Last night Tyler and I set out on a journey to the
Yost Theater in Santa Ana, CA for the
Orange County Music Awards Best Live Band Finals. It was an epic evening of music, hugs, delay pedals, and accessorizing hipsters. Everything I would expect from downtown Santa Ana. I should have worn my brown (fake) leather vest! Damn it.
5 Orange County bands played last night.
The Venus Infers,
The New Limb,
The Jakes,
The Union Line, and
The Living Suns. The neon lights of the marquee listed some of the best-known local OC bands, but one name is relatively new to the collection.
The New Limb released "Allude to the Sounds EP" in May 2008. Since then they have started to gain more and more recognition with OC show goers every time they sing a note. Their live performance comes off as creative, and fun, but most importantly natural. They're not up there acting cool; they just are cool. They're not acting super friendly after the show; they just really are super friendly! Both of these characteristics plus the actual musical talent of the 4 lovely Costa Mesa roommates makes for a killer combo.
The New Limb is Joey Chavez, (vocals and guitar) Dan Perez, (back up vocals and lead guitar) Lauren Salamone, (back up vocals, keys) and Adam Chavez (back up vocals, drums). These 4 pack their "Allude to the Sounds EP" with inventive and hunting melodies accompanied by equally impressive harmonies. There musical vision does not get lost in transition from recording to live performance as proved to all in attendance at the
Yost last night. They did a great job entertaining the crowd by creating an atmosphere of sounds as diverse as the lightest of guitar and key harmonies to the heavy crunch of Dan's guitar solos.
The New Limb performed in front of a homemade art-house style video of lights, shapes, and mirrors. All of this produced an amazing performance from which I'm sure lots of new faces will be seen at one of the many future performances of
The New Limb coming up this month and next. So do yourself a favor and catch this lovely foursome real soon!
Last night was not just one bands show because
The Union Line really made the night a collective party. This was my first time seeing
The Union Line, a band I have heard so much about, and I can only describe my feelings during their set as a collection of joy and amazement. They took control of the stage with little struggle and kept it tightly in their grip till the house music came back on. It is no surprise to me that at the nights end this outfit of young men won the title of Best Live Band in Orange County. With songs as infectious as "Mama Don't Care" it is nearly impossible to sit still while controlled mayhem is unleashed in front of you by a ragtag looking team of musicians. By all accounts the sound of
The Union Line will testify that these guys know what they are doing, and they are taking music seriously. Yet, on stage, they're witty and casual conversations between songs, for example claiming that they are from Orange County, Florida, say to me that they aren't taking it too seriously. They aren't over thinking it. This is a confidence that eludes even the most successful bands. Maybe this is what allows them to let loose and go nuts on stage, changing instruments and dancing around like they are being attacked by hundreds of bees. Whatever it is, whatever they are doing, it is working and I hope they continue doing it for a long long time. You will defiantly be seeing me at their future shows. Congratulations to them for winning Best Live Band in Orange County!
Last night Tyler and I set out on a journey to the Yost Theater in Santa Ana, CA for the Orange County Music Awards Best Live Band Finals. It was an epic evening of music, hugs, delay pedals, and accessorizing hipsters. Everything I would expect from downtown Santa Ana. I should have worn my brown (fake) leather vest! Damn it.
5 Orange County bands played last night. The Venus Infers, The New Limb, The Jakes, The Union Line, and The Living Suns. The neon lights of the marquee listed some of the best-known local OC bands, but one name is relatively new to the collection. The New Limb released "Allude to the Sounds EP" in May 2008. Since then they have started to gain more and more recognition with OC show goers every time they sing a note. Their live performance comes off as creative, and fun, but most importantly natural. They're not up there acting cool; they just are cool. They're not acting super friendly after the show; they just really are super friendly! Both of these characteristics plus the actual musical talent of the 4 lovely Costa Mesa roommates makes for a killer combo. The New Limb is Joey Chavez, (vocals and guitar) Dan Perez, (back up vocals and lead guitar) Lauren Salamone, (back up vocals, keys) and Adam Chavez (back up vocals, drums). These 4 pack their "Allude to the Sounds EP" with inventive and hunting melodies accompanied by equally impressive harmonies. There musical vision does not get lost in transition from recording to live performance as proved to all in attendance at the Yost last night. They did a great job entertaining the crowd by creating an atmosphere of sounds as diverse as the lightest of guitar and key harmonies to the heavy crunch of Dan's guitar solos. The New Limb performed in front of a homemade art-house style video of lights, shapes, and mirrors. All of this produced an amazing performance from which I'm sure lots of new faces will be seen at one of the many future performances of The New Limb coming up this month and next. So do yourself a favor and catch this lovely foursome real soon!
Last night was not just one bands show because The Union Line really made the night a collective party. This was my first time seeing The Union Line, a band I have heard so much about, and I can only describe my feelings during their set as a collection of joy and amazement. They took control of the stage with little struggle and kept it tightly in their grip till the house music came back on. It is no surprise to me that at the nights end this outfit of young men won the title of Best Live Band in Orange County. With songs as infectious as "Mama Don't Care" it is nearly impossible to sit still while controlled mayhem is unleashed in front of you by a ragtag looking team of musicians. By all accounts the sound of The Union Line will testify that these guys know what they are doing, and they are taking music seriously. Yet, on stage, they're witty and casual conversations between songs, for example claiming that they are from Orange County, Florida, say to me that they aren't taking it too seriously. They aren't over thinking it. This is a confidence that eludes even the most successful bands. Maybe this is what allows them to let loose and go nuts on stage, changing instruments and dancing around like they are being attacked by hundreds of bees. Whatever it is, whatever they are doing, it is working and I hope they continue doing it for a long long time. You will defiantly be seeing me at their future shows. Congratulations to them for winning Best Live Band in Orange County!
0 comments:
Post a Comment