UPCOMING CONCERTS THAT ROCK

Brad Paisley w/ Miranda Lambert, Justin Moore

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

Friday, February 19

Mariah Carey w/ RydazNrtist

Gibson Amphitheatre- Universal City, CA

Tuesday, February 23

Bon Jovi w/ Dashboard Confessional

Honda Center- Anaheim, CA

Friday, February 26

Cheap Trick

Agua Caliente Casino- Palm Springs, CA

Friday, February 26

Soundtrack of Our Lives w/ Nico Vega, Once

El Rey Theatre- Los Angeles, CA

Friday, February 26

Ozomatli

House of Blues- Anaheim, CA

Friday, February 26

The B-52s

Pechanga- Temecula, CA

Saturday, February 27

Lakers Fan Jam

Los Angeles Convention Center- Los Angeles, CA

Saturday, March 20

New Found Glory w/ Saves the Day, Hellogoodbye, Fireworks

House of Blues- Anaheim, CA

Sunday, March 21

Tears for Fears w/ Wainwright

Wiltern- Los Angeles, CA

Sunday, March 21

Devendra Banhart

Wiltern- Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, March 24

John Mayer w/ Michael Franti, Spearhead

Staples Center- Los Angeles, CA

Thursday, March 25

She & Him

El Rey Theatre- Los Angeles, CA

Thursday, March 25

Copeland w/ I Can Make a Mess Like Nobody's Business, Person L, Deas Vail

El Rey Theatre- Los Angeles, CA

Friday, March 26

Berlin

House of Blues- Anaheim, CA

Sunday, March 28

Eagles

Honda Center- Anaheim, CA

Sunday, April 25

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com

band review: beyond conception

To survive in the music industry as an independent band is close to impossible, but somehow Beyond Connection is making it happen. They've dabbled in The Knitting Factory, The Coach House and Chain Reaction, while opening for names like Hellogoodbye, NOFX and Marcy's Playground. You might have heard a few of their songs on MTV and Nickelodeon.

With six years of being a band under their belt, they've managed to form a group that resembles Maroon 5, but one that isn't afraid of doing their own thing. Their lead singer (Justin Abrams) rocks out while playing the piano, with three other members. They sing of how this world will "make you into a man" and question deeper things like if there's "life after life."

There's a vulnerability to Beyond Conception's lyrics that make you want to listen to the ideals and how they wrestle with their own lives through their songs. Their latest album and the third for the band, "Stix & Stones" was released in September and has more of a rock and roll twang to it than their previous ones. "The Shoe Shiner" is the best song on the album with Abram's energy and passion with the rest of his posse's instruments blaring away like a modern jazz melody. He's not afraid to let his voice let loose and hits plenty of notes to impress almost anyone on the three albums. Sometimes his voice seems a bit strained, like on the song "Come Between Us," but the piano and drums make up for it and is refreshing to hear for a pop/rock/jazz band.

Beyond Conception is currently touring throughout California, but have jammed in China and have been in the studio with notable figures in the music industry, like Jack Douglas. Jim Wirt, producer to Fiona Apple, Incubus, and Jack's Mannequin calls them "...beautiful, raw, and elegant..." while Dean Deleo from Stone Temple Pilots says, "the music draws you in with it's melodies.

Although the music of Beyond Conception is self-produced and doesn't sound as professional at times, Beyond Conception could be one of the best independent bands out there. There are definitely hints that they're still trying to make it big, like they're PayPal donation button on their MySpace page or how you can find them doing self-promotion in So Cal, but in a lot of ways they're gaining more attention than signed artists. Their passion is unique and something hard to find, even in Hollywood.

For more info and tour dates, visit www.beyondconception.com.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com

Be Fair to Your Hair

Suburbia Salon & Spa

11908 Ventura Blvd.

Studio City, CA

818.505.1188

For hair snobs and celebs, Suburbia is a high-end salon that's green-certified and stocked with 18 stylists. They promise star treatment for the Plain Jane or the Angelina look-a-like. You get what you pay for though, with prices definitely on the expensive side.

Chop Chop Salon

830 N La Brea Ave.

Los Angeles, CA

323.464.8100

Chop Chop Salon isn't just a place to cut hair, but is also an art gallery. They specialize in edgy colors and cuts, with their friendly and personable staff. If you're still waiting to get your next paycheck, Chop Chop isn't the best place, as a typical haircut costs $85.

Salon Pure

117 E. 6th St.

Los Angeles, CA

213.624.7873

Salon Pure is more for the LA rocker than the girl next door. With a rustic interior and fair prices, they are affordable for being in the heart of LA, but don't have as extensive of a menu as other neighboring salons.

Awilda Salon

230 S Robertson Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

310.657.8133

At Awilda, the stylists know what they're doing and try to make the salon all about relaxing and making you feel comfortable. They also specialize in using products that are healthier for your hair than what a typical salon would use.

Chill Salon & Gallery

5275 E 2nd St.

Long Beach, CA

562.433.4888

This salon is the perfect place for girls with curls as they specialize in styling something different than straight hair. They also are great with extensions and only use Joico color. This is a second salon that is also a photography gallery so you have something else to look at than the wall.

Splitends Salon

765 Saint Clair

Costa Mesa, CA

949.645.1223

With the most modern decor you'll find in a salon, Splitends is located in the LAB, with prices dependent on the stylist. The also have their own show on the Style Network, so you might end up in one of the episodes if you get the luck of the draw when scheduling an appointment.

Empire Salon

2967 Michaelson Dr.

Irvine, CA

949.261.5856

Empire is trendy and edgy, with their stylists always out to make the most creative cut look good. They specialize in hair that looks vintage and even put their stylists through a rigorous training course. They even allow local artists to adorn their art on the walls every two months.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com