Local Music Nation

New Music Tuesday 5/1 featuring Carina Round, Greylag, and The Spring Standards

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Kristen

Carina Round- Tigermending http://www.carinaround.com/

I very much enjoy the unexpected blend of sweet and sour on Carina Round’s newest CD. Tigermending is one of the more refreshing albums I’ve heard in a while. Carina Round is playing tonight at The Casbah in San Diego and tomorrow (May 2^nd) at The Satellite in LA.

Greylag- The Only Way to Kill You http://www.greylagmusic.com/

This debut EP from a lovely folk band based out of Portland is getting me through my afternoon. The soft voices and delicate instrumentation come together for a series of wistful tunes that fit my mood perfectly. Greylag is opening for Augustana at The El Rey on May 12^th. It’s going to be a great show!

The Spring Standards- yellow/gold http://thespringstandards.com/index.php

I haven’t yet listened to the double EP, yellow/gold from NYC-based The Spring Standards, but just watched the video below and I’m a fan of the band, so I’m intrigued…thought you might be too! Check them out!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/30-5/6

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Kristen

This week has been all about paper reading/writing…not a lot of music listening…although there has been some Veronica Mars watching and that show has an excellent soundtrack. Also, I did make it out to The Wiltern Friday night for Ingrid Michaelson. I am a big fan of her latest album, Human Again and, as I anticipated, the new songs translated quite well to an exciting live show. Plus, LMN faves Harper Blynn opened and they are always a treat.

Speaking of the NYC-based band, Harper Blynn are playing a show at The Hotel Cafe Tuesday night that will be part of a live recording. I imagine this will be a particularly good one. That’s just the start of all the great shows happening in LA this week. Here are my recommendations:

Monday: Youngblood Hawke, The Chevin FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: LP at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Yukon Blonde FREE with RSVP (http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/)
ALSO: Eve 6 at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: Jack White at The Mayan Theater (8pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: Harper Blynn (live recording residency) and Vassy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Andrew Belle and Katie Herzig at The Troubadour (8:30, 9:45)
ALSO: Toy Bombs FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: The Pierces, Metronomy, and Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)

Weds: Carina Round at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Sophie Barker and The Janks at Bootleg Bar (10,11)
ALSO: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan (8pm)
ALSO: The Pierces, Metronomy, and Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)

Thursday: Honeyhoney and James Morrison at The Avalon (7pm)
ALSO: Forrest Day at Harvelle’s (8pm)
ALSO: Moderne Man at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: 3^rd Annual LA Bluegrass Situation: The Watkins Family Hour & Very Special Guests at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Everest and BRAD at The Troubadour (9:15, 10)

Friday: 3^rd Annual LA Bluegrass Situation: Punch Brothers and Very Special Guests (10:30)
ALSO: The Pierces, Metronomy, and Coldplay at Hollywood Bowl (7pm)
ALSO: Curt Smith at McCabe’s (8pm)

Saturday: Lovers Drugs and The Lexingtons at The Parlor (9pm)
ALSO: Armada and The Other Side of Morning at Amplyfi (8:15, 9:45)
ALSO: KROQ Weenie Roast featuring Coldplay, Incubus, The Offspring, Silversun Pickups, Garbage, Awolnation, etc. (1pm)

Sunday: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour (10:10)
ALSO: Nicole Eva Emery, Jesca Hoop, and Butterfly Boucher at The Hotel Cafe (7,8,10)
ALSO: Mike Viola and The Young Romans at Saint Rocke (7pm)

To Keep in Mind:
May 8^th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10^th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11^th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12^th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 18^th: Chappo at Bootleg Bar
May 18^th: Gaslight Anthem at The Roxy
May 19^th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 19^th: Zane Carney at Molly Malone’s
May 30^th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31^st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3^rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5^th and 6^th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6^th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7-10^th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 16^th: Scissor Sisters at Hollywood Palladium
June 21^st: Crash Kings at The Troubadour
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
June 29^th: Fiona Apple at Hollywood Palladium

~ Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/24-4/29

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Kristen

I survived the weekend in the desert. I think my body is still recovering from the shock of not being in the 100+ degree weather. I’m hoping to write up a post featuring the highlights of my Coachella experience and some pictures. One of my favorite bands of the weekend was We Are Augustines and they are playing a free show tonight at Bardot for It’s a School Night along with the wonderful LP.

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

Tuesday: The Milk Carton Kids at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Sweet Talk Radio at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Eve 6 at The Grammy Museum (8pm)
ALSO: Of Verona and Our Lady Peace at The Troubadour (8, 9)
ALSO: The Material at The House of Blues Voodoo Lounge (?)
ALSO: Viza at The El Rey (10pm)

Weds: The Chevin and Miracle Parade FREE at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: New Medicine, Dead Sara, and Chevelle at Club Nokia (8pm)
ALSO: Terra Naomi at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: So & So at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: The Dig and Ben Kweller at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Jane Carrey at The Mint (9pm)

Thursday: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy (7:15)
ALSO: George Stanford at WitZend (10pm)
ALSO: Zoe Keating at Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Milow and The White Buffalo at The Troubadour (8:30, 10pm)
ALSO: Whispertown and Buddy at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9)
ALSO: Stop Motion Poetry and Sonia Rao at Genghis Cohen (8:30, 9:30)
ALSO: Street Drum Corps and Special Guests at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Armada at The Mint (8pm)

Friday: Griffin House, Anna Nalick, Javier Dunn at The Hotel Cafe (8, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Harper Blynn and Ingrid Michaelson at The Wiltern (8pm)

Saturday: Jesse Thomas at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Susanna Hoffs at McCabe’s (two shows: 8, 10)

Sunday: Rosie Thomas with Ivan & Alyosha at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: Sweet Hearts featuring Priscilla Ahn and Charlie Wadhams at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: 100 Monkeys at Dragonfly (8pm)

To Keep in Mind:
May 2^nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3^rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 6^th: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour
May 8^th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10^th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11^th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12^th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 19^th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30^th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31^st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3^rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5^th and 6^th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6^th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7-10^th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

New Music Tuesday Featuring Harper Blynn, Butterfly Boucher, Neon Trees, and William Beckett

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Kristen

Another Tuesday, more great new music for your ears. Here’s what we recommend:

Harper Blynn– Busy Hands

Harper Blynn is a NYC-based band, but they have been spending a lot of time in LA this year…probably working on this record. Basically taking up residence at The Hotel Cafe, I had the pleasure of seeing the band play quite a few times. In addition, they played one of my top SXSW 2012 sets. This LMN Band Love is offering their new CD, Busy Hands, for free on their website so no excuse really. Go get it!

Butterfly Boucher– Butterfly Boucher

One of my favorite Ten out of Tenn artists, Australian native, Butterfly Boucher has been on my playlist since I first heard her song “Life is Short” off her debut album Flutterby (2003). She did a show recently in LA at Room 5 and I got to hear some of the new songs off her newest, self-titled album. I’m sold!

Get the album here.

Neon Trees– Picture Show

Neon Trees is my newest addiction and I’m so happy to have a follow up to their debut album Habits (2010). According to singer Tyler Glenn, Picture Show was written “as if it were a soundtrack” and encourages people to “listen this album as a piece or choose the songs that fit your moment.” It’s available on Amazon for only $7.99 to boot!

William Beckett– Walk The Talk EP

A new day has dawned for singer of now defunct band The Academy Is… William Beckett. He is newly liberated and flowing with musical juices (so he says). Today marks the release of his first of three eps. If you want to catch up with Mr. Beckett, you can catch him on Stage It or on tour. The ep is just $4 and available from Amazon in mp3 form or in a physical form here.

Also coming out today:

Jason Mraz – Love is a Four Letter Wordi
Dar Williams – In the Time of Gods
Our Lady Peace – Curve
Eric Hutchinson – Moving Up Living Down

~ Kristen and Amanda

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 4/16-4/23

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Kristen

So many great artists coming through LA this week. Could it be because we are in between Coachella weekends? I’ve been attempting to write these past couple of days and I’ve been using the Coachella live feed as my inspiration playlist (http://www.youtube.com/coachella). Hopefully next weekend I’ll be at the actual event (hence the extra day in calendar below). To keep up with my Coachella happenings, follow LMN on twitter (@_localmusicnat). I’ll be tweeting ‘til my phone dies!

And in the meantime, let’s get out to some shows (*indicates a 2012 Coachella artist)!

Monday: Band of Skulls*, We Are Augustines*, The Sheepdogs* at The El Rey (7:30)
ALSO: It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring Kimbra and Mini Mansions (9pm)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Manchester Orchestra* at The Music Box/Henry Fonda Theater (7pm)
ALSO: Eric Hutchinson with Holly Conlan and Jessie Payo at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9:30)
ALSO: A House for Lions FREE at Bootleg Bar (8pm)
ALSO Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

Tuesday: The Other Side of Morning (acoustic) at The W Hotel (9pm)
ALSO: Lovers Dugs at Dagonfly Bar (9pm)
ALSO: The Big Pink* and Miike Snow* at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Italian Japanese at The Satellite (8:30)
ALSO: Oh Darling at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: LP and Kimbra at The Troubadour (9:15, 10:30)
ALSO: David and Devine at WitZend (10pm)
ALSO: Kasabian* at The Fonda Theater (8pm)
ALSO: We Were Promised Jetpacks*, Chasing Kings, and Tristen at The Echo (8:30)

Weds: Maniac and Foxy Shazam at The Roxy (8pm)
ALSO: The Revival Tour 2012 at The Troubadour featuring Chuck Ragan, Cory Branan, Tommy Gabel, Nathaniel Rateliff at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Dar Williams Record Release Show at The Largo (8pm)
ALSO: The Black Angels* at The Fonda Theater (8pm)

Thursday: Nico Vega, Standing Shadows, A House for Lions at The Roxy (7pm)
ALSO: The Big Pink* and IO Echo at The Echo (8:30)
ALSO: First Aid Kit* and Wild Flag* at The El Rey (8pm)
ALSO: Missy Higgins and Gotye* at Nokia Theate LA Live (8pm)
ALSO: John Elliot and The Hereafter at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: 0x0 and Blake Lewis at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Buddy at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

Friday: Brendan James, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers, and Dawn McCoy at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Lakes at M Bar (?)
ALSO: Sonia Rao and Connie Lim at WitZend (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Telstar at Flying Saucers Café in Santa Monica (9pm)
ALSO: Coachella featuring The Black Keys, Arctic Monkeys, honeyhoney, etc.

Saturday: Coachella featuring Radiohead, The Shins, Kaiser Chiefs, AWOLNATION, We Are Augustines, St. Vincent, Laura Marling, The Big Pink, etc.

Sunday: Coachella featuring Fitz and the Tantrums, Band of Skulls, Florence + the Machine, Lissie, Gotye, First Aid Kit, etc.

Monday (April 23^rd): It’s A School Night at Bardot featuring LP and We Are Augustines* (9pm)…free with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/losangeles/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

To Keep in Mind:
April 24^th: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo
April 24^th: Eve 6 at The Grammy Museum
April 25^th: Ben Kweller at The El Rey
April 25^th: Dead Sara at Club Nokia
April 26^th: Jasmine Ash at The Roxy
April 26^th: Zoe Keating at The Largo
April 27^th: Ingrid Michaelson at The Troubadour
May 2^nd: Cage the Elephant at The Mayan
May 3^rd: James Morrison at The Avalon
May 6^th: Middle Class Rut at The Troubadour
May 8^th: Snow Patrol at The Hollywood Palladium
May 10^th: Jay Nash at The Hotel Cafe
May 11^th: Imagine Dragons at The Troubadour
May 12^th: Augustana at The El Rey
May 19^th: Eric Hutchinson and Graffiti6 at The Troubadour
May 30^th: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
May 31^st: Greg Laswell at The El Rey
June 3^rd: Deas Vail at The Troubadour
June 5^th and 6^th: Ben Howard at The Troubadour
June 6^th: The Cordovas at Saint Rocke
June 7-10^th: Bonnaroo in Manchester, TN
June 13^thand 14^th: Phantom Planet at The Troubadour
June 16^th: Thrice at Club Nokia
June 23^rd: Milo Greene at The Troubadour
June 25^th: Graffiti6 at The Troubadour

~ Kristen