Blast Off: On Blast Vanquishes the Viper

Our final MUSEXPO 2009 artist is Long Beach-based collective On Blast, providing a one-two California punch to close out the conference. They're one of the first signings to the legendary Jerry Heller's new Streetlife Records and it's readily apparent why: their hypnotic grooves and marvelous musicianship are generating a great response from the Viper Room audience, who are crowding the stage and swaying in time to the sumptuous strains of "Nothing Goes My Way." The vocalist conveys something of the whimsy embodied by the late, great Andrew Wood of the tragically underrated Seattle band Mother Love Bone and has inspired a horde of hand-clapping enthusiasts to storm toward the stage, reveling in the crowd-pleasing concoctions of On Blast...a great way to close out the conference!

Rebelution Fires Up the Whisky

Our final Whisky act at MUSEXPO 2009 is California’s own Rebelution, whose reggae grooves and rockin’ moves have been winning over increasing numbers of fans throughout California and beyond. Word is that manager Dean Raissen of Raise Up Entertainment has a guest list of 200 for the gig…which apparently is entirely composed of gorgeous young gals between the ages of 21-24. Ah, the trials of being a MUSEXPO blogger…who wants to be stuck in the balcony tapping away at a keyboard while that’s going on down below?!?!? Perhaps more bourbon will provide solace…excuse me for a moment…aaah, that’s much better.

While we’re waiting for the band to begin, a brief sidetrack: one of the most fun elements of any MUSEXPO is the final night of showcases, when the adrenaline-depleted, caffeine-fueled, sleep-deprived staff members are shambling around like extras from a George Romero zombie flick and, for the most part, are incapable of coherent speech after about 10pm. So, please, let us all raise a toast to the few, the proud…your 2009 MUSEXPO staff!

All right, back to business…the shrieks from the crowd are already deafening…and this is just during Whisky MC Monte Malone’s introduction. Rebelution rewards the faithful with some bone-shaking bass, tasty guitar licks and rapturous rhythms that are inspiring a dance party down on the floor, a seething SRO audience moving in time with the infectious grooves (to steal a term). Even discounting the “home field advantage,” it’s one of the most impressive responses I’ve witnessed in five years of attending the conference.

Lovebugs Ride High at the Viper

Next up at the Viper Room is Swiss quintet Lovebugs, who have routinely enjoyed No.1 records in their native land over the course of a 15-year career. Their latest effort, The Highest Heights, was helmed by Irish super-producer Richard Rainey...who had spent the previous year working with a band from his native land on their new album, an effort called No Line on the Horizon from a group you just may have heard of: U2. The pairing was apparently apt, as Lovebugs' chiming guitars and emotion-drenched lyrics compare quite favorably with a certain group from Ireland. Their enervating, energetic live show has drawn an exceedingly positive response from the packed Viper Room denizens, who are clearly enjoying Lovebugs' lilting lyricism and rock-solid rhythms, inspiring a crowd of phone-waving fans in the 21st century equivalent of the venerable Bic lighter display during concerts of yore. We'll go for a ride with these Lovebugs any time!

Hey Ocean Provokes a Dancefloor Wave

The midpoint of our final evening of MUSEXPO entertainment finds us back at the Whisky to enjoy the scintillating sounds of Canadian quartet Hey Ocean. The Vancouver, BC-based band is fronted by the charismatic, pixie-like Ashleigh Ball and opened up with a potent percussion blast, with three of the four band members bangin’ away at drums in a tribal rhythm while Ashleigh hit the cowbell in a manner that would’ve pleased even so harsh a critic as Christopher Walken. The islandesque rhythms of the opening number inspired a veritable horde of comely young lasses to invade the dancefloor, while the second song naturally drew a great response from the local audience: “A Song about California,” a jazzy, up-tempo tune featuring Ball’s breathy vocals that seemingly doubled the population of the already-packed dancefloor, to the point where the vocalist even paused to note, “It looks like there’s a lot of hot ladies here tonight that want to party!”

Bless ’em all…whereupon Ball, an accomplished flautist, launched into a solo that drew a most appreciative response, not only from the young ladies, but also the many delegates enjoying the show. Yet another act gracing the MUSEXPO stage that seems destined for much bigger things!

Have You Heard (Samantha, That Is)?

...because if not, you missed a real treat at the Viper Room tonight, London-born world traveler Samantha Heard, who earned one of the most positive responses of the entire conference from the SRO Viper Room crowd. (On an absolutely irrelevant sidenote, both of our UK-bred Viper Room artists this evening have used the lyrical phrase "Whatcha gonna do when they come for you"...who knew "Cops" had achieved such worldwide renown?) Anyway, back to the matter at hand, Samantha is backed by a standard guitar/bass/drums trio, one whose musicianship is anything but standard, providing a more than solid backing for Samantha's own tasteful guitar work. Note to MUSEXPO staff: the poor beleaguered blogger really needs access to set lists next year, as he'd prefer to refer to the current tune by title (any band members reading this, be sure to front-announce your song titles and help a brother out). Regardless of the title (which will undoubtedly be added upon edit in the morn), it's an absolutely masterful piece of music that had the Viper Room audience hypnotized by the compelling sounds emanating from the stage. Samantha's haunting vocals and sound songwriting sense bode quite well for the future of this truly talented 22-year-old songstress.

Kingsfall Raises the Roof

Kicking off our evening’s entertainment at the Whisky is Dallas-based quartet Kingsfall, who have already enjoyed quite a successful 2009, having emerged victorious in a pair of major music competitions this year. They bring some solid rock right off the bat, eliciting whistles and shouts from the crowd for their meticulous melodies and thunderous rhythm section, all underscoring frontman Joshua Dufrene’s soaring vocal lines and inspirational lyrical messages. The song “Believe” was a particular standout, an autobiographical tale of Dufrene’s about believing in achieving your goals in life; the song had the Whisky audience mesmerized, swaying in unison and paying rapt attention to the marvelous musicianship emanating from the stage. Though they sing the lyric “We can’t predict the future,” allow us to engage in a bit of soothsaying: Kingsfall is a name you’ll want to remember!

Absolutely Fabulous: Fabienne Holloway Entrances the Viper

Our final septet of MUSEXPO 2009 musical acts is led off by Brit-born teen sensation Fabienne Holloway, who previously impressed conference attendees with a fine performance during the kickoff cocktail party Sunday night. At the time, I wondered how she'd sound when not combatting 60-degree temperatures and a brisk breeze on a rooftop; and in the cozy confines of the Viper Room, I have found an easy one word answer to that query: incredible! Backed by an outstanding five-piece backing band, Fabienne's voice is filled with an exquisitely expressed, experienced world-weariness that makes it hard to believe that she's still but seventeen years of age. She slowed it down a bit for the torch-type ballad "Let Me In," enrapturing with emotive vocal theatrics that clearly impressed the attentive audience. Truly, an artist to be reckoned with in the years ahead and a great way to kick off the final evening of MUSEXPO 2009 musical showcases!