Kristen

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 1/9-1/15

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Kristen

With my end of year mix published (debating on whether or not to reveal my B-Sides), it’s on to listening to artists for my next mix…for SXSW! I can’t believe how quickly March approaches…

But focusing on shows this week, The Satellite is having Satellite Nights. Free shows all week and a great opportunity to discover new bands like Chasing Kings, NO, and Roman Candle Wars. If you haven’t been to The Satellite, here’s an excellent opportunity to head over to Silverlake and check it out.

As for the rest of the show opportunities, here’s what I’d recommend:

Monday: Chasing Kings FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: The Silent Comedy FREE at The Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa (10pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)
ALSO: PK and Terraplane Sun at The Hotel Cafe (9,10)

Tuesday: Dead Sara and Little Hurricane at The Troubadour (10,11)
ALSO: Holly Conlan at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Rocco DeLuca and Infantree FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Olin & The Moon and Maxim Ludwig at The Echo (9pm)

Weds: Nico Vega at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Zane Carney at Molly Malone’s (8:30)
ALSO: George Stanford at WitZend in Venice (10pm)
ALSO: NO and Voxhaul Broadcast FREE at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Jamestown Revival at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)…part of the band’s Winter Residency
ALSO: Jack’s Mannequin at The Viper Room (8pm)

Thursday: The Milk Carton Kids at The Largo (8pm)
ALSO: Robert Schwartzman FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Orlando Napier at WitZend (9:45)
ALSO: Maroon 5, Velvet Revolver, Sheryl Crow, Tom Morello, Chantal Kreviazuk, etc. at The House of Blues Sunset (8pm)

Friday: Eli Creepshow with Ferras, Alison Porter, etc. at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Roman Candle Wars at FREE The Satellite (midnight)
ALSO: Todd Carey and Sister Hazel at The House of Blues Sunset (8:30)

Saturday: Anna Nalick and So & So at The Hotel Cafe (9,11)

Sunday: rest

To Keep in Mind:
January 17^th: The Silent Comedy at The Roxy
January 18^th: Augustana at The El Rey
January 19^th: Civil Twilight at Bootleg Bar
January 19^th: Zane Carney at The Hotel Café
January 26^th: Endoxi at The Roxy
January 29^th: Tyrone Wells at Saint Rocke
January 31^st: Atomic Tom at Bootleg Bar
Feb. 2^nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
Feb. 8^th: Marketa Irglova at The Hotel Café
Feb. 9^th: Joss Stone at The Troubadour
Feb. 14^th: Twin Atlantic and You Me at Six at The Troubadour
Feb. 17^th: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Bowl
Feb. 19^th: The Darkness at House of Blues Sunset
Feb. 21^st: Scars on 45 at The Troubadour
March 9^th: William Fitzsimmons at The Troubadour
March 13^th-18^th: SXSW (Austin, TX)
March 18^th: Dia Frampton at The Troubadour
March 24^th: Ani DiFranco at The Orpheum Theater
March 24^th: Allen Stone at The Troubadour

~ Kristen

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Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Bonus 2 – Harper Blynn

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Kristen

Bonus 2. “Halo” (Beyonce/Dirty Projectors Cover) – Harper Blynn

I spent a lot of time this year hanging out at The Mint. I had friends who worked there so…this often translated to free music and food. And it was good music and food (garlic fries, mac n cheese, taquitos, yum!). Some memorable nights at The Mint included any High Voltage night (Marti Gras, Dead Sara, Queen Caveat), Andrew Belle and Schuyler Fisk, Liam Gerner, Empire (a fantastic new band), etc. Harper Blynn is one of those bands I discovered at The Mint. They absolutely blew me away. I was transfixed by their energy and their songs. I love their album, Loneliest Generation, but it’s this cover of Beyonce’s “Halo” that I felt needed a spot on this mix as it became my wake up and get out of bed tune of the year. These Brooklyn boys spend a couple of months in LA doing a residency at The Hotel Cafe and brought out other fantastic artists like The Damnwells, Cary Brothers, Todd Carey, and Laura Jansen. They also did a couple amazing shows at Bardot. It was a great year for me and Harper Blynn.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Bonus 1 – Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Kristen

Bonus 1. “Never Meant to Love You” – Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons

LMN made the trek to Bonnaroo this summer. This is my favorite festival. From early morning yoga to the late night dance parties, I treasured every moment of my Bonnaroo ’11 experience. I discovered so many great bands (Aunt Martha, The Black Box Revelation, The Kopecky Family Band, Fences, JEFF The Brotherhood), saw several favorites for the first time (Scissor Sisters, Amos Lee, Neon Trees, Freelance Whales, Black Angels, Alberta Cross, Robert Plant), and enjoyed beloved bands like The Decemberists, Emimen, Deas Vail, Mumford & Sons, Nicole Atkins, The Head & The Heart, Band of Skulls, The Black Keys, etc. Going into the event Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons were on the top of my list of bands to check out. I ended up seeing them three times. “I Never Meant To Love You” is one of my favorite songs. I couldn’t locate a recorded version, but I tracked this bootleg. Check out the bands album, Death Won’t Send a Letter.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 18 – Needtobreathe

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Kristen

18. “The Outsiders” – Needtobreathe

Needtobreathe is a band I’d been meaning to see since 2009 when they released The Outsiders featuring this, its titular tune. I’d just about given up hope as they started playing venues too big for my liking and opening for major acts I didn’t really want to pay to see. But these gentlemen from South Carolina did something amazing this year. They did a little tour almost on the DL across the country in tiny venues like LA’s The Hotel Cafe. The packed house was treated to an extended set that spanned the band’s catalogue and included many new tunes from their newest release, The Reckoning. Their show was another one for the books!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 17 – The Civil Wars

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Kristen

17. “Poison & Wine” – The Civil Wars

The Civil Wars are the most jaw dropping act I saw this year. I knew they were going to be good, but I wasn’t expecting the level brilliance they achieved. It’s absolutely astounding how just two people and a guitar can be powerful enough to bring a venue like The Wiltern to its knees. There is a reason why the duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White are getting Grammy nominations and selling out venues across the country. Of course I love their break out hit “Barton Hallow”, but songs like “Poison and Wine” really showcase how something so simple can be so powerful in its quite beauty.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 16 – Keaton Simons

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Kristen

16. “Beautiful Pain” – Keaton Simons

There are quite a few songs that impacted me this year that aren’t on the list simply because they haven’t been released. I was very excited when Keaton Simons leaked a few of his newer songs in honor of Hotel Carolina, including my favorite, “Beautiful Pain”. I had several meetings with Keaton over the year, but the one that is most memorable (perhaps because it was most recent) was at The Hotel Café Christmas show. This evening ties with the evening of the Pepper’s Ghost show as the best musical event of my year. It was so full of amazing artists (Cary Brothers, Butch Walker, Joe Purdy, Chris Pierce), new discovers (Sweet Talk Radio, Javier Dunn) and surprise guests (Joey Ryan, Sara Barellies, Pink!!), by the end I was overwhelmed to tears. When Keaton came out, he played this song. It was a perfect moment.

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 15 – Semi Precious Weapons

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Kristen

15. “Semi Precious Weapons” – Semi Precious Weapons

In 2011, Semi Precious Weapons moved to LA. Their weekly Empire parties at On the Rox were a huge part of my year. Every Wednesday night for months, I stayed up late to get molested by burlesque girls, party with fashionistas and rockstars, and rock out with friends as we were treated to debuts of songs potentially on the next Semi Precious Weapons album. I wish the album had come out this year so I could share with you some of their amazing new tunes, but we will have to settle for a classic SPW song that rings particularly true to me. These rockers may epitomize dirty glam, but they are also really nice guys. I started running into them at their shows, out on The Strip, at Duke’s, etc. and they are now part of my family here in LA.

a few pictures from Empire parties: