Category Archives: Things To Do

RIVERSIDE: The Salty Suites among artists at BrewGrass event

The Salty Suites are playing BrewGrass in Riverside on June 29. (Contributed Image)

The Packinghouse Brewery is holding the BrewGrass Craft Beer and Music Festival celebrating beers and bluegrass and Americana music on Saturday, June 29.

The Original BladeRunners, Shadow Mountain Band, The Tail Draggers and the Salty Suites will perform.

There will also be food trucks and nearly two dozen breweries at the event.

1 p.m.-6 p.m. BrewGrass Craft Beer and Music Festival, Packinghouse Brewery, 6421 Central Ave., Riverside, $35 in advance and $40 at the door, 21 and older only.

Visit www.pbbeer.com for more information.

Here’s a sample of The Salty Suites, who, by the way, have a fantastic name.

SAN BERNARDINO: Tips to survive a blistering Mayhem Festival

The crowd listens to Straight Line Stitch perform on the Extreme Stage during the Mayhem Festival at the San Manuel Amphitheater in Devore. (2011/File Photo)

If you’re headed to the kickoff of the sixth edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival San Manuel Amphitheater on Saturday, June 29, you will need to be prepared–it’s going to be a hot one.

When I say hot, I’m talking triple digits. As of this morning, Devore, where Glen Helen Park is located, looks like it might hit 104 degrees on Saturday, according to Accuweather.

I’m working on my story about Five Finger Death Punch, who have worked their way from being on the side stage of the fest to being one of the big ticket main stage attractions, and I talked to bassist Chris Kael about his festival tips.

Kael boiled it down to three mandates:

1. Wear sunscreen.

2. Stay hydrated.

3. Pace yourself.

“You’re gonna miss Rob Zombie if you’re drinking that much,” Kael said. “I don’t care how much you want to see Rob Zombie, you’re drinking that much and not drinking water all day, you’re gonna miss the show,” Kael said.

I’m going to add a couple of my own to this one:

-I know it’s a metal fest, but San Manuel Amphitheater is a big open area. There’s not a lot of shade inside the venue grounds. I wouldn’t wear black. If you’re going to wear black, at least let it be loose-fitting clothing. Leather pants are a REALLY bad idea.

-Keep some extra water bottles in your car. After a long day of being in the sun, you will still be thirsty, even if the water is a balmy 98 degrees at midnight. Also, anyone who has been to San Manuel Amphitheater knows that leaving can take a while. I don’t know how well a cooler would work in the heat, but it might be worth a try.

What are your tips for surviving Mayhem in the heat?

Other artists playing the show include Amon Amarth, Machine Head, Mastodon, Children of Bodom and more.

Gates open at 1 p.m. Saturday. San Manuel Amphitheater is located at 2575 Glen Helen Parkway in Devore. Tickets are still available for the show and range from $35.50-$75, including the fees. You can pick them up at LiveNation.com.

UPDATE: Here’s the link to more from my interview with Chris Kael from Five Finger Death Punch about Mayhem.

POMONA: Father John Misty performs June 22

Father John Misty will perform at the Glass House in Pomona on June 22. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Father John Misty had one of the most memorable sets of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this spring and not only because of the sun-soaked California country rock the band played with a palm tree backdrop.

Leader Joshua Tillman was the comedian of the fest and with tongue firmly planted in his cheek as he skewered the festival and its attendees, including a spot-on impersonation of a grumpy girl wearing a floral crown and a hippie dress.

This weekend the antics come to the Glass House in Pomona.

7 p.m. Saturday, June 22, The Glass House, 200 W. Second St., Pomona, $20, all ages.

Visit http://theglasshouse.us for tickets.

AUDIO FILES: Listen to The Stillwinter

The Stillwinter is playing the Vans Warped Tour on Thursday, June 20. (The Stillwinter Facebook/Contributed Image)

Today’s the day–the 2013 Vans Warped Tour kicks off its twin dates at the Pomona Fairplex. If you’re going, there are a number of local bands playing, including The Stillwinter, out of the Redlands/Yucaipa area.

Visit www.thestillwinter.com for more on the band.

Vans Warped Tour, 11 a.m. June 20 and 21, Pomona Fairplex, $35 for a one-day pass, $69 for a two-day pass, all ages. Visit www.vanswarpedtour.com for more information.

Take a look to see the other local artists on the Warped Tour this week.

AUDIO FILES: Listen to Mad N Mack, Service Interruption

Mad N Mack will perform at the Vans Warped Tour on Thursday, June 20. (Contributed Image)

The Vans Warped Tour visits starts its twin visit to Pomona on Thursday, June 20. We have at least seven local artists playing the shows, which also includes Black Veil Brides and Reel Big Fish, among others.

Among the local artists performing are Mad N Mack and Service Interruption, both of whom are playing on Thursday.

Rancho Cucamonga-based Madison Marie and Mackenzie Paige, are known as Mad N Mack and they have a huge following. Now with a full band, the band has a new album, “Everyone’s Watching.”

Visit www.facebook.com/MadnMack for more on the band.

Temecula’s Service Interruption has just released debut album “Driven” and has landed a spot at Warped on Thursday, June 20.

Get more information on the band at www.facebook.com/serviceinterruptionband.

Vans Warped Tour, 11 a.m. June 20 and 21, Pomona Fairplex, $35 for a one-day pass, $69 for a two-day pass, all ages. Visit www.vanswarpedtour.com for more information.

Take a look to see the other local artists on the Warped Tour this week.

TEMECULA: Public House serves up ColeSlaw on June 21

ColeSlaw, made up of Inland music scene veterans Matt Coleman and Chad Villareal, will perform at the Public House in Temecula on June 21. (Contributed Image)

Two of the Inland Empire’s most beloved songwriters and performers will be at the Public House in Temecula this weekend.

Matt Coleman and Chad Villarreal, who perform as ColeSlaw, will be at the venue in Old Town on Friday, June 21.

And if you want the kind of coleslaw that’s edible, some of the dishes at the Public House include it, too.

9 p.m. Friday, Public House, 41971 Main Street, Temecula, 951-676-7305.

Visit www.facebook.com/ColeSlawMusic for more on the group.

RIVERSIDE: Bacon sizzles at Mission Tobacco Lounge

Bacon will play its first show at Mission Tobacco Lounge in Riverside on Saturday, June 22. (Amy Ashcraft/Contributed Image)

If you’ve spent some time around downtown Riverside in recent months, you might have noticed a recurring image of a pig that is a little bit creepy (like, straight out of the Silverchair video for “Tomorrow” pig-creepy).

The swine icon is the calling card of Riverside band Bacon, which is having its first official show at the Mission Tobacco Lounge on Saturday, June 22 in Riverside.

There’s something very early-’80s D.C. punk about the track “Black Gold Nuggets.”

Learn how to get your song on itunes at ReverbNation.com

The band started out as a four-piece but is now a trio, featuring Eric Amelang, who is known for his photography work, as well as Robert Chocek & Jeff Ashcraft of AppleKore.

Judas Beefcake, Flying Brains and Sayonara Tokyo are also on Saturday’s bill.

9 p.m. Saturday, June 22, Mission Tobacco Lounge, 3630 University Ave., Riverside, free, 21 and older only.

Visit www.facebook.com/baconband for more on the band.

AUDIO FILES: Listen to Divide the Day, Grieve for Tomorrow

Divide the Day is playing the Vans Warped Tour on Friday, June 21. (Contributed Image)

Divide the Day is playing the Vans Warped Tour on Friday, June 21. (Travis D Photo/Contributed Image)

The Vans Warped Tour visits Pomona in just two days. Yesterday I posted about Assuming We Survive and the Chase Walker Band and today’s spotlight is on two other Inland artists performing this week at the Pomona Fairplex–Divide the Day and Grieve for Tomorrow.

Divide the Day has signed with two major record labels in recent years and has had their music on national television, like “WWE Smackdown.”

The Inland band is playing Warped on Friday, June 21.

Visit www.dividetheday.net for more information.

Also, Grieve For Tomorrow is playing Warped on Thursday June 20. They were one of the contestants in X103.9’s Localpalooza last year and also were hand selected to play Warped.

I can’t resist their cover of Haddaway’s “What Is Love?”

Log on to www.grieve4tomorrow.com for more on the band.

Vans Warped Tour, 11 a.m. June 20 and 21, Pomona Fairplex, $35 for a one-day pass, $69 for a two-day pass, all ages. Visit www.vanswarpedtour.com for more information.

Take a look to see the other local artists on the Warped Tour this week.

AUDIO FILES: Listen to Assuming We Survive, Chase Walker Band

Assuming We Survive performs at X1039’s Localpalooza at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. (2012/File Photo)

The Vans Warped Tour is coming to Pomona Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21 and we have a bunch of locals on the bill.

Here’s a look at two of the artists: Assuming We Survive and the Chase Walker Band.

Assuming We Survive has had a busy year. The Rancho Cucamonga band just released the new EP “Get Busy Living” for the summer that has some notable guest stars—Dan Arnold from A Static Lullaby and Tyson Stevens from Scary Kids Scaring Kids. This is the band’s second year in a row playing Warped. They will be on the Ernie Ball stage on Friday, June 21.

Visit www.assumingwesurvive.com for more on the band.
Here’s the title track from the new EP:

The Chase Walker Band will also be at Warped this week. Led by Riverside bluesman Walker, the band will play Warped on Thursday, June 20. Walker, who is in his teens, is an incredibly gifted guitarist. The Chase Walker Band will also be playing the Irvine Lake Blues Festival in August, as well as Yucaipa’s July 4th celebration and the Norco Fair.

You have to hear his take on Jeff Beck’s “Blues Deluxe.”

Visit the Chase Walker Band’s website for more information.

Vans Warped Tour, 11 a.m. June 20 and 21, Pomona Fairplex, $35 for a one-day pass, $69 for a two-day pass, all ages. Visit www.vanswarpedtour.com for more information.

Take a look to see the other local artists on the Warped Tour this week.

MUSIC: Irvine Lake Blues Fest features Inland Artists

Jay Gordon will perform at the 2013 Irvine Lake Blues Fest. (Contributed Image)

The Irvine Lake Blues Festival returns on Aug. 23 and 24.

Jay Gordon, of Riverside, is among the artists performing at the Irvine Lake Blues Fest this summer. He is also one of the organizers behind the 16th annual festival, which is a fundraiser for the Blues Hall of Fame.

There is a blues jam on Aug.23 and two stages of performances on Aug. 24.

The performers include the Deacon Jones Blues Band, Atomic Road Kings, 44’s, Jay Gordon and Blues Venom, Mighty Mojo Prophets, Darrell Mansfield, Mike Reilly Band, New Blues Revolution, the Anonymous Band, Chase Walker Band, Dave Widow and the Line Up, Jumping Jack Benny, Black Cat Mojo, The Blues Savants with Junior Watson and Papa J and Friends.

Tickets just went on sale for the show. General admission is $20 in advance and gets you in both days. Parking is $10. A VIP pass, which does include parking, is $100.

Visit www.irvinelakebluesfestival.com for more information.