Tuesday, January 18, 2011

LONG BEACH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA REVIEW IN OC WEEKLY





What else can I say about a concert that featured photo opps with Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, Luke Skywalker, the Rebel Alliance and Boba Fett? Not much, which is why you should read my review of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra's POPS! concert that celebrated the work of legendary film composer John Williams.

It really was a great show. Click here to find out why.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

GOODFOOT CHRISTMAS IN OC WEEKLY



Alex's Bar is usually the place to be in Long Beach, but even more so on Christmas. That's when DJ Dennis Owens plays killer soul, funk and R&B tunes from all the bestest artists.

I go every year, but I got food poisoning Christmas morning and figured it was best not to shake my moneymaker for fear of what that might do to my already upset stomach.

Click here to read all about it.

Photo by Patrick Miller

"SOMETIMES THE WORLD EXPECTS TOO MUCH" PUBLISHED AT VIS A TERGO




I guess I could try to explain this poem, but reading it should say everything that needs to be said.

Read "Sometimes the World Expects Too Much" by clicking here.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PREACHER'S SONS IN OC WEEKLY





I've done hundreds if not thousands of interviews in my day, but I can honestly say this might be the funniest one yet.

It's with a dude named Brandon Pfaff. He sings in a band called Preacher's Sons. Listening to their songs, it's obvious they are talented. But who knew they were so funny?

I'm not sure if I like the "Law & Order" question better than the KISS one. You decide.

Click here to read the best interview ever.

PS Photo taken by Jacque Pritchard

TWO-FOR-ONE YARD DOGS ROAD SHOW IN OC WEEKLY




I can't explain the Yard Dogs Road Show. Take one part circus act, one part vaudeville and another part David Bowie and you're in the ballpark, yet still not quite there.

Instead of me rambling here, why not just read the story I wrote about them?




After talking to Broadway, the Yard Dogs Road Show sounded like something I would be in to. I was correct. A dude swallowed a sword, a girl sang a song about pineapples in a pineapple dress and the burlesque girls made me feel funny (in the good kind of way).

I can't recommend this show enough. For reals. I'm not even being paid to say that.

Click here for the feature-length preview and click here to read the review.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PITHY SWEET IN OC WEEKLY




This lil' ditty is about a trio called Pithy Sweet. The boys play a nice version of indie rock and the only thing better than their music is the answers to my questions.

Ok, that might be a bit biased, but you know what I mean.

Click here to see if I ain't lying.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PATRICK MCDONNELL IN VEGETARIAN TIMES



It takes Vegetarian Times a while to post their print content online, so that's why this has taken so long. Anyway, it's an interview I did with "Mutts" creator Patrick McDonnell.

The cartoonist was super nice and easy to speak to. His love of animals and desire to be a compassionate human was evident throughout our conversation and I hope that comes off in this interview.

Click here for the story.

AN INTERVIEW WITH FREE MORAL AGENTS IN OC WEEKLY




Thanks to the magic of the Intranets, this interview with Long Beach's Free Moral Agents literally came from nowhere.

It was 10 p.m. on a Wednesday and I was chatting with OC Weekly music editor Danielle Bacher. She asked what was going on in town and I told her about the Free Moral Agents playing the following night at the Blue Cafe. One thing led to another and within an hour, a story had been written.

Check it out here.

PS Photo by Mary Bell