Orion Walsh plays Mother’s Tavern Dec. 4

Creating mysterious sounds of soul and blues strong enough to make your heart melt. With his tasty lyrics and his twangy sound you won’t want to miss Mr. Walsh perform on Thurs, Dec. 4 at Mother’s Tavern in Sunset Beach.

With noting but a guitar strapped to his back and a harmonica around his neck this troubadour shows us what his music is all about. Nebraskan singer-songwriter Orion Walsh comes to Orange County to give us a taste of his most recent album “Tale of a broken Compass.”

Orion Walsh will be joined by local country star Alice Wallace, while making his way up the coast to Northern California. Mr. Walsh is currently on the last of his tour to promote his fifth studio album, “The Tale of a Broken Compass,” out now on Hunter Records. Click here too check out more tour dates. http://www.orionwalsh.com

OC Concert Guide spoke with Walsh to see how his travels have influenced his music.

OCCG: You just released your latest album the The Tale of a Compass with Hunter Records, what do you enjoy most about being on an indie label?
OW: I think you have options on doing what you want. As far as this album I produced it, I took it to Steve from Robert John and the Wreck to help me out as well. With indie labels your able to just keep the music your own.

OCCG: You described as quite the Troubadour, what do you enjoy most about traveling?
OW: The ability to see knew places and meet new people, something I enjoy a lot. Traveling to other countries opens up your mind. It’s a big world, but it’s also small, we are all very similar as human beings.

OCCG: Where has been your favorite place to travel?
OW: That’s a hard question, I would have to say, Prague in the Czech Republic, and Galway, Ireland.

OCCG: Is traveling something that may inspire your songs?
OW: On this newer record I went in a darker direction, it was more personal storytelling. My previous albums are mostly about traveling. It is something that inspires me to write in general.

OCCG: What led you into the path of being a musician?
OW: I sang in a church choir growing up, I went on to sing in Jr. High and H.S. My dad had passed away when I was 14, I picked up the guitar shortly after.

OCCG: being influenced by musicians such as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Woody Guthire, they all held strong messages that they set across in their music, Is there any messages in your music that you would like to globally share or hope that people take out of it?
OW: It’s a lot of the same things that they talk about. For my music to be heard around the world is what I really want. I am not in it for the fame or fortune, just so people can have some joy. As far as the message through music, everyone has their own interpretation, that’s one of the main reasons I love being a songwriter.

OCCG: Are you a believer in “in order to play the blues you need to feel the blues?”
OW: Yes, one hundred percent.

OCCG: What are you listening to right now?
OW: Of course I am always listening to Nelson, Dylan, and Cash, some older indie rock like Jimmy Eat World. There are some newer bands that I recommend are Delta Spirit and Musical Charis.

Jimmy Eat World play Club Nokia Nov. 2

Since the early 90s, Jimmy Eat World has given the music industry a little taste of their alternative punk rock sound. Jimmy Eat World plays one last show at The Nokia Theater in LA on Sun, Nov. 2 before heading out of the states and into New Zealand and Australia.

With their in your face lyrics to their catchy riffs, rocking bass and the steady drum beat Jimmy Eat World showed us just what Emo meets pop punk sounds like. The chemistry between Jim Atkins and Tom Linton on guitar and vocals completes the sound of this Arizona based band.

Jimmy Eat World is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their album Futures. The tour has been through the US and Europe concluding the tour in the NZ and Australia. For more tour dates visit their site www.jimmyeatworld.com.

Futures debuted in October of 2004 via Interscope Records, making it their fifth studio album. With the single “Pain” preceding its release was well received by the industry. Futures peaked at number 6 on the Billboard charts for more then a week, and received Gold Record status making it one of their most successful albums.

Poison Ivy plays The Lure in LA Oct. 15 and 16

Poison Ivy is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, CA that has no problem expressing her thoughts on contemporary issues through her music. Poison Ivy rocks LA on Wed, Oct. 15 and Thurs, Oct. 16 at Lure.

Influenced by some of music most influential players such as, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix, its no wonder Poison Ivory has a strong sense of expression. Continuing to avoid the major labels and take on the industry herself to prevent from being molded into the “industries” puppet.

Check out her new music video for Mr. Wonderful here.

OC Concert Guide caught up with Poison Ivy to get an inside on her music.

OCCG: Where did the name Poison Ivory stem from?
PI: Almost like a Yin and Yang where you need the Bad to balance the Good the same derives from Poison Ivory. Poison is the crack in the Porcelain. And Ivory is the precious commodity, the bone, the purity. Both are strong substances and represent both sides to my personality.

OCCG: What keeps you inspired to keep writing and performing music?
PI: Living. If I’m at a place of complete Peace then that’s where Ill be writing from. If my soul is full of turbulence then I will write and perform from what is tugging at my heart. That is the best part of creating…you can pull from anything and everything. All around me is inspiration. I am a spring of endless ideas.

OCCG: Your music is a combination of Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop and Punk, how would you describe your sound or label it in more detail?
PI: I use to call my sound Grunge Urban Pop until a good friend of mine Jordy Towers (Lead singer of Rock band ‘SomeKindaWonderful’) said to me “You are Grunge Soul, because that’s what I am, and I connect to your music the same way.” I loved that so much. There fore…I am Grunge Soul. Thank you Jordy!

OCCG: You are currently on your own tour, what are some of the things that you like most about traveling?
PI: My favorite elements of traveling is getting to know the cities History. I love a good story. A fight, a past romance, even a tragedy. You can even feel the energy. Its inspiring.

OCCG: How do you connect with your fans?
PI: I like to connect with fans that are down to earth, I love conversing with them if they aren’t too shy. Getting to know a fan is really cool especially if that fan offers a beautiful and positive perspective of how they see your music. I love my fans so dearly.

OCCG: Some of your songs talk about sex, money and power, what is your stance on that in regards to the music industry?
PI: I hate that Sex, Money, and Power drives so many people. That shouldn’t be the case so I talk about these stereotypes in “Mr. Wonderful” asking “How can we live off crumbs and bread? Brain wash our bodies so our minds are always dead.” In “Sex is a Weapon” I give a perspective that is from a woman who is using her SEX to get what she wants out of another soul. “Alchemy” reveals that you can be controlled by someone’s power and witchcraft over you. Leaving you spell bound and in a state of mental obscurity. That’s what “The Filth” is about…all of the disgusting ailments that control us has human beings. Sex, Money, & Power.

OCCG: Who are the artists that you most admire?
PI: I love artist that have a conscience. That stands for something. Joni Mitchell, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin was and still is the fucking shit and some.

OCCG: What can we expect by attending one of your shows?
PI:I like to form a personal connection when I perform so if you come to a show I want you to leave feeling like you gained something special. A new perspective, or maybe just an opportunity to see into my realm. So I’ll choose a word that I hope most people can agree with. Electric.

George Harrison Festival comes to the Fonda Theater Sept. 28

Coinciding with The Beatles release of the Apple Years 1968-75 box set, a celebration of the life of Beatle lead guitarist, George Harrison’s musical legacy entitled “George Harrison Festival” will take place on Sun, Sept. 28 The Fonda Theater.

Hosting the festival will be The Cabin Down Below Band, with special guest appearance throughout the night that include, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Brandon Flowers & Mark Stoermer of The Killers, Ann Wilson of Heart, Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips, Britt Daniel of Spoon, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Nick Valensi of The Strokes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dhani Harrison, Butch Walker, Ian Astbury, Cold War Kids, Karen Elson, Brian Bell of Weezer, Big Black Delta, Chase Cohl, Jamestown Revival, Matt Sorum, Ryan Miller of Guster, and The Black Ryder Gingger Shankar

Former Beatle George Harrison, not only impacted our music, but our hearts and our, lives with his British charm. In the later years of The Beatles, George Harrison found his love for Indian and western instrumentation.

George was also known for hosting the Concert for Bangladesh, drawing over 40,000 people to two shows in New York’s Madison Square Garden. The event was put on to raise money to aid starving refugees during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Ravi Shankar opened the show, which featured popular musicians such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Badfinger, and Ringo Starr.

Thirteen years after Harrison’s death, his legacy still goes on to support great causes, a value that he has held dear to his heart. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to The Jameson Neighborhood Fund and to raise money for the Sweet Relief Music Fund.

Jamestown Revival play two LA festivals Sept. 27 and 28

Stemming from the heart of Texas, Jamestown Revival is a duo made up of childhood friends Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance. Now locals to California, Jamestown Revival has made quite the mark since their recently released album “UTAH” and will be playing Way Over Yonder Fest in Santa Monica on Sat, Sept. 27 and George Fest on Sun, Sept. 28.

With their rocking guitar riffs, and harmonies sweet enough to leave you wanting more. Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance of Jamestown Revival spoke with the OC Concert Guide about their sound and current tour.

OCCG: You will be playing this year’s George Fest, how important do you think the music of George Harrison is in history?
JR: George Harrison’s creativity brought a flavor and a style to the Beatles that made the music great.

OCCG: Who are you most stoked to see at George Fest?
JR: It’s going to be cool seeing Brian Wilson, but we are excited for the whole fest.

OCCG: Which song will you be preforming for this year’s festival?
JR: If I Needed Someone, off of Rubber Soul.

OCCG: You will also be at Way Over Yonder Fest, which is the younger brother to the Newport Folk Festival in NY, in which some artist like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez performed, who are your favorite folk artist?
JR: James Taylor and Bob Dylan.

OCCG: Who are some of your biggest influences?
JR: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), Zeppelin, and Neil Young.

OCCG: What can we expect from a Jamestown Revival Show?
JR: Occasional profanity, adult content, hopefully a good time. We want it to feel like a back yard night hanging out with your friends and enjoying the music.

OCCG: Any pre-show warm ups?
JR: We try not to over think it too much, maybe some smoking to mellow us out and a sip of whisky.

OCCG: What would be your ideal festival collaboration?
JR: Willie Nelson, CCR, Tom Petty, Prince, Led Zeppelin and Biggy Smalls to add some diversity.

OCCG: You guys are in the middle of the tour; what are some DO’s and Don’ts of the roads?
JR: DO’S :
Get the local scoop on food and beer. Search craigslist for vintage gear. Stop at every Dairy Queen and order a Blizzard.

DON’TS:
Wear the same socks and underwear everyday. Don’t break down on the side of the road. Don’t or Do, take baked goods from strangers.

OCCG: What does the band do on their spare time?
JR: We have been friends for about 14years now, so we pretty much hate each other now; we send mean text to each other. No on our spare time we go camping and try not to talk about music. We like to experience life aside from music.

Dirty Heads play with Sublime’s Rome at The Wiltern Oct. 11

According to the there recent hit “My Sweet Summer” is gone; but that hasn’t stopped The Dirty Heads from continuing to tour. The band is headed on the road joined by Sublime with Rome’s front man Rome with a stop at the Wiltern Theater on Sat, Oct. 11.

Dirty Heads recent album Sound of Change has brought this reggae rock band exactly what the title of the album suggest. Still sticking close to what the band does best Sound of Change has been the album of the summer. Weather you are looking for that soft-beach sound, or that perfect song to rock-out too The Dirty Heads are the perfect go-to.

OC Concert Guide spoke with Dubby B from the Dirty Heads to see what he had to say about the recent album and his guitar hero.

OCCG: In your song “Lay Me Down” from Any port in a Storm, Rome sang on that song, now he will be joining you on Tour. How did you guys meet?
Duddy B: We have known Rome for a long time now. He was always this talented kid hanging around the studio. It was cool when he was chosen to be the lead singer of sublime.

OCCG: On your mot recent album Sound of Change you got to collaborate with some amazing producers, how do you think this affected the album musically?
Duddy B: It was awesome we wanted to try new things. We had different writers and producers and with that you learn and you grow. Each producer we worked with was a different experience but it was cool going to each studio and try something new.

OCCG: You were just placed in Golf’s Digest as one of the top 100 golf players in music, what other hidden talents can we find in the band?
Duddy B: Yes let it be known I’m coming after you Justin Timberlake! :laughs:
Well Dave is good at tattoos and Jared had his own clothing line. I also like to bake snacks our plan was to start a food truck and have it follow the bus (laughing).

OCCG: I have seen you play acoustically as well, as plugged in, which do you enjoy more?
Duddy B: There is a time for acoustic and place to play acoustic and then there are concert tours where we plug in. We enjoy both; of course we started as an acoustic band so our sound acoustically is pretty natural.

OCCG: Going on tour what are some of the ground rules you set as a band?
Duddy B:
1.No underage drinking or chicks on bus
2.be respectful
3. Stay healthy

Just normal common sense shit.

OCCG: who musically influenced you? You play guitar for the band and also rap? Who is your guitar hero, and your most influential rap star?
Duddy B: Stevie Ray Vaughn in my guitar playing he has a lot of soul and feeling when he plays. I am a big Beastie Boys fan.

OCCG: What has been your most embarrassing stage moment?
Duddy B: We had a show one time about four Halloween’s Ago in Austin, TX at Weird O’s. Our bus showed up at like 10am. The waitresses there were very generous and let us have whatever food and drinks we wanted. We got carried away and the next thing you know, the tour manager says we were going on. I couldn’t remember anything that was going on, I didn’t know lyrics, guitar parts, and it was awful. Lucky for me the city shut the show down.

OCCG: What can we find on Duddy B’s playlist?
Duddy B: Bill Withers, A’int no sunshine; I’ve been jamming to him a lot lately.

Big Data will play his first Sunset Strip Music Festival on the West Stage Sept 21

From The Big Apple to the Sunset Strip BIG DATA, has done just what the name suggest by hitting two of the biggest music scenes with his newfound “paranoid electronic music.” Now ready to take on the legendary Sunset Strip performing at this year’s Sunset Strip Music festival (SSMF), BIG DATA will play at 4:50 p.m. on the West Stage Sun, Sept. 21.

New Yorker, Alan Wilkis is giving us a “Dangerous” sound with BIG DATA’s recent chart topper, along with an even stranger music video, that you can catch here

OC Concert Guide caught up with Wilkis to talk about SSMF and the concept of his recent music video.

OCCG: You will be playing SSMF this year with over 70 bands in a span of two days, what are you most excited for?
AW: There are so many insanely awesome bands playing, hard to pick… Definitely excited to see Jane’s Addiction, Big Freedia, and Mayer Hawthorne. Fenech Soler are friends-via-the-internet of mine – excited to finally watch and meet them in person… And obviously Fartbarf.

OCCG: With that being said, Sunset Strip has a lot of music history behind is, do you have any favorite iconic bands that came out of that scene?
AW: Guns & Roses were pretty big for me when I was growing up, and if I ever find myself playing a guitar solo while rising out of the ocean like Slash in the “Estranged” video, I’ll consider my life complete.

OCCG: Where can we catch you at SSMF, when you are not on stage?
AW: I’ll mostly be alternating between watching other bands, drinking coffee, watching more bands, eating, and drinking more coffee…

OCCG: You have done remixes for various major artists, which one has been your favorite?
AW: I’ve been fortunate enough to remix a pretty broad range of artists, but my favorite has to have been The Who. Just being able to hear the original stems and individual parts of such an iconic recording… that was a dream come true.

OCCG: What is the meaning behind the name BIG DATA?
AW: In the tech sense, “big data” refers to making sense out of outrageously large quantities of data. As a music project, I think of the name as trying to make sense out of how technology influences our lives, and how we are evolving as a result. I’m fascinated by the complicated role that technology plays in our lives.

OCCG: What was the vision behind the music video Dangerous, with the women covered in blood, the pitching of the running shoes it’s quite the video.
AW: The vision was to try to turn the American marketing and advertising machine on its head. We imagined a world where a brand manufactures this product that encourages evil and violent behavior in its consumers, and then we wanted to depict how the brand and its agents would set about marketing that product, all the while knowing its evil effects.

OCCG: Now that Dangerous peaked at number one on the Alt Charts, What’s next anything we should be looking out for?
AW: I’m in the process of recording my full-length album and am in the home stretch! So keep an eye out for those new tunes, and in the meantime I’ve got a new remix EP, entitled “1.6,” coming out on 9/30.

OCCG: What can we find on the BIG DATA iPod playlist?
AW: I’m a bit of a musical sponge. I’m constantly on the hunt for new music, and try to listen to a few new albums a week. I pick my favorite songs from each new album and archive them in a public Spotify playlist every Friday – you can follow it here.

OCCG: You will be going on tour this fall with Fitz and the Tantrums, How close are you with the band? Do you set ground rules for the tour, or will you have any pre-show rituals?
AW: I got to meet Fitz for the first time at a festival date we both played recently. He was incredibly nice and a pleasure to talk to, and I’ve heard from multiple sources that the entire band and team are all similarly wonderful to be around – can’t wait to hang with them!

I don’t think I’ll set any ground rules for the tour other than I ride shotgun, and I’m in charge of music in the van. Otherwise, I’m going to try to eat healthy, do vocal warm ups before every show, and hopefully get some exercise in there… clearly some real cool-guy-musician stuff. Ha!

The Last Internationale open for Robert Plant at the Palladium Oct. 7

New York rebel rockers The Last Internationale (TLI) give rock-n-roll a taste of it’s own medicine with an LA show on Tues, Oct. 7 at the Hollywood Palladium opening for the legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.

With the recent rock n roll is dead statement TLI gives rock-n-roll some newfound revival. The trio is made up of Delila Paz on vocals Edgey Pires on guitar and Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave) on drums.

With a Smokey sweet voice, guitar sounds that haunt you in your sleep and a drumbeat that will make you sweat; The Last Internationale is proof that you can still go and rock out at a concert.

OC Concert Guide caught up with The Last Internationale at Sunset Strip Music Festival to see what the band has planned while in LA.

OCCG: We are currently at the SSMF; how important do you think this place is for music?
TLI: LA in general is an important place to be for musicians, there is incredible history here, from the Sunset Strip, The Doors video and of course the Whiskey A Go Go.

OCCG: While on the topic, SS is where rock n roll began, what do you think about Gene Simmons statement that Rock N Roll is dead?
TLI: I agree with that, and I think I know exactly what he is referring to. Times have changed there are no more long-term bands that cut across generations. Bands now days are more chasing the latest fads and setting trends. It’s more for the record labels to make money after just one hit. There are no more records just “singles.” The music industry makes it that way.

OCCG: Tom Morello was a fan of your music and played a role in Brad being a part of the band how did that come about?
TLI: Tom being a fan of our music started tweeting about the band, and the next thing you know we were invited for Thanksgiving dinner. Tom is a good mentor and a great friend; we listened to Rage Against the Machine when we were growing up. Tom had suggested we have Brad join the band, he listened to our music and he was in. Despite only meeting him two weeks before the record, he was able to bring a lot of creativity to it.

OCCG: You have been asked to open for Robert Plant’s tour this fall, how does it feel to be opening for one of Rock’s biggest legend?
TLI: It’s surreal; we are big fans of Led Zeppelin, so it’s an honor to be opening for him.

OCCG: Your album We Will Reign Out Now, just came out last month, if there was one song you would want your audience to listen to which on would it be and why?
TLI: We suggest you listen to 1986. We put that as the last song for a reason, it sums up and interprets the record in its entirety.

OCCG: You guys have any tips for bands going out on tour?
TLI: This is the only experience every band should do is tour all the time. Even if the band has no money set that as your goal, have a tunnel vision for it. Go out on the road, eat out of the garbage, and rough it out. Every band should have that determination that’s what rock and roll is all about.

OCCG: What can we expect after your tour?
TLI: We want to win a Grammy and we will do anything we need to get one. What we ultimately want is to change the world. Within the next year we want to demand free education from colleges, and for students not to have to pay their loans. We will go campus to campus to reclaim free education. It’s a huge goal but with determination we will make it possible. Our album We Will Reign will always donate to music programs. We will try to get more bands to participate with this social movement, to gain more money for the cause.

VI ZA plays The Gaslamp in Long Beach Sept. 11

VI-ZA just came back from their UK tour and is bringing their folky, metal/rock sounds back home. VI-ZA plays the Gaslamp in Long Beach on Thurs, Sept. 11.

Heading to Sacramento for Aftershock Festival in Discovery Park, the band will play alongside groups such as AWOLNATION and Weezer just to name a few. VI-ZA has certainly proven worthy of entering this music scene.

The band currently released their newest album Aria available on CD, mp3 and Vinyl. The bands mixture of different sounds and elements really brings in a different and unique sound that is sure to catch your attention. VI-ZA is known to put on quite the performance full of energy and excitement!

OC Concert Guide spoke with the band to see what these local LA musicians are up too.

OCCG: You guys got back from being on tour in Europe. What was the experience like compared to playing shows in the US?
VI-ZA: Touring overseas is like being explorers in some ways for us. We’ve come across a lot of cities more than once and sometimes we visit a place for the first time and we let it sink in. But it’s different traveling when you live in a bus for weeks on end. There is a delicate orderliness to it all but also a rigor and endurance that comes with the territory. But in the end, getting on stage and playing is really something special.

It’s been 4 years of Europe and UK shows, and we’ve learned so much on the road, especially when we opened for Serj (Tankien of System of a Down). We actually just got back from Download in the UK, which was really awesome. Playing here is fun too – we did some dates with Gogol Bordello in the Midwest a year ago, which was a great experience for us, especially playing with such a fun band with some folk influences that we share in some ways. And we just did the UK with Skindred earlier this year – and we will say, being overseas has a different energy and power, it might be because modern “alternative” pop music hasn’t taken over as much in Europe and rock is still quite strong and present – so the scene is a little different there than here in the states. Regardless, at the end of the day, we love to play wherever we can and to make new fans.

OCCG: Looks like you guys have quite the production team, what was recording the album like?
VI-ZA: Amazing. By recording our last album “Aria” at Swinghouse Studios we had the chance to team up with Warren Huart, who’s worked with Aerosmith and the Fray and tons of other great artists. The songs on “Aria” were a continued evolution of our songwriting process and growth, and we had lots of contributions from all our members for a pretty cool mosaic of sound. It was a fun and intensive process, especially as we integrated it into a really successful Kickstarter campaign, where we raised over $32,000 to help with album and tour costs. That was honestly the most inspiring part of the whole thing, because so many people came out of the woodwork and elevated us through their passion and support – it was really incredible for us.

OCCG: Being local LA musicians, there is quite the competition out here when it comes to music, what have you done to stand out and get yourselves noticed?
VI-ZA: That’s true, there are so many great bands and musicians out there working hard and trying to get ahead. It kind of makes the atmosphere a little charged but in a good way where we are proud to work alongside our peers by putting ourselves out there playing shows and hustling. It makes us want to push harder and work to share more actually. So from that angle, being in LA for music is a cool thing for us. In terms of standing out, it’s not like we go out there trying to do that really – but just simply from our instrumentation, which features the our and lots of folk percussion, and our melodies and sounds that we produce, we just do some things that typical music fans don’t usually run into all the time on a regular basis… and not to mention, this is all natural for us and part of our upbringings. All our members have a variety of influences in their past, depending on our birthplaces, the instruments we played and the music we listened to, etc.

We use an Oud in our songs a lot because it was the quintessential Armenian instrument in a community that valued preservation of art after the Armenian Genocide as a way of honoring history. Most of our families have been in the states for about 100 or so years, so being pretty Americanized, most of us have the influences quintessential American rock, metal and pop music, and also creating a canvas on which to explore some pretty daring ideas and fusions of sound.

OCCG: Your album also came out on vinyl, what is your take on vinyl; do you prefer it over CD/mp3?
VI-ZA: We did a vinyl edition of “Aria” as part of our kickstarter packages that we offered. It was a way to include something a little different for supporters and fans; especially folks that enjoy and appreciate the vintage feel and should of vinyl. We thought it would be cool to print on vinyl as we had never done that before, and it was a cool way to add some variety to our packages. Now that the campaign ended, we are still offering vinyl as it kind of took off and fans are digging it.

When it comes to CD and MP3, we print everything we do on CD for touring purposes and for fans to be able to still retain a little bit of what the internet killed off in terms of experiencing meeting and feeling the artist. In terms of MP3s we recently did a free download of “Alabama Song” by the Doors, which was an interesting cover and our take on a great classic – turns out the Doors covered it too which we didn’t even know until researching the song…

OCCG: How do you manage your personal time with your music?
VI-ZA: It can be challenging, but everything worthwhile in life is right? We all dedicate a lot of time and love to our music – where we enjoy it as producing and creating art, but also as an understanding that it takes hard work and hustle just like trying to succeed in any other field.

OCCG: What would you say is your favorite local venue to play at?
VI-ZA: The Viper Room has a great feel to it and so does the Troubadour.

OCCG: How much time does the band spend together?
VI-ZA: When we’re on tour, all day every day haha! Kidding aside we rehearse usually 3 times per week just to keep our juices flowing and to be sharp and in the mode, both for preparing for shows and also for writing music. Given that we are all in LA and have lots of the same friends, it’s kind of hard to escape from each other

OCCG: You will be playing Aftershock Festival in Sacramento, alongside some of the biggest bands – what are you most excited for?
VI-ZA: We’re really looking forward to it. It’s kind of like when we were at Download earlier this summer – we had a chance to be around and see bands perform that we grew up listening to and also bands that are really currently active and on the rise. So this festival is a nice mix of both. We’re looking forward to AWOLNATION, Godsmack and Weezer’s performances as well as ours of course!