Another Tuesday in January, another opportunity to take in some live music. This time, a little softer than last. Night Four of the OC Music Awards showcased some of the best acoustic talent in Orange County, and took place under the stars and adjacent to the heat lamps at The Lab in Costa Mesa (AKA The Anti-Mall). Tonight's line-up featured many crowd favorites, namely The Orange Effect, The Relative Strangers, I Hate You Just Kidding, Case Brothers, and Fast Forward Romance. Even though you can't hear any of these bands here on my blog, I bet you'll still enjoy seeing some of the best images from the night (check 'em out!).As a footnote to tonight's post, I happened to get to the show early enough to score one of the "first fifty are free" tacos from Wahoo's! Free taco, free acoustic show, rockin' images...I was a happy guy. 
The Orange Effect hit the stage first and featured a wide array of acoustic instrumentation.
The Relative Strangers - more than just a clever name. They are comprised of two sets of identical twins.
To my loyal blog followers, I Hate You. Just Kidding.
Case Brothers brought with them a massive pack of supporting fans. And they were loud! 
Fast Forward Romance, a dynamic and sweet sounding duo, closed out the evening in style.
Please leave some comments if you are so inclined; your feedback is welcome!
The last time I was at the Gypsy Lounge, I was playing a ton of shows with the Friendly Indians on a very regular basis. We'd play alongside such names as Save Ferris, Wonderlove, Devon and Girl On Top. It's amazing to hear how different original indie bands sound today on that same tiny little carpet-covered stage in Lake Forest. But, different as it is, it's a great thing. The music scene is alive and well in Orange County. And now, a decade after my own Friendly Indians participated in the inaugural OC Music Awards, I'm happy to say they're celebrating in their tenth year. And this year especially, there's never been a better time to be a fan of indie music in OC. The OC Music Awards, in partnership with such sponsors as Wahoo's Fish Taco, The World Famous KROQ, and The District, to name a few key, is taking the show on the road. Each Tuesday in the months of January and February, there's music to be heard and fresh new bands to be seen. Many of these performances are all ages, and all are free to get in! Audiences have the opportunity to vote for their favorites, and the top nominees get the chance to compete for top prizes and awards. You can catch the line-up for the next several nights over at the OC Music Awards' website. I took the opportunity to come down to the Gypsy Lounge this evening to catch some of the action from The Gromble, Strange Birds, and May McDonough and Co. Cool bands, every one, and all worth a listen. The camera was at my side, of course, and I caught some cool moments with my "nifty fifty." Check 'em out below. And please drop me a comment if you like what you see!
The Gromble struck first and hit the stage hard
Strange Birds performed next. I found them to be true to their name.
May McDonough and Co. put on a very unique performance, with lots of ambient instrumentation that you never saw coming, like hand bells, metal bars, and bicycle spokes.
Have glitter, will travel.
