Category Archives: Videos

NEON TREES: Band shares warm memories of ‘Tonight Show’

Neon Trees performs on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on Jan. 22. (NBC/CONTRIBUTED IMAGE)

As Jay Leno signs off of “The Tonight Show” later this week, one group with Inland ties remembers the comedian fondly.

Hit band Neon Trees, whose members Tyler Glenn and Chris Allen hail from Murrieta, was the show’s musical guest six times, most recently on Jan. 22.

“There was definitely a bittersweet vibe in the air,” Glenn said in a recent telephone interview.

Leno’s final show will be on Thursday, Feb. 6 before “The Tonight Show” moves to New York City and will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon. Fallon’s debut will be on Monday, Feb. 17.

The band’s first performance on “The Tonight Show” was of “Animal” in May 2010, before the song became the monster hit that made Neon Trees a household name. The group has also performed “1983,” “Your Surrender,” “Everybody Talks” and “Lessons In Love” (All Day, All Night)” on the show.

On their last performance, the group played “Sleeping With a Friend,” the first single off the forthcoming album “Pop Psychology,” which will be released on April 22.

“They’ve really been so kind to the band and let us do our thing,” Glenn said.

The band also performed the new song on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

MURRIETA: Midnight Satellites celebrate video release at The Shamrock

Midnight Satellites will celebrate the release of the video for “Drug Me” on Feb. 7. (Contributed Image)

Temecula rockers Midnight Satellites will celebrate the release of the video for “Drug Me” on Friday, Feb. 7 at The Shamrock in Murrieta.

The group, which released its fantastic debut EP in 2013, will perform at the show along with The Infamous They and Echoed Silence.

The clip, directed by Jeff Thomas, features another well-known face from the Southwest Riverside County music scene–Samuel Larsen. Larsen appeared on a few episodes of “Glee” after he was one of the winners of reality show “The Glee Project.”

7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, The Shamrock, 39252 Winchester Road, Suite 145, Murrieta, 21 and older.

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

Check out the teaser for “Drug Me” below.

Here’s the acoustic version of “Drug Me” that the band did when they came in for PE Live last year.

MUSIC: Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn talks ‘Sleeping With a Friend’ video

Neon Trees gets surreal in the new video for “Sleeping With a Friend.” (Neon Trees/Contributed Image)

If Salvador Dali got caught in a Peter Gabriel video from the heyday of MTV in the 1980s, it might look a little bit like Neon Trees’ new clip for “Sleeping With a Friend.”

In fact, singer Tyler Glenn, who grew up in Murrieta, said the band was inspired by Gabriel’s groundbreaking “Sledgehammer” video and clips from the B-52’s videos.

“For us, the best stuff we’ve done has always been the colorful, energetic stuff, so on this record and everything about this album is colorful and celebratory in a way,” he said in a recent telephone interview.

Glenn and his mother Deb also made his costumes in the video, including his cupcake suit. The pair have made a number of the singer’s stage clothes over the years.

With the dreamlike scenarios in the video, Glenn warned that there’s not a linear narrative.
“I don’t think the video’s supposed to be too fluid and make too much sense,” he said.

In one of the humorous moments of the clip, guitarist Chris Allen, who, like Glenn, grew up in Murrieta, dances around while playing a ukulele. His dancing partner is an upright shark that is wearing a grass skirt.

“We definitely felt like Chris is usually out to lunch and on vacation, so we’re like ‘Let’s put him in a tropical setting dancing with a shark and make it true to life,’ so that’s what he’s doing,” Glenn said, laughing.

All of the action takes place in a brightly colored house that Glenn said personified his mind.

“It reminds me of ‘Pee-wee’s Playhouse’ in a way. There’s a kookiness to it,” he said.

PE LIVE: Get to know the Chris Thayer Band

Chris Thayer Band (contributed Image)

It’s a new year and we have a new PE Live.

This week we have a familiar face, too. Chris Thayer, who stopped by with jump blues band Big Papa and the TCB in 2013, did a session for us with the Chris Thayer Band, which just produces fantastic rock music.

The two projects are very different–find out how in the interview with the band below.

Want to see all of the performances? Check out all of them over at the iGuide.

PE LIVE: Bob & Lisa wish you a ‘Mary Xmas’

Bob & Lisa perform at Hangar 24 for PE Live. (Matthew Schoenmann/Freelance Photographer)

Since we’re only a day away from Christmas, I’m excited to share the closest thing we have to a PE Live Christmas performance–Bob & Lisa performing “Mary Xmas.” There’s red clothing and a chimney involved, but this isn’t one that the kids will sing around the Christmas tree.

We filmed this one a few weeks back out at Hangar 24 in Redlands.

With the holiday, we won’t be posting a new PE Live this week, but we have some more great music coming up soon, including the Chris Thayer Band and Say True. Want to watch more of Bob & Lisa on PE Live? Head on over to the iGuide.

PE LIVE: Get to know Bob and Lisa

Bob & Lisa perform at Hangar 24 in Redlands. (Matthew Schoenmann/Freelance Photographer)

Bob Vennum and Lisa Kekaula are the Inland Empire’s musical power couple.

From The BellRays, their long-running rock band that will melt your face off , to their newest project, Lisa & the Lips, a funky, soulful combo that has just wrapped a European tour, every project knocks it out of the park.

PE Live caught up with Bob & Lisa at Hangar 24 in Redlands a few weeks back. Get to know a little bit more about this amazing duo and watch some of their performances.

RIVERSIDE: Catch the last Common Ground of 2013

Noa James performs for PE Live. (Matthew Schoenmann/Freeance Photographer)

There’s one last edition of It’s the Common Ground at The Vibe in Riverside before 2013 is done and it’s happening Sunday, Dec. 22.

The show will include performances from Noa James, Faimkills, Fredo, Gentle Jeff, Grand Architects, Jook the First, A. Cain, Rain Bisou and Lapin Lover.

There will also be a live cypher with Since Day One.

8 p.m. Sunday, The Vibe, 1805 University Ave., Riverside, $5 before 10:30 p.m., $10 after, 18 and older only.

Watch Noa James on a recent edition of PE Live.

PE LIVE: Naive Thieves perform ‘You’re No Good’

Naive Thieves perform at ProAbition in Riverside. (Matthew Schoenmann/Contributed Image)

In case you missed it, Naive Thieves appeared on PE Live this week.

The Riverside-based band has been working on a new record for a while with Casey Crescenzo of The Dear Hunter.

“It’s been a long process, but I think it’s going to be pretty awesome once people finally hear the finished product,” singer Cameron Thorne said.

One of the things that sets Naive Thieves apart is the different textures and genres the music encompasses, giving the group a unique sound.

“Honestly, we’re still trying to figure it out,” Thorne said.

Watch Naive Thieves perform “You’re No Good.” Want more? Watch all of the Naive Thieves PE Live videos at PE.com.

PE LIVE: Watch Naive Thieves perform ‘Sold Short’

Naive Thieves perform at ProAbition in Riverside. (Matthew Schoenmann/Freelance Photographer)

Check out this week’s PE Live with Naive Thieves. We filmed it at ProAbition in Riverside last month and I’ve been waiting to share it.

I talked with singer Cameron Thorne a bit about the band’s upcoming album, which is due out early next year. The Riverside-based band worked with Casey Crescenzo, the mastermind behind The Dear Hunter, for the new release. Crescenzo also helmed the band’s fantastic 2011 EP “Le Sheik Rhat.”

Fun fact: Thorne did the artwork for The Dear Hunter’s “The Color Spectrum” EP series. He also did the artwork for Faimkills’ “Tasty Waves” EP.

Watch Naive Thieves perform “Sold Short” for PE Live. See all of the PE Live videos with Naive Thieves at the iGuide.

RIVERSIDE: The Dares play the Festival of Lights

The Dares are performing at the Festival of Lights in Riverside on Dec. 8. (Matt Schoenmann/Freelance Photographer)

Riverside’s Festival of Lights is more than just a gazillion lights and creepy animatronic figures–downtown is transformed into a winter wonderland of ice skating, vendors and live entertainment.

The Dares will perform at the Festival of Lights on Sunday, Dec. 8, near the ice-skating rink.

The spirited pop-punk band has been working on a new album, too.

8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, Main Street Pedestrian Mall, Riverside, free, all ages.

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

The band filmed PE Live with us earlier this year. Watch the band perform “Wake Up.”