NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 2010 PARTICIPATE + 2010 People's Choice Award: Click here to vote for your favorite OC artist! + 2009 Photos: See the pic's from the 2009 OC Music Awards + Showcase Series Schedule: Come out and support your local artists NEWSLETTER Sign Up Today! DATES 1.4 Semi Sweet at Detroit Bar, Free, 21+ 1.4 The Steelwells at Silverlake Lounge, Free, 21+ 1.5 OCMA Showcase #1 @ Detroit Bar, Costa Mesa (Live Band, FREE, 21+) 1.7 The Relative Strangers at The Gypsy Lounge, Free, 21+ More Dates » FEATURED PARTNERS Sign up for MC's Weekly Bulletin ALBUM REVIEW | OCTOBER 21, 1976 Artist: Billy Kernkamp By Ashley Eliot KUCI Promotions Director & Host of Press Pass Music This is why OC's music scene is great: musicians here collaborate and work with one another to create beautiful music. Billy Kernkamp's first full-length album is proof of that. The compilation of songs is diversified by quite a few well-known local musicians, including Justin Grennan, Trisha Smith of Honey Pie, Johnny Hanson of Melanoid, Justin Suitor of Railroad To Alaska, Jameson of Echo Echo and a few more talented artists. "It's a huge collaboration," Kernkamp says. The album is called "October 21, 1976" Ð the significant title is actually his birthday, which makes sense for an album that talks about losing love and gaining a new perspective. It really is a compilation on Kernkamp's life. Influenced by Wilco, Ryan Adams and a whole lot of country, the band is comprised of Kernkamp (lead vocals and guitar), Teddy Duran (guitar), Justin Deckert (bass), Dallas Kruse (keys) and Brendan Murphy (drums), and every so often a few other musicians might be added to the mix for live shows. Kernkamp is still in the studio wrapping his much-anticipated 14-song album to be released next month. He's recording at Zion Studios in Santa Ana with multi-instrumentalist and Producer Dallas Kruse, who has produced records for Suburban Legends, Barrett Johnson, Melanoid and many other artists. Kernkamp's country influences stand out in songs "Black Blood," "What Good Am I" and "Song Whiskey and Your Memory." I've seen him play live a few times and while I've only heard the rough copy of part of the album, it seems like the record is on the right track. Once all the other components are added and the record is mastered, it will be an album that you'll keep close to your heart and in arms reach. Recommended tracks: "Hard Sell," "Safe and Sound" and "Burning Sun." See Billy Kernkamp perform at the OC Music Awards Best Acoustic showcase at The District in Tustin on Jan. 12. Back to Top Return to front page »

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