Category Archives: Audio File

SAN BERNARDINO: Iron Maiden brings beer and music to Devore

TROOPER is the new ale from Iron Maiden and Robinsons Brewing. (Contributed Image)

When you think Iron Maiden just can’t get any more metal, the band goes and gets its own beer.

In my interview with Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain about the Battle of San Bernardino, one of the things that came up was the band’s beer, TROOPER Ale (all caps required on TROOPER, kind of like ABBA).

The name comes from the Maiden classic, “The Trooper.” Lead singer Bruce Dickinson helmed the craft ale on the Maiden front and worked with Robinsons Brewery.

“Although we’ve got our name and Bruce designed the beer with Robinsons Brewery, it’s a stand alone good drop,” McBrain said.

He stressed that the beer is a real ale, not a lager and that it’s brewed to be opened and enjoyed at room temperature rather than cold. McBrain said he even has a bottle or two after the show.

“Really,it’s a beautiful darker-tasting beer,” he said.

Rumor is that you just might be able to try it for yourself if you’re going to the Battle of San Bernardino at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Friday, Sept. 13.

Here’s a video about Iron Maiden and the beer.

PIONEERTOWN: Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout hosts familiar faces

Katey Sagal and Davey Faragher perform with The Forest Rangers at the 2013 Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Faragher, a Redlands native, will perform with his band Jack… at the Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout this weekend. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

The ninth annual Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace this weekend is not only a celebration of the two bands, but the entire Cracker/Camper family, with many tentacles reaching to the Inland Empire.

In addition to members of both bands growing up in the area, many of the other performers have Inland ties as well, including The Dangers and country rock band Jack…, which includes former Cracker member Davey Faragher, who grew up in Redlands.

Jack … will perform Saturday, Sept. 14.

Faragher’s musical experience spans decades and dozens of musicians. Among the artists Faragher has worked with in the studio are Buddy Guy, Dusty Springfield and Sheryl Crow.

He’s also been part of the band that does the music for popular show “Sons of Anarchy,” and that outfit, The Forest Rangers, had a warm reception at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in the spring.

“I grew up in a musical family so I don’t have a memory that isn’t musical,” Faragher said in an interview at the Stagecoach. “My older brothers had bands in the living room for as long as I can remember and I just grew into that.”

The siblings had their own band, The Faragher Brothers, and released a few albums.

Then, as Faragher worked as a session musician, he met the members of Camper Van Beethoven when he was doing background vocals for them. Lead singer David Lowery is also from Redlands.

“I met them in Los Angeles. I didn’t even meet them in Redlands,” Faragher said, laughing.

Davey Faragher performs at the 2013 Stagecoach Country Music Festival. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

As Camper dissolved, Cracker began with Lowery and another Redlands native, Johnny Hickman, in Virginia. Faragher also joined the group for the first two albums, including the massively popular “Kerosene Hat,” which led Cracker help define alternative music.

After leaving Cracker, Faragher went on to work with other artists before ending up in Elvis Costello’s group The Imposters 12 years ago.

“He’s great. I’ve never met anyone who is as enthusiastic about music. He lives and breathes it all the time. It’s hard to keep up. He’s a force of nature,” Faragher said.

His fellow members in Jack… are Pete Thomas and Val McCallum, are also fellow Imposters. They each take on fake names for the country rock group, too.

Tonight’s lineup includes the Hickman-Dalton Gang, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and Cracker Duo.

Friday’s lineup for the Campout includes Gram Rabbit and Cracker Van Beethoven on the outdoor stage and The Dangers, Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants and the Victor Krummenacher Band indoors.

Saturday’s lineup includes Jack… and Cracker on the outdoor stage and Jonathan Segel, Leland Sundries and Frank Funaro on the indoor stage.

Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Campout, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown, $27 for single-day passes.

Visit www.pitchatent.com and www.pappyandharriets.com for more information.

SAN BERNARDINO: Prepare for Iron Maiden traffic

Iron Maiden will perform at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 13. (John McMurtrie/Contributed Image)

Headed to The Battle of San Bernardino with Iron Maiden on Friday? You might want to plan on getting there early.

San Manuel Amphitheater operator Live Nation is already warning that the fest is going to cause insane traffic delays (and if you know how much the Inland Empire loves metal, especially Iron Maiden, you know the threat is real). The parking lots and box office will open at 10 a.m. Gates open at 1 p.m. and the music starts at 2 p.m.

(Also, the music is going to start on the concourse with Overkill and Warbringer at 2 p.m. I’m imagining getting a pretzel and headbanging with Overkill right now.)

Live Nation is offering deals as a “get there early” incentive. There will be a “3 Before 3” promotion at at the venue’s concession booths where you can hot dogs, small sodas and water will be available for $3 each between 1 and 3 p.m.

RELATED: Interview with Iron Maiden

However, you aren’t a (power)slave to the concession stands. You can bring in your own water (in individual sealed bottles up to 20 ounces) for the show. They will take the caps off when you enter. Multiple bottles are allowed within reason, but don’t try to smuggle in a 12-pack. They also can’t be frozen.

Food is allowed if you bring it in a one-gallon, clear plastic bag.

You can bring in sunblock (lotion only), matches and personal still photo cameras.

There are a bunch of things you can’t bring in, though. Here’s the list:

No water bottles larger than one gallon
No 12 or 24-Packs of water
No frozen water bottles
No lawn chairs
No blankets
No lighters
No ice chests or coolers
No spray-on sunblock
No backpacks
No camel packs
No fireworks
No bottles or cans
No umbrellas
No stickers
No pets
No laser pointers
No audio or video recording devices
No professional photo cameras (nothingwith a detachable lens)
No weapons
No pepper spray
No large metal keychains or wallet chains
No sharp or spiked accessories
No skateboards
No tailgating

Beware, if you are coming up on the 215, there is construction on the Devore Road exit.

MENTONE: Rock to Rebuild will benefit local family

As You Were (2012/Staff Photo)

The Anderson family, who have been a huge part of supporting the Inland Empire music scene, particularly through Rockwell Unscene photography, will be the beneficiaries of a special concert at Mill Creek Cattle Co. in Mentone on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The Andersons’ Idyllwild home was destroyed in a wildfire in August and the Rock to Rebuild concert will raise funds for them.

Artists including T4P, Rain Brings Weather, As You Were and Heroes and Thieves are among the performers donating their time for the show.

5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, Mill Creek Cattle Co., 1874 Mentone Blvd., Mentone, $5 minimum donation.

Visit www.gofundme.com/Anderson-family for more information and to donate.

PE LIVE: Watch My Own Holiday, catch a taping

My Own Holiday (Contributed Image)

Did you see our latest edition of PE Live? We’re featuring Lake Arrowhead band My Own Holiday in a series of videos we filmed a couple of weeks back at Hangar 24 Brewery in Redlands.

If you want to come to a taping, join us Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. when The Dares take the stage at Hangar 24. The show is free and all ages are allowed. You must be 21 or older to drink, though.

You can also subscribe to PE Live and get videos delivered to your inbox every week.

Watch our interview with My Own Holiday below and let the video play to see the performances.

ROCK THE BELLS 2013: 10 things we’ll remember about the fest

Two members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony perform with a hologram image of Eazy-E, center, at the Rock the Bells Festival in Devore on Saturday, September 7, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

Rock the Bells may have wrapped its first weekend in San Bernardino last night, but there are three more cities on the tour (San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C.). Here are the things we’ll remember about the fest.

1. On Friday night, the night BEFORE the fest started, photographer Stan Lim and I got to watch the final preparations for Rock the Bells, including a rehearsal with Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Yella and Eazy-E’s hologram. Check out the Rock the Bells behind the scenes photo gallery, too.

2. When the Eazy-E hologram actually appeared on stage Sunday night it was a little bit magical. It was even cooler when N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” started. See photos from day one of Rock the Bells.

3. After technical difficulties stymied Wu-Tang Clan’s set, Method Man first started to roll with the punches and then had a fit on stage. Later, he addressed Rock the Bells at Coachella. Oops.

embers of Wu-Tang Clan perform with a hologram image of ODB during the Rock the Bells Festival in Devore on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

4. ODB’s hologram was more dynamic than that of Eazy-E, leaping, flailing and dancing on stage. His son, Young Dirty…, who modeled for the hologram, joined his father’s persona to perform “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.”

5. Kid Cudi had an amazing supervillain moon cave stage set and crazy rules that reminded me of those of “Fight Club.”

6. Hit-Boy LOVES the Inland Empire. So does Audio Push.

7. Ladies love J. Cole.

Deltron 3030 performs during the Rock the Bells Festival in Devore on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

8. Deltron 3030’s set was out of this world. Not only did we get new music from the forthcoming “Event 2,” but there was an orchestra and a set-ending sing-a-long of Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood.”

9. Portable toilets at a place where there are real toilets (but the brick and mortar ones were closed off) was a strange riddle I never solved at the fest.

10. Even though Black Hippy was billed for Saturday night, it was really a collection of solo performances, with Kendrick Lamar’s being the highlight.

What were your favorite moments? Share them in the comments below.

P.S. We saw MURS hanging out in the crowd. Did you?

Hip Hop fans enjoy the performance of Wu-Tang Clan during the Rock the Bells Festival in Devore on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

ROCK THE BELLS: See photos of Wu-Tang Clan, Deltron 3030, J. Cole and more

Rock the Bells is celebrating 10 years and Sunday wrapped up the first weekend of the fest in the area where it started–San Bernardino.

We were out at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore for the show all weekend (and even before–check out our behind the scenes at Rock the Bells photo gallery) and you can check out our photos of day one with Eazy-E hologram goodness over at PE.com.

On Sunday, we caught Deltron 3030, J Cole, and of course Wu-Tang Clan (complete with the ODB hologram and a Method Man fit). Click this link to see photos from Rock the Bells day 2 or click on the photo below. Be sure to check out picture number 27. It’s Murs in the crowd!

J Cole performs during the Rock the Bells Festival in Devore on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

Did you go to the show? Who was your favorite?

ROCK THE BELLS: Technical difficulties make for strange Wu-Tang set

Wu-Tang Clan headlines at at Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 8, 2103. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

Wu-Tang Clan headlines at at Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

One of the most hyped sets of the weekend at Rock the Bells’ kickoff date at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore hit a sour note Sunday night due to technical difficulties.

Headlining act Wu-Tang Clan was joined by a virtual version of late member ODB. The group’s last performance with ODB was at the original Rock the Bells at the National Orange Show Events Center in 2004. He died a few months later.

On Sunday night, Wu-Tang was the closing act on the main stage for the festival, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The band came on stage a little bit late , but as soon as they appeared, the hands of thousands of fans went in the air and the palms made a “W” shape.

The group had the crowd going with his such as “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta … Wit” and “C.R.E.A.M.” and about a half dozen other songs before technical difficulties cut the backing track.

At first, Wu-Tang member Method Man tried to improvise, freestyling.

Method Man performs onstage with Wu-Tang Clan at Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 8, 2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

Then, when the backing track was still down, he became more agitated.

“This … don’t happen at rock ‘n’ roll concerts,” he said.

His ire rose and he growled, called out fest founder Chang Weisberg from the stage and threatened to leave if things weren’t fixed soon, ODB hologram or not.

Fellow Wu-Tang Clan member The RZA tried to put the situation in perspective, citing the group’s own computer going down, explaining that there was a lot of technical equipment involved for the virtual performance.

When the music came back, it sped up and Method Man got angry again and suddenly it was time for the hologram. Like Saturday night for Eazy-E, a stage lowered from the ceiling. The RZA tried to get everyone to summon ODB by chanting his name like in the lyrics to the song “Method Man.”

“If you say it loud enough I think he might appear,” The RZA said.

And then, he did. Dressed in an orange shirt and jeans, the wildest member of Wu-Tang appeared and started performing “Shame on a …”

Wu-Tang Clan performs with a virtual ODB Sunday, Sept. 8 after technical difficulties at Rock the Bells. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Unlike Eazy-E’s virtual performance, which was understated, ODB, moved around, leapt, danced from side to side and flailed his arms.

His son, Young Dirty …, who was the model for the hologram, joined him on stage to perform “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.”

After that, ODB was gone and a three-dimensional Wu-Tang Clan logo floated and spun in his place while the group started “Duel of the Iron Mic.”

After ODB disappeared, some fans started to head toward the exits. The events from before the hologram stole the thunder from what could have been a truly memorable performance for the right reasons.

As far as onstage tantrums go, Method Man only ranks number three on the list of those I’ve personally witnessed. Sly Stone’s epic meltdown at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival back in 2010 is still number one, followed by Shelby Lynne’s profanity-laced tirade at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival back in 2008.

ROCK THE BELLS: Deltron 3030 is out of this world

Deltron 3030 performs during the Rock the Bells Festival in Devore on Sunday, Sept. 8 ,2013. (David Bauman/Staff Photographer)

The most interesting act at Rock the Bells is likely Deltron 3030. Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Dan the Automator and Kid Koala were backed by not only a full band, but a string section, a brass section and backup singers.

As the sun set over the hills of Devore, Deltron 3030 took us n a journey to outer space.

Kid Koala showed up on stage first, looking the most modern of the trio, wearing a baseball cap and a T-Shirt as he manned the turntables.

Dan the Automator, on the other hand, was looking fancy with a tuxedo jacket (with tails) as he conducted the musicians on stage as well as the crowd.

Del looked the most like he came from outer space, wearing a blue helmet with a visor and reflective sunglasses behind it. He also sported a white track jacket and cargo shorts, but those were way more Earth-based.

Fun fact: Deltron 3030 had the most women on stage at Rock the Bells. I counted nine between the backing vocalists and musicians.

A good chunk of the set was dedicated to material on a forthcoming album, the long-awaited “Event 2,” due out Oct. 1.

One of the new tracks, “Nobody Can,” required crowd participation.

“Deltron is our hero, if he can’t save us nobody can,” Dan the Automator taught the crowd.

Another highlight of the new material was “Melding of the Minds,” which features Zack de la Rocha, of Rage Against the Machine fame, on the hook. Sadly, he didn’t appear on stage as a surprise guest, but to be fair, the stage was already really crowded.

However the highlight of the set is the closing song, Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood.” (Both Dan and Del have been part of Gorillaz.)

LIVE COVERAGE: Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater

Kendrick Lamar performs on stage at Rock the Bells at San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore on Sept. 7. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

I’m back at San Manuel Amphitheater for the second day of Rock the Bells.

You can follow along with me on Twitter at @vanessafranko or here.
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