O.C.’s Galaxy Theatre stages big makeover
Kevin Bronson on
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Red-hot L.A. quintet Vanaprasta kicks off a Sunday residency in Orange County tonight (with the New Limb) at the Constellation Room, and if that venue name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s understandable. The Constellation Room is a new, 300-capacity space located inside the Galaxy Concert Theatre, a 550-capacity dinner theater situated inconspicuously in a Santa Ana business park.
The Galaxy had its heyday, but in recent years had closed, reopened and hosted mainly veteran acts and cover bands. Now, under new ownership – and soon to be renamed and re-branded as Observatory – and with a second, smaller space up and running, it’s poised to become a player on the indie scene. On Saturday, the Constellation Room hosted Unknown Mortal Orchestra; free Sunday and Monday residencies this month will feature Vanaprasta and Railroad to Alaska, respectively; and upcoming on the venues’ calendars are the Black Lips, Girls, the Naked and Famous, David Bazan and two nights with O.C. heroes Young the Giant.
With the Detroit Bar already entry entrenched in solid bookings and with downtown Santa Ana’s Yost Theater hosting plenty of new music (Dim Mak is regularly doing dance shows there), there are an increasing number of choices for indie music in O.C.
Photo of Vanaprasta singer Steven Wilkin at August’s fundraiser for the Pablove Foundation at Dangerbird Records HQ
Good news! Traffic is often bad enough into LA that I’ve had to abandon shows. So this is really good news!