Kristen’s 2012 Mix – Track 7 – We Are The Ocean

I spend all year going to shows and collecting songs and pictures and stories. I’ve spent the last month or so compiling some of my top musical memories into a music mix with accompanying booklet (my favorite little crafting project). So, here I share with you my top tracks of 2012.

Enjoy!!

We Are The Ocean

UK’s We Are The Ocean is one of my greatest discoveries of 2012. My most exciting We Are The Ocean moment was when they unexpectedly opened for Dead Sara at the 98.7 Penthouse. After the show, the band was *this close* to convincing me to ditch work the next day for my second helping of Warped Tour in San Diego. Not going may be my biggest regret of the year.

https://soundcloud.com/hassle-records/we-are-the-ocean-what-it-feels

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 8/14/12

Looking for new tunes? Here are my listening suggestions for albums coming out this week:

The Dirty Guv’nahs –   Somewhere Between These Southern Skies

One of my favorite discoveries from Bonnaroo this year was The Dirty Guv’nahs.  I’ve been loving the single, 3000 Miles, and from what I’ve heard so far, the rest of the album delivers more of that southern rock sound I enjoy. This album is a must on my list.

 

Charlie Mars – Blackberry Rain

Listening to the first song off this album, I am captivated…

 

The Classic Crime – Phoenix

When browsing through the new releases for this week, The Classic Crime, jumped out at me. I haven’t heard from this Seattle rock band in a couple years, but I’ve been a fan for a while and I can’t wait to hear what they have been up to. I’m skimming through the podcasts they have up on bandcamp and hearing much potential in the tantalizing tidbits of music.

 

Yellowcard – Southern Air

This year there has been a bit of a resurgence of Yellowcard in my life. The band played a couple acoustic tunes at the Warped Tour kickoff party at Club Nokia and then I saw them again at Warped Tour where they played songs off Ocean Avenue and reminded me why I was in love with that album. Yellowcard still holds a place in my heart and I’m looking forward to hearing more of their signature brand of California punk-pop laced with electric violin (forever and always my favorite aspect of Yellowcard).

Here’s the lead-off track from Southern Air. I like it!

 

Listen! Learn! Love!

 

~ Kristen

Amanda’s SD Concert Calendar 6/25-7/1

You know, I actually started this post yesterday but got so caught up in the loveliness of a true Sunday of that it obviously didn’t get completed. I plan on attending the fair this week (finally!) and riding some rides and maybe eat some horrible food. Warped Tour finally makes it to town this week. If you go, make sure you check out LMN favorite Dead Sara. They will blow your mind. Get Back Loretta play this week and we also have the cd release for The Nervous Wreckords. Must attend!

 

Monday: Cathryn Beeks Homegrown Showcase @ Anthology @6 $5

Tuesday: Mattson 2 @ El Dorado @9
AND: Stephen Ray  @ Griffin @7

Wednesday: Warped Tour @ Cricket Wireless @1130
AND: Lisa Marie Presley and Terraplane Sun @ Belly Up @730 $20/$22
AND: Dashboard Confessional @ San Diego Fair
AND: Wendy Bailey @ Riviera Supper Club @9

Thursday: Get Back Loretta @ Casbah @930 $8/$10
AND: The Royalty and Filthy Violets @ Eleven @9 $5
AND: The Bloodflowers @ Ruby Room @9 $6

Friday: KC and The Sunshine Band @ Del Mar Fairgrounds
AND: Patrick Norton and Those Damn Gunslingers @ Eleven @9 $5
AND: The Soft Pack and Heavy Hawaii @ Belly Up @830 $13/$15
AND: Old Tiger @ Griffin @9

Saturday: The Nervous Wreckords and Maren Parusel @ Casbah @9 $10
AND: Stripes and Lines and Republic of Letters @ Belly Up @830 $12/$14
AND: Train @ Del Mar Fairgrounds @7
AND: Hyena @ El Dorado @9 free with rsvp before 10:30
AND: LA Showcase @ Lestats @8

Sunday: Hyena @ El Dorado @9 $10

 

Keep in Mind:
July 4th- The Bloodflowers @ Eleven
July 5th- The Tilt @ Belly Up
July 7th- Dead Feather Moon @ Belly Up
July 8th- The Brothers Grim @ El Dorado
July 18th- AJ Croce @ Anthology
July 18th- Truth and Salvage Co. @ Griffin
July 19th- Low Volts @ El Dorado
July 22nd- Alberta Cross @ Casbah
July 29th- Tenacious D @ SDSU Open Air Theater
July 29th- Steve Poltz @ Belly Up
July 31st- Neon Trees @ House of Blues
August 2nd- Murder By Death and Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons @ Casbah
August 4th- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
August 5-7- Brian McKnight @ Anthology
August 10th- Jack White @ Shrine Auditorium
August 11th- Saint Motel and Italian Japanese @ Casbah
August 13th- Franz Ferdinand @ House of Blues
August 15th- Fun @ SDSU Open Air Theater
August 15th- Alabama Shakes @ Fox Theater
August 15th- The Dunwells @ Birch Aquarium @ Scripps
August 18th- The Silent Comedy and Stripes and Lines @ Belly Up
August 21st- Civil Twilight @ Belly Up
August 22nd- Civil Twilight @ Belly Up
August 30th- Little Hurricane @ Belly Up
September 4th- Gotye @ Greek Theater
October 2nd- Ed Sheeran @ House of Blues
October 3rd- The Head and The Heart @ Spreckles Theater
October 4th- The Black Keys @ Valley View Casino Center
October 4th- Florence + The Machine @ Cricket Wireless
October 5th- Kimbra @ House of Blues
October 6th- Dr. Dog @ 4th and B
October 9th- Imagine Dragons and AWOLNATION @ House of Blues
October 14th- The Raveonettes @ Belly Up
October 16th- Bombay Bicycle Club @ House of Blues
October 17th- Allen Stone @ Belly Up

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: 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: 8/8-8/14

SOOO many things to be excited about this week. Too many really. The Milk Carton Kids CD release and Nico Vega at Saint Rocke on the same night…it’s like making me choose which of my theoretical children I like more. And throw in John Elliot’s CD release, a rare Matthew Jordan performance, and a stacked line-up at The Hudson block party and well…can I be in like 5 places at once?

Also this week, some of my favorite out-of-state musicians are in LA. Nashville’s Andrew Belle, Philadelphia’s Adam Arcuaragi, and New York City’s Kill the Alarm are all must see performances.

And that’s just the start of all the great acts I’d love to see this week. It’s a good time to be in Los Angeles, that’s for sure! Hope you can all make it out to at least a show or two this week. There are certainly enough great ones to choose from.

 

Here’s my list:

 

Monday: Robert Francis FREE at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Infantree and Whispering Pines FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Brooke Northrop, Annaliese, Wes Poland, and Joel Eckels (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Jes Hudak at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Johnny Moezzi at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Juke Kartel at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Rockers at The Piano Bar (free music from 8-?)

 

Weds: Adam Arcuragi at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Sia and Oh Land at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Warped Tour in Carson (11am)

 

Thursday: Beatnik Jr. at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Benefit at Cafe Was featuring acoustic sets from Ernie Halter, The Material, Kyle Nicolaides, and more (8pm)
ALSO: Lovers Drugs at Good Hurt (10pm)
ALSO: Golden State and Family of The Year at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding at The Wiltern (6:30)
ALSO: Toy and Lifehouse at Ventura County Fair (7:30)

 

Friday: Schuyler Fisk and Andrew Belle at The Mint (8,9)
ALSO: Vas Defrans at Amplyfi (8pm)
ALSO: The Young Romans at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: The Decemberists at The Greek Theater (7:30)
ALSO: Rodrigo y Gabriela at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)

 

Saturday: Milk Carton Kids CD Release at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Nico Vega at Saint Rocke (11pm)
ALSO: Bird By Bird at On the Rox (5pm)
ALSO: Amiee Mann FREE at Marina Del Rey
ALSO: Matt Jordan at Genghis Cohen (9:30)
ALSO: John Elliot and the Hereafter record release at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Addison Strong at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: The Hudson Block Party featuring Saint Motel, Andy Clockwise, Races, Dead Sara and more (1-11pm)
ALSO: Rodrigo y Gabriela at The Hollywood Bowl (8:30)

 

Sunday: Kill the Alarm at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Andrew Belle at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Jack and White at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Milk Carton Kids in Ventura at Zoey’s (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
August 16th: Mutemath at The Troubadour
August 18th: Nico Vega at The Roxy
August 18th and 25th: The Veronicas at The Viper Room
August 18th: TFDI at The Hotel Cafe
August 18th and 19th: Death Cab for Cutie and Frightened Rabbit at The Greek Theater
August 19th: Buckcherry at The Roxy
August 18-20th: SSMF
August 22nd: Ben Rector at The Hotel Cafe
August 22nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
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
September 24th: William Elliot Whitmore at Bootleg Theater
September 25th: The Lonely Forest at The Wiltern
October 14th: Butterfly Boucher at Bootleg Theater
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 6/27-7/3

It’s a big week! Work-wise, I’m going to be finishing up and turning in something I’ve been working on for months. In my personal life, I’m moving this week…and my mother is flying across the country to assist. Musically, it’s the last Empire (Semi Precious Weapons’ weekly party at On The Rox). All of this is making me a little overwhelmed  and emotional…fingers crossed it all goes well.

This week also marks my welcome back to the world of the living (hopefully). I tested my newly regained health out yesterday at the vegan beerfest which took place at The Roxy. It was a tad exhausting, but I didn’t keel over or develop some new form of illness so we’ll chalk it up as a success! Also, The Silent Comedy played a set that got the entire festival dancing (double success!!). If you still haven’t seen this band, I shake my fist at you. Mark your calendars for July 7th when they’ll be playing LACMA with Saint Motel. Tim Burton’s exhibit is in town, so come for some art and some music…you won’t regret it!

 

In the meantime:

 

Monday: Armada at The Viper Room (11:15)
ALSO: Le Butcherettes at The Troubadour (10:15)
ALSO: The Californian FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Postelles at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Indians at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: The Canyons at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: J Scott Bergman at The Bootleg (8:30)
ALSO: Beachwood Night at Piano Bar (8pm)…great night of FREE music

 

Weds: Sondre Lerche and Nightlands at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Empire On the Rox with Semi Precious Weapons (10pm)…FREE with RSVP to rsvp@semipreciousweapons.com (this is the LAST Empire…don’t miss it!)
ALSO: Jackie Tohn at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Brooke Fraser at The Music Box (8pm)
ALSO: Big Black Delta at The Satellite (10pm)

 

Thursday: Shawn Hlookoff at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Shakers FREE at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Eli James at On the Rise at The Hard Rock Cafe (9:45)
ALSO: Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven (10pm)
ALSO: Maren Parusel at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Chasing Kings at The Roxy (8pm)

 

Friday: Warped Tour Pomona (11am)

 

Saturday: Ragsy, Andy Clockwise, George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe (10,11,12)
ALSO: Sabrosa Purr at Bootleg (10pm)

 

Sunday: Warped Tour Ventura (11am)

 

To Keep in Mind:
July 4th: Truth & Salvage Co. at The Hotel Cafe
July 7th: The Silent Comedy and Saint Motel at LACMA
July 7th: Dead Sara at The Viper Room
July 14th: Parade of Lights at The Viper Room
July 15th: Curtis Peoples at The Hotel Cafe
July 19th and 21st: Alkaline Trio at The Troubadour
July 22nd: Langhorne Slim at The Echo
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 18th: 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)

~ Kristen

 

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