Category Archives: Music

MURRIETA: The Maxies and The Beat visit The Dial

The Maxies kick off their tour with Paul Collins’ Beat this week. (Paul Silver/Contributed Image)

The masked men of The Maxies, the pop-punk band that claims to be from Greenland that mysteriously relocated to the Inland Empire, are releasing a new split 7-inch record with Paul Collins’ The Beat. The two bands are also touring together this month.

They stop at The Void in San Diego on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and The Dial in Murrieta on Thursday, Oct. 3. On Friday, Oct. 4, The Maxies will play the Constellation Room in Santa Ana with Teenage Bottlerocket, The Queers and The Copyrights while The Beat will be at The Wheelhouse in Hemet with The Walking Toxins.

Here’s what Maxies’ leader Maximum Maxie had to say about the new split, touring and zoos via an e-mail interview.

Q: How did the split 7″ with Paul Collins and The Beat come about?

A: The Maxies being the amazing band that we are wooed Paul Collins (The Beat-The Nerves) while playing a show with them at a local concert venue VLHS. After the show Paul and I spoke and the conception of a tour and split 7” began. I mean how lucky can ones band be? The Beat now has a release with the greatest band ever from Greenland and The Maxies get to grace some vinyl with a power pop legend. It works for us both!

Q: You both have songs with the word “Baby” in the title on the release. Coincidence or is it required for all power-pop splits?

A: Funny you asked that. Paul Collins is the Godfather of power pop and you would expect that kind of title from him, but from The Maxies? Really? The title of The Maxies tune “Baby I Love You” came when we were recording right here in Riverside at Mind Control Studios. I was talking on the phone with Paul Silver the owner of Radius Record (label that is releasing the split) He had asked me the song title because he needed it for print. I told him The Maxies wanted the song to be titled “I’ll Kill Your Handsome Boyfriend” but Silver thought it would be cool to name it “Baby I Love You” to play off The Beat’s side “Baby I’m In Love With You” now it’s all power pop punk history.

Q: How much has Paul Collins been an influence on you?

A: Paul Collins is an amazing American song writer. For years I have tried to emulate his style in hopes of creating a song as good as his “Rock N Roll Girl”. A good song writer can change the world, the way you feel and take you somewhere else at times. Paul’s songs do that for me. I know his influence has made The Maxies a better band. Watch out King of Power Pop our frozen five is catching up.

The Maxies have a new 7-inch split with Paul Collins’ Beat. (Paul Silver/Contributed Image)

Q: The Maxies have been logging some time in the studio in the last few months. Are there more releases on the way?

A: Well as you know we have the split 7” vinyl being released October 2nd with The Beat. The next release will be late November on Its Alive Records out of Orange Ca. It will also be a split with Kingons (from Japan) but this one will be pressed on 10” vinyl and CD. The new Maxies full length album will follow at the beginning of next year coinciding with our tour of Japan in February 2014. All these releases will come with download cards for the record player impaired.

Q: What can those seeing the Maxies for the first time expect on the tour?

A: Wait who hasn’t seen us before? Those poor souls that haven’t are in for some fun. We will be slinging the pop punk, dancing along with you and raising our glasses to us, for being so amazing for your ears. Get ready to sing along and don’t let me catch you texting. The tongue lashing you will receive won’t be the fun kind. The Maxies are bringing sexy to punk. So please try to control yourselves. Clothing is better when its red and white or not worn at all. Above all you will have fun, its mandatory. The extra bonus is you will get to hear and see the legendary Paul Collins Beat!

Q: How many seals do you think will be clubbed this run of dates? Also, what zoos/animal parks have you been banned from, if any?

A: The sad part is probably few to none on this west coast and south west tour. There are so many laws here in the states against seal clubbing. It’s sad; these vicious little flappers are so abundant in the U.S.A. Over population can cause harm to the species as well as the environment around them. Gasses expelled from the seal and oils from the seals skin are a leading cause of global warming it’s just plain scientific fact people. We know this in Greenland and this is why we club them. Well, and the fact that they are very tasty. The Maxies are saving the world one clubbing at a time. Global Warming is real kids don’t listen to the haters. As for zoos no respectable Greenlandic person would ever step a foot in one. Those places are cruel, hateful and humiliating to animals. Plus the temptation of clubbing is far too great for The Maxies.

LOCAL MUSIC: Enter X103.9’s Localpalooza contest

Dose of Adolescence performs at X1039’s Localpalooza at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. The group competed with nine other Southern California bands, winning a spot to play at the radio station’s Merry Meltdown concert in December. (2012/File Photo)

This one is for the local musicians and the supporters of local music out there–X103.9 FM is holding the Localpalooza contest again.

The bands face off in a battle to land a spot opening X103.9’s Merry Meltdown headlined by Stone Temple Pilots and Korn. (By the way, the announcement of the Merry Meltdown lineup, tickets and more are posted at the Audio File blog.) I was one of the judges last year and was once again amazed by the talent from the Inland Empire.

To enter Localpalooza, your band must be based in Southern California. There will be 12 finalists selected who will perform at Localpalooza on Nov. 2, at M15 in Corona, where a panel of judges will select the winner. The winner will open the Merry Meltdown on Dec. 14.

Here’s what X103.9 needs from you if you’re entering:
1. 2-song demo CD. Flash drives, full-lengths, etc. will NOT be accepted.
2. 1-page band BIO, including city of origin, recent past gigs, draw, etc.

(Don’t throw in anything else, they’re serious about it.)

You can send your materials (or drop them off) on or before Friday, Oct. 11 to X1039’s LOCALPALOOZA 242 Airport Drive #106, San Bernardino, CA, 92408.

Visit www.x1039.com for more information.

ONTARIO: X103.9’s Merry Meltdown to feature Korn, Stone Temple Pilots

Korn will perform at X103.9’s Merry Meltdown on Dec. 14. (Sebastien Paquet/Contributed Image)

The Merry Meltdown is back and San Bernardino’s X103.9 FM is bringing a huge show this year.

It will take place at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on Saturday, Dec. 14 and the headliners are Korn and Stone Temple Pilots. The other performers include Sick Puppies, Big B and the winner of the X103.9 Localpalooza contest.

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Tickets go on sale Saturday, Oct. 5 at www.axs.com and at the Citizens Business Bank Arena box office. They are priced at $10.39 to $59.50, before fees. You can also win tickets by listening to the station and win your way into the VIP pre-show party. (FYI, to get the $10.39 tickets you HAVE to purchase them in person at the arena’s box office and they are only available to the first 500 people.)

Now, let’s talk about the bands–I think this is the biggest holiday show the Inland station has had yet.

If you haven’t been following the drama in the Stone Temple Pilots world, Scott Weiland is out (again) and Chester Bennington of Linkin Park is in and receiving high praise for his vocals. Bennington is no stranger to the Inland region, either. He stopped by X103.9’s San Bernardino studios earlier this year. Stone Temple Pilots, with Bennington on vocals, will release a new EP, “High Rise,” on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

You can listen to the new STP song, “Black Heart” below.

In the meantime, for the rock fans who have more of an affinity for nu-metal rather than grunge, Korn is also releasing a new album on Oct. 8, called “The Paradigm Shift.” Plus, the band has been reunited with guitarist Brian “Head” Welch. They’re also traveling back in time and making the Family Values Tour happen for one night only in Denver this weekend. Seriously, don’t we all miss 1999?

Sick Puppies are big fans of X103.9 and I think they’ve done every one of the station’s Christmas shows. Their new album, “Connect,” is their best yet. I had an interview with Shim Moore from Sick Puppies a while back when “Connect” was about to be released.

Big B will be back in the Inland area, plus the winner of the X103.9 Localpalooza competition. Last year, Dose of Adolescence won the title (after a really close competition).

If you’re a local band, you can enter for a chance to participate in the competition.

PE LIVE: Watch The Dares perform “Runaway”

The Dares (Contributed Image)

The Dares are another one of those bands you want to keep an eye on. The band started when brothers Ben and Matt Peterson were teenagers, playing pop punk inspired by Green Day and blink-182. Like those groups, The Dares have grown up and their songwriting has evolved into a more mature sound.

The Dares were the guests on PE Live this week out at Hangar 24 in Redlands. (By the way, you can subscribe to the PE Live newsletter to get videos delivered straight to your inbox.)

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Want to see PE Live in person? Come out to Hangar 24 on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to see the Chris Thayer Band, an Inland-based radio-friendly rock band that includes leader Chris Thayer, who has also appeared on PE Live with his other band, the jump blues combo Big Papa and the TCB.

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Hangar 24 Brewery and Tasting Room, 1710 Sessums Drive, Redlands, free.

Visit www.hangar24brewery.com for more information and www.christhayer.com for more on the band.

MUSIC: Neon Trees rocks out in Pittsburgh

With all of the news that broke this week, plus my battle that nasty cold that’s going around, I’m playing catch-up, unlike Neon Trees, who were playing catch at PNC Park in Pittsburgh last week.

The band, whose singer, Tyler Glenn, and guitarist, Chris Allen, are from Murrieta, performed after the Pittsburgh Pirates game at the stadium, but also had a very important task beforehand.

The team asked the band if they would like to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and Allen, who played baseball when he was a student at Murrieta Valley High School, was the band member nominated.

Chris Allen of Neon Trees throws out the first pitch at PNC Park before a Pittsburgh Pirates game. (Elaine Bradley/Instagram)

“Chris threw the first pitch….and he didn’t embarrass us!!!” band member Elaine Bradley posted on her Instagram account with a photo of Allen making the throw.

Allen even had some fun with it on his own Instagram feed.

Chris Allen juices before the Pittsburgh Pirates game. (Chris Allen/Instagram)

“I heard everyone in MLB is juicing. Decided to give it a try at today’s Pirates game,” Allen posted on his Instagram feed.

Here’s a clip of the band doing “Everybody Talks” after the game.

RIVERSIDE: Chase Walker is a finalist in John Lennon competition

The Chase Walker Band (Mike Ingram/Contributed Image)

Riverside teen Chase Walker is a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Walker, who leads the blues-influenced Chase Walker Band, is one of three finalists in the “Folk” category.

He won for his song “Too Many Days Ago.”

The band just played at the LA County Fair and has two other shows of note coming up.

Today, the band will perform at the Artists in the Plus Online Music Festival. You can follow along on your own computer.

Then, on Monday, the Chase Walker Band will be at The Roxy in West Hollywood as part of the Artists in the Plus after party.

Here’s the song Walker penned that won him that finalist spot in the John Lennon competition. If you want to learn a little more about Walker and his band, check out the interview I did a few weeks back.

RIVERSIDE: Metallica’s Lars Ulrich stops by the AMC at Tyler

Lars Ulrich in “Metallica: Through the Never.” (PICTUREHOUSE)

I hope Lars Ulrich found a bathroom.

When the Metallica drummer appeared Friday, Sept. 27 before an almost-packed theater to introduce “Metallica Through the Never” at the AMC Tyler 16 in Riverside, he explained that he was in traffic for two and a half hours and hadn’t even had a chance to go to the restroom yet.

“It’s Friday afternoon and Metallica is right here in the I.E.,” Ulrich said to a cheering crowd.

Ulrich, singer/guitarist James Hetfield, guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo were all around the country promoting the film, which was released in IMAX 3D today and will have a wide release next week.

The movie, which mixes footage of Metallica’s live show with a narrative involving a roadie, first came up 15 years ago.

“The people at IMAX, when they were doing nature films and mountian climbing films, they actually came to us and asked us if we would do a short Metallica film,” Ulrich told the crowd. “This was about ’97, ’98. At that time it was too complicated; the cameras were still analog and it was too practically weird.”

A few years ago the band decided to return to the idea as the technology was digital.

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich addresses the audience before a screening of “Metallica: Through the Never” in Riverside on Sept. 27, 2013. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

“There’s a giant stage, an aircraft carrier of a stage,” he said.

Ulrich said there are about eight minutes worth of credits at the end of the film.

“We put a lot of work into this and we’re happy that you all came out here to share it with us,” Ulrich said.

When the movie started, the audience cheered as each of the members appeared on screen. I had to laugh when they showed Trujillo practicing in a back room and the ceiling crumble and the room shake because I’m still convinced the band shook the ceiling tiles loose up at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario when they played there back in 2008.

Also, everyone give Tim Guy some love for being my cameraman while I was trying to take pictures in a reeeallly dark theater.

RIVERSIDE: See Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s dress rehearsal

This is not Steve Martin busking in front of a Taco Bell. He is performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers with a high billing at the 2012 Stagecoach Country Music Festival.

One of the biggest shows coming to the Fox Performing Arts Center this season is Steve Martin’s performance with the Steep Canyon Rangers and Edie Brickell in October. The show is being filmed for the PBS series “Great Performances.”

The Riverside venue has just announced tickets for a dress rehearsal the night before. The dress rehearsal will be open to 500 people on Thursday, Oct. 10 (FYI, the Fox seats about 1,600).

Tickets are $69 and $89 and go on sale to the public on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. You can also pick up tickets at the Fox box office at 3801 Mission Inn Ave., pre-sale tickets are available in person there today, Friday, Sept. 27, through 9 p.m. The box office phone number is 951-779-9800. (Also, when you get tickets in person at the box office, you tend to miss a lot of the extra fees.)

The dress rehearsal, like the Friday night one, will also be taped. You will need to be in your seat by 7:30 p.m.

Visit www.foxriversidelive.com for more information.

RIVERSIDE: Glass Sky gets proggy at Pixels

Glass Sky will play at Pixels in Riverside on Saturday, Sept. 28. (Contributed Image)

Inland prog rock/metal band Glass Sky is playing a show at Pixels in Riverside on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Also playing with the Moreno Valley-based band is an up-and-coming all-female rock group called Sweet Child.

9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, Pixels, 3535 University Ave., Riverside, free, 21 and older only.

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

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MUSIC: Songs from the pink

The movie “Pretty in Pink” features the song “Pretty in Pink” by the Psychedelic Furs. (Contributed Image)

If you’ve seen The Press-Enterprise today, you might have noticed that the entire paper, including the Guide, is pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

I was given the assignment to come up with a very pink playlist, none of which features the singer P!nk. Feel free to argue and tell me what I missed in the comments below.

“Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part 1,” The Flaming Lips

One of the most original bands making music, The Flaming Lips offer up this infectious story about Yoshimi, who is a city worker with a black belt in karate. Yoshimi won’t let the evil robots eat or defeat us. Thanks, Yoshimi!

“Pink Moon,” Nick Drake

“Pink Moon” is the quintessential Nick Drake song off Drake’s final album of the same title.

“Pink Triangle,” Weezer

Rivers Cuomo sings about being in love with a woman who is a lesbian. It’s off the band’s stellar sophomore album “Pinkerton.”

“Pink Tea,” Alien Ant Farm

The Inland Empire’s own Alien Ant Farm makes the list with “Pink Tea,” which appeared on the band’s 1999 album “Greatest Hits.”

“Pink Houses,” John Mellencamp

Is there a song that is more Middle America than “Pink Houses,” with the man with the interstate in his front yard and vacations to the Gulf of Mexico? Nope.

“Pink Frosty,” Fugazi

All playlists should include a Fugazi song. Put this experimental track on at the end of the night.

“Pink Flag,” Wire

“Pink Flag” is the title track from the epic album from the British post-punkers Wire, who played the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2011.

“Pretty in Pink,” Psychedelic Furs

“Pretty in Pink” is the perfect song to kick off your annual Andrew McCarthy Film Festival and Dance Party. I highly recommend Alisha’s “Do You Dream About Me?” from “Mannequin” as a contender for the second track. What? You don’t have an Andrew McCarthy Film Festival and Dance Party? Fail.

“Electric Pink,” The Promise Ring

Check out the title track from The Promise Ring’s 2000 EP. Colors make for good song titles for the band — other songs from the fantastic “Nothing Feels Good” album include “Pink Chimneys” and “Red & Blue Jeans.”

“Pink Tarantulas,” The Blood Brothers

Seattle post-hardcore band The Blood Brothers should really get back together because the album “… Burn, Piano Island, Burn” is still awesome.

Here’s the playlist so you can listen to the tunes, too.