Author Archives: Vanessa

TEMECULA: Photos of Andrew W.K. at The Vault

Andrew W.K. performs at The Vault in Temecula on Oct. 18, 2013 while his hype man Blakey Boy sprays the crowd with water during the finale “I Get Wet.” (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

One of the best parts of my job is that sometimes I get to take pictures in addition to spending my days listening to and writing about music.

Being that I love to take pictures at shows, the one thing I hate is the paranoia that sets in ever since I blew not one, but two camera shutters over the three days at Stagecoach 2012. On Friday night, at the Andrew W.K. show at The Vault in Temecula, I almost had a breakdown when I got the dreaded “error 99” on a camera that had been working fine when I tested it before I went down to the show.

Luckily it was merely a busted battery and I was able to duck back into the pit to get a couple of shots of The Infamous They before the Temecula band wrapped up its set. I also snapped some shots of fellow opening acts Midnight Satellites, The Coltranes and Strike Twelve. Sadly, the traffic was too gnarly for me to make it down to see the first band of the night, Ascension, but they’ve been getting rave reviews.

Thanks to The Vault, who is always super cool about letting us photograph the entire show, not just the first couple of songs.

Check out the pictures of Andrew W.K.’s show at The Vault in Temecula and read more about Andrew W.K.’s Party Messiah show.

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

TEMECULA: Andrew W.K. parties at The Vault

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

Andrew W.K. promised a party and that’s what the rocker brought to The Vault in Temecula on Friday, Oct. 18.

The intimate show was part of W.K.’s “Party Messiah” tour and featured only him on the keyboards, plus his dancer/backup singer/tour manager/hype man Blakey Boy.

(Remember how the Mighty Mighty Bosstones have Ben Carr, their dancing member? Imagine him crossed with a wind-up dancing toy that pirouettes, pumps its fists in the air and keeps the party vibe going. That’s Blakey Boy.)

This was not your typical rock show, something W.K. reiterated throughout the evening.

“It’s just a party,” he told the crowd.

PHOTO GALLERY: Andrew W.K. at The Vault in Temecula

With fog machines setting the mood, W.K. took the stage in his typical white T-shirt, white jeans and white sneakers and launched into “It’s Time to Party,” stuffing a microphone in the front of his pants. (It was a matter of efficiency, not an obscene gesture.)

He spent most of the show behind the keyboard, his long brown hair bouncing as he pounded on the keys.

W.K. told the crowd the show was his first visit to the Inland Empire and praised the opening bands, particularly Temecula’s Midnight Satellites.

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

The night of music also included Strike Twelve, The Coltranes, The Infamous They and Ascension.

The supporting bands also showed their appreciation for W.K.. The merch table was easily the most raucous area of fans during W.K.’s set, with synchronized dancing, chanting and general partying.

W.K. also complimented The Vault from the stage. His Inland Empire adoration continued when he tried to change the lyrics to “I Love NYC” to “I Love Inland Empire.”

It didn’t quite work as well as New York City in the song, but the crowd appreciated the effort.

The set was filled with W.K.’s party-centric favorites, primarily from his debut album “I Get Wet. Highlights included “Ready to Die” and “Party Hard.”

I also think there’s something hilarious about singing “We Want Fun” and its party-centric, let’s get wasted lyrics in an all ages club in Temecula where the hardest things you can ingest are a can of Coke and M&Ms.

Andrew W.K. had the crowd count backwards from 100 before topping the night off with the title track “I Get Wet.”

But the party wasn’t quite over. He invited fan Petre Spassov, of Fullerton, onto the stage after the song. Spassov proposed to his girlfriend, Becky Radu, on the stage. She said yes.

Spassov had been planning the proposal for six months. Why propose at an Andrew W.K. show?

“I love Andrew W.K. He got me through some hard times,” Spassov said.

Check out the photo gallery from the show over at PE.com.

PE LIVE: The McKintree Boys tell the story of a boat

The McKintree Boys perform at Hangar 24 Brewery in Redlands. (Matthew Schoenmann/Freelance Photographer)

The McKintree Boys have just displaced both the theme song from “The Love Boat” and “I’m on a Boat” as my favorite nautical tunes–and they did it with a song about a boat that helped people escape the Irish Potato Famine.

“The Auld Pat Henry” is a rocking number by the Inland band, which has plenty of Celtic tradition in its music. If you enjoy Flogging Molly with a touch of the Dropkick Murphys, this is for you.

Watch The McKintree Boys perform it with one of our PE Live videos.

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TEMECULA: Andrew W.K. talks about the power of positive partying

Andrew W.K. is coming to Temecula on Friday, Oct. 18. (Ashley Eberbach/Contributed Image)

Earlier this week I posted some of the party tips Andrew W.K. shared with me ahead of his show at The Vault in Temecula on Friday, Oct. 18.

W.K. is also the feature story in my column for the print edition of the Audio File this week. One of the things we talked about was his upcoming book, “The Party Bible,” which Simon & Schuster will be publishing next year. Here’s an excerpt from the story:

“It’s not a memoir; it’s really not an autobiography or anything like that, it’s more of a self-help book,” W.K. said. “I’m trying to help myself as much as anyone else.”

The book embraces W.K.’s ethos — harnessing the power of positive partying.

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“I’m just trying to cheer up our brain and have some fun and not go completely insane,” W.K. said.

You can read the full story with Andrew W.K. over at the iGuide. He’ll also be back in town on Halloween for a show at Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare thing in Pomona.

W.K. also encouraged fans to ask him party questions and connect with him via the Internet. He’s often on Twitter, where he disseminates some of the best party tips of all.

YUCAIPA: Dynasty plays The Paradigm Saturday

Darasuum will perform at The Paradigm in Yucaipa. (Contributed Image)

If the name Dynasty conjures up images of cat fights and Joan Collins, don’t be tempted by a big metal and hardcore show at The Paradigm in Yucaipa this weekend.

Yes, the headlining band is Dynasty, but it will be less soap opera and more mosh pit.

Inland band Darasuum (pictured) is also performing, plus Brave Coast, Palace in Ruins, The City Moves, Narrow Lies the Path and Deadlands.

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5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, The Paradigm, 13700 Calimesa Blvd. Yucaipa, $7, all ages.

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

CORONA: Finalists announced for Localpalooza competition at M15

Grieve for Tomorrow performs at X1039’s Localpalooza in 2012. (2012/File Photo)

San Bernardino-based radio station X103.9 is bringing back its Localpalooza competition this year.

The local battle of the bands has a big-time prize–an opening slot at the station’s Merry Meltdown concert Dec. 14 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario with Korn, Stone Temple Pilots, Sick Puppies and more.

I was a judge for last year’s event, which Dose of Adolescence won, and I’ll be back as a judge for this year’s, too. This time, the event takes place at M15 in Corona on Saturday, Nov. 2.

The station just announced the bands who will be competing for a spot and among the 12 finalists 2012 contestants are As You Were and Assuming We Survive.

Assuming We Survive
As You Were
El Robo
Late Night Revival
On Being Human
Pandemic Unleashed
Slivir
Slowfall
Star Off Machine
T4P
The Action Potential
The Rebel Noise

Five of the bands hail from Riverside and four are from Rancho Cucamonga.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door for Localpalooza.

You can follow more on Localpalooza via X103.9 and the Localpalooza Facebook page.

Here’s last year’s winner, Dose of Adolescence, on our weekly video show PE Live.

RIVERSIDE: Tio’s Tacos to hold Dia de los Muertos fundraiser

Tio’s Tacos in Riverside will be the site of a fundraiser for the upcoming Dia de los Muertos celebration. (2012/File Photo)

A bunch of local bands and artisans are getting together at Tio’s Tacos in Riverside on Friday, Oct. 18 to raise awareness and funds for the upcoming Dia de los Muertos festival on Nov. 2.

Friday’s event will include a demo on face painting, a lesson about the historical significance of the altars and lots of music.

The bands performing are among the best in the Inland Empire and include Summer Twins, Black Bear and the Cheyenne Autumn Band (who are releasing their new album at the show), Habitat and The Big Nothing.

Summer Twins and Black Bear have both appeared on our performance series PE Live.

Here’s a little ditty from Black Bear.

And don’t forget the Summer Twins!

5-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, Tio’s Tacos, 3948 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, all ages. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

Visit www.facebook.com/division9gallery for more information on the event.

RIVERSIDE: Bill Cantos to perform at museum

Bill Cantos will perform at Mimi’s Listening Room at the Riverside Art Museum on Sunday, Oct. 20. (Contributed Image)

There is a new place to check out some jazz in Riverside this weekend.

Dubbed Mimi’s Listening Room, the special event will be held at the Riverside Art Museum on Sunday afternoon.

Bill Cantos is the featured performer for the afternoon of music.

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Cantos has worked with some of the biggest names in music. Most recently he has worked with Elton John as a backup singer on the icon’s new record “The Diving Board,” but his credits span a variety of genres and roles, working as an arranger, producer, composer and performer with other big names, including Sergio Mendes, Herb Alpert and more.

He’s also sung with Phil Collins, which just stands on its own as being awesome.

Cantos and his band will perform at the space, which will host the jazz series will run on a quarterly basis.

2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, $25.

Visit www.facebook.com/mimis.listeningroom for more information and www.mimislisteningroom.com to purchase tickets.

TEMECULA: 5 party tips from Andrew W.K.

Andrew W.K. is coming to Temecula on Oct. 18. (Jonathan Thorpe/Contributed Image)

I’ve been excited about Andrew W.K.’s show at The Vault on Friday, Oct. 18 for months.

Why?

Well, life is just better when you have some Andrew W.K. in it.

His debut album “I Get Wet” always makes its way onto any mix I’m making, but it’s his idea of self-help through the power of positive partying that just takes it to another level. In addition to bringing the party to the stage, he’s a motivational speaker and soon to be an author. Andrew W.K. is working on his book “The Party Bible,” which will capture that positive party message.

Anyway, it seems that Andrew W.K.’s Twitter “Party Tips” appear in my news feed just as I need them. Some are about the hypnotizing power of tacos. Others, like the one from late September that read “PARTY TIP: Never mistake a bad day for a bad life,” are more profound.

So when I talked to his majesty of partying last week, I asked for some party tips. (We also spoke in Australian accents for a bit–his was MUCH better than mine). He stressed that these aren’t his top 5 party tips of all time, but just five random party tips.

So if you need some guidance, it’s time to party with Andrew W.K.

5 Random Party Tips from Andrew W.K.

1. Don’t die
“It’s good to keep that in mind. A lot of people, we like to stay alive and thrive and do fun stuff,” W.K. said.

[However, he has an awesome song called “Ready to Die.”]

2. Enjoy food
“I think a lot of people eat food and put guilt into it, or they eat the food and they say they didn’t really enjoy it or they feel bad about it. Just enjoy it. This is a pure , very primal pleasure that we’ve been blessed with,” he said.

Whether it’s a chain restaurant or an advertisement, take advantage of food being offered up, W.K. advised.

3. Remember to use the bathroom
“Try to use the restroom as much as you can and definitely try to enjoy that as well,” W.K. said.

4. Always be gentle to animals
However, he give this rule a caveat if the animals are poisonous and start to lash out at you.

“Strike them down. Go for the eyes, go for the tooth, go for the soft tissue between their bones,” W.K. said.

He recommended humans should try to be as far up in the animal kingdom hierarchy as possible.

5. Try to find something to like in things that you don’t like

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Andrew W.K. brings his solo Party Messiah tour to The Vault in Temecula on Friday, Oct. 18 and will be with his band at Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare in Pomona on Oct. 31.

The Temecula show features a crazy good lineup of local music, too. Midnight Satellites, The Coltranes, Strike Twelve, The Infamous They and Ascension are also on the bill.

6:30 p.m. Friday, The Vault, 41607 Enterprise Cir. N., Temecula, $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Stay tuned for more about what Andrew W.K. had to say in our interview in Friday’s edition of the Guide or later this week on the iGuide.

TEMECULA: Local bands to play cancer benefit

Treble Down will perform at a benefit for a Murrieta boy battling cancer at Bratts in Temecula this weekend. (Contributed Image)

Local bands are getting together in Temecula this weekend to raise money for a little boy battling cancer.

The 7-year-old, Royal “Gonzo” Gonzalez, of Murrieta, was diagnosed with Burkett’s Lymphoma.

Treble Down, Chris Hahn and John Fackelman will perform at the benefit.

There’s no cover, but donations are encouraged. The concert will have raffles and more.

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7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, Bratts Tapas and Cocktails, 27648 Ynez Road, Temecula, 21 and older only.

Visit www.gofundme.com/royalgonzalez to donate to the medical trust for Gonzo.

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