You don’t have to look too far to find great music in the Inland Empire – you just have to know where to look.
Hidden away from the freeways and noise of big cities is Hemet, California where an unassuming band, Hello Penelope, lurks.
This punk-dance and self-managed band is made up of Hemet and I.E. natives who live and breathe music.
Lead singer and guitarist Christian Philippi is the manager of a local music shop in Hemet and fronts the band with gusto and enthusiasm. Other members include Manny Valdez (Guitar), Nic Ledbetter (Bass), Marco Gutierrez (Organ/Keys) and Nathan Kirwan (Drums) – all who participate avidly in the San Jacinto Valley music scene.
The band’s music orchestrates waves of movement in fans that range from jumping mosh chaos to groovy dance steps.
Their music is fun, energetic and raw, and the band caters to all those stuck in the humdrum of everyday life.
With fun lyrics, sporadic guitar riffs and bass lines and thumping drum beats, the band is no stranger to getting the party started. They frequent Alaythia Music shop’s Super Saturday Music Shows, held every first Saturday of the month.
Reminiscent of beach-punk 
band The Growlers, whose music is unhinged and chaotic in a fantastic way, Hello Penelope cultivates a home-town feel and brings a little bit of spark to the valley/I.E.. They are slowly, but surely, making strides in the growing music community of Southern California.
Songs to check out include “Winona Ryder” an ode to the complexity of emotions, and “King Crush,” a song that gives a shout out to all the “west coast girls and west coast boys.”
While their released music is limited, you can find their tracks on their Bandcamp site. Anyone interested in the band can also check out their Facebook page.