PopBuff

Don McLean plays the Coach House Dec. 14

Capture the beautiful and timeless music of American music icon of Don McLean on Sat, Dec. 14 at The Coach House.

The first time I heard about Don McLean when I was about 10 years old. I was just testing some Long Playing Vinyl records from my uncle’s collections and when I played it, I instantly loved it. I would usually skip the tracks if I didn’t like a specific song but I played the whole album of “American Pie.” Of course, American Pie was a monster hit but my absolute favorite is “Vincent.” Being a 10-year old you still don’t understand the lyrics of the song but it was the catchy tune that made me fall in love with the song and also encouraged made to play the hit on the piano.

Don McLean who is defined by his perennial hit “American Pie” also became part of an American pop culture. The eight-and-a-half-minute folk-pop inspired by the tragic death of Buddy Holly reached number-one in 1972 for four weeks in the US. And the song “Vincent” is a tribute to Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, which describes Van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Night.” “Other songs that I really enjoy in McLean’s magnum opus album,” American Pie” are “Till Tomorrow” and “Empty Chairs.”

Described as a skillful storyteller and an icon of his generation, McLean was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. The American Pie has even been recorded by Madonna in the year 2000.

My opinion is that Don McLean’s timeless songs should also be included in some music history classes. McLean’s lyrics are exquisite and you can feel his emotions through his words. Today’s youth should be exposed to his music because it is a true treasure. His enigmatic lyrics can be interpreted in many ways.

Known for her raspy voice, outlandish sense of style, contemporary R&B genre and massive hit “I Try” is going to groove The Coach House on Sun, Nov. 10.

In 1999 she released her first album “How Life Is.” The album reached multi-platinum which included her first single “I Try.” Gray won a Grammy in 2001 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance knocking over Christina Aguilera (What a Girl Wants), Madonna (Music), Aimee Mann (Save Me), Joni Mitchell (Both Sides Now) and Britney Spears (Oops!… I Did It Again).

The eccentric artist and soulful singer has collaborated with some of music’s greatest talents including Justin Timberlake, Carlos Santana, and will.i.am, to name a few. She has also appeared in films like “Training Day” and “Spider Man” and danced her way in the ninth season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Born in Canton, Ohio Gray studied classical piano for seven years and been highly influenced with the music of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and old school hip-hop. Gray’s genre has appealed to audiences of all colors because of her funky beat and unusual voice. Lezlee Murrey, a fan of Macy Gray’s music says, “She’s funky and marches to the beat of her own drum.. Love her unique jazzy, raspy sound and crazy look! Makes me get out of my work-week and party like a rock star all weekend long!”

Aside from “I Try” my favorite track and video is “Beauty in the World” from the fifth album “The Sell Out.” The song is such a positive and feel good lyrics and the video reminds me of the 1981 Mickey video of Toni Basil. “Beauty in the World” was also featured in the finale series of the popular tv show “Ugly Betty.”

With her funky beat and get out of your seat show, Grey will help you get back that good ol’ feelings and groove you all night long.

PopBuff.com

America live at the Coach House Oct. 12

America has been entertaining us for more than three decades. Relive the hits we all know on Sat, Oct. 12, at The Coach House. Their collection of songs will surely be enjoyed by all.

America is best known for their folk rock staples of the 70s. An English-American band formed in London in 1970, the group originally consisted of Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. They became a music chart sensation in 1972 and won a Grammy award for Best New Artist. The band was barely out of their teens when they charted a number of top ten hits including the number one hit “A Horse with No Name”. To this day, America is loved by many fans. In 2012, they were recognized as a Walk Of Fame honoree.

I grew up in a family of music enthusiasts. My uncle owned a jukebox business in the 70s. My baby boomer cousins listened to AM radio when FM was not mainstream yet, and my mom who just generally loves music gave me a lot of exposure to 70s music including the hits from America. I remember those days when my uncle Radie repaired juke boxes. He used worn out 45 vinyl record to test juke boxes were working and ready for pick up. Having that business, we would have not just hundreds of single 45 records but thousands stacked in a cabinet. My cousins would play “A Horse with No Name,” “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Lonely People,”, and “Tin Man” on our humongous wooden stereo. We invited our friends over just to listen to the songs. These songs were so memorable they stayed in your head all day. Of all America’s songs, my favorites are “Sister Golden Hair,” “Ventura Highway” and their 80s hit “You Can Do Magic.”

Cora Gallardo, who looks forward to watching America at the Coach House on Oct. 14 recalls, “In college (an all girls school), one of my classmates would bring a guitar to class. When our professors were running late, we would sing A Horse With No Name which eventually became our class song.” Ben Villanueva, another fan of America, commented, “Their songs are classics. We would play guitar and sing the songs whenever we would go camping. Their music was always playing in the car when we would go on long drives”.

America’s songs are beautifully crafted. The guitar riffs are soothing and you can tap your feet to them. I was about six years old when I was introduced to this excellent music. Now I’m 44 and have 3 boys and their music still stands up well after several decades.

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Don’t miss Bon Jovi Oct. 9 at the Honda Center in Anaheim

Get ready for Bon Jovi’s “Because We Can: The Tour” on Oct. 9 at Honda Center in Anaheim. The tour is named after the lead single from the studio album “What About Now.”

It’s been almost 30 years since they released their studio album “Slippery When Wet” and went straight to commercial success. This glam metal rock band from New Jersey has come a long way from Poodle perms and Spandex in the mid-80s to surviving Grunge, Britpop, Alt/modern rock and other genres. Bon Jovi has been cranking out hits and headlining stadiums for all these years because of their timeless songs and memorable melodies that are still exciting to hear today. The band has produced several number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100: “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Bad Medicine,” and “I’ll Be There for You.” According to Wikipedia, Bon Jovi sold more than 130 million records worldwide.

In the 80s, the Jersey rockers launched a thousand teen magazine covers and have driven their fans to tears and cheers. I remember during my teen years, I used to buy a lot of youth oriented publications from fashion magazines like Teen, Seventeen, YM, Young Miss to Tiger Beat, Star Hits and Bop. After school, my childhood friends and I would walk to Thrifty or Woolworth in Montebello and just hang out at the magazine rack. We browsed through fan magazines and got all giddy looking at shiny full page pin-ups of our idols like Bon Jovi while having a double scoop of thrifty ice cream.

Concert enthusiast, Cameron Scheuplein said, “One of my favorite concerts this season, Bon Jovi never ceases to amaze me. When they play their older albums, they bring new life to those old songs.” Bon Jovi will once again seduce their audience with both recent and nostalgic mega hits and will continue to set the bar with an innovative high tech production and state of the art concert.

Wang Chung play at the Coach House August 17

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Even if you’re not an ’80s baby, you must have heard of Wang Chung (it means “yellow bell” in Mandarin language). “C’mmon Everybody,” Wang Chung on Saturday, August 17 at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Wang Chung songs have been in the sound tracks of movies like “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” and tv series like “Sex and the City” and “Glee” and even a Progressive Insurance commercial.

I was 15 the first time I heard about Wang Chung when they released their second album “Points on the Curve” which consist of the hit song “Dance Hall Days.” The English New Wave band composed of Nick Feldman and Jack Hues found their success with the song “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” which reached number two in 1986 and “Let’s Go” which reached number nine in 1987. These are classic 80s songs which still sound as great today as they did 27 years ago.

I remember the catch phrase at that time was “Everybody Wang Chung tonight.” Although these songs were hits, my most favorite song of Wang Chung was “Hypnotize Me” which was the soundtrack of the film “Innerspace” starring the “It” couple of the late 80s Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid. “Hypnotize Me” has a blend of danceable track, pop rock and new wave.

I remember when I used to listen faithfully to Casey Kasem’s top 40, I was so disappointed when the song “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” didn’t reach number 1 which is an equivalent feeling when you’re rooting for your sports team and they lost. Listening to WC’s songs reminds me of my happy times with my friends where we talked about boys, clothes, music and our fave actors.

This is your time to revisit your youthful memories.

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Long before R&B crooners like John Legend, Brian McKnight and Babyface, was the iconic singer/songwriter/producer James Ingram. The well-respected artist known for his easy listening hits “One Hundred Ways,” and number one hits – duet with Patti Austin, 1983’s “Baby, Come to Me” and his 1990 solo “I Don’t Have the Heart” will perform a benefit concert at Laguna Beach’s Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Master on August 24.

The soulful singer started his career performing with the short-lived band Revelation Funk in the early 70s. During the early 80s Ingram earned triple Grammy nominations and won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his work on “One Hundred Ways.” In 1985, he won Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for “Yah Mo B There”, a duet with Michael McDonald.

Being an 80s kid, I remember my mom loved listening to ballads. She enjoyed especially going to bed at night and leaving her favorite FM station on until she fell asleep. When I stayed in her room, I recall how the station would play a lot of Ingram songs during those days with dedication from listeners. These are the memories that influence me to love James Ingram’s music today.

Some of his notable hits that are my favorites are “Just Once,” “How Do you Keep the Music Playing,” “One Hundred Ways,” and of course “Somewhere Out There,” the theme song from Steven Spielberg’s movie, “ An American Tail.” He also co-wrote with Quincy Jones, the top 10 hit P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), performed by the late Michael Jackson from his “Thriller” album. The Ohio native also played piano for the legendary Ray Charles recording studio sessions.

Described as one of the most passionate soul crooners, his music never gets old, never goes out of style and gives a lasting impression to your heart. Whether you’re visiting a piano bar/lounge or chillin’ out on your bed or having a romantic dinner with your significant other, his songs always set the mood. His voice is so rich and breathtaking, that sometimes while listening to his songs you can’t help get emotional and teary-eyed.

If you like inspirational, ballad, R&B, soul or just simply soothing feel good music, see him at The Pageant of the Master Benefit Concert, Laguna Beach on August 24.

Hall and Oates rock the Pacific Amphitheater August 8

America’s favorite duo, Hall and Oates will be performing at the Pacific Amphitheatre on August 8. Get ready to rock, thump and enjoy the classics you know and love.

How can you not love the music of Daryl Hall and John Oates? Their music resonates soulful harmony and catchy tunes that are perfect to dance to with a group or with your significant other. Their music permeated the ‘70s and ‘80s airwaves with rock and soul hits like “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Maneater,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” “Possession Obsession,” to name a few. In fact, there are two generations that embrace their music: Baby Boomers and Generation X.

From the early to mid-‘80s, I listened to every Hall and Oates hits on my Walkman and my humongous boombox while roller skating. Dancing and singing to their tunes with my childhood friends were such memorable years. The first Hall and Oates vinyl record I bought was Big Bam Boom in 1984. It included a string of hits, “Possession Obsession,” “Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid,” “Method of Modern Love,” “Dance on Your Knees,” and the number one song “Out of Touch.”

They have produced so many hits with genres of ballad, new wave, pop rock, R&B and just mainly happy good mood music that never gets old.

According to Wikipedia, Hall & Oates scored six U.S. number one singles, including “Rich Girl,” “Kiss on My List,” “Private Eyes,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” “Maneater” and “Out of Touch.” Because of their success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing the Everly Brothers.

In 1984, Hall and Oates won American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group beating Def Leppard, Men at Work and The Police. In 2011, Hall and Oates received a Music Icon Award from TV Land.

Up to this day, their musical legacy continues. Their music was featured in television series such as “Glee,” “Chuck,” “The Office” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and films like “The Wedding Singer” and “Anchorman.”