Not to beat a dead horse... but Doheny Blues was awesome.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Doheny Blues Festival’s 13^th run through Dana Point’s Doheny State Beach last weekend was awesome. It came in like a pack of gypsies. Like a well-oiled machine of gypsies raised on a strict diet of blues, Blue Moon on tap and funnel cake. An overnight town appeared at Doheny State, with vendor tents selling everything from tie-dyed swag to vintage blues records tracing the border of the festival grounds, stages and food and beer caravans.

Sara, Amy and I took one for the team and covered the festival for the magazine. I’ll only mention the Saturday evening exploits here as I don’t want to talk you into a stupor. Here’s the blast-fast, full-color Guy Ritchie version of the day:

OPENING SCENE: The voice of Johnny Depp’s rockabilly crooner in Cry Baby, the voice of June Carter’s first husband in Walk The Line, voice coach to Nicholas Cage (who I like to refer to as Memphis Raines), and under-the-radar horror film favorite. Yes, I’m talking about the talented and oh-so-immaculately tailored James Intveld. This guy rocked the Backstage Porch at the festival and incited random outbreaks of line dancing throughout the crowd to boot-stompin’, head-noddin’ crowd. You can check out my blog on the LA native for more backstory. We went to talk to Intveld after his set and he was so kind as to give us his personal copy of a Dutch magazine he was featured in, signing the cover as the final touch.

[Photos by Sara Wilkins. Check out that dapper suit.]

INTERMISSION ENSUES AT THE FOOD ROW. BLUE MOON, JAMAICAN KABOBS AND A RUN-IN WITH OC GAZETTE FRIEND AND BLUES MUSICIAN CORY JOSEPH ARE INVOLVED.

ACT TWO: Jackie Greene on the Doheny green. Jackie Greene sings a song I became obsessed with after hearing it play over the speakers as I tried on wonky mis-stiched designerwear at Loehmann’s (gotta love that place). Jackie sings a lot of songs I’m obsessed with. It only takes listening to one of his songs. You’ll soon be dragged into the slew of other songs that make up his Americana, melodic blues portfolio. It started with “Prayer For Spanish Harlem” (hear it and more tracks here) and ended with us gals standing in a mob of sing-a-long fans bouncing like the dot on the lyric line to songs like “Shaken” and “Animal”. Rich Sherman, the event founder and official “big wig” at Omega Events, was the perfect host, showing Sara around the backstage for the perfect shots of Greene doin his thing.

[Before and behind, Jackie Greene in action. Photos by Sara Wilkins.]

SUBPLOT: In between Green’s set and the headlining act, I stopped at the best vendor tent at the gig (in my personal opinion). Gail Deculus-Johnson left her LA turf to bring her collection of African-American memorabilia, antiques and collectibles to the fest. I walked away with a vintage, original print promoting Cassius Clay’s “I AM THE GREATEST!” recording. It was hard to choose from all the worn and weathered posters and handbills of Sammy Davis, Louis Armstrong, and the rest. Her company is called Sable Images and you can peruse some of her merch here.

[The rad poster I picked up from Sable Images]

FINALE: To tell you the truth, the intended finale was kind of sidestepped by the bright light of the aforementioned acts. Intveld and Greene were bad opening acts. Bad in that they were good. Too good. By the time we made our way into the mob of people waiting to hear from the wail & howl, retro rock & blues sound of The Black Crowes, I was already sufficiently satisfied. Which means that the notes that emerged from the Valhalla/voice-box of Chris Robinson a few moments later sent me reeling into a new level of contentment.

[This guys pipes are from another world. A better world.]

[It was a fun day. Can you tell?]

Moral? Go next year. Don’t wonder whether it’s worth it. It is. Just ask Cory Joseph.

-Jen

On my iPod: Jackie Greene's "Shaken" a beautiful ode to California.

Rock the Runway

{left to right: Me, Francisco Barragan, Melissa Steepe, and Jennifer Hood (Art Director of The OC Gazette).}

Thanks to our friends over at Revolution Radio on 105.1fm, I won four tickets to attend Rock The Runway this year. Being in the magazine world you make a lot of wonderful and interesting friends. One such friend is the one-woman-PR-show also known as Ashley Eckenweiler. She’s the go-to girl for anything music related going on in OC. She does PR for the OC Music Awards, the Yost Theater, OsCene, (to name a few) and our topic of discussion - Rock the Runway.

Well Ashley, Bravo. What could have been a small, kitsch-y, college runway show was a production that looked like it belonged in LA’s fashion week as opposed to the Art Institute’s parking lot. The minute you got out of your car you were unsure if you were in the right place. Greeted by a black carpet, guests were ushered to the media wall for photos and then on into the school to pick up their passes and wristbands. Wristbands in hand, the guests made their way through the school to the “parking lot” where the adventure began. Professional quality lights, sound and cameras hung about the giant stage/catwalk, all being manned with the speed and ease of well seasoned pros by the army of event hands. Camped around the perimeter of the stage were booths and demonstrations galore: Paul Mitchell’s Model Search 2010, a Skateboarding demo, tons of food and two VIP tents.

{In the Silver VIP tent}

Being press, we had the silver VIP tent, and even if they offered me to go to the gold I would have stayed happily in the silver. Our tent was going off. The DJ was spinning all the tunes we wanted to hear, and those who weren’t happily eating, drinking and socializing were packed on the dancefloor. Free drinks and food (including a chocolate fondue fountain) kept everyone full and well watered and models from the runway show could be seen mingling amongst students, guests, and the occasional local celebrity (I saw Real Housewive of Orange County, Vicki Gunlavson and her entourage in our tent).

{Daniel Magana, the 1st place winner of the student fashion design competition hugging his model.}

The main event was the fashion show. On hand to judge the show and elect a winner was a guest panel made up of  Luis Brajas (Flaunt Magazine Editor-In-Chief), Mila Hermanovski (One of the final 3 designers on Project Runway Season 7), and Dina Cerchione (one of TV’s top wardrobe stylists and designers). Again, the students showed up looking less like 20-somethings and more like seasoned veterans. Each designer's line was carefully constructed with precision and detail. In many runway shows, the clothing seems more geared to further fashion as an art form that needs to be pushed to the outer limits of originality regardless of functionality or accessibility; at Rock the Runway, no originality or creativity was spared, but all the lines were clothing you looked at and said, “I want to wear that.” Each designer concocted their own perfect blend of inspiration and functionality for a runway show that thrilled the hundreds of attendees and even wowed the guest judges.

{Stryker with celebrity judge Luis Brajas}

The show was effortlessly MCed by KROQ’s Stryker, who looked unusually dapper in a penguin suit. The only time I remembered that I wasn’t in LA and was in fact in the Art Institute parking lot was when a brief power outage interrupted the fashion show. No one skipped a beat, however. The models kept strutting their stuff, oblivious to the technical difficulties, thriving off of the growing roar of cheers and clapping from the crowd.

{BLOK}

{The Raveonettes}

The night was closed out with the fulfillment of the “Rock” in “Rock the Runway” - a live show from Danish indie rock band The Raveonettes. The crowd was already primed and ready for the Nords, having just taken in the hip shaking beats of OC band BLOK. BLOK’s high energy show was only rivaled by The Ravonettes’. A dynamic duo of just lead singer/guitarist Sharin Foo and guitarist/bassist Sune Rose Wagner, you barely realize there isn’t a full backing band from the thick rock sound of songs like “Love In A Trashcan.”  My friends and I left the event like a bunch of chatty middle school girls, our excited conversation flying back and forth between exaltations of the fun that had just transpired and the loose planning of our future in the fashion world (starting with fashion school and wandering as far as the plotting of our Fall 2012 lines). 

- Amy

On my Blip.fm: Nancy Sinatra's "Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"

Dolphin City and Sol Cocina

Friday has finally come. It came about as fast as the two little daschund's I saw frantically trying to cross Crown Valley Pkwy this morning as fast as their stubby little legs could go as their owner forged ahead, dragging them along; But nonetheless it came. I admit, I am being a little melodramatic. This week had many highlights including getting to hang out with our good friends Mona Shah and Chef Deborah Schnieder at launch party for her new book, Amor y Tacos, last night. I understand that I have blogged about this book/event going on three times now, but they say if you say something three times people will remember it. And I'm telling you, you need to remember to either buy this book or visit Sol Cocina for a fabulous dinner overlooking the marina. The food at the party was amazing - and that is the understatement of the century. "Antojitos" were served, which are Mexico's version of hors d'oeuvres or appetizers. We had lamb, ceviche, guacamole, tacos, and more. And to wash it all down, watermelon margaritas made with fresh watermelon and basil served in a glass with a rim dipped in chili spices, mixed for each guest by the legendary mix-master Manny Hinojosa. All of the recipes are available in Chef Deborah's book, which we bought and had her sign. Seriously, get a copy. You'll be supporting local business, local community and your tastebuds.

{ Left: The lovely Mona Shah and I with Fran-Sancho as Chef Deb calls him. Sancho is a term used in Mexico for men who visit your wife while you're away from home. As used in the Sublime song, Santeria. Right: Chef Deb cooking up some amazing food. }

{ Sara Wilkins with Chef Deborah who she interviewed for The OC Gazette this month. Check out the piece here. }

I also drove up to KOCI 101.5FM's headquarters yesterday to sit in on a recording of Revolution Radio. We did a spotlight on this awesome local radio station a few weeks ago. They are based out of Costa Mesa/ Newport Beach and you can get their signal up to about the 133. We listen to them online for this reason (check it out here). They play everything from classic rock to new rock, alternative to blues, and they always support the local OC bands and artists. Last night in studio I got to hang out with the amiable members of Dolphin City. You might know the guys as Make Moon - they play under both monikers. They are a talented group of guys from Newport Beach who have been playing everywhere from jolly old England to LA. Not only are they talented musicians, they are just funny guys. They joked their way through the whole interview. It's always great meeting down to earth bands who put out great music but don't take themselves to seriously.They are currently recording and will be playing a show at the Boathouse Collective soon, a brand new (and amazing) venue in Costa Mesa. Check the website for details soon.

{ Dolphin City on air with Revolution Radio host Mike Wheaton. Photo by Sarah Buss}

{ The band and friends. Photo by Sarah Buss }

Check out the Revolution Radio facebook for more photos and links. Become a fan while you're at it. We have to support local radio.

And, if you're looking for something to do this weekend, might I suggest what I'm doing: Watching the Lakers game tonight. It's game 6 people, so get excited. Or my other plan: to head up to The Arc Light in Hollywood to see Exit Through The Gift Shop, the new documentary (or is it a mockumentary?) on street artist Banksy. 

Enjoy your Friday - you guys earned it. 

- Amy

On my iTunes: David Bowie's "Space Oddity"

Old Town Tustin Photography: Relay For Life

Today, the Gazette creatives headed north to quaint, historical Old Town Tustin to work on the photography for our upcoming special edition magazine, due to print this April. We are again partnering with the American Cancer Society to publish our 2nd annual Orange County Relay For Life Resource Guide, which will be available at all of the 2010 OC Relay events. This issue celebrates their new campaign: a world with less cancer is a world with more birthdays. Isn't that simply beautiful?

 [Blythe & Amy taking on the role of test models]

We had the honor of photographing survivors whose hope-inspiring stories will be published in the special edition. Stay tuned for more in the next few weeks as we continue to work on this project! Also, be sure to check out Relay For Life events in your home city; it's as easy as entering your zip code.

- Sara
On my iTunes: Ingrid Michaelson's "Mountain And The Sea"

Why Janice Arrington Loves OC

featuring OC FILM COMMISSIONER JANICE ARRINGTON

Our next installment of a month-long love letter to Orange County (entitled Why We Love OC) spotlights Janice Arrington, the woman who has single-handedly been heading up the OC Film Commission for over ten years. The OC Film Commission serves to facilitate filming and media production throughout our county. There's been quite a lot of filming in Orange County over the last several years-- from commercials to television episodics to blockbuster films like Iron Man, Transformers, and Ocean's 11, Janice has been the bridge between Hollywood directors and OC film spots. She was also kind enough to give us an inside look for our article on the History of Film in Orange County in this month's issue of The Gazette Magazine. 


Here's what Janice had to say about our lovely county:

“What awes me most about Orange County is its sheer physical beauty.  There is an openness—the sweep of the beaches, rolling hills, wide streets in front of shining buildings.  It is very beautiful and diverse.  That’s what also makes it a great place to film and photograph.”

-Janice Arrington, Orange County Film Commissioner

Stay tuned for more love letters from your favorite local celebs, professionals, athletes and more right here at The OC Gazette blog!

Dressember

Calling all our female readers: It is still not too late to jump on the Dressember bandwagon! What is Dressember, you ask? Well, pretty much exactly what it sounds like: Dressember is a month of dress-wearing. The idea is to wear a dress every day. It doesn't necessarily require different dresses (ie: repetition is allowed), simply that you wear a dress every day in December.

It started with a vision, and POOF! It became a reality. I dreamed it up a couple weeks ago and it's spreading like wildfire! Just look, the Gazette office is catching on:

(click on any photo to make it bigger)

United in our dresses we stand:

You can see a full recap by visiting my personal blog (click HERE).

We heartily invite you to join in on the Dressember magic! Email me your Dressember photos at blythe[at]theocgazette[dot]com, and I'll include you in our Dressember Wrap-up post at the end of the month!

Happy Dressember!

-Blythe

On my iTunes: The Union Line's "Goldmine" (they're playing at the Anaheim House of Blues this Friday, btw...See you there?)

Behind The Scenes: Cover Shoot for The Simons

On our ipod: The Shys' Hangman