Author: Kristen

What I am Thankful For…

Posted on by Kristen

Why MUSIC of course. Music of all shapes and sizes…but mostly music that moves me in its live format. I am also thankful for all those people in my life that have a similar appreciation for music…or that simply indulge me in my obsession by accompanying me to shows.

I am thankful to be living in Los Angeles, a city that has so much to offer music-wise. I can’t imagine going back to living a life in which there weren’t opportunities for fantastic live music every night of the week.

Although, I am spending the holiday in LA…working, Thanksgiving is a time to be thinking about home. I do really wish I could be in Philadelphia this weekend. Last night was WMMR’s Gobblaroo featuring a couple fantastic LA-based bands with Philly roots (The Shakers, Fat City Reprise) as well as Stonethrown, and the debut of Philly’s hottest new band, SINAI. I wish I could have been there…if you were, I’d appreciate reviews. Also, tomorrow night at The Grape Room marks the return of The Awesome Brothers, a collaboration of some of my favorite musicians gathering together to play some of their favorite songs. Musical bliss for sure. If you’re in town, don’t’ miss it!

Happy Thanksgiving to my music-loving family (both near and far)!

~ Kristen

And on that note, I leave you with the song that’s been playing on repeat in my head all day. Jonathan Singleton’s “Airplanes.” I would like to take this moment to point out that I DO like some country music…and that I wish that Jonathan would venture back to LA…and bring The Grove with him this time.  

Kristen’s Concert Calendar 11/22-11/28

Posted on by Kristen

I hope everyone is gearing up for a lovely Thanksgiving holiday spent with family, friends, and good food. I have been charged with procuring some sort of dessert…I’m thinking pie. I’m actually really looking forward to the extended weekend as it will provide some much needed time to catch up with my lab work. Unfortunately, due I’m sure to the holiday season (and the inevitable efflux of people from Los Angeles), the music schedule is a bit light this week.

Here’s what I’m thinking for Thanksgiving week:

Monday: Dar Williams and Jessie Cole at The Hotel Cafe (9, 10:30)
ALSO: Chasing Kings FREE at Silverlake Lounge (11pm)
ALSO: Adrienne Pierce at Genghis Cohen (9pm)
ALSO: My Chemical Romance at House of Blues (8pm)
ALSO: Paris Carney and Songwriters in the Round at Room 5 (8,9) 

Tuesday: Kitten at The Echo (10pm)
ALSO: Street Drum Corps at The Roxy (10pm) 

Weds: Viza at The Key Club (10pm)
ALSO: Trans-Siberian Orchestra at The Honda Center (8pm) 

Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving 

Friday: recovering from Thanksgiving? 

Saturday: A Fine Frenzy and OK GO at Club Nokia (9pm) 

Sunday:Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven and The Smart Brothers at Saint Rocke (9,10)

To Keep in Mind:
December 1st: Eve 6 at The Troubadour
December 2nd: Scarlet Grey at The Troubadour
December 4th: Joe Firstman at Saint Rocke
December 11th: The Black Crowes and Truth & Salvage Co. at Hollywood Palladium
January 22nd: Guster at The Music Box 

~ Kristen

https://twitter.com/_localmusicnat

Queen Caveat at The Viper Room 11/16/10

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This week has definitely been a good week for music. One of my favorite shows was Queen Caveat at The Viper Room.  Tuesday night, after catching The Lonely Forest at Spaceland, I sprinted to the Viper Room to see one of my very fave LA bands, Queen Caveat. I got to the venue in time to see the last 2-3 songs of Har Mar Superstar. For those of you who know nothing of Har Mar Superstar, I’d highly recommend you check the spectacle out. As for my thoughts…well I’m still processing. I’m not fully sure I’ve registered all that I saw up there on that stage.

But most of that was forgotten as soon as the Queen Caveat set began. It only took the first few notes of “In My Bed” to have me whisked away to that happy place I tend to find myself in when listening to my favorite music performed live. I stayed in said happy place for the remainder of the set, which included several of my fave QC songs including a newer song called “Bullet” that I’ve had in my head ever since it was performed at Nico Vega’s Witch Hunt. They also brought the house down with a brilliant cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” which you really just have to see.

The night ended, as they so often do, standing around outside The Viper Room. I managed to snag a Queen Caveat set list and got the band to sign it so that one day I’ll be able to say “I knew them when”.

If you want to get to know them too, as you should, check out their EP “Emptor” on ITunes and keep up with my concert calendar as I try not to miss a Queen Caveat show.

~ Kristen

as for a clip from the Har Mar Superstar set that night…before the pants came off…

Listen to This! Inspired Flight

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With descriptors such as “hip hop”, “electronica”, and “indie rock” I wasn’t overly excited about checking out SD based Inspired Flight…not my usual vein of music. However, a friend of mine suggested I “like” this group on facebook and I finally got around to checking them out (I’m not one to overlook enthusiastic band suggestions). Turns out Inspired Flight is one of the most original, yet compelling groups I’ve heard in awhile!

 I was drawn in by their free download of “Wonderwall.”  It all spiraled from there. I listened to their songs online, downloaded their recently released CD, We All Want to Fly, looked into their show calendar (they are coming to The Music Box next Friday, Nov. 26th), and now, I share my new interest with you! 

I’m finding it difficult to describe this band, so I’ll let the first paragraph of their bio do it for me:

“Rooted in hip-hop with branches of indie rock, electronica, downtempo, dub, and dance, Inspired Flight gives life to a hypnotizing and influential new musical experience that listeners are finding refreshing and authentic.  iF’s use of turntablism and sampling along with live instrumentation and vocals, all centered around innovative songwriting, has given birth to an independently-released debut album featuring high-profile MC’s and sparking global attention, and a live show that has compelled audience members to scream, “Where have you been all my life!?””

Sounds good, no?

Let’s check it out!

~ Kristen 

p.s. how cute is that iF robot? 🙂

The Lonely Forest at Spaceland

Posted on by Kristen

If you recall The Lonely Forest made my SXSW ’10 mix. Tuesday night, however, marked the first time I had the opportunity to see them perform. I must say, I loved them before based solely on their tune “We Sing in Time.” But now, they are verging on new favorite band territory. Their live show was an unexpectedly rockin’ treat full of energy and even more songs that are going straight on my monthly music mix. The Lonely Forest hails from Anacortes, Washington. According to their song “I Don’t Want to Live There,” they won’t be moving to LA anytime soon, but they say they’ll be back come February.  In preparation for their return, I’ll be listening to The Lonely Forest EP on repeat. You should check it out!

~ Kristen

New Band Love: Lakes

Posted on by Kristen

It’s official. I am in love. I’ve only seen Lakes twice now, but they’ve managed to carve out a little place in my heart. What did it? Well, they have great tunes, the kind of energy on stage that will cross a room and lift you up off your chair, and a spirit that just seems to radiate joy and warmth. They are the kind of band you not only want to listen to, but just want to hang around.

What really cemented LAKES’ status as my new band love, however, was the impromptu mini set the band played outside before the show Weds night for some fans that couldn’t get into On the Rox. We were walking towards the venue and heard some music coming from a small circle that had gathered on the street. I saw an accordion rise above the heads and I knew who we’d find at the center of the gathering.

LAKES put on an amazing set later that night, but it was the tunes played out on the street, so raw and inspired, that were really the highlight of my evening…along with the prayer we all gathered to send up before the show that put the joy back in my heart and reminded me why I go out of my way to discover (and pass on to you) such musical treasures.

Definitely check out LAKES and their CD, The Agreement. And keep an eye on my calendar for upcoming shows!

 http://www.lakesband.com/

ALSO, the band just released this video for one of my fave Lake’s songs “Back in Your Head”

Listen and Love!

~ Kristen

New Band Alert!: Empires

Posted on by Kristen

Empires may very well be  my new favorite local Chicago band. They opened for Biffy Clyro at The Bootleg and I’ve been listening to their CD, Bang, on repeat since I saw them. Right now, in preparation for the release of their new music video, they are giving away a free download of one of their songs. I’d highly recommend going to their site and checking it out…http://www.weareempires.com/

~ Kristen