Extended Play

Claremont native Ben Harper will induct Little Walter into the sideman category during the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on March 10.

It will be broadcast live on VH1 Classic (tape delayed on the West Coast).

Posted by George Paul at 3:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

British DJ Goldie, who became a drum 'n' bass sensation in the late '90s thanks to the single "Inner City Life" and the CD "SaturnzReturn, will appear at the Gotham/Hudson Theater in San Bernardino on Saturday night.

The Sin City night of house, electro, trance and jungle features Donald Glaude, Jason Blakemore and others. Tickets are $50, available at groovetickets.com.

Posted by George Paul at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are more excerpts from my interview with Billy Gibbons (vocals/guitar) of ZZ Top. The band plays a short set Sunday at California Speedway.

Q: Last summer, I caught the Irvine stop of the Jack FM tour with Pretenders and Stray Cats. How did that tour go overall?
A: When we brought that to a close, nobody wanted to leave. We’d become as tight-knit a bunch as you can imagine. I hadn’t had that much fun in a long time. Gosh, it was like startin’ over or something. I don’t know how to describe it. A lot of fun.

Q: This past November, the band taped a live show in Grand Prairie, Texas. Will that be coming out on DVD soon?
A: Yeah. We had a film crew in tow for that one. They’re in the editing process at the moment. It’s in the works.

Q: Since you have a new studio CD planned, will it be on a new label or will you self-release it?
A: We’re talking with a couple different outfits that are interested. My old buddy Rick Rubin is a real talent and he knows good music. He’s one of the leading exponents of knowing what feels right. He’s got a good feel for a great song and certainly knows how to listen to good music.

Q: Will the new material be in harder-edged vein?
A: It might, but as they say, ‘we’re the same three guys playing the same three chords.’

Q: So he might be involved in the album?
A: Hopefully so. I’m going to the wrestling matches with him next week.

Q: What is your take on the proliferation of song downloads these days and fewer people buying CDs?
A: The genie’s out of the bottle; there’s no turning back. I’ve worked with Chad Kroger, the singer for Nickelback. He and I were having a laugh. We collaborated on a song that turned out steady going for two years now, called “Rock Star.” They’re the antithesis to the whole business because they do sell a lot of product. He said, ‘we’re lucky to actually be selling hard goods,’ which is rare. Then you start thinking, ‘wait a minute, that doesn’t mean somebody isn’t downloading it as well.’ The numbers can be a little tricky. I think it’s a gas. I saw a couple young guys, I was at the shopping mall buying some funky creepers the other day and the two guys were sitting there waiting for their buddy to get off work. They recognized me standing at the counter and were grinning and didn’t want to say anything. I looked over and they had their iPod ear buds hanging into their shirt pockets and I said, ‘what are you guys listening to?’ They said, ‘we’re waiting on our buddy to get off work because we’re going to trade tracks tonight.’ That was their big deal. I said, ‘are you going to burn from CDs?’ They looked at each other and go, ‘what’s a CD?’ Things have changed, my friend.

Q: Do you still do the iPod trading between fellow musicians where you load it with songs for month and give it to the next person?
A: Yeah, there’s a new iPod with a 150 gig drive inside. It’s just insane – 500,000 tracks. There’s a group traveling with us called Blackberry Smoke. They came out on the road and couldn’t go home to refresh their iPods, so we became track tradin’ pals.

Q: A couple weeks ago, you were out here in Pomona at the Grand National Roadster Show. How was that event?
A: It was a big big deal. For years, they had it in Oakland, and then they moved it to Southern California. There’s more stuff than you can take in during a weekend. It’s just wild.

Q: Tell me about your sculpture, the VW bus ball.
A: [laughs] We dabble. There’s all kinds of crazy things aside from music that keeps us busy. While we were at the Grand National show, we signed copies of the book we got out called ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Gear Head.’ It’s a really nice coffee table edition of beautiful color plates, color photographs of our automobile and guitar collections we’ve put together over the years. We’re having a lot of fun. But it’s still the music that drives the whole shebang.

Q: Last week, a San Bernardino native who designed some of your first amps, died. What effect did those first amps have on the early ZZ Top sound?
A: Oh gee whiz. First of all, we were fortunate enough to have been on the same planet at the same time. We’re still counting on some of those early creations that maintain a character. They have a
personality that put us into a place that allowed us to play what we wanted to hear. Without the gear, one would be lost.

Q: Do you still use some of those old amps in recording or touring?
A: Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Our recording studio has a special vault where we keep the old goodies.

Q: The band has been out to the Fender Center Museum in Corona and donated some memorabilia to their display. What do you think of their Kids Rock Free program?
A: Yes, indeed. We’re big supporters of what they do…to carry on and offer the opportunity for guys and gals getting started to really get their feet on the ground, it really makes sense. It’s a good thing.

Posted by George Paul at 7:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pop star Beyonce Knowles is set to play blues legend (and Riverside resident) Etta James in a new movie based on Chess Records. She will executive produce and star in the film, which will star Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright and Cedric the Entertainer.

Posted by George Paul at 4:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In case you haven't heard the news, Aerosmith will be the subject of a new version of the videogame Guitar Hero in June. The veteran rock band apparently had input into the game's song selection and graphics.

Posted by George Paul at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Single day tickets for Stagecoach Festival, May 2-4 in Indio, are now available through Ticketmaster.
The price is $95 + service charges.

Posted by George Paul at 1:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a gig in Winnipeg, Canada over the weekend, Matt Costa had more than $25,000 worth of instruments and equipment stolen.

The O.C.-based musician, who plays the Inland area often, had stored it in a hotel locker overnight. Anyone who might have seen the gear is asked to contact Costa's manager Chris Fenn at chris@mattcosta.com.

Here is a list of the missing instruments:
- Gibson J-45 (natural colour)
- Gibson ES335 (seafoam blue)
- Epiphone EL-OO (sunburst)
- Fender Custom Shop Nocaster Relic (blond)
- Fender Custom Shop 1963 Telecaster Relic (Lake Placid blue)
- 1953 Supro lap steel guitar (salmon mother-of-pearl)
- Kentucky mandolin (sunburst)
- Fender Custom Shop '59 Relic precision bass (blond)

Costa returns to SoCal April 24 as part of the Off Center series at the Samueli Theater, OC Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa. More info: www.ocpac.org.

Posted by George Paul at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

More acts have been announced for the newly-added May 2 Stagecoach Festival date in Indio:

Shooter Jennings, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Chuck Wicks, Sons of San Joaquin and Don Edwards join previously annouced headliner The Eagles, plus John Fogerty, Trisha Yearwood, Shelby Lynne and Glen Campbell.

For details, go to stagecoachfestival.com or ticketmaster.com

Posted by George Paul at 2:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eddie Vedder will do some rare solo gigs on April 12-13 at the Wiltern Theatre and April 15 at Speckles Theatre in San Diego, according to Pollstar. No on sale info yet.

That Police show at the Hollywood Bowl on May 27 goes on sale at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24. The prices, without surcharges, are (take a breath)...
$54.50, $99.50, $154.50, $304.50.

Posted by George Paul at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Police and Elvis Costello & the Imposters will play Hollywood Bowl on May 27 and Coors Amphitheatre on May 26. Sting & Co. say this is it for touring. Guess that means no studio CD in the future.

I was really hoping when they said the final leg would be sheds in markets they bypassed before, they'd go to Irvine or heaven forbid, Devore. Oh well.

Look for tickets to go on sale sometime around the weekend of Feb. 23.

Posted by George Paul at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Although there are still four months until Vans Warped Tour returns to Pomona, smartpunk.com has revealed the lineup for its stage:

A Day to Remember
The Maine
The Higher
Alesana
Set Your Goals
Stick to Your Guns
August Burns Red
Forever the Sickest Kid

Posted by George Paul at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It looks like my crystal ball was on the fritz. I only had a 50% success rate (6/12) - including Record of the Year and Alternative Album - on my Grammy predictions last Friday.

I was surprised that Herbie Hancock won Album of the Year (a very left field choice) and glad that Springsteen picked up three more awards (although none were in the general categories). I'll have to seek out his winning instrumental, "Once Upon a Time in the West," from the tribute album "We All Love Ennio Morricone." Indie label Saddle Creek won its first Grammy for Best Packaging (Bright Eyes' "Cassadega"). Very cool.

What was up with Tom Hanks' over-the-top introduction of the awkward Beatles tribute? It featured the Cirque du Soleil collaboration, "Love" and the selections from the film "Across the Universe." Both were ho-hum. "Love" won a couple Grammys; sadly Paul McCartney didn't for his stellar solo CD.

As for the performances, enough with Alicia Keys already. The opening "duet" with Sinatra was slilted at best. Her next segment was even worse.

An orchestra added nothing to Foo Fighters' "Pretender," from their overrated album. The band's Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins could've cleaned themselves up a bit for the performance.

A still sexy Tina Turner looked ravishing at 68 and overshadowed Beyonce on the medley of Turner hits. Tina: come back out of retirement and do some theater shows!

The "Stomp!" percussive treatment on Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" was weird, but at least it was a change of pace.

Watching Morris Day & the Time again was fun - that is, until "Jungle Love" was ruined by a mash-up with Rihanna's "Umbrella." Kanye West and Daft Punk was exciting; West's tribute to his mother, unusually moving. Didn't know he could actually sing with passion.

Rock 'n' roll legends Jerry Lee Lewis (one writer compared him to a Southern judge) and Little Richard were sluggish and definitely looked their age. John Fogerty was great though as the glue that held the segment together.

Posted by George Paul at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was over at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood on Wednesday night to catch Canadian dub rock band Bedouin Soundclash and was pleasantly surprised by the opening act, Beat Union.

The young four-piece from Birmingham, England had a rousing sound and vigorous delivery along the lines of The Jam and Clash, with a touch of the Specials thrown in. Their debut CD "Disconnected" was produced by Goldfinger's John Feldmann (Good Charlotte, The Used) and is due out April 22.

Beat Union will play the Van Warped Tour this summer. It stops at Pomona Fairplex again, so I'll definitely be writing more on these promising lads.

Posted by George Paul at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Am I the only one who's sick to death of hearing about Miley Cyrus and her alter ego, Hannah Montana?

First there was the TV series, then the CDs and the tour. Now we have the 3D concert film at theaters - Extended for a second week! By popular demand! Yeah, right. You think Disney didn't have that planned all along? (There's a feature film in the works, heaven help us all)

For fans of actual good music, I suggest checking out U2 3D instead.

Shot at various South American stops on the "Vertigo" world tour, it is stunning. For the first time in ages, fans actually get a close up view of ALL the band members, not just Bono and Edge (I especially enjoyed seeing the full layout of Larry Mullen Jr.'s drum kit). The sound is crisp and the open/closing graphics are marvelous.

"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" - the song about Bono's dying father - still brings a tear to my eye, having seen it performed live several times as well as CD.

My only quibbles revolve around the truncated set, some of the missing bells & whistles from the earlier "Vertigo" tour legs and the fact that they should have recorded this months earlier (Bono looks a bit haggard at times).

The U2 film is currently showing at Edwards' Ontario IMAX Theater in front of The Mills.

Posted by George Paul at 3:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Clean up those cowboy boots.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday for George Strait with Little Big Town. They will play Home Depot Center at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson on March 29.

Tickets are $45-$85, plus service fees.

More info: ticketmaster.com, (909) 480-3232

Posted by George Paul at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I finally made it down to The Wire in Upland for the first time last Friday to check out an impressive show featuring Lakes, Stepsonday and Science Fiction Theatre.

Lakes' Seth Roberts (ex-Watashi Wa) and his band debuted some new alt-pop songs from a forthcoming CD. Their highly enjoyable set - I dug the young drummer's energy - ended way too quickly. Stepsonday also shined live.

I.E. act Science Fiction Theatre impressed with tunes that often recalled The Ocean Blue (minus keyboards) and The Smiths. Their singer kept saying they were from Alaska for some reason. The crowd laughed when a pre-show tape featuring Van Halen's David Lee Roth demoing songs sans music track was re-played midset.

As for The Wire, I'd advise anyone who goes to a show at the compact all-ages club to arrive early to ensure a decent view. The sound was good, there's ample free parking nearby and I spotted a few parents in attendance with their kids. It's definitely a hangout for high school and college students.

On the web: thewire247.com

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Posted by George Paul at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ghostland Observatory, J.J. Grey & Mofro, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Luminescent Orchestrii and Blvd. with MC Souleye have been added to the Joshua Tree Music Festival lineup. The event is May 16-18.
Log onto joshuatreemusicfestival.com for details.

Posted by George Paul at 9:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Country music legend Merle Haggard will play the Fender Center's TLC Amphitheatre in Corona on April 6.

Regular general admission tickets are $45; VIP general admission tickets are $100.
Proceeds benefit the Kids Rock Free music education program.

To purchase, call (951) 735-2440 ext. 201 or go to fendercenter.org

Posted by George Paul at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Bronco Athletic Association and other student organizations at Cal Poly Pomona present a benefit concert for the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Thursday. Indie rock bands Flight 409, The Sequence and Misdelphia will perform at 6:30 p.m. in the Bronco Student Center (Ursa Major Bldg. 35-2611), 3801 W. Temple Ave.

Tickets are $10, free to students with valid ID. For more info, call (909) 869-5448.

All of the bands have myspace pages if you want to check out their music beforehand.

Posted by George Paul at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Although last year's IEMA hosts were hilarious, Martin Brown provided his own sardonic British sense of humor between sets last Thursday at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. The event producer/organizer said nobody else wanted to take it on, so he did. And a fine job at that.

I thought it was interesting that most bands got up to 10 minutes to perform onstage.

The attendance should have been larger, considering the better location and reasonable price.

Brown plans to move back to Europe permanently, but will still oversee the SoCal awards shows remotely via the internet. Having done the OC event for many years, he's got it down to a science now.

Volodja Balzalorsky, the Best International winner, is a violinist and professor of music in Europe. I believe Brown said he was from Slovenia. Other entries came from the U.K., Australia, Puerto Rico.

Young violinist Antonio Pontarelli was originally scheduled to perform live since he won last year, but couldn't make it because he had late college classes at USC.

Teenage native America flute player Evren Ozan won again for Best Out of County and seemed to win over some females in the audience with the soothing instrumental tune, "Jacaranda."

I didn't realize when I wrote the IEMA wrap up that Groove Session, the hippie-centric jam band who got a standing ovation, hailed from Ontario.

After longtime Riverside ska band The Skeletones presented an award, Brown said "maybe The Skeletones can perform next year." I think it would be a good idea to have them or another IE music institution, Voodoo Glow Skulls, as a "special guest." Maybe it would draw more people.

Was anyone there? What did you think?

Posted by George Paul at 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Fourth Annual Inland Empire Music Awards took place Thursday night at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. Look for a full report late Friday.

Here are the winners:

BEST LIVE BAND
Big Papa & the TCB

BEST SONG-LITTLE MISS MISCHIEF
Big Papa & the TCB

BEST MALE
Curt Phillips

BEST INTERNATIONAL
Volodja Balzalorsky

BEST OUT OF COUNTY
Evran Ozan

BEST JAZZ
Gary Tole

BEST URBAN
Saidah

BEST HIP-HOP
Epic

BEST R&B
Roro

BEST HIGH SCHOOL
Fellguard

BEST ELECTRONIC
Dead Amps

BEST BLUES
Big Papa & the TCB

BEST INSTRUMENTAL
The Deluge

BEST POP/ROCK
Crystal McKee

BEST PUNK
Buddha Bomb

BEST INDIE
Vox Noctis

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Top Shelf

BEST FEMALE
Pamela G

BEST ROCK
Antonio Pontarelli

BEST HARD ROCK
Worldfast

BEST CLASSIC ROCK
Waiting for Decay

Posted by George Paul at 12:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)