Author: Kristen

New Music Tuesday 10/25/11 featuring Honeyhoney and Maniac

Posted on by Kristen

A couple big names put out releases this week (Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto, Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger). We also have the start of the holiday CD offerings with albums from Michael Buble (expected), She & Him (intrigued), and Scott Weiland (??). While you’re in the new music buying mood, might I suggest a couple new discs from local LA artists:

 

Honeyhoney – Billy Jack

Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe (AKA Honeyhoney) have been around the LA scene for several years now. I’ve been a fan since I first heard “Little Toy Gun” off their debut CD, First Rodeo. I love their bluegrass-y sound and Suzanne’s alluring vocals and can’t wait to hear what they’ve come up with on Billy Jack. Honeyhoney will be back in LA November 13th at The Troubadour.

Check it out on Itunes or Amazon 

Here’s what Suzanne and Ben have to say about the record:

 

Maniac– Session 1 from Sons of Summer

As previewed when Maniac took LMN’s Band Exam, the band will be releasing new songs in groups over the next several months. Together, these songs will comprise Maniac’s second full length album, Sons of Summer. The first 4 songs were released today!! I haven’t heard the tunes, but I bet they’re fun, danceable numbers. Added bonus: the artwork on the album cover will combine with the other sessions’ covers to great one giant piece.

You can order your limited edition, hand screened pressing of Session 1 here.  The proceeds go to help record the rest of the album.

 

~ Kristen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/24-10/30

Posted on by Kristen

Today I’ve been busy watching the baseball game (Go Cardinals!), grading exams, and trying to ignore this sore throat that’s been building over the last few days. There is just too much going on in my life to get sick!  Last week was fairly epic musically. I made it to at least one set a night, saw several of my favorite bands (Imagine Dragons, Harper Blynn, Lakes, etc), and even got in a couple top notch national acts (St. Vincent is a marvel).

This week marks Youngblood Hawke’s last residency date at The Satellite, so if you haven’t caught them yet, don’t miss it (and bring your dancing shoes). It’s also week two of Harper Blynn’s Hotel Cafe residency. I still can’t believe how lucky we are to have these NYC boys with us until Thanksgiving!

But that is just the start of the great acts playing LA this week.  Here’s my list:

 

Monday: Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (11pm)
ALSO: Indians FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Patrick Stump and Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (8, 12)
ALSO: Liam Gerner and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joel Eckels, John Elliot, Ray Don, and Jesse Plemons (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Andrew Ripp, Steve Moakler, The Wellspring and Anna Nalick at The Hotel Cafe (7pm)
ALSO: The Janks and Gringo Starr at Bootleg Bar (10, 11)
ALSO: Buzz Bands LA’s three year anniversary at The Echo featuring Everest (9pm)

 

Weds: Harper Blynn and Cary Brothers at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Ari Shrine at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Austin Hartley-Leonard at The Foundry on Melrose (9pm)
ALSO: Bayside at House of Blues Sunset (9pm)
ALSO: Kings of Convenience at The Music Box (9pm)

 

Thursday: Holly Conlan, Kyler England, Audra Mae at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Wires in the Walls at Bootleg Bar (10pm)
ALSO: Manchester Orchestra with White Denim at The Glass House in Pomona (7pm)

 

Friday: Some Hear Explosions and Oh No Not Stereo at The Viper Room (9,12)
ALSO: So & So at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: He’s My Brother She’s My Sister at Bootleg Bar (11:30)
ALSO: The Felice Brothers at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Simple Plan at The Music Box (8pm)

 

Saturday: Scars on 45 and Matt Nathanson at The Wiltern (7pm)
ALSO: Nightmare & The Cat at Bootleg Bar (10:45)
ALSO: Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers with Lissie at Plaza Del Sol Performance Hall at Cal State Northridge (?)

 

Sunday: Tyrone Wells at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Johnny Lang at The House of Blues Anaheim (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 3rd: High Voltage Magazine Launch Party at On the Rox
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
November 5th: The Shakers album release at The Viper Room
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: Thrice at The Mayan Theater
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 11th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 11th: Kill the Alarm at Room 5
November 11th: Queen Caveat at Saint Rocke
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 14th: The Silent Comedy at Bootleg
November 15th: Augustana at The Hotel Cafe
November 16th: The Stone Foxes at The Viper Room
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Allen Stone at The Echo
Feb. 2nd: Mutemath at Club Nokia
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 10/17-10/23

Posted on by Kristen

Another week, come and gone. I’ve been so busy lately just about every hour of every day has to be planned out in order to even get some of my to do list accomplished. I pulled two all-nighters last week and still I cannot keep up with all of the tasks coming in. This week I add “grade exams” to my list, so I’m not hopeful that life will get easier any time soon. Hopefully, I’ll be able to squeeze in some shows. There are quite a few goodies. Monday, once again, offers a jam packed evening of amazing (mostly free) musical options. I’m also super excited about the return of Harper Blynn to Los Angeles. They will be doing a fall residency at The Hotel Cafe starting this Weds playing with Melissa Ferrick! The week rounds itself out with a performance by indie darlings and my home town (Philly) natives, War on Drugs.

And really, that’s just the tip of this week’s musical iceberg. Here’s my complete list of recommendations:

 

Monday: Imagine Dragons and Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (10pm)
ALSO: Lookout Kids, Bowery Beasts, Indians, and Iron Tom FREE at Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: IO Echo at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Owl and Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: The Naked and Famous at The Music Box (8:30)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Meiko (10pm)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 featuring Joel Eckels, Kyler England, Kate York, and Sweet Talk Radio (9pm)

 

 

Tuesday: Jake Newton at Room 5 (10pm)
ALSO: Gotye, Caught a Ghost, and Lemon Sun at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Portishead at The Shrine (7pm)
ALSO: St. Vincent at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Ben Lee & Friends at The Largo (8:30)
ALSO: IO Echo at The Echoplex (9pm)
ALSO: Beachwood Night FREE at Piano Bar featuring Tripp Rezac and Lindsay Rae Spurlock

 

 

Weds: Melissa Ferrick at Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe (7, 10)
ALSO: Kyle Nicolaides at Three of Clubs (10pm)
ALSO: The Watkins Family Hour at The Largo (9:30)
ALSO: Whispertown at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Portishead at The Shrine (7pm)

 

 

Thursday: Lakes at Molly Malone’s (8pm)
ALSO: Rob Giles with All New People at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)
ALSO: Maria Taylor at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: The White Buffalo at The Foundry on Melrose (9:30)

 

 

Friday: Miracle Parade, Sabrosa Purr, and Taylor Locke and The Roughs at Bootleg Bar (9,10,11)
ALSO: Forrest Day at The Mint (8pm)
ALSO: Nikka Costa at The Del Monte Speakeasy (9pm)
ALSO: Melissa Ferrick at McCabe’s (8pm)
ALSO: Vas Defrans at Amplyfi (10:15)
ALSO: Mason Jennings at The El Rey (9pm)

 

 

Saturday: The War on Drugs at The Satellite (9pm)
ALSO: Adrienne Pierce at Genghis Cohen (8:30)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at Westwood Brewing Co. (8pm)
ALSO: Tyler Ramsey (Band of Horses) at Bootleg Bar (10:30)
ALSO: Viza at The Troubadour (11:15)

 

 

Sunday: Marcus Very Ordinary at The Viper Room (11pm)
ALSO: Satellite at Bootleg Bar (9:30)
ALSO: Robert Schwartzman at The Troubadour (8:30)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
November 5th: The Shakers album release at The Viper Room
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: Thrice at The Mayan Theater
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 11th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 11th: Kill the Alarm at Room 5
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 16th: The Stone Foxes at The Viper Room
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 26th: Kings of Convenience at The Music Box
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Fair to Midland at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat

Watch This! Maverick Sabre, Harris Grade, Crash Kings

Posted on by Kristen

Just some videos I came across this past week that I thought deserved sharing…

 

Maverick Sabre’s “I Need” made my SXSW ’10 mix. He finally has a video and is releasing the single on November 6th. I’m keeping my eyes on this Londoner…I think you should too!

 

Local LA rockers, Harris Grade, put out a video for one of the tunes off of their new EP, Sea in You. I dig it!

 

It has been FAR too long since we’ve heard from Crash Kings. Love this band. Love this song. Always love a good acoustic version of a great rockin’ song.

 

Enjoy!

 

~ Kristen

LMN Band Exam: Maniac

Posted on by Kristen

Who is Maniac? You could check out their webpage. That will tell you something. You could attend their show tomorrow night (Thursday 10/13) at The Bootleg Theater. That will certainly give you a taste. You could even look at the definition of the term, maniac. I’m pretty sure that gives you some solid intel as well.

If there is only one thing to say about LMN band love Maniac, it might be that they are doing their own thing and loving it! From their on-stage antics and quirky tunes to the way they interact with their fans, partners in crime Jake Grigg and Shawn Harris always manage to dish up the unexpected and make sure everyone is having a good time.

I love Maniac for their exciting live performances. I also love their unique perspective on being a professional musician. The band captures the essence of DIY, pushing the boundaries on both music-making and marketing. They are currently recording in their home studio and plan to  release new music three songs at a time in limited edition screen printed cases. The songs will be available in their online store starting this month! In the meantime, be sure to pick up their Extended Play EP and first full lenght album, Mania.

For more info on their travels, specialty-crafted limited edition merch items, random thoughts, and how to become a member of their exclusive East Nowhere Social Club, I’d head on over to their facebook  page.

Is that still not enough information for you? Well, LMN also wanted to learn more about Jake and Shawn (AKA Maniac) so we gave the fellas our band exam full of random questions. Here’s how they did:

 

Multiple Choice:

Favorite Super hero: Superman, Spiderman, Batman

Shawn: Batman doesn’t have any powers, just heaps of monies

Jake: Spiderman hooked up with Kirsten Dunst in the movies so i’m jealous and want him dead.

Best place to play a random show: beach, forest, shopping mall 

Shawn: Depends on the weather

Jake: Your house

Best mode of transportation: bicycle, train, horse

Jake & Shawn: Definitely a horse.

The ultimate music question: The Beatles or The Rolling Stones

Shawn & Jake: hahahahahahahahahahaha

Shawn: I can’t believe thats even a fucking thing

Jake: hahahaha

Fill in the Blank:

My favorite guilty pleasure music is __The Rolling Stones___.

The last book I read was ___Keith Richards Life___.

One weird skill/talent no one would expect from me is ____oral sex___.

Describe what it’s like to be on the road in two words: ___oral­­­­_ _  _ _sex___

 

Essay/Short Answer:

 If you could live in another Era, what would it be and why?

Jake: 1960’s would be fun. Free love, acid and the radio was playing songs that we actually like.

Shawn: And everyone rode horses

Jake: Bare back!

Tell us a story about one of the songs off Mania.

Shawn: I totally asked Jake “who do you know” and he was “all I know is I don’t like people like me.” Which prompted me to ask “who do you trust?” Turned out, he trusted the mail and the rain. We wrote a little song about that.

Jake: Hahaha

 

Listen and Love!

 

 

 

New Music Tuesday 10/11/11 Featuring Rachel Yamagata, Deas Vail, Forrest Day, Rams’ Pocket Radio

Posted on by Kristen

Looking for some new tunes? Here are my suggestions from this week’s batch of new music releases:

 

Rachel Yamagata– Chesapeake 

This is another CD that I reviewed for the fall issue of High Voltage Magazine. Don’t want to give away too many spoilers, but I love this new album from Rachel Yamagata. It might be her best to date! It showcases her sultry voice and well-crafted lyrics perfectly.  Check out the album and if you’re in LA be sure to get tickets for her show at The Troubadour November 29th.

Get Chesapeake here

 

Deas Vail– Deas Vail

I fell in love with this band a couple of summers ago (it’s a great story if you haven’t heard it already). Songs like “Balance” and “Birds” are particularly uplifting, but Deas Vail’s entire catalog has found its way onto my “make me feel better” playlist. I’ve heard a couple of tunes from this new album when I saw the band this summer at Bonnaroo. I’m looking forward to exploring the rest.

Get the album here.

 

 

Forrest Day – Forrest Day 

One of the best bands you may not have heard from located in the Bay Area. They put on quite the live performance with their interesting mix of hip-hop, jazz, rock, etc. (they call it attention-deficit disorder rock). Check out their self-titled CD out today! They play The Mint October 21st.

The album is available on Itunes and Amazon.

 

 

Rams’ Pocket Radio– Dogs Run in Packs EP 

I’ve been slightly obsessed with this one man band from Ireland since I first heard him earlier this year. The song “1+2” made my SXSW ’11 mix. I was thrilled to find out new music was released today…  Rams’ Pocket Radio is currently opening for Snow Patrol in London. I eagerly anticipate a US tour. Please.

http://ramspocketradio.bandcamp.com/album/dogs-run-in-packs

 

Other new music out today I plan on giving a listen to:

 

 

Happy Music Listening!

~ Kristen

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

Posted on by Kristen

This weekend just seemed to slip through my fingertips. I swear I spent most of it in front of my computer working, but I certainly don’t have anything to show for it. I did manage to get out Friday night for a little Culture Collide (such a great festival!). Then Saturday night was an evening at The Hotel Cafe where I was taken on a journey back to 2004 with Michael Tolcher. Hearing Michael play some of my favorite tunes from that year made me realize just how connected certain songs are to particular years of my life…and that 2004 may very well be my happiest year. I’m not sure if that year’s greatness was more because of the music or because of the events that the music accompanied, but I do know that the bands and songs that I associate with that time will forever be my favorites.

 

What songs are going to make that indelible imprint on 2011? Could it be a song heard by a band playing this week? Quite possibly! Here’s my schedule:

 

Monday: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring The Silent Comedy (10:30)…FREE with RSVP http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/
ALSO: Golden State and Indians FREE at Silverlake Lounge (10,11)
ALSO: The Rambles and Fat City Reprise at The Viper Room (10:15, 11:15)
ALSO: Abbott Kinney and Youngblood Hawke FREE at The Satellite (10,11)
ALSO: Boy & Bear at The Bootleg (9pm)
ALSO: Ryan Adams at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery (9pm)
ALSO: Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (9pm)

 

Tuesday: Atomic Tom, Anberlin, and Switchfoot at The Wiltern (6:30)
ALSO: Oh No Not Stereo at The Roxy (10pm)
ALSO: Lakes at The Troubadour (8pm)
ALSO: Rival Sons, The Pretty Reckless, and Evanescence at The Hollywood Palladium (7pm)
ALSO: Foxy Shazam at Chain Reaction in Anaheim (10pm)
ALSO: Chris Pierce at The Hotel Cafe (9pm)…record release show
ALSO: Joe Henry at Largo (8pm)

 

 

Weds: Whitton, Leftover Cuties, Amber Rubarth, and Coby Brown at  at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)

 

Thursday: Maniac and Family of the Year at The Bootleg (10,11)
ALSO: The Head & The Heart at The Music Box (9pm)
ALSO: Kim Richey, Jennifer Hirsh, Rob Giles with All New People at The Hotel Cafe (7, 9, 10)
ALSO: Some Hear Explosions at The Viper Room (midnight)
ALSO: Foo Fighters at The Forum (7pm)
ALSO: Lindsay Buckingham at UCLA Royce Hall (8pm)

 

Friday: Amy Kuney, Butterfly Boucher and Katie Herzig at The Bootleg (8,9,10)
ALSO: George Stanford at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Nikka Costa at The Del Monte Speakeasy in Venice (9pm)
ALSO: Saint Motel at ReForm Academy (11pm)
ALSO: The Muddy Reds at The Central (8:45)
ALSO: Los Sindicate at Saint Rocke (9pm)
ALSO: Abbot Kinney at Molly Malone’s (10pm)
ALSO: Shelby Lynne at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)

 

Saturday: Haroula Rose at The Hotel Cafe (8pm)
ALSO: Kozmonaut at The Bootleg (10pm)
ALSO: Jesse Malin and The Hold Steady at The Echoplex (8:30)
ALSO: Shelby Lynn at McCabe’s Guitar Shop (8pm)

 

Sunday: The Canyons at The Troubadour (8pm)

 

 

To Keep in Mind:
October 17th: Youngblood Hawke and Imagine Dragons at The Satellite
October 18th: Portishead at The Shrine
October 19th: Melissa Ferrick and Harper Blynn at The Hotel Cafe
October 22nd: The War on Drugs at The Satellite
November 3rd: Twin Atlantic and Awolnation at The Music Box
November 4th: Mike Doughty at The El Rey
November 7th: Lights at The El Rey
November 8th: Thrice at The Mayan Theater
November 8th: First Aid Kit at The Troubadour
November 11th: Jack’s Mannequin at The El Rey
November 12th: Feist at The WIltern
November 13th: Milk Carton Kids at The El Rey
November 17th: Marketa Irglova at The Troubadour
November 19th: Milo Greene, The Belle Brigade, and The Civil Wars at The Wiltern
November 29th: Rachel Yamagata at The Troubadour
March 13th-18th: SXSW (Austin, TX)

~ Kristen

http://www.localmusicnation.net/

http://twitter.com/#!/_localmusicnat