MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO IN OC WEEKLY

Funny story about this one.

My ex and I broke up a few days prior to this, but I was still sleeping on the couch. Needless to say, it was awkward. I needed to get out and there's no better place to be when your mind is warped than a Meat Beat Manifesto show. Problem was, I had no cash and no ticket.

I tried a contact of mine, but that didn't come through. Then, as luck would have it, I talked to a publicist who I'd never worked with before. It was for a totally different story. After we set up the interview, he told me some of the bands he worked with. Once he mentioned MBM, I got excited and told him how I wanted to go see them that night, but didn't have a ticket.

Three hours later, I'm in the doors. Sometimes it pays (not cash) to be a journalist.

Click here to read a review that has nothing to do with what I just said.

PARKER MACY IN OC WEEKLY

I never heard of this dude Parker Macy before I interviewed him, but once I did, I deemed him a pretty cool dude. He opened a record store in Costa Mesa, which in 2011 sounds like a death wish to me. If anyone can pull it off, it's this guy.

When he's not slangin' records, he's playing the blues. And not the lame kind either. The good stuff.

Here's more info on the store.

DRAG THE RIVER IN OC WEEKLY

Note to self: When you're going through the break-up of an 11-year relationship, listening to and interviewing members of Drag the River ain't the best medicine.

I learned the hard way.

MEN AT FINGERPRINTS IN OC WEEKLY

I gotta admit: Life was kinda hectic when this one went down. As I re-read this review of Men doing an in-store at the new Fingerprints in Long Beach, I can tell. Even though I think it came out ok, I still apologize.

Click here to see what kind of bummer mood I was in.

SKA PARADE 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN OC WEEKLY

Ska Parade head honcho Tazy Phyllipz has always done me right. You see, I used to play in a band (that won't be named). No one liked us. Seriously. No one. Except Tazy. He let us play his radio show and used to talk us up to lots of people. I still can't figure out why, but he did and for that I am forever grateful.

I hadn't spoken to Mr. Phyllipz in nearly a decade, so when the opportunity arose to interview him regarding the 20th anniversary of his radio program The Ska Parade, I skanked at the chance.

Check it out here.

HEAVY METAL THUNDER IN OC WEEKLY

Katon De Pena is not only a Long Beach icon, he's also a metal icon. And a really good dude. About once every five years, he throws this bash at the Pike called "Heavy Metal Thunder." Basically, dude plays classic metal and even has cool events like drinking contests. Naturally, I had to write about it.

Click here to see what you missed.

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.