Category Archives: Videos

PE LIVE: Watch Summer Twins perform ‘I Don’t Care’ at Hangar 24

Riverside’s Summer Twins are headed out on tour and are the guests on PE Live this week. (Joy Newell/Contributed Image)

Last week, we took PE Live on the road for the first time out to Hangar 24 Brewery in Redlands to catch Riverside’s Summer Twins and Redlands’ Swiss Alps on the patio.

If you haven’t heard Summer Twins, you need to hear them now. They’re one of those bands you’ll be able to brag to your friends about, saying you heard them way back when. It’s sun-soaked indie dream pop at its finest.

They’re headed out on tour, with a stop in San Diego on Monday before heading up the coast. You can read more about what Summer Twins are up to over at the iGuide.

Here’s “I Don’t Care” off their fantastic debut album. If you let the video play, you can also see an interview with Chelsea and Justine Brown as well as performances of “Carefree” and “I’m No Good.”

Every Thursday, we post videos of performances and exclusive interviews with Inland bands at the PE Live page. Next week, we’ll unleash the Swiss Alps’ performances from our last visit to Hangar 24.

And if you want to come to a PE Live taping in person, we’ll be filming Inland duo ColeSlaw, with Matt Coleman and Chad Villarreal, for a future edition on the patio at Hangar 24 Brewery’s Tasting Room on Wednesday, July 31.

PE LIVE: Watch Dose of Adolescence perform ‘Sleepless in Southern California’

Dose of Adolescence plays PE Live. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Rancho Cucamonga’s Dose of Adolescence is on the Warped Tour for some dates this summer (they’re playing Kansas City, Kan. today), so I thought it was time to revisit one of their PE Live performances.

Every Thursday, we post videos of performances and exclusive interviews with Inland bands at the PE Live page.

Here’s Dose of Adolescence doing “Sleepless in Southern California.” Let the video play to watch an interview with the band and to hear another track, “Never Want to Say Goodbye.” You can find out more about the band at the Dose of Adolescence website.

Oh, and if you haven’t seen it–watch their cover of “Call Me Maybe.” It’s amazing–the dance moves, the wigs, the lip-synching of drummer Tyler Armenta, etc.

PE LIVE: Watch Derrick Sanderlin perform ‘Drapes’

Derrick Sanderlin (Contributed Image)

I can’t believe we’ve created more than 60 PE Live videos since we relaunched the series earlier this year.

Every Thursday, we feature a new artist (this week, we’ll feature Summer Twins, who we filmed at Hangar 24’s Tasting Room last week for our first PE Live on the road) and include live performance footage and interviews.

I truly believe in the artists who have come in so far. We have so much incredible talent in the Inland Empire, I’m happy that we’ve been able to showcase it even with just our little video series.

Derrick Sanderlin has one of the most powerful voices I’ve ever heard and there’s something about his lyrics that just grab me. “Drapes” gives me chills every time I hear it. You can hear more from Derrick over at his Soundcloud page and let the video below play and you can watch the rest of his PE Live performances.

PE LIVE: Watch Brandon Thomas De La Cruz perform ‘White Roses’

Brandon Thomas De La Cruz performs at The Press-Enterprise for a PE Live session. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

This week, we reached more than 60 videos of exclusive performances and interviews with Inland musicians on PE Live.

Our latest performer is Brandon Thomas De La Cruz, who just put out the fantastic record “Common Miracles.”

This performance is of “White Roses,” the lead-off track on the album. You can hear more from him at http://brandonthomasdelacruz.bandcamp.com/.

Let the video play to hear all three of his performances and an interview with yours truly.

You can see all of our PE Live performances at http://x.pe.com/PE_Live

PE LIVE: Watch Curtiss King perform ‘Ratchets Still Jockin’

Curtiss King performs on PE Live. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Since the PE Live video series keeps growing, I wanted to take a look back at some of the music that has come out of our video sessions and focus on individual songs.

The thing I love about PE Live is the intimacy of it and the totally different versions we get of the music. Usually it’s the artist, myself, the spectacular Angel Ortiz from our video team and the occasional friend/family member of the artist who see the performance.

San Bernardino’s Curtiss King, along with all of the other artists on Black Cloud Music, is one of the hardest working artists in the Inland Empire.

His album “Atychiphobia” was one of my favorites of the year and elevated his work to the next level.

Here’s one of the tracks from that record, “Ratchets Still Jockin,” in PE Live form. Let the video play to watch more performances, as well as an interview with King.

Click below to learn more about King and see more of the videos from PE Live.

PE LIVE: Watch Black Bear perform ‘Native Ground’

Black Bear, of Black Bear and the Cheyenne Autumn Band, performs for PE Live. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

Here’s one more song from our PE Live video series with Black Bear, of Corona’s Black Bear and the Cheyenne Autumn Band. This is the moving “Native Ground.”

The band just posted their brand new song, “They died with Their Boots On,” over at their website www.bbcab.org.

On July 5 the band will be at The Colony at Loft 24 in Claremont.

You can watch all 50 of the PE Live videos we’ve posted over at the PE Live home on PE.com.

CORONA: Watch Black Bear perform ‘Rollin’ Train’ on PE Live

Black Bear, of Black Bear and the Cheyenne Autumn Band, performs for PE Live. (Vanessa Franko/Staff Photo)

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that with the release of the videos of Corona’s Black Bear, of Black Bear and the Cheyenne Autumn Band, PE Live has hit 50 videos since our reboot in March.

I can’t thank everyone enough for supporting this project. It’s really important to me to get our Inland Empire talent out there. Thank you so much to our video team at The Press-Enterprise for putting these projects together, the performers for taking the time to come down and talk to me and play some music and everyone who has spent a few minutes watching.

Each video we’ve put together (including the original PE Live and later, Audio File Sessions) have been so rewarding in their own ways.

I love the inspiration behind Black Bear and the Cheyenne Autumn Band’s music and lyrics. Here’s “Rollin’ Train” and the interview and other performances from Black Bear’s visit to the studio. Just let it keep playing and you’ll see them all.

Every week we post new videos on the official PE Live page at PE.com. You can also see all 50 videos in the playlist below.

If you want to know more about PE Live, you can email me at vfranko@pe.com. If you want to follow me on social media, I’m at @vanessafranko on Twitter, the Audio File on Facebook and on Google+.

AUDIO FILES: Listen to Swampcandy

Swampcandy (Contributed Image)

For today’s blog, I wanted to put the spotlight on a friend of mine from back east who happens to be an incredibly talented musician. Swampcandy is the brainchild of Ruben Dobbs, who has played in a variety of bands that ultimately led him to this Delta blues-inspired project.

Also, his nuptials to the talented photographer and visual artist Alison Harbaugh are happening this weekend. You can see the awesome work she’s doing at Sugar Farm Productions. I think this might be the only wedding that will have better music at the reception than my own.

Also, here’s a link to my favorite Swampcandy track, “Positive Drinkin’.”

AUDIO FILES: Listen to Kix, John Fogerty

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (AP Photo)

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m on vacation, but if you’re a football fan, you might just see me if you are watching the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. I’ll be the one in purple.

Since I’ll be in my birthplace of Charm City, here’s the best Baltimore rock band, Kix, with my favorite song, “Cold Blood.” Ah, it makes me think of Hammerjacks. Actually, Kix is coming to Ontario on Oct. 18.

I suspect it’s going to be crazy in Baltimore with the Orioles doing as well as they are, too. Baseball-wise, I’m a Braves fan, but I’m happy to see the O’s do well, especially for my friends who have been long-suffering fans.

In that spirit, here’s a baseball classic from John Fogerty.

AUDIO FILES: Listen to The Go-Go’s, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack

The Go-Go’s

Happy Tuesday! I have some energetic songs to get you ready for the rest of the week.

Here’s a classic from The Go-Go’s that is one of my karaoke standards. It’s also my state of mind. I’m going to be on “Vacation” for a little while. Not to worry, there will still be lots of Audio File goodness and updates while I’m gone.

Since I’m visiting my hometown, I feel it’s only appropriate to post a song from Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, the biggest band to come out of Annapolis, Maryland. Lead singer Jimi Haha is an accomplished visual artist these days, too. I’m hoping to catch up with him at a wedding we’ll both be at. Here’s a recent article from my old paper about his art.

Here’s a JCS classic–“Do Right.” Fun fact: even though this video is supposed to be set in Annapolis, I can assure you there are no palm trees in Annapolis.