just finished a U.S. tour and will be joined on Wednesday by Redlands locals Swiss Alps.

7 p.m. Wednesday, Hangar 24 Brewery Tasting Room, 1710 Sessums Drive, Redlands, free.

Visit www.facebook.com/terraplanesun for more on the band and www.hangar24brewery.com for more on the show.

Watch performances from Swiss Alps’ PE Live session.

Check out the interview with Swiss Alps.

Swiss Alps perform “Chris.”

PE LIVE: Watch a performance by The Higgs

The Higgs performed some music for PE Live. (The Higgs/Contributed Image)

We all need some music to kick off this Sunday morning and PE Live can help with that.

The Higgs performed an impressive set at the Hangar 24 Tasting Room in Redlands a couple of weeks ago that we were lucky enough to capture for PE Live.

Take a look and have a listen to the band’s song “Meet My Baby.”

PE LIVE: The Higgs perform “Meet My Baby.”

I’m really excited to share the news that our next PE Live band will be The Dangers. We’ve got some special performances from the band from the amazing new album “Gold!!” coming up this week.

You can see one of the performances from the great night of music early if you sign up for the PE Live newsletter. You’ll get the email from yours truly on Tuesday afternoon, two days before we post PE Live to the public. If you’re already subscribed, thank you for supporting local music.

Subscribe to the PE Live newsletter.

MUSIC: Hobo Jazz releases video for ‘Bonnie’

Hobo Jazz has released a new video for “Bonnie.” (Matthew Schoenmann/Freelance Photographer)

In the decade-plus that the great Hobo Jazz has been together, the band had not released a video, until now.

Check out the beautiful cinematography, beautiful music and beautiful story in Hobo Jazz’s video for “Bonnie,” which was directed by Lei Tao.

The song is available on their latest album, “The Curse of Tramp Life.”

The poignant song is only part of the Hobo Jazz story. Get to know the magic of the Hobos by watching our interview with Marquis and Matt from Hobo Jazz on a recent edition of PE Live.

Watch Hobo Jazz perform “One Glance.”

Your next chance to see the band live is Saturday, Nov. 30 at The Vault in Redlands.

RIVERSIDE: The garage comes to Mission Tobacco Lounge

Crystal and the Cutthroats are playing Mission Tobacco Lounge on Saturday, Nov. 16. (Contributed Image)

Saturday is going to be like an in-person session of “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” with the lineup of bands headed to Mission Tobacco Lounge.

LA band Prima Donna, which just opened for Adam Ant on his recent tour, tops the night of music.

Also, the Inland’s own Vicky and the Vengents are celebrating the release of their new 45 rpm record.

The excellent Crystal & The Cutthroats and Undercover Monsters are also on the bill.

8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, Mission Tobacco Lounge, 3630 University Ave., Riverside, $6, 21 and older only.

LIVE CHAT: Who will play the 2014 Coachella Festival?

Watch our Coachella 2014 Live Chat on Spreecast below.

You can also access the Coachella live chat directly at the Spreecast site.

Ready to talk about Coachella 2014? Join us for a live chat. (File Photo)

The rumors and predictions of who will be playing the 2014 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival are already out in the ether as bands such as Arcade Fire and Mogwai have announced their touring schedules through the spring and have conspicuous holes around April 11-13 and April 18-20, when the festival returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio.

Vanessa Franko will be chatting live, answering your questions, and responding to comments about all things Coachella at 5:45 p.m. Thursday on PE.com.

For the last few years, I’ve been doing my Coachella prognostication, which I call Coachellaology, and every year it seems to be growing with more tips from fantastic readers and music fans like you.

On Thursday, Nov. 21 at 5:45 p.m. Pacific, let’s get together and talk about Coachella, from the probability of Daft Punk showing up to what the reunion acts will be this year.

What I think will make this so much fun is audience participation. You’re encouraged to send in questions, comments and more. Our interactive show gives you an opportunity to voice your Coachella knowledge.

You can also access the Coachella live chat directly at the Spreecast site.

If you just found your way to the Audio File for the first time, welcome!

I’ve covered the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Stagecoach Country Music Festival since 2007.

Below is a timeline of all of the Coachella predictions I’ve posted so far.

If you want to know about the next time we’ll be doing one of these Coachella live chats, sign up below for our Coachella newsletter.