Alice in Chains

New Music Tuesday 5/28/13 Featuring Bastille, Laura Marling, Dan and Matt Wilson

Posted on by Kristen

Bastille – Haunt EP

It is difficult to find the words to express just how excited I am to have UK’s Bastille finally release some music here in the US. Bastille has been one of those bands I go to for comfort and inspiration and quite frankly, I was getting tired of putting music videos on repeat just to listen to the songs. The EP only has four songs (three from the band’s debut, Bad Blood and a new demo from which the EP gets its name), but I haven’t been this excited about a release since Biffy Clyro’s Opposites. If you just want to sample, iTunes has “Pompeii” available as their free download of the week…get on that one!

Laura Marling – Once I
Was An Eagle 

I was lucky enough to catch a live streaming performance of Ms. Marling’s the other day on via KCRW. She simply captivates in a way that reminds me of some of the singer/songwriters I grew up listening to from the 60s/70s. I’ve seen Laura Marling play a few festivals, but honestly, I find her music too intimate for large crowds. Just find yourself alone in a room with your thoughts and put Once I Was An Eagle on the record player and get lost. Through this lens, the record is perfection.

You can listen to the album via NPR first listen here

Dan and Matt Wilson – Minneapolis
2013 

You know I’m a huge Dan Wilson fan. Dan and his brother Matt have been in various bands over the years and they came together at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis to play a show featuring songs spanning their careers. We are quite lucky that they recorded the show and this can now be purchased via their website as a digital download. They did this back in 2010 and although I’m not the biggest fan of live albums, this one I love. You can
stream Minneapolis 2013 on the site as well…


Also:

  • Imaginary Cities – Fall of Romance
  • John Fogerty – Wrote a Song For Everyone
  • Alice in Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
  • Eisley – Currents
  • Guster – Live Acoustic
  • Rise Against – Rpm10
  •  CocoRosie – Tales of a Grasswindow

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/11-10/17

Posted on by Kristen

These last couple weeks have been rough. My schedule has been commandeered by a little thing called teaching. In trying to maintain my busy schedule with the additional duties of being a teaching assistant I have managed to get sick again…I suppose the severe lack of sleep might have contributed. Anyway, the dearth of posting will most likely continue until December when my schedule can return to its usual merely busy state.

Unfortunately, this also means I have to cut back on my concert-going…I’m going to aim for a healthy diet of 2-3 shows per week and see if that can get me through. This week I am continuing my kick of going to see artists from the UK (like Biffy Clyro and Tired Pony). Fran Healy is branching out from his band, Travis, to do a solo album. He plays twice this week, once at Bardot and once at The Hotel Cafe (the latter being sold out already). Then on Weds., my last year’s band obsession, Frightened Rabbit, returns to LA to play at The Mayan. But those are only the tip of the ice berg when it comes to great shows going on around town this week. You will all have to double your efforts to go out in my absence. Here’s what I suggest:

Monday: Fran Healy (of Travis) at Bardot (11:30)…RSVP here http://itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Whispertown and Jessie Baylin at Bootleg (8:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm) 

Tuesday: Fran Healy at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Songwriter Round at Saint Rocke featuring Keaton Simons, Justin Hopkins, and Randy Coleman (8pm)
ALSO: The 88 at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: That Noise at The Viper Room (11:45)
ALSO: Macy Gray at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Alice in Chains at Gibson Amphitheater (7:15)
ALSO: The Script at The Wiltern (7:30)
ALSO: Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile at El Rey (9pm) 

Weds: Frightened Rabbit at The Mayan Theater (7pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Rocker’s Society at Crane’s   

Thursday: Toby Lightman at The Hotel Cafe (8pm) 

Friday: Nicole Atkins at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Mike Doughty at Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Frightened Rabbit at HOB Anaheim (8pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe (11pm) 

Saturday: Bird by Bird at Genghis Cohen (10:30)
ALSO: Gaelic Storm (9pm)
ALSO: Jenni Alpert at The Hotel Cafe (8pm) 

Sunday: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe 

To Keep in Mind:

October 18th: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Palladium
October 28th: Foxy Shazam and Free Energy at The Troubadour
October 29th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
November 2nd: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
November 4th: Five for Fighting at The Brixton
November 5th: Bayside at The Toubadour
November 8th-10th: A Perfect Circle at Avalon
November 17th: Tyler Hilton at The Roxy
November 18th: Freelance Whales at The Troubadour
November 21st and 22nd: Dar Williams at The Hotel Café
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium 

~ Kristen

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