Peter Eichar and Brad Sweet did it again. Following a year off in 2020, Same Same But Different returned for their third installment of their beachside music festival. They delivered a weekend jam-packed with camping, great food, yoga/meditation, art, a diverse range of music, and most importantly - good vibes. I had the pleasure of visiting SSBD in 2019 for their second year and I was super stoked to see how these guys could up the ante (see my review of Same Same But Different 2019 here). While that was indeed a great time, let’s just say the third time was the charm.
One of the underrated aspects of these camping festivals is, ironically, the camping. This festival provides four different campgrounds to choose from with two of them directly on the beach. In addition, the vibes at SSBD are A1. Everyone I met was upbeat and down to have a good time. Throughout the campsite, I came across sporadic tent-hopping parties and random games between groups of camps. I expected to do some more exploring in the campgrounds than I did, but this year the But Stage and Coconut Club had other plans for me.
Kicking each day off at 11 AM, these two side stages set the early tones of the festival. The But Stage was nestled inland and away from the beach under some trees near the food trucks and vendor village. The stage was low to the ground and the venue felt very intimate, reminding me of those backyard shows I used to go to in high school. Headlined by bands like Aviator Stash and One Hot Planet, this was the spot to listen to raw live music. If guitars, saxophones, and drums are your thing, this is where you wanted to be.
Down by the water on the sand, a very different scene was developing. The Coconut Club featured a DJ booth, dance floor, and bars situated right on the water. Imagine spring break in Lake Havasu with a dash of Vegas day club. That’s the Coconut Club. Until about an hour and half before sunset, DJ acts such as Donald Glaude and Vindata fueled the life of the party with bass lines as attendees laid out in the shade, enjoyed drinks at the bar, relaxed on floaties in the water, or partied with the DJs on the sand.
Around sunset each day, the two smaller stages wound down. Folks from the But Stage and the Coconut Club made their way over to the two main stages, the Same Stage and Different Stage. Attendees trickled out the water and out of their tents for the night festivities. I’m sure this was done by design, but you could feel the divergent vibes from the two starter stages start to complement each other as the crowd mixed into one large party.
A cool feature of SSBD is the way they run their main stages. Set up as a two stage alternating tandem, only one stage was active at a time and the sets ping-ponged back and forth throughout the night. I love this because each stage got a reset in between sets but the party was always still intact, moving from one side of the beach to the other. I even saw a creative group of festival attendees who put a motor on a couch so they could relocate back and forth between the two main stages with ease. STS9, LSDream, Clozee, and Big Gigantic are some of the few names who held down the two main stages deep into the wee hours of the night.
In addition to great music and the ongoing party, this festival also boasted a plethora of different amenities and activities that were well thought out and added so much value for attendees. Located near the main stages, you could find charging stations, lockers, a variety of art installations, and VIP areas. From body painting to deep tissue massages, freelance services were also available. The food was great too, with festival cuisine ranging from authentic Asian food and Indian food to the classics like burgers and pizza. The vendor village was a dope place to pick up festival essentials or quirky outfits. It’s a very dope, well-rounded burgeoning festival that is quickly picking up steam. Year over year the frills and overall size of the festival have grown, but not nearly as much as it’s rapidly expanding following. This is one of those festivals you need to keep an eye out for. I just visited www.ssbdfest.com and they’ve already got a countdown to next one. See you all at Same Same But Different 4 on September 9-11, 2022.
KISS exploded onto the stage at Five Points Amphitheatre in Irvine on Thursday Night, their first show after both Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley had publicly shared that they both had tested positive for Covid-19. You would think that the band would take it easy and do a shorter set, or skip some of the standard tricks, but what has kept KISS… Alive for over 40 years is their dedication and professionalism. They leave it all on the stage every night. In 1975 the band put out KISS Alive! as a response to fans who said that their studio albums didn’t capture the energy of their live performance. That album exploded and almost 4 decades later the core of that remains true. A KISS show is more than just the music, it’s full throttle entertainment experience that thrills whether it’s your first time seeing them or the 100th.
Thursday's set list featured the standard Greatest Hits combined with a sprinkle of ‘newer’ songs such as “Say Yea” off 2009’s Sonic Boom along with 1998's “Psycho Circus”. Seeing Gene Simmons spit fire and drool blood is like mainlining nostalgia in the best way possible. You want to see Tommy Thayer shoot pyro out of his guitar and blowing up the stage - it’s spectacle and KISS never disappoints. Add in Paul Stanley flying overhead to dance out in the crowd for “I Was Made for Loving You” and knowing he was just laid up with Covid makes this feat even more amazing. Listening to Paul belt out that song reminded me of the KISS of 1979, grappling with the Disco era and the change in musical tastes. They adapted, changed, took the makeup off, put the makeup back on, changed lineups and 40 years later you are still guaranteed to get the greatest show on earth every time you attend a KISS show. The show came to a epic climax as the skies opened up dumping rain on the crowd as the band launched into their “Rock and Roll All Night” encore, and bolts of lighting followed shortly after the band left the stage. Clearly the God of Thunder’s job was done.
Before Covid kicked in the “End of the Road” tour was to end in July 2021, and the question of when would the tour really come to a conclusion has been up in the air. Their current tour is extended to July 2022 including a Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood to kick off 2022. See them for the first time, see them for the last, KISS is a bucket-list show for the ages and fails to disappoint!
Full – Set List:
Detroit Rock City
Shout It Out Loud
Deuce
War Machine
Heaven's on Fire
I Love It Loud
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
Say Yeah
Tears Are Falling
Cold Gin
Guitar Solo
Psycho Circus
Drum Solo
100,000 Years
God of Thunder
Love Gun – Paul sings from B Stage
I Was Made for Lovin' You – Paul sings from B Stage
Black Diamond
Encore:
Beth
Rock and Roll All Nite
Let’s get one thing straight right away, Pat Benatar’s voice is still great. When some force was tapping people with abilities, they gave this five-foot tall dynamo vocal cords that can still belt out her hits more than forty years after her debut. That’s right. Benatar’s debut album, In the Heat of the Night came out in 1979.
It’s also when she teamed up with Neil Giraldo who shares co-billing with her on tour. As he should. Giraldo has been her partner in Crimes of Passion, (Second album title pun), from the start of her successful career. And Giraldo’s role as guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer can’t be overstated (He’s also her husband.) The guitar sound in a Pat Benatar song is distinct. Each riff and each solo is designed to service the song and not just showcase Giraldo’s playing chops. Their recent concert at the City National Grove of Anaheim was most definitely the Pat and Neil show.
That being said, the fans were there to hear the hits. Hits that rely on Pat Benatar’s voice to deliver. And deliver she did. Opening with "All Fired Up", Benatar had the audience in her hands and on her side. More than once she mentioned how she missed this and needed this. Through hit after hit like "Invincible", "We Belong", "Hell is for Children", "You Better Run", "Love is a Battlefield", and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", it was clear that the audience felt exactly the same way.
The encore featured the song that Benatar said started it all, "Heartbreaker". But it had a twist that she and Giraldo have been doing for a while. They break into Johnny Cash’s "Ring of Fire". It’s an interesting take and they make it work. That’s exactly what a strong partnership and marriage can accomplish.
At one point during the show, Benatar brought up how old they were when they met. She also said how long it’s been since they met. She then got a laugh when she told the audience not to do the math. But with a voice as timeless as hers and a musical partnership as strong as theirs, age is just a number.
The fantastic Ariel Beesley agreed to let Sean Navejas film this piece during the soundcheck to her Hunnypot Live at The Mint debut. Needless to say Ariel and her band exceeded our expectations, we had a blast. Full show Audio and photos HERE
Ariel Beesley hammered us with bossed up anger pop filled with full time hooks and hot looks. - J. Gray(Spectrum)
HUNNYPOT APPROVED!
Another Labor Day holiday Hunnypot where everyone put in a lot of work.
3 time Hunnypot guest host champion, Stephan Pine, painted out a hard rock curated playlist to accompany a metal as fuck interview.
Archer Valentine dug in and sweated out a sweetheart set of songs for young lovers.
Ariel Beesley hammered us with bossed up anger pop filled with full time hooks and hot looks.
The foreman, Hot Tub Johnnie, constructed a super set of party music that stood all night.
-J. Gray(Spectrum)
Guest DJ Stephan Pine moved out from Ohio a decade ago and is living the LA dream. He began his career working within the ABC Music Dept under the mentor-ship of the great Dawn Solar, Stephan has learned the ins and outs of music supervision, clearance and licensing. And being a guitar player he loves ROCK! Recently Stephan joined the music department at LIONSGATE FILMS
Stephan has supervising several popular Netflix originals from the Marvel universe, Jessica Jones, Daredevil and The Punisher. BIG SHOWS! Come on out for the hang and congratulate Stephan on his move to Lionsgate!
23 year old Singer/songwriter from LA, thriving through the live music scene. Began writing music in Nepal while working for the IUCN. Archer Valentine is now making music full time and playing everyday he can. When he’s not making music or skateboarding, He’s looking for Sugar mamas and a good time.
Ariel Beesley is an artist who puts feminism and the belief that anger is power at the forefront of her music. Hard hitting, honest pop songs is what she is all about. From cultivating a loyal fanbase headlining shows in Los Angeles and New York City, to founding and running her own nonprofit for sexual assault survivors (@ustarthere U Start Here,) Ariel Beesley’s music is built on the power of believing in yourself and your worth.
Her self titled debut EP was written in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Stockholm, and touches on themes of love, heartbreak, and whatever being in your 20s is all about. She is currently finishing her full-length debut album.
The memory of the great West spends its time roaming the lonesome road of sub-pop culture searching for its comeback. Though its rough and tumble days of wild lawlessness sometimes seem like a wholesome footnote in our history compared to the cyber anarchy of the 21st century, there are still champions of the time who hearken to its zeitgeist. Th' Legendary Shack Shakers are such champions.
Their latest single “RAWHIDE!”, featuring Jello Biafra, off their forthcoming album, Cockadoodledeux, proves that being all about the bass is a tonal stance rather than a physical figuratism. The rolling of the upright bass and reverb of J.D Wilkes vocals chases the listener through the planes past the Shack Shakers Southeastern roots. The signature darkness of the band’s southern gothic influence shoots to the heart. It's a real pistol of a diddy that is haunting as it is catchy.
If the song itself isn’t enough to transport the listener, the video features a fun combination of old Western footage and animation that puts you back in the days of nickelodeons, shoot-outs and saloons. The animation feels like it was tailored to the song, but is actually from the pilot Long Gone Gulch. “RAWHIDE!” is a clever tie-in of the show’s main character that breathes more like a homage than a promo. The song could serve as a solid theme for the series when it gets picked up (Hunnypot’s pulling for y’all!). The show’s creators Tara Billinger and Zach Bellissimo collaborated on the band’s 2017 video “Sing a Worried Song”, if the animation feels familiar to fans of the Legendary Shack Shakers. It’s a bit of a wink for a wink in since the featured centipede-lead band was in fact inspired by the Shack Shakers.
For those who are fatigued by the 21st century's obsession with 3D visuals and sonic computation, “RAWHIDE!” is an exciting taste of what was and what’s to come. The West won’t rest, so y’all better keep a sharp eye out for both Th' Legendary Shack Shakers new album Cockadoodledeux (Oct 8th, 2021) and Long Gone Gulch.
--Robyn Dee
Hunnypot is proud to be Th' Legendary Shack Shakers official sync representative, ask us about LICENSING!
Guest host Adonis Tsilimparis shared killer tracks and biographical snacks.
Adonis Tsilimparis is a 20 year veteran of the Music Industry. He is a Composer, Producer, Music Supervisor and a native New Yorker. He has composed music for "CSI:NY", "NCIS" and countless Reality shows and TV Ads. He has also been a Music Supervisor on various indie films such as "Dementia 13" and "Juvenile Delinquents". After working at several Music Libraries he is currently the head of Sync Licensing at Nacional Records.
Mystical Joyride is an LA based hubby and wifey "cosmic duo", Leah (the existentially inspired vocal nymph) and Joel (the multi-instrumental wizard) making Psychedelic World Pop music to shake your hips and ride the mystery to. With eclectic beats and a unique style, their name could not be more fitting for their musical journey.
Fresh off of performing at California Worldfest and their debut full-length album "Conducto" release, Mystical Joyride is ready for high vibes and dancefloors.
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Sean the Star Emperor’s origins can be traced to a floating space archipelago within the Antediluvian capital orbital body of the Star Empire and is hidden from Earth's view. It is also called Sirius Prime – a secret star chain between Sirius A and Sirius B. He currently resides in the Tristix Province. Sean is able to harness the dust of the cosmos and disperses sonic blasts with an array of light and color. He is slightly clairvoyant and possesses the Prism Scepter that was blessed by Vesuvia. This scepter can only be used properly by a descendant of the De La Torre D'Ivoire bloodline, thus he is royal. It gives him the ability to transform into Emperor form and grants him imperial armor and telekinesis. Imperial armor is unrivaled in its strength and has limited levitation ability.
If you’ve been roaming the dancehall desert searching for the next wave of underground sonic planeteers, look no further than Sean the Star Emperor. Sean the Star brings his voguing, Minogueing bounce in his new single, sending Earth a message of contentment in “Paradise”. Best enjoyed under bright beams, “Paradise” is a light and hip-poppy earworm perfect for a kiki, a party, a drive and pretty much any situation that could stand for an extra dose of sunshine.
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Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theater was abuzz last Saturday night in San Diego with over 4,000 hip hop fans eager to enjoy their first large scale live concert in over 16 months. Not surprisingly, the outstanding hip hop bill featuring the legendary Cypress Hill celebrating their 30th anniversary, veteran hip hop due Atmosphere, and mashup pioneer DJ Z-Trip were up to task and delivered an energetic entertaining show to quench the thirst of a loud and appreciative crowd seemingly thrilled to once again see a live show.
DJ Z-Trip started the show emphatically declaring how happy he was to be back performing after 16 months “locked in his apartment”. His mashups are so creatively and interesting, combining many music genres into slick remixes “through the lens of hip hop”. Remixes included a tribute to the late Biz Markie, an ode to San Diego with a jam incorporating Mexican folk music, and my rock sensitivities quickly caught samples from Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Alice in Chains, Audioslave, Linkin Park and even Devo.
Next up was Atmosphere, composed of rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ/Producer Ant (Anthony Davis), who were greeted by an inspired crowd fired-up and on their feet from the first beat. Slug was captivating from the start, delivering intense insightful lyrics and compelling stories that clearly connected with the audience.
A highlight of the show was Slug’s inspiring message to the audience perfectly summing up our collective pandemic mindset; “I have missed you. It was only 18 months ago the last time I was in San Diego. Why does it feel like it was 5 or 10 years? I’ll tell you why, because of what we have here. This is f---ing special and I am grateful to be here being a part of this experience with you. This shit is special, this is as close to church as I ever get.” Just like their lyrics, Atmosphere once again beautifully articulated feelings into words we can all relate to.
Capitalizing on the momentum established by the opening acts, Cypress Hill took the stage and drove the energy up a notch. Rappers B-Real and Sen Dog proved why these cats were the first hip hop group in history to sell multi-platinum and platinum albums and were the first hip hop group with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Longtime band member Eric Bobo provided the group’s rhythmic flavor rotating between the acoustic drum set and an array of Latin percussion, while Public Enemy’s DJ Lord commanded the turntables for this tour.
On a stage adorned with marijuana leaves, I felt a contact high watching world class rap flows on hit tune after hit tune. The back-and-forth vocal volleys between the intense Sen Dog and the nasally B-Real is as entertaining as ever. As expected, the show reached peak crescendo on mega hits “(Rock) Superstar” and “Insane in the Brain” as the crowd vibrantly sang out the familiar choruses. The audience was clearly ready for this night, and they were not disappointed.
While it was a glorious night to celebrate the legendary Cypress Hill’s 30th Anniversary Tour, it was very clear there was something bigger to celebrate in San Diego – the gratefulness and excitement for the return of the communal live music experience, the magical energy that cannot be replicated listening at home in a lockdown. To borrow from Slug’s declaration noted above… live music “I’ve missed you!”
Rock on and be well!
If you entered a time machine on August 11th, 1981 at the Orange County Fair and emerged exactly 40 years later and saw that Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult were playing, you might be amazed, but you wouldn’t be disappointed. These are two of the most classic of classic rock bands. And while the lineups are slightly different from years gone by, the key members are still there with new members adding vitality.
The show was rescheduled from over a year ago and it was obvious the sell-out crowd missed live music. Since Cheap Trick and BOC have reputations as great live bands, the fans were ready to rock from the first note.
Blue Oyster Cult’s set was short, but great, as in greatest hits. There was "Burning For You", a stomping "Godzilla", an epic "E.T.I.", and of course, "Don’t Fear The Reaper" with an extended guitar solo at the end by Buck Dharma. You could tell by audience reactions that it’s easy to forget just how good he is until you see him live. In many ways, this was Dharma’s show, with the guitarist being front and center for most of the set.
After that, the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Famers took the stage. With a catalog as varied as Cheap Trick’s, there might have been one or two audience members missing a deep cut, but this was a strong 19 song set list. The opener, "Hello There", brought the energy and the band didn’t let up. Robin Zander’s voice is one of the best in rock and he easily showed why throughout the show. It’s impossible for Rick Nielsen to use every one of his estimated 800 guitars in his collection, but he did his best.
Many bands are called a family and Cheap Trick has become a family affair. Rick Nielsen’s son Daxx has been Cheap Trick’s drummer since Bun E. Carlos left the road in 2010. Bassist Tom Petersson was missing due to open-heart surgery. Robin Taylor Zander, son of, you guessed it, Robin Zander, filled in and also provided lead vocals on "Downed". There’s some musical talent in that Cheap Trick gene pool for sure.
A great thing about Cheap Trick is that they are still making new music after all these years. One of the best songs of the night, "The Summer Looks Good on You", is from their 2021 album, In Another World. It fit right in with the classics like "I Want You to Want Me", "Dream Police", and "Surrender".
Sometime during the show, Rick Nielsen reflected on the band’s longevity by saying they were too dumb to do anything else. Let’s hope they never smarten up.
Crown The Empire have released a brand new track this week entitled "In Another Life" and its simply brutal. The metalcore group from Dallas starts off hard and heavy with guitar riffs that pound in your head as you feel the band's emotion rip through. The new track is accompanied with a new video as well as a guest vocal appearance from Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox. Her vocals compliment the vocals of Andy Leo and Hayden Tree perfectly.
The video for "In Another Life" is directed by Alex Zarek and takes place in what looks to be an old abandon house, giving the impression the place is full of long-lost memories. The band is seen playing with intense aggression and emotion amongst old wooden furniture scattered throughout the location. This single is the first taste of new material from the band since their last album, 2019's Sudden Sky.
Speaking on the inspiration for the song, vocalist Andy Leo shares:
"In Another Life" was the first song we wrote while working on our new album in the studio. The idea initially started because I was talking with a friend of mine about how we both had just gotten out of serious relationships during the pandemic. These relationships that were once comforting and safe now felt confining. Because of COVID, my life got completely derailed and I was getting very little sleep. My entire identity was so wrapped up in my ability to sing and tour the world that having that taken away from me made me feel like a ghost. Over the course of the next year I started having crazy dreams and seeing strange things around my house. One night I saw feet running up and down the stairs but brushed it off, telling myself I was just imagining things. But then another night my producer came over and mentioned he saw a girl walking up and down the stairs. After some research, I found out there had been an actress from the 1920's who lived in my house. She was a huge partier, slept very few hours, and was even close to the same age as me when she died. I really connected with her story and it inspired me to write this song. We thought Courtney from Spiritbox would be the perfect fit for a guest feature and she crushed it. We’re so stoked to have her on “In Another Life.”
Courtney LaPlante adds:
“I'm excited for you to hear this new song, I’m happy to be a part of it and it’s been stuck in my head for the last four months, now it’s time for it to get stuck in yours!”
Looking forward to what comes next from Crown The Empire. In the meantime, it's great to hear their new track along with this killer new video. You are going to love it!
- Maurice Nunez