Hip Trigger

Hip Trigger is the high energy dance\rock cover band for Southern California. The band was formed in June 2007, and it encompasses a unique collection of musical talent with experience dating back to the late 1970s. They bring together classically trained musicians and players with harder edged pop and rock backgrounds. This when combined with members who have supported country western, jazz, blues, and bluegrass allows the band to support an extremely diverse selection of music types.

Hip Trigger is not your typical Classic Rock band. Their ability to embrace and move between almost any form of music allows this band to appeal to a larger range of audiences than most other bands, and they leave the audience anxiously guessing what the band will play next. They frequently see parents and children responding to the same collection of hits as they perform well-known pieces that appeal to more than just one age, gender, or background. Hip Trigger keeps the audience on their toes and on the dance floor as they play instantly recognizable but less typical music than those same old songs that are being burned out by the other performing acts. As stated by a patron at a recent public event, “You guys play great music, and it’s such a nice change from the other bands they have here.” They believe having an emphasis on some of the lesser played and somewhat more difficult covers is what sets Hip Trigger apart.

IdleTrain

IdleTrain is a brilliant guitar driven trio with a powerful rhythm section that locks in to become an irresistible force of nature.  A band of accomplished musicians, IdleTrain has been performing regularly in the San Diego area since 2001, putting their own sound to tasteful cover gems by bands such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dire Straights, Sublime, Golden Earring, The Beatles, The Who, Lynard Skynard, James Brown, The Band, Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Lou Reed, Bill Withers, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Little Feat, Rolling Stones and Stevie Wonder.  IdleTrain has performed live at venues such as The Belly Up Tavern, House of Blues, Dick’s Last Resort, Hennessey’s in the Gaslamp, 710 Club, Oceanhouse as well as corporate events and private parties. 

Irieside

Oceanside reggae outfit Irieside completely embodies originality and personal style and are a force to be reckoned with. Irieside is Anthony Williams — their energetic emcee and lead man, sharing vocal duties while also carrying on lead guitar duties is Ben Blessing, Steven Stotelmyre is on the bass and backup vocals, Arjay Pantig is on trumpet and backup vocals, and Sid Hilarides lays down the beats at each show. Irieside’s sound is both a hybrid of reggae and rock, punk and folk with hip hop influences. The band has flourished in our scene and abroad since forming back in 2003. Set from the beginning to hit the “big stage,” this band has been plugging away at solidifying their sounds and style and the county has supported them every inch of the way.

In doing so, the band has established itself its own presence among the greats within the San Diego music scene. Their shows have run the gamut: from insane frat parties and dingy local bar dives (Squid Joe’s, Royal Dive), to the larger venues like The Belly Up, The Galaxy and The Coach House, and even festivals like Fiesta del Sol. The guys have opened up for world famous acts like Barrington Levy, Common Sense, Maxi Priest and countless — and I mean countless — local acts. Irieside is known to just about any and all who love the local scene.

The LeperKhanz

 The Mighty Regis

2008 L.A. MUSIC AWARD WINNER, "MUSICAL GROUP OF THE YEAR"
2008 HOLLYWOOD MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE, "PUNK SONG OF THE YEAR" ("CELTIC STORM")

This band of misfits don't have much of a story if you ask them but here 'tis:
Young Gavin McLoud had the idea to form a band with some of the best musicians in all of Ireland...it didn't quite work out that way. So instead he asked the help of his friend Ronnie McDonald, a local music teacher and the nicest of people.  The fellas then found a drummer when Gavin's schoolyard chum, Gabby Byrne, was released from prison, having been mistaken for an IRA soldier. Next came the search for the perfect frontman. Gavin looked and looked and finally had no other choice then to ask his half brother Francis "Franky" McNorman. A failed soccer player, Franky doesn't like his brother and doesn't like to sing, but not having any other football teams in Ireland to get kicked off of Franky reluctantly joined. While touring through the Dingle Peninsula after about a year together, they picked up a hitchhiking rabbinical student named Paddy McRib. Convinced that a life dedicated to music and making people happy would be more pleasin' to the Lord, young Paddy traded his yalmulka and tallit set for a used accordion and never looked back.  The final pieces were added when Franky heard the voice of an angel during Mass one fateful Sunday, and the lovely Ryan O'Neill was brought on board.  Finally, the band's biggest fan, Darby, an orphan boy who couldn't even afford a last name, filled a void at bass, and hopes his real parents will one day come to a gig.

After conquering their native country, the greatest show band in Ireland set sail for the States, landing in the pinnacle of Irish punk rock, Molly Malone's in Los Angeles.  The birthplace of Flogging Molly gave The Mighty Regis a prime St. Patrick's Day 2007 spot and a Thursday night residency, all within the band's first year of existence.

The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, The Clancy Brothers, The Dubliners, Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, 50-Cent, Jerry Reed...as Franky says, "At a Mighty Regis show, EVERYONE'S Irish."

Upstream

It’s been quite a wild ride for the members of Upstream, formed in the republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the late 1980’s and reformed in southern California in the early 1990’s, with six CD’s under their belt, and a very impressive live performance reference, Upstream has certainly earned the right to be called a seasoned musical outfit.  

Band leader "Haile Blackman" (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Record Producer & MPC Guardian), will, without hesitation, readily explain that Upstream’s ultimate purpose is to take their audience on a journey, a temporary escape from themselves and a permanent escape from boredom. The band boasts a very seasoned and celebrated line up, Professor Einstein Brown (Steel Drum, Lead & Background Vocals), John McKnight (Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Trombone & Background Vocals), Stokely Molineaux (Bass, Lead & Background Vocals) and Johnny Blackman (Drums & Background Vocals). 

In addition, the following musician’s are on rotation with Upstream and now a part of the Upstream Family:  Derek Brewster (Steel Drum, Bass & Background Vocals) & Adam Arredondo, a.k.a. Jah Mex (Keyboards & Background Vocals).