Best of 2019 – Winners

Best Actor

Wyn Moreno

We give a shit in this country about mental illness for about two days a month—usually the day after a mass shooting occurs—and then we move on. But Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt’s 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal is a compelling reminder that some can’t move on: those who live in it 24/7, as well as those who care the most about them. In the Wayward Artist’s April production, Wyn Moreno’s portrayal of the frustrated, self-sacrificing and near-hopeless husband of the woman at the play’s center was a fully realized performance that struck the perfect balance of love for, as well as resentment of, victims of a disease that takes just as exacting a toll on those who care as on those who carry.

Best Actress

Erica Shaeffer and Jacqueline Wright

Both Erica Shaeffer and Jacqueline Wright played keenly intelligent women: one an academically driven, overachieving high-school senior whose mother is playing hide-and-seek with reality; the other a former neurologist-turned-anti-dementia-drug hawker slowly slipping into dementia herself. And though Shaeffer was a supporting character in the Wayward Artist’s production of Next to Normal and Wright a lead in the Chance Theater’s The Other Place, their performances showed that hurling one’s self into one’s work is as much reaction as it is action. Fear and confusion were the last things these self-involved characters seemed to care about, yet both portrayals revealed that what these characters didn’t want to show is what they were feeling most.

Best Art Gallery

Brea Gallery

Curator/gallery director Heather Bowling’s work here is consistently bright, thoughtful and bold. Never crowded, but still bursting with art, Brea Gallery offers artists in full command of their medium (with the work of women featured more prominently than in any other city gallery we can think of). Bowling’s interactive education areas, hidden in the corners of each exhibition, offer space for patron art as inspiring as that hanging on the walls.

breagallery.com
1 Civic Center Circle, Ste. 1
Brea – 714.990.7730

Best Art Museum

Orange County Museum of Art

It’s easy to forget the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is still around without Richard Jackson’s big black dog taking a piss on it. Though OCMA may be more diminutive—hiding in South Coast Village while its buildout continues near Segerstrom Center—the intimacy of its current space only boosts the insight and diversity of the art inside. Seek it out.

ocmaexpand.org
1661 W. Sunflower Ave.
Santa Ana – 714.780.2130

Best Club DJ

DJ Dennis Owens

With an extensive arsenal of soul, funk and Afro-Latin vinyl records, Dennis Owens is far from the typical Top 40 club DJ. Nevertheless, he’s been a SoCal staple for more than 20 years. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Good Foot, the Long Beach funk-and-soul club night he co-founded with Rodi Delgadillo. Despite a brief hiatus and a venue change, the event (which now takes place the third Friday of every month at Alex’s Bar) is living proof that good music can bring people together, regardless of how old or obscure it might be.

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Best Cultural Center

Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center

Southern California is known for being a hub for all people and all cultures, a trait demonstrated well at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center. Its wide variety of exhibits that rotate seasonally present a new opportunity any time you visit. Whether you’re grabbing cheap general-admission tickets or participating in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, you’ll be blown away by the wealth of cultural knowledge displayed here.

muzeo.org
241 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim – 714.765.6450

Best Drag Show

Main Street Bar & Cabaret

With spectacular shows every Wednesday and Friday, Orange County’s oldest gay-owned historic bar is full of positive vibes. Led by Endora, these queens are sick! Main Street Bar & Cabaret offers bingo, drinks and popcorn, too—it’s truly a fun-for-all.

mainstreet-bar.com
1460 S. Coast Hwy.
Laguna Beach – 949.494.0056

Best Experimental Band

EMÆL

The band’s smooth, lo-fi tones are fantastic, especially when accentuated by R&B-inspired sounds. EMÆL are like a smooth port on a hot day, gently turning everything else into a fuzz. Experimenting with a variety of sounds and electronic additions, EMÆL manage to never be abrasive, remaining extremely palatable at any time.

Bandcamp

Best Festival

East End Block Party

One day a year, downtown Santa Ana transforms into a full-fledged music-and-arts festival. And this year, the event raised the bar, flooding the streets of East End with an eclectic mix of graffiti artists, local vendors and performers. On six stages, the fest featured music for everyone, including local indie bands, rappers and DJs. Internationally recognized rapper/producer Hopsin even made a surprise appearance to close out the main stage. On top of all that, it’s completely free to attend. This festival is truly a celebration of contemporary OC culture.

eastendblockparty.com

Best Film Fest

Orange County Film Festival

Since 2003, the Orange County Film Festival has showcased young, local talent bringing their A-game to the industry. From fully fledged short films to commercials, the January festival offers a myriad of awards to the future of the industry, whose screenings inspire confidence.

ocff.org
4515 Portola Pkwy.
Irvine

Best Hip-Hop Act

Weapons of Mass Creation

The Anaheim-based seven-piece hip-hop collective Weapons of Mass Creation have an arsenal of talent at their fingertips. They made that abundantly clear when they arrived on the scene with tranquil tunes for turbulent times. Not only do they seamlessly weave hip-hop with soul and cumbia, but the group do it with live musicians who double as MCs and crooners. Weapons of Mass Creation’s newest album, Labor of Love, displays a much-matured sound, with the band playing to their strengths by taking a focused approach. On “Neighborhood Watch,” a trio of rappers rhyme over the infectious bump-worthy beat, while Joules handles the chorus with her velvety vocals. A hint of reggae gives “Old Enough” its flavor, as Moe Buddah drums and rhymes. And this time, Joules backs up Naps’ rich baritone after dropping raps of her own. Too much of a good thing ain’t bad when you know how to hone and own it.

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Best Indie Band

Slice

Originally from Long Beach, this band’s clever, original songwriting is always fun to listen to amid all the Mitski clones in the indie-music scene. Slice are less riot grrrl than quiet grrrl, and “Horchata Teeth,” in particular, stands out with its sense of whimsy and lackadaisical appeal.

sliceband.com

Best Indie Film Theater

The Art Theatre

Capture the feeling of childlike wonder at this old-school indie theater. Limited screenings from a rich gallery of niche films, documentaries and classics allow audiences to have an intimate relationship with any movie they watch here. Plus, the Art Theatre hosts an array of special events, including Q Films—LGBTQ Film Festival, the Cambodia Town Film Festival, Dan Savage’s HUMP! Film Festival and more.

arttheatrelongbeach.org
2025 E. Fourth St.
Long Beach – 562.438.5435

Best Jazz Band

Derek Bordeaux

Derek Bordeaux and his band appear at practically every jazz venue across Orange County, from small clubs to the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, bringing down the house each time with their wonderfully bombastic covers. From Earth Wind and Fire to Stevie Wonder, they inject new life into old hat.

thederekbordeauxgroup.com

Best Karaoke

Linbrook Bowling

Deep within Anaheim’s Linbrook Bowling center sits its fabulous Kopa room, decked out with a glowing disco ball and where, for one night, anyone can be a star at X-treme Karaoke. Whether you arrive early or come in after bowling a few games, the karaoke jockey has your song choice on lock, while the crowd hypes you up to belt out songs with passionate abandon. Even for onlookers, this is one helluva entertaining way to spend an evening, as you witness people really getting into it—plus, the fun, communal energy in the room will make your heart swell. Choose from a huge variety of popular tunes, then feel as if you’re on top of the world for a few minutes onstage; and if you’re one of those shy types, the Kopa’s bar can provide plenty of liquid courage.

linbrookbowl.net
201 S. Brookhurst St.
Anaheim – 714.774.2253

Best Live Cover Band

Talking Threads: Talking Heads Dance Music Tribute

Since their debut at Mozambique in Laguna Beach this past February, Talking Threads have taken SoCal by storm. From performances at local restaurants, private events, weddings and Bat Mitzvahs, the band not only incorporate theatrical dancing, but also witty banter between sets to keep audiences dancing and laughing. Their set list contains the Talking Heads’ greatest hits, as well as other popular ’80s songs to keep performances fun and fresh. Wherever they are, expect them to be burning down the house.

Instagram: @talkingthreadstributeband

Best Local Celebrity

Jackson the GSP

Jackson “Jackie Chan” is a German shorthaired pointer with huge paws, floppy ears and a wonderfully pouty face. You can find Jackson on Instagram, often chasing a beloved tennis ball at his OC home or at Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach. He’s only been on Instagram since June 2018, but in that time, he has racked up a very respectable 3,879 followers. No, he’s not as popular as Aragon the Cat (the Laguna Beach feline who played Lord Tubbington on Glee but died in December 2018), but Jackson’s a good dog. Such a good dog!

Instagram: @jackson.the.gsp

Best Local Music Festival

Day of Music Fullerton

Part of the Fête de la Musique, which is celebrated in more than 1,000 cities around the world, Day of Music Fullerton is all about bringing music-lovers together. This year, the event featured more than 150 free performances from hip-hop, folk and rock artists in more than 40 venues around the city. There were also free workshops and activities for those who don’t consider themselves professional musicians, but still wanted to make some noise.

thedayofmusic.com

Best Local Podcast

On OC

When Voice of OC started a podcast years ago, the recording quality sounded right out of a reporter’s basement with too much navel-gazing journo talk. After a lengthy lull, the news website rebooted its efforts last year. Editor Norberto Santana Jr. helmed the mic for On OC and dedicated a series of shows to the county’s most pressing news of the day. The production quality vastly improved and accompanied sharply focused interviews with newsmakers who are shaping county life. It all made for an intriguing and engaging listen. But then On OC took an unexplained hiatus in the lead-up to a special election for the Board of Supervisors. With OC being podcast-poor, let’s hope it’s not an indefinite one.

voiceofoc.org

Best Local Radio Personality

Poorman

Shocking and jocking since 1981, Jim “Poorman” Trenton doesn’t seem to know how to stop. He continues to entertain listeners, now on KOCI-FM 101.5 with Poorman’s Morning Rush; the show brings plenty of excitement. The Poorman’s aura of unpredictability—both good and bad—defines his legend!

Best Local Radio Station

Hits101 Radio

Started by Milad “DJ X-Hail” Eskandari in 2014, Irvine-based Hits101 Radio is among the fastest-expanding independent radio stations in Orange County. There is one catch: Hits101 is not (yet) broadcast over the free airwaves, but rather is a commercial-free station that can only be accessed online or through a smartphone app. Here’s hoping that changes someday because the station has provided hundreds of Orange County musicians with a platform while also welcoming world-famous artists. Just ask devoted fans throughout the county, the rest of the U.S., South America, Europe and China.

hits101radio.com

Best Movie Theater

Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 and IMAX

In the beige city of Irvine, the Spectrum stands out as a colorful gem—and the Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 Theater is no different. The bright, buzzing, neon lights mixed with the regal design help it stand out as a quintessential American movie theater that feels lost in time. Plus, its IMAX theaters elevate any movie you see.

670 Spectrum Center Dr.
Irvine – 949.450.4920

Best Museum

Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center

With children separated from their families at the border and kept in cages, Muzeo boldly programmed an exhibition about Japanese internment camps. Called “I Am an American: Japanese Incarceration In a Time of Fear,” the museum had the temerity to stand up and address the current political climate, while being funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior. God bless them.

muzeo.org
241 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim – 714.765.6450

Best Musical Production

Lizzie at the Chance Theater

Sexy, profane, raucous and more than a touch disturbing, this punk-rock treatment of the tale of the notorious Lizzie Borden was also a completely unapologetic reminder of how the notion of female self-empowerment may have come a long way, baby, but there is still a long way to go. Directed by Jocelyn Brown and featuring a kick-ass six-member band, four riveting actresses and fluid, sinewy choreography courtesy of Hazel Clarke, Lizzie was as much about 2019 as 1890. So straighten up and hide the hatchets, boys!

Best New Band

Shock Therapy

Although they technically released their first full-length album in 2018, this year seems to be the year that Shock Therapy blew up. As evidenced by their second album, June’s Planet Pink, their synth-driven electropunk sound is as much a throwback to new wave artists such as the B-52’s and Devo as it is a breath of fresh air for OC music. Front man Jack Clam’s tongue-in-cheek delivery and the band’s flamboyant yet ominous stage presence prove that not every punk band has to make serious music for tough guys.

Instagram: @shock.therapy.official

Best New Play

Canto de Anaheim

The past 12 months have been a banner year for new plays in this county, with about 15, most by writers with OC connections, either receiving full productions or staged readings. But only one was written by a local playwright, dealt specifically with local themes and featured a former OC Weekly editor as not only a character, but also a collaborator: Sara Guerrero’s Canto de Anaheim, which was performed at Pearson Park in August and Anaheim High School in October. Award-winning journalist and onetime Weekly editor Gustavo Arellano narrated the play, which blended humor, history and pop-culture references with classical compositions by Mexican composers, as performed by the Pacific Symphony. There was an undeniable spirit of pride and civic engagement. It placed a welcome and necessary spotlight on some of the historical and cultural contributions made to Anaheim by people whose names aren’t on the buildings or in the standard history books, but who did more to build that city through their lives and their work than anyone.

Best Nightclub

Que Sera

Among Que Sera’s numerous club nights, many have become legendary. From the Goth/darkwave DJ night Release the Bats to beats collective GRN+GLD, there’s hardly a night of the week when there isn’t local talent atop its tiny stage. The nondescript, black-painted exterior holds a quirky dive bar, with a fake fireplace, string lights and a pool table. You’ll spend less than the cost of a movie ticket on a night of cool music and arts shenanigans.

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1923 E. Seventh St.
Long Beach – 562.599.6170

Best Outdoor Music Venue

Garden Amp

The downfall of most outdoor music venues is they lack the intimacy that naturally comes with a small, indoor space. But that’s not the case at Garden Amp. The venue was originally designed to host Shakespearean plays, but its tiered seating and overall design have proven to be perfect for concerts. There’s not a bad seat in the entire place! Garden Amp has grown substantially in just a few years, selling out shows for everyone from New York hardcore legends Gorilla Biscuits to reggae prodigy Stephen Marley.

gardenamp.com
12762 Main St.
Garden Grove – 949.415.8544

Best Performing Arts Center

Musco Center for the Arts

Not only does Chapman University’s Musco Center for the Arts offer exceptional performances by touring orchestral symphonies and choirs, but it also brings in challenging conceptual productions by global ballet companies, one-person theater shows, concerts and a smattering of unpredictable events. Year-round, there’s a delightful mix of contemporary and classical arts programming ready to engage audiences and demonstrate how the performing arts can be an excellent conduit for connecting multiple communities and cultures. Even if you’re not into the highbrow stuff, musical concerts and festivals will entertain and delight guests, as will the talks and comedy shows on Musco’s calendar.

muscocenter.org
415 N. Glassell St.
Orange – 844.626.8726

Best Place for Country Music/Line Dancing

InCahoots

Most people either strictly hate or love country music—unless you’re at InCahoots. Regardless of your musical taste, the vibrant, lively line-dancing venue will have you up and moving, surrounded by like-minded cowpokes.

www.ocincahoots.com
1401 S. Lemon St.
Fullerton – 714.441.1666

Best Play

Dear Harvey at California Repertory Co.

First staged in 2008 to remember the 30th anniversary of the assassination of gay-rights (and plenty of other progressive causes) champion Harvey Milk, California Repertory Co.’s staging 10 years later of Long Beach State professor Patricia Loughrey’s play Dear Harvey was less remembrance than reminder that while Milk may have been pleased by the progress his crusades helped catalyze, much work still needs to be done. Peter Howard’s stripped-down production focused less on theatrical exaggeration and iconography than an 11-member ensemble delivering real words by real people about how California’s first openly gay elected official touched their lives, vividly showing how the ordinary can become extraordinary if the truth spoken is backed by commitment to action.

Best Public Art

“Bunnyhenge”

A simple circle of sturdy cement rabbits delights children, jacks up the IG set and generates enough stoner giggling that you can get a contact high just from the vibe. Inspired by the cottontail bunnies that still inhabit the land, the Newps establishment hated the choice at first. “Why not nautical objects?” or “Waste of money!” they cried. But the installation was less expensive than a play lot, and all ages are free to frolic in this public space. But what must have truly irked the conservative set was the egalitarian placement of these quick-to-breed creatures: They stand equidistant from one another by a tree that casts a circular shadow on the ground that moves throughout the day. And sometimes, these graffiti-repellent white rabbits sport bows.

www.newportbeachca.gov
100 Civic Center Dr.
Newport Beach

Best Punk Band

The Flytraps

Born in a San Clemente garage, this punk band screamed their way to fame with guttural, visceral music that feels as if you’re being hit by a tornado. Power chords screech out of their tracks, with occasional samplings from John Waters movies and hoarse punk horror yells. The Flytraps are aggressive and eccentric, creating whirlwinds of noise and fury.

Bandcamp

Best Rapper

Sage One the Wise

Wise beyond his years, Sage One entered OC’s hip-hop scene as a teenager with plenty of promise. Always energetic, the rapper displayed a deft delivery and a prowess for wordplay. It was only a matter of time before those raw skills met refinement. Last year, the rhymer teamed up with Ariano, an accomplished Juice County veteran, to release the Sage Project. Ariano produced the album and lent his smokey vocals to tracks such as “Cigarettes & Regrets,” while Sage One showcased his strengthened storytelling on the masterful “The World’s Most Dangerous Drug.” With a proper set list in tow, the rapper spent the past summer sharing wise words while hitting stages in different states.

Instagram: @sageonethewise

Best Record Label

No Time Records

Tommy Smith and Fern Aguilar run this independent label out of Fullerton, but their reach is worldwide. When they’re not throwing shows around OC, the dedicated No Time Records staff are putting out physical releases for bands from places such as New York, Mexico City and Europe. This summer, the collective celebrated its fifth anniversary with a full weekend of folk punk, hardcore and crack rocksteady bands from both the local scene and beyond. We’ve no doubt No Time will be a household name within the next five years.

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Best Rock Band

Los Hurricanes

Undoubtedly one of the hardest working bands in the county, Los Hurricanes live up to their name. Their retro rock/rhythm-and-blues sound has its obvious influences, but their energetic live shows are unparalleled. From front man Roach Sanchez’s powerful howl to organist Jesus Salas’ literal wrestling matches with his instrument, everything about this band is pure rock & roll. Their relentless approach to gigging is certainly paying off, as Los Hurricanes have gained a dedicated following throughout Southern California.

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Best Rock Club

OC Tavern

South County is home to some of the heaviest bands around, and OC Tavern seems to be the place where they all play. In addition to grimy punk shows somewhat reminiscent of the Cuckoo’s Nest and slow-and-trippy psychedelic gigs, you’ll find cover bands and local indies such as cosmic metalheads Velvet Merlin, riff-loving punks Pleo Shaman and ska rockers Tunnel Vision.

www.octavern.com
2369 S. El Camino Real
San Clemente – 949.542.8877

Best Strip Joint

Spearmint Rhino’s California Girls Gentlemen’s Club

With gorgeous girls, affordable prices and plenty of cheeky surprises, Spearmint Rhino’s California Girls Gentlemen’s Club is perfect for anyone looking for a clean place to grab a drink and a show. There are daily happy hours and other specials to help you set the tone for the evening. Don’t forget to tip the dancers!

caligirls714.com
815 S. Brookhurst St.
Anaheim – 714.635.8040
1109 N. Harbor Blvd.
Santa Ana – 714.554.0491

Best Theater/Playhouse

OC Theatre Guild

No, it’s not one theater, but rather 11 of them—along with about 30 directors, actors, designers and other assorted theater artists who took a significant step by creating OC Theatre Guild, a network that nurtures and promotes local theater through communication and working together. Steered by a 10-person board that includes reps from the county’s most established storefronts (STAGEStheatre, Chance Theater, Maverick Theater) to its newest (the Wayward Artist), the guild has so far focused on cross-promotion and regional auditions. But the most important thing is that at least once a month (when that board meets), those invested the most in the vitality and success of OC theater are meeting, talking and figuring out ways to DO just that.

www.octheatreguild.org

Best Theatrical Ensemble

Fellowship: The Musical! at the Maverick Theater

There is so much that could have gone wrong with this decidedly anti-PC spoof of the first book of the trilogy that Peter Jackson did his best to ruin. But thanks to an ensemble who play vamping hypersexed elves, preening death-metal Gondorian kings, sexually confused sidekicks, hapless hobbits, gloriously inept magicians and dwarves being dwarves, it all worked tremendously. The story didn’t skid off the tracks nearly as much as forget it was supposed to go anywhere, and whether director Brian Newell actually directed his cast or invited them to a Middle-Earth costume party at his Maverick Theater, told them to show up hammered and neglected to mention there’d be an audience, it didn’t matter. Fellowship: The Musical! was all great fun.

Best Venue for Live Comedy

The Rec Room

At this accurately named comedy club, you can feel the true art and craft that goes into live comedy. As servers bring food and drinks from a rotating menu directly to you, you won’t have to worry about missing any killer punch lines. Between acts, you can unwind at the Rec Room’s vintage arcade.

www.recroomhb.com
7227 Edinger Ave.
Huntington Beach – 714.316.0775

Best Venue for Live Music

La Santa

When you walk down the staircase into the dimly lit basement of La Santa, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a good time. This intimate venue supports local artists, hosts regular (and sometimes free) club nights, and brings in larger touring acts whom fans would otherwise have to schlep all the way to LA to see. The drinks are affordable, too. If you’re in the mood for live music but don’t know where to look, La Santa is always a good place to start.

lasantaoc.com
220 E. Third St.
Santa Ana – 657.231.6005

Best Visual Artist

George Katzenberger

Advertising photographer George Katzenberger’s commercial website doesn’t do justice to his vision. There are only a couple of the many photos he’s taken at air shows, black-and-white images shot at angles that anthropomorphize aircraft in ways Stanley Kubrick could only have wished for in Dr. Strangelove. Buy him coffee and ask to see more, including his soulful books about his old home, or his infrared portraits of cellphone trees hiding amid the real thing. He’s a local talent deserving of a one-man show.

www.katzenphoto.com
211 E. Columbine Ave., Ste. D.
Santa Ana – 714.545.3055