June 2026 Check-In's

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Jimi & Josh Smalban Playing At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Barbara Dancing to Stan O'Kane & Friend At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Linda Lopez, Barbara & Me
Wednesday, June 3, 2026

BBQ Experience At
Black Angus Steakhouse
Thursday, June 4, 2026

Sonoramics Classic Rock & Blues Band At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Thursday, June 4, 2026

Billy Nation Billy Joel Tribute Band At
CampusJAX, Newport Beach, California
Saturday, June 6, 2026

THE PREMIER BILLY JOEL CONCERT EXPERIENCE -- Billy Nation delivers a refined, high-energy tribute to the music of Billy Joel, inspired by the raw, piano-driven performances of his early career. The result is a concert experience that feels authentic, timeless, and undeniably fun.

Based in Southern California, Billy Nation was named 2024 Best Tribute Band by San Diego Magazine. Led by pianist and vocalist Adam Shapiro, the band captures the sound and spirit of Billy Joel in his prime, creating an engaging, sing-along experience for audiences who grew up with the music and new fans alike.

This Billy Joel tribute band is excellent. We had seen them perform once before at CampusJax and their performance was excellent then too, but tonight's performance was even better! Three of the band members were the same as last time, but the drummer and I think the base guitar player were different. It was a sold out crowd and we had a table right in front of the stage.

We almost always bring a bottle of wine from our own extensive wine collection and just pay the corkage fee that usually runs between $10 to $20 per bottle. I generally open our oldest bottles first. I have just a few bottles left from 2013 vintage before moving on to 2014 vintage bottles. Though I've always kept all my bottles laying on their side to keep the cork moist to prevent it from degrading, sometimes a cork will break when opening a bottle. In many cases this will be because the server did not insert the corkscrew far enough into the cork which puts pressure on tearing an old cork apart rather than pulling the entire cork out. Because of this, I have started replacing the corks in my older bottles before bringing them to a restaurant. I have a corker and a bag of brand new corks. The corker requires a lot of manual pressure to insert a new cork into a wine bottle, but it is well worth it as a new cork is much less likely to split when opening a wine bottle than a decade old cork. The wine we brought today was a 2013 Trinchero BRV Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley that we had purchased years ago when we visited the Trinchero Winery when touring Napa Valley. This is one of my few last wines of 2013 vintage.

Ragdoll Classic Rock Cover Band At
The Fling Cocktail Lounge, Santa Ana, California
Saturday, June 6, 2026

UPCOMING:

Abbey Road -- A Tribute to The Beatles
CampusJAX, Newport Beach, California
Friday, June 12, 2026, 8-9:30 PM

With their tight harmonies, flawless note for note renditions of Beatles hits, custom-tailored costumes, vintage instruments, Liverpudlian dialect and precise attention to every detail, Abbey Road has honed their show to become one of the most musically and visually satisfying Beatle tribute acts in the world. Abbey Road recreates the magic, music, wit and charm of the Beatles, including the Fab Four's cheeky personalities, familiar onstage banter and patter between songs.

Three costume changes cover the full range of the Beatle experience and beyond, with authentic early black Beatle suits, Sgt. Pepper's regalia and Abbey Road attire. Hear the piccolo trumpet solo on Penny Lane and the full orchestration of A Day in the Life. Relive the emotional intensity of Paul's moving Yesterday solo, as well as the high energy of stadium songs like Twist and Shout and other Beatle hits.

Skynyrd and Company -- Authentic Tribute To Lynyrd Skynyrd
CampusJAX, Newport Beach, California
Saturday, June 26, 2026, 8-9:30 PM

Celebrate the Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Southern Rock with Skynyrd and Company. Through accomplished musicianship and high-powered performances, Skynyrd and Company energizes audiences with a diverse mix of songs from Lynyrd Skynyrd's first five studio albums plus their much-celebrated 1976 live album "One More From the Road."

This Southern California-based group of musicians share a mutual respect and enthusiasm for Ronnie Van Zandt's vision to make Lynyrd Skynyrd the greatest Southern Rock band of all time. Skynyrd and Company is dedicated to keeping Ronnie's vision alive with authentic renditions of Skynyrd's classic catalog of songs that include "Gimme Three Steps", "Sweet Home Alabama", and "Free Bird" as well as "Simple Man", "Workin' for MCA", "Saturday Night Special", and "Call Me the Breeze."

Between the years of 1973 and 1977, the classic lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd defined the Southern Rock genre, leaving a legacy of iconic songs ingrained in the American consciousness. Skynyrd and Company is a group of well-seasoned musicians who came together to accurately replicate this music note for note. With a deep well of talent and a dedication to authentically replicating Lynyrd Skynyrd's iconic sound, Skynyrd and Company has become the premiere Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band in the American Southwest.

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