Subscribe for a FREE Daily Dose of
greer's OC
To be honest, we’re not totally sure why Ted Leo and the Pharmacists aren’t more popular than they are now. They came out at the beginning murmurings of when indie rock as we know it today began to first make a splash, around 1999. They had it all: Jangly poppy hooks, the quirky looks, and, most importantly, the hype. Albums like The Tyranny of Distance (2001) and Hearts of Oak (2003) showcased a pop sensibility that’s rare, one whose sounds can draw comparisons to everyone from the Beatles to the Jam and Wire. But for whatever reason, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (sometimes referred to as Ted Leo/RX) dropped off the radar for a few years, while contemporaries like Death Cab For Cutie powered through to (somewhat surprising) mainstream success. (But in Ted Leo’s favor for this one, we’ve got to say that The OC did a major favor for Death Cab.) However, Ted Leo might just have another chance here, with their latest album The Brutalist Bricks—which received a 7.9 rating by the very snooty, very picky Pitchfork. The album has a throwback to those hooky hooks of their earlier work, with the clever lyrics, but this time has more of a win to Leo’s own punk roots. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Fri., March 26, 7 p.m., $14. Glass House, 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona, 909.865.3802, theglasshouse.us. All ages. $12.
The Morning Benders have an impressive resume, if that’s what you want to call it. In the five years the band has been in existence, they’ve toured and played with indie favorites like the Kooks, Grizzly Bear, Death Cab for Cutie, Ra Ra Riot, MGMT, We Are Scientists and Two Gallants. The quartet, consisting of Chris Chu, Jon Chu, Julian Harmon and Tim Or, started out in Berkeley—but of course are based out of New York City now. The Morning Benders’ whimsical sound with double-tracked vocals is indebted to the Shins, full of youth and charm. Like the Beach Boys? Lo-fi pop? Of course you do. Then you’ll love the Morning Benders. Sure it’s never good when you sound too much like any other bands out there—but good pop is good pop and the Morning Benders got that. As for whether or not they’ll be branching out into their own more original endeavors as the young, clearly talented band’s career progresses is another thing. The Morning Benders: 9 p.m., Sat., March 27, $10. Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.0600; detroitbar.com. 21+.
Bad Religion is celebrating 30 years of Bad Religion with five nights this month at the House of Blues Anaheim and a career-spanning setlist—and you’re invited.
Though the band formed in Woodland Hills, Bad Religion helped define Orange County’s punk scene along with other groups like TSOL, Social Distortion and the Vandals. With a current line-up of Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz (owner of Epitaph Records who later went on to sign the Offspring), Jay Bentley, Greg Hetson (Redd Kross, Circle Jerks), Brian Banker (a founding member of Minor Threat) and Brooks Wackerman, Bad Religion was many people’s “gateway” punk band in the ‘80s. Bad Religion introduced many to punk music, got them addicted to punk music and kept us there. It was the beginnings of melodic pop punk—that soon-to-be Southern Californian signature sound—but with a hardcore edge.
Suffer, released in 1988, is one of Bad Religion’s most critically acclaimed works, and while the band has some 14 albums to their chronology, it’s been three years since Bad Religion’s last, New Maps of Hell, which reached #35 on the U.S. charts. But rest assured: They may have 30 years under the belt, but there’s plenty more—Bad Religion is currently working on the 15th studio album to be released some time in 2010.
Bad Religion: Wed.-Thurs., 8 p.m., $25-$27.50. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club might sound like they’re from Manchester, but they’re actually just going to be visiting the House of Blues Anaheim on Tuesday from ... Los Angeles. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, or BRMC, is actually originally from San Francisco, and their Americana folk revival-influenced sound meets T. Rex, Sonic Youth and the Jesus and Mary Chain. The band definitely straddles the lines here: Psychedelia, distorted Shoegaze, some Dark Wave.
We first heard from BRMC in 2001 with full-length B.R.M.C.: It was gritty… loud. There were near indistinguishable vocals, raw guitar riffs—yet it still had the Brit pop catchiness of Oasis. This is really one of the best shows to come to the House of Blues in some time: Get ready for noise.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Tues., 8 p.m., $17.50-$20. House of Blues, 1530 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714.778.2583. All ages.
Portland-based Quasi is made up of an ex-husband and wife duo Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss, and bass player Joanna Bolme. And the band has the credentials, believe us: Weiss was a former member of the now defunct riot grrrl band Sleater-Kinney and is a part of Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Coomes has recorded with Built to Spill and performed with Elliott Smith in ‘90s indie rock band Heatmiser. As a band, Quasi has even provided back-up for the now deceased, but much missed Smith.
So that’s a whole lot of “cool,” if you haven’t noticed. Quasi does sound a whole lot like the bands they’ve come to be associated with, particularly Built to Spill and Elliott Smith. They’re actually the kind of indie rock we’ve come to miss a whole lot, the kind that has been obliterated by contrived hipster sounds that no one will remember in a year.
Quasi also begs for the Mates of State comparison—another husband-and-wife rock duo that formed four years after Quasi got its start—the catchy, heavy beats, the somehow still adorable vocals.
Quasi: Detroit Bar, Sat., March 13, 9 p.m., $10. 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.0600. 21+.
