Author: Kristen

Let’s go to Camp!

Posted on by Kristen

Last week marked the first Friday of the Camp Freddy December residency at The Roxy. Honestly I didn’t know who Camp Freddy was. I just went because Queen Caveat was opening. I am SO glad I stuck around however, because seeing premiere rock musicians just obliterate such a tiny stage was quite the surreal experience.

For those of you who also don’t know who Camp Freddy is, they are a core group of top notch musicians (Dave Navarro, Billy Morrison, Matt Sorum, Donovan Leitch, Jr., Chris Chaney) who are joined by a series of unannounced guest musicians in playing a set of covers of amazing rock songs. Last week’s guest vocalists included Nikka Costa, Franky Perez, Richard Patrick (Filter), Sully Erna (Godsmack), Angelo Moore (Fishbone), Glen Hughes (Deep Purple), etc. It was such a treat!

I don’t know what this says about me, but I think my favorite moments were Richard Patrick fronting “Hey Man, Nice Shot” (LOVE that song), the guy who played the guitar…with a bow, and anything done by Billy Morrison (he was 5 feet in front of me…I was mesmerized).

Unfortunately, all the residency dates are sold out. BUT there might still be tickets for Camp Freddy’s New Years Eve celebration. Can you imagine who might show up there? If only I had the money…

This video someone took from last week’s Camp Freddy show. I would like to dedicate it to all my students in the class I’m TAing who take their final exam today…

~ Kristen

Biffy Clyro North American Tour Announcement!!!!!

Posted on by Kristen

If I could get away with putting a million more exclamation points in that title, I would have done it…anything to express by boundless enthusiasm for this band. If you know me, you are aware of my current obsession with Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro. You also, no doubt, have a copy of Only Revolutions. You, however, may not have been aware of their upcoming North American Tour including  a stop in LA at The Troubadour on March 1st.

The tour doesn’t start for a couple of months now, but tickets are going on sale and I’d recommend that you get them now!

As for the dates and locations:

Feb 10 Rock N Roll Hotel Washington, D.C.

Feb 11 North Star Bar Philadelphia, PA

Feb 12 Gramercy Theatre New York, NY , USA

Feb 13 TT the Bear’s Cambridge, MA

Feb 15 La Sala Rossa Montréal, Quebec, CANADA

Feb 16 Garrison Toronto, Ontario, CANADA

Feb 19 Double Door Chicago, IL

Feb 207th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN , US

Feb 24 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR

Feb 25Venue Vancouver, BC, CANADA

Feb 26 The Crocodile Seattle, WA , US

Feb 28  Rickshaw Stop San Francisco, California, US

Mar 1 Troubadour  West Hollywood, CA

 a live performance!:

Kristen’s LA Concert Calendar: 12/6-12/12

Posted on by Kristen

Tonight marked the final performance of LMN mainstays, Mississippi Man. I first saw this band play with Get Back Loretta at The Bootleg. I thought they were good. The thing about Mississippi Man, however, is that every time I’ve seen them since, they’ve gotten better and better. They came back from a tour with The Silent Comedy in particularly good form. I’m sure that tonight, their final performance, was their absolute best. But I am sad that I will not get the opportunity to continue to watch them grow and improve. If you haven’t already, you should check out their most recent record, A-OK. Mississippi Man will be missed.

Let’s focus on the flip side of seeing a great band’s last performance; seeing your new favorite band play for the first time. In remembrance of Mississippi Man, let’s make it a point this week to discover some new amazing music. If you need some guidance, might I suggest the following (and there are PLENTY of options this week):

Monday: IO Echo and Haim FREE at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: The Rescues and Raining Jane at The Hotel Cafe…week two of The Rescues’ winter residency (9:30, 10:30)
ALSO: Jonathan Clark at Molly Malone’s (9pm)
ALSO: Whispering Pines FREE at Spaceland (9pm)
ALSO: It’s a School Night at Bardot featuring Grouplove and The 88…RSVP at http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/ 

Tuesday: Eastern Conference Champions Record Release at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Rob Crow (of Pinback) at Spaceland (10pm)
ALSO: Kitten at The Echo (9pm)
ALSO: Edie Cary at Genghis Cohen (8pm)
ALSO: Street Drum Corps at The Roxy (10pm) 

Weds: So & So at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Assemble the Skyline at The Mint (10pm)
ALSO: Maren Parusel at The Silverlake Lounge (9pm)
ALSO: Natalie Cole at Walt Disney Concert Hall (8pm) 

Thursday: Scars on 45, Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, Taylor Locke & The Roughs at The Hotel Café (8,9,11)
ALSO: The Janks at Bootleg Theater (11pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm) 

Friday: Sabrosa Purr, Darling Stilettos, and Camp Freddy at The Roxy (9pm)
ALSO: Mike Doughty at Bootleg Theater (10pm)
ALSO: Kina Grannis at The El Rey
ALSO: NEEDTOBREATHE and The Daylights at The Musicbox
ALSO: The Dandy Warhols at Club Nokia
ALSO: Warpaint at The Troubadour (10pm)
ALSO: A Silent Film at The Viper Room (10:30)
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm) 

Saturday: Truth and Salvage Co. and The Black Crowes at Hollywood Palladium…The Black Crowes FINAL LA show
ALSO: Rockdrive 2010 featuring Aqualung, Cary Brothers, Rocco Delucca, Lady Danville, Joey and Kenneth, Chris Pierce, Terra Naomi, Raining Jane, etc. at The Troubadour (7pm)
ALSO: The Other Side of Morning at The Loft (midnight)
ALSO: Roses Pawn Shop at The Hotel Cafe (10pm)
ALSO: Los Sindicate at The Viper Room (10pm)
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm)                    

Sunday: Marie Digby at The Hotel Cafe (9:30)
ALSO: Warpaint at The Troubadour
ALSO: Aimee Mann’s Christmas show at Largo (8pm)                                                                                        

To Keep in Mind:
December 14th: After Midnight Project at The Key Club
December 17th-19th: The Hotel Cafe Christmas Party
December 18th: Fat City Reprise, The Shakers, and Red Circle Underground at The Viper Room
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box
Feb 9th: Tina Dico at The Troubadour
Feb 16th: Nicole Atkins at The Troubadour
March 1st: Biffy Clyro at The Troubadour 

~ Kristen

Pepper’s Ghost Countdown: 7 Weeks!

Posted on by Kristen

I’m more than a little excited to tell you that my first favorite band (you know, the one that got me into…well every other band I’ve ever fallen in love with) is playing a reunion show January 22nd at The Grape Room in Philadelphia.

Pepper’s Ghost is a rocky/poppy/Beatles-esque band from Philadelphia, PA. The group centers around two brothers, Anthony and Michael Montesano, who share in the singing, specializing in catchy choruses and hypnotic harmonizing. Joining Anthony and Michael is Zil (Pawnshop Roses) on drums, Dave Hartley (War on Drugs, Nightlands) on bass, and Rob Bennett (Automatic Fire) on everything else (keys, guitar, mandolin, saw).

They released their first album, Opening Night, back in 2001. This recording was taken from a live show at The Trocadero and features a horn section and back up choir.  This was followed by an EP in 2002 (Bang) which offers one of my favorite, but rarely performed Pepper’s Ghost songs “Addiction.” In 2005, the band released their record label debut, Shake the Hand that Shook the World. This CD is full of fun poppy sing-along friendly tunes, including my college anthem, “Friday Night in Philadelphia.”

Shake the Hand that Shook the World got Pepper’s Ghost their first big national tour. It also got the band a number one hit on the singles chart in Canada with “You’re In My Heart (Little Pretty).” In the aftermath of this release, the band seemed to take a turn to an edgier, more rockin’ sound exemplified in their 2006 The Vet EP with songs like “Dirty Bomb” and “4 Letter Friend”. The following year they released their most recent CD, Let The Players Have the Ball. This CD was also a live recording featuring some old favorites, a few new tunes, and even a Bowie cover (“Cracked Actor”).

And now you know a tiny bit more about my favorite band. Only 7 weeks until I get to see them again. Let’s get excited!

~ Kristen

for last week’s countdown post

Scarlet Grey “The Sky & I” Video

Posted on by Kristen

It’s done! The video Amanda and I had the pleasure of working on with Scarlet Grey was released today! I am so proud to have been involved in this project. I think the final product looks amazing! Major props to it’s director (and editor), Baley Wynn, and everyone else involved.

Come celebrate with us Thursday night at The Troubadour. Music provided by Your Arsenal, Assemble the Skyline, Killola, and, of course, Scarlet Grey!  

Watch, enjoy, and especially appreciate the shot a little over a minute and a half in of the slowly sinking sugar cube…not easy folks, not.easy.

~ Kristen