Ever wonder what would happen if four drunk, crazy, yet musically talented kids broke out of a mental hospital? If The Psychotics are any indication, they would create some of the most melodic, heart felt, and genuine punk music Los Angeles has ever produced. Leader of the gang is daft frontman Steve “Psycho” Lopez, who …
Downset emerged from the streets of Los Angeles in the early 90a
From the sandy, peaceful shores of San Diego comes a sound so aggressive and hard, it can only be labeled as heavy metal. The band I am writing about is Dr. Chunk. This hardcore quartet features singer Tighe Werntz, guitarist Eric Beard, bassist Jeff Simpson, and drummer Mikey Neil. Together, they create a powerful and …
The melding of the visual arts and music has been around since man learned to use his imagination. And recently, more and more bands have incorporated art and theatrics into their shows. For example, Los Angeles groups such as Downset, The Shapeshifters, and The Visionaries all make public knowledge their affiliation with graffiti and urban …
On Thurs., Jan. 24, 2002, the band that proclaims to be “Orange County's finest, ” (Hed)p.e., ripped up the stage at The Key Club in Hollywood. The boys were in fine form, and despite years of touring under their belt, had not lost any of the enthusiasm and energy that has made their live shows …
If you were told that a band decided to call themselves One.Five in remembrance of the 1.5 million people killed in the Armenian genocide, you might think they were an angry “political” band. But you would be wrong. This group of five Armenian-American guys produces music that is moody, yet peaceful. And to create these …
The members of L.A.-based band Drop 6 are a clever group of guys. When forming the group about a year ago, they had wanted the name Drop. They found out that five other bands had already staked their claim on that moniker, and so they simply decided to christen themselves Drop 6, since they would …
Mad Mike Jones has been a living legend in the world of motocross racing since the 70's. When he was approached to put his name on a compilation of hard rock songs, he would only agree to do it if all the tracks were as exciting and intense as his racing. And boy are they …
The band Chimaira got their name from a monster found in Greek mythology named Chimaera, who breathed fire and fear into the hearts of many. And on their newest release, Pass Out of Existence (Roadrunner), this band unleashes 14 monstrous tracks of woe and destruction on a world in need of some raw heavy metal. …
When a band lists Led Zeppelin as one of their biggest influences, you may expect them to play druggy rock anthems. But the Southern California band Speak No Evil would prove you wrong. Their sophomore release, Welcome to the Downside (Abrupt/Universal), is a stellar mixture of harmony, aggression, and emotion, the likes of which eludes …