Local Music Nation

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 9/10-9/16

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Kristen

I’ve got a lot going on this week. My mom is in town making her annual visit to LA. I took her to see The Silent Comedy Friday night. She was dancing. This week I have a big presentation at work, and at least one, if not two trips to San Diego. There are also some fantastic shows at The Hotel Cafe this week: Wheeler Brothers, Teitur, and Harper Blynn playing two sets, one of original songs and one of covers featuring several of their very talented friends. These are all bound to be great shows.

Here are the rest of my show recommendations:

Monday: Kitten, Y Luv FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30, 11:30)
ALSO: Ben Sollee at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: The Lonely Wild FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Monday in the Round at Room 5 featuring Trevor Menear, Ray Don, Joe Greene, and Joel Eckels (9pm)

Tuesday: Joe Firstman at 12 + Highland (8:30)
ALSO: Jonny Polonsky at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (10pm)
ALSO: Tumbleweed Wanders and Angus Stone at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Portugal. the Man and My Morning Jacket at The Wiltern (7pm)

Weds: Wheeler Brothers and Keaton Simons at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9:30)
ALSO: Allen Stone at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)
ALSO: Parker Ainsworth and Pinback at Saint Rocke (6,9)
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers at WitZend (8pm)
ALSO: Iron and Wine and My Morning Jacket at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Milo Greene and The Walkmen at Ford Amphitheatre (8pm)

Thursday: Atlas Genius and Silversun Pickups at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (7pm)
ALSO: My Morning Jacket at The Wiltern (7pm)

Friday: Teitur at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: AgesandAges and Andy Clockwise at The Central (11, midnight)
ALSO: Adam Bones at The Redwood Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Joe Firstman at 12 + Highland (8pm)
ALSO: The Hives at The Wiltern (9pm)
ALSO: Blake Mills and Fiona Apple at The Greek Theatre (7:30)
ALSO: Bkaqk Audio at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Peter Murphy at Club Nokia (8pm)

Saturday: Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (10:30)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at The Largo (9pm)
ALSO: Abandoned Pools with 8mm and The Blank Faces at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Terraplane Sun and The Mowgli’s at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Charity event at The Central featuring Odd Us, Parker Ainsworth, Mind the Gap, Act As If, Y Luv, and Elevators (7pm)

Sunday: Little Feat at The El Rey (7pm)

To Keep in Mind:
September 18^th: Twin Atlantic at Fox Theater Pomona
September 19^th: Band of Skulls at The Fonda Theatre
September 20^th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22nd: Epicenter at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
September 22nd: Sondre Lerche at The Troubadour
September 26^th: Alanis Morissette at Fox Theater Pomona
September 27^th: Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sara Watkins at Club Nokia
September 28^th: William Elliot Whitmore at The Roxy
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 1st: Safety Suit at The Roxy
October 2nd: Garbage at The Hollywood Palladium
October 2nd: The Lumineers at The Fonda Theatre
October 4th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
October 4^th-7^th: Culture Collide Festival
October 6^th: Ben Howard at The Fonda Theatre
October 9^th: The Wallflowers and Everest at The Fonda Theatre
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 16^th: Ellie Goulding at The Troubadour
October 16^th: First Aid Kit at The Fonda Theatre
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
October 19th: Frightened Rabbit at The Troubadour
October 19^th: Allen Stone at The Music Box
October 20th: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Saint Rocke
October 23^rd: Shiny Toy Guns at The Echoplex
October 24^th: The Darkness at Club Nokia
October 25^th: Bayside at Club Nokia
October 27^th: Queen Caveat at The Roxy
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3^rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 8^th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 16^th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 20^th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20^th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 9/4/12 Featuring Imagine Dragons

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Kristen

There is probably a lot of great new music coming out today, but the one you absolutely need to get your hands on is the new Imagine Dragons CD, Night Visions. If you haven’t heard of this band, you’ve probably at least heard their songs on various movie trailers and TV show promos. They also snagged a MTV video music award nomination for their song “It’s Time” which will also be covered on an upcoming episode of Glee. In other words, this little rock band from Las Vegas has come a long way in the last year or so when I was rocking out with them at The Viper Room. They are one of my favorite rising bands and I couldn’t be happier for them!

Tonight, to celebrate their release, the band will be making an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel so tune in!

Here’s a picture I took of Imagine Dragons last night when they did an acoustic set at The 98.7 Penthouse:

~ Kristen

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

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Kristen

Happy Labor Day Weekend (whatever that means to you)! I hope you are all able to get out and enjoy the weekend. As for me, I haven’t seen much of the sun in the last couple of days. I’m trying to get some work done in order to clear my schedule for important events happening over the next few weeks. Fortunately, my writing companion is Biffy Clyro’s Revolutions: Live at Wembley DVD which helps keep me focused…sometimes.

I did see the blue moon Friday night and I celebrated by going to The Hotel Cafe see one of my favorite bands, Truth & Salvage Co. play a secret show under their former name, The Denim Family Band. This filled me with nostalgia as it was the year I moved to LA that I discovered this band and saw them at The Hotel Cafe numerous times. Ah, memories…

More potential musical memories up for grabs this week at the following shows. Obviously, my pick of the week is The Silent Comedy who open for The Heavy at The El Rey on Friday, but here are all my musical recommendations:

Monday: Kitten FREE at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: The Lonely Wild FREE at The Satellite (11pm)

Tuesday: Voxhaul Broadcast at The Viper Room (9:15)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (10pm)
ALSO: My Satellite FREE at Hemingways
ALSO: post-labor day carousal at The Piano Bar featuring Lowlight, Dave Green, Jesse Cole, and Foster Timms (9pm)
ALSO: Gaby Moreno at Largo (8:30)
ALSO: Gotye at The Greek Theatre (7pm)

Weds: David & Devine and Armada at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)…Armada’s Record Release Show
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers at WitZend (8pm)

Thursday: NO FREE at The Santa Monica Pier (7pm)
ALSO: The Material at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…Record Release Show
ALSO: The Dollyrots at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: John C Reilly & Friends at Largo (9pm)

Friday: The Silent Comedy and The Heavy at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Belmont Lights and SO & SO at The House of Blues (8pm)…Belmont Lights Record Release
ALSO: Holly Conlan, The Young Romans, Madi Diaz at The Hotel Cafe (8,9,10)
ALSO: Crosby, Stills & Nash at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

Saturday: Garrison Starr, Adrianne, Maia Sharp at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: The Elizabeth Kill at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Lady Sinatra at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Honda Civic Tour at The Home Depot Center featuring MUTEMATH, Incubus, and Linkin Park (5:30)

Sunday: The Ataris at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Pink Martini at The Greek Theatre (7:30)

To Keep in Mind:
September 12^th: Allen Stone at Hollywood Bowl
September 14th: Teitur at The Hotel Cafe
September 14th: The Hives at The Wiltern
September 19^th: Band of Skulls at The Fonda Theatre
September 20^th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22nd: Epicenter at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
September 22nd: Sondre Lerche at The Troubadour
September 27^th: Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sara Watkins at Club Nokia
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 1st: Safety Suit at The Roxy
October 2nd: Garbage at The Hollywood Palladium
October 2nd: The Lumineers at The Fonda Theatre
October 4th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
October 4^th-7^th: Culture Collide Festival
October 6^th: Ben Howard at The Fonda Theatre
October 9^th: The Wallflowers and Everest at The Fonda Theatre
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 13^th: Marcus Foster at The Roxy
October 16^th: First Aid Kit at The Fonda Theatre
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
October 19th: Frightened Rabbit at The Troubadour
October 19^th: Allen Stone at The Music Box
October 20th: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Saint Rocke
October 23^rd: Shiny Toy Guns at The Echoplex
October 24^th: The Darkness at Club Nokia
October 25^th: Bayside at Club Nokia
October 27^th: Queen Caveat at The Roxy
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3^rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 8^th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 16^th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 20^th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20^th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday 8/28/12 featuring The Dunwells, Abandoned Pools, and Kitten

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Kristen

Looking for new music? Check out these bands that have new releases today!

The Dunwells – Blind Sighted Faith

This British folk rock band is re-releasing their debut album today in the US. They are one of my favorite discoveries this year and I love this album. The catchy first single, “I Could Be a King” made my SXSW ’12 mix, but the more I listen to Blind Sighted Faith, the more I fall in love with the beautifully harmonious “Only Me”. The band will be on Jay Leno this Friday.

Abandoned Pools – Sublime Currency

Abandoned Pools have some shows coming up in the LA area to celebrate the release of their new record, Sublime Currency (tonight at The Hotel Cafe, Sept. 15^th at The Roxy). So…let’s get on to the listening so we can sing along at the shows. Based on this lyric video, I like the direction the band seems to be headed!

Kitten – Cut It Out

I heard this song the other day and almost didn’t even recognize the band. I love it and can’t wait to hear more from the Cut It Out EP that was released today. Kitten is doing a residency next month at Bootleg Bar playing free shows every Monday night!

Even more recommendations:

Ingram Hill – Ingram Hill http://www.rockridgemusic.com/ingramhill/
Alanis Morrisette – Havoc and Bright http://www.alanis.com/
Sheppard – Sheppard http://wearesheppard.com/
Circa Survive – Violent Waves http://circasurvive.com/
Uncle Lucius – And You Are Me http://uncleluciusmusic.com/
Maia Sharp – Change the Ending http://www.maiasharp.com/news.php

Listen! Learn! Love!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 8/27-9/2

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Kristen

I only have one thing to mention this week. Tuesday night High Voltage Magazine is throwing a party in Santa Monica at TRiP. If you’re in town, you should come. We will have our newest edition of the magazine in which I showcased another band that I feel is “on the rise”. To see which band I selected, you’ll just have to check out the issue. There will also, of course, be some fantastic bands playing (Roman Candle Wars, The Young Romans, Italian Japanese, and The Janks). And did I mention cupcakes? There will also be cupcakes.

Here are my other show recommendations this week. We’ve got a couple great acts from Philadelphia in town this week playing at The Hotel Cafe: Hoots & Hellmouth on Weds and Adam Arcuragi on Thursday…sorry I guess that was a second thing I wanted to mention…

Monday: Jess Furman, Air Traffic Controller, and Bleu at The Hotel Cafe (7,8,9)
ALSO: Max and The Moon FREE at Bootleg Bar (9pm)
ALSO: Wildcat!Wildcat! FREE at The Echo (11pm)
ALSO: Francisco The Man at The Satellite FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Haim at The Smell (8pm)
ALSO: Keaton Simons, Nikki Leonti and more at WitZend (7pm)
ALSO: Fire in the Hamptons at The Central (10pm)
ALSO: Monday in the Round at Room 5 featuring Ryan Darton, Irene Diaz, Phoebe Bridgers, and Joel Eckels (9pm)

Tuesday: High Voltage Party at TRiP Santa Monica featuring Roman Candle Wars, The Young Romans, Italian Japanese, and The Janks (8pm)
ALSO: Tommy Walter (Abandoned Pools) and Wakey!Wakey! at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: The Ross Sea Party and The Dead Ships at The Central (10,11)
ALSO: The Record Company at Harvard & Stone (?)
ALSO: Beachwood’s Summer Piano Bar Sessions FREE at The Piano Bar (9pm)

Weds: David & Devine and Hoots & Hellmouth at The Hotel Cafe (8,9)
ALSO: Je T’aime at Skinny’s Lounge in NoHo (9pm)
ALSO: Makepeace Brothers at WitZend (9pm)

Thursday: Adam Arcuragi at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi and Sonia Rao at WItZend (8,10)
ALSO: The Record Company at Los Globos (10pm)
ALSO: Nina Storey at Molly Malone’s (9pm)

Friday: Desaparecidos at The Troubadour (10:15)
ALSO: Irontom and Maudlin Strangers at El Cid (10:30, 11:30)
ALSO: The Janks at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Mind the Gap acoustic at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Old 97’s at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: John Williams at The Hollywood Bowl (8pm)

Saturday: John Williams at The Hollywood Bowl (8pm)
ALSO: Clare Means at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Red Circle Underground at The Roxy (11pm)
ALSO: Old 97’s at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: FYF featuring Warpaint, Tanlines, Chairlift, Two Gallants, and more at L.A. State Historic Park (noon)

Sunday: Jake Newton at Bootleg Bar (8pm)
ALSO: FYF featuring Desaparecidos, Against Me!, Cursive, and more at L.A. State Historic Park (noon)

To Keep in Mind:
September 4th: Gotye at The Greek Theatre
September 7^th: The Silent Comedy at The El Rey
September 9th: The Ataris at The Roxy
September 12^th: Allen Stone at Hollywood Bowl
September 14th: Teitur at The Hotel Cafe
September 14th: The Hives at The Wiltern
September 19^th: Band of Skulls at The Fonda Theatre
September 20^th: Howie Day at The Hotel Cafe
September 22nd: Epicenter at Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
September 22nd: Sondre Lerche at The Troubadour
September 27^th: Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sara Watkins at Club Nokia
October 1st: Ed Sheeran at The Wiltern
October 1st: Safety Suit at The Roxy
October 2nd: Garbage at The Hollywood Palladium
October 2nd: The Lumineers at The Fonda Theatre
October 4th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
October 6^th: Ben Howard at The Fonda Theatre
October 11th: Awolnation and Imagine Dragons at Club Nokia
October 16^th: First Aid Kit at The Fonda Theatre
October 19th: Tony Lucca at The Roxy
October 19th: Frightened Rabbit at The Troubadour
October 19^th: Allen Stone at The Music Box
October 20th: Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers at Saint Rocke
October 24^th: The Darkness at Club Nokia
October 25^th: Bayside at Club Nokia
October 27^th: Queen Caveat at The Roxy
November 2nd: NEEDTOBREATHE at Fox Theater Pomona
November 3^rd: All American Rejects at The Wiltern
November 6th: Jens Lekman at Fonda Theatre
November 8^th: The Kin at The Roxy
November 16^th: Joshua Radin and A Fine Frenzy at The Wiltern
November 20^th: The Postelles and Mayday Parade at House of Blues
November 20^th: Rachel Yamagata at The El Rey

~ Kristen