Watch This! Jasmine Ash, Thomas Wynn & The Believers, The Dirty Guv’nahs

Here are some videos I’ve been enjoying this week:

Jasmine Ash– “Starlight” 

Jasmine Ash quickly won me over with her debut CD, Beneath The Noise. Her new video for “Starlight” exemplifies the fun and quirky Ash and her cute and catchy tunes. Come see the singer live at The Hotel Cafe August 1st.

 

Thomas Wynn & The Believers – “I Don’t Regret” 

Orlando-based Thomas Wynn has one of those instantly captivating voices. Then when Wynn and his band The Believers break it down in a song like “I Don’t Regret”, there are chills! I’m very much looking forward to Thomas Wynn & The Believers LA appearance at The Bootleg August 9th.

 

The Dirty Guv’nahs – “3000 Miles”

I became a fan of The Dirty Guv’nahs after seeing them for the first time at Bonnaroo this summer. I love the theme behind this video for their song “3000 Miles”, especially since it’s their live performance that really sold me on the band. Watching this video just makes me want to go to another show! Let’s hope the Knoxville, TN natives, can make it out to LA soon.

 

Listen! Learn! Love!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/9-7/15

I’ve been doing a lot of writing this weekend. I can’t write without listening to music, so I’ve been doing a lot of that as well. After seeing Joe Firstman Friday at WitZend play one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while (from anyone), I’ve got his entire catalog on repeat. I’m also mixing in The Young Roman’s Tiger Child and the live EP Twin Atlantic gave out last week which has a particularly compelling acoustic version of “Make A Beast Of Myself”. Finally, last night, while at The Satellite to see Queen Caveat, I discovered a new band from Portland called Rags & Ribbons so I’m absorbing and slightly obsessing over their album The Glass Masses.

Soon, however, I’ll have to switch over to The Silent Comedy to pump myself up for their show tonight at The Echoplex. I can’t imagine a better way to end the weekend than a TSC dance-party.

Next week starts off strong with a show from Tony Lucca at Room 5. We’ll see how much Tony’s popularity has increased since his showing on The Voice. My other pick of the week might have to be Saint Motel’s record release at The El Rey on Saturday. I’m so proud of these LA locals, rising in popularity to headlining status at The El Rey! There are also several great shows at The Hotel Cafe this week including one by LMN Band Love Tournament of Hearts.

Here’s my full calendar of recommendations:

Monday: Tony Lucca at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Lost Lander and Terraplane Sun FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Miracle Parade at R Bar (?)…be sure to check the R Bar website for the current password to get in

 

Tuesday: Monsters Calling Home at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)

 

Weds: Connie Lim and Sonia Rao at The Hotel Cafe (8,10)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars at Los Globos (10pm)
ALSO: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at King King Hollywood (8pm)

 

Thursday: Sara Watkins & Tom Brosseau at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Naia Kete and The O’s at The Hotel Cafe (9, 11)
ALSO: London Cries at The Viper Room (11pm)

 

Friday: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down at California Plaza Downtown (12pm)
ALSO: Justin Hopkins and Orlando Napier at Harvelle’s (9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines and Golden State at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: Javier Dunn, Jesse Thomas, and The Young Romans at Room 5 (8,9,10)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra and Warner Drive at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: David and Devine at On the Rox (8pm)
ALSO: Ryan Cabrera at The Key Club (10pm)

 

Saturday: Tournament of Hearts and Dawn McCoy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Saint Motel with Princeton and Chasing Kings at The El Rey (8pm)…Saint Motel Record Release
ALSO: Carina Round at The Bootleg (10:30)
ALSO: Finish Ticket at Amplyfi (9pm)
ALSO: Purple Melon and Berlin FREE at Pershing Square (7:30)

 

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke (8:05)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 19th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10th and 11th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1st & 2nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 7/2-7/8

Last night, The Sunset Strip kept me out a bit late, so I’m in recovery mode today. Perfect time to prep a couple band interviews and catch up on the Olympic Trials. I am quite excited about these upcoming games. Swimming! Gymnastics!! Equestrian events (I have a soft spot for dressage)!!!

But back to the point, we have another week of excellent shows. The beginning of July means new month-long residencies by Terraplane Sun at The Satellite and The Dig at The Silverlake Lounge.  Also, on the east side, Sunset Strip darlings, Queen Caveat, make an appearance at The Satellite on Saturday. Don’t miss it!

As for the rest:

Monday: Terraplane Sun and The Steelwells FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: The Janks FREE at The Bootleg (11pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Red Circle Underground at The Roxy (7:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Piano Bar Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring Dave Green (9pm)

 

Weds: The Dig FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)

 

Thursday: Marie Moreshead and Barnaby Saints at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8)
ALSO: Franky Perez & The Truth and London Cries at The Viper Room (10, 11)

 

Friday: A House for Lions and Andy Clockwise at The Central (10, 11)
ALSO: The Young Romans and The Cordovas at WitZend (8, 9)
ALSO: Bad Rabbits at The Millenium Biltmore Hotel (9pm)…playing as part of the “Keeping It Classy” adult prom

 

Saturday: Queen Caveat at The Satellite (10:30)
ALSO: Brett Detar, Audra Mae, Cory Branan at The Mint (9pm)
ALSO: Black Carl and The Shakers at The Viper Room (10,11)
ALSO: Jamar Rogers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)

 

Sunday: The Silent Comedy at The Echoplex (7pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 14th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 15th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
July 19th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10th and 11th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The El Rey
August 24th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1st & 2nd: FYF at Downtown LA
September 4th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 14th: The Hives at The Wiltern
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/24-7/1

Currently listening to all the bands on the Warped Tour line-up…trying to decide if I want to go to Ventura’s date. I’m leaning towards yes, mostly because I want to see Dead Sara, but sadly I feel there are more bands on my “to avoid” list than my “to check out” list (yes, I have made lists). Regardless, I’m putting together my calendar a day early just in case…

Plenty of good shows this week. I’m most excited about seeing some local bands I haven’t seen in a while (Lovers Drugs, The Active Set, Sabrosa Purr, NO, Standing Shadows, etc.).  If you want to experience some great LA rock bands, it’s a good week to get out!

Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring ZZ Ward and DWNTWN (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Beachwood Rockers Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar featuring The Cordovas (9pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons at The Del Monte Speakeasy (9pm)
ALSO: Infantree record release FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Lisa Marie Presley at The Roxy (8:30)

 

Weds: Jessie Payo and Joel Eckels at Room 5 (8,9)

 

Thursday: Lovers Drugs and The Active Set at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Mariah McManus at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: George Stanford at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Josh Groban at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm)

 

Friday: Golden State, Kill the Complex and Sabrosa Purr at The Viper Room (9,10,11)
ALSO: NO at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Sophie B. Hawkins and Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Connie Lim and Nina Storey at WIZend (9,10)
ALSO: Adam Bones at The Redwood Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Keane at The Orpheum (8pm)
ALSO: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium (7pm)

 

Saturday: Standing Shadows at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at Largo (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Buddy and Mind the Gap at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)

 

Sunday: Harper Blynn and Madi Diaz at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Brendan Hines at The Bootleg (8pm)
ALSO: The Mountain Goats at McCabe’s (7pm)
ALSO: Laura Marling Ford Amphitheatre (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 7th: Queen Caveat at The Satellite
July 14th: Saint Motel at The El Rey
July 19th: Missy Higgins and Butterfly Boucher at The Troubadour
July 25th: Emery at The Roxy
July 25th: Charlotte Martin at The Hotel Cafe
August 3rd: Cory Chisel at The El Rey
August 10th: Jack White at Shrine Auditorium
August 13th: The Kills at The El Rey
August 13th: Birdy at The Roxy
August 14th: The Dunwells at The Hotel Café
August 23rd: Civil Twilight and Morning Parade at The EL Rey
August 24th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Troubadour
September 1st & 2nd: FYF at Downtown LA
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: 10/10-10/16

This weekend just seemed to slip through my fingertips. I swear I spent most of it in front of my computer working, but I certainly don’t have anything to show for it. I did manage to get out Friday night for a little Culture Collide (such a great festival!). Then Saturday night was an evening at The Hotel Cafe where I was taken on a journey back to 2004 with Michael Tolcher. Hearing Michael play some of my favorite tunes from that year made me realize just how connected certain songs are to particular years of my life…and that 2004 may very well be my happiest year. I’m not sure if that year’s greatness was more because of the music or because of the events that the music accompanied, but I do know that the bands and songs that I associate with that time will forever be my favorites.

 

What songs are going to make that indelible imprint on 2011? Could it be a song heard by a band playing this week? Quite possibly! Here’s my schedule:

 

Monday: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring The Silent Comedy (10:30)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Golden State and Indians FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10,11)
ALSO: The Rambles and Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: Abbott Kinney and Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Boy & Bear at The Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Atomic Tom, Anberlin, and Switchfoot at The Wiltern (6:30)
ALSO: Oh No Not Stereo at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Lakes at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Rival Sons, The Pretty Reckless, and Evanescence at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Foxy Shazam at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Pierce at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…record release show
ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo (8pm)

 

 

Weds: Whitton, Leftover Cuties, Amber Rubarth, and Coby Brown at  at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Thursday: Maniac and Family of the Year at The Bootleg (10,11)
ALSO: The Head & The Heart at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Kim Richey, Jennifer Hirsh, Rob Giles with All New People at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)
ALSO: Some Hear Explosions at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: Foo Fighters at The Forum (7pm)
ALSO: Lindsay Buckingham at UCLA Royce Hall (8pm)

 

Friday: Amy Kuney, Butterfly Boucher and Katie Herzig at The Bootleg (8,9,10)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Nikka Costa at The Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice (9pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at ReForm Academy (11pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (8:45)
ALSO: Los Sindicate at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Shelby Lynne at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)

 

Saturday: Haroula Rose at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Kozmonaut at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Jesse Malin and The Hold Steady at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Shelby Lynn at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Canyons at The Troubadour (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
October 17th: Youngblood Hawke and Imagine Dragons at The Satellite
October 18th: Portishead at The Shrine
October 19th: Melissa Ferrick and Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
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 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/3-10/9

This week brings us Filter Magazine’s Culture Collide Festival. This multi-cultural festival, primarily taking place in Silverlake, combines live music, film screenings and food from around the world. For more information, check out the website (http://culturecollide.com/). Festival tickets can be purchased for $20 and there is a free block party at the end of the week. I’m not overly familiar with many of the bands, but I’m looking forward to discovering some new international artists. All of my recommended musical events associated with the festival will be marked with a CCF.

It’s a very rich music-wise. Here’s what I’m most excited about:

 

Monday: Nightmare & The Cat and Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (10,11)…starting a not to miss October residency with Youngblood Hawke
ALSO: Fat City Reprise and Red Circle Underground at The Viper Room (11:15, 12:15)…the beginning of Fat City Reprise’s October Residency
ALSO: Indians FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)…yet another October residency (Monday’s in October are PACKED!)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Liam Gerner, Scott Goldbaum, and Stephen Wrabel (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Elizaveta, The Kopecky Family Band, and Hanni El Khatib (9pm)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/

 

Tuesday: Joe Purdy at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Transfer at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Viza at The Viper Room (10:15)
ALSO: Wires in The Walls, Escalator Hill, and Oak and Gorski at The Central (9,10,11)
ALSO: Locksley at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Johnny Moezzi at The Foundry (8pm)
ALSO: Liam Gerner at The Mint (10:30)

 

Weds: Nico Vega and Blondie at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi and Ari Shrine at The Silverlake Lounge (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Ivan & Alyosha at The Echo (8pm)
ALSO: Bethpage Black at Rolling Stone LA at Hollywood and Highland (11pm)
ALSO: Robbie Robertson at The Grammy Museum (8pm)
ALSO: Kopecky Famiy Band at The House of Blues Sunset (8:30)
ALSO: CCF- Liam Finn at Whole Foods in West Hollywood

 

Thursday: Garrison Starr and All New People at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Liam Gerner, The Americans, Patrick Park, and Maxim Ludwig at The Bootleg (8:30)…wow a great night of music all the way through!
ALSO: CCF- Liam Finn at The Echo (11:30
ALSO: CCF- The Black Box Revelation at Swinghouse (8pm)

 

Friday: Incubus at The Hollywood Bowl (7:30)
ALSO: CCF- The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at The Echoplex (11pm)
ALSO: CCF- WIM, He’s My Brothers/She’s My Sister, The Postelles, Avi Buffalo at ReFORM (8:30)
ALSO: CCF- Laura Jansen at Echo Park United Methodist Church (9:30)

 

Saturday: Rachel Platten, Keaton Simons and Michael Tolcher at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Chamberlin at Bootleg Theater (11pm)
ALSO: Abigail Washburn at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)
ALSO: CCF- Carina Round at Echo Park United Methodist Church (8:30)

 

Sunday: Michael Tolcher, Rachel Platten, Keaton Simons at Saint Rocke (7,8,9)
ALSO: Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: CCF Block Party featuring Avi Buffalo, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, The Tender Box, etc. (2pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
October 10th: The Silent Comedy at Bardot
October 11th: Rival Sons and Evanescence at Hollywood Palladium
October 11th: Switchfoot and Anberlin at The Wiltern
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
October 17th: Youngblood Hawke and Imagine Dragons at The Satellite
October 18th: Portishead at The Shrine
October 19th: Melissa Ferrick and Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
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 and The Academ Is… at The El Rey
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

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New Music Tuesday 9/13 featuring Ben Rector, Matthew Perryman Jones, Atomic Tom, Melissa Ferrick, etc.

A TON of new music released today that I’m curious about. But I certainly can’t buy them all so here are my top picks:

 

Ben Rector- Something Like This http://www.benrectormusic.com/

I’ve been talking a lot about Ben Rector lately…and with good reason! This singer-songwriter from Nashville writes songs that will both warm your heart and make you dance…I just can’t get them out of my head! His last CD, Into The Morning, makes frequent appearances on my music player and based on the new tunes I heard last month at Ben’s Hotel Cafe show, Something Like This will follow in its footsteps.

Buy it on amazon or itunes.

 

Matthew Perryman Jones – Until The Dawn Appears http://mpjmusic.com/

Another Ten Out of Tenn artist releases a CD! Until The Dawn Appears is actually a collection of the songs Matthew has played over the years that he still feels passionate about (he calls it a “retelling”). Personally, I can’t stop listening to this CD…especially the new version of “Save You”.  Matthew Perryman Jones has a hypnotizing voice that is both soothing and uplifting. With the addition of the piano and the strings, the beauty of this song is almost overwhelming. The rest of the record follows suit. A must have for you collection!

Get Until the Dawn Appears on Amazon or Itunes 

 


Atomic Tom – In Parallel  http://www.atomictom.com/

Atomic Tom blew me away at The Bootleg when I saw them at the beginning of the year. They have a new EP coming out today with a couple of new songs so adding it to my shopping cart is a no brainer. Sample the EP then if you haven’t already, be sure to get their full length album, The Moment.

“Red Light Warning Sign” is the band’s most recent single off The Moment but can also be found on the In Parallel EP.

Download the tunes on Amazon or Itunes 

 

 

Melissa Ferrick- Still Right Here http://www.melissaferrick.com/

So many CDs out today, I listened briefly to a song or two from each and Melissa Ferrick’s Still Right Here stuck out above the rest for me. I’ve always loved Melissa for her passion. It’s easy to connect to her songs and her spirit and I’m looking forward to getting to know all of these new tunes.

Here’s where you can buy the new CD on Itunes

 

Other CDs I’m sampling today:

New music! New music! YAY!
~ Kristen