Photo By Ruben Preciado
Let’s be honest, if you’re new to music scene it can be daunting how many venues and bands are out there right now. Sometimes a flyer and spoken word aren’t enough to decide whether it’s worth your time to show up. As a showcase, this article will highlight popular local bands and venues that many audiences enjoy.
THe ORange county SOund
Orange County is widely known for its fair share of great bands. Some bands to look out for:
Makeout Reef – Raw chords and edgy lyrics, Makeout Reef is a fan favorite for their energetic songs and enchanting melodies. Personally reminds me of The Strokes, Hala, Jurrasic Shark.
Psychic Barber – Psychedelic and freaking awesome. Psychic Barber’s long and technical solos bring the crowd in awe. Personally reminds me of Ultimate Spinach, Neil Young, and Felt.
Shock Therapy – A twist on traditional new wave and alt-rock. Shock Therapy brings a new take to the traditional new wave. High energy performances and clams get this band going. Personally reminds me of New Order, Oingo Boingo, and Joy Division.
Blivet – A harsh take on alt-rock with grungey undertones. The guitar work is reminiscent of an older time. Personally reminds me of Nirvana (Bleach), Stone Temple Pilots, and Black Sabbath.
Strawberry Army – These girls aren’t messing around. Poppy punk tunes and catchy headbangers, Strawberry Army is on the come up. Personally reminds me of Starcrawler, Pinky Pinky, and The Muffs.
Popular Venues for Local Bands in the OC Area are:
The Locker Room
Malone’s
The Observatory
Garden Amp
Chain Reaction
THE LA SCENE
While Los Angeles is a large area, a lot of shows can be found close to South Downtown.
Espresso – An explosion of funk your body can’t handle. Espresso’s space adventures are encapsulating and command you to dance. Personally reminds me of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, CASIOPEA, and Tribal Tech.
Dumb Fucks – With songs like “A.C.A.B” and “Jesus Died For You Not Me” these guys capture punk energy in it’s purest form. If you happen to catch Dumb Fucks live, get ready to mosh and catch crowd surfers.
Whajadew – An interesting experiment into thrasher punk Whajadew brings a psychedelic feel into the LA punk scene. Songs like Noisy Color and Hinterland really set the crowd into a moshing haze. Be on the lookout for Whajadew shows.
Moonfuzz – A classic feel to an ever-evolving scene. If you’re a fan of classic and hard rock, Moonfuzz should definitely b on your radar. The entire orchestral work is clearly influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin and The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Popular Venues for Local Bands in LA are:
The Smell
The Factory
The Bootleg Theatre
The Echoplex
Photo By Jess Rodriguez
