music

It’s hard to think about the iconic music of the 1980’s without remembering the award-winning Mtv music video for The Cars’ number one single, “You Might Think,” where a cartoonish representation of lead singer Ric Ocasek appears to model Susan Gallagher as a submarine, a robot monster and even King Kong. The image may seem silly now, but the music of The Cars helped shaped not only the sound of their own decade but has also inspired musicians ever since.

Local sound-alike classic rock cover band, Mrs. Jones’ Revenge, is doing their part to help support one of the valley’s most important organizations while spreading a little spooky Halloween spirit, with their “Zombie-Rock Apocalypse” Benefit for the Fine Arts Network on Sunday, October 26th.

When speaking to contemporary jazz musician and composer Brian Culbertson about his two decades of performing professionally, he seems genuinely grateful for being able to sustain a successful career while still being true to himself as an artist. Twenty years and sixteen albums later, Culbertson’s music has run the gamut of genres from smooth jazz to R&B to funk, depending on the time in his career or the album being recorded.

For such a small and close knit community, the Inland Empire offers unprecedented opportunities for cultural enrichment, including the one-of-a-kind artistic gem, the California Chamber Orchestra. Ranging from fifteen to thirty musicians, depending on the needs of the concert, the California Chamber Orchestra provides big-city caliber performances close to home.

Starting in 1935 in Buffalo, New York, The Modernaires, or The Mods, as they were known, rose to success in the late thirties and early forties, singing with the legendary Glenn Miller Band on such famous recordings as “Moonlight Cocktail,” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo.”

Before forming Soul Sacrifice in the late nineties, classically trained musician Rousseve regularly performed in a number of genres including rock, pop, Latin, classical, flamenco and country. Because of his resemblance to the band’s namesake, Rousseve decided to go ahead with the tribute and began searching for musicians to round out his vision.

When award-winning Opera Soprano Natalie Mann takes the stage in Old Town this weekend, she shares not only beautiful music but a full narrative about the circle of one woman’s life. Accompanied by pianist Ed Yarnelle, Mann will get the chance to show an audience what a full musical education can produce.

There’s good food and even better brews as local radio station 101.3 The Mix FM presents their second annual Music, Beer, Wine and Chili Festival this Saturday in Hemet.

The music of Trio Ellas is hard to describe, even for them. When they come to the Old Town Temecula Community Theater this week, Trio Ellas will showcase their mix of their most recent, as well as their classic, song selections.

If you weren’t able to make it to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands over the summer, the Old Town Temecula Community Theater has the next best thing. Continuing the Aloha Music Series which began last month, the weekend of August 29th and 30th has back to back performances by some of the biggest names in Hawaiian music.