Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 5/14-5/20

After a week of working overtime, I decided to take some time this weekend and go out…twice (*gasp*). I can’t recall the last time I was so happy to see some live music. I almost feel normal again after Friday night’s trip to The Hotel Cafe for The Creepshow and Saturday at The El Rey for Greylag and the amazing Augustana.

More excellent shows this week. I’m especially excited about seeing Seattle rockers Vendetta Red again after about eight years (they’ve been “on hiatus” for the last five). I’ll be in San Diego next weekend for a conference, but if I weren’t, I would definitely be at The Hudson Block party on Sunday. I discovered some great bands there last year and the food was delicious.

But that’s just the start of all the great shows this week. Here are my recommendations:

Monday: Chasing Kings FREE at Bootleg Bar (11:30)
ALSO: Jesse Thomas and Meiko at The Hotel Café (9:30)…Meiko Record Release Show
ALSO: LP at The Grammy Museum (8pm)
ALSO: Michael Castro & Perrin Lamb and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (7, 9)

 

Tuesday: Harper Blynn, Tim Myers and Meiko at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9:30)…part 2 of Meiko’s Record Release Show
ALSO: An L.A. Ramble for Levon (Levon Helms tribute) featuring The Dustbowl Revival, The Muddy Reds, The Driftwood Singers, etc. (7:30)
ALSO: The Dahl Sisters, Jesse Macht, and Dana Williams at Room 5 (7:30, 9, 10)
ALSO: Emily Wells at The Largo (8pm)

 

Weds: Maniac at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: The Belle Brigade at The Grammy Museum (7:30)
ALSO: Benjamin Francis Leftwich at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Rocco DeLuca at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Haim and Portugal. The Man with UCLA Philharmonia at Royce Hall at UCLA (7pm)

 

Thursday: Queen Caveat and The Parlotones at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Jake Newton at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Adam Bones at Amplyfi (8:15)
ALSO: Viza at The House of Blues Sunset (10pm)
ALSO: Adrienne Pierce at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi at WitZend (8pm)

 

Friday: Vendetta Red at The Viper Room (8pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground, Kitten, and Chappo at Bootleg Bar (9, 10, 11)
ALSO: Vanaprasta at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Erin McLaughlin, Rob Giles, Garrison Starr, Brother Sal & The Devil May Care at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)…Garrison Starr Record Release Show
ALSO: Gaslight Anthem at The Roxy (6pm)
ALSO: The Boxer Rebellion at The El Rey (10pm)

 

Saturday: Zane Carney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Grafitti6 and Eric Hutchinson at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Oak & Gorski at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)

 

Sunday: Hudson Block Party featuring White Rabbits, LP, Saint Motel, Haim, etc at The Hudson (11am-11pm)…more details here: http://www.facebook.com/events/225064024275067/

 

To Keep in Mind:
May 31st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5th and 6th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7-10th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 16th: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium
June 21st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 23rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium
July 14th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
August 13th: The Kills at The El Rey

 

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 3/12-3/19

Yesterday was all about intense SXSW preparation. I spend the entire day diligently going through all the party lists and band schedules to put together my best approximation of a game plan. Then I went out to see some amazing bands and got no sleep (I guess another form of preparation?). I hope to get together a list of my top picks posted soon. Also, Amanda and I will of course be updating you all on our adventures all week long via twitter/facebook/etc. so if you want a taste of SXSW, we’ve got you covered!

For those of you still in LA next week, there are a few choice shows for you too:

Monday: NO FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The Janks FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Chris Dallman at The Hotel Café (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Ari Shine and Chi McClean at Room 5 (7,8)
ALSO: Maniac FREE at The Central (9pm)

 

Weds: Lovers Drugs at The Down & Out (10:30)
ALSO: The Pretty Reckless at House of Blues Sunset (8:30)
ALOS: Jane Carrey, Chris Pierce, Infantree at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8, 10)

 

Thursday: Wire in the Walls at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Drive-By Truckers at House of Blues Sunset (8:30)

 

Friday: The Honey Trees and Ry Cuming at The Hotel Cafe (9, 11)
ALSO: Guster at Largo (two shows: 7:30, 10)
ALSO: Umphrey’s McGee at House of Blues Sunset (two shows: 5pm and 8pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins at WitZend (10pm)

 

Saturday: Sara Bareilles at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Berklee Mixer at The Hotel Cafe featuring Rob Giles, Adrianne, Charley Turner, and more (7:30)

 

Sunday: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: Charlene Soraia at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Monday (March 19th): The Janks FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: NO FREE at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
March 20th: Needtobreathe and Ben Rector at Club Nokia
March 20th: War on Drugs at Avalon
March 21st: Boyce Avenue and Tournament of Hearts at Avalon
March 22nd: The Lumineers at The Hotel Café
March 23rd: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
March 24th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24th and 25th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour
March 30th: All American Rejects at The Troubadour
March 31st: Tyrone Wells at The Roxy
April 1st: Charlotte Martin at The Bootleg Bar
April 10th: Neon Trees at The Troubadour
April 11th: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater
April 12th: Joseph Arthur at The Largo
April 19th: Foxy Shazam at The Roxy
April 13th-15th AND 20th– 22nd: Coachella
April 25th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 27th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 8th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
June 3rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 13th and 14th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16th: Thrice at Club Nokia

 

~ Kristen

http://www.localmusicnation.net/

http://twitter.com/#%21/_localmusicnat

 

 

HoHotel Cafe Holiday Benefit Show- Night 2 Recap

The annual Hohotel Cafe holiday benefit show is always one of my favorite events of the year. Hotel Cafe artists come together to play a mix of seasonal tunes and originals in a rapid-fire manner, each taking the stage for only a song or two, playing solo or inviting up friends to fill out a make-shift band. The two day event featured the likes of Cary Brothers, Butch Walker, Priscilla Ahn, Meiko, Joe Purdy, Laura Jansen and SO many more. This year, I was only able to make one of the two days, but the night will go down as one of the best evenings of music I experienced all year.  It was one stellar act after another with many fun surprises and special guests. Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, it did. Over and over again. By the end of the evening, even before Butch invited his friend Alecia Moore (AKA Pink) to the stage, I was so overwhelmed, my continuously blown mind seemed to be leaking out of my eyes. Seriously, the beauty and magic of the music had moved me to tears.
Going into detail on the evening would take a book, so here are some pictures. Put your cursor over the pic to more details or fun stories:

HoHotel Cafe Holiday Benefit Show- Night 2 Recap

The annual Hohotel Cafe holiday benefit show is always one of my favorite events of the year. Hotel Cafe artists come together to play a mix of seasonal tunes and originals in a rapid-fire manner, each taking the stage for only a song or two, playing solo or inviting up friends to fill out a make-shift band. The two day event featured the likes of Cary Brothers, Butch Walker, Priscilla Ahn, Meiko, Joe Purdy, Laura Jansen and SO many more. This year, I was only able to make one of the two days, but the night will go down as one of the best evenings of music I experienced all year.  It was one stellar act after another with many fun surprises and special guests. Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, it did. Over and over again. By the end of the evening, even before Butch invited his friend Alecia Moore (AKA Pink) to the stage, I was so overwhelmed, my continuously blown mind seemed to be leaking out of my eyes. Seriously, the beauty and magic of the music had moved me to tears.

Going into detail on the evening would take a book, so here are some pictures. Put your cursor over the pic to more details or fun stories:

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/17-10/23

Another week, come and gone. I’ve been so busy lately just about every hour of every day has to be planned out in order to even get some of my to do list accomplished. I pulled two all-nighters last week and still I cannot keep up with all of the tasks coming in. This week I add “grade exams” to my list, so I’m not hopeful that life will get easier any time soon. Hopefully, I’ll be able to squeeze in some shows. There are quite a few goodies. Monday, once again, offers a jam packed evening of amazing (mostly free) musical options. I’m also super excited about the return of Harper Blynn to Los Angeles. They will be doing a fall residency at The Hotel Cafe starting this Weds playing with Melissa Ferrick! The week rounds itself out with a performance by indie darlings and my home town (Philly) natives, War on Drugs.

And really, that’s just the tip of this week’s musical iceberg. Here’s my complete list of recommendations:

 

Monday: Imagine Dragons and Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Lookout Kids, Bowery Beasts, Indians, and Iron Tom FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: IO Echo at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Owl and Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: The Naked and Famous at The Music Box (8:30)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Meiko (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joel Eckels, Kyler England, Kate York, and Sweet Talk Radio (9pm)

 

 

Tuesday: Jake Newton at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Gotye, Caught a Ghost, and Lemon Sun at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Portishead at The Shrine (7pm)
ALSO: St. Vincent at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Ben Lee & Friends at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: IO Echo at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at Piano Bar featuring Tripp Rezac and Lindsay Rae Spurlock

 

 

Weds: Melissa Ferrick at Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (7, 10)
ALSO: Kyle Nicolaides at Three of Clubs (10pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at The Largo (9:30)
ALSO: Whispertown at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Portishead at The Shrine (7pm)

 

 

Thursday: Lakes at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Rob Giles with All New People at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Maria Taylor at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at The Foundry on Melrose (9:30)

 

 

Friday: Miracle Parade, Sabrosa Purr, and Taylor Locke and The Roughs at Bootleg Bar (9,10,11)
ALSO: Forrest Day at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Nikka Costa at The Del Monte Speakeasy (9pm)
ALSO: Melissa Ferrick at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Vas Defrans at Amplyfi (10:15)
ALSO: Mason Jennings at The El Rey (9pm)

 

 

Saturday: The War on Drugs at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Adrienne Pierce at Genghis Cohen (8:30)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at Westwood Brewing Co. (8pm)
ALSO: Tyler Ramsey (Band of Horses) at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11:15)

 

 

Sunday: Marcus Very Ordinary at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Satellite at Bootleg Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Robert Schwartzman at The Troubadour (8:30)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
November 5th: The Shakers album release at The Viper Room
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: Thrice at The Mayan Theater
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 11th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 11th: Kill the Alarm at Room 5
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 16th: The Stone Foxes at The Viper Room
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 26th: Kings of Convenience at The Music Box
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

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

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/25-5/1

SO full right now. So so very full. The annual Easter party was full of friends and food and eggs that now look like angry birds…what more could you want!?! Why music of course! I’m trying to clear some room in my stomach for the french fries that will hopefully accompany more friends and some awesome tunes at Saint Rocke tonight…assuming I will be able to move by then…

I will definitely be able to move by Monday night because I got my ticket for The Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite the instant they went on sale (AKA wouldn’t miss it for the world). There are tons of great shows this week. I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully my work schedule will permit me to partake!

Here’s my dream list:

Monday: Airborne Toxic Event at The Satellite (8:30)
ALSO: The Head & The Heart at The Troubadour (10:15)…unfortunately sold out…but if you don’t know this band from Seattle, you should
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: The Chris Robinson Brotherhood at The Echoplex (8:30)

 

Tuesday: Madi Diaz and Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: The Filthy Souls at The Piano Bar (midnight)
ALSO: Airborne Toxic Event at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark and Satellite at Molly Malone’s (8,9)…last night of the residency!
ALSO: Alien Ant Farm, Finger Eleven, and Papa Roach at The House of Blues Sunset (8:30)

 

Weds: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke (9:45)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise CD Release with George Stanford at The Troubadour (8:30)
ALSO: High Voltage Night at The Mint featuring Maren Parusel (8pm)
ALSO: The Ditty Bops at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: The Airborne Toxic Event at The El Rey (8pm)

Thursday: Purple Melon and Rival Sons FREE at Hard Rock Cafe (10,10:50)
ALSO: Little Hurricane at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: of Verona and The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (8,9)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: The Airborne Toxic Event at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Friday: Queen Caveat at Bardot (11:30)
ALSO: Milk Carton Kids at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Jenni Alpert and Rob Giles at The Hotel Cafe (7,9)

 

Saturday: Joe Purdy and The Milk Carton Kids at The Troubadour (9pm)
ALSO: Prohibition Rose and Inverse at The Viper Room (9, 9:50)
ALSO: The Boxer Rebellion at The Roxy (10pm)

 

Sunday: Thao & Mirah at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at Saint Rocke (9pm)

 

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
May 2nd: Xavier Rudd at The El Rey
May 4th: The Pipettes at The Satellite
May 7th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
May 9th: KT Tunstall at The El Rey
May 14th: The Other Side of Morning CD Release
May 15th: Eisley at The Troubadour
May 20th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe
May 21st: Saint Motel at The Roxy
May 27th: The Script at Club Nokia
May 27th-29th: Sasquatch Music Festival (Washington)
June 2nd: Manchester Orchestra at The Music Box
June 7th: Death Cab for Cutie and The Lonely Forest at The El Rey
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 29th: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box
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

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat