Dirty Hippie Radio: Shirley Rolls
The Comic Bug’s Got The Music Bug
The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach open its doors to more than just fans of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. They’ve hosted a number of open mic comedy nights as well as live music shows over the years. Even Avi Buffalo, recently listed in Rolling Stone’s Top 10 College Bands, has performed the little local nook. It’s a special (occasional) venue where art meets art.
In collaboration with Redondo Beach native and resident Sean Johnson (multi-talented musician, music producer, owner of Otik Records, and former drummer of Vaudeville), The Comic Bug is hosting a free, all ages show on Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. It’s a release party for a music video which Johnson directed for one of his bands, Shirley Rolls.
Shirley Rolls offer a smart pop-rock sound with enough of a lackadaisical psych edge to keep it interesting instead of shiny (I mean shiny like on a silver spoon, or too clean, or cranked out in a Playdough factory). I could be way, way off, but I picture T. Rex, The Kinks, and Weezer having a love child named the Shirley Rolls. They’ve performed on 88.9 KXLU, have a new 7-inch coming out next month on Otik Records, and on Saturday you can see about having them sign your copy of the new issue of X-Men. Makes perfect sense since they describe themselves as “a super hero band, come to save our land.”
In addition to Shirley Rolls, Mountain Animal Hospital, and Brown Irish from Santa Cruz will perform. Brown Irish features Redondo Beach native Mason Rothschild (former Slices Of Home, music producer at Indigital Studios).
Also playing, Torrance-based Jolene’s Leftovers: “They’re a very young all girl punk band. F-ing cool!” says Johnson.
Summer Surf Roots Tour Drops
Positive vibrations swell into town with the return of Resin Music’s Surf Roots Tour. The fifth annual summertime event kicks off on Wednesday at The Roxy. Like an uber-perfect wave breaking and re-forming over several reefs, the tour hits 24 locations in eight states. Location number two: Brixton, Redondo Beach Pier.
The Surf Roots Tour showcases top and upcoming bands from Hawaii, Australia, and California. Just a few of the artists involved include Anuhea, The Green, Tamarama, Stranger, P-Nuckle, and Natural Roots – most of them performing at Brixton next Thursday. Perhaps in an effort to offset all the mileage the tour will be chalking up, each stop along the way features a presentation and video from the environmental company GreeNEWit.
For full schedule and tickets to the Surf Roots Tour, see Resinmusic.com/Surfrootstour2010. For info on The Comic Bug, visit thecomicbug.com. You can listen to Avi Buffalo, Vaudeville and Brown Irish on www.DirtyHippieRadio.com. ER