Guaranteeing a good time with a memorable concert ZZ Ward (Born Zsuzanna Eva Ward) is bringing her “Down and Dirty Shine Tour” to the Anaheim House of Blues September 7.

Growing up with her family in Roseburg, Oregon, Ward was introduced and influenced by multiple styles of music at a young age.

“My parents would listen to muddy waters and Mamma Thorton so I got into blues through them,” Ward told OC Concert Guide in an interview. “Then, my older brother would listen to a lot of hip-hop. So I started taking his Nas CDs and his Jay-Z CDs and just started getting into hip-hop.”

By the age of 12, Ward joined her father’s blues band and despite her age, began playing at various bars around Oregon. Pursuing her interest in hip-hop, at the age of 16 Ward began working with the hip-hop scene in Eugene.

Years later Ward relocated to Los Angeles, Calif. where she was founded and signed by Boardwalk Entertainment Group and Hollywood Records.

Before the release of her full album “Till the Casket Drops” with Hollywood Records, Ward created a free mix tape “Eleven Rose” in February 2012 that caught the attention of many artists.

“I would flip hip hop songs that I loved. I kind of wrote my own songs over the top of beats of some songs,” Ward continued. “I flipped a Kendrick Lamar song and I also flipped a Freddie Gibbs song. They [Lamar and Gibbs] liked what I did with that and they believed enough in my talent to want to get on some other songs that I was doing.”

Ward’s first full-album “Till the Casket Drops,” was released October 2012, which featured her work with Lamar and Gibbs.

“I ended up making a record that kind of combines my two favorite kinds of music,” Ward said. “My style is back porch blues meets hip hop. I don’t know who else is in the style with me. So I think my music is pretty unique.”

Since the release of her album, Ward’s has performed for and been featured through multiple television shows and films including Good Morning America, Conan, MTV’s Awkward, and most recently Warner Brothers film “We’re the Millers.”

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity for my music to get out there and be heard by more people,” Ward said in response to her music features.

“There are certain places where we go and a lot of people have heard of us or heard of me and there are a lot of places where we go and people are discovering me…you know I’m a new artists and this is my first record so it is really fun to go out there and make new fans,” Ward said.

While Ward acknowledges a lot of ground needs to be covered, she is continuing to put her focus on the tour and before thinking about the next album.

“’Dirty shine’ is a phrase that I’ve been using that kind of represented ‘Till the Casket Drops’ and it is about me embracing my style even though my style is different,” Ward explained. “So the Dirty Shine Tour just means I’m going to kick it back and have a good time.”

“It isn’t really a balance. It just works…We are having a blast, we are living a dream, and living the dream together,” Keifer Thompson told OC Concert Guide in response to balancing a marriage and band with his wife, Shawna.

Not your typical married couple-Keifer and Shawna Thompson are currently country music’s biggest duo, Thompson Square. Together they have produced award winning music and correlated videos that have led them to be recognized as the only married couple to ever win the Country Music Award’s “Vocal Duo of The Year.’

Thompson Square will be performing alongside Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line August 10 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater for Go Country’s 105 Go Fest.

“Our music comes from what is inside of us,” Keifer said. “We are different because we have two major voices and two major singers…I’m certain that there aren’t any other [bands that are] married couples.”

The Alabama southern belle and Oklahoma cowboy moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1996 when they met one another at Nashville’s Nightlight singing competition. Neither of them won the competition that night. However, they did manage to win each other over.

Three years later, Shawna and Keifer married in May 1995. Soon after, the two decided to put their solo music careers to an end and come together as one.

“Eight years ago we had a conversation around the table and decided the separate thing wasn’t going for us. That’s when we decided to go for the duo thing,” Shawna said.

By 2010 Thompson Square was signed with country label Stoney Creek Records. That same year they released their single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” which would lead to be one of their three, songs to reach number one on music charts.

Through Stoney Creek Records, Thompson Square released their self-titled debut album in February 2011 and sophomore album “Just Feels Good” earlier this March.

For three solid years Thompson Square had been on the road touring with country artists including Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, and Luke Bryan. Unfortunately, during May and early June the duo had been forced to cancel numerous shows after Keifer was diagnosed with a “serious vocal condition”.

“Obviously I was really, really scared and worried,” Keifer said. “The thought of never being able to sing again is always a possibility. When your dream is threatened it is petrifying.”

Shawna continued, “It was really awesome the outpouring of love we got from our fans. It was pretty hard to believe that people cared as much as they did and we just really hated to disappoint them.”

Although a break was nothing they ever wanted, the two managed to enjoy their time off and are thankful the “two weeks of vocal rest completely healed the problem.”

Back on the road with Luke Bryan’s Dirt Road Diaries Tour, the country sweethearts are looking forward to the cool California weather and laid back vibes when performing at Go Fest.

Telling their love story through their music, Thompson puts their heart-felt emotions for one another into each performance. Audiences can expect a fun, sentimental and memorable time with the duo as they lay out all emotions.

“There is a special moment every night when we play that song,” Shawna said when discussing their most recent number one single, If I Didn’t Have You. “There is a moment where I look at Keifer and it is something special. We can see it in each other’s eyes.”

Not limited to their music, Thompson Square recently teamed up with Christian author Travis Thrasher to share a special love story through print. Named and based after their song “Are You Gonna Kiss me or Not”, the duo’s book was published through Howard Books this past June.

“It [the book] has gotten good reviews so far and it was kind of fun to do something different,” Keifer said.

Thompson Square notified OC Concert Guide that the two are continuously writing and different song writers have been joining them while on the road. Think as you will but it sounds like a new record is in the works.

Thompson Square concluded, “All we can say [to our fans] is thank you, and thank you will never be enough!”

The influential Chicago indie artist, Owen (Mike Kinsella) will be performing at Santa Ana’s Constellation Room on August 2.

Born into a family of musicians, Mike Kinsella began his music career with his brother Tim at the age of twelve. Together the Kinsella brothers formed the band Cap’n Jazz and played roles in widely recognized Chicago bands Joan of Arc and Owls. When performing together Mike took the role of drums while Tim played the guitar.

Given the opportunity to further pursue his music career, Mike formed the band American Football in 1997.
Rather than playing drums, Mike further advanced his guitar playing abilities as the lead vocalist and guitarist/bassist.

For the short time the band was together, the opportunity given to Mike as the lead guitarist influenced him to start something new. Mike left the group bands to carry out his own solo project, Owen.

Since the formation of Owen in 2001, Mike has personally recorded multiple albums in the self-created studio located in his parent’s home.

Owen has allowed Mike to truly shine as an artist as he incorporates all his musical abilities (guitar, drums, and vocals) into a one-man band.

Earlier this month Owen released the album “L’Ami du Peuple” (The Friend of The People) that is composed of deep and intellectual lyrics relating to his transition from being a son to a father.

OC Concert Guide spoke with the indie scene sensation Owen to gain more insight about his recent album L’Ami du Peuple.

OCCG: How would you personally describe your music? What makes you and your music different from other artists in your genre?

Mike: Ummm…boring? Beautiful? Well organized. Poorly sung. Restrained. Honest. I suppose it’s different from other artists because it sounds exactly like me.

OCCG: How has working on your own been different from working with other bands?

Mike: No band practice! Ever! Which is awesome. And I get to play what I want as often or infrequent as I want, which is also awesome. I do sometimes find myself missing the creative banter that comes along with being in a band with other dudes but overall I’m content working on my own stuff at my own pace.

OCCG: Why the name Owen?

Mike: I just liked it more than “Mike.”

OCCG: What is your favorite instrument to play? Are there other instruments you are interested in learning?

Mike: Whenever I’m playing the guitar I wish I was playing the drums and vice-versa. Always wished I learned how to play the piano better. Or the cello. Or violin.

OCCG: Congratulations with the release of L’Ami du Peuple… What makes this album different from the others?

Mike: Instead of getting into the studio and trying to make all the songs sound like “Owen” songs, I let them go off into different directions. So there’s a couple rock songs, a couple stripped down folk-y ones, etc. Much more varied than previous albums.

OCCG: Do you have a favorite song from L’Ami du Peuple?

Mike: I think “Love is Not Enough” sounds the most like how I heard it in my head entering the studio, so that’s currently the most satisfying for me.

OCCG: How has being a father influenced your career?

Mike: Ha. Well, I’m a lot less productive (and more tired) than I was before having kids. But every aspect of life seems to carry so much more weight after having kids that it’s inspired me to think and write about a number of things I would’ve maybe never gotten hung up on before, such as mortality and morality and faith (and the lack thereof.)

OCCG: What can audiences expect at a live show?

Mike: I have a theory that people would rather see the personality of the artist at a live show than just seeing the songs performed perfectly, so I kind of just play the songs as I’m feeling each night (i.e. perfectly, sloppily, drunkenly, happily, crabbily, Metallically…)

OCCG: What are you looking forward to when playing at the Constellation Room? If you have played in Orange County before, how is it different than other places you have toured?

Mike: I haven’t played the Constellation Room before, but I love playing in/around LA – looking forward to it!

Accompanied by Hockey and SWIMM, The Los Angeles’s based quartet Saint Motel will be performing at Costa Mesa’s Detroit Bar on July 24.

Featuring songs that focus on the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman, ideas of wet dreams and plastic surgery, the band’s music is catchy with unique sounds and lyrics that leave room for interpretation.

Meeting through Chapman University’s prestigious film school, A/J Jackson (vocals, guitar), A Sharp (Guitar), Greg Erwin (Drums) and Dak (bass) are known to visually stimulate the eye with over the top music videos and live performances that can “give an out of body experience.”

OC Concert Guide briefly spoke with front man A/J Jackson about Saint Motel’s background and music.

OCCG: How would you personally describe the band’s music? How does it differ from artist within your genre?
A/J: Someone once wrote our music is the movie Casablanca if the soundtrack was written by ELO. That sounds nice.

OCCG: Who or what inspires your music?
A/J: Hmm, that’s tough. Every emotional state is potentially inspirational. Good times, bad times, all of it is there as subject matter. You just have to be receptive.

OCCG: How did you decide on the name Saint Motel?
A/J: The name is a motel that is between all of our hometowns on the map. Center point.

OCCG: How has film school contributed to your music career?
A/J: Not sure exactly. Possibly has helped us to think about music in visual terms.

OCCG: What can fans expect from you at a live show?
A/J: Hopefully an out of body experience haha. We are always trying new ideas visually just like without music.

OCCG: Do you have a favorite song to perform?
A/J: I love all my children equally. But the newborns are fun and fresh.

OCCG: Puzzle pieces…plastic surgery. What are your thoughts on it? Was there someone in mind when writing this song?
A/J: The song was kind of inspired by a photographer friend of mine. He was describing a model and saying she had the most perfect facial features. the fullest lips, great cheeks, slender nose, etc. but the parts just didn’t work together. I liked that imagery a lot.

OCCG: You are often on a bus together for long periods of time. Can you tell me about that? Are there any ‘house’ rules?
A/J: Love thy neighbor. Keep calm. Don’t steal someone else’s Kit Kat bar.

OCCG: What comes after the summer tour? Can we expect another album?
A/J: Yes you can! We have a new single coming out very soon and it will all be building up into something bigger down the line.

OCCG: Is there anything else you would like to share with your fans?
A/J: Keep an eye and ear out for new SM happenings. www.saintmotel.com

Inspired by the writing styles of the Beatles and the sounds of Wu-Tang, John Gourley and Zach Carothers started something bigger than any beginning artist could imagine.

After a fall through with their project band Anatomy of a Ghost, Gourley and Carothers left Wasilla, Alaska and relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2005 where they formed the band we know today, Portugal. The Man. The Indie band will be performing at the House of Blues Anaheim on July 11.

Completing items on their wish list they thought would never be possible, Portugal. The Man has performed with artists Daft Punk, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Rolling Stones at music festivals Bonaroo, Outside Lands and Coachella.

Since the formation of the band in 2005, Gourley, Carothers, Noah Gersh, Kyle O’Quin and Kane Ritchotte have successfully produced seven albums and three EPs. Through Atlantic Records and producer Danger Mouse Portugal. The Man released “Evil Friends” at the beginning of the month.

Currently touring around the states to perform and promote, the ‘Man’ Gourley spoke to Orange County Concert Guide from Indianapolis.

OCCG: How would you personally describe yourself from other artists in your genre?
JG: Well it is rock n roll. That’s to say it is all about expression and voicing our opinion when we have them and doing whatever we want.

OCCG: You are part of the Live Nation’s one to watch tour. How is it to work with Live Nation and to be part of that?
JG: I mean it’s cool. It makes touring more affordable. And that’s not saying they are giving us hundreds of money. But being part of their tour makes it more affordable. It’s all been good.

OCCG: Have you played in orange county before and if not what are you looking forward to?
JG: I believe we have. We have toured a lot. I mean we have toured so fucking much. It’s something where I can’t even place half of the towns we have been to.

I love to just go out and eat local food. That’s what the band has always been about. When we go out of town we are all about supporting the local businesses. Not just come in, grab your bag of money and run out. You spend money at local businesses and local shops and you have to respect people’s community and that’s what we do.

OCCG: You played at Coachella. What was that like?
JG: Coachella was cool. It is massive. I think some of these festival, Bonaroo and Coachella are different…on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Coachella it is all about who is there. “Lindsay Lohan is here, holy fucking shit. I can’t believe it! That is just how it is and there is something very cool about that. You are really part of this world you never get to see.

Then you go to Bonaroo and it is raining, it’s muddy and dusty and people just don’t care because that’s what it’s all about. Being in the mud. I think all of that, the festival experience in general it’s always exciting and its always a different experience. I loved Coachella this year.

OCCG: Have you had a defining moment in your career thus far?
JG: Yea. We never expected to play at any of these festivals. I never expected to play at Coachella. (laugh) for whatever reason I did not. It doesn’t happen… it just wasn’t on my list. It was on my wish list. The wish list you write down because you feel like you need to write down. But you never really expect to do it.

OCCG: So what can fans expect at your show?
JG: It’s all about interpretation. I want to play our songs the way they need to be played that night. And we play bits of everything. I think it’s more of us being visually excited as well. It will look cool, sound good. (Laughing) Is that like the coolest thing I could say too. It will look good and sound cool?

OCCG: And how is it going to look good? Do you do anything out of the ordinary?
JG: Yea we have projections. Set up is very important to me. I’m a movie nerd and a music nerd. I think the visual element is a huge part of what we do.

OCCG: Do you all contribute to designing that?
JG: I do all the visual stuff with friends of mine. I’ll draw a lot of things, I do the album covers and all the t-shirts. Then the stage stuff was designed by Dirt Empire in New York.

OCCG: Do you have a favorite song to perform? If so what is it and why?
JG: I think the setlist is one of the most difficult things to put together. And it ends up just being something that flows really well. That’s my favorite thing of touring is putting a set list together that flows. And a lot of people don’t really understand the importance of that. So I just want to say trust. Trust us that we are editing ourselves and figuring out what will work out best live, and don’t be offended if your request isn’t met because our setlist will be better because of it. Who knows sometimes we throw in some request.

OCCG: What is next for the band?
JG: We just released our album Evil Friends with Atlantic Records and produced by Danger Mouse. We will probably work on some live music and who knows maybe we will put out some EPS. I think I kind of want that rolling out.

OCCG: How was it working with Atlantic Records and Danger Mouse?
JG: It was amazing. Atlantic is the best label. I love them, they are like family and they have amazing history. As for Brian, Brian is the best producer around and I will stand by that.

OCCG: What tips can you tell starting artists? From your own experience.
JG: I’m going to give people plain white advice. Get ready for a lot of disappoint, a lot of failure, a lot of hard work, a few shining moments of hope and feeling of reaching that goal for a split second before you fall back down. Know what you’re doing is good. Be self-aware. Like if you don’t believe in it it is not going to work. If you believe in it and it is not good…fuck man its still not going to work and that sucks. That is the shittiest side of music.

OCCG: What do you guys do for fun outside of music? While you’re on tour do you guys go out and do things?
JG: Yea, we watch movies. A lot of movies. We watch ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ and ‘Arrested Development.’ We watched This is The End last night. We are big fans of comedy.

Yea I guess our fun thing when we aren’t on stage (laughing)…I guess our fun thing is just talking shit. Just talking shit all day long. That’s what happens when you hang with five dudes. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

OCCG: How is that?
JG: You make serious, big deep connections. I mean they are like real relationships. (laughing) You are basically in a relationship with however many people you are on tour with. And right now it’s ten, ten people are on tour with us right now. All the shit talking it is just finding humor in the everyday. You get up on stage and you really think you’re that fucking cool. But you’re not. Nobody is. Everybody gets off stage, sits down on that tour bus and it may sound cool but it’s just a bus. It’s just where you are living.

OCCG: Who would you collaborate with if you haven’t already?
JG: We’ve done a lot of that. I think I’d like to do something with Slo-Mo. I really like what he does.There is something about that scene that is really punk rock. EDM or whatever you want to call the electronic music. It’s all internet based….

Punk fucking died out when people started putting studs in their leather jackets.

OCCG: Random question, what is your favorite drink?
JG: You have an easy band here. I’ll give you three and I won’t give you a favorite because they are all on the same level. We roll Pabsts, Tecate, or Modello. And that’s a pretty strict drink.

OCCG: So beer fans?
JG: We are pretty punk in that respect. It’s cheap light beer and I guess we drink Bourbon as well. Straight up Bourbon.

OCCG: Anything else you would like your fans to know?
That we love you …which is a no brainer.

For Orange County’s pretty girls and party people, Mickey Avalon will lead the stage of San Juan Capistrano’s Coach House on Saturday, July 6.

Born into a family of drug- addicted parents, glam rapper Mickey Avalon entered the Los Angeles lifestyle at a young age. Selling drugs with his mother, having a baby girl, getting a divorce, prostituting for money, and losing his father to a drunk driver and sister to a heroin overdose it is needless to say, Avalon has encountered many notable life events.

Fortunately, Avalon has used his difficult life experiences as the foundation for his albums.

Sharing his lifestyle of debauchery, his explicit albums feature Hollywood street lifestyles, stereotypes and, sex and drugs through rhythms and beats of reality and humor.

Signed by Interscope in 2005, Avalon released his self-title debut album. The release of Mickey Avalon (2006) continued his growth within the music industry. Doors were opened for success.

Avalon performed at sold-out shows with Slightly Stoopid, Snoop Dog and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He continued on to collaborated with renowned artists Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, and Perry Ferrell.

Now, Avalon is making his way throughout the world promoting both his most recent album Loaded (2012) and Mickey Avalon on tour.

OC Concert guide spoke with Avalon and learned more about his background of life on and off the stage.

OCCG: What demographic do you aim for with your music?
MA: Ummm… I don’t think I really ever aimed for a demographic. I think luckily I got a good demographic like pretty girls and people that like to party. I’m happy that is my demographic. It would be weird if people that went to my shows wouldn’t dance or move. So I’m glad I have a crowd that wants to let loose and have fun. I didn’t do that on purpose but I’m just glad it worked out that way.

OCCG: How would you describe your persona off stage compared to on stage?
MA: I don’t know, I guess I’m more reserved off stage and more shy but I mean I still do whatever I want to do. I would rather do something even if I fail I’d rather do it than not do it and drive myself crazy in my head for not trying.” I think rock n’ roll in general if the way people acted on stage would be silly if they acted like that in real life. It’s not like two different people or anything but I just think you have to be real over the top on stage and I think it would be obnoxious in real life.

OCCG: So would you consider yourself a risk taker?
MA: Yea I guess so; I see it as everything is overly sexual and all the way. In real life I’m not like ‘oh look at me!’ You know, If you do anything outside of the law you don’t really want to bring attention to yourself, I kind of grew up like that most of my life. So trying to bring attention to myself is not really something I try to do. Where on stage it is the exact opposite, all the attention is on you and you are really flamboyant and stuff like that.

OCCG:What can your audience expect from you during a live show?
MA: I just try to give it my all. I’m always drenched by the end of the show. So I guess high energy. There is usually reasoning to all the things. Like the way I perform.

OCCG: Do you have a favorite song to perform?
MA: The people’s favorite is the best. Playing so much of it is the audience. It’s definitely a back and forth push and pull give and take kind of thing but, it’s kind of my responsibility to get them going as much as I can but…The truth is the audience is really who is making the show better or not. The more they give it the better the show is going to be and the more I’m going to give.

Avalon continued to explain the reasoning behind his performances and why they differ.

I paint picture you know, and when you paint a picture you don’t want to pain the same picture over and over. You could I guess but you wouldn’t. So it would be kind of weird to play the same song over and over and over again. But the truth is it’s not really like that because as soon as you hit the first note everyone goes crazy and it’s kind of like a climax and you wouldn’t really get sick of that.”

OCCG: Speaking of art, do you still do any street art or any other forms?
MA: I paint. I paint on canvases and stuff, not graffiti style but just portraits and stuff like people and naked chicks. If I’m drunk and like someone has a spray can or something ill like to write my name on the wall. But I’m not really out trying to get fame or risking to getting into trouble. I’d say at my age right now I’d feel like a jackass if I got arrested for that. It would be hard to explain to my kid and stuff that that was something worth getting arrested for that.

OCCG: Does your daughter or any other family members contribute to your tour?
MA: Inspiration just to have a career and have money. That would be her; up until then I was okay getting by with the bare minimum and now that isn’t really an option.

OCCG: Going back to your demographic. You kind of talked about how there are a lot of pretty girls. It seems like your music represents LA or California imagery. What is your opinion on the stereotype?

MA: Definitely California, Hollywood and Los Angeles because it’s all I know. I was born and raised here. As far as stereotypes I definitely joke but I mean I’m in there too. I’m a stereotype for someone else. None of the joking is meant to hurt anyone’s feelings. So I don’t think the joking is that bad it’s all just kind of one giant thing and like it’s all kind of funny. Like I said I think I joke on myself just as much as anybody else. And the people or the so called stereotypes or joking about a lot of those are my fans and they are obviously are not joking about it. Because you know the song ‘so rich so pretty” I didn’t think anyone’s feelings would get hurt about it but girls will claim like ‘oh that’s about me’ but it’s like (laughs) well not all of it is so positive. It’s like a joke on themselves too.

What advice would you give to starting artists?
Advice, I don’t know it’s weird. Again with any kind of arts… you choose…. if you have a dream to make money off of art. You know that could go either way, that’s a hard thing. Like I never really planned on that, so I’d say I’m lucky in the fact that it worked out.

I would say if you like art make it. Do it and do it the best you can. But you might need to get another job in order to… you don’t want to be a starving artist I mean that’s pretty cliché, but you might need to be for a while like you might have to wash dishes. I don’t know if you can make money through art that’s awesome. I could never tell somebody that that would work out for them.

Making money and you know having a job is always going to be a pain in the ass. You have to come to terms that supporting yourself and family is always going to be work and it might not be fun. If you could do that and make money, good for you. If not get a job that takes up as little time as possible and it then allows you to do what you like to do.

OCCG: So when you were a starting artist what did you do on the side?
MA: I mean I drug dealt for most of my life but I… I worked at a bagel shop, frame shop; I did construction for a minute. I mean stupid shit. I mean basically the jobs that would take you with no experience and that paid minimum wage. I worked at a community college for a minute and I got to be a writing tutor. That was the one I liked, I made nine an hour which was insane because at the time minimum wage was like five bucks so I thought that was awesome. But I made 9 an hour and I taught kids how to write and I didn’t even know any of the rules or anything I just read enough books where I knew if it was a good sentence is or not. So that was cool, my teacher and school let me do it even though I couldn’t pass the test. So I liked that job. But you know just stupid shit that you could eventually walk out of.

OCCG: So when the tour comes to an end, what’s next for you? Can we expect another album?
MA: Definitely I have an EP coming out real soon and we are about to do a video for one of the songs. We are going to put out you know two or three song EPs out in a row and then the album will be basically putting them all together.

So I have that then I have all the shows coming up and now for summer. I mean Orange County, San Juan Capistrano July 6 that’s all ages. That the local one. Then I go to Toronto on Friday, pretty much covering America and a little bit of Canada and we go to Australia in October. That’s for music and I still paint and I want to bring that out more. And I want to do some shows and make some live prints. So I’d like to do that.

And I’ve been working on old cars like hot rods and stuff and getting into that a lot…So I have a few cars I’m working on right now, like I have a 61 actually, 2 Chevy Impalas, a white one and a black one and a 68 Cadillac. So that’s just what I’m working on right now.

OCCG: What’s your favorite drink of choice?
MA: I switch that up like ill have vodka phase or whiskey phase. Right now I like Jameson and Ginger Ale that’s good for me.

OCCG: Have you played in OC before? If so what did you like about it? If not, what are you looking forward to?
MA: I think I’ve been kind of accepted out there. I even helped open up a room in a bar out there, at the tap house on Warner and Magnolia (In Huntington Beach). It’s called the Avalon room. (Opened in May)…

But it (performing) is the same everywhere we go, the only time it’s different every once in a while…
I try to have dancers and stuff at all the shows. If I don’t bring my own dancers we are using Go Go Dancers from the clubs. That’s going to be different from different towns but it’s pretty much the same.

The fact that this one is all ages is cool.

The Los Angeles indie rock duo Capital Cities, will continue to ‘dance with strangers’ with Orange County at the Anaheim House of Blues on Wednesday, June 5.

According to Capital Cities official site, “Their electronic-infused pop rock represents all that is right in modern music making, and makes the perfect soundscape for a day at the beach or a night in the dark part of town, as long as you’re ready to dance.”

The bands’ tour “Dancing with Strangers” includes eclectic music from their debuted EP and forthcoming album, “In a Tidal Wave of Mystery.”

Widely known for their single “Safe and Sound,” the frontmen of Capital Cities, Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian are continuously making their name known in the entertainment industry.

United through a post on craigslist, in 2008 Merchant and Simonian began working together as jingle writers. Years of success in such a department introduced them to music from led to the creation of multiple music melodies and the official formation of their band Capital Cities.

Released in 2011, the bands’ self-composed EP consists of five songs. After self-financing a radio campaign and tour for the debuted album, their popularity continued to grow in size.

The duo captured the attention of audiences from Europe, the States and Hollywood celebrities. In May 2012, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton claimed them to be “the best band in Los Angeles at the moment!”

Shortly after the recognition from Hilton, the band signed and re-released their EP with respected label company, Capitol Records in December 2012.

The bands’ single “Safe and Sound” currently stands as the second most popular song on Germany’s Billboard top 100, iTunes’ fifth most popular alternative song in the United States and is continuously rising on Billboards nationwide top 100.

“Farrah Fawcett’s hair,” the most recent single from the upcoming album has recently been leaked on the web. The song features OutKast’s Andre 3000 and vocalist Shemika Secrest.

The band will continue to dance with strangers through the month of November as the tour continues throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico.

Much is anticipated for the band as their first full length album, “In a Tidal Wave of Mystery” will be released this Tuesday (June 4) and their first debut television performance will take place this Thursday (June 6) on Conan.

Featuring an intimate show with pianos, guitars, and emotional music, Rachael Yamagata will be accompanied by Michael Chaves and Sanders Bohlke at the Observatory’s Constellation Room on Wednesday, June 26.

Yamagata’s ability to tie emotion into her songs has captured the attention of the entertainment industry since the release of her first full-length album Happenstance in 2004.

Since then the 35-year-old singer has made multiple appearances on television series The O.C., 30 Rock and One Life to Live and has also been featured through Grey’s Anatomy, How I met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars, etc.

Leaving Warner Music Label in 2011, Yamagata self-produced her most recent full-length album Chesapeake and EP Heavyweight through her label company Frankenfish Records.

Orange County Concert Guide spoke with Rachael Yamagata to learn more about her inspirations, achievements and music.

OCCG: How would you personally describe your music? How is it different than other artists in your genre?

RY: Cinematic articulation of heartache with a quest to connect with one another. I draw much from the storytellers of the 70s – Carole King, Roberta Flack, Stevie Nicks, Ricki Lee Jones – for the classic sensibility to the lyric itself etc, but I’m all over the map with musical influences. Nick Cave, Tom Waits, French romance…they’re so many elements I’m inspired by. How am I different? I think my greatest gift is something in the way I pinpoint particular relationship emotions and can articulate them – it starts some sort of healing process.

OCCG: What can fans expect when attending your live show? What does your setlist consist of?

RY: For this round we are touring as a duo, but have really experimented with arrangements that get to the meat of the song. Michael Chaves is with me and he’s literally acting as a one man rhythm section as well as guitarist, keys etc. I’m playing some electric as well as acoustic and piano and we’re both singing. Fans can expect that intimacy of a song when I strip it down, but colored in really interesting ways. We’re doing songs from all of my releases.

OCCG: Do you have a favorite song to perform? If so, what song and why?

‘Sunday Afternoon’ and ‘Has It Happened Yet’ are really fun for me right now. I’m performing them in a new way and it’s a bit scary (which keeps it fresh for me). They both have some great builds that I can really get lost in…

OCCG: What are you looking forward to when playing at the Constellation Room in Santa Anna? If you have played in Orange County before, how is it different than other places you have toured?

I believe this will be the first time I’ve played in Orange County in quite some time. I’m always excited about inspiring locations for music and an Observatory seems like it’s going to be right up my alley.

OCCG: As an artist you have made multiple appearances on television shows, toured and collaborated with a variety of artists, and have performed for the President. What has been your defining moment in your career thus far?

Having all my parents watch me open a show at Madison Square Garden. It was the first time my parents and step parents were all at the same show..It meant a lot…

OCCG: You released your first album Happenstance in 2004, after 9 years how do you think you have grown as an artist’s? What have you learned through your career?

The music really is the best answer for the ‘artist’ part – how it’s changed, evolved etc.. I’ve learned to trust my instincts more and that I’m capable of so much more than I knew. Resilience, work ethic, drive, integrity, inspiration – all have been priceless to me throughout the years.

OCCG: What or who influences your music?

RY: Along with what I noted previously, people do – watching them, trying to understand what goes on inside us and between us as we try to reach out to one another. Nature, travel…

OCCG: What are your plans for 2013? Can we expect any new albums?

RY: This tour will be the wrapping up of about 2 years on the road and my final U.S. tour for a bit. I’m planning on another trip to Asia in the fall and hopefully back in the studio by the end of the year.

OCCG: Outside of music, what are some of your hobbies? What do you enjoy doing on your off time?

RY: Honestly, there is never any off time. I’m obsessed with HGTV and it helps me plug into another side of my brain. I’d love to find a house and build/renovate it all. For now though, it’s all about record making, touring, planning etc. etc..

OCCG: Anything else you would like to add for your fans?

RY: Just that I’m so grateful to them for listening and spreading the word about my music. Much much love to them. xoxo