Author: Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 10 – The Silent Comedy

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10. “The Prince” – The Silent Comedy 

The Silent Comedy, one of my favorite bands from San Diego, had an amazing year traveling the country, playing with Ryan Bingham, and making so many new fans and friends. The weekend of the San Diego Music Thing (one of my favorite music conferences), I traveled down a day early to see the boys play in Balboa Park. During my travels, however, there was a massive power outage that impacted the greater San Diego area and beyond. We ventured to the park anyway and The Silent Comedy played for us outside, unplugged via candlelight. Afterwards we all headed over to a friend’s pool for some late night swimming. Fortunately the power came on for the weekend’s events, but I will never forget the intimacy of that evening when The Silent Comedy played acoustic songs like this version of “The Prince”

Here’s another acoustic gem (and the song from last year’s mix):

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 9 – Ben Rector

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9. “When A Heart Breaks” – Ben Rector 

LMN spent some time in Nashville this year exploring a bit of the local music scene. I realized that I’ve been listening to quite a few Nashville-based artists. Butterfly Boucher, Matthew Perryman Jones, Gabe Dixon (and all the Ten of Tenn-ers), Neal Carpenter, Bonnie Bishop, Matt Wertz, etc. It was hard to select just one for this mix, but the one who had the greatest impact on me this year was probably Ben Rector.  I first heard of Ben a couple of years ago but this year was the first opportunity I had to see him, first opening for Matt Wertz at The Troubadour and later at The Hotel Cafe as part of my epic 4 venue/7band evening.  Ben Rector had a new album come out this year called Something Like This, which I quite enjoy, but I’m still hung up on Into The Morning which features “When a Heart Breaks”

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 8 – Imagine Dragons

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8. “It’s Time” – Imagine Dragons

Probably the most exciting thing to happen this year is my involvement with High Voltage Magazine which began publishing print issues again in the Fall. This marks the first time my writing has been published in the music world! Getting advanced copies of albums, being put on the list for shows, writing album and show reviews that actually get looked at, throwing AWESOME parties, and working with and meeting truly amazing people…these are all things that have now become a regular part of my life and I love it…SO MUCH.  I’m currently writing a feature on Imagine Dragons for the next issue. I asked singer, Dan Reynolds, which one Imagine Dragons song he’d share with the uninitiated. He said “It’s Time,” so here it is!

~ Kristen

Kristen’s 2011 Mix – Track 7 – Kill The Alarm

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7. “Not An Addict” (K’s Choice Cover) – Kill The Alarm

2011 marks the first year I saw Garen Gueyikian/Granian/Kill the Alarm play acoustic since my Bryn Mawr days at The Point. He came out to LA and played Room 5 and I was transported to a completely different time and place; one in which my happiest memories exist.  It’s difficult to describe how much this LA visit meant to me. Kill the Alarm released two EPs this year including a collection of covers which included “Not An Addict”, one of my fave tunes from the 90s, originally by K’s Choice.

~Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 6 – TFDI

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6. “Hold On Tight” – TFDI

TFDI is Jay Nash, Tony Lucca, and Matt Duke and they really are Totally Fucking Doing It! Three of my favorite singer-songwriters singing, writing, and touring together; how could this not be amazing! The trio released an album called When I Stop Running and it is one of my favorite albums of the year. I was front row for a last minute gig at Room 5 and it was one of the best shows of my year. Each of these performers knows how to write and sing a song and together, they make magic! It was so hard to choose one song for this mix. I could have easily gone with Nash’s “If I Was a Ghost” or Lucca’s “Hurtin Kind”, but I opted for Duke’s “Hold On Tight” in honor of his show stopping cover of Bright Eyes’ “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” that was performed at Room 5 with such raw and visceral emotion that when the song ended I realized I had stopped breathing.

More TFDI videos:

 

 

 

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 5 – Twin Atlantic

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5. “Make A Beast of Myself” – Twin Atlantic 

 

 

2011 marked the first year I attended SXSW in Austin, TX. This was a life changing experience. SXSW is heavenly; a week of live music featuring “local bands” from around the world. Highlights from this event are endless, but finally seeing Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic would be near the top of my list. Later in the year, after their CD Free was released, I really became obsessed. The entire album is genius, but “Make a Beast of Myself” gets the prize for my most played song of 2011. I started listening to Twin Atlantic web chats and I even posted on their message boards (shhh!).  I saw the band again in November open for AWOLNATION and my love was cemented. I already have a ticket to spend my Valentine’s Day with them and You Me at Six at The Troubadour and have asked the band to be my valentine (still waiting for a response…)

 

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’11 Mix – Track 4 – Dead Sara

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4. “Weatherman” – Dead Sara 

Dead Sara is my #1 band discovery of 2011. I’ve seen this band perhaps more than any other this year. Between shows at SXSW, their Viper Residency, a couple Roxy gigs, and late night sets at Hemingway’s, so many amazing memories of my 2011 surround this band. One of my favorite parts of 2011 were the two weeks I took part in a Neuroimaging Training Program or “Brain Camp” where I got to meet and work with some amazing people from around the world. I had the opportunity to take some of my new friends out and share my other world, including a night at Hemingway’s with Dead Sara. There is very little I enjoy more than introducing my favorite bands to new ears and there has been no band I’ve been more excited to share this year than Dead Sara.

 

For more Dead Sara and a sneak peak and the songs off their upcoming album (and a couple cameos by yours truly), check out this video:

 

~ Kristen