Bands

Social Distortion has been performing since the 1970s, in the days of Fullertons Jackson Browne, before Anaheims No Doubt was a glimmer in Gwen Stefanis eye. The Ultimate Bearhug has been together two years. Both, along with ska band Reel Big Fish and jazz vocalist Nancy Sanchez, are among those recognized at this years O.C. Music Awards. Theyre the acts were listening to now.
by PAMELA CHELIN
SOCIAL DISTORTION
JONNY WICKERSHAM Jonny Wickersham says he grew up all over Orange County, in cities including Fullerton, Anaheim and Costa Mesa. Its been more than a decade since the guitarist and backup vocalist joined legendary rockers Social Distortion, but Wickersham himself cant believe its been that long. How did that happen so fast? muses Wickersham. In the blink of an eye, its coming up on 13 years. One of the seminal punk-rock bands when it formed 35 years ago in Fullerton, Social Distortion continues to tour and record. Two albums in the 1990s went gold; an eighth studio album is slated for release this year. The current roster is composed of frontman Mike Ness, the only original member, on lead vocals and lead guitar; Brent Harding on bass and vocals; David Hidalgo Jr. on drums; and Wickersham. Given his unsettled youth, its surprising that Wickersham ended up remaining committed to a band at all. I was doing so many drugs and running around like crazy in those daysmusic was the last thing that was important to me, he recalls. And I never had the patience to do anything that 14 WHEREOC.COM SPRING 2013
required focus. I loved music, and Id daydream about being in bands, but if I didnt have the help of my friends and the people I made music with, Id never have done it. Im lucky to have had those people in my life. Wickersham describes himself in those earlier times as an outsider and troublemaking juvenile-delinquent kid who was always in trouble at school and didnt get along with the kids who were into sports and had money. He grew up in a household with a guitarplaying father who didnt like punk rock. It was a friend hed met at a video arcade named Jethro, he recallswho introduced him to the genre. He played me records by the Clash, Stiff Little Fingers and the Buzzcocks, and it tripped me out. It was the weirdest-sounding music, eerie and discordant, but cool. I connected with the whole thing and embraced it, says Wickersham. For me and for thousands of other kids, it was vindication from a world of feeling alienated. Wickersham played in several bands including the Cadillac Tramps, with whom he still plays, and was a huge fan of Social Distortion. He joined the band full time after playing some European dates with it as a replacement for original member Dennis Dannell, who died of a brain aneurysm. Social D is one of my favorite bands of all time, Wickersham says. I love to play guitar, and Im grateful that this is my job." The band, he continues, "isnt just about entertainment. The songs are about experiences that everybody has. Even back in the 80s, youd say, This is a punk band, but there is an element of Americana to it, like Woody Guthrie. That's why Social D has connected to so many people, including me.

the buzz on

Left to right: Social Distortion's Jonny Wickersham, frontman Mike Ness, Brent Harding and David Hidalgo Jr.

REEL BIG FISH

AARON BARRETT Im definitely not the king of ska, Reel Big Fish lead singer Aaron Barrett says of the nickname given to him by his fans. Im not sure why that gets thrown around. There are a lot more important people in ska music than me. Im just a ska kid. Born in Pasadena but raised in Huntington Beach, founding member Barrett began fronting the ska band in 1993 when the original singer left. Albums include Turn the Radio Off, which went gold, and Candy Coated Fury, released last summer.

Above: Aaron Barrett, surrounded by members of Reel Big Fish. Below: Latin jazz vocalist Nancy Sanchez. Opposite: Barrett Johnson and Doll Knight of the Ultimate Bearhug.

Initially, not everyone was keen on the bands fishy name. We named the band Reel Big Fish because we liked the movie The Fisher King, says Barrett. Reel Big Fish sounded more original. Our then bass player said, We have to change our name. Everyones laughing at us. I thought it was a great name. And its funny, because we dont even fish, but we get asked if we fish all the time.

Band FA VES
Jonny Wickersham SHOPS AT // Guitar Doctor, Fountain Valley EATS AT // Native Foods, Costa Mesa LISTENS AT // Detroit Bar, Costa Mesa Aaron Barrett SHOPS AT // Buffalo Exchange, Costa Mesa EATS AT // Sakura, Huntington Beach LISTENS AT // The Observatory, Santa Ana

SOCIAL DISTORTION

ULTIMATE BEARHUG

REEL BIG FISH, ROB INDERRIEDEN. SANCHEZ, TERENCE M. LOVE

TREVER HOEHNE. PREVIOUS PAGE, DANNY CLINCH

REEL BIG FISH

Barrett Johnson, Doll Knight SHOP AT // Buffalo Exchange, Costa Mesa EAT AT // Felix Continental Cafe, Orange LISTEN AT // The Observatory, Santa Ana

NANCY SANCHEZ
SHOPS AT // Roadkill Boutique, Fullerton EATS AT // The Gypsy Den, Anaheim LISTENS AT // Steamers, Fullerton

Despite being the bands frontman, Barrett says he is bashful. I am shy, self-conscious and awkward, but I love being onstage and playing shows. he says. Being there in front of people, I am not scared. That is how I wish I could feel all the time. In further lead-singer irony, Barrett doesnt like his singing voice. Its the only voice I have, but I dont love it. For years, I was constantly dehydrated, and my voice always hurt. For 10 years, I had a sore throat every day because I would only drink Diet Coke and not water. What was I doing? I was an idiot. Though the band has had great success, Barrett is just happy that its survived in todays pop climate. I feel so lucky, he says. Im doing what I love, and not many people can say that. I appreciate it now more than ever. After 15 years, to still tour the world ... is incredible and amazing. I want to do it as long as people will keep paying to see us. As long as I can do it, Ill keep doing it. I dont want to be an adult yet.... I just want to keep doing this.

THE ULTIMATE BEARHUG

BARRETT JOHNSON, DOLL KNIGHT Though they have only been playing music together for two years, Santa Anas Doll Knight and Oranges Barrett Johnson, the pair behind folk pop duo the Ultimate

Bearhug, found a special chemistry that eclipsed their other musical endeavors. It was just more fun playing with Bearhug than the projects we were doing, says Johnson. Although Knight is 21 years old and Johnson 35, the age difference seems to work in their favor. We don't ever think about it, Knight says. But Im sure it contributes to our songwriting to have that gap in our experiences. It could work as either an upper hand or disadvantage, but mostly we think its really great. As for her unusual first name, Doll, Knight says she was named after her grandmother Dolores. Im sure there are people who think Im a weird, small, self-obsessed girl, but that is not the case, she says. If anyone knew me for five minutes, theyd know I'm the furthest thing from a Barbie doll. Currently touring to promote their first independent release, South of Los Angeles, the hard-working duo collaborated every step of the way on the writing process, and both are sticklers for detail. Wed meet twice a week for five or six hours at a time, Johnson says. Sometimes we could spend that six hours and only get one line out of it. Weve spent months on a single song. The Ultimate Bearhugs writing style is inspired by a long line of storytellers, and the band strives to continue that tradition. We're

into storytelling, says Johnson. We both read quite a bit and we both love film. We both like bands and artists who seem timeless, like Billie Holiday and old jazz singers. We could find a few songwriters from each strong era of music who we think are great, ranging from Chet Baker to Bob Dylan to Fiona Apple, adds Knight. "We admire great songwriters and hope to learn from them and to achieve the same with our music.

NANCY SANCHEZ
Singer Nancy Sanchez was born in Mexico, grew up in Anaheim and lives in Fullerton. Raised in a musical family where she was exposed to mariachi music and Spanishlanguage rock and pop, Sanchez knew when she was 4 that she wanted to be a singer. Despite her Latin-music-infused environment, years at a mariachi school and playing with her schools bands, it was jazz that ultimately captured Sanchezs heart. The first time I heard Ella Fitzgerald scat, I fell in love and said, This is what I want to do, Sanchez recalls. She also lists Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson and Billie Holiday, as well as be-bop and swing, among her inspirations. Sanchez sees jazz as a metaphor for life, which she says is about improvising every day. I love the freedom of jazz, which is all about finding your identity and your voice.

Having played live shows for six years, Sanchez is putting the finishing touches on her first full-length record, Ruby in L.A., a follow-up to her self-titled EP released in 2010. For her second release, which includes elements of her Latin upbringing and more contemporary writing, Sanchez raised $15,000 on Kickstarter. This one has both Latin and jazz influences, says Sanchez. Its more on the pop and indie songwriter side. I have a couple of tracks in Spanish, she says. Ive been listening to more Latin artists, I watched the Latin Grammys, and I was inspired by the Latin artists coming up. In the back of my head, I felt I wanted my project to have a lot more Spanish, because I can, and I owe it to everyone to also sing in espaol.

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CLASSICAL Rene and
Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Curvilinear Cesar Pellidesigned hall in Costa Mesa is praised for both its elegance and acoustics. p. 48 Cabaret seating, dramatic lighting and excellent acoustics next to Segerstrom concert hall make for an intimate classical experience. p. 48

BEST PLACES TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC

JAZZ Steamers Jazz

CHAMBER Samueli Theater

Club and Cafe Cool club in Fullerton streams unbeatable jazz nightly and late-night. Sunday jam sessions. p. 58

A live-performance lineup including comedy and cabaret is presented at the intimate black-boxstyle theater adjacent to the original Segerstrom Hall. p. 48

CABARET Founders Hall

The spot in Santa Ana, formerly known as the Galaxy Concert Theatre, presents touring artists nightly. p. 48

POPULAR The Observatory

Shimmering new Western-themed saloon has a stateof-the-art concert stage and sunken dance floor. p. 32

COUNTRY The Ranch

Anaheim The food, drinks, bayou ambience and, most important, the music, always rock at the Downtown Disney venue. p. 47

ROCK House of Blues

Renovated cinema house in Santa Ana presents the hottest DJs from around the globe. p. 58

ELECTRONIC Yost Theater

Dana Point's newest live-music venue serves up live world, reggae, rock and salsa bandsnot to mention a classic Americana menu and handcrafted cocktailsseven nights a week. p. 58 Ashley Eckenweiler

WORLD Still Water

Downscale-decomeets-roadhouse bar offers the best local and nationally acclaimed bands. Free shows on Mondays. p. 57

INDIE ROCK Detroit Bar

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