Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/1-4/7

Happy Easter! After a long and tiring week, it is really nice to relax and celebrate. When I moved to Los Angeles 5 years ago, one of the things I knew I would miss would be sharing these big holidays with my family, but I’m pretty sure that first year celebrating Easter in LA was when I realized what a great new family I had made here. And in the subsequent years this gathering has become my yearly reminder of how many wonderful and inspiring people I have since met and claimed as my own. I’m pretty sure this year is our largest gathering yet. I mean, the leg of lamb my roommate brought home yesterday…well, I wasn’t even sure it would fit in the oven!

I hope to extend my celebratory mood into the week with the help of some excellent shows. I think the two I’m most looking forward to are the amazing string of acts at The Hotel Cafe Wednesday and Sunday nights. People often ask me what my favorite venue in LA is and I have to say The Hotel Cafe because there is no other venue that can so consistently put together solid lineups from front to back. As much as I venue hop, sometimes it’s nice to see a bunch of your favorites all in one place…

 

Monday: Western Scene FREE at Bootleg Bar (9:30)
ALSO: 8MM FREE at The Viper Room (11pm)…performance after a video screening of Tapeheads at 8pm
ALSO: Stonefeather FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Monday Monday FREE at Room 5 featuring Garrison Star, AG, Broken Anchor, Whispertown, etc. (8pm)

 

Tuesday: Basement Sessions FREE at Hemmingway’s featuring The Gallery and Great White Buffalo (9:30)
ALSO: Matt Hires at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Low at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at The Piano Bar (8pm)

 

Weds: William Beckett w/ Jillette Johnson, Tyler Hilton, David & Devine at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Glen Hansard at The Grammy Museum (8pm)
ALSO: Bronze Radio Return at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Armada and Red Circle Underground at Silverlake Lounge (9, 10)
ALSO: Fortress Social Club at Harvard and Stone (11:30)
ALSO: Air Dubai and For The Foxes at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Goo Goo Dolls at The Troubadour (8pm)

 

Thursday: NO at The Troubadour (10:15)
ALSO: Justin Furstenfeld (Blue October) and Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe (7:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Kopecky Family Band at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Zero 1 at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Colin Hay at Largo (8:30)

 

Friday: The Rescues at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: George Stanfrod at Harvelle’s (8:30)
ALSO: Blackberry Smoke at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)
ALSO: Soul Asylum with The Bolts, A Mayfield Affair, Still The Sky’s Limit at The Roxy (8pm)

 

Saturday: The Rescues at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Keaton Simons and Lee Dewyze FREE at Universal City Walk (8pm)
ALSO: Meiko at The Hapa Festival at the Japanese American National Museum (7:30)
ALSO: Solwave FREE at TRiP (8pm)
ALSO: Taddy Porter at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Jill Sobule at McCabes (8pm)

 

Sunday: Scott Mellis, Zane Carney, Ernie Halter and Friends w/ Keaton Simons, Curtis Peoples, etc. at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8, 9)
ALSO: Zookeeper’s Palace at The Viper Room (9pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
April 9th: Andrew Ripp at The Hotel Cafe
April 10th: Curtis Peoples at The Roxy
April 13th: Langhorne Slim at The Echoplex
April 16th: The Neighbourhood at The El Rey
April 17th: Lelia Broussard at The Hotel Cafe
April 18th: Little Green Cars at The Troubadour
April 20th: Tyrone Wells and Wakey!Wakey! at The Troubadour
April 23rd: The Revival Tour at The El Rey
April 25th: Dear Boy at Bootleg Bar
April 26th: Chappo at The Satellite
April 27th: The Virginmarys at The Viper Room
May 2nd: Lights at The El Rey
May 2nd: Crash Kings at Saint Rocke
May 2nd: Meiko at Los Globos
May 4th: The Brobecks at Amplyfi
May 4th: Alice Russell at First Unitarian Church
May 7th: Tom Odell at The Troubadour
May 7th: Dinner and a Suit at The Roxy
May 8th/9th: Milk Carton Kids at Largo
May 9th: Dead Sara at The El Rey
May 9th: Sara Watkins, Fiction Family, Kris Orlowski at Bootleg Theater
May 12th: Stephen Kellogg at The Hotel Café
May 14th: Sara Bareilles at The El Rey
May 15th: Andrew McMahon at The Troubadour
May 18-19th: Overture Con at The Mint
May 21st: Kate Nash at The Echo
May 22nd: Youngblood Hawke at Avalon
May 24th: Sir Sly at The Troubadour
May 29th/30th: Imagine Dragons at Hollywood Palladium
June 1st: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Wiltern
June 1st: CHVRCHES at The Troubadour
June 5th: Jewel at Saban Theatre
June 6th: Capital Cities at The El Rey
June 7th: The Boxer Rebellion at Avalon
August 19th/20th: Ed Sheeran at The Staples Center

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s SXSW ’11 Mix: Part 2

This year’s SXSW experience was a little different than in years past (ie I actually got to GO instead of my usual just listening to all of the artists). Still, I wanted to maintain the spirit of my annual SXSW Mix being a list of artists that are mostly new to me that I somehow discovered or was inspired to write about due to my SXSW experience.  I am so excited about every one of these artists/groups. I can’t wait for them to come through LA and play!

Here’s part 2 of my mix (part 1 can be found here):

5. “Weatherman” – Dead Sara

I fell in love with this band before SXSW. They will surely be featured in a “Band Love” post in the near future, but I couldn’t leave them off this list. This band blows me away every time I see them. Singer Emily looks so unassuming, but by the end of the set you find yourself headbanging to “Weatherman” and realize that she (and the rest of the band) have put you under some sort of spell

 

6. “Big Enough” – Taddy Porter

This Oklahoma based band caught my attention when I was listening to the list of SXSW artists. Apparently they caught the attention of Kid Rock as well as they played his showcase in Austin. Check out their album, Long Slow Drag and be sure to see them when they roll through a town near you!

 

7. “Alive” – Makeshift Prodigy

Bandcamp did a really cool thing this year for SXSW. They made a mix of all of the artists registered to their site that were going to SXSW. It listened to this mix in the background for days. Makeshift Prodigy was one of the artists that made me stop and pay attention. I immediately fell in love with this song, “Alive”, that you can download for FREE on their website.  Just one more Chicago band to add to my growing list of reasons to go back to the windy city.

 

8. “Life is Strange” – The Gallery

The Gallery had been brought to my attention in the Rolling Stone cover artist competition and I promptly added them to my SXSW schedule. I was so happy to be able to catch the band’s set at Rusty Spurs. They did not disappoint!

 

part 3 next up…

 

~ Kristen

Gearing up for SXSW: Kristen’s 10 “Must See” Artists

TOMORROW, we leave for Austin. I’m in the midst of frenzied preparations. I haven’t been posting much these last couple of weeks, in part, due to the fact that every spare second I have managed to accumulate has gone to listening to artists I may get the chance to see at SXSW and preparing my lists and schedules.

I thought I’d share some of the artists I’m most looking forward to (a combination of old favorites and new discoveries). So, here it is. My 10 “Must See” Artists at SXSW ’11:

1. The Silent Comedy

These San Diego boys have been on my must see list for awhile now. Their growing popularity means they’ve been spending more time away from Southern California so I relish even more every chance I get to see them.

When to see them: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=208828575799105

2. Queen Caveat

I’ve gotta go support my favorite up-and-coming LA band. For those of you not in LA, don’t miss one of the first opportunities to see Queen Caveat play outside of their hometown. SO much love for this band!

When to see them: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109420832465650&ref=ts

 

3. The Kin

These Australian brothers are favorites of mine from back east. One of the exciting things about SXSW is that it brings together favorite artists from all over the country/world. Also, be sure to follow The Kin on twitter so that you’ll know where they plan to do their next musical robbery on Saturday in Austin.

where to see them: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184993854877046

 

4. Empires

One of my favorite bands out of Chicago. I’d been itching to see them again since they opened for Biffy Clyro at Bootleg Theater.

where to see them: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150171769950225&set=a.499768780224.291271.62617580224&theater

 

5. Dash & Will

Two girls from Australia whose tunes caught my ear immediately. I’m even more excited to see them and buy their music, because finding their tunes to download in the US= nearly impossible.

where to see them: http://www.facebook.com/dashandwillofficial?sk=events

6. Dead Sara

I’ve seen them three times in LA in the last month or so and I can’t remember the last time a band has blown my mind quite this much. Any chance I’ll get to see Dead Sara, I’m taking!

where to see them: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Sara-Official/124013447614437?sk=app_2405167945

 

7. SINAI

I’ve been wanting to see this new band out of Philly since its inception at the end of last year. I’ve been very jealous of all my Philly friends who have gone to their shows. Now it’s my turn!

where to see them: Friday 8pm: Austin Music Hall (208 Nueces) at the Monster Energy Showcase

8. The Lonely Forest

I adore this band out of Washington. They were actually on my SXSW ’10 mix. I was terribly sad to miss them play The Echo last week. I only justified my absence with the thought of seeing them play multiple times at SXSW.

where to see them: http://www.facebook.com/thelonelyforest?sk=app_178091127385

 

9. Twin Atlantic

They’re from Scotland and they’ve opened for Biffy Clyro. What more do I need? Oh, I also am loving this tune…

where to see them: http://twinatlanticonline.com/2011/02/25/twin-atlantic-to-play-sxsw-scotland-stage-in-texas/

ALSO: Weds 4pm at The PureVolume House (504 Trinity St)

 

10.Mother Mother

A band from Canada that I fell in love with a couple years ago thanks to the song “Hayloft”. I keep missing them when they come through LA, so I’m not going to miss out in Austin!

where to see them: http://mothermothersite.com/live/

 

Honestly there are SO many excellent bands I’m looking forward to seeing at SXSW…can we say “scheduling conflicts”..Here are a few more (still not even half of what’s on my list)

We Barbarians
Fitz & The Tantrums
Hoots & Hellmouth
Joey Ryan
Atomic Tom
Jamestown Revival
Andy Clockwise
Hollerado
Hugo
Chelsea Automatic
Jukebox the Ghost
AWOLNATION
The Blue Pages
The Gallery
UME
Saint Motel
Brooke Fraser
The Stone Foxes
Augustana
Allen Stone
Semi Precious Weapons
Fierce Creatures
Lelia Broussard
Halos
Nicole Atkins
Taylor Locke and The Roughs
Dan Wilson
Meriwether
Taddy Porter
Forrest Day
Scars on 45
Little Red Radio
Toy Bombs
Andrew Belle
The Deaf
Brett Dennen
American Bang
Ram’s Pocket Radio
Admiral Fallow
Makeshift Prodigy

 

We shall see how many of these bands make my final SXSW ’11 mix!

to check out last year’s mix click here

See you in Austin!

 

~ Kristen