Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/17-6/23

I’m clearly putting myself through the mental ringer today. After
a meditative morning, I read a couple chapters of Olive Kitterage, watched Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia and now I’m listening to the new Matthew Mayfield EP, Irons in the Fire, on repeat. I think
this combination would leave anyone a bit on the contemplative and depressed
side. Before I write an inspired opus on suicide, the end of days, and damaging
relationships, I’m just going to direct you to the more uplifting musical
options for the week listed below. Once again, my top pick is the delectable
Queen Caveat playing Monday night at The Satellite. This week’s theme is the 80’s.
I’ve been told this means I need to dress in bright colors, but I’m not sure my
closet full of black band t-shirts and jeans is going to offer me anything
suitable…

 Monday: Queen
Caveat with Dekades and The Black & the White FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 (8pm)

Tuesday: Jake
Newton at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Family Wagon FREE at Swinghouse Studios (8pm)
ALSO: The Absolute at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: The Bunny Gang and Franky Perez & The Truth at The Viper Room (9, 11)

Weds: The Diamond
Light and Tall Tales and the Silver Lining at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: The Echo & The Sound at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Red at The Roxy (10pm)

Thursday: Clare
Means and Caitlin Crosby at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: The Dig at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Joseph Arthur at The Troubadour (9:30)

Friday: Bleu at
The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Last Internationale and Red Circle Underground at The Viper Room (9,
11)
ALSO: Wildcat! Wildcat! at The Echo (11pm)
ALSO: Saucy Monkey at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: The Filthy Souls at El Cid (11:45)

Saturday: The
Staves at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Soft Swells and The Record Company at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Dana Williams at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: The Cerny Brothers at WitZend (10pm)

Sunday: Iron and
Wine at First Unitarian Church (8pm)
ALSO: Guster, Barenaked Ladies, and Ben Folds Five at The Greek Theatre (7pm)
ALSO: Treetop Flyers at Bootleg Bar (9pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:

June
24th: Zane Carney at The Hotel Cafe 
June 25th: Rachael Yamagata at The Troubadour
June 27th: Bernhoft at The Troubadour
July 1st: Anberlin at The Roxy
July
3rd: Adam Arcuargi at The Hotel Cafe
 
July 10th: Nico Vega and Crash Kings at The Troubadour 
July 15th: The Neighbourhood at The Fonda Theater 
July 19th: Passenger at El Rey Theatre
July 23rd: Bastille at The Troubadour 
July 23rd: Savages at The El Rey
July 23rd/24th: The Postal Service at The Greek Theatre
July 25th: Dan Wilson at The Hotel Cafe 
July 26th: Saint Motel at The El Rey 
July 27th: Fitz and The Tantrums at The Wiltern 
August 1st-3rd: Sunset Strip Music Festival 
August 8th: The Silent Comedy at Fonda Theatre
August 16th: Michael Bernard Fitzgerald at The Troubadour 
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center
August 22nd: Andrew Belle at Bootleg Bar 
August 24th: NEEDTOBREATHE at Harvest Social in Anaheim 
August 24th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour 
September 4th: Tegan and Sara at The Greek Theatre
September 11th: Churchill at Greek Theatre 
September 19th: Cold War Kids at The Wiltern 
September 20th: twenty one pilots at House of Blues Anaheim (w/ Fall Out Boy
and Panic at The Disco)
September 26th: Hanson at House of Blues Sunset
September 27th: The Naked & Famous at The Wiltern 
September 27th/28th: The Lumineers at The Greek Theatre 
October 1st: Jake Bugg at Fonda Theatre
October 8th: Daughter at The Wiltern 
October 11th: KT Tunstall at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
Cemetery 
October 12th: 30 Seconds to Mars at The Hollywood Bowl
October 21st: Carbon Leaf at The Hotel Cafe 

~ Kristen

 

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New Music Tuesday 6/11/13 Featuring The Silent Comedy, Matthew Mayfield, Irontom

Lots of delicious music coming out this summer.  I don’t know how I feel about all the abbreviated EPs (versus full length albums), but I guess that is the way of things. As long as my favorites keep putting amazing new tunes in my ears, I cannot complain. Here’s what  I’ve been listening to this week:

The Silent ComedyFriends
Divide
EP

The wait for new Silent Comedy material has been somewhat
painful, but now I can rejoice as one of my favorite bands has released a
collection of new gems. As a whole, the record seems less aggressive than I’m
used to from a typically raucous Silent Comedy show, but there is still a familiar
edge and tell-tale musicality that can transport you another time and place
that long-time TSC fans might call The Church of The Silent Comedy. This is a
place where the whiskey flows and the world seems a better place, not because
it is not dark, but because in that darkness we know we are not alone.  In other words, go out and buy this record as
you’ll be better for it.

Matthew MayfieldIrons
in the Fire
EP

One listen to the first track off this EP and I’m sold. Matthew has an amazing ability to produce instantly impactful songs that have both an emotional intensity and rough, rocker edge. This EP translates the Mayfield magic to its recorded form surprisingly well making it a very easy purchasing decision. As a bonus, the EP includes a couple new versions of the smoldering “Fire Escape”.

IrontomNitro EP

This one came out last week, but as it has been on repeat in my itunes since then, I would be remiss to not mention it. LMN Band Love Irontom plays somewhat frenzied rock songs and after a few listens, it is hard not to get caught up and swept away in the band’s refreshing take on the genre. This band, for me, has become an addiction. Take a listen and join me!

Some other CDs out today worth checking out:

 

~ Kristen

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/18-6/24

I posted my Bonnaroo pictures today (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.348607241875512.75890.192625794140325&type=1)!  I can’t believe it’s been a week. I’m still recovering…and ignoring the coughing and sniffling and fact that my voice is going. Probably wasn’t the best idea to follow up five days of no sleep with five days of early mornings and late nights, but I can’t imagine doing anything else. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the big Phantom Planet reunion show. Then there was the Backstage Artist Lounge party where I discovered several great new bands including Cody Jasper who I just had to see play again the next day at The Roxy before he ventured back to Austin.

This week, the great shows continue. Glen Hansard (The Frames/The Swell Season) is in town to promote his new record, LMN Band Love, Crash Kings are making a somewhat rare appearance at The Troubadour, there are some solid line-ups at The Viper Room, and summer-staple, The Warped Tour is rolling through SoCal with stops this week in Pomona and Ventura.

I think, however, my show pick of the week would have to go to the ladies playing The Hotel Cafe Thursday night. Jasmine Ash, Kate Voegele, and Mariah McManus.

So many great musical options in LA this week. Here are the rest of my recommendations:

 

Monday: Glen Hansard FREE at Amoeba Records (6:30)
ALSO: The Rocket Boys at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Spring Standards and Rhett Miller & The Serial Lady Killers at The Troubadour (9, 10)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Keaton Simons at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Beware Of Darkness, Bullet and Snow, Jamar Rogers, and Vicci Martinez at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Kate Miller Heidke at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Lisa Hannigan & Joe Henry at The El Rey Theatre (8pm)

 

Weds: Matthew Mayfield at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Glen Hansard at The Wiltern (7pm)

 

Thursday: Jasmine Ash, Mariah McManus and Kate Voegele at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Vanaprasta and Crash Kings at The Troubadour (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: The Bolts, The Rambles, and Taylor Locke & The Roughs at The Viper Room (9, 10, 11)

 

Friday: The Avett Brothers at Nokia LA Live (8pm)
ALSO: Connie Lim, King Washington, The Janks at WitZend (9,10,11)
ALSO: Matt Skiba & The Sekrets at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour Pomona featuring Bayside, Dead Sara, Mayday Parade, New Found Glory, We Are the Ocean, We The Kings, Yellowcard, You Me at Six, etc. (11am)

 

Saturday: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Milo Greene at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Stonefeather at The Viper Room (9pm)
ALSO: Lemon Sun at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Oedipus at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: The Cult with Against Me! at Hollywood Palladium (7:30)

 

Sunday: Warped Tour Ventura featuring Bayside, Dead Sara, Mayday Parade, New Found Glory, We Are the Ocean, We The Kings, Yellowcard, You Me at Six, etc. (11am)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
June 25th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 1st: Laura Marling at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre
July 1st: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour
July 14th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 3rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 14th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Cafe
September 4th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/11-7/17

This past week has been incredibly rough. From all the problems resulting from the new apartment to my car breaking down and work stuff just not…working, I haven’t been in the best of spirits. I am very grateful to have friends who made the effort to drive me to/from a couple shows, without which I would descend into madness. I at least made it to two of the four The Silent Comedy shows. Those boys never fail to deliver a good time. Their show at the LACMA with Saint Motel was particularly enjoyable as it included a tour of the Tim Burton exhibit AND it got done early enough for us to catch a little “Weatherman” from Dead Sara at The Viper Room.

My favorite show last week, however, was Truth & Salvage Co. with Brian Wright Monday night at The Hotel Cafe. I discovered Truth & Salvage Co. at this venue over two years ago and seeing them play my favorite stage once again was like a homecoming. This band has the ability to transform the energy of an entire room making it impossible to not feel a strong sense of communal love, happiness, and an overwhelming desire to dance. And let’s not forget about the Brian Wright icing on the Truth & Salvage cake! That man is a marvel…and is incidentally playing a last minute gig tonight (Sunday) at Piano Bar at 10:30 (told you something would come up)

This week I start an intensive two week training course so my evening adventures will again be diminished. Nothing will stop me, however, from Parade of Lights Thursday night at The Viper Room. I’ve mentioned these boys before and am incredibly excited to have them back in Los Angeles. If you can make it, I’d love to see you there.

Here’s what else is going on (it’s quite a healthy week for music):

 

Monday: Andy Clockwise and Lemon Sun FREE at The Satellite (10pm)…the first of a month long residence from Mr. Clockwise
ALSO: Races FREE at Bootleg Theater (10:30)…another start of a must-see residency
ALSO: Thao and Mirah at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Eli James FREE at Hemingway’s Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Matthew Mayfield and Johnny Marnell at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry at The Roxy (7:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Night at Piano Bar featuring Dave Green and Jesse Cole (8pm)

 

Weds: Jay Nash and Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Lookout Kids at The Viper Room (10:30)

 

Thursday: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: The Bangles FREE at The Santa Monica Pier (7pm)
ALSO: The Soft Pack and Hanni El Khatib FREE at The Hammer Museum (7pm)
ALSO: The Californian FREE at Pershing Square (7:30)…part of the Spaceland under the stars summer concert series

 

Friday: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: Nikki Monninger (silversun pickups), Brian Aubert, The Janks, Sabrosa Purr, and Vicky Cryer at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Beatnik Jr. at The Good Hurt (10:30)
ALSO: Sarah McLaughlin at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30
ALSO: Music in the Zoo featuring Mini Mansions, Hands, Honeyhoney, Kitten, and more (6pm)…an excuse to get into the zoo after-hours!! http://lazoo.org/mitz/index.html

 

Saturday: Maniac at The Bootleg Theater (10:30)
ALSO: Sarah McLaughlin at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)
ALSO: Trapt at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: OSLO at The Satellite (11pm)

 

Sunday: Black Baptista at The Viper Room (11pm)

 

NOTE: Saturday and Sunday is LA’s Carmageddon, so I’d only venture out if you don’t have to go too far…or anywhere near the 405.

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 21st: Missy Higgins at The Santa Monica Pier
July 22nd: Langhorne Slim at The Echo
July 22nd: Indians CD release at The Viper Room
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: Ben Sollee at Bootleg Theater
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 11th: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 16th: Mutemath at The Troubadour
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TDIF at The Hotel Cafe
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 27-28th: Sunset Junction
September 3rd: FYF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)
September 22nd: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights at The Viper Room

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/16-5/22

Annnnd another week is upon us. Where did the last one go? I’m not quite sure. It was a rough one. By Friday, my stress-induced eye twitch was pretty constant. I knew if I was going to make it through the weekend’s to do list, I needed to take measures. I went to the only place I knew could make me forget about my stressors for an evening, found myself a seat and didn’t move for about seven hours. That place, of course, being The Hotel Cafe. And by the end of the magical evening of music, I was singing along with Daniel Bedingfield covering Chantal Kreviazuk’s “Feels Like Home” and all was once again right with the world.

 

This week is not looking to be any easier. Fortunately there are more opportunities for great live shows starting Monday night with one of my favorite Las Vegas-based bands, Imagine Dragons!

 

As for the rest, here’s what I’ve got:

 

 

Monday: Imagine Dragons at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Yael Naim at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Stephen Kellogg at Bootleg Theater (8:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Adrianne, Rob Giles, Garrison Starr, and Joel Eckels (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Alberta Cross and Chasing Kings at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Jenni Alpert and Lelia Broussard at The Hotel Cafe (7,9)

 

Weds: Patrick Park at Bootleg Theater (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Mayfield and Kevin Devine at The Hotel Cafe (8,9:30)
ALSO: Golden State at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Of Verona at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family at Largo at The Coronet (8:30)
ALSO: Johnny Flynn at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Shawn Mullins and Susanna Hoffs at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Semi Precious Weapons at On the Rox (10pm)…FREE with RSVP

 

Thursday: Paris Carney and So & So at The Hotel Cafe (7,9)
ALSO: Irontom (formally The Bellows) at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

 

Friday: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Kina Grannis at Largo at the Coronet (8:30)

 

Saturday: Saint Motel’s Judgement Day with Queen Caveat at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Janks & The Shivers at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr and 100 Monkeys at The El Rey (7pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Key Club (11pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at Molly Malone’s (10:45)

 

Sunday: Chasing Avalanche and Run Run Run at The Viper Room (8,10)
ALSO: Dead Sara at Bardot (10:30)
ALSO: Alice Smith at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:

May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
May 27th-29th: Sasquatch Music Festival (Washington)
June 1st: Parade of Lights at Silverlake Lounge
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 6th and 7th: Band of Skulls at Bootleg Theater
June 7th: Death Cab for Cutie and The Lonely Forest at The El Rey
June 9th: Adele at Hollywood Palladium
June 9-12: Bonnaroo (TN)
June 13th: Florence and The Machine at The Greek Theater
June 15th: Augustana at The House of Blues Sunset
June 17th: Nico Vega at The House of Blues Anaheim
June 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 26th: The Indigo Girls at The Troubadour
July 28th: A Perfect Circle at Gibson Auditorium
August 12-14th: Outside Lands in San Francisco
August 18-20th: SSMF
September 22-24: Hotel Carolina (South Carolina)

~ Kristen