Music Blog #8- Alien Ant Farm

Date Seen: May 13
Location: Brick by Brick bar, San Diego
Band Website: http://www.alienantfarm.com

This is the final blog for my local music project, and it comes with a bit of a funny story.  My friend Sean, bass player for Bankers Hill (see music blog #1) asked my husband and I to come see his band play in San Diego.  He told us they were opening for a band called Alien Ant Farm, which sounded familiar, but I couldn’t recall any of their songs at that moment.  I looked them up online and discovered that Alien Ant Farm is actually from Riverside,  thus qualifying them for my project.  So in agreeing to see a second performance of Bankers Hill (band #1) I inadvertently arranged to do my final blog on Alien Ant Farm (band #8).  Talk about coming full circle!

But anyways, on to the band.  Alien Ant Farm is a four man alternative rock band consisting of Dryden on vocals, Terry on guitar, Tye on bass and Mike on drums.  They’ve been together since the late 1990′s, gaining  recent fame with a cover of Michael Jackson’s hit “Smooth Criminal.”  The show they put on at Brick by Brick was amazing, full of intense energy and passion for their work.  Dryden and Terry took advantage of the close proximity to the audience and thrusted themselves into the front row.  The fans loved it, pushing forward and stretching out their hands to the musicians.  Their set included hits like “Glow” and “Movies”- these were instantly recognizable, even to newcomers, as they are frequently played on local rock stations in the area.  I think my favorite song performed was “Glow,” because Dryden pulled out his own guitar and played along.

I really enjoyed the performance, although I wasn’t a fan of the large mosh pit that started up behind me.  My ears may be ringing and my limbs may be sore, but it was worth it for the great show.  Here is a picture of Dryden my husband took with his cell phone:

Music Blog #7- Gamelan Festival

Date Seen: April 29
Location: Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego
Host Website: www.centerforworldmusic.org

 Last week I attended the first annual Gamelan Festival, hosted by Canyon Crest Academy and the Center for World Music.  Not only was I attending, but I was lucky enough to perform in one of the gamelan groups as a representative of Cal State San Marcos. My group played three songs, led by Professor Griswold.  On two songs I played the gongs- large curved bowls which served as “punctuation” throughout the song.  During the last song I played on the demung- a xylophone style instrument with seven planks of metal that the player strikes with a wooden mallet.

 Gamelan is a type of percussion ensemble that originated in Indonesia.  There are many different styles of gamelan, as each region (i.e., Java, Bali, Sunda) has its own variations on instruments and musical tuning.  The group I performed in from Cal State San Marcos played the Javanese gamelan in slendro style, which is a pentatonic scale consisting of five numbered notes.

 There were four other gamelan groups performing at the festival: San Diego State University, Canyon Crest Academy, professional group Kembang Sunda, and a children’s Balinese gamelan angklung.  There were also a few groups of dancers wearing elaborate costumes and ornamentations that performed in between the gamelan groups.  I really enjoyed the festival- it gave me a better appreciation of world music and made me more excited to be one of the few groups in the region who play gamelan.

Music Blog #6- Yale Strom with Hot Pstrami & Common Chords

Date Seen: April 21
Location: Cal State San Marcos
Band Website: http://www.hotpstromi.com/

 I was walking on campus last week, preparing to leave for the night, when I heard this mysterious, funky music coming from somewhere nearby. Turns out it was coming from the Earth Day festival outside the library. It was a bustling scene- vendors and clubs had set up tables, artwork was being displayed on the grass, and a few live bands entertained the crowd of students with diverse music. The band currently on stage was a six-person Eastern folk band called “Yale Strom with Hot Pstrami & Common Chords.”  Yale Strom is the band leader and violin player, with Gene on drums, Elizabeth on vocals, Jeff on bass, Norbert on reeds, and Lou on accordion. Together they create a New Jewish/traditional klezmer fusion which I had never really heard before.

What is klezmer, you ask? According to Wikipedia, klezmer is a Jewish musical genre which has “expressive melodies, reminiscent of the human voice, complete with laughing and weeping.” I could definitely hear the “weeping” sounds from the violin and accordion.  Elizabeth sang in both English and Yiddish, her voice husky and somber, which added to the melancholy mood of some songs. I especially remember the “Bonesetter’s Last Song,” during which Elizabeth imitated an old man’s coughing during the breaks in the song.  Overall, Yale Strom and company were an interesting surprise to find on campus.

Music Blog #5- Caleb Fritel

Date Seen: April 10
Location: Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, Temecula
Artist Website: http://www.myspace.com/calebfritelmusic

I stopped by The Tilted Kilt on a Sunday afternoon- a bit of a change since my previous posts have been for Friday or Saturday night gigs. The Kilt offers “Acoustic Sunday” sessions out on their patio- it was nice to sit back and enjoy a sandwich in the sun while doing my music research. The artist featured was Caleb Fritel, a solo guitarist who specializes in rock/alternative covers as well as original songs. Originally from North Dakota, Caleb moved to California in 2007 and also plays piano and drums. His musical style was mellow and soulful, singing songs about love and life based on personal experience. While I sat and listened, he covered classic songs from REM, Third Eye Blind, and Foo Fighters. His original works keep with the same style, reminding me of a blend between Our Lady Peace and David Gray. He was even nice enough to hand out free CDs which contained five of his original songs.

I think my favorite song from the CD is “Here’s to Forgetting You,” a fast-paced lament about the persistence of bittersweet memories. Caleb has his music available for listening on Myspace as well. I really enjoyed Caleb’s music and look forward to hearing more of his work in the future.

Music Blog #4- Wine Brew

Date Seen: April 2, 2011
Location: Killarney’s Restaurant, Temecula
Band Website: http://www.myspace.com/winebrew

After searching a few locations for local bands, I decided to return to Killarney’s yet again to check out a new band named Wine Brew.  It was refreshing to listen to a different style of music at this venue- the previous two bands were a blend of Irish and rock, but Wine Brew was a trip back to 60’s and 70’s rock.  What a young, energetic bunch they were, and they hail from right here in Temecula Valley! Stuart, only 15 years old, went crazy on the drums while his older brother Simon rocked out on lead guitar.  Trevor and David took turns on bass guitar.  Their new lead singer, whose name I can’t recall, was a perfect match with her haunting vocals and groovy getup.  Despite their ages, they covered hits from Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane and The Beatles like they had lived through the era themselves. 

My favorite cover song was “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, during which Simon took a glowing violin bow to his electric guitar to create a psychedelic show of light and sound.  They also played a few instrumental original songs which were a mix of rock, blues and swanky funk.  I think this band has great potential, especially with a lead singer to create new songs with.  The rock covers are great, but I think it would be better for them to draw on their inspirations to create their own unique sound.

Music Blog #3- The Humble Hooligans

Date Seen: March 18
Location: Killarney’s Restaurant, Temecula
Band Website: http://www.myspace.com/thehumblehooligans

I returned to Killarney’s last night with my husband to check out another band. Since it was the day after St. Patrick’s Day, the pub was a lot less crowded due to most regulars being at home nursing a hangover. The night’s featured band was The Humble Hooligans, a five man band from Huntington Beach.  The band consists of Troy and Freddie on vocals and guitar (also mandolin and other instruments), Rupert on violin, Evan on bass guitar and Helmut on drums.  They looked pretty awesome with their matching kilts (apparently provided by a sponsor), and played a variety of instruments including guitars, violin, mandolin and harmonica. Their style was mostly traditional Irish folk, with a bit of classic rock mixed in.

The band’s melodies were very fluid, with the violin and mandolin providing a folk/bluegrass tinge to their songs. The drum’s beat was the same for most of the songs, the alternating bass and snare drums creating a steady “oom-pah” rhythm that could be easily followed. The audience added to this with toe tapping, knee slapping and dancing around. The band’s set consisted of original tunes, Irish classics, and a few covers like “Brown Eyed Girl” and Flogging Molly’s “Worst Day Since Yesterday.” Overall I think the performance was pretty good, although the energy of both the band and audience seemed a bit subdued- perhaps because of the previously mentioned hangovers?

Music Blog #2: The California Celts

Date Seen: February 19
Location: Killarney’s Restaurant, Temecula
Band Website: http://www.californiacelts.com/

My husband and I headed over to Killarney’s last night to check out the California Celts, which I heard was a Celtic Ska/Reggae band. Their performance started off with a traditional Scottish parade, complete with drums and bagpipes, which marched around the restaurant before the band members made their way to the stage. Their musical style was one of the most unique I’ve heard from a band- not just ska and reggae, but rock, folk, and even a bit of tejano mixed in. The band was a lively bunch of lads wearing kilts, knee socks and boots, and they frequently danced around the stage (or on tables). Their music was easy to listen to with a catchy beat, and the crowd was soon bouncing and dancing along. Some of the songs were original fusion songs, others were familiar folk tunes like “My Bonnie” and “What Should We Do With the Drunken Sailor.” They even have their own theme song, aptly named “The California Celts.”  I definitely enjoyed their performance, in fact I’d love to take my friends when they return to Killarney’s next weekend.

The California Celts hail from Yucca.  The band consists of Crix on pipes and vocals, E-Force and Pyrate Mike on guitar, Blak Magic on drums and Tommy C playing trumpet. They have two albums out- “Battle Ska Galactica” and “Sally’s Gap.”  They are heading up and down the coast for gigs almost every weekend.  Look for them playing at a pub near you!

Music Blog #1- Bankers Hill

Hello again, I’m back for another semester of blogging! This time I’m tackling a local music research project. Over the semester, I will be checking out local bands and artists, and going to as many live performances as I can. I’ll post my findings and experiences here on the blog.

Band Name: Bankers Hill
Date Seen: January 29
Location: 4th and B Lounge, San Diego
Band Website: http://www.bankershillband.com

Calling themselves “San Diego’s Punk Rock Band,” this quartet consists of Scott and Troy, both doing vocals and guitar, Darren on drums, and Brandon on bass and vocals. They are known on local radio stations such as 94.9 and 91X, and even won a Battle of the Bands competition hosted by the latter. They came to my attention when my friend Sean told me he would be replacing Brandon, who was leaving the band. We went down to the 4th and B Lounge to see Brandon’s last performance with Bankers Hill.

The performance was very lively and upbeat, with Scott and Troy continuously engaging the crowd and encouraging them to dance, sing, or just rock out. My favorite song was “Still,” a fast-paced song about love and loss. The rapid rhythm of the guitar notes had me nodding my head along to the beat, and the audience was hooked with the catchy chorus of “whoa-oh-oh-oh, I lost her.”

Overall I really enjoyed their performance, although my position directly in front of the stage made it hard to understand some of the lyrics (the venue had the subwoofers directly below the stage- I literally felt the bass beats in my chest). I would love to see them perform again, especially now that my close friend has joined them. Their debut album, “The Sad Truth Is…” is available on Amazon and iTunes.

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