In an effort to draw younger audiences, the Orange County Performing Artscenter launched its first indie-rock music series, “Off Center,” on Thursday night, with Peter Bjorn and John and Sea Wolf performing at the still somewhat-hidden gem of a new venue, Samueli Theater.

Hooking up with Indie 103 FM as a promotional partner for this series of monthly events, is, I think, a brilliant move by the Artscenter. Consider the stellar, must-see lineup of upcoming “Off Center” concerts: Delta Spirit (Feb. 28, $20-$40), Cold War Kids (March 27, $25-$40) and Matt Costa (April 24, $20-$40).

And the classy Samueli is a perfect venue for this series, providing an intimate, warm, almost-lounge feel balanced with plenty of space to walk around - a nice change from the cold, sometimes-grungy industrial spaces that typically host “indie” acts.

Orange County Register pop critic Ben Wener dug the venue and the show, too. Check out his complete review here.

 Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa is a great place to check out new and local music and occasionally they bring in some big acts.  Ima Robot, an alternative pop/rock group from Los Angeles, pay a visit to the venue on Friday, Feb. 1 with opening support from Long Beach’s grunge/rock act Thinking Aloud.

The Raveonettes  stop by Detroit Bar on Sunday, March 2. The Danish duo of Sune Rose Wanger and Sharin Foo have a vintage, noir look and sound and play music that’s often foggy, dream-like, yet charming.

Tickets for both shows are available now, $12 for IMA Robot, $13 for The Ravonettes. Tickets can be purchased at the venue or by calling 1-800-594-TIXX (8499) or online at detroitbar.com.

In the meantime…check out Detroit Bar’s Monday Night Resident bands, going on every Monday night at 9 p.m. with no cover. January’s Resident band is Sparrow Love Crew, a hip-hop group outta Long Beach and February brings We Barbarians, an indie rock band from Long Beach.

- KELLI SKYE

The Grammy Awards Nominations were announced yesterday and it seems like feelings are mixed on who should win, what.

Who should really win the coveted “Album of the Year” Grammy? Should Kanye finally get his shot? Is the troubled Miss Whinehouse even going to be able to stay out of jail long enough to pick up her award? Would it be too much to ask to give the award to a hard rockin’ band like the Foo Fighters?

Tell us what you think!!!

There are a ton of shows going on nightly all over the county. Here are a few worth checking out that are coming up here pretty quick…

Pepper, 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 and Friday, Nov. 30, at House of Blues in Downtown Disney, Anaheim. $20-$23.50.

The Aquabats, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at The Glasshouse in Pomona. $17.

Handsome Devil, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at The Gypsy Lounge in Lake Forest. Free
admission with new, unwrapped toy donation. 21+.

Suburban Legends, 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at The Alley in Fullerton. $15.

Kristopher Roe of The Ataris, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Chain Reaction in Anaheim. $10.

Tyrone Wells and Molly Jenson, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at Plush Cafe in Fullerton. $15.

Death By Stereo, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at The Glasshouse in Pomona. $16.

- KELLI SKYE

On today’s Kevin & Bean morning show on KROQ they announced night two of the KROQ “Almost Acoustic Christmas.”  Night two is a bit more mellow, featuring acts: Muse, Jimmy Eat World, Feist, Modest Mouse, Silversun Pickups, Spoon and The Shins.

Night one is more rockin’ with: Linkin Park, Angels & Airwaves, Avenged Sevefold, Bad Religion, Serj Tankian, Rise Against and Paramore.

The KROQ “Almost Acoustic Christmas” is on Saturday, Dec. 8 and Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

More ticket info to come…

Yes, guys and gals, it is that time of year again. KROQ 106.7 FM’s DJs Kevin & Bean announced night one of the annual rock concert: Linkin Park, Bad Religion, Rise Against, Serj Tankian, Angels & Airwaves, Avenged Sevenfold and Paramore.

The show will be held at the Gibson Amphitheater on Saturday, December 8.

Night two, along with ticket sale information, will be announced soon.

For more information, visit the KROQ website.

This year’s Music for a Cure benefit event brought together good music, a good cause, good hearts, plus beautiful people, places and things.

“The Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll” party Friday night, Nov. 2, featured a concert by Sugar Ray and Smashmouth; artfully tasteful food and cocktails; a silent and a live auction, all at the gorgeous, intimate Samueli Theatre at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. All the event proceeds go to Music for a Cure, the heart-warming charity started by Sugar Ray bassist Murphy Karges and his wife, Julie, to bring music into the lives of sick and financially needy children.

The Kargeses have done everything from bringing performers to hospitalized kids to providing instruments and music lessons to underprivileged children. And on Friday night, the Kargeses presented a $1 million check to Children’s Hospital of Orange County to endow a music therapy program there.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re still trying to figure out what to do on Friday night, let me make a suggestion…the rock/pop band Paramore is performing at The Grove of Anaheim (2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim) and as of right this second, tickets are still available for only $22.50.

Paramore has been kicking ass with radio play on KROQ 106.7 FM and INDIE 103.1 FM, its newest release, “Riot” on the Fueled by Ramen label, has launched them into spotlight. The little ditty, “Misery Business” is so damn catchy that I find myself humming it in my head during the day.

The entire album is really well-written, hookey, poppy and just really easy to listen to. Although on the somber side, I have to give kudos to the song “When It Rains.” The 18-year-old singer, Hayley Williams, coos along with the swaying guitar - it’s touching.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m. - which gives ample time to check out merch and mingle).

Check out the bands video for “Misery Business” here…

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We get a lot of strange emails with some off the wall pitches, today SqueezeOC.com editor Iris Yokoi found a press release for Tigarah, the “critically acclaimed Japanese Rap Queen.”

The press release is really overly hyped, to the point where one can’t help but laugh out loud.

The highlight of the release are the supposed critic comments such as the one from the Los Angeles Times that comments that Tigarah sounds like “Gwen Stefani, Anglo-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A., Hellos Kitty and crunk stalwart Lil’ Jon…”

Tigarah will be performing at the Avalon Hollywood (1735 N. Vine Street, Los Angeles) this Sunday, Nov. 4 at 10 p.m. with Peaches and Ton Loc as part of URB Magazine’s 150th Issue Celebration.

Here’s just a little taste of the rappin’ Japanese diva with her video “Japanese Queen.”

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- KELLI SKYE

Orange County screamo-rock band Avenged Sevenfold just announced that they will be playing a free show at the Key Club in Hollywood at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20.

The set will be taped for MySpace’s “The List” which is broadcast in the videos section on the website.

The show is free, but you MUST be wearing a Halloween costume to get in. The show is first come, first in and no tickets will be made available for purchase.

The band will release a self-titled album (the follow-up to “City of Evil”) on October 30 and will be touring with Operator, The Confession and Black Tide this Fall.

The band also released it’s first single and the official version of it’s newest music video, “Almost Easy.” Check it out…

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