Tonight is New Year's Eve–we know what you'll be doing, and we know what we hope we'll be doing, at least. So out of the eight million options available, we want you to start out with Rebelution NYE at the House of Blues in Anaheim, one of our featured events in the music section this week.
LA-based reggae band the Aggrolites headline the evening. They're still chugging along after nearly ten years of their own work, as well as backing up a number of other performers; there aren't many bands that can say they've worked with Prince Buster, Tim Armstrong and Yo Gabba Gabba!
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On a decidedly trashier–and proud of it–tip, it's '80s Prom NYE! up at Alex's Bar in Long Beach. If the name doesn't say it all for you,, what more description could you need? Perhaps the fact that the karaoke band that's holding things down that night is called Mr. Mister Miyagi? We realize that's somewhat groan-worthy as a name, but consider–who do you think is more fun: them, or the tools in Train, who used the actual Mr. Mister as a reference in “Hey Soul Sister?” We rest our case.
If you're down in South County, the Tubes's show at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano may be just the ticket if you're looking for a kind of professional weirdness that might not exist anymore. Set aside their burst of early '80s chart-bound awfulness–the band's brand of not-quite-glam, not-quite-punk and not-quite-comedic-theater was one of the most unusual things going in the 1970s rock scene was a beacon of untrammeled strangeness. So cheers to the incarnation still soldiering on and inspiring those circus/music/showtime combos out there today.
Or maybe you want to party on a boat? If you start singing “I'm On a Boat” while you're there, judge how drunk the crowd is first to see whether they think you're funny. The point being, the Queen Mary in Long Beach is taking time out from its usual schedule of tourists, conventioneers and those who insist that there must be ghosts onboard to host a slew of different parties that night. Everyone from big band/swing geeks to modern electronic/pop nuts can go out of their heads, but hopefully not over the side to be eaten by sharks.
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Saturday night promises rest, recuperation and a very loud David Lee Roth impersonator doing things with his voice and, likely, his crotch at the House of Blues in Anaheim on January 1. The Atomic Punks are back in action, and, given how utterly ridiculous the story of Van Halen has become in recent years, we'll take the ersatz over whatever the “real thing” is supposed to be.
Monday means a new Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa residency for the month–this time out it's Pacific Hurt, who you probably already know, since it's actually Aushua's new guise. This could be a sign that 2011 will be the year the band starts getting serious about recording and making the next big step. Fortunately, the group's overt love of all that is pristine, big-sounding and beholden to post-punk remains intact. As long as they can avoid the “How to Fall Asleep With Coldplay” cul-de-sac that ensnares so many similar groups, all should be well.
Tuesday is another Detroit Bar event, with the OC Music Awards kicking off 2011 with their first Showcase Night of the year. A free evening of five bands is scheduled, including favorites like the Colourist and the New Limb. There's also Fullerton's Preacher's Sons, whose first album Looks Like a Flood, Feels Like a Drought came out a few months back, and who look to be aiming for even higher goals this year, as well. They're also our Locals Only focus this week, so read up on them and then head on over to check them out live.
