We have a new name! Well kinda…. LBPP has been going strong with music events in Long Beach since 2003, and this year we decided to reinvent ourselves. All of our music blogging, videos, pictures, articles, mp’3, and reviews will now be found at LongBeachIndependent.com. In the next few weeks we will revamp THIS site as our exclusive Long Beach booking portal which will allow bands to sign up to be booked by local venues as well as for private events and much more. We hope you continue to support Long Beach music and look for the new LBPP Booking site soon!

Since moving to Long Beach, Ca from Boston the guys of Audible Mainframe have made a good name for themselves with their blend of “future throwback hip hop” which lead singer Exposition describes as “…that east coast boom bap , but the future is like us trying to put our own spin on it…” Audible Mainframe is a live hip hop band that exudes a unique chemistry between it’s group members which makes for an exciting and energetic stage performance.  Backed by an excellent band, lead singer Expo knows how to work the crowd and get everyone on their feet jumpin’. Even though most would categorize Audible Mainframe as a “hip hop” band, they are really much more then that and, despite the label, I have heard many people say stuff like , “I don’t like hip hop, but these guys are great!”.

In 2010 the group got bad news that lead singer Expo was diagnosed with cancer. Soon after he flew back to Boston for treatment and to be with family, putting the breaks on all the momentum the group gained. Since then, somehow, they put together  this EP and have released it under the name “the VICtory Sessions Vol. 1″ in honor of their lead singer Victor [Expo]. It is comprised of 5 tracks, some of which will sound familiar if you are an AMF fan, and others like “Children of the Revolution” which has an “instant classic” feel to it as well as a powerful message. The EP is part of an intended series that will help raise money for future albums as well as a portion going toward cancer research. The band is asking people to “pay what they want” and you can find it for sale exclusively on their website and Soundcloud. Check out my favorite jam off this album, “Children of the Revolution”, below as well as a video and interview we did with AMF in 2010.

 
Children Of The Revolution by AudibleMainframe

The Aggrolites, an Orange County based reggae/ska band will be taking the stage at Alex’s Bar for a New Year’s Eve party here in Long Beach. Performing all around Orange County for the better part of a decade, The Aggrolites came together in 2002 when an old reggae and ska band decided to join forces. The band began performing all around the area including Long Beach apartments, homes, and other small bars, while soon garnering some attention from record labels.

The guys will be joined by special guest openers, as well as DJ Goodfoot and DJ Oldboy to spin music in between sets. Alex’s Bar will offer up the opportunity to take in the New Year with one of the area’s great reggae bands, as well as some other great music and activities throughout the night. The Aggrolites released a debut album in 2003, going on to sign a record deal in 2005 and releasing four great albums since. Continuing to grow, the band has opened for major bands such as Slightly Stoopid, Dropkick Murphys and Against Me, to name a few. Aside from touring with great bands, they’ve also collaborated with Tim Armstrong from Rancid on his acclaimed solo album in  2007.

Every year LBPP holds our annual holiday toy drive where all the people that made this year of music in the LBC come together to donate toys to local kids and families in need and rock out with a drink and great local music on the stage. The show was held at Clancy’s Irish Pub this year who graciously donated a percentage of the bar’s proceeds to charity as well. On stage was local bands Paper City and Pink Octopus and Daniel the Turtle from Supa Pirate Booty Hunt was in Santa gear to take pics. This year we raised over 50 toys to donate to local charity Christian Outreach In Action and the need was pretty large this year, so we were just happy to help. Check out video from our party as well as their toy give away! Merry Giftmas!

Make sure to check out local folk-rockers The Brook Lee Catastrophe tonight, December 2nd at Clancy’s Irish Pub in downtown Long Beach. They will be selling their brand new album Motel American on limited vinyl. Make sure to pick up a copy at the show which starts at 9pm and is FREE! Go out tonight and support great local Long Beach music! You can find more info and listen to tracks from Brook Lee Catastrophe on their Official Facebook.

Come check out the best in Funky, Hip Hop Jazz and Reggae, this weekend at The Mirage Cafe–539 E. Bixby Road, Bixby Knolls, CA.

MajicBulletTheory

MBT rocks Friday Nite from 7:30-to 10Pmish–$5 suggested donation–featuring its killer 7 member line up, playing the Funkiest in Hip Hop Jazz….

The ComeUnityBand

ComeUnity Band and Recaptive Souls are two of the finest Roots Reggae groups in the area!!! They play from 7:30-10PMish on Saturday Nite.

Check Out MBT on Bandcamp

Join Us on Facebook:

MajicBulletTheory

The ComeUnity Band

Recaptive Souls

Recaptive Souls

The Mirage Cafe

Shows at The Mirage Cafe, November 18-19

Skate giants Volcom are treating Long Beach to a special FREE show featuring Strung Out & Death By Stereo as part of their “Volcom Give Back Series”. The show is part of an ongoing effort by Volcom’s Give Jeans A Chance program to help cloth the homeless in the United States and around the world by accepting donations of old jeans in exchange for things like merch, music, and, like this Saturday, free entry into a great show at a sweet venue. Give Jeans A Chance is looking to hit a goal of 50,000 jeans donated this year, and with so many effected by the downturn in the economy your jeans donation has a huge impact.

The show is this Saturday, September 10th at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach. Doors open at 8pm and if you bring a pair of jeans in GOOD condition you will receive free entry to see Strung Out with special guests Death By Stereo. Here is what Volcom says about the show:

“Volcom Entertainment will be onsite with a van for the donated jeans and once the venue has reached capacity, the doors will be closed and the Strung Out show will begin! Showing up with a bag of jeans doesn’t mean you can show up at 8:30pm and expect to get in…but it would rule for the cause. Best plan: show up at 7:00 with a bag of jeans.”

LBPP will be there to film the show as well as donate some old jeans and since we know how awesome the people of Long Beach are we expect a crazy turn out with hundreds of jeans to be donated! Come out this Saturday to support a great cause and see some awesome live music!

The local watering hole known as the Prospector has been home to tons of local bands as they have supported music in Long Beach for many many years. They always have a great line up of music each month and September is no exception. Here are a few stand out shows we though you might like!

Thursday, September 7th

Sassafras – http://www.facebook.com/sassafrassongs 

The Fox & Bear Band – http://www.facebook.comfoxandbearband

The Deepsea Goes – http://www.thedeepseagoes.com &  www.facebook.com/deepseagoes

Tuesday, September 13th

The Gospels – http://www.facebook.com/TheGospels 

Feral Kizzy – http://www.FeralKizzy.com & http://www.facebook.com/FeralKizzy

Saturday, September 24th

Beth Branches – http://www.facebook.com/BethBranchesMusic 

Brown and Blue – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brown-and-Blue/48983344584

The Brook Lee Catastrophe – http://www.thebrookleecatastrophe.com/

Thats right! The funk returns to Long Beach with the 3rd Annual Long Beach Funk Fest right in the heart of downtown LB. The Funk Fest is part of a summer long concert series called Summer And Music that boasts solar powered stages, all-ages free events, showcasing tons of great local talent. Last year almost 15,000 people descended upon the LBC for their intake of funk music from legends of the genre like Jimmy Castor, Weapon of Choice, and The Original Stone City Band. In addition to everyone’s old favorites there is plenty of new and upcoming funk bands to play as well.

This years line up includes:

Fred Wesley & The New JB’s

The Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown

Steve Arrington formerly of Slave

Zigaboo Modeliste of The Meters

Ronkat Spearman’s Katdelic

Str8 Funk (Patryce Choc’let Banks formerly of Graham Central Station)

Delta Nove

Pinot

All this great free music with a host of DJ’s to keep you moving throughout the day, it’s a Saturday in Long Beach you won’t want to miss. The festival starts at noon on Saturday, August 20th in Downtown Long Beach at the cross streets of Pine Ave and Broadway. It’s all about “Sustaining Our Future Through Funk” and to exemplify that moto all the acts will be playing on a solar powered stage and bring your own water bottles for the Free Water Filling Station courtesy of Green Long Beach & Catalyst Long Beach

There will also be an all night official after party being held at the Rhythm Lounge just steps from the main stage with some of your favorite funk performers jamming all night long and great drink specials to keep you movin!

LBPP.net will be there all day covering the event for everyone that misses it, but check out coverage from LAST yeas Funk Fest to get you in that funky mood!

The LA based Power Pop outfit One High Five has been making a name for themselves locally with a brand of rock, punk, surf, and indie pop that ignites into an explosion of raw power and sonic adventures. They are playing a show here in Long Beach and I decided to put the word out on what some have regarded as “a wall of sound with a glory hole in it”. If you are a sucker for fun loving tunes and a good time then check out their show this Wednesday, August 17th at Di Piazza’s. The show benefits local charity Invisible Children so its also for a good cause, but make sure to get there early for dinner cause these kids go on at 5:00 pm!