New Music Tuesday 11/6/12 Featuring Sad Robot, Makeshift Prodigy, Mrnorth

I’m a bit behind on all of this, but hey, better late than never, no? Here’s the new music I’ve been listening to this last week or so…

Sad Robot1.0 

I wasn’t able to post about this when it came out, but I’ve been listening to this debut album from LA rockers, Sad Robot for a couple weeks now and I am loving it! With traces of Nico Vega, this female-fronted power trio takes rock to another level, reaching out beyond the tunes to convey a message of hope and strength that is much needed in my life right now. After an October residency at The Silverlake Lounge and song placement in the TV show, Bones, this band seems to be picking up some steam. I am really looking forward to seeing where they will go next.

Makeshift ProdigyIlluminate EP 

Chicago’s Makeshift Prodigy made an impact on me a couple years ago with their stirring single, “Alive” off their 2010 album, mathematica.  The band had a new EP come out this week and from what I’ve heard of it, they seem to deliver on the rousing rock anthems that initially caught my ear.

MrnorthThis Isn’t Just Lightening 

In 2007, Mrnorth’s album Fear & Desire blew my mind. I think I had “Sleeping Dogs” on repeat for weeks. A couple weeks ago the now NYC-based rock band released a live double album.   I haven’t heard much from this band lately, but I was tickled to see that they had so much new music for me to digest in this double disc live album recorded form. Easy download decision.

 

Also to look into:

  • Mike Doughty – The Flip is Another Honey
  • Rumer – Boys Don’t Cry
  • Kate Rusby – 20
  • Joshua James – From The Top of Willamette Mountain
  • Aerosmith – Music From Another Dimension!
  • Skye –  Back to Now
~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 11/5-11/11

Last week was such a blur. I think this is mostly because I didn’t sleep very much. When you’re only taking 2-4 hr. “naps”, it can get quite difficult to keep track of things like days…and dinner time. My favorite Danes, terminal, left to go back to Denmark on Friday and I already feel the hole in my life. I often come across music that moves me, but for the people behind the music to be equally as touching…that is truly something special and I feel blessed to have had this band in my life the last month. I was very fortunate in that before I could wallow in their absence for too long, a conveniently timed facebook message reminded me that my favorite Aussie-born brothers, The Kin, are coming to town this week. Thursday night they play The Roxy. It feels like I have been waiting years for these guys to come back to play LA and I would strongly encourage you all to come out and see them Thursday night before they disappear again. Here is a taste of the magic that awaits you:

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

Monday: The Diamond Light and LP at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: The Record Company FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Drive He Said FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Leonard Cohen at LA Nokia Live (8pm)
ALSO: Monday in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joel Eckels, Liam Gerner, Scott Mellis and Micah Dalton (9pm)

 

Tuesday: The Vespers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Death of a Star at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre (9pm)

 

Weds: Bronze Radio Return and Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Ben Sollee at Saint Rocke (9pm)

 

Thursday: The Kin at The Roxy with Act As If, Shanee Pink, and Bri Anne Michelle (8pm)
ALSO: Gin Wigmore, Suzanna Choffel, Mikey Wax and Graham Colton with Sooner The Sunset at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Dead Ships at The Echo (11pm)
ALSO: Carina Round, Rosi Golan, and Chris Stills at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Ten Thousand at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Marc Broussard at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: PK at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Delta Spirit at The Wiltern (7:30)

 

Friday: Kris Orlowski at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Irontom at O’Brien’s Pub (10pm)
ALSO: American Royalty at The Echo (11pm)
ALSO: Beware of Darkness and Franky Perez & The Truth at The Viper Room (8,9)
ALSO: Brandi Carlile at Orpheum Theatre (9pm)

 

Saturday: Saint Motel at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Matthew Jordan at Genghis Cohen (10pm)
ALSO: Marc Broussard at The Hotel Cafe (two shows: 7 & 10)
ALSO: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Bowl (7pm)
ALSO: Grand Tarantula, Infantree, and The Royalty at El Cid (10, 10:45, 11:40)

 

Sunday: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey (6:30)

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 12th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 13th-15th: Gary Clark Jr. at The Troubadour
November 14th: Dan Wilson at Room 5
November 15th: Blue October at House of Blues
November 16th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 17th: Milo Greene at The El Rey
November 20th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey
November 24th: Nico Vega at The Gibson Amphitheatre (w/ No Doubt)
November 28th: Youngblood Hawke at The Roxy
December 1st: Milk Carton Kids at Luckman Fine Arts Complex
December 1st: Ellie Goulding at Nokia Theater LA Live
December 6th: Biffy Clyro at The Satellite
December 6th: Imagine Dragons and Garbage at San Manuel Casino
December 8th: Boyce Avenue at Club Nokia
December 11th: Atlas Genius at The Troubadour
December 12th: Alt J and Wildcat Wildcat at The Fonda
December 13th: The Mountain Goats at The Troubadour
December 20th-22nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
January 19th: Tyler Hilton and Teddy Geiger at The Roxy
January 23rd and 24th: Muse at The Staples Center
Feb. 9th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 12th: Ellie Goulding at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 17th: Ed Sheeran at Nokia Theatre LA Live

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/29-11/4

Don’t even talk to me about last week. I didn’t get out much. I did manage to have a panic attack or two due to the overwhelming situation I have found myself in at work. Things are not going well on that front. It makes me a bit miserable. I feel like a different person when I’m not out going to shows. I think I might have overcompensated Saturday night when I did get out to see Queen Caveat at The Roxy…I ended up on stage.

This week, I will do my best to get out to at least one or two shows, maintaining what I can of my sanity. I’d highly recommend Tuesday at TRiP to see the last show of my new favorite band, terminal, before they return to Denmark and take with them some serious sunshine.

Otherwise, here are the rest of the shows I need someone to go to this week so that I can live vicariously.

Monday: Sad Robot FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: The Dunwells at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Dinner and A Suit at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Asteroids Galazy Tour at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring The Lonely Wild and The Steelwells (9pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/

 

Tuesday: terminal FREE at TRiP (11pm)
ALSO: Alex Wong, Harper Blynn and The Brendan Hines at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9, 10)
ALSO: Erin McLaughlin at Room 5 (8pm)
ALSO: Voxhaul Broadcast at The Federal Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Western Scene at The Central SAPC (11pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Halloween Eve FREE at The Piano Bar (8pm)

 

Weds: Makepeace Brothers at The Mint (8:30)

 

Thursday: The Honey Trees and Ringside at The Hotel Cafe (7, 10)
ALSO: David and Devine at El Cid (10:15)
ALSO: Chamberlin at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Casey Abrams with Justin Hopkins and Graham Harper at Saint Rocke (9pm)

 

Friday: Tonic at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Tonic at Molly Malone’s (10:30)
ALSO: New Cassettes and Apollo Run at On the Rox (8:30)
ALSO: Nikka Costa at Saint Rocke (10pm)
ALSO: Andy Clockwise at Los Globos (9pm)
ALSO: Matt Wertz at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Alanis Morissette at Club Nokia (9pm)
ALSO: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals with Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers at The Wiltern (7:30)

 

Saturday: Sad Robot, Yellow Red Sparks, and The Dustbowl Revival at El Cid (10, 11, 12)
ALSO: Sweet Talk Radio at WitZend (7pm)
ALSO: All American Rejects at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Yellowcard at House of Blues Sunset (8pm)

 

Sunday: NO at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Max and The Moon and Northern Youth FREE at The Satellite (9pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 5th: LP at The Troubadour
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 7th: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
November 8th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 9th: Brandi Carlile at Orpheum Theater
November 10th: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Bowl
November 10th: Marc Broussard at The Hotel Café
November 10th: Saint Motel at Saint Rocke
November 11th and 12th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 13th-15th: Gary Clark Jr. at The Troubadour
November 14th: Dan Wilson at Room 5
November 15th: Blue October at House of Blues
November 16th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 17th: Milo Greene at The El Rey
November 20th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey
November 28th: Youngblood Hawke at The Roxy
December 1st: Milk Carton Kids at Luckman Fine Arts Complex
December 1st: Ellie Goulding at Nokia Theater LA Live
December 6th: Biffy Clyro at The Satellite
December 6th: Imagine Dragons and Garbage at San Manuel Casino
December 8th: Boyce Avenue at Club Nokia
December 11th: Atlas Genius at The Troubadour
December 12th: Alt J and Wildcat Wildcat at The Fonda
December 13th: The Mountain Goats at The Troubadour
December 20th-22nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
January 19th: Tyler Hilton and Teddy Geiger at The Roxy
January 23rd and 24th: Muse at The Staples Center
Feb. 9th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 12th: Ellie Goulding at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 17th: Ed Sheeran at Nokia Theatre LA Live

~ Kristen

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Watch This: The Silent Comedy’s Blood On the Rails

In case you’ve been living under a rock and are somehow unaware and not in love with The Silent Comedy, you’ve been missing out. Their newest exploit includes another pairing with The History Channel after ‘Bartholomew’ was used in the trailer for the Emmy winning “Hatfields & McCoys” mini-series. This time it’s The Silent Comedy’s ‘Blood On The Rails’ with History Channel’s new show “The Men Who Built America” which chronicles the lives of the titans of American industry; John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and J.P. Morgan.

Below is a snazzy new music video for ‘Blood On The Rails’ which is intercut with some footage of the new show to give you a tease. Enjoy!

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/22-10/28

Last night I went to Saint Rocke to see Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers on their HI-ATE-US tour. The idea being that the band is going on this indefinite hiatus, pursuing other projects, yada yada. This kind of thing always upsets me. I see bands akin to any serious relationship. You have a connection, so you start hanging out writing songs. You put out an EP and start touring, well you’re definitely dating. You get signed to a label do that big national tour, headlining venues, well my friends, you are married! All marriages have their problems and some are not as successful as others, but that doesn’t mean you give up on them! I don’t care if you’re a young marriage and your parents (ie your label) suddenly stop supporting you. I don’t care if you’ve been at it for years and are just “tired” of one another.

What hurts the most is “the other woman” syndrome. Just because something shiny and new catches your eye, doesn’t make it okay to leave your current relationship. You made a commitment and you should be faithful! I know there are many sides to these stories, but as a fan, I can only see it one way: a betrayal (I could equate the fan to God in this scenario, but that may be taking the analogy too far). I applaud SK and The Sixers for their clever title to their tour for at least they recognize what they are doing (not that any fan could ever hate a band they loved). It was an amazing show, but it still hurts.

On the other end of the spectrum, and giving me hope for all bands currently in the “indefinite hiatus” limbo, rock-outfit Silvertide (one of my favorites from back in the day when I was living in Philadlephia) have been making rumblings about something happening in that camp. On a quieter note, last night outside Harrisburg PA, members of Jealousy Curve took to the stage to deliver a few of their tunes.  They only played a few songs, but it is amazing how something so seemingly insignificant can fill me with so much hope, not just for a Jealousy Curve reunion, but for life in general.

Ok, sorry for the rant. I’ll get to the point now. Here’s my music schedule for this week. As for my top picks, I’m looking forward to finally seeing Belmont Lights who play Thursday at Molly Malone’s. I’m also, of course, excited about Queen Caveat’s return to LA Saturday at the Roxy (that is, of course, if they can get their van problems worked out: http://www.facebook.com/events/481540455213679/?fref=ts).

The rest of my musical suggestions:

Monday: Sad Robot FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Mika at Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night featuring Erin McCarley at Bardot (9pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/

 

Tuesday: Campfire OK, Erin McCarley, and Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)
ALSO: PK and Y LUV at Silverlake Lounge (9,10)
ALSO: Family Wagon at Hemingways (?)
ALSO: Of Verona and Shiny Toy Guns at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Beth Orton at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Taking Back Sunday (acoustic) at The Troubadour (9:50)

 

Weds: The Dig at Bootleg Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Jesse Thomas and The Young Romans at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: The Darkness at Club Nokia (8:30)

 

Thursday: Belmont Lights at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Paper Route at Bootleg Bar (11pm)
ALSO: Bayside and Taking Back Sunday at Club Nokia (8pm)

 

Friday: War Tapes at Bootleg Bar (10:15)
ALSO: Picture Atlantic at 3 Clubs (9pm)

 

Saturday: Queen Caveat at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Harper Blynn FREE Halloween show at The Hotel Cafe (11pm)
ALSO: Build.Create.Kenya Rockin’ Launge Party featuring Fortress Social Club, Leerone, and more! (1-8pm)…RSVP: http://www.buildcreatekenya.org/launchparty/

 

Sunday: Anya Marina at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Transfer at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: Arkells and Lights at The Fonda Theatre (7pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 2nd: Tonic at The Hotel Cafe
November 2nd: Matt Wertz at Largo
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 5th: LP at The Troubadour
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 7th: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
November 8th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 9th: Brandi Carlile at Orpheum Theater
November 10th: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Bowl
November 10th: Marc Broussard at The Hotel Café
November 10th: Saint Motel at Saint Rocke
November 11th and 12th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 13th-15th: Gary Clark Jr. at The Troubadour
November 14th: Dan Wilson at Room 5
November 15th: Blue October at House of Blues
November 16th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 17th: Milo Greene at The El Rey
November 20th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey
November 28th: Youngblood Hawke at The Roxy
December 6th: Imagine Dragons and Garbage at San Manuel Casino
December 8th: Boyce Avenue at Club Nokia
December 11th: Atlas Genius at The Troubadour
December 20th-22nd: Camp Freddy at The Roxy
January 23rd and 24th: Muse at The Staples Center
Feb. 9th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Palladium
Feb. 17th: Ed Sheeran at Nokia Theatre LA Live

~ Kristen

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New Music Tuesday 10/16/12 Featuring Leogun, Kris Orlowski & Andrew Joslyn, ZZ Ward

New Music! Hooray!

My top suggestions this week:

LeogunLeogun EP 

This band has created some of the most exciting tunage I’ve heard in a while. For more see what I wrote about them after I saw them last week. Bottom line: pick up this EP!

http://www.localmusicnation.net/2012/10/11/new-band-alert-leogun/

 

Kris Orlowski & Andrew JoslynPieces We Are EP 

A singer-songwriter with a compelling baritone voice backed by a full orchestra…a full orchestra!  Do you really need more to want to give it a listen? Okay, check out this video.

 

ZZ WardTil The Casket Drops 

I remember being impressed with ZZ Ward’s soulful vocals when I saw her at SXSW last spring. Then this video for “Save My Life” featuring Michael Fitzpatrick (Fitz of Fitz and The Tantrums) crossed my path and I was compelled to share.

Other CDs I’d like to explore:

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/15-10/21

In the middle of a bit of a work-crisis, so I’ll keep this short. Actually this whole week has kind of been one work crisis after another…and sadly I do not see the end. I did get out Wednesday night to check out rocksters, Leogun, and I am pleased to report I have a new band love from the UK.

Speaking of recent band discoveries, I have a few this week I’d really like to see. Sad Robot continues their Silverlake Lounge residency Monday night and then my favorite band from Culture Collide, Denmark’s terminal, has a show Thursday night also at Silverlake Lounge. And if we’re talking about can’t miss shows, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers are making their last stop in the LA area before they go on an indefinite hiatus (one of my least favorite word combos). They are at Saint Rocke Saturday night. Don’t miss out!

Here are the rest of my recommendations:

Monday: Sad Robot FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10pm)
ALSO: Xavier Rudd at Fonda Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Monday in the Round at Room 5 featuring Stephen Wrabel, Jesse Thomas, Clare Holley and Joel Eckels (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Madi Diaz, Tim Easton, Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (7, 8,9)
ALSO: A Tribute to Tom Petty featuring Robert Francis, Drive He Said, The Californian and many more FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Freelance Whales at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun CD Release at Dakota Lounge (8:30)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: The 9 Songwriters at WitZend (7pm)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding at The Troubadour (9:30)
ALSO: First Aid Kit at Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Duff McKagan at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night at Piano Bar FREE (9pm)

 

Weds: The Young Romans and Jessie Payo at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Adam Bones at Boardner’s Club Moscow (10pm)
ALSO: Irontom, Black Box Revelation and The Sheepdogs at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:15, 10)
ALSO: Ellie Goulding FREE at Amoeba Records (6:30)

 

Thursday: Terminal and Alright Alright at Silverlake Lounge (8,9)
ALSO: Tim Halperin, Griffin House, and Ernie Halter at The Hotel Cafe (7,8,9)
ALSO: The Record Company and The Whigs at Bootleg Bar (10, 11)
ALSO: Charlene Kaye at The Mint (10:15)
ALSO: Greg Holden at Room 5 (10pm)

 

Friday: Tony Lucca and Justin Hopkins at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Frightened Rabbit at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Allen Stone at The Fonda Theatre (8pm)
ALSO: Oedipus at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Barnaby Saints at El Cid (11:45)
ALSO: Maroon 5 at The Orpheum Theatre (9:30)

 

Saturday: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Saint Rocke (9pm)…last LA area show before the band goes on hiatus
ALSO: The Shakers at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: The Script with Tristan Prettyman at The Greek Theatre (8pm)

 

Sunday: Jake Newton, Charlie Peacock, Fleeting Heart, Branches at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Mika at The Fonda Theatre (9pm)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra at The House of Blues (8pm)

 

To Keep in Mind:
October 23rd: Shiny Toy Guns at The Echoplex
October 24th: The Darkness at Club Nokia
October 25th: Bayside at Club Nokia
October 27th: Queen Caveat at The Roxy
October 27th: Harper Blynn Halloween at The Hotel Cafe
November 2nd: Tonic at The Hotel Cafe
November 2nd: Matt Wertz at Largo
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 5th: LP at The Troubadour
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 7th: Joe Firstman at The Hotel Cafe
November 8th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 9th: Brandi Carlile at Orpheum Theater
November 10th: Mumford & Sons at The Hollywood Bowl
November 10th: Marc Broussard at The Hotel Cafe
November 11th and 12th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 13th-15th: Gary Clark Jr. at The Troubadour
November 15th: Blue October at House of Blues
November 16th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 17th: Milo Greene at The El Rey
November 20th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey
December 6th: Imagine Dragons and Garbage at San Manuel Casino
December 8th: Boyce Avenue at Club Nokia
December 11th: Atlas Genius at The Troubadour
January 23rd: Muse at The Staples Center
Feb. 9th: Ed Sheeran at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

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