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.

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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

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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!!!

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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

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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…

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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.

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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.

Last year, this event was held at the gorgeous Laguna Beach hillside home of Charlie and Brandi Hawkins, where a very rare rainstorm literally whipped the canopy off the backyard “stage” where Sugar Ray had just started playing and sent cold, wet guests — most laughing, some yelping — into the house. That led to some great mingling with strong drinks around a fireplace and eventually drew Sugar Ray and Smashmouth out with a couple of guitars for a fantastic, one-of-a-kind singalong session.

This year’s event was a tad more formal and sophisticated, but not overly so. There was still a cozy, house party vibe, with the beautifully dressed guests (lots of perfectly coiffed women in clingy, cleavage-bearing gowns) mingling in a familar, friendly way.

There’s a long list of local businesses and individuals (that I don’t have space to detail here but include the Orange County Register, Patina Restaurant Group and Saks Fifth Avenue) who generously supported this event by providing money, auction items, food and other support services.

As a result, there were lots of cool things to bid on both in the silent auction (guitars signed by Sugar Ray and Social D; a gorgeous, fully stocked golf bag; some cool custom Nirve cruiser bikes) and in the live auction (The Lakers Luxury Suite went for about 4Gs; “The Ultimate Race Experience” - a day in a Roush Mustang with an autographed Dale Jarret race suit thrown in - went for a bit more than that).

Sugar Ray played a great, fun set (including “Every Morning,” “Someday”) that had most everyone on the dance floor. Even the VIPs stood and boogied at their special tables on an upper landing: I actually caught sight of some Orange County Register execs shakin’ it! Sugar Ray pals Smashmouth followed with an energetic set to close the evening.

For lots more party pics, click here.

For a video clip, click here.

I continue to be impressed by Sugar Ray not just as a good band, but as a group of good-hearted, sincerely nice people. Besides Murphy and Julie Karges, who are always warm and charming and obviously generous, drummer Stan Frazier and his wife, Jennifer, (at right in the picture below, with friend Jennifer Davis of the Orange County Register) are likewise always warmly welcoming and thoughtful. After Sugar Ray’s set, Stan happened to see me standing near one of the humungous speakers and came over to say “hi” and express concern about my ear drums.

Most of the band still lives in Orange County and are devoted to local communities. These grounded guys, and their lovely wives, prove you don’t have to be a sloppy, selfish, immature celebrity like so many we’ve been hearing about in the news lately.

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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…

Click here to view the embedded video.

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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.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

- KELLI SKYE

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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…

Click here to view the embedded video.

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