HAPPY JAWBREAKER DAY IN OC WEEKLY

If you're like me, May 4 is a big deal. Yeah, it's some sort of Star Wars day, but it's also the day when Jawbreaker nerds such as myself celebrate the band.

Why? Click here for the answer.

This story also marks the first time a reader tracked me down via Facebook to tell me they liked what I wrote. So thanks!

JIM NOWELL INTERVIEW IN OC WEEKLY

It's never easy asking a man to talk about his deceased son, but Jim Nowell is a strong man, which made this interview informative without being overly emotional.

Big thanks to Mr. Nowell for letting me into his home and talking to me about an obviously very difficult subject.

Click here for some video and here for part of the cover story I wrote.

ANTI-SOBRIETY PROTEST IN OC WEEKLY

Girls were protesting sobriety and I still couldn't get a phone number.

Click here.

YOUTH OF TODAY INTERVIEW/REVIEW IN OC WEEKLY

I spoke to Ray of Today and now you can read all about it by clicking here.


I was staying in Palm Springs the week when this show happened, but I still made the 90-minute trek to Pomona to review the show. Who says I'm not committed to my craft?

Click here to read all about old dudes in a band called Youth of Today.

Q&A WITH MILO AUKERMAN IN OC WEEKLY

It might seem like I've spoken to Milo Aukerman from the Descendents a lot. The truth is, this here Q&A is just stuff I didn't use in the story I wrote about the Descendents playing in Long Beach.

Call it leftovers, bonus material or whatever, just click here to read it.

ROAD TRIP SOUNDTRACK RECOMMENDATIONS IN OC WEEKLY

I just got back from driving a 12-passenger van (with a trailer) from New York City to Long Beach. Let's just say, I followed my own advice and listened to lots of this stuff.

Let's also say that anyone towing a trailer should not ever go to Manhattan. Unless looking for parking for almost three hours sounds like fun. Then they should totally do it.

Click here.

FOUR THINGS TO DO INSTEAD OF SEEING U2 IN OC WEEKLY

So far there are 17 comments and they all think I suck.

First off, this was meant as a joke, which obviously none of these people got.

Second, U2 sucks. There's nothing more ironic than U2 fans telling me I have bad taste. Wait, sure there is. One of them called me a hipster music journalist or something like that. I'm lots of things, but I'm not the sort of dude who's looking to "discover" bands. Save that for the A&R dudes.

Click here and tell me if you agree.

HOLLYWOOD BOWL OPENING NIGHT IN OC WEEKLY

There's actually a really good story about how I got to go to the Hollywood Bowl for free twice within five days. Unfortunately, I'm saving that one for later. Until then, read my review of opening night. It was a lot of fun. I even wore a suit.

It's all right here for your reading pleasure.

FLIGHTS OVER NEVERLAND IN OC WEEKLY

File this one under...uh...um...I don't know.

JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA AND HUGH MASEKELA REVIEW IN OC WEEKLY

Sure, the Hollywood Bowl's not in Orange County, but the outdoor venue is such a SoCal staple that shows there appeal to everyone. I was fortunate enough to check out the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Hugh Masekela. I'd seen the JaLC before, but was unfamiliar with Masekela. Man, I should have heard him before because he was great.

Check it out hereRya.

INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS MARRS PILIERO IN OC WEEKLY

Not sure why, but I really liked doing this one. I mean, I like doing all of them, but this one was really fun. Chris was a good dude and the fact that I'd never spoken to a music video director before meant I got to ask questions I had never thought of asking. Then, I turned this puppy around in about an hour, so maybe the fact that I can move quickly when need be made me feel good too.

Whatever the case, I think it's good. Click here to decide for yourself.

YUCK IN OC WEEKLY

This interview with British band Yuck was tricky because I'd never had to call London before. It was also the first time I set up my recorder at my new digs and I forgot how to do that.

But I'm a pro and everything worked out well.

Don't believe me? Fire away right here.

THREE DESCENDENTS STORIES IN OC WEEKLY

Ok, so the Descendents are my favorite band ever and there was no way anyone else was going to write these things for the OC Weekly. Like, no way.

The only bummer was having to drive to the Long Beach Arena. It took me 20 minutes to get from the bridge to the arena. For those who don't know, with normal traffic, that would take two minutes. As I sat stuck in my car, I was reminded of how I used to take the bus to the Arena, then walk home. But those days are behind me. Hopefully not for long, though.

PS I'd post the picture of me at age 16 with Milo, but I can't find it. My best guess is it's in a pile of stuff in my old garage, which means I'll never get it back. Needless to say, it's a pretty awesome picture.

Click here for the Descendents family tree.

Click here for the interview with Milo.

And click here Ryfor the review of the show.

PS Photo credit to Chad Sengstock.

TOP 5 V DAY BREAK UP ALBUMS IN OC WEEKLY

The day I submitted my Top 5 Break Up Albums for Valentine's Day story for the OC Weekly, interim music editor Danielle Bacher called me to apologize. I wasn't sure why. It went something like this.

Me: "Hey." (That's how I answer the phone.)
Her: "Ryan, I am soooooooooooo sorry."
Me: "Why?" (In keeping with the one-word answer motif.)
Her: "I just realized that I assigned you a story on break-up songs right after you broke up with your girlfriend."
Me: "It's cool." (There goes the streak.)
Her: "Seriously, I should have known better. I should have thought about that. I shouldn't have asked you."
Me: "It's cool."
Her: "You sure?"
Me: "Yep."


In all honesty, this was a pretty fun one to write, all things considered. I don't do these list type things very often and when I do, I never feel like they come out as I intend them to. This one, I think, hits the mark and then some. So I guess I owe Ms. Bacher a thank you for that.
Point your mouse in this direction to find out what they are.

DAVE WAKELING IN OC WEEKLY

Full disclosure: I didn't know much about Dave Wakeling or his band the English Beat before I interviewed him. Such is the nature of this business. Of course I knew "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Save it for Later" but beyond that, not really.

Anyway, in more full disclosure, I can honestly say Wakeling was a super nice guy. Like the kind you talk to for five minutes and want to get a beer with. Maybe that's a British thing, I don't know. Whatever it is, I'm now a fan.

Find out why here.

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.